QantasA333 From Australia, joined Jan 2007, 526 posts, RR: 2 Posted (4 months 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1069 times:
I am hopefully due to fly on SAS in December and was enquiring about which Star Alliance FF program I should join? There's no point flying the flight without getting some points out of it. Considering *A has the most members I will probably fly with them again in the future (SQ, NZ especially with ADL flights).
LOWS From Austria, joined Oct 2011, 611 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (4 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 1046 times:
I've been a member of LH/OS Miles and More for a while now and last year made Gold, but the service has not been the best. I was so upset with service I've gotten about flight credit, etc. It seems like when you email them with a problem, they just repeat back everything you said and consider the matter closed.
EuroBonus from SAS has lower qualifying thresholds and I understand, better service.
jetlag73 From France, joined Sep 2011, 64 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 months 19 hours ago) and read 929 times:
I'm SQ *G for 5 years now, and I can't say its anything special (I travel in Y most times) :
- Lounge in SIN is the *G lounge, which is quite bad. Access to Silverkris lounge is not allowed to Y class *G.
- Never any upgrades (some other do, like TK, SAS, or even TG)
- Their new website is a mess, the old one was miles ahead.
SQ has such a large paying premium customer base that *G (usually frequent Y flyers) seems to be a liability for them.
Even PPS member (paying J flyers) complain about their once cherished FFP.
I would recommend TG, if you are commuting Oz-Asia-Europe.
*G at TG enjoy better recognition.
AustrianZRH From Austria, joined Aug 2007, 1186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 months 12 hours ago) and read 900 times:
The UA/CO/US programs have the advantage that they do not charge you fuel surcharges when booking any award flight. If you want to go for status, A3 would be an option with only 20,000 miles required for Star Alliance Gold status (valid for one year after qualification).
NZ is probably the easiest for you if you want to get additional miles in Australia by credit card/insurance offers/shopping offers/etc as NZ will probably have most non-flying offers of all *A carriers there.
WARNING! The post above should be taken with a grain of salt! Furthermore, it may be slightly biased towards A.
QantasA333 From Australia, joined Jan 2007, 526 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (4 months 8 hours ago) and read 882 times:
Quoting AustrianZRH (Reply 3): NZ is probably the easiest for you if you want to get additional miles in Australia by credit card/insurance offers/shopping offers/etc as NZ will probably have most non-flying offers of all *A carriers there.
The only downside to that is the $20 annual fee. With QFF and Virgin Velocity I don't pay an annual fee. What are the benefits of an annual fee over none?
AustrianZRH From Austria, joined Aug 2007, 1186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (4 months 8 hours ago) and read 876 times:
Quoting QantasA333 (Reply 4): The only downside to that is the $20 annual fee.
I only just saw that, I didn't think there was an FFP charging their members... I probably wouldn't use them in that case, also because many booking classes are excluded for earning miles, more than e.g. with Miles and More or Mileage Plus, what I saw in the T&C.
WARNING! The post above should be taken with a grain of salt! Furthermore, it may be slightly biased towards A.
MH017 From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 1566 posts, RR: 29 Reply 7, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 834 times:
BMI's Diamond Club has some easy/low mileage rules when it comes to status...
Don't know, though, if it's acceptable for you in Australia; I was a Dutch member with Bmi until they closed their AMS-LHR v.v. route and everyone in their program was FORCED to go to Lufthansa's Miles&More !!!
QantasA333 From Australia, joined Jan 2007, 526 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 832 times:
Quoting QantasA333 (Reply 6): So it would probably be best to join the Eurobonus program?
Well I think I will join SK 'EuroBonus' as it seems the simplest way for me to get to a higher membership level through Star Alliance members in Asia/Pacific Region. Does anyone know if there is a expiry date of miles/points?
Coal From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1522 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 825 times:
Quoting jetlag73 (Reply 2): I would recommend TG, if you are commuting Oz-Asia-Europe.
*G at TG enjoy better recognition.
Really? Can you elaborate? I used to be PPS Club then got downgraded to Elite Gold (*G) for the last few years and other than the crappy lounge and checking in at door 5 T3, there's not much to it. Then again I hardly ever fly through BKK, so would there be any benefits in switching?
Quoting AustrianZRH (Reply 3): The UA/CO/US programs have the advantage that they do not charge you fuel surcharges when booking any award flight.
Really? That is awesome. I just booked an award flight on SQ SIN-ICN-SFO-HKG-SIN for which the taxes were USD70 (Acceptable) and the fuel surcharges were USD450 (!!!).
AustrianZRH From Austria, joined Aug 2007, 1186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 818 times:
Quoting Coal (Reply 9): Really? That is awesome. I just booked an award flight on SQ SIN-ICN-SFO-HKG-SIN for which the taxes were USD70 (Acceptable) and the fuel surcharges were USD450 (!!!).
Tell me about it... Booked an award flight on AC last year using Miles & More points. ZRH-FRA-YYC-YXY // YVR-LHR-GVA-ZRH. 60,000 miles and 590 CHF taxes and "fees" :P. A friend then advised me that Dividend Miles and Mileage Plus do not charge YQ - but unfortunately I make quite a part of my miles with credit card payments instead of flying, so I'm stuck with M&M.
WARNING! The post above should be taken with a grain of salt! Furthermore, it may be slightly biased towards A.
jetlag73 From France, joined Sep 2011, 64 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 802 times:
Quoting Coal (Reply 9): Really? Can you elaborate? I used to be PPS Club then got downgraded to Elite Gold (*G) for the last few years and other than the crappy lounge and checking in at door 5 T3, there's not much to it. Then again I hardly ever fly through BKK, so would there be any benefits in switching?
Hi Coal,
Well, lounges are miles better (showers, food, size), and you can use most of the Royal Orchid Lounges in the airport.
SQ reserves the Silverkris (in SIN only, granted) to J class, not *G.
SIN *G lounges have no (more) showers and no toilets. They are often overcrowded too.
About the flight itself, I've been upgraded more times on TG in 3 years than on SQ in 8 years ! And I fly 80% of the time with SQ.
I prefer the onboard service on TG, but granted their planes are not at SQ's level (except 77W)
The A380s and new A333 will change this too.
I also usually book A380 upper deck Y on my frequent flights SQ to CDG, but for my upcoming flight to CDG in 1 month, they use the full J upper deck, so I'm stuck downstairs...hmmm....then I prefer TG's 77W to Paris.
Redemption tickets are easier to book on TG (most show "not available" on SQ on saver/normal miles).
And SQ's new website is a catastrophe, cannot select the seat anymore (only aisle/window), most times credit card payment doesn't go thru, etc... full of bugs. The old was perfect, why the change ???
Finally, rates are usually 10-20% cheaper (for me at least) on TG.
The main reasons why I still use SQ is :
- it's still the best 'overall' in my mind (but you PAY MORE for that)
- it has 3-4 flights a day from my DPS home base, so it is more convenient for onwards connections (TG has a daily, and CX 10 times weekly) to Europe and China/HKG.
LAX888 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2010, 208 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 799 times:
I use the LX M&M programme and find it easy to reach Silver as you basically just need one long haul C Class ticket and then some flights here and there with *A to reach the 35'000 points. Also I qualified for Silver last September 2011 and my status is valid until Feb 2014, which is great, as you get it for 2 years at least.
However the thing is that unless you are *G, you do not get many benefits in *A with other members, if you are not traveling with the airline where you are a silver member (i.e. no lounge access, no C Class check-in etc.). Unless you are certain that you can reach *G, I would choose the airline, which you most likely will fly in the future.
jetlag73 From France, joined Sep 2011, 64 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 797 times:
Quoting LAX888 (Reply 13): Unless you are certain that you can reach *G, I would choose the airline, which you most likely will fly in the future.
Agree with that.
Also, like SQ, many airlines give you 25% extra miles (not qualifying miles, but OK for redemption tickets) if you are *S or *G and you fly with them. If you fly on a partner airline, you don't get the extra 25% miles.
jetlag73 From France, joined Sep 2011, 64 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 796 times:
Quoting Coal (Reply 9): I just booked an award flight on SQ SIN-ICN-SFO-HKG-SIN for which the taxes were USD70 (Acceptable) and the fuel surcharges were USD450 (!!!).
Yep, that's a killer.
I just paid 200 Euro on tax + fuel on a SQ award ticket DPS-SIN-CDG for my wife, for a ONE WAY ticket !
Avianca From Venezuela, joined Jan 2005, 5643 posts, RR: 47 Reply 16, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 771 times:
well the fuel surcharges are a joke!
with LAN Pass for example you pay nearly nothing for example on a LIM-SFO-LIM flight around 60 usd... all in
I have regarding * OnePass and LifeMiles from Avianca / Taca who will be soon memeber... with what program I should stay? Both offer you for silver unlimited upgrades... or should I just share my business with both programs?
Checo77 From Peru, joined Oct 2004, 1335 posts, RR: 10 Reply 17, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 763 times:
Quoting Avianca (Reply 16): I have regarding * OnePass and LifeMiles from Avianca / Taca who will be soon memeber... with what program I should stay? Both offer you for silver unlimited upgrades... or should I just share my business with both programs?
Depends if you use the non-aviation partner miles in Colombia and Peru. For example, you can earn miles with AV by having a BBVA credit card, etc.
Quoting Avianca (Reply 16): with LAN Pass for example you pay nearly nothing for example on a LIM-SFO-LIM flight around 60 usd... all in
True with OnePass too. I payed 65 USD on my award ticket LIM-PTY-SJO and back using Copa.
Avianca From Venezuela, joined Jan 2005, 5643 posts, RR: 47 Reply 18, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 761 times:
Quoting Checo77 (Reply 17): Depends if you use the non-aviation partner miles in Colombia and Peru. For example, you can earn miles with AV by having a BBVA credit card, etc.
well I have a LifeMiles credit card with TACA and Interbank, quite good the program. Maybe its better to share the business and achive on both Silver status in order to get more upgrades?
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 225 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 658 times:
I was wondering the same. Looking at the BMI diamond club at the moment as it makes most sense being in the UK, although if its not going to be around in a few months i was wondering if its worth it? I guess if they transfer any potential miles to my BA executive club account if the deal goes through it could to be my advantage.
On the cards: FCO, AGP. In the bag: FRA, BRU, DUB, NCE, GLA, AMS, JFK
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 23078 posts, RR: 60 Reply 20, posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 650 times:
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 19): I guess if they transfer any potential miles to my BA executive club account if the deal goes through it could to be my advantage.
Its a lottery you take . They may shut everything down and offer nothing ! Its in the T&Cs so anything they do other than just say tough luck is a bonus .
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
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