Best Star Aliance scheme for (very) occasional travel?

[ScruttonStreet]

We have a very rare booking on Swissair later this year. It’s a business class return for two to Thailand, via Zurich. I am guessing this will potentially earn us a few miles.

Neither of us is a member of any Star Alliance scheme, and were wondering what would be best for us.

Apart from perhaps the occasional inter-European trip, we are unlikely ever to be big Star Alliance users. So we are probably looking for a scheme which will allow us to use the points either for a European city break-type holiday (maybe using these points one way, and Avios for the return), or allow us to defray the cost of a future trip.

We’re not chasing status, and are happy to use the points within a year ot so, so not worried about expiry.

Any thoughts?

[SamG]

Off the top of my head some that could be interesting are Turkish , you could do a trip to Istanbul. I would go out BA and back Turkish so you can try their lounge. If you pick the right flight then it’ll be a longhaul bird with a flatbed seat.

United could also be interesting as IIRC you don’t need many miles for a Europe flight.

Aegean could also be interesting if you fancied a trip to Greece

Though the sucker on *A short-haul redemption is usually the fees, though I know that Turkish back from Istanbul isn’t too bad. There is also a lack really of holiday destinations, nothing direct to Spain or Italy for example

But check the fare class carefully, not all cheap business class tickets earn in *A programs

[davefl]

I keep a stash of United, useful for intra europe. Got me home from Dubrovnik a couple of years ago when last minute prices were high and minimal fees. United dont expire either

They run 100% bonus offers to buy extra every few months so reasonable value if you need to top off for a redemption.

[Lady London]

If you’re a very keen collector of SkyTeam you could take a punt on Asiana as Korean Air is taking them over

[ScruttonStreet]

Thanks all. Do any/all of those allow me to, say, part pay a flight to – hypothetically – Vienna with points?

[BuildBackBetter]

Turkish – lowest redemption costs but worst customer service for redemption bookings.
SQ – couple of intra europe 5th freedom flights but high miles cost
United – more partners than most and most availability
As others have said, important to check fare class and how many miles you might actually earn in each program.
Also *A airlines have the worst expiry rules, so unless you have plans to use the miles within 2 years, credit them to a program that doesnt expire.