QF Complimentary Status Retention

[AJFMaughan]

I have been QF Platinum FF for the last 4 years and my membership year just finished at the end of June. I was just over 100 status credits short of the 1200 requirement and have got a EU flights booked for later in July which will be about 300 SC.

Looking at my account online today it looks like I have been dropped to Gold Status and was wondering if anyone has had any luck with contacting Qantas by phone or email to plead a case to retain Status level.

 

[juddles]

Welcome to the forum AJFMaughan,

as for your query, can you confirm you have actually been dropped to Gold?

There is a "theory" (unofficial Qantas benefit) that they average your past three years SC earn, and if that average is over a certain amount then you could be "comped" a further year Platinum. If you did not get that it would suggest that although you requalified for each of the 4 years you mention, you must have only "just" gone over. In those circumstances I doubt QF will comp you if you phone them, but nothing lost in trying

 

[AJFMaughan]

Just looked at my account online tonight and have been dropped down to Gold.

Can't remember what SC I have had at the end of each year but like you say may have not been enough for 3 year average.

Might try the phone call to see what they have to say but not overly confident.

 

[juddles]

As per everything in the aviation world, nothing works like clockwork - maybe wait a couple of days as the QF system is notorious for having hiccups around the end of a member's year.

If you have much travel planned you could also enquire about a status challenge - look that up if you are unfamiliar with the term.

 

[AJFMaughan]

Thanks for the tips and will look into re status challenge, will look into it.

I was going to call QF this week to apply for a points upgrade for flights to the EU later this month and take the opportunity to ask about the status retention then as well.

 

[MrJetset]

You should have done this prior to expiration. Extensions aren't just based on status. There are other metrics.

 

[RooFlyer]

Can you share these with us?

 

[harvyk]

Typically you will get a letter 4 to 6 weeks prior to the expiry date stating that it looks like you just won't quite make it, and that they will comp you this one time.
As far as I know they only look at your average flying for the last couple of years, not your upcoming trips. I know that they don't look at future trips as I once received one of these letters since at the time I was comped I didn't have enough SC's to retain, but I had a booking in the final week of my membership year which was going to push me over the threshold anyway. (It was a little annoying as I could have easily postponed the trip by a week and put the SC's into the next membership year had I known I was about to be comped).

 

[drewbles]

Typically you will get a letter 4 to 6 weeks prior to the expiry date stating that it looks like you just won't quite make it, and that they will comp you this one time.
As far as I know they only look at your average flying for the last couple of years, not your upcoming trips. I know that they don't look at future trips as I once received one of these letters since at the time I was comped I didn't have enough SC's to retain, but I had a booking in the final week of my membership year which was going to push me over the threshold anyway. (It was a little annoying as I could have easily postponed the trip by a week and put the SC's into the next membership year had I known I was about to be comped).

Concur. I've had this 3-4 times over the years. The renewal membership kit is sent with a 'Although you did not meet the requirements, we are glad to recognise your past flying with us and have extended your membership' letters. I had travel booked to re-qualify anyway, but it was clear they pay no attention to forward bookings. I guess what's in the future can be axed, so it makes sense to ignore it.

Bottom line is, if you didn't receive the renewal pack with a letter similar to this, you're not going to be comped.

 

[MrJetset]

Can you share these with us?

Length of membership and revenue I know for fact. I assume there are many more. And unlike what's stated above the system and manual intervention do consider forward bookings six weeks prior to renewal determination.

 

[RooFlyer]

That's interesting. While the manual (human) and system (IT) intervention apparently do consider forward bookings prior to renewal determination, can we assume that they then often ignore what they find? As reported above by others, I've been comped Plat status notwithstanding I have forward bookings (paid, ticketed) which were going to (and in fact did) take me safely over the threshold several weeks before my renewal date.

 

[texter]

It is apparent that QF prefers to send out the renewal packs few weeks in advance rather than hold off - I got back from overseas to find a new PS card in the mail yet the last flight I flew took me "over the line" to SG..
Maybe QF doesn't want us without a card (or likely their money card)...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

That's interesting. While the manual (human) and system (IT) intervention apparently do consider forward bookings prior to renewal determination, can we assume that they then often ignore what they find?

As reported above by others, I've been comped Plat status notwithstanding I have forward bookings (paid, ticketed) which were going to (and in fact did) take me safely over the threshold several weeks before my renewal date.

I have received one comp offer about 3 years ago around mid-August (year end is 31 Aug) when I was 30 SC short however I had a forward booking BNE/ADL/BNE return late August (Amex Ultimate card annual freebie) that earned me the necessary 30 SC to qualify anyway.

If they offer someone a comp but it's not ultimately needed does this still register me as having been comped I wonder?

As for metrics, although I joined a while back in 1986, the airline who has received most of the revenue each year is AA so I certainly wouldn't be receiving letters from QF with the salutation 'Hey Big Spender'.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Bit of a different scenario but wondering if anyone's had experience of this.
Mini-me has enough SC to re-qual PS for the third time but only two squiggles.
Her account is now showing that she has retained PS (end July turnover). I'm not sure if this is reliable or not.
She will be going to the UK in Sep and it would be useful to keep the status if possible.
Has anyone been dropped with the required SC but not QF flights? Should I just suck it up and book a cheapie QF/JQ day return to get the squiggles?
She has done quite a few Award flights on QF but they don't count of course.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

If they offer someone a comp but it's not ultimately needed does this still register me as having been comped I wonder?

That's the platinum plated question!

 

[tuapekastar]

If they offer someone a comp but it's not ultimately needed does this still register me as having been comped I wonder?

:

Not in my experience. I was 'comp-ed' another year of WP around 5 years ago but didn't need it as I had bookings and took flights prior to my anniversary which got me over the line without the benefit of the comp. Then last year or the year before I was comp-ed another year of SG (I think I had some bookings then also that would have got me over the line, but I didn't have to fly them, or plans fell through, and I cancelled them and took the comp). I don't imagine I'll be offered another.

 

[Altair]

If they offer someone a comp but it's not ultimately needed does this still register me as having been comped I wonder?

That's the platinum plated question!

IME experience. No it does not count.
Many years requalifying WP in the last two weeks, hence received the complimentary retention letter.
Of course when I wanted the WP comp I only had 400 SC for the year so well under the 3 year average of 1200 and went down to SG. I was comped SG recently falling 30 SC short but only due to an EK cx and being downgraded to QF WHY for that sector.

 

[BAM1748]

You would have received a letter prior to the end of your year giving you the good news if they retained you at P1.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I was comped SG recently falling 30 SC short but only due to an EK cx and being downgraded to QF WHY for that sector.

Wouldn't you be able to claim original routing credit for the EK CX flights that would've got you over the line and therefore not need to use your lifeline (comp)?

Sounds like it was an involuntary downgrade/reroute scenario.

 

[Altair]

Wouldn't you be able to claim original routing credit for the EK CX flights that would've got you over the line and therefore not need to use your lifeline (comp)?

Sounds like it was an involuntary downgrade/reroute scenario.

Evidently not according to QF, unless I wanted to forsake any claim of refund.
What happened was EK flight cancelled, I was in First on the QF code, and I accepted the alternative of the next available seat, which was in Economy on the next QF flight.
I then had to chase up a refund/compensation and I also claimed the QFF and SC for First, I was automatically credited Flex Economy for the replacement flight. QF replied I could either accept the refund and keep the Y QFFP and SC, with the promise they will do the complimentary comp. meaning I effectively bought an expensive Flex Economy Fare and receive the surplus funds from the First fare I originally purchased. The alternative was forego the hundreds of dollars of refund and accept the few extra thousand QFFP and SC and requalify that way. It was a non brainer to me.