Need Help - Which Program to Recommend?
 

Hi *A experts!

I'm a TA and have booked some good friends on flights to Europe on TG. See this thread for a run down on what they're doing - http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=809991.

Basically, parents flying AKL-BKK in J, BKK-ZRH in F, FCO-BKK in F, BKK-AKL in J. All TG flights. Daughter is flying Y same routing.

Family is based in AKL and fly frequently to SYD (wife basically fortnightly). Husband is SQ (Silver I think). Wife and daughter will join *A. Wife travels frequently and is QF OW Gold.

Which airline's program is better for them to join? I worked it out and I think the daughter would get to *A Silver if she joined ROP (TG requires only 10k or 15k in points) but she'd just miss if she went KrisFlyer. The wife would miss just miss Gold on both (I think she'd get around 44k with bonuses). However, does SQ work on a calendar year? The flights are split with outbound in December and inbound in January. I know Thai is a revolving 12-month block from date of first flight.

The family is NOT fans of NZ so I'm not going to both suggesting AirPoints Dollars unless it would push wife to Gold somehow. As a side note, NZ doesn't give points for cheapest trans-Tasman whereas QF does therefore it would be doubtful *A membership would be used often for her frequent short-haul travel.

Let me know if I need to clear anything up for you.

What is their ability to earn points via a credit card and do they spend enough on a credit card to make it worthwhile would be my first question. Usually best to park your miles where you can earn the most for future rewards.

Air Canada and Turkish have some of the lowest Star gold earning/maintenance in the Star Alliance for people who only purchase econo tickets if getting lounge access is your primary goal. Check out my comparison chart.

If Wife & Daughter are going to fly on *A carriers regularly from now on, the ROP system is fair, given the free upgrade on getting Gold status. But I'd argue that having Silver status on TG means absolutely nothing other than 10KG extra luggage allowance.

If the short-haul flights are going to be on *A carriers but in Business or First, or they're going to continue flying OW carriers for the most part, for these flights I would just join whichever *A FFP offers the 300% miles for F seats (why I dump miles into BD for example, although I know you also get 300% for F on LH too). Then use those miles in future for free flights or upgrades.