Wasted Status Credits

[Mike65]

Greetings All,
Just wondering if anyone else out there has similar frustrations with the status credit membership year system. As a pretty regular business flyer (ave 15 dom or intl trips each year), but one who generally flies on the cheaper fares, I often find myself approaching my membership year anniversary (end of April) in a sort of limbo. For example, this year I have already qualified for Gold status and have several more flights (Europe and US) coming up in the next couple of months. Even with the double SCs on offer atm, I'm not going to get to Platinum and several hundred SCs will be essentially wasted. I can think of several ways in which those wasted points could be made valuable:

• the points over and above the Gold qualification level were able to be carried over
• the status calculation re-started at the time a level is achieved
• the status calculation was based on a moving 12 month time window

With any of these options, I'd stand a reasonable chance of reaching Platinum! Comments or offers of sympathy/support greatly appreciated. Cheers,
Mike

 

[Mr_Orange]

That's the way it is. At least when you attain Gold half way through your membership year you have that status for 18 months. On a rolling 12 month system, I don't think that would be the case. Each system has its pros and cons.

Also, don't forget your lifetime tally which those supposedly wasted SCs do count towards.

 

[TomVexille]

Sounds familiar... Now where else would I have heard of a similar system in Australia?

 

[RichardMEL]

Wait you got a double SC offer and you with J flights to Europe and US can't make it to Plat? I'm astounded.....

anyhoo. it is the way it is and has been for a long time. Also agree the Lifetime tally includes those "wasted" SC's

 

[Mike65]

Hi RichardMEL, just to clarify I fly for business not in business and to MrOrange you are correct on the lifetime credits but I reckon I'll probably die half way between Silver and Gold . Cheers, Mike

 

[RichardMEL]

Ah, sorry.. I did misinterpret your post. When you wrote ".. generally fly on cheaper fares" I was thinking cheaper J fares. My apologies.

 

[clazman]

Never received any offer of double status credits .... would be nice

 

[mannej]

Until you reach Lifetime Status, SC's are never wasted.

 

[eminere]

Wait there's a double SC offer on at the moment?

 

[Mike65]

Oh actually its a 50% bonus SCs offer received by email from QFF loyalty program. Maybe I was just lucky?

 

[medhead]

Why do you think Qantas wants to make status credits more valuable.

 

[moa999]

Count both to Lifetime Status Credits, and Loyalty Bonuses (which now also reset anually).

Frankly much simpler to understand than a rolling program.

 

[RichardMEL]

Never received any offer of double status credits .... would be nice

Always seem to be a few doing the rounds, carefully targeted... or 50% extra SC's, or whatever.

 

[juddles]

Between the yearly status recognition (silver/gold/etc) and the lifetime count towards LTS and LTG, I thing the QFF program is actually OK.

Maybe (to the OP) try to focus more on the LTG, etc goals than yearly ¨loss¨of points.

 

[Himeno]

Always seem to be a few doing the rounds, carefully targeted... or 50% extra SC's, or whatever.

I get them quite often. Though never valid for a period that I can travel.

 

[browski]

Greetings All,
Just wondering if anyone else out there has similar frustrations with the status credit membership year system. As a pretty regular business flyer (ave 15 dom or intl trips each year), but one who generally flies on the cheaper fares, I often find myself approaching my membership year anniversary (end of April) in a sort of limbo. For example, this year I have already qualified for Gold status and have several more flights (Europe and US) coming up in the next couple of months. Even with the double SCs on offer atm, I'm not going to get to Platinum and several hundred SCs will be essentially wasted. I can think of several ways in which those wasted points could be made valuable:

• the points over and above the Gold qualification level were able to be carried over
• the status calculation re-started at the time a level is achieved
• the status calculation was based on a moving 12 month time window

With any of these options, I'd stand a reasonable chance of reaching Platinum! Comments or offers of sympathy/support greatly appreciated. Cheers,
Mike

Mike, here is something to consider.

I am of the mind to transfer over from Qantas FF to American Airlines AAdvantage. The equivalence of Qantas Gold is AA Platinum, but the AAdvantage offering is significantly superior - However I don't want as gap in my OW Sapphire status.

So what I have done now that I have achieved Qantas Gold is to credit all additional earning flights to my AA account. Then that gives me a headstart on the qualifying period. Once the new Qantas year resets, I continue to credit all flights to AAdvantage. Once qualified it as an AA Platinum it does not really make any sense to continue with QFF.

.........of couse you need to be in a position where you can annually make the prequisite 4 x qualifying flights in AA metal.

 

[Pushka]

So perfect option is to reach LTG then flip to AA.

 

[moa999]

Depends if you can maintain Plat or not. In recent years I have been 1200 SC then AA

 

[OzEire]

"Wasted" SCs count if you have a longer break from travel and need a soft landing, QF considers overall SC earn in recent years when deciding to comp.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You were indeed lucky.
I am a QF SG, and did not receive any such DSC, not now, not in the past.
But at the least, you are a SG, and as such, would have some "benefits", more so than those in NB/PS.
The ability to use Premium Counters count to mind, not only when traveling with QF but also OW partners.