Help Picking *A FF program
 

Hello,
I am about to do quite a bit of flying with *A and I am looking to join the FF program (my wife and I are flying around the world next month). I currently live in the US, but I am moving and then living in Australia, so Krisflyer and New Zealand FFs are the obvious choices, but I would prefer to join a FF program where the points do not expire (if used once a year etc.).
I was looking into UA, as I can join and get 50K miles (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...promotion.html), and this would help me start with a nice number of miles.
From Australia I will be typically flying to Singapore at least once a year (on Y, sometimes twice or more), so I do not fly *A very often, but I would still like to get something out of it.

Would anyone have any suggestions on whether I should join UA or any of other *A FF program?
Thanks for all your help.

If your main objective is award flights and if you want miles which don't expire, then UA will be the program for you. Stay away from SQ and NZ as both programs have some particular issues which don't make them worthwhile unless you fly them really often.
If status is what you want, check our AC, TK and OZ. OZ has the easiest *G qualification (40k miles in two years) but AC has a very nice overall program with easy qualification and a good earn/burn ratio.
Also note that cheap fares on NZ don't earn any miles outside the NZ program.

I would give BMI's Diamond Club a look in your case. Although you mentioned you won't be flying much on *A I'm sure you still want to get something out of your miles, and with DC's miles&cash option you could get an award much quicker than with other FFPs.

On top of that miles don't expire if you have any account activity in the last 24 months.

The biggest perk though is that once you have Silver status (there are codes that show up which give you this right after registering), you will get a 25% bonus for flying any *A carrier. No other *A FFP offers this. :)

BD is a good choice but the OP would need to look carefully at the booking classes and airlines he is flying as BD often only has 50% mileage earning on discounted Y fares of some airlines.

Exactly, unless you regularly fly BD, its best to choose something else. Becuase they only count your full miles when you fly with them, and the thread starter said he'll mainly be flying in the Asia/Pacific region.

Thanks for your help - OP
 

Thanks for all your help everyone.
I have decided to go with the UA option, as the 50K miles are a good bonus. This was just before the US takeover was announced.
Oh well.