Miles + More and * Alliance

[baswitzer]

Hi all,

I am currently a member of Miles and More (Lufthansa) but my points will shortly expire as I have not flown internationally over the past few years. Obviously, I do not want to lose the 20,000 points I have and so was wondering if it was possible to transfer the points to another * alliance program which did not expire or required minimum activity (such as Uniteds)?.
I cannot seem to get much for 20,00 points so it would be an awaful waste of them if they were to simply expire.

I am shortly to undergo an overseas trip and likely to be flying *alliance in the united states so am looking to use the points if possible and not just see them expire.

Can anyone recommend a program where points dont expire for someone in Australia? Because, once I use the points (or they expire) I want to shift out of miles and more.

Great community by the way.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Welcome to AFF baswitzer

Unfortunately M&M miles expires at the end of the quarter after 36 months since earning, unless you have FTL, SEN or HON status, or have a M&M credit card (which is not available in Australia).

20,000 points will get no regular flight awards, but is enough for fly smart (short notice award on selected routes mainly within europe) or some *A upgrades (certain "short" flights from high economy fare to business or business to first - includes all UA continental USA + Hawaii flights).

There are plenty of non-flight award options. Not especially good value, but better than getting nothing and points expiring.

Per Web Flyer Mileage Converter, it is not possible to transfer miles out of M&M.

As for choosing a new *A FFP, that depends on your travel patterns, what you want out of a FFP (status benefits, awards, upgrades, etc).

 

[simongr]

As for choosing a new *A FFP, that depends on your travel patterns, what you want out of a FFP (status benefits, awards, upgrades, etc).

Actually there is a whole thread about *A FFP choices that KiwiFlyer kicked off for someone else.

 

[baswitzer]

Thanks for the advice Kiwiflyer.

Maybe,when I am in the States, I can try to use the M+M points to get an upgrade on an internal United Flight. That would do I suppose and its better than nothing.

As for the new program, mainly I would be looking for upgrade and award flights. I am not too fussed on status or access to lounges but need something that is not going to automatically expire as my international flying can be sporadic although when I do go I usually rack up a fair few miles. My upcoming US trip will likely nett 25-30,000 and so if I go with UA (or another * partner) I do not want to put the points on Miles and More and just have them expire again.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

When do your miles expire?

I assume fly smart isn't any help for you.
The short flight upgrades are only of use if you fly the right airlines and are already ticketed in a high economy booking class, or in business class. Currently the airlines include LH, OS, LO, LX, TG, NH, OZ, UA, SQ.

 

[baswitzer]

The miles expire in Sept 07. I suppose if I do all of my flying to the us and internally with UA I could add these points (to my m+m account) and pick up a flight to NZ but that would require me to try to book fairly quickly after the flights to the US in may 07.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Crediting your next trip may make sense. In M&M all of Australia, NZ and south pacific is a single zone so can do PER-PPT if you want for the same number of miles as SYD-AKL (ie 30,000 economy, 45,000 business).

Where are you flying in US (and what class)? If it is not too late it may be possible to tweak the routing to improve mileage earning on M&M. 35,000 miles in a calendar year is enough for FTL status (*Silver), and lasts at least 2 years meaning you will have some status while you switch to another *A FFP.

 

[baswitzer]

Thanks for being so helpful Kiwiflyer.

The flights will be in Y. The planned routing at this stage (subject to variations on dates) is:

SYD-LAX-NYC-BOS-ORD-DCA-NYC-LAX-LAS-LAX-SYD.

The planned fare to be purchased was a Sydney to NYC which offers a free stop in LAX (which I would use as the base to go to LAS). I was looking at going between Boston and NYC on bus/train but can fly if this helps (i think flying is actually cheaper than the train).

If we go with United (and try to stay on *carriers in the States) should we route it all on Miles and More or sign up to Asiana or United schemes?

Just searching internal USA fares it seems to be cheaprer to book these directly through cheapflights or orbitz and the flights on AA seem cheaper. I am a member of QFF so I could easily whack the flights on to QF and AA and just earn one world points. Given that my partner has significant points (what a newbie regards as significant) with oneworld already maybe this is the better option (provided qantas ever offers a decent fare to NYC).