Buy Oneworld Ruby?
 

Anyone know of any FFP that would let you buy Oneworld Ruby status outright?

Based out of KUL with zero status on MH. I do however have 390 Tier Points in my BAEC account but still need 2 eligible flights to qualify for Bronze (Ruby) status. There are no cheap BA marketed flights that I can just hop on originating from KUL :(

The only reason I'm after Ruby is for the shorter check in queues.

Cheers

None.

How about looking at BA 5th Freedom flights?
Near KUL, this is the one to aim for. A return flight will get you Ruby.
Singapore - Sydney

If you are a frequent flyer, maybe you could plan a trip to Europe, and then do an intra-Europe return on BA?

Status match
 

I don't know if you would happen to have status in another alliance? In that case you could do a status match. BA won't allow you, AB does offer status matches. I'm not sure about MH.

Status match
 

DELETED -double

Ruby is IMO pretty pointless.

The only BA fifth freedom flight in Asia is SIN-SYD. All the others have been scrapped over the last years.

That said, IIRC you can however book a BA marketed flight (i.e. a flight sold to you with a BA flight number), which will count as qualifying segment. Question is if there's any cheap BA codeshare out of KUL.

Perhaps - unless priority boarding, (IIRC) extra baggage and better seating are of no use..

Thank you for all your input. I'm beginning a new job that will require some frequent travelling so the Ruby is really just for me to cut the check-in queues as they can be pretty long for MH.

I searched on BA and found KUL to USM (Koh Samui) which is operated by Bangkok Airways. But spoke to both travel agents and BA directly and they wouldn't sell it to me as it would need to be a international connection presumably only to/from LHR so seems like no more options for me :(

Correct - the SE Asia codeshares are for connections only. your only hope is Australia from SIN or back to LHR for your segments. For ruby alone that's maybe not worth it. If you were going to hit BAEC Silver it maybe is.

Priority boarding, extra baggage and better seating are no official OWR benefits. While some airlines grant such perks, others don't.

Last time I looked if you join Founderscard you could get oneworld ruby status with Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Silver. In effect this would be a way of purchasing status. I'm not sure it would be worth the cost though unless there are one of the other benefits of Founderscard that are of use to you though.

Personally, if status is important to you and will help considerably with travel in the next year, I`d skip Ruby, buy a ticket to Europe on BA in WT+ and get to Silver/OW Sapphire, which will confer lounge access.
Example: KUL-LHR-AMS next weekend, priced at less than 5k ringgit/900 pounds, gives 220 TP and get you up to silver. If you have any avios to spare, use avios + cash to bring the price down further.

Thanks for all the great advice. I really appreciate it

Trying a different approach. I now have UA Silver (*A Silver) and does anyone know which One World FFP may match to something equiv?

Thanks again!!

If you're going to do this, and just 'buy' status, get your flights in right at the start of your TP collection year if you can. Then you get he rest of that year + following year + 1 month of status for your money.

I agree BA silver is very good value and if you have to do a lot of Y travel then it would be worth the effort/cost.

Just 'bought' CX Silver through Founderscard. With one trip the fee was already worth it due to the free emergency exit rows. On top of that you get lounge if you fly CX + priority services. Other FC benefits include HH Gold and a SPG/Marriott Gold trial. For us, it was worth it but only because we were actually flying Cathay.