I have been a Qantas FF for about 20 years, but am considering switching to another airline loyalty program and looking for advice from anyone who has or is doing likewise.

I have been a Qantas FF for about 20 years, but am considering switching to another airline loyalty program and looking for advice from anyone who has or is doing likewise. I travel internationally around 4 times per year, most often to Europe, finally made Emerald (Platinum) this year, but with the latest Qantas FF changes mean that I have almost zero chance of retaining it. I rarely use Qantas internationally (too expensive and limited options), and strongly prefer JAL (but also like Cathay), flying to Europe most often with a Tokyo overnight.

JAL’s equivalent of Qantas Platinum is JMB Diamond (or JGC Premier), and to achieve this requires racking up 100,000 Fly-on points in a year – there is a complicated formula to work out how many of these points a flight earns, but it looks to me as if I could do that in the coming year, with one Sydney – Okinawa (return) in business, and three Sydney to Europe (return) flights, all of which will be in premium economy or better, coming in the next 12 months. I cannot figure out how “fly-on” points might be earned on Qantas domestic flights, or with other Oneworld partners, however. Anyone here have any experience with the JAL FF program?

Sorry, can't help you on FF program options, but just wanted to say kudos for routing via Japan for your trips to Europe (unless family/work forces you to go there!). I think it's one of the best options for a stop-over and I wish QF did more with other OW airlines to facilitate this.

I do as well, but JAL makes in incredibly hard.  They operate their flights to and from Sydney out of Narita in concert with Qantas, but their flights to London, Paris, and SF go out of Haneda, so connections require quite a bit of driving between airports.

Firstly, insert generic winge about Qantas FF and management here. Secondly, mildly jealous of the Platinum status. Finally onto my suggested solution:

In your situation I would research how to convince an airline to 'status match' your Qantas Platinum. Of what I've been told, you just need to get them proof of your current status and your future travel plans.

Which airline I'd suggest moving to, largely depends on whether you like stop overs on your way to Europe or prefer to churn through the whole long journey.

Personally I'm the latter, so I'd aim to status match with someone who's aligned with VA, so I would get all the goodies such as domestic lounge access etc. I was initially going to say EY but if you chose to target SQ or NZ you could wind up with Star Alliance and VA Platinum.

Why not Delta?

I've not mentioned Delta as their routes to Europe aren't as direct as EY and SQ in my view. (I just don't think Delta when I think of travelling to Europe).

However, you do make a good point as they seem like they'd be up for it and SkyTeam Elite Plus would get you goodies on Air France, KLM and Alitalia as well as a number of Asian carriers. (Korean Air, Garuda et al.)

That and VA.

Actually, does the OP have Lifetime Gold? If so, OP could just keep matching Platinum onwards around the world, and if all else fails fall back to LTG.

Perhaps I have Fridayitis, but can someone please remind what OP and LTG mean?

Opening Post

Lifetime Gold

Have you considered Velocity? They have both Etihad and Singapore to Europe, both which aren't bad options, and given EY will bring the A380 to Aus next year their product will only improve. It's also extremely easy to earn points and status credits with VA's partner airlines, you don't even need to be on a VA flight number. 

Plus, obtaining Gold and Platinum is a lot easier than QF. Only need 500 for Gold (700 for QF) and 1000 for Plat (1400 for QF). 

I've heard redemptions on VA are also pretty good. What costs 16,000 point on GQ is 13,800 on VA.

AB's topbonus for their OW and VA partnership