Obtaining Gold membership without enough QF segments?

[cosi]

Unfortunately the requirement for four squiggles seems to be one that Qantas strictly adheres to.

QF needs to urgently relax this rule especially given the constant shrinkage of its international flight network.

 

[oz_mark]

QF needs to urgently relax this rule especially given the constant shrinkage of its international flight network.

The only started enforcing it a few years ago. The cheapness of achieving it in the US with no QF flights has long been suspected as one of the reasons....

 

[straitman]

QF needs to urgently relax this rule especially given the constant shrinkage of its international flight network.

The only started enforcing it a few years ago. The cheapness of achieving it in the US with no QF flights has long been suspected as one of the reasons....

.... and normally it is not that hard, is it :?:

 

[Must...Fly!]

QF needs to urgently relax this rule especially given the constant shrinkage of its international flight network.

please, go and check the VA requirements and tell me QF's policy is not generous

 

[Kangol]

It's actually called 'Fraud'. You would be obtaining an 'advantage' whether it be financial or otherwise. By law, the act of deception can be carried out in many ways. There is even a specific section under the Crimes Act to deceive a machine (ATM), and this might even be covered under Sect 178BA of the Crimes Act..Obtain a financial benefit ... not worth it.

Whilst I know it is wrong and this is me playing devil's advocate here (for the purposes of discussion), if QFF points and SCs have no value, and if said person got caught doing the above, would that only constitute fraud if a proven benefit was gained? (ie that flight was the 4th of 4 required to get SG, or in an example of someone with 690 SCs, was the one that ticked over from PS to SG)

 

[medhead]

Whilst I know it is wrong and this is me playing devil's advocate here (for the purposes of discussion), if QFF points and SCs have no value, and if said person got caught doing the above, would that only constitute fraud if a proven benefit was gained? (ie that flight was the 4th of 4 required to get SG, or in an example of someone with 690 SCs, was the one that ticked over from PS to SG)

Points have value in the court system, e.g. having them split as part of divorces. Also the benefits of attaining a status level need to be considered, so SC also have an indirect value.

 

[mannej]

Whilst I know it is wrong and this is me playing devil's advocate here (for the purposes of discussion), if QFF points and SCs have no value, and if said person got caught doing the above, would that only constitute fraud if a proven benefit was gained? (ie that flight was the 4th of 4 required to get SG, or in an example of someone with 690 SCs, was the one that ticked over from PS to SG)

According to the woolies comps T&C's, they do indeed have a monetary value...

 

[moa999]

QF needs to urgently relax this rule especially given the constant shrinkage of its international flight network.

Why???
QF is a public company - its aim is to make money - if you dont like the rules join another FF program....

So lets go back to the OP.
Euro based, mostly flying oneworld airlines....

Lets say most flights Euro shorthall, say 500 miles each, so only 'earning' 500 miles/ points per flight which say the oneworld partner pays 1c/point for (reasonable given redemption rates).
So QF makes $5 from your ticket and gives you 500 miles.
But then you access the BA/IB/MA lounge --- and they charge QF $10-20 (pure guess but reasonable considering PP and other charges) for that access.
So every flight you credit to QF and access a lounge you are losing them money

And being Euro based you dont have any credit cards that credit to QF (ie make revenue for QF)....

I only wonder why the rule is not 10 or 20 flights rather than 4 (I note DJs top-level is higher!)

 

[Douglas Aberdeen]

Wow, thanks for all the advice folks. I'll give Qantas a call, but failing that it looks like I'll be investing more in my SQ membership in the future. Gold isn't worth an $800+ trip to SIN (E.g., QP membership is $380 for non-residents).

As far as getting a mate to fly for me, it's an intriguing idea, the chances of getting caught are minimal, but I agree with the majority that it constitutes fraud. I've seen enough people escorted off planes by the police to not wish that on a friend.

But it begs the question, does this really happen? If one more trip makes the difference between gold or platinum, I can imagine people going for this. Anyone heard of people asking others to take flights under their name to get more points/status?

 

[opusman]

But it begs the question, does this really happen? If one more trip makes the difference between gold or platinum, I can imagine people going for this. Anyone heard of people asking others to take flights under their name to get more points/status?

Can't say I would recommend it, but if they check in online and avoid the lounge, the only point of contact with QF staff where ID could potentially be asked for is on boarding, and the chances of that happening are extremely minimal. Certainly I've never seen it happen.

 

[markis10]

Wow, thanks for all the advice folks. I'll give Qantas a call, but failing that it looks like I'll be investing more in my SQ membership in the future. Gold isn't worth an $800+ trip to SIN (E.g., QP membership is $380 for non-residents).

As far as getting a mate to fly for me, it's an intriguing idea, the chances of getting caught are minimal, but I agree with the majority that it constitutes fraud. I've seen enough people escorted off planes by the police to not wish that on a friend.

But it begs the question, does this really happen? If one more trip makes the difference between gold or platinum, I can imagine people going for this. Anyone heard of people asking others to take flights under their name to get more points/status?

i have heard of folks booking a bus and not taking it (numerous times to get Plat), needless to say it popped up on the radar and threats/post retractions abounded!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....irpoints/3-000-airnz-airpoints-each-4782.html

Please ignore Kawhore - it is the acknowledged laughing stock of the QF board on FlyerTalk, after he tried to get to Platinum by taking umpteen bus trips in Western Australia - and then tried to claim that it actually TOOK THE TRIPS when caught out (when we all know it didn't).

Dave

 

[whatmeworry]

I guess QF will look in how to close this down. I see it could potentially be used by terrorists or drug mules to avoid detection.

 

[juddles]

I think with the ongoing introduction of face-recognition surveilance technology (initially international but no doubt creeping into the domestic terminals), the chance of you attracting the attention of someone (not Qantas) is getting high if you travel on a dodgy name.

And at the end of the day it is clearly fraud. If someone is that desperate for a certain status level that they would do this, and also involve a friend, then they are IMHO crazy.

As for Qantas requirements for 4 flights, that is fair enough. Maybe explain your situation to another OW carrier where you are now based and see if they will status match you. At the end of the day, QFF is a ¨Loyalty¨ program, and you are not being loyal if you dont do the flights. I am also based overseas, but make sure I do the QF metal time. Even though most QF flights I buy under someone elses codeshare (because it is so much cheaper when starting overseas), I still have no trouble taking a couple of smaller flights within Australia each visit to continue qualifying.

If you cannot get your bum on just 4 QF flights a year because you are based overseas and dont fly Qantas, you are certainy not a ¨Gold Qantas FF¨.

 

[simongr]

If you are flying enough to get QF gold why not switch to BA and get Silver there - same benefits as QF SG and as a BA Silver you will probably be treated better than a QF SG.

 

[medhead]

I guess QF will look in how to close this down. I see it could potentially be used by terrorists or drug mules to avoid detection.

That is why, as discussed in another thread, some sort of police/government reviewed recommended mandatory checking of ID for everyone before domestic flights. QF were not interested at the time and I guess neither were any other airlines. I fail to see why QF should concern itself with domestic law enforcement on behalf of state police.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Oneworldplus2]

There were some rumours floating around about only letting pax with a ticket, past security, like in the USA.
This would have also killed QF WP ATA rather easily too.

 

[markis10]

That is why, as discussed in another thread, some sort of police/government reviewed recommended mandatory checking of ID for everyone before domestic flights. QF were not interested at the time and I guess neither were any other airlines. I fail to see why QF should concern itself with domestic law enforcement on behalf of state police.


Sent from the Throne

It was the Wheeler report in 2005, and as it stands today, its not against the law to be travelling on an invalid identity nor is there a requirement under law for IDs to be checked.

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/SecurityPolicingReview.pdf

 

[medhead]

Maybe another consideration for the OP is whether you plan to go to SIN or HKG in the next 12 months? You could book 2 intra Europe QF flights that connect a long haul flight in LHR or FRA, and then have a stop over before the long haul.

It was the Wheeler report in 2005, and as it stands today, its not against the law to be travelling on an invalid identity nor is there a requirement under law for IDs to be checked.

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/SecurityPolicingReview.pdf

It must have been mentioned since then as it was discussed on AFF since I've been a member and maybe in the last 12 to 18 months.


Sent from the Throne

 

[markis10]

It must have been mentioned since then as it was discussed on AFF since I've been a member and maybe in the last 12 to 18 months.

It comes up from time to time, if it does become law it will just be another win for the terrorists in terms of personal freedoms being restricted.

 

[oz_mark]

It must have been mentioned since then as it was discussed on AFF since I've been a member and maybe in the last 12 to 18 months.

There was a parliamentary inquiry last year.

Senate Committees – Parliament of Australia

Recommendation 6 is probably the one most relevant here!