I don't know whether BA sells codeshares on flights within Asia.

I can see SIN to SYD only.
It's hard to get 4 BA flights in Asia
Should I change my plan to the QATAR program?
Which one is better for a HK-based flyer?
CX or QR?
I am chasing for Emerald.
Thanks!
It's kinda sad as BA has the easiest and most achievable lifetime status that I want:(

BA flies SIN-SYD on their own metal. I don't know whether they codeshare on the QF flights also.

Depending on your flying patterns, you might look into crediting to Iberia Plus, which allows you to earn status without ever setting foot on an Iberia flight:

https://insideflyer.co.uk/2019/03/qa...f-iberia-plus/

("WHY QATAR AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS REGULARS MIGHT BE BETTER OFF WITH IBERIA PLUS")

BA code share SYD MEL flights, probably some other ex SYD AU domestic flights and some AKL flights. Maybe CHC?
Generally need to be a tag on to a BA operated flight. Being able to purchase a standalone code share flight is less common and subject to govt agreements (5th freedom etc)
https://www.auckland-airport.net/akl...ritish-airways

Well you could just visit Europe once a year, I've heard it's a decent place to visit.

QR has the same 4 segment requirement for status. Are you flying QR on at least 2 connecting flights per year?

Another question that props to mind is with BA, IB, QR and in near future AY all dealing with Avios, is there an arbitrage opportunity. As in would it better to accumulate miles in one program and spend it in another.

I am finding out i do not know much about IB, AY and QR FFP's.

If you have frequent-flyer accounts open and funded in each of those FFPs for at least 90 days, you should be able to transfer Avios between programs. You can fund an account by a transfer in from a credit-card program; you can also earn a few miles with BA or IB by taking a survey.

Each program has its own rules and fees. For example, a BA redemption on an AA domestic flight can be cancelled -- and your Avios refunded -- merely by forfeiting the $5.60 September 11 Security Fee paid when the award was booked; by contrast IB redemptions on AA are non-changeable/non-refundable.

I can surely do that!
Maybe I should just wait for the QR business sale?

You wouldn't even have to go to Europe. Travel to India or the Middle East via DOH would get you your four segments on QR.

I meant for BA actually, while both would grant Emerald status, one program might be more beneficial than the other.

For QR I was just looking at the site again, they count QR marketed flights as well, so that could well be on other OW airlines. I don't know if they count non-alliance partners like WB and PG if it's QR marketed but I suppose if those earn Q Points then it should still count. They don't actually have a hard rule of 4 / 8 segments in 12 or 24 months, interestingly it also allows 20% of Q Points earned to be on QR flights, though it's possible, I don't think most people would be earning 120 Q Points for Platinum (20% of 600) with less than 4 QR segments, though LAX-SYD via DOH certainly would do it, that'd be 176 Q Points on a D fare.

Yes definitely possible. QR has a distance chart just like BA but some of their redemptions are more attractive than BAEC and they also have different non-OW partners you can redeem on (like WB and PG). WB redemptions intra-Africa are particularly attractive since those are generally pretty expensive as revenue tickets. It's really hard to say what AY's chart will look like after the conversion, as of now it's generally not too attractive. IB I believe is the same as BA in terms of Avios needed but they might have lower YR / YQ charges than BA, I can't get into the site now to check, it says my password is expired and won't allow me to change it.

Non-OW partners though are pretty different on most of the Avios programs. BA has LA, FJ, and CZ that could be useful. IB has Vueling, Level, and Binter (as well as LA), AY has LA, HO (which is quite useful for intra-China and some Asia routes), and BRA (a Swedish regional), and QR has WB, PG, B6, ME, WY, and VA.

But you can move the Avios around 1:1 between all the Avios FFPs.

Correct, which is one of the beauties of the Avios programs. Their downside however is that they are all 2x the redemption rate that AA charges for long haul flights, but have access to some things that AA does not. Neither are perfect and is why I keep miles in both.

Tried inputting this itinerary in OW RTW tool. It gave a too many European segments for

HEL-DOH QR
DOH-DFW QR

Had to convert to HEL-DFW on AY in J.

By the way i am having too much fun playing with various itineraries.

So i should i just ignore the OW RTW tool.

I could not pull up EZE-GIG BA segment. The flight starts 23rd October...and my date was in April.
I also ended up with 19 segments...the tool said it could be max 16 segments. So routings like LAX-DOH was only giving me an option in Y. For J i had to pick a flight via DFW.

Also i read somewhere that the RTW trip, the 12 month clock starts from time you book and not the time you start your trip. Is that true ?

Technically you have 1 year from the date your ticket is issued to start your journey. You have 1 year from your first flight to complete your xonex.
From the User Guide:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onew...ml#Section%202

So the later dates i make up and change accordingly when i start my journey. Can you keep making changes to dates at will ?

Yeah, you can change dates as much as you please within the ticket validity. But best to ask questions on the mechanics in the other thread for that topic since it sounds like now you've settled on your FF plan choice. The link above is a good thread for that type of question and the guide itself will teach you about the ins and outs of date changes and ticketed point changes (one is free, one has a fee).

Stick with Alaska?
 

My home is in Seattle, so at this point I've stuck w/ Alaska, but I'm wondering if I'm missing a better option. Especially w/ potentially impending increase in business travel. Here's the standard questions:

Questions
For members asking for information, to help people to assist you, can you please provide:
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades and redemption are probably my biggest. I currently earn a lot of mile on the credit card, and would love to be using that more effectively.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Generally in the 20-25k range (although this may be increasing quite a bit in the next few years for business).

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
I often fly Business/First domestic, and Econplus/Business on long haul when it makes sense.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I can roughly pick that. Currently i mostly fly for personal, but will likely be increasing my work travel soon (4ish international flights, 4ish domestic)

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Usually Alaska domestic, American often is my backup. Usually British in EU/UK, and of course JAL for Japan. I'm usually in Vegas once or twice a year, Japan every other year (but may be increasing to 1-2 a year) and Europe once a year (again, may be increasing)

(6) What is your home airport?
SEA

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
Alaska MVP. 300k Alaska miles, 50k British Avios

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
I tend to like the ones i mentioned i fly, and have often felt like it's just harder on Delta/United. Most common: alaska, american, british, JAL

I know I'm not a huge whale, but i do tend to put 75-100k/yr through my alaska card, and am a little curious if there's a better option that can point that at direct status. Thanks for any advice!

If you switch your spending to a qualifying Barclays or Citi AA card, you would easily get oneworld Sapphire status through AA from your credit-card spend alone. Add in your flights, and achieving oneworld Emerald should be no problem.

But there are other credit cards which can be more lucrative than the Barclays/Citi AA cards. But those cards won't help you achieve status with AA.

And if you usually fly Business/First domestically, getting status -- with either AA or AS -- won't do much for you. Mid-level or higher status with BA would get you lounge access when flying domestically. But for a lot of U.S.-based travelers, BA Avios are less valuable than AA or AS miles.

Hi We have some upcoming flights and deciding between CX or AA for FFP
Usually we fly on Star Alliance but going to try CX (SIN to ICN) and QR (ICN to MUC)
Did some research but not decided on which is better for Oneworld FFP to be used between Asia/Europe

CX
- Higher point cost between Asia and Europe, compared to AA
- Able to select JL F 330 days in advance but higher cost
- Short miles expiry but able to extend through mall purchase of items?

AA
- Lower redemption cost for JL
- Short miles expiry but able to purchase points to extend?
- Able to select QR redemption

Thanks!

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Able to redeem Business or First

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Maybe once or twice a year, usually SIN to/from ICN

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Economy for short flights and Business for longer

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Pleasure
Able to choose airline and class

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
ICN and SIN
SQ and KE

(6) What is your home airport?
ICN

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
With SQ and KE

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
SQ and KE

Note:

1. AA miles expire 24 months after the last account activity (earning or redeeming). Since all AAdvantage flight awards are now fully refundable up until departure, it's hard to imagine anyone letting AAdvantage miles expire.

2. AAdvantage does not pass along carrier surcharges on any awards, except when traveling on BA or IB.

3. EY is one of AAdvantage's non-oneworld partners.

Due to forthcoming capping of AFKL Flying Blue surplus XP coming over the next few years, in 2024 I can push to accelerate getting FB Platinum for Life two years early. Then will have SkyTeam Elite Plus without re qualification considerations and can consider others (non SkyTeam) if prices/schedules suit better but still fly SkyTeam when suits and get the perks. I can equally ask this of Star Alliance.
Do not expect to attain top tier in another FFP, so aim for mid-tier. Logically it'd be BAEC Silver, but BA abandoned eastbound long haul to QR, and 2x ~7hr flights to SE Asia is less preferable for sleeping than a 12-13hr flight overflying the Middle East.
In terms of redeemable FB Miles, what I have accumulated I have used for family (not my) flights, so I wanted to earn on my flights.

1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Dedicated phone support, free seat selection at time of booking, priority queues/boarding/baggage, lounge. Cross earning at a hotel brand is nice (eg AFKL & Accor)
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
3 or 4 long haul holidays each year on average. Occasional intra-Europe long weekend trip.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Cheapest business fare I can find. Economy fares if status benefits can get me perks.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Fully my choice as all leisure. Business class if I can afford it. Only fly economy class if status benefits can get me perks.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Mostly to South East Asia, occasionally to Japan/South Korea. Often position into mainland Europe to start a long haul due to high UK fares and taxes.
(6) What is your home airport?
Ideally LGW (nearest to home but practically useless) so it is LHR.
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
BA Blue (only done an economy class pre-covid to/from BKK, worst flight experience ever on old B772!). AFKL Platinum (which is SkyTeam Elite Plus), will make Platinum for Life on January 2025, ~300k FB Miles and climbing.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Any SkyTeam (flown mostly AFKL, but also some on KE, MU/FM, MF, CI, VN, GA, SV)

BA IB IE QR Qatar and next year AY uses avios as the common ff currency. With BA IB IE QR avios can be moved between the airline ffp, but not status. But status recognised by the others.

With BAEC will need mid tier BAEC Silver / OW sapphire for those status objectives in Q1.
Check the BAEC status earning rules when flying QR (---->BA forum and BAEC web site)
BAEC has "own flight rule" for status. IB does not. No idea for QR status.

I'd very unlikely be flying BA, but they require 4 qualifying flights per year for Silver. Would you recommend that BAEC is most appropriate FFP in this case even though I'd fly to South East Asia?

So consider QR or IB ffp.
The airline you fly and ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be the same airline.
Any ff miles/points/avios from credit card spend (branded cc or transfers),
Check expiry is you have avios in BAEC

QR also has a 4 flight minimum or 20% QR code (I forget if it's code only or code and metal). Most people would hit 4 segments before 20% but you could do it in theory with something like LAX-DOH-SYD having only 2 QR segments but well over the 20% threshold for the required QPoints. It's 600 for Platinum, but not sure for the lower tier. LAX-DOH-SYD is 176 Q points on a D fare, well over the 120 needed to cross the 20% threshold.

Are there any US based fliers who have made a jump from AS/AA to a non-US based OW program?
Would be interested in any anecdotes/DPs, thanks.

I think a major question is what are your motivations? Domestic lounge access?

Qualification is rarely easier, earnings aren't really better unless you're specifically targeting Avios earnings (it's still not better, just different currency), and award charts generally quite as good outside of 'sweet spots'. I definitely use BA/QR as supplementary programs, but keep AA as my primary for a multitude of reasons mostly noted above.

Personally I don't care about domestic upgrades as I seldom fly domestic so it's not a big deal and often just buy F when I do. I also don't care about domestic lounge access since my purely domestic itineraries are even rarer. But AA's award chart in many regions is pretty competitive and awards that don't touch North America are readily available on partners for good redemption value. AA's EXP line is excellent, UA's 1K too, not sure which is better in my experience.

I honestly can't imagine jumping ship for anything except BAEC Gold or QR Platinum, but the use case would need to be more specific vs. flying a lot of OW partners as I tend to do.

I can make a similar argument for AS but we don't know the new award chart yet, it could tank the program's appeal or they could take a similar chart to AA. But with the removal of required segments, their top tier is extremely easy to achieve this year.

mildfrequence A long time ago (when FF programs were "different") I joined both the AA and QF programs. The former because it "rewarded" travel in the Y cabin between my new and old countries much better and the latter because there were always some fare classes that would only credit to the local program.
But time offers the opportunity for change and the airlines continue to refine how they wish to entice their customers (and increase their profits).
Though I now have lifetime OW Ruby in both the AA and QF programs, obtaining that was never the final goal of the annual re-qualification exercise. Lounge access on international trips made and does make journeys more pleasant and (well historically) the chance of an award seat or upgrade was/may be a plus. But age is presenting fewer options for travel.
The question which is perhaps most applicable would be: Would you/could you fly the non-USA airline enough to obtain at least the initial status level (and get a modest earnings boost or even lounge access)? Are you able to access and use the special offers the FF program will periodically present?
May you find a program that presents opportunities for inexpensive and pleasant wandering
Fred

New Year, New FFP
 

After a way too long hiatus, I am looking forward to resuming RTW travel in 2024 via a DONE3 (or 4). The initial goal of this RTW trip is to quickly obtain OWE status but I am in need of some advice and wisdom on the merits of starting "green" in one of the Avios programs or whether to continue to credit miles (loyalty points) to AA. I am primarily based in the US but also have family in Spain where I visit several times a year. Given the widespread devaluation of miles/points, and an existing balance with AA of ~900k miles, I just don't know if it makes sense to start fresh with another FFP (?). Again, my focus is to re-acquire OWE status (i had a good 15 year run as an EXP up until 2017) and maintain that through annual DONE3-4 trips for mostly personal travel.

Jumping ship from CX Marco Polo to QR Privilege Club?
 

Really struggling here (although if this is my biggest problem right now I should be so lucky lol).

I’ve managed to maintain CX Gold / OW Sapphire for the last 8 years or so. Diamond/OW Emerald has never been within my reach with CX. I was primarily flying CX J twice a year JFK-HKG-KUL then a handful of J flights to Europe, primarily London and then wherever I decide to go on a whim. Smattering of domestic travel typically in Economy unless I need to the points for status.

Ever since Covid, I have been finding more affordable J fares on other airlines, namely QR. Plus when I did the calcs, it seems I may be able to reach QR Platinum / OW Emerald easier than CX Diamond, although it will take some effort and not a guarantee. I can probably also comfortably remain CX Gold, or comfortably reach QR Gold as well. Mainly because I will likely fly NYC-KUL 3x a year.

To me the big risk is the QR requirement of 4 segments or 20% on QR/QR marketed flights. CX doesn’t have that requirement (or at least that I’m aware of.. haven’t flown them since 2019!). I will be able to achieve this this year but not sure if it will always work out to be the case future years.

Main question: is OW Emerald worth it to try and make it there/switch loyalty, or should I stay content with OW Sapphire and hang on with CX? I’m not a fan of hopping around these programs so I’m inclined to just stick with CX but I am a little tempted to switch and try to make it to OW Emerald on QR since it feels doable.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Priority treatment in rebooking due to travel disruption/general hope for better overall customer service. I also haven’t been maximizing redemption but would like to start doing this. Nice to haves: Lounge access, upgrades

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: Minimum ~40,000 (always fly RT twice NYC-KUL, but will likely be over 50,000 comfortably annually starting this year given increased travel to KUL

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Business - assuming I can keep finding affordable long haul fares! They have really been going up last few months. May need to drop to PE and then use points to upgrade

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Personal - not always for pleasure lol but it’s not for work so yes, I can choose my airlines

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply: NYC-KUL, NYC-LHR, NYC-random European cities. Some random domestic travel

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: JFK, EWR is ok. LGA for domestic

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
Reply: CX Marco Polo Club Gold/OW Sapphire

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: This is tricky. Last couple of years split between Singapore and Qatar. Handful with AA, BA, Delta. Some with United. Basically was flying cheapest J I could find without heeding FFP and somehow Cathay still maintained my status but I doubt they will keep this up.

TIA! Welcome any thoughts/opinions.

Have a look here:

https://insideflyer.co.uk/2019/03/qa...f-iberia-plus/

("WHY QATAR AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS REGULARS MIGHT BE BETTER OFF WITH IBERIA PLUS")

In short, flying long-haul Business Class on oneworld carriers -- and crediting those flights to IB -- can get you status pretty quickly. No IB flights required. ;)

Oh dear, my head is spinning again lol.

So based on the Iberia Elite Points calculator, it says that for OW partner airlines, flights over 6,000 miles earn 600 Elite Points, and flights 3,001-6,000 miles earn 500 Elite Points. So on a RT flight JFK-DOH-KUL, I would earn 2,200 Elite Points (JFK-DOH is 6,704 miles and DOH-KUL 3,673 miles). And your point (hah) is that if I do three of these, I would be at 6,600 Elite Points and meet the requirement for Platino / OW Emerald, right? 🤔 I hadn’t even considered it, never flown Iberia and not sure I ever will, so this feels funny to me. But something to consider!

Thank you! 🙏🏼

You're welcome!

JFK-TYO-KUL would also work (but might require an airport change at TYO). JFK-HKG-KUL would yield fewer Elite points because of the shorter HKG-KUL leg.

Of course, a NYC-Western Europe roundtrip in J would earn 1,000 Elite points -- and maybe more, if there were a connection at either end. ;)

So even with just two roundtrips to KUL, you'd still have a decent shot at achieving oneworld Emerald status. Note, however, Iberia's Elite-point earning period: April 1-March 31.

Oh yes, I did see this and meant to ask. Do you know if IB go by flight date or by crediting date? I have a QR flight in Feb, JFK-DOH-KUL. If I don’t submit that for FF crediting until after April 1, would that count in that period or do they back date to February 2024?

It's the flight date that will count.

And from what I have read is the local scheduled time-date of departure. Not actual time, which could be say be after mid night on the next calendar day.
But airline IT systems are not very robust.

Ah, thank you both. Slight wrinkle then as I currently have a JFK-BCN round trip on AA from New Year’s and the upcoming JFK-DOH-KUL round trip on QR in February that I’m saving for crediting. Hmm, have to do some more thinking then 🤔

Well, just the one roundtrip on QR, coupled with just the BCN-JFK flight on AA (if you have not yet flown that leg) would get you Iberia Plus Oro (oneworld Sapphire).

And for Coach travel on AA, status with IB or QR is superior to status with CX: IB and QR elites get access to free, Main Cabin Extra (extra-leg-room) seats on AA; CX elites do not:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...42df1a2b11.png

I just did the JFK-BCN trip over New Year’s (big snafu coming back that had me ranting all over the AA board btw lol) but didn’t credit either leg anywhere yet. So actually I think I would be at 3,200. I didn’t even bother to look because I’m already OW Sapphire through end of the year with Cathay. I had no idea about the differentiation on AA like that. That’s so random, no?