I know there's a lot of threads out there on this but it's a bit of a case by case basis and i'm trying to recommend something to my brother in law. Sorry in advance about the length of this post.

He's currently a Kris Silver member and mostly flies Singapore airlines because "Even Y class is very good with SQ provided you fly on A380 or their 777-300ER series it is the ER suffix that denotes that the interior has been upgraded eg all Y class seats have power supply, large screen, USB port to charge iphone or PDAs. On the A380 if you have a window seat upstairs you have a below window glovebox like in business class and only two seats along the windows so your not trapped against the window. All of these features make long haul flight enjoyable in Y class saving heaps of $$$$$."

He flying discounted Y from Australia to Europe and Middle East on a monthly basis and also flies a couple of times a year to Laos in C with Thai airways as it is easier than flying with Singapore airlines. He doesn't (somehow) think he will achieve enough EQM to get Gold with SQ so he's looking to see whether he's with the wrong program. Kris flyer program sucks as far as i can tell as it has no benefits unless he makes PPS (he was a couple of years ago when someone else was paying for his travel)

I thought BMI would be a great suggestion but now they have officially announced they are going to merge their FF with Luftunsa i think it's all over red roger on that front.

The important thing to him is getting *G and having decent redemption rates. Sounds like every FF dream right? BMI was this but now i'm trying to work out what the second best program is in *A for a mainly Y flyer? Any suggestions?

BMI only has this when you fly in higher classes. Otherwise a lot of cheap fares don't earn well on BD.

Maybe he should consider AC? Decent redemption levels and relatively easy to get to *G. An overall nice program.

I fly to Europe every second month and to Asia the others and where at all possible I fly THAI, initially because I couldn't afford Singapore, but now, mainly because TG looks after me.

I am gold with Thai and BMI but as you say BMI will be merging soon with M&M, RIP

I just joined Aegean with 1,000 miles bonus for sign up as from July 1st they are full * A member and amzingly you only need 20,000 miles to get the full Gold Card !!! I dont need it now but worried they might change the 20k rule when they realise the avalanche of new members they will get, so signed up now just in case.

They earn 200% miles with Thai in C class and depending what booking class with SQ 100% in economy.

You will not find better than this currently and their redemptions for *A flights are lower than Thai ROP also.

A no brainer as you might say.

Hope this helps

For non-elite, it makes no difference which *A you choose (as you are saving RDM).

For elites, it depends on the airlines policies on courtesy to elites, and how many EQM you can score a *G.

No offense, but some *A airlines does not give a fxck to *G at all, but the only guaranteed *A benefits. For example, SQ, NH, AC.

For example, if you simply want *G, Aegean Airlines may be the best (4000 EQM for *S, then additional 16000 EQM for *G).

But in your case, if you expect some perks (and SQ is willing to do it), then KrisFlyer will be still your own choice.

It makes a huge difference as a non frequent flyer which program to join.

Yeah but you know as well as i do that SQ doesn't care about their Gold members and only about PPS members.

I think Aegean Airlines might be great for *G but it's another 19,000 miles wasted which probably doesn't have the best burn ratios as AC right? I'm thinking AC would be the best overall for him based on it's *G and burn ratios. Would this be correct?

From their redemption table, A3's redemption rates are comparable to SQ's. However, it is not clearly stated how long redemption miles are valid for, as well as whether bonus miles for flying on premium cabins will contribute to status miles, or merely provide redemption miles.