Which programme to join ?
 

I am a LH SEN and a *A customer usually.
Next week though I have an upcoming trip in J on QF:
FRA - SIN - MEL - ADL - SYD - SIN - FRA

After doing a search and reading the stickies I still can´t really figure out what to do.
I am not a member of any OW FF programmes.
Which OW programm should I join for this upcoming trip ?

I am most interested in best use of my OW miles for awards and possibly reaching a status with this trip.

So which programme do you recommend ?

Thanks for your help !

Others may correct me, but you'd earn enough Qantas status credits (SCs) for entry elite status with QFF (Oneworld Ruby - the lowest elite tier) - which IMO doesn't get you much as a European resident - no lounge access, etc., plus QF's redemption rates are nothing to shout about.

On the other hand as a European resident (lower threshold than UK/N. America residents) you'd earn more than enough British Airways tier points (TPs) for Silver status (Oneworld Sapphire - the middle tier) which comes with lounge access and other benefits that you'd be more likely to use as a EU resident.

However, to reach BAEC status you have to fly at least 4 segments on BA metal, so if it was me I'd put the miles toward BAEC membership, then when you return to Europe figure some inexpensive way to accumulate 4 BA flights (some very reasonably priced routes in J to/from LGW for example) and you'd be sitting pretty with BAEC. BAEC has some decent redemption alternatives including miles for upgrades that are fairly generous.

If you had time before the Oz trip, doing the BA segments before the longhauls would (I believe) increase your mileage yield as you'd hit status during the trip, thereby earning bonus miles from that point on. Others may correct me on this, however.

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Corrected - brain cramp.

Thank you for your answers !

So BAEC seems to be the way to go.

You mentioned that QF redemption rates are not too great.

Would you say that BAEC has good redemption rates compared to other OW airlines like Finnair or LAN ?

Note that in Business class, if crediting to Qantas you'd earn 660 QFF SC's; you only need 40 more for QFF Gold (QF SG) which does get lounge access.

That's only one* Business/First class segment on BA/QF/AA/CX etc anywhere to attain oneworld sapphire status and oneworld lounge access rights.

Also, if you join in April and subsequently attain status you will have it until at least end of April 2011.

*eligible flights {i.e. earns points/SC's} (or two full economy or four discount economy)