Hi everyone
Just wondering what programmes you guys use. We have:
Qantas: Pros: can pool family points; one earn/use activity keeps points active for another 18 months; easy enough to earn a few little points in NZ; when Qantas Australia store has sale it's quite reasonable to shop there. Cons: redemption rates are quite expensive, still have to pay a bit even for Aus domestic award flights.
Air NZ: can earn from a few places like Mitre10, Macpac, insurance; points don't expire if we have an Airpoints credit card, can pool points within family, can easily use points to get domestic flights (not even having to pay taxes or surcharges). Cons: earning rates from other airlines aren't great, redemption rates for international flights are expensive.
I'm thinking of getting another membership, not sure which one:
Singapore Airlines: We fly SQ at least once a year. Pros: can redeem online very easily saver award rates are great. Cons: can't family pool (except for transferring from children to one parent); points expire 3 years from accrual (we just don't have enough points to do anything).
United Airlines: Pros: points never expire; can use points to buy tickets for other people even when you don't go with them. Cons: We haven't flown to the US for a long time. When I had a lot of points with them before I redeemed with other partners so had to do on the phone.
Virgin: Pros: can family pool, one earn/use activity keeps points active for another 18 months. Cons: not easy to earn/use from NZ.
What do you guys use? Thanks.
I have both Qantas and Air New Zealand, plus Asia Miles. All the others are too hard to collect points when we are based in NZ. I think you can choose to collect airpoints when you fly with United. I collect qantas points when I fly with American Airlines. Or if you have Amex card, just leave them as membership rewards points until you know what to do with them. Haven't flown with Singapore Airlines for so long, don't know anything about their reward program.
You don't have to sign up too many airline programs, there are only 3 main alliances and just sign up one of each from them and you should be able to collect points when you fly within the same alliance. Otherwise it takes too long before you have enough points to redeem anything.