Flying MH, collect miles with ?? -- best options?

[aspro2]

I'm contemplating a cheap Econ fare with MH Aus-Europe vv, eligible for miles accrual (70%). I've never flown MH, and am thinking about them because of the better seat pitch in Y. My not-so-old bones complain more and more about the cattle-squish of SQ/QF/BA after 20+hours in the air.

So which FFP to join? I only ever get to fly paid discounted Econ :cry: :cry: Obvious options are MH Enrich, also KL FD (I can arrange for a French postal address :wink, VS (as they have now entered Oz market)... comments/other suggestions?

[arun]

What is VS?

[aspro2]

What is VS?

Virgin Atlantic

[LordGarlic]

How about Swiss Travel Club? They do offer mileage to certain classes for MH flights. They are also a partner airline of OneWorld.

[aspro2]

Thanks for the suggestion, LordGarlic. I gather that Swiss Travel Club will soon be eaten up by BA ExecClub, which presumably then creates probs for Australian residents (having already had my BA points devalued once through the compulsory transfer to QFFF)... so unless I'm misinformed, Swiss wouldn't work in the medium term

EDIT: silly me, Swiss Travel Club is no longer being eaten up, I'd forgotten there had been a conclusion to those negotiations a long time back. Swiss actually looks like a reasonable option

[CdaWorld]

It seems to me that the only way to get anywhere on MH is to be travelling in F or J. You need to earn 40,000pts in a calendar year in the premium cabins (only?) to qualify for Enrich Gold.

That looks like about 3 return trips to Asia in J.

I haven't checked out the other airlines' FF schemes to see if it is easier to earn status with them. If indeed that's what you want to do. I know personally it's not about earning pts as much as it is in striving to reach top tier status for it is then that the perks, hopefully, will start arriving.

[BlacKnox]

And btw, please note that Swiss is not part of any airline alliance. Oneworld released Swiss Air in June 2004 from its commitment to join the alliance.

[aspro2]

And btw, please note that Swiss is not part of any airline alliance. Oneworld released Swiss Air in June 2004 from its commitment to join the alliance.

On the contrary... Swiss is now being eaten by Lufthansa, so will be part of Star Alliance.

[BlacKnox]

Lufthansa and Swiss were linked before when Swiss came close to joining the Star Alliance alongside Lufthansa before backing away in 2003. Swiss subsequently failed to join the oneworld grouping led by British Airways last year.

This article asserts http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissin...=1111510724000 that Swiss will now join the "Lufthansa led" star alliance. But star alliance approval is not automatic, and the details may take some time.

Consequently Swiss remains not part of any airline alliance now, and for the immediate future. Assuming Lufthansa wants Swiss in the alliance and it applies, then approval and star alliance procedural changes will take some time. However if and/ or when Swiss does join, I gladly welcome them as an extra option for intra europe *Alliance flights.

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm contemplating a cheap Econ fare with MH Aus-Europe vv, eligible for miles accrual (70%). I've never flown MH, and am thinking about them because of the better seat pitch in Y. My not-so-old bones complain more and more about the cattle-squish of SQ/QF/BA after 20+hours in the air.

So which FFP to join? I only ever get to fly paid discounted Econ :cry: :cry:

Looks oike you have two choices: Virgin or Swiss:

Discount economy will accrue 70% of mileage when crediting to Virgin.

Advantages - 20000 miles will get you a flight to new Zealand (on Air New Zealand) in economy class.

With 40000 you get a 'free' trip on Virgin from Sydney to Hong Kong.

Swiss looks like it credits 100% mileage (you will need to check your fare class against the Swiss membership guide).

Advantages - 22500 miles will get you a flight to New Zealand on Qantas.

So you will be closer to a 'free' trip with Swiss.

Regards

MEL_Traveller