Best airline for status on Star Alliance

[birder]

I'm having to travel a lot on Star Alliance flights (Air NZ, Singapore Airways, ANA), in premium economy normally. I would really like to earn status if possible (I have status with Qantas but these flights are being booked for me and I don't have any choice in the airlines). I put the first trip on my United Mileage Plus but then realised I can't ever get status with them without flying United (my RT PE from Melbourne-Tokyo got me nothing to help with qualifying at least, just miles). What do you suggest? I don't know if I can get to Gold but I would love to try - I have at least 3 RT PE flights coming up this year and probably 2-3 more.

 

[Mwenenzi]

What do you expect/hope Star Alliance status to do for you?

SQ is a partner with VA. So if you fly any Virgin Australia flights could credit to SQ.. But SQ ff points have a hard expiry. Use them or loose them.

VA is also a UA and QR Qatar partner.
Would recommend *not* joining the Air NZ ffp.

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

www.wheretocredit.com

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

 

[Mattg]

This is about a year old and a few things have changed, but is still pretty close:

The Best Frequent Flyer Programs for Earning Star Alliance Gold Status

This guide explains why Aegean Miles+Bonus and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles are the best loyalty programs to earn Star Alliance Gold status.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

If you would be flying at least once per year to Greece, Aegean Miles+Bonus would be the obvious one.

 

[birder]

What do you expect/hope Star Alliance status to do for you?

SQ is a partner with VA. So if you fly any Virgin Australia flights could credit to SQ.. But SQ ff points have a hard expiry. Use them or loose them.

VA is also a UA and QR Qatar partner.
Would recommend *not* joining the Air NZ ffp.

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

www.wheretocredit.com

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

I would really like Star Alliance status. I want an airline that lets me accrue status points etc even when I fly a partner airline.

 

[birder]

This is about a year old and a few things have changed, but is still pretty close:

The Best Frequent Flyer Programs for Earning Star Alliance Gold Status

This guide explains why Aegean Miles+Bonus and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles are the best loyalty programs to earn Star Alliance Gold status.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

If you would be flying at least once per year to Greece, Aegean Miles+Bonus would be the obvious one.

Thanks! I will read through that. Unfortunately I won’t be travelling to Greece or Turkey at all.

 

[TSV]

Hi all

My parents are travelling to Europe then North America and back to Australia in economy, all on Star Alliance airlines (Thai Airways, Lufthansa, Air Canada and Air NZ). I'm trying to get a copy of their itinerary so I can see the exact fare booking classes. No legs in Greece unfortunately!

I'm trying to figure out what airline program they should credit their travel to, to give them the best status outcome for Australian domestic travel. I'm ok with taking a bit of a hit in terms of points accrued if it delivers a good status outcome. At the moment they do much more domestic travel than international. They have previously been Gold with Velocity until COVID happened and then family moved within driving distance for a while and we all flew a lot less. Now family have moved again and they will fly domestically a lot more.

They're late organisers so it's too late to get them the HSBC credit card before they fly but they could apply when they get back...

They don't travel internationally regularly. They may go to Singapore later this year.

Their home airport is Kingsford Smith.

Is there any star alliance airline that has a family pooling option for status like Velocity?

I am most accustomed to the Velocity/Qantas status credit model, and all the star alliance airlines seem to operate on an elite miles model based on percentages - is there a calculator or tool I can use which will help me know what I would accrue in different programs if I provide the route, carrier and fare class? I know there is Where to Credit but I don't really understand what the table is telling me - is it showing me info in points as we would call them in VFF or status credits as we would call them? It says miles but clearly I'm lost.

It seems Air Canada Aeroplan is a lot more popular now than it was 5 years ago (when I stopped paying attention)? But I am reading conflicting things about whether Aeroplan elite members enjoy benefits like lounge access when flying VA in Australia which is pretty key. Maybe the stuff saying that is out of date?

I was tossing up between telling them to credit to Krisflyer or Aeroplan.

Any advice appreciated.

I will also read the article linked above but am finding it a bit overwhelming.

 

[SYD]

Hi all

My parents are travelling to Europe then North America and back to Australia in economy, all on Star Alliance airlines (Thai Airways, Lufthansa, Air Canada and Air NZ). I'm trying to get a copy of their itinerary so I can see the exact fare booking classes. No legs in Greece unfortunately!

I'm trying to figure out what airline program they should credit their travel to, to give them the best status outcome for Australian domestic travel. I'm ok with taking a bit of a hit in terms of points accrued if it delivers a good status outcome. At the moment they do much more domestic travel than international. They have previously been Gold with Velocity until COVID happened and then family moved within driving distance for a while and we all flew a lot less. Now family have moved again and they will fly domestically a lot more.

They're late organisers so it's too late to get them the HSBC credit card before they fly but they could apply when they get back...

They don't travel internationally regularly. They may go to Singapore later this year.

Their home airport is Kingsford Smith.

Is there any star alliance airline that has a family pooling option for status like Velocity?

I am most accustomed to the Velocity/Qantas status credit model, and all the star alliance airlines seem to operate on an elite miles model based on percentages - is there a calculator or tool I can use which will help me know what I would accrue in different programs if I provide the route, carrier and fare class? I know there is Where to Credit but I don't really understand what the table is telling me - is it showing me info in points as we would call them in VFF or status credits as we would call them? It says miles but clearly I'm lost.

It seems Air Canada Aeroplan is a lot more popular now than it was 5 years ago (when I stopped paying attention)? But I am reading conflicting things about whether Aeroplan elite members enjoy benefits like lounge access when flying VA in Australia which is pretty key. Maybe the stuff saying that is out of date?

I was tossing up between telling them to credit to Krisflyer or Aeroplan.

Any advice appreciated.

I will also read the article linked above but am finding it a bit overwhelming.

This will be a good start to look at each bit.

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

Not aware of any “family pooling” options within *A.

Yes, SQ, AC and maybe UA (although, the later is turning into a bit of an overly complicated dog).

 

[Mwenenzi]

Hi all

My parents are travelling to Europe then North America and back to Australia in economy, all on Star Alliance airlines (Thai Airways, Lufthansa, Air Canada and Air NZ). I'm trying to get a copy of their itinerary so I can see the exact fare booking classes. No legs in Greece unfortunately!

I'm trying to figure out what airline program they should credit their travel to, to give them the best status outcome for Australian domestic travel. I'm ok with taking a bit of a hit in terms of points accrued if it delivers a good status outcome. <snip>

For domestic travel in Australia that limits you to VA partners in Star Alliance:- SQ and UA and AC Check VA SQ~UA~ AC cross status benefits on both the VA website and the other airline web site. Status with other Star Alliance airlines will do nothing for AU domestic travel (on VA or QF)
Will take some effort to calculate the status earned earned for each ffp for the trip. Calculating redeemable ff miles by comparison is easy. Also consider date of travel vs airline ffp status year. IIRC UA are calendar year. If they get status, look at the requirements to retain status.

UA ff miles never expire. SQ ff miles have a hard expiry: use them or loose them.

Now if VA joined Star Alliance all your (parents) problems would be solved. But looking more unlikely with VA current ownership.

 

[clifford]

Now if VA joined Star Alliance all your (parents) problems would be solved. But looking more unlikely with VA current ownership.

And VS has joined SkyTeam...

 

[im.daniel]

This will be a good start to look at each bit.

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

Not aware of any “family pooling” options within *A.

Egyptair allow family mile + status pooling for 1st degree relatives.

 

[trooper]

ONE trip in Economy.....even a multi continent one like that is not VERY likely to gain much in the way of *A Status. Silver maybe? Which unfortunately has few benefits...

 

[clifford]

Egyptair allow family mile + status pooling for 1st degree relatives.

Fine if you like dry airlines.

 

[im.daniel]

Fine if you like dry airlines.

This has nothing to do with flying MS, but rather using their FF program to credit flights from one of 26 *A members to them and taking advantage of status pooling.

 

[ToffeeDog]

I got a HSBC Star Alliance Visa card recently and, after spending $4,000 in the three-month qualification period, got to choose which Star Alliance partner airline my Gold Star Alliance card would be issued by. Options included

• Singapore
• United
• Air NZ
• South African
• EVA
• Thai

In the end I chose Air Canada for a couple of reasons

• Virgin Australia lounge access in Australia; and
• As long as I retain the HSBC Visa Card my Air Canada status is valid until 31st Dec 2025

 

[jimsug]

I got a HSBC Star Alliance Visa card recently and, after spending $4,000 in the three-month qualification period, got to choose which Star Alliance partner airline my Gold Star Alliance card would be issued by. Options included

• Singapore
• United
• Air NZ
• South African
• EVA
• Thai

In the end I chose Air Canada for a couple of reasons

• Virgin Australia lounge access in Australia; and
• As long as I retain the HSBC Visa Card my Air Canada status is valid until 31st Dec 2025

Yeah, I got the card recently too and am leaning toward the same, but now wish I'd waited until after October to apply, to get an extra year

 

[SeatBackForward]

now wish I'd waited until after October to apply, to get an extra year

What's the significance of October? am just about to be approved for one of these and also need to decide which airline. I was leaning towards SQ.

 

[MELso]

What's the significance of October? am just about to be approved for one of these and also need to decide which airline. I was leaning towards SQ.

AC status goes by calendar year. Get the gold at the start of 2025 and all you need to have to do to keep gold for 2026 is to pay the CC renewal fee.

 

[SeatBackForward]

AC status goes by calendar year. Get the gold at the start of 2025 and all you need to have to do to keep gold for 2026 is to pay the CC renewal fee.

I see, whereas, if I get Gold soon by doing the minimum spend in 2024 (my application was approved today!), then AC will only hold The Gold Status through to 31-DEC-2025?

 

[MELso]

Yup, you'll probably get gold for the remainder of 2024 and 2025. I don't know how long it takes to get gold status but if you meet the minimum spend on the 90th day (18/12), you might not get the status credited until early January 2025 with luck...

(There's a lengthy thread on the other financial products thread.)

 

[jimsug]

Yup, you'll probably get gold for the remainder of 2024 and 2025. I don't know how long it takes to get gold status but if you meet the minimum spend on the 90th day (18/12), you might not get the status credited until early January 2025 with luck...

(There's a lengthy thread on the other financial products thread.)

Do you think this is true for AC, where it says that you'll get the status for the current and next calendar year? Or is this subject to keeping the card active the whole time?

FAQ | Star Alliance Rewards