Best Program???
 

Hi there people...

Newbie here and suggested by my bother (thadocta) to ask this question here...

I am about to book my trip and I have extended it a little (ok, a lot) after attending a Turf Research Conference in Santiago...

So far, the agent has me 'booked' on the following:

SYD>AKL(QF) AKL>SCL(LAN) SCL>MAD>AMS(IB) AMS>NRT(JL) NRT>SYD(JL)

After thinking about it, and from what I have heard about IB (12hr flight without PTV is a bit long; thoughts?) I am now thinking doing SCL>GIG(LAN) and then GIG>LHR(BA) instead of through MAD.

SOOOOOOO, with all of that in mind, and the fact that I am a Skwards, JMB & Eurobonus member, what options do I have to maximise reward miles for this trip?

Thanks in advance

Bernie

What class of travel, and most importantly what fare class are you booked in?

This will dictate which programme you should join.

Generally speaking, AA has the best programme, but as your Oz based, QF might be best particularly if you can amass points through a credit card.

He'll be back to answer himself, but it will be in WHY.

Looking at great circle distances, it comes to 25,735 miles going through GIG and LHR. Looks to me like an LGLOB26 might fit the bill.

For the original itinerary (via MAD to AMS), this comes to 25,561 miles, and again, with five stopovers, an LGLOB26 would work.

Not sure of pricing, but would an LGLOB26 be better than a LONE4?

Looking at miles earnt, on the new itinerary via LHR, AA would earn 17,426 miles, based on 50% earn on QF, 100% on LA, 25% on BA and 70% on JL. Crediting to QF however would earn 15,934 miles, based on 100% on both QF and LA, and 50% on both BA and JL, so creditting to AA is, to me, a no brainer, you can do a lot more with 17K AA miles than you can with 15K QF miles.

Not too sure about JL Mileage Bank though, as an existing member it might be worth checking out the earn rate. I tried looking, but the JL website is too clunky to navigate around when pressed for time (which I am) - I'll leave that for others (pahing number_6).

Dave

Ok, I now have an amended booking, and I have reduced the amount of flights due to it becoming to difficult, and increased the amount of days staying in locations. I have had to be as restrictive on dates, as I could be taking up a position in Doha in late Aug or early Sept. Details are as follows:

SYD>SCL (via AKL) QF (L)
SCL>MAD IB (L)
MAD>LHR BA (L)
LHR>SYD (via BKK) QF (L)

So now the question is, 'which' program should I join? Just yesterday, I took up the offer of free QFF with the main supermarket I shop at which is linked to my fuel card, but this doesn't necessarily mean I should take up the QFF for this trip...

Thanks in advance!!

Maybe somebody can help me, I will have a couple of flights with oneworld carriers in the near future (BA &AY). These are my first flights for years which are not on *A, so I do know nothing about OW loyalty programs. What do you think will fit me best? I only fly paid J class, mainly to Asia and the US. And it looks like I will have at least 3/4 flights on AY C till Mar 2010 (they fares are unbeatable at the moment). Any suggestions?

I suggest to change SCL-MAD from IB to LA. Also I guess the AKL-SCL is a LA metal (QF codeshare).

Probably a good idea - since both LA and IB pay 100% miles to QFF (which is probably going to be his plan of choice, now that all but MAD-LHR will be paying 100% miles), LA looks to be a better option than IB as far as inflight service goes.

[EDIT]Actually, there's a thought, if MAD-LHR could be switched to IB, rather than BA, he will get full miles for the sector rather than 25% (if creditting to QF).[/EDIT]

Dave

Most carriers require 4 segments on their own equipment in order to attain elite status, so it sounds like your best bet will by AY's program since most of your long-distance flying will be with them.

If you live in Europe and not the UK or N. America, BA offers reduced requirements to reach elite status - three or four long-haul trips in J would get you to BA Silver (Oneworld Sapphire) and half way to Gold (Emerald) - the highest elite tier. However you'd need to fit 4 flights on BA metal into each quest for status - 4 for Silver, another 4 for Gold, but the benefits would be pretty good.

Likewise AA has a challenge program to make Platinum (OW Sapphire) that requires using AA flight nos. to accumulate 10,000 EQP within 3 months. If you're sticking with AY you won't have the chance to use AA codes (unless you do some premium-cabin flying within N. America) so while the AA program has some great redemption features, that might not work either.

Do you live in Europe or elsewhere?

*got more or less the same Q, so I'll join this one*

I am going to do a rather large run (all on Cathay) to Asia. Amsterdam to Vietnam via Hong Kong and on to Auckland and back to Amsterdam.

Which of the FF programs gives the most rewards (and I want to spend the miles on stuff, not on flights) and actually delivers in my low country?

Thanks in advance... CX seems nice looking forward to it.

And I'll repsond in the same way as traveloguy did to the op!

What class (and booking class, if economy) are you travelling in.