Best Star Alliance gold membership to have

I'm QF platinum, can never get to P1. I would like to know which is the easiest Star alliance membership to maintain (gold)? I had KrisFlyer Gold, even with two business class returns i have not been to get anywhere close to maintaining it! Based on some basic reading, i can see Turkish, United are good. I fly to europe once per year, US 2 times per year and 3-4 times to asia.

Asiana is the easiest to maintain, I reckon. Lower threshold than most (40,000 miles) and you hold the status for two years after the end of the membership year. So if you earn it quickly you can have Star Alliance gold for almost three years.

Just to confirm, that i want an airline that requires minimal sectors with them for holding gold membership,

Asiana's program doesn't require any travel on Asiana themselves I belief. As long as you accrue 40k or more miles flown to achieve diamond status (star alliance gold) within 2 years, you will be entitled to that status for the next 24 months. For context, a Sydney to Singapore return in business on Singapore Air earns 9770 miles. This means that you'll need about 2 round trips per year and a bit to achieve the status.

I achieved * Alliance Gold with Asiana flying entirely in economy mostly on THAI, with a few flights on South African Airways, Singapore and Asiana). You actually have 2 years to accumulate 40K miles but I did it in under 1 year. Status was achieved 2/2018 and valid until 10/2021 so 44 months to enjoy the benefits.

One more thing about Asiana, you only need 30,000 miles on * Alliance airlines within 24 months of your status expiring to requalify for * Alliance Gold (it's called Asiana Diamond). And your miles are valid for up to 12 years. It's a pretty good deal!

Asiana website says 50 flights with them for gold, (see attached). Am i reading this wrong?

• Asiana Diamond (equivalent of * Alliance Gold) terms from the website are as follows;
• Qualification
• If any of the following conditions have been met during the 24-month period from the base date
  • 1) 40,000 miles accrued on Asiana Airlines and Star Alliance flights
  • 2) 50 flights with Asiana Airlines
  • 3) 40,000 total miles accrued (when Asiana Airlines and Star Alliance flight mileage is over 30,000 and combined with Asiana affiliate card records)
• Eligibility Maintenance Requirements
• If any of the following conditions have been met during the 24-month period from the base date
  • 1) 30,000 miles accrued on Asiana Airlines and Star Alliance flights
  • 2) 30 flights with Asiana Airlines
  • 3) 30,000 total miles accrued (when Asiana Airlines and Star Alliance flight mileage is over 20,000 and combined with Asiana affiliate card records)

• Base Date* :

  November 1 every even year for members who joined Asiana Club on or before September 30, 2008
  Date of subscription for members who joined Asiana Club on or after October 1, 2008

• Qualification Period
  • Elite Membership is granted based on the number of flights and Asiana Affiliate Card records over the 24-month period from the base date.
  • If you satisfy the standard in the 24 months, early membership promotion is granted. The Elite membership status is maintained for the period of the early promotion and an additional 24 months.
  • When the eligibility maintenance period expires, the new membership class is determined by the number of flights taken and Asiana affiliate card records over the previous 24 months. The number of flights taken and Asiana affiliate card records during the early upgrade period are not included when evaluating membership eligibility.
  • * The number of flights boarded is based on the “boarding date” and Asiana affiliate card records are based on the “accrual date” when calculated in the membership eligibility evaluation. Elite Membership upgrade will be carried out the day after you meet the Elite Membership upgrade requirements.

You only need to meet one of the criteria. So if you earned 40k miles you won't need to fly the 50 flights on Asiana.

United is offering a status match valid till 31 Dec 2020. With you being platinum with Qantas, worth at least taking a look at what United has to offer.

Thai requies 50,000 km on Star Alliance in a 12 month period, or 2 x 40K per year for 2 years. Gold status then valid for 2 years giving one free return upgrade award and one 50% award point purchase. I've been Gold for around 15 years and once even reached the elevated Platinum level but that is now completely out of reach at 80kms per year for 2 years.

I'm pretty happy with the Thai scheme .