Quickest Way To WP?

[NM]

I have no problem agreeing with this, I was just giving another look at the big picture, cost over benefit and given the lack of business lounges (domestic) and the fact that only a few airports have the extra line for Plats etc.

For those that regularly use BNE, SYD, MEL domestic airports the difference can be significant. I make no comment on the "value" of spending extra money to achieve these benefits. Such value calculation is personal and varies greatly between individuals.

 

[v8Statesman]

For those that regularly use BNE, SYD, MEL domestic airports the difference can be significant. I make no comment on the "value" of spending extra money to achieve these benefits. Such value calculation is personal and varies greatly between individuals.

Yes that is very true. I once checked in 10 boxes (30kg each) and 1 suitcase on a PER-BNE flight. The checkin agent saw it, made a quick phone call. Then told me that as a WP they would be happy to check it all in FOC for me.

YMMV but service like that goes a long way for me.

 

[simongr]

Unfortunately not a member of AA program as company policy was to fly US Airways (Platinum status achieved in Div Miles program). US Airways was excellent- received many First class upgrades being Plat status

Just an idea - have you thought about asking AA for a status match to your US Airways status? AA have these challenges that can get you to higher tiers quickly but you need to be on AA flight numbers (not really possible in Oz) but they might status match you if you are very very lucky...

 

[sinbad8880]

Thanks for the advice- will check with AA

 

[NM]

Just an idea - have you thought about asking AA for a status match to your US Airways status? AA have these challenges that can get you to higher tiers quickly but you need to be on AA flight numbers (not really possible in Oz) but they might status match you if you are very very lucky...

AA is unlikely to status match. They will just offer a challenge.

 

[Evan]

• Gold status allows same access to domestic lounges, no extra benefit as WP

Not any more, there is special lounges for us WP's and those flying paid J.
But not that its all that much different anyway from what i have seen on my one visit since i have been out of country a while or departing international.

If not flying international i would probably just buy a membership to QP or make gold... The platinum benifits are nice... but not the money it may cost to get them when unless your already doing a huge amount of flying.

E

 

[Flashback]

AA is unlikely to status match. They will just offer a challenge.

A colleague from our company NM, has had this before... from United to AA.

 

[NM]

A colleague from our company NM, has had this before... from United to AA.

I did say unlikely, not never . But the usual response to such a request is the availability of a challenge.

 

[Flashback]

I did say unlikely, not never . But the usual response to such a request is the availability of a challenge.

Which now has a price tag of $150 :evil:

 

[Keith009]

I've not got my 2009 EXP requalifying strategy mapped out. There's a constant niggling at the back of my mind of the Great EXP vs WP vs BAEC Euro Gold debate....

 

[JohnK]

Platinum status should result in:

• better seating pre-allocation for domestic flights
• 100% status bonus points on flights (up from 50% for Gold)
• access to domestic business class lounges
• access to the Premium Desk when calling Qantas call centre
• check-in at some premium desks reserved for Business Class and OneWorld Emeralds

For many people, these are significant benefits.

I can see Platinum benefits significant for international travel as well but does not provide that many benefits for domestic travel. Maybe these are significant to some people

• Pre-allocation of seats worked well for this Platinum early on but is now producing very ordinary results even though I have been assured by QF that I should be getting better seats
• The status bonus for domestic flights is only handy if the flight is over 500 miles. If travelling SYD-MEL, SYD-CBR, MEL-CBR or SYD-BNE etc then the minimum 1,000 QFF points guarantee comes into play
• Domestic business lounges only in SYD,MEL, BNE and not that much different to the Qantas Lounges anyway
• Premium desk is not really necessary for domestic travel
• From my experience not a great deal of difference in check in lines for Gold or Platinum where separated from Qantas Club check in lines

 

[straitman]

Unless QF decide to become generous (not unheard of) I'll drop from WP to SG from 1 Dec. I do however, have plans in place to recover the situation after a few months.

Biggest decision is whether to work for a couple of years up in the NW or just put the feet up.

 

[Dave Noble]

Which now has a price tag of $150

There is no fee for a Platinum Challenge though it has been suggested that they may be considering charging for it

Dave

 

[QF WP]

Sinbad8880, WP status from just domestic flying is possible, depending on how often you travel (I noted ex-MEL), to where and what creative routing you can do, within the bounds of your company travel policy.

I was WP for 5.5 years (2002 to Feb 2007), with the majority of the annual status credits earned from domestic travelling to capital cities. As I need to have the flexibility of changing my flights (often on the day), I always choose Flexi-Saver (K class mostly as it's the cheapest of that fare group). Based from BNE, the only city I'd fly direct was SYD. So CBR became BNE/SYD/CBR and vv; BNE/PER is always BNE/ADL/PER and vv.

 

[Flashback]

There is no fee for a Platinum Challenge though it has been suggested that they may be considering charging for it

Dave

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...harge-challenge-sign-up-14908.html#post196305 - JonNYC has said it will take effect from next week....

 

[NM]

Which now has a price tag of $150 :evil:

I expect that fee may be able to be waived for the purpose of allowing a high-status member of a competing program to gain status quickly on AA. I have not seen the details of this new charge, just the rumours about it being introduced from 16th October.