Best FF program for exchange award ticket?

[soul721045]

Hi everyone
What is the best frequent flyer program for award ticket in star alliance?
No matter the benefits in the inside of the airline but I am only focusing on exchange for award ticket? Especially for first class

Can anyone advise which program has least restriction on route, airline choosing, tax, and fuel surcharge. And least miles required


Thank you so much for helping me

[jjpb3]

You'll need to be a bit more specific about your redemption preferences, soul721045. Something like SIN-HKG can require very different mileages, depending on the FFP's definition of 'distance' (many define it based on zones, and that definition varies from one FFP to another) and on whether the FFP allows cash + miles redemptions.

BTW, welcome to SQT.

[vsepr]

KrisFlyer is good for redeeming 1 way tickets, compared to Asia Miles. KrisFlyer is good for redeeming round trip and 1 way First/Business Class tickets on Star Alliance partners but not good for redeeming First/Business Class (Except Business Class Saver) tickets on SIA flights especially First Class.
Asia Miles is good for redeeming First/Business Class up to Award Zone D on CX & KA only for some sectors depending on distance. Eg: Round trip on Cathay Pacific in Business Class from SIN-Shanghai need 50,000 miles, but on SIA after 15% discount need 55,250 miles. But if go Beijing, Asia Miles need 80,000 miles, SIA after 15% discount need 55,250miles, Star Alliance need 70,000 miles. Asia Miles is not good for mixing oneworld airlines (multi-carriers) compared to KrisFlyer for Star Alliance.

Basically, it is not worth to redeem round trip tickets in Economy Class in FFPs. Because you need to pay taxes (after deducting the amount you pay in taxes, you don't save much at all) and the difference between Economy Class and Business Class award tickets is not that much, about 60% to 70% more.

For Delta SkyMiles, before March 2011, when the award chart is not out yet, it was good for redeeming flights within Asia (20k for Y class, 40k for C class). Now it cost the same as KrisFlyer (before 15% discount), but can mix many carriers. (45k for Y class, 70k for C class). Other sectors also cost more than KrisFlyer, esp within Southeast Asia.

For Thai's Royal Orchid Plus, forget it. The miles needed is too much compared to KrisFlyer. Only good for Hotel awards. But now they also raise the mileage requirement and the list of hotels in the list for redemption is getting smaller.

Asia Miles Chart on CX/KA & oneworld multi carriers:
http://www.asiamiles.com/am/en/redeem/charts

KrisFlyer Chart for SQ/MI:
http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...wardCharts.pdf

KrisFlyer Chart for Star Alliance:
http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U..._RoundTrip.pdf

Delta SkyMiles:
http://dmn.delta.com/skymiles/direct/charts/se_asia/

THAI Royal Orchid Plus:
http://www.thaiairways.com/frequent-...ds-on-thai.htm

[SQ_fanatic]

It seems that Agean is also fairly good if you travel to North Asia (eg Japan) and there's no expiry to your miles. It's also a pretty easy way to gain status.