Options to retain WP?

[RSD]

I'm not really up with MASA's, DONE's etc so I need some help. I normally requalify WP each year without a huge amount of effort just flying in Y and without needing JASA's, DSC's etc. Unfortunately the last 10 months have seen me do relatively little flying due to illness, so I'm now in the unfortunate position of seeing my QFF year end on April 30, and still needing another 745 SC's to requalify WP.

I've got to book a DPO - PER return in April which will probably be a Flexi so that will get me 120 SC's, and also in April I may have a DPO - IND return (unsure whether through LAX or DFW) - probably around 160 SC's.

What are people's thoughts on the best (cheapest) way to get another 500-600 SC's to retain WP? I've got 230,862 FF points sitting in the QFF bank at the moment.

Help would certainly be appreciated or else it's down to Gold I go! :-(

 

[Mwenenzi]

Another 500-600 SC's before 30 April means you are only about half way to Plat. That's a lot of flights/money to get Plat. Will you even qualify for Gold? What is benefit of Plat vs Gold for you? You still have lounge access. A very slight chance QF may comp you Plat based on your flying over the last few years. Not worth trying for Plat IMHO.

 

[markis10]

First question to ask is what has been your SCs over the past three years, or in other words, take this years expected total, add the previous two years requal totals and then come up with a yearly average? If your over 1200, there is a good chance of a comp. If under, start looking at the MASAs while you can, something like PER-DRW-BNE-TSV return.

 

[RSD]

Another 500-600 SC's before 30 April means you are only about half way to Plat. That's a lot of flights/money to get Plat. Will you even qualify for Gold? What is benefit of Plat vs Gold for you? You still have lounge access. A very slight chance QF may comp you Plat based on your flying over the last few years. Not worth trying for Plat IMHO.

Retaining WP is probably going to be worth it, as my next QFF year starting May 1st will probably see me doing 4 or 5 trips to the U.S., plus at least six sectors per month domestically so I should retain WP next year.

I know that a few years ago QFF were ringing members that were facing a downgrade to ascertain their travel plans for the next 12 months before making a decision about comping WP, but I'm not sure if they still do that? Does anyone know?

 

[RSD]

First question to ask is what has been your SCs over the past three years, or in other words, take this years expected total, add the previous two years requal totals and then come up with a yearly average? If your over 1200, there is a good chance of a comp. If under, start looking at the MASAs while you can, something like PER-DRW-BNE-TSV return.

Going from memory my average from the previous two years would be about 1450 SC's per year, so once this year's expected total is averaged in it will be less than 1200 SC's average.

Looks like I'm going to have to read up on MASA's!

 

[Himeno]

If I'm reading these tables right, it looks like I'll still get WP with my recent travel patterns, but I can forget about reaching the extra WP options.

 

[RSD]

Not worth trying for Plat IMHO.

I'm starting to think that you are right actually. Looking at the comparison tables between WP and SG benefits, I'm not going to miss out on too much by dropping to SG. Main things I will miss are the Platinum hotline (which can be very handy), domestic priority boarding which isn't too much of a loss, and the first lounge in MEL or SYD when going to the U.S. (not going to miss the overcrowded first lounge in LAX). Will have to be a bit more careful with the baggage packing coming back from the U.S. to keep it to 3 x 23kg. Does anyone know if QF Gold still gets you into the AA Admirals Club?

Do WP's still get gifted Gold for the next 12 months when they fail to retain WP status?

 

[Hvr]

<snip>

Do WP's still get gifted Gold for the next 12 months when they fail to retain WP status?

Yes, QF currently has a 'soft landing' option whereby you only drop one level per membership year when you fail to retain status.

 

[woodborer]

Yes, QF currently has a 'soft landing' option whereby you only drop one level per membership year when you fail to retain status.

Not really an option. They never asked me to tick a box, asking me which option I wanted!

 

[Hvr]

Not really an option. They never asked me to tick a box, asking me which option I wanted!

You're right it's not an option for the member but it is for Qantas, Until it's enhanced,

I'm way too tired having worked all night.

 

[yo yo ma]

Does anyone know if QF Gold still gets you into the AA Admirals Club?

Yes, but not the AA flagship lounge

 

[RSD]

Yes, but not the AA flagship lounge

OK that's fine - didn't even know about the Flagship Lounge - took a bit of hunting to find the AC at DFW.

 

[RSD]

Yes, QF currently has a 'soft landing' option whereby you only drop one level per membership year when you fail to retain status.

I'm thinking that might be the best bet - that way I can use my points on flights to places I want to go rather than using them going to places to chase SC's - might have to read the 120k/240k etc thread instead to see what 240,000 points will do for me.