Switch to QFF, stick with IB or what?
 

Hello everybody


I just booked a ARN-HEL-DEL return flight on AY.

This is my first oneworld flight in years, and in the future I’ll probably continue being a quite infrequent traveler on this fine alliance – maybe a flight a year or so.

Currently I’m enrolled in IB’s FFP, but I have almost no points (245) and they will expire at the end of the year anyway, so I thought I would join another program. QFF came to mind because I can redeem QFF-miles on SK (my usual carrier), but do you guys think QFF would be a wise choice?

As I mentioned I’ll probably fly oneworld once or twice a year. Most probably AA, AY or BA. Sometimes longhaul – sometimes not. The goal is to redeem an intraeuropean flight from CPH at some point. I'll never get any status anyway.

What should I do?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Cheers

What class are you flying in on AY (which booking class if Economy)?

I'd say AA, even if you have to route via LHR for most intraeuropean redemptions; but whatever you do my suggestion is not to stay with IB, probably the worst FFP there is.

QFF is showing signs of enforcing the "4 flights a year on QF" requirement. So don't join QFF unless you plan to fly to Australia every year on QF. BA has enforced this 4 flight requirement for years, but other OW airlines have not (it has been in the rules for all OW FF plans for years). Something to consider when picking a plan (though this only affects status and not mileage expiration).

The OP is not looking for status so this argument may not apply.

If the OP is doing a mix of OW and SK, QF would be the obvious choice, although in most cases the AA programme is the best one out there.

Thanks for the input, everybody.

I'm in Z this time. All future trips will (probably) be in economy.

I didn't consider AA, but I'll definitely look into that. And no. Status is not a priority. I'll never get it on oneworld anyway (even though there are some pretty sweet AY-deals these days ...)

Sorry - Z is what on AY? On most OW airlines that's an award code.

Z is deep discount economy on AY (they never had an F, so felt free to recycle Z).

Yep, 1.0 miles, 0.50 EQP

Very deep. I paid about 220$ all in.

Wow, taxes are usually that much on most international tickets. Was this a EUR 1 promotional fare?

No. I don't have the email with me, but if I remember correctly about 170$ is fare, 10$ fees and 40$ taxes.

AY doesn't charge a fuel surcharge? surprising.