Originally Posted by
imaltesers
My goal is simple: I take an annual return trip from New York to Sydney, and am looking for the best FF program to bank my miles in so I can get the best deal I can for this route. This also involves signing up for credit card offers and other means of collecting miles (shopping, whatever), but I need to know which program to join first

. I'm currently with QFF but I live in New York so I can't really build up my miles when not flying.
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(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Travel for pleasure. I've only been flying Qantas but may consider changing if there are cheaper options (but Qantas seems to offer the cheapest price for my route)
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
New York to Sydney and back
Only 1 choice: AA. Look at
post 330. You will get AA miles on QF flights. But check if an
eligible earning booking class. Some cheap fares were not, but with a change to booking class earning last year most (all?) are.
AS is an option as QF, AA & DL are partners:
http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners
Other airlines to Australia (from LAX) are
- United (Star Alliance)
- Virgin Australia (DL & VA are ff partners)
- Delta (DL & VA are ff partners)
- Air NZ (via AKL) (Star Alliance)
- Hawaiian (AA ff partner)
- Fiji Airways (AA ff partner)
and many via Asia or the Middle East
You will need to careful about QF points expiry. 18 months without eligible activity they expire. Use them if you can. Can be keep alive by several non flying ways including hotel, rental car, asking QF for a new ff card(1000 points) or when in Australia signing up to
www.everydayrewards.com.au and then spending $31 on food or booze