whatsd

Hello - I'm moving to Australia in about a month or so. I'm EXP on American (second year in a row) and have 8 unused systemwide upgrades that I won't be able to use on Qantas planes crossing the ocean. Its now Mid-Feb and i'm already qualified for Gold for 2012 and will qualify for Platinum by the time I head to Australia once again in about a month.

Should I keep earning AA miles or should I start earning miles in a Qantas account going forward? I'm expected to live in Australia for about two years before I move back to NYC.

Dave Noble

Stick with AA; once you see the QFF redemption rates you will understand why.

If you are booking some cheap tickets on QF, then some may be ineligable for AA earning and for those you may want to consider a QF account just for those odd flights

You can use the systemwide upgrades if you travel to/from USA via Japan

HNL

or china!

wandering_fred

You will appreciate that my reply is biased
Keep the AA account as your primary.

Where in Australia are you locating?
From Perth the time cost of routing to the USA via HKG or NRT is well worth the benefit of avoiding LAX and SYD.

But when you get here - sign up for the Woolworth's (grocery chain) and Qantas partner program. The QF account is worthwhile for crediting the unavoidable QF E or Q class or regional CX flights as well as picking up the "odd" mileage from grocery purchases.

Happy wandering

Fred

funkyr

QF and AA wont give you equivalent status to each other's FF programs unfortunately, but at least you can still get the Oneworld beenfits by using your AA EXP.

I was on the understanding that to retain any elite status above normal for following years (eg QF silver+ or AA Gold+) you'll need to fly a min of 4 segments with a QF or AA coded flight respectively.

ashill

I believe that Australian residents have to pay to be members of QFF, while non-residents do not, so I'd be sure to join while you're still in the States or using a US address if you are planning to. (I don't know details like how much and how often you have to pay.)

Even though some (though not all) cheap QF fares don't earn any AA miles, QF still does recognize oneworld Sapphire status when flying on those fares.

drron

Definitley stick with AA.I remain an AA plat even though if I switched back to QFF I could easily qualify for their top tier-as we fly mainly long haul premium cabins.If flying discounted coach then easier often on AA.I still get more availability of awards(with less taxes) on AA compared with QFF.
They have not enforced the 4 segment rule,QF does.But there are always AA codeshares on their transpac flights.As said before travelling via NRT can still get you AA sectors and the ability to use EVIPs.
Also the advice to join Woolworths Every day Rewards card is good.Link your card to your QFF account(which you should open for reasons already given)and you can almost certainly get something out of it.The EDR card will earn you points at Woollies supermarkets,discount dept store,liquor outlets,gas stations etc so you should be able to rack up a few points.

Spiff

Once you join, you no longer have to pay, regardless of whether you had to pay to join in the first place. It's a one-time thing for Australian residents.

kebosabi

The only potential benefit of going to QF's FFP is that IIRC after a certain threshold you become a lifetime elite member which will provide you with an equivalent OW elite status allowing you to access Admiral's Clubs in the US without paying the annual renewal fee.

Saying that, I'd say stick with AA.

tauphi

Australians don't have to pay either if they join through Woolworths.

rens

Another vote here to stick with AA, for all the abovementioned reasons.

Two years pass quickly. It may be better to build up AA status and miles for later use if you end up out of the QF primary service area after your time in OZ.
However, it is not an either or choice. Join QF to credit miles from non-flying or low AA points earning situations, or to grab special bonus offers, or credit card miles, etc.

Also, check with your employer for corporate Qantas club discounts, which may be advantageous.

Ebnjoy your tim,e in Australia

GRU787

Another vote here to stick with AA.

NM

Anyone can join Qantas FF program by joining Everyday Rewards through Woolworths. When you join EDR you have the option to add your Qantas FF account number or to open a new Qantas FF account for no charge.

If living in Australia, EDR is a good way to keep the Qantas FF account ticking over so those cheap non-AA-earning fares can have a home.

AAdvantage is a far better program for earn/burn rates for many people. But as with any program, there are all sorts of variations depending on number and type of flights taken.

NM

Qantas does enforce the 4-flight rule, though will also accept flights on Jetstar as qualifying flights. While AA's membership rules does include the 4-flight rule, they have not been enforcing it. I have retailed AA EXP status while living in Australia and without setting a foot inside an AA aircraft for almost 3 years.

whatsd

Thanks to everyone for their great advice! I'm sticking with AA, and signed up for QF's program from here in the states (and will do Woolworth's when I get there)!