Originally Posted by
imaltesers
I'm overwhelmed by the amount of info regarding FF programs
, so I've decided to just ask and hope to get pointed in the right direction.
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.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good award redemption rate for my specific route, and travel upgrades if possible
Originally Posted by
Mwenenzi
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
Doing this flight once a year, there's no need to worry about QF points expiry. The QF points expiration counter is reset by any activity once every 18 months only, and one flight within 12 months will keep all points safe from expiring as long as rules don't change.
The two cheapest QF booking classes earn only 25 % with AA, and the six fare classes one and two steps up the fare price ladder earn a still meager 50%. QF economy fares earning more than 50% on AA get horrendously expensive. I've flown in business on MH for less money than QF wanted for a "H" coded economy ticket that was far away from being full fare!
I don't think QF offers an affiliated cc in the US. AFAIK their relationship with Amex is limited to Australia. Check Amex if they allow MR points transfer to QFF for US-based members, though.
I would switch to AA only if you'd be willing (and able) to play the credit card game in the US. The miles generated by AA (and US! US miles will become AA miles at one point as the merger progresses, and in the meantime applying for US cards just doubles the opportunity for sign-on boni. US cards don't have a spend requirement, either) cc activity more than make up for the lower earning on AA on one flight a year. If you do not want or can not do that, stick with QFF.