Now with Aegean Airlines chnaging the frequent flyer program.

Now with Aegean Airlines chnaging the frequent flyer program. What is the next best option?

The next best option for what use?

*A?

Australia - Europe?

etc etc. Everyone has differing requirements from their FF programs so my best option may be alot different to yours.

What are your travel patterns like or what are you looking for mostly?

Status? Reward seat availability? etc

I travel Australia to Europe twice a year in Economy. Loungue access is very important. Then additional luggage would come in second as most important.

Do you travel on fully flexible economy fares? Do you have a preference for any particular Airline on the route or alliance?

Do you do any domestic travel in Australia that you want lounge access for too?

Purchase Qantas Club and fly on Qantas. To lower your cost, consider flying out from Europe, although I would continue flying out via London and avoid EK metal.

Although if I were you,given that you're flying Economy I would join Aadvantage and aim for Platinum (OW Sapphire). You need to hit 50,000 miles.

Route one of your return trips via the US (to hit your 4 AA segment targets); Australia - USA - Europe return would be about 26,000 miles.

Do the other return trip to Europe with BA (to gain the most miles via Aadvantage); Australia - London - Europe return would be about 22,000 miles.

Take 4 more AU East Coast hops in Economy in the year to reach your target of 50,000 miles then you're sorted. There is no need to worry about Qantas Club rules changing or partner airlines having a hissy fit and excluding Qantas Club members. This only works though if you are prepared to travel to Europe via the USA on American Airlines. In my opinion it's very bearable if you're on AA's 77W (DFW/LHR or JFK/LHR sectors).

If you're flying to Europe twice a year you're doing about 40,000 miles; most airlines give gold or equivalent status at 50,000 miles so it could be tricky now Aegean is gone.

Last I checked, though, Asiana still gives you two years' *G status for flying 40,000 miles in two years, so that may be the way to go.

Asiana is my primary star alliance program nowadays, though I've only done a couple of star alliance flights since joining them...

In regards to Gian's comment, most of the tickets are of the lowest fare so not earning the maximum amount of points 50-100%

In that case I would go with TRB's recommendation of buying Qantas Club Membership and flying Qantas or EK on QF codes.

If lounge access is the most important thing on these two trips a year thats the way to go.