Malaysia Airlines have joined the OneWorld Alliance

Malaysia Airlines have joined the OneWorld Alliance from 1 February 2013. OneWorld Alliance now consists of the following airlines:

• Airberlin
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• LAN
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Royal Jordanian
• S7 Airlines
• Mexicana

 

This news has two important consequences for Avios collectors. 

 

Earn Avios

 

First, you will know be able to earn Avios on Malaysia Airlines flights. The earning ratio depends on your fare class:

First Class = 150% of miles flown = fare class F & A

Business Class = 125% of miles flown = fare class J, C, D and Z

Economy Class (full fare) = 100% of miles flown = fare class Y, B and H

Economy Class (discounted fare) =  50% of miles flown = fare class K, M, and L

Economy Class (discounted fare) = 25% of miles flown = fare class L,  V and S

Discounted economy classes are eligible for 50% Tier Point accrual.

 

Spend Avios

 

Second, you will be able to redeem Avios for flights on Malaysia Airlines. Their main hub airport, as you would expect, is Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.

There is a direct flight between London Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur. An economy class one-way redemption will cost 35,000 Avios (plus £126.49 taxes and charges). A return flight is double the Avios (and T&Cs). The higher fare classes are multiples of economy with Business Class x2 and First Class x3 the Avios cost of an economy redemption. So, a First Class return from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines will cost 210,000 Avios (plus T&Cs).

However, because of the nature of the distance-based Avios system there is a redemption sweet spot with Malaysia Airlines. If you fly from Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur the distance is sufficiently shorter to slip into a previous Avios zone. If you are unsure of how Avios work then please read this before proceeding further. So, a one-way economy flight from Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt will cost 30,000 Avios (£67.46  taxes and charges). If you want to redeem for higher fare classes then this can make a real difference. A First Class return will reduce to 180,000 Avios, a saving of 30,000 Avios! Plus, because the flight does not depart from London it is subjected to much lower taxes. You will need to arrange positioning travel but if you live outside London then this won’t be too much difference then arranging travel to Heathrow. You could always use a Reward Flight Saver for an extra 9,000 Avios each way.

Malaysia Airlines have joined the OneWorld Alliance