willfam3

LondonElite

For regular travel within Oz you’ll find it hard to steer clear of Qantas (note spelling). And with only one trip on US, your GS won’t do much for you.

garykung

I would remain everything as-is instead.

Your biggest problem is your travel will be significantly reduced. Take QF as an example, it takes 4 RT in full fare Y for you to earn a QF Silver (equivalent to UA Silver). So in this case, it will be difficult for you to earn similar level from QF.

AA could be a good alternative. However, the problem is EQD. Unlike UA, AA does not waive EQD requirement to those "outside" the U.S. Instead, AA calculate EQD based on portion of the flight miles of the partners instead.

NZ could be considered as well. Providing your company allows you to fly to Auckland and come back, which is unlikely IMO.

Mwenenzi

Welcome to Melbourne Oz (when you get here) ^
(It is mandatory to select an AFL footy team to support when you live in Melbourne. Your co-workers will explain this within 30 minutes of starting work, if they have not done so already.)
How long will you be in Australia for? Months or a few years or 5 years?

Does your employer have a preferred airline? Many to most large companies do. That may decide for you.
There are no Star Alliance domestic airlines in Australia (RIP Ansett)

If you have a choice, its QF (Oneworld: AA & AS partner) or VA (DL partner).
Also Jetstar (owned by QF) & Tiger (owned by VA), but avoid both if you can.

Air NZ is an extremely poor ffp, even compared to the poor QF ffp. And NZ does not fly domestically in Australia, even though they could if they wanted to. If flying VA very unlikely to earn NZ airpoints after October. Not that you want to.

Many medium~large companies have corporate lounge membership schemes. Paid by the company or discounted if you are employed by a less generous company.

For trips back to USA you have QF, AA, VA, UA, DL & HA and NZ via AKL. QF & VA have non stop flights from MEL. Transferring aircraft at AKL can be better than the domestic-international transfer at SYD. Air NZ business class is an OK product and flys non-stop to several USA airports. Business class airfares can be competitive.

And as above Quantas does not a u

Jimmie Jet

I’ve been an expat in Mel for almost 2years, I fly enough Qantas to get gold and then fly air NZ united to get the 1K

works out well well as you end up having benefits all around, I make my Perth visits via auckland so that racks up points but lately the Trent engines are down

dont pick the bombers as your team , they just had more drug problems

the saints are a good choice

Mwenenzi

QF gold get lounge access

1) good advice
2) bad advice

vbroucek

Don't forget, OP will have to learn about cricket too!

Mwenenzi

Of course. But some people do not comprehend 5 days test matches.
Always a test match at the 'G on Boxing Day ^

og

and new uses for sandpaper too !

willfam3

Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll try an AA Challenge and use OW status on Qantas. I know 1K or GS wont get me much in Australia, but this is most likely my best shot at getting GS and that would just be cool.

We already went to the Essendon/Melbourne footy match. The kid chose Melbourne as his team, but I was kinda partial to the Kanga's from watching them destroy the Hawks.

Really? Even I know they suck.

We are looking forward to Cricket, we are hearing 20's(?) are fun but wont be as good as baseball. (And I was in town during the Sandpaper / Underwear incident).

It will be interesting to see what AirNZ does after the VA split in OZ.

Thanks again.

akl_cat

NZ has stepped up their Trans-Tasman schedule post-break-up already. Highly unlikely they will enter the AU domestic market themselves (apart from the few odd routes from SYD and BNE to NLK). They simply don't have the size and the fleet to take on this market.

Jimmie Jet

As a note , Qantas just had their double status credit sale so with that I racked up 425 status credits in August flying Mel-bne-syd-mel-bne-akl-mel it was a 14 day journey but killed the path to gold on qantas as you only need 600 status credits to re-qualify after doing it the first year at 700 status credits. My trip to DOH tomorrow will hit the 500 at which you get a gift from qantas of 50 status credits

Long story short you only need 275 status credits to re-qualify if you book during the double status credit sale (600-50)/2

there were 2 sales in 2018 so far

Cheer for the Tigers this month.............

this gives you one world sapphire , so lounges baggage etc

Mwenenzi

A fine choice your kiddo made in selecting the mighty Melbourne Demons ^