My Wife and I are flying to Australia (from the Newark) this summer via United(Business Class thanks largely to this forum that explained how to utilize Amtrak to get miles out of Continental and a great link to a UAL card that got us 20K miles each eventually another 10K for $50 when we upgraded our cards and 2K when we took the insurance (AND CANCELLED IT WITHIN 30 DAYS). Thus for $100 we managed a total of 54K miles which paid for almost 1/2 our upgrade (which was worth about $6,200 if you purchased a business class ticket) The way I look at it $3,000 for $200 is a pretty good deal! (Maybe not that good because we were forced to pay about 2 grand per ticket (but then again we do get the miles back (i.e. 20.000 each which is almost a domestic flight which is worth to us about $300)...anyway enough with that rant

Given that I am a greedy person, here is my new dilema. I am going to be flying a bit in Australia (Sydney-Perth-Sydney-Cairnes-Sydney) and I imagine I am going to accumulate a few miles doing so. I have little use for Quantas miles, however if there is a way I can get them into either Continental or United, this would be a nice little bonus.

Here are some more facts
I booked on-line using one of those redfair specials (wondering if the low fair will preclude me from earning full miles in the first place)

Here is what I know:American Airlines appears to have a relationship with Quantas where you can fly domestically in Australia and earn miles for AA. I am not sure however if AA has to book the flight for you or you can just show them a receipt of your travel on Quantas.

Here's What I want to do.
Ideally I would love to take my miles (I estimate about 5-6k for my wife and I) transfer them to AA, then to Amtrak, then to Continental, with their final resting place being either in CAL (5K-6K each total of (10-12K) or Hilton (10-12K each total 20-24K). The way I look at it 24K buys you a night at a decent Hilton.

This is a bunch of stuff and may not be worth if for so few miles, but then again a night in a hotel in San Fran is about $200.00 and I don't earn enough money to throw that away without asking.

You can also earn CO miles on Quantas flights.
CO Partner Page and then Quantas Miles tells you:
There's also a chart with the qualifying fare classes on the page. Then you could re-do the Amtrack transfer... might have to wait a year, if you transfered out the max this year, but at least you'd get them in the end.

You can credit QF flights to earn AA miles.

be aware that qantas red-e-deals won't earn you full 1 to 1 miles on AA I believe, but you will earn the min 500 miles per sector.

also, did you know QF partner with US Airways? i'm not sure if the US airways program is of any value in terms of transfers, but I liken US Airways status equal to that of UA... and perhaps a little more stable than UA (but that's another can of worms).

I don't know whether you will encounter some difficulty with your QF red-e-deals, because they are not technically part of an international itiniery and they may not accrue to your CO a/c.

I believe QF also partner with Alaskan Airlines... if that helps with Amtrak transfers looks like it's only for Amtrak awards... they are also a partner with SAS (which is a *A carrier so you could put those orphan miles in there, do some extra *A accruals and you could have an award using SK's program before you know it).

Enjoy your trip to Australia, but to avoid the s......s you might want to learn some of the local spelling:

Qantas doesn't have a "u" in it. It is an acronym: Queensland And Northern Territory Aeronautical Service.

Cairns doesn't have an "e" in it.

You appear to have forgotten to go to Melbourne, an error you should correct immediately.

Sorry I cannot help you directly with your query about QF miles being of use to you. As you are probably aware, the local *A member, Ansett, ceased operations a couple of years ago and there is currently no local replacement. Scan the partnering opportunities, but as said above, the discounted QF flights have discounted mileage-earning too.

I guess I missed the obvious the within Australia may allow the direct transfer of miles to Continental when I book this which avoids the whole Amtrak thing, Does anyone know if I get full Mileage foir CO if I booked a red deal special. Also does it matter that I got into Australia via UAL. By the way someone mentioned that AA is a better deal than UAL, I agree with this. Once I accumulate my extra miles I intend to use them quickly (for my next domestic flight) UAL has issues and was just denied the federal loan the applied for which begs the question of why. They were permitted to submit another request for a loan, which tells me that either the Feds think they are less sick then they are telling them and would be willing to lend them less money, OR they may soon be selling off some routes. (Serves them right they gobbled up Pan Am's Far East Routes while my mom worked for Pan AM back in the day!

I have successfully credited QF Red e-deals to my CO account, and it posts 1 to 1, so it's probably better than AA where you'll get less than 1 to 1.

Thanks! This site is excellent!

So how do you pronounce it? (In the Aussie version of English, of course.)

Just to be really picky it's actually Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services

Just call Qantas to ask them to please add your CO or AA # to your reservations. The miles will post automatically a week or 2 after each flight.

If you want HHonors points, go AA, which converts directly to HHonors without involving Amtrak. However, if you want a free Marriott room night or 2, credit to CO, then convert to Amtrak, where you can get an Marriott Flex free cert for 10K miles each. Warning: Valid only at certain Marriotts, some of which are better than what you'll get for 20K HHonors points .

Qantas does flip me out by pronouncing the non-existent U. KWAHN-tuss.

I concur. It would be a shame if you went all the way to Australia but failed to visit Melbourne.

As for points/miles I think you are missing the point. The whole idea of accruing miles/points is to get best value, in overall terms from your holiday expenditure.

Now Virgin Blue, Qantas and Jetstar have a great sale on at the moment whereby you can fly interstate for as little as $48 including taxes. I think the sal3e may end today so be quick. You can do Mel-Brisbane for $48. At that price don't worry about the frequent flyer points - just get some cheap flights to got to places you are interested in.

Here's what to do in Melbourne (all the following is free)

1. Go to Victoria Market (free unless you buy something)

2. Go to the viewing gallery in the toilets on the 35th floor of the Sofitel Hotel (true!) for some wonderul free views of Eastern Melbourne including the MCG.

3. Go shopping for clothing in Bridge Road Richmond (free unless you buy something)

4. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria (standard collections are free - special exhibitions like the Impressionists you have to pay. Mind you the Impressionsts collection which is on loan from the Musee D'Orsay is worth the cost)

5. Stroll along Acland Street, St Kilda & St Kilda beach

6. Drive across the Westgate Bridge with great views of Melbourne

Plus other stuff..

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinat...ttractions.htm

Stuff worth paying for

1. Puffing Billy

2. Healesville Sanctuary

3. Penguin Parade

4. NGV Impressionists Collection

5. AFL football match at the MCG

cheers Peter