Which is the right FF program for me?
Jul 25, 2003 | 10:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: JER
Programs: BA GGL&CCR, LH HON, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 148
Which is the right FF program for me?
I am BA gold, doing about 5-8 longhauls in J per year (on BA), mostly Europe-India and Europe-Caribbean (on BA/AA) and a lot of UK-Europe, about half in full-fare Y and half in C (or I, for that matter), on BA as well and the occasional leisure travel in whatever is cheap.
While I like BA NCW
, really their FF program is not too exciting and I was wondering switching to QF or AA with the 100% Emerald bonus, a lifetime elite on QF, etc. However, as I am not travelling to Oz at all, could I just use code-share segments QF/BA to make up the 4 segments required per year? 4 AA segments is no problem.
Any thoughts what would be the best match? Maybe another OW member?
Could I just call and get comped or do I have to earn up first until I can enjoy priviliges?
While I like BA NCW
, really their FF program is not too exciting and I was wondering switching to QF or AA with the 100% Emerald bonus, a lifetime elite on QF, etc. However, as I am not travelling to Oz at all, could I just use code-share segments QF/BA to make up the 4 segments required per year? 4 AA segments is no problem.Any thoughts what would be the best match? Maybe another OW member?
Could I just call and get comped or do I have to earn up first until I can enjoy priviliges?
Jul 25, 2003 | 12:09 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MEL/LAX
Programs: AAdv GLD(MM), QF LTS, UA MP_nada, HH Gld, SPG, GoldenCircle Jade
Posts: 4,478
1. Based on your travel you will need 7 LHR-DEL in J round trips to get QF Platinum, or 5 LHR-DEL J round trips and 4 Y roundtrips Uk-Europe (greater than 1000 miles each way). Sounds like you won't have a problem.
2. As far as I know QF won't comp you to Plat just because you have BA Gold - but I may be wrong - you may want to try by showing them your travel plans for the upcoming year.
3. In terms of the transition, I would suggest doing it from the beginning of your BA EC status year - that way you keep your emeral status on BA and enjoy the benefits of OW Emerald while you attain QF Plat.
4. Bonus miles - assuming you won't be comped, you will very quickly get to QF Gold (3 LHR-DEL J roundtrips) which will give you 50% status bonus - what you get as BA Gold. So your miles opportunity cost will be marginal.
5. The 4 QF segment rule is very inconsistently enforced, and many FTers have stated that it isn't. If you want to be safe, only QF operated flights qualify for the 4 segment rule (The T&Cs state "On Qantas or wholly owned subsidiary" but I believe it has been interpreted to mean QF metal).
6. On the other hand you can enroll in AA Plat Challenge and just after one LHR-DEL J roundtrip you would attain Plat and the 100% miles bonus. You could then go on to qualify for EXP as usual (again you won't have a problem). Only thing against AA is that any transatlantic flight between Uk and US on BA won't count towards your miles or status - ie you are forced to fly AA transatlantic.
7. The major benefit of AA EXP is the upgrades you receive every year (which apparently are much easier to use than QF UCs).
2. As far as I know QF won't comp you to Plat just because you have BA Gold - but I may be wrong - you may want to try by showing them your travel plans for the upcoming year.
3. In terms of the transition, I would suggest doing it from the beginning of your BA EC status year - that way you keep your emeral status on BA and enjoy the benefits of OW Emerald while you attain QF Plat.
4. Bonus miles - assuming you won't be comped, you will very quickly get to QF Gold (3 LHR-DEL J roundtrips) which will give you 50% status bonus - what you get as BA Gold. So your miles opportunity cost will be marginal.
5. The 4 QF segment rule is very inconsistently enforced, and many FTers have stated that it isn't. If you want to be safe, only QF operated flights qualify for the 4 segment rule (The T&Cs state "On Qantas or wholly owned subsidiary" but I believe it has been interpreted to mean QF metal).
6. On the other hand you can enroll in AA Plat Challenge and just after one LHR-DEL J roundtrip you would attain Plat and the 100% miles bonus. You could then go on to qualify for EXP as usual (again you won't have a problem). Only thing against AA is that any transatlantic flight between Uk and US on BA won't count towards your miles or status - ie you are forced to fly AA transatlantic.
7. The major benefit of AA EXP is the upgrades you receive every year (which apparently are much easier to use than QF UCs).
Jul 25, 2003 | 5:38 pm
#3
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Boca Raton, FL DL FO/MM AA EXP SPG PLT
Posts: 968
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by alect:
Only thing against AA is that any transatlantic flight between Uk and US on BA won't count towards your miles or status - ie you are forced to fly AA transatlantic.
</font>
Only thing against AA is that any transatlantic flight between Uk and US on BA won't count towards your miles or status - ie you are forced to fly AA transatlantic.
</font>