we want to start saving to eventually get us to australia to visit my brother.
i've previously collect british airways miles using a BA exec credit card and tesco club points. is this still a good way to go or should i start collecting the general Airmiles instead??

Welcome to FlyerTalk, gbrazewell.

It might help if we had an idea where in the world you're departing from on your trip to Australia.

In general, though, my recommendation would incline toward American, since there are so many ways to add AAdvantage miles to your account through credit card offers and the like. You can redeem the AA miles for flights on Cathay Pacific from the Americas or from Europe to Australia, and probably wouldn't have to pay the high "fuel surcharges" that BA charges on its awards.

However, for the best advice we'd need to know where you'll be flying from, and also what other flights you'll be taking (so you can use those flights to earn miles for the award flight to Australia).

SCHEME? well that sounds like you want something shady and almost illegal to get you to Austrailia, in that case you should get yourself some big sections of bamboo, some good twine 2 paddles ,a sheet for a mast and 2 illegal aliens. Tell the illegals you will pay the $1000 a piece when u get to austrailia...have them build you a sturdy raft (cubans are expecially gifted at this) then get a compass or GPS if you can afford it, a lawn chair and a big cooler from walmart. put cooler full of provisions in middle of raft near mast, chair on front and 2 guys with paddles on each side in the back. set gps for austrailia or just head south. No need for silly questions or frequent flyer miles, just a strong wind and a bit of luck will get you there. Once you get there tell the illegal aliens to watch the boat while you go get money and leave them there.
Hmmmm after reading your post again it seems you are from UK so finding illegal aliens that have raft building skills may be harder ( i hear pakistan has little water) ....as an alternative you could always rob a bank, doesn't Britain send criminals to austrailia still? then once you get there just have your brother and some friends break you out of jail.
sorry those are all the SCHEMES i can come up with on short notice....maybe someone here can help you come up with a good plan to earn more BA miles and you could fly there.
P.S. anyone who takes this seriously needs to get a sense of humor.

Yes, I read the last part, but it still sounds like a Yank applying a U.S.-centric interpretation of the word "scheme" to a post where it's used it in the U.K. sense (which doesn't have the same sinister implications).

To the OP:

1. Welcome to FT!

2. The additional information requested in the first reply would help. It's hard to collect enough miles for this without flying, unless you own a business and can put all its purchases on a mileage-earning credit card or some such. So, knowing what other flying you expect is important.

So can anyone tell me just how many miles it takes to get to Australia from say Miami? I'm trying to rack up some miles for a ticket soon.

Just curious. I'll have around 95K. Do you think that's enough?

North America-Australia on AA is 75k in Economy/125k in Business. If you're using AA miles you'll fly Qantas who aren't the most generous with award seats so book early

I've been wanting to go there also at those rates me and my laid should be at least economy with aa 75000 sign up we both just did great way to save like 1500 a ticket ...

Is that 75K roundtrip?
Unfortunately I think I'll be going economy since I doubt I'll have 125K miles by then. Thanks.

Mileage requirements vary by airline. You have to consider which program(s) you have miles in, which airlines you can get rewards on with those miles, which of those fly to Australia, and then check those airlines' Web sites for specific information. Lufthansa, for example, gets 80,000 miles in economy (a few more than AA) but 120,000 in business (a few less). United wants 80K/135K. There are no worldwide standards, nor are there for the ease of earning a "mile" in each program.

Aside from depending on the class of service, requirements may also vary by season and routing. Also, some airlines are stingy with seats at the advertised mileage levels but, if those are gone, will make seats available if you cough up more miles. United, as an example, will gladly give you any seat on the plane, without capacity controls, for twice the above amounts. Finally, a few airlines let you combine fewer miles with a cash add-on for an award. That can be a cost-effective way to fly up front in (relative) comfort if your miles alone won't quite stretch that far.

As the movie title said, "it's complicated."

I'm planning to stop in Honolulu so hopefully I can go AA most of the way.
I'm actually going to Auckland first to catch the cruise and flying back from Sydney. I hope someone flies to Aucland from Hawaii. I tried finding flights but I guess it's too early to see Jan 2012.

I have seen that cash & miles option and have yet to use it but this might be the best time to actually try it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes, I see that it is very complicated but I know I've got you FTers to help me get it straight.

Yea I would love to go last week dec and 1st wk in Jan.. But still building up my miles in programs hopefully I succeed so I could book up front once I get enough