Article: Guide to Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold Status

[AFF Editor]

Guide to Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold Status is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-gold-status-guide/

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[tdimdad]

"members are able to access priority boarding lanes on the above mentioned airlines. Although Qantas historically has a mediocre track record with providing this benefit, the upcoming introduction of boarding groups may change this."
While QF may struggle domestically, many of their partners execute the priority very well. This is where the benefit has real value (to those who like early boarding).

To me one of the more golden benefits is the fast-track security in many ports. Often the wait times in the general security are reasonable but sometimes the difference between the fast track and normal is a lot bigger and that's when it comes handy.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Great article but have a couple minor corrections/additions. First on American Airlines, you don't get Preferred Seating for free as a Qantas Gold, and I can say that as a Qantas Gold booked on several AA sectors:



Second, another big benefit of being QF Gold, particularly if you are QLD based is access to the Priority security zone in BNE domestic that dumps you right into the lounge. I'm unsure if there are other airports in Australia that provide similar service, but interesting nonetheless.

-RooFlyer88

 

[justinbrett]

Great article but have a couple minor corrections/additions. First on American Airlines, you don't get Preferred Seating for free as a Qantas Gold, and I can say that as a Qantas Gold booked on several AA sectors:

View attachment 339521

Second, another big benefit of being QF Gold, particularly if you are QLD based is access to the Priority security zone in BNE domestic that dumps you right into the lounge. I'm unsure if there are other airports in Australia that provide similar service, but interesting nonetheless.

-RooFlyer88

I just checked mine, and as a WP I can select preferred seating for free.

The AA website says OWS should get it free - maybe check your QF number is in correctly, and try contacting AA.

 

[travelhands]

Guide to Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold Status is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-gold-status-guide/

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Hi there, I am currently a GOLD member and I held a paid Qantas Club membership prior to reaching GOLD. After all the extensions and status matches around Covid time I matched Gold status with QFF and have retained that until May 24. I also had my QC extended at the same time to Nov 23. What happens when you currently have a GOLD status with complimentary QC membership but your paid QC membership will expire before your GOLD status does. Do Qantas extend your QC membership for the time period you held GOLD status and add it onto your QC expiry date?

 

[justinbrett]

Hi there, I am currently a GOLD member and I held a paid Qantas Club membership prior to reaching GOLD. After all the extensions and status matches around Covid time I matched Gold status with QFF and have retained that until May 24. I also had my QC extended at the same time to Nov 23. What happens when you currently have a GOLD status with complimentary QC membership but your paid QC membership will expire before your GOLD status does. Do Qantas extend your QC membership for the time period you held GOLD status and add it onto your QC expiry date?

Once you reach Gold, your QC membership is frozen. It will resume if at any point you are downgraded from Gold.

If in the event you reach Lifetime Gold, you can apply for a refund (as you'll never be able to use the remainder).

I would ignore any extensions you received for Qantas Club whilst Gold - find out how much was left the day you achieved Gold, and that is how much time you have in the bank.

 

[travelhands]

That's great Justin. Thank you! Gees I can't remember back then but I am sure I have a GOLD welcome email somewhere. Cheers

 

[jack1160]

Guide to Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold Status is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-gold-status-guide/

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Can anyone tell me if Qantas codeshare flights, i.e., emirates count for the 4 eligible flights per year for status upgrades?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Can anyone tell me if Qantas codeshare flights, i.e., emirates count for the 4 eligible flights per year for status upgrades?

Per this Qantas webpage, it seems that so long as you have a Qantas or JetStar flight number attached to it you should be fine:

 

[mrsterryn]

Hoping to maintain gold for a few years I have to say

 

[justinbrett]

Can anyone tell me if Qantas codeshare flights, i.e., emirates count for the 4 eligible flights per year for status upgrades?

Yes, just has to have QF, JQ, 3K or GK on the ticket.

 

[RnD]

Would Australia to UK on Emirates count as 1 or 2 flights, given the change in Dubai?

 

[Pushka]

Would Australia to UK on Emirates count as 1 or 2 flights, given the change in Dubai?

The flights have to be on Qantas or Jetstar.

 

[justinbrett]

Would Australia to UK on Emirates count as 1 or 2 flights, given the change in Dubai?

It will count as 2 flights, as long as they have different numbers (which I think they would).

The flights have to be on Qantas or Jetstar.

No they don't, they just have to be QF marketed.

 

[Pushka]

Hi there, I am currently a GOLD member and I held a paid Qantas Club membership prior to reaching GOLD. After all the extensions and status matches around Covid time I matched Gold status with QFF and have retained that until May 24. I also had my QC extended at the same time to Nov 23. What happens when you currently have a GOLD status with complimentary QC membership but your paid QC membership will expire before your GOLD status does. Do Qantas extend your QC membership for the time period you held GOLD status and add it onto your QC expiry date?

Check in My Account and scroll down. The expiry date of QC is shown and if you maintain status it will extend again. My year end is 30 April.

Post automatically merged: Aug 17, 2023

It will count as 2 flights, as long as they have different numbers (which I think they would).



No they don't, they just have to be QF marketed.

Ah, thanks, I always assumed that meant Qantas. That makes it easier.

 

[RnD]

It will count as 2 flights, as long as they have different numbers (which I think they would).



No they don't, they just have to be QF marketed.

Thank you, that was what I was thinking. Just curious as it would be on one PNR.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I should also point out that it is a misnomer that one needs to travel within/from/to Australia 4 times to earn Qantas status. The terms say 4 times on a QF or JetStar Group marketed flight. So that could mean a domestic flight in NZ or Japan (where JetStar and JetStar Japan operates). It could mean flying JetStar Asia between cities in Asia. Or as others have pointed out it could mean somehow getting on a QF codeshare. I bring this up as sometimes it is easier to earn status credits outside of Australia (US domestic flights come to mind such as the infamous San Francisco to Los Angeles via Dallas Fort Worth American routing that nets 200 status credits in business each way).

-RooFlyer88

 

[justinbrett]

Thank you, that was what I was thinking. Just curious as it would be on one PNR.

No, the only time more than one flight only counts as one is if it has a single flight number.

For example if you fly QF from SYD-SIN-LHR on QF1 or MEL-PER-LHR on QF9, both of those only count as one.

But if you connect in SIN/PER via a different flight number to QF1/9, it will count as two.

Under previous schemes it meant fewer points & SCs if you were on the single flight number, these days it's structured so there's not much difference, if any.

I should also point out that it is a misnomer that one needs to travel within/from/to Australia 4 times to earn Qantas status. The terms say 4 times on a QF or JetStar Group marketed flight. So that could mean a domestic flight in NZ or Japan (where JetStar and JetStar Japan operates). It could mean flying JetStar Asia between cities in Asia. Or as others have pointed out it could mean somehow getting on a QF codeshare. I bring this up as sometimes it is easier to earn status credits outside of Australia (US domestic flights come to mind such as the infamous San Francisco to Los Angeles via Dallas Fort Worth American routing that nets 200 status credits in business each way).

-RooFlyer88

You can't book on most codeshares if you aren't connecting to a QF flight.

 

[WilsonM]

Great article but have a couple minor corrections/additions. First on American Airlines, you don't get Preferred Seating for free as a Qantas Gold, and I can say that as a Qantas Gold booked on several AA sectors:

Second, another big benefit of being QF Gold, particularly if you are QLD based is access to the Priority security zone in BNE domestic that dumps you right into the lounge. I'm unsure if there are other airports in Australia that provide similar service, but interesting nonetheless.

-RooFlyer88

Is this the manage booking screen, or choosing a seat prior to booking? I say this because I have an AA flight coming up, booked in Basic Economy, and preferred seating is free for me as a SG with my QF number attached, although Main Cabin Extra seems to be a lot more expensive than your example. See the below screenshot:




Not really sure what's going on there.

The domestic fast track is available at BNE, SYD and MEL, but is only open in peak hours. It's in the article as "fast track security lanes."

 

[WilsonM]

To me one of the more golden benefits is the fast-track security in many ports. Often the wait times in the general security are reasonable but sometimes the difference between the fast track and normal is a lot bigger and that's when it comes handy.

100% agree, but unfortunately international fast-track is only a benefit for OWE card holders