Recommended F.F program for DONE4 trip?
 

Guys,

I’m new Flyertalk but I have being really enjoying the forum. Got some great hints for my RTW trip from reading all the threads.

I have question however regarding the different F.F programs run by the OW airlines. I have just booked a OWE DONE4 for my RTW trip and I’m wondering which airline I should register with for frequent flyer miles. As this is my first large trip I would like to join a F.F program.

My DONE4 Itinerary is as follows:
DUB-LON-HKG-CMB-BKK//SIN-DPS-PER//SYD-AYQ-SYD-CHC//AKL-SCL-IPC-SCL-LPB//CUZ-LIM-AEP//RIO-LON-DUB

I am currently living in Ireland but I’m not too sure about the Aer Lingus F.F program! Would you recommend to register with my home carrier or would I be better registering with BA’s F.F program?

Thanks for your help
- Enda

Welcome to Flyertalk, Enda.

Tab (along with Iberia Plus) are indeed OW FFPs that you are better off avoiding.
To some extent, it depends on the general pattern of your flying beyond the RTW. BA is a possibility but you may also want to consider AA.
If you consider the latter, you may want to read up on the Gold/Plat challenge for accelerated elite qualification on the AAdvantage board (see, in particular, this thread.

Interesting routing .... presumably you really wanted to visit these cities and none of this is a mileage run (as an aside all but 2 of your sectors are optimized for the most uncomfortable business class flights on OW ... so at the end of your trip please don't blame Oneworld, most OW flights are more comfortable than your choices in terms of equipment and service). Probably QF is your best choice in FF plan, but it really depends on objectives and future travel. AA tends to be the best value (benefit per mile flown). AY also has some good points, esp. if you will fly AY periodically. So you should research AA/AY/BA/QF and pick from those, the other OW plans are generally (much) less desirable -- but each plan has something that it is uniquely good at. I went through the same process a couple of years ago (when switching to OW) and wound up picking AA as primary, QF as secondary and BA as overflow.

The BA program will be a problem if you are unlikely to make the four aualifying BA flight (min fare type) in the following year's to be able to retain status. But if you are likley to fly a DONE4 each year, then that should not be too much of a problem so long as you route accordingly. But looking at your itinerary, there are possibly only two BA flights (assuming using Aer Lingus for DUB-LON-DUB).

Do you have any OneWorld status now? If not, the taking the AA Plat Challenge will get you lounge access for the Australian domestic sectors by the time you down here. Lounge access is not granted to business class passengers on domestic flights. But it is granted to OneWorld Saphire and Emerald members. And the Qantas Pubs are worthwhile visiting. It might seem strange since there are no AA flights on your itinerary!

Note that most of the OneWorld (perhaps all?) programs require a minimum of 4 sectors per year on your selected airline to retain status. BA seems to be the most stringent about applying that rule. I have not heard of others enforcing it, but it is generally written into their rules. And BA requires that those 4 flights be at a minimum fare level, so the cheap discount flights don't count (nor do they earn miles or status). They don't let you move up to the next status tier until you have completed the four BA qualifying flights, and you may lose a lot of status credits along the way while you wait since they reset back to zero from whatever level you have when you evenutally move up to the next tier.

So BA is good if you will be flying in premium classes (such as your DONE4) and can ensure you meet the 4 BA sector rule. AA is good to get OneWorld status quickly (via challenge). I don't think you have enough flights before you hit Australia to make AQF Gold (OneWorld Saphire), so again Qantas Club lounge access won't be available on domestic flights)

Be aware that QF may not operate D class on SYD-AYQ. It's regarded as a "leisure route" and are pulling Business on the 733s.

og

Sorry to take this off-topic, but do yuo have any more info as to if/when this is happening. I have SYD-AYQ booked for AUg 30 and back Sep 1 as part of DONE4 - currently showing as 738 with 12 business seats. Is this likely to change by then - don't want to be stuck in Y! :(