3rd time unlucky - I'm going to miss Gold again unless someone can help!

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choppa

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Jun 20, 2012
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Qantas
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Virgin
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Hi All,

Long time reader, first time contributor. Well - actually I don't feel like a contributor so much so as a user as I'm the one asking for help.

I've been with QFF for around 5-6 years now, and in the last three years I've almost made it to Gold status twice due to working FIFO - two flights a month helped. The first year I didn't notice that I only had ~20SC's left before it reset - I was pretty upset by that. The second year I had 100SC's left before it reset and I completely forgot about it until it was too late. Unfortunately I've changed jobs so I don't get the wonderful free SC's from work related flights anymore.

So without further delays, my current status:
Silver
260 SC's
214,000 points
440 SC's needed by Aug 31 2014 to attain Gold.

Currently have flights booked from MEL-PER (20SC) in May, PER-MEL (20SC) in June, MEL-PER (20SC) in July, and PER-MEL (20SC) in Aug with work. They go for the cheapest flights so only get 20SC for that.

I need to go from MEL-CAN and CAN-MEL mid June, and also have a family vacation booked via Qantas/Emirates from MEL-DUB-MUC in August (return won't be until September so those points won't post until afterwards). I think I calculated 50 SC's for that (I paid $2.2k for the damned tickets and it was counted as "discount" economy... didn't feel like a discount).

I also need to make a 1 day run to SYD (need 4 hours in Sydney) before mid July to pick up a passport in person and the missus and I would like to head to Queenstown for a week in July (say 4th-13th) to see the snow. I'm contemplating going cheapest-fare on these though.

Is it worth trying to go for a SC-run to get Gold or would it be more efficient ($ wise) to buy lounge access?

Additionally I'd like to collect 480k points by the end of next year to send the whole family (4 people) on a RTW award in 2016.

Any help is appreciated!
 
Syd - Akl with our Flying Kanga (QF's partner, EK)...
Book a return, if you can afford it in F, try it out.
I think I saw 140 per one way in F, return is 280.
$$$, yes, I do realise that.
Maybe an EK J from Per to Dxb?
QP is $855 per 1 year, or a bit more per 2 year, I am a member of it, joined in Jan, plush, maybe not, but its a way of getting away from the riffraff in the nicest way.
QF does not offer a one entry pass, unless someone invites you, or you get a complimentary entry, unlike our other flight co in Aust, that has a single entry charge.
I think if I were you, I would be satisfied with PS.
Add: if you want that EK F class, try to get onto QF's booking system, up to a few days back, you or anyone could book F class, Syd - Akl on QF's booking system, paying Aud$1400 per one way, but more recently, I tried to have a look at flying F Syd - Akl for next year, and its gone.
QF's system now only allows J at the best.
 
Syd - Akl with our Flying Kanga (QF's partner, EK)...
Book a return, if you can afford it in F, try it out.
I think I saw 140 per one way in F, return is 280.
SYD-AKL is a Zone 3 which means you earn 120 SCs in F per one-way flight, not 140.
 
Ah, is it all this post Jul Malarkey. OR even before the post Jul enhancements, it was already 120SC?
Thanks. Will keep that noted in the dog box.
Why oh why couldn't the Flying Kanga just leave things alone, ... anyone out there with QF's ear, there are lot of punters who are not happy with the post Jul changes, some have given up on it, some have shifted to VA...
 
Ah, is it all this post Jul Malarkey. OR even before the post Jul enhancements, it was already 120SC?
Pre-1 July 2014. However, it doesn't change from 1 July - you still earn 120 SCs in F one-way SYD-AKL.
 
Use some of your points and book a MEL ASP via SYD JASA run. Only you can determine if it's better than paying $400 odd for QP membership, which does not earn extra points when flying like SG does.
 
Gold is better than QP, because gold equates to OWE which will give you OW status and lounge access in places where there is no QP. But you've got a bit of work ahead of you if you want to get to gold. You could check out the JASA spreadsheet and make some bookings before 30 June (travel doesn't have to be pre 30 June). Only you can tell whether the effort would be worth it for you.
 
Gold is better than QP, because gold equates to OWE which will give you OW status and lounge access in places where there is no QP. ...
That would be Gold or SG being OWS as in oneworld Sapphire.

But yes the *O lounge benefits are more wide ranging than QP.
 
There are posts here that suggest going for gold is not worth it. QF has a large number of gold pax all vying for the same award redemptions.

And in fact some have suggested they are relieved after deciding to get off the status building merry go round.

It really depends on why you want gold?

Im uncertain that the benefits outweigh silver. Classic awards are said to be a bit more available for gold but i dont think so for U (business) or P (first). You may get more X (economy) awards in gold than silver.

However I did manage to get 3 return P Syd -Lax coming up in Dec Jan. I would have preferred U (but could not get U) as the points burn for P is not worth it in my opinion.

Maybe lounge access? Just do your sums and work out whether its all worth it bearing in mind that you may have to do this year on year just to keep up.
 
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Thanks for all the suggestions. It seems that it's probably not worth the money to try to reach Gold after all. I might as well try to fly cheaper airlines instead as the $ saved can probably upgrade me to a more comfortable ride... which is a shame. I'm only 70SC's off getting Virgin Silver again, so maybe I'll refocus my efforts on that.

Anyone have any suggestions on a part-time job that would see me flying all over the place with Qantas and would operate on a part time basis (I'm an EEng and work on a 5/5 roster)?
 
if you really want to be involved in the dark arts of status building, may I suggest trying to keep to one frequent flyer program and get a credit card that credits FFpoints to that program.

citibank select for qantas
virgin high value credit card for virgin.

The best way to get status and FFpoints is to NOT change the way you spend. What you get with your normal lifestyle is what you get. if you get status then good if not then no prob. Use your Ff points regularly.
 
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Thanks for all the suggestions. It seems that it's probably not worth the money to try to reach Gold after all. I might as well try to fly cheaper airlines instead as the $ saved can probably upgrade me to a more comfortable ride... which is a shame. I'm only 70SC's off getting Virgin Silver again, so maybe I'll refocus my efforts on that.

Anyone have any suggestions on a part-time job that would see me flying all over the place with Qantas and would operate on a part time basis (I'm an EEng and work on a 5/5 roster)?

there is no doubt gold is worth it if you were flying frequently around australia... the lounge access would be worth it.

but if you fly infrequently the main issue at airports is queuing. Silver will get rid of that problem.

Internationally, gold has benefits such as lounge, but again, unless you are flying frequently, there are other ways to make occasional trips more pleasant. you could buy individual lounge access passes or spend the money you save going for gold status to buy cheap business class tickets on other carriers. Even look at buying Avios from British airways: for an extra ~$100 you can upgrade flights of 2-3 hours to business class anyway using their points+pay option. (i think i spent GBP60 or something surcharge the other day to fly business on CX rather than economy out of HKG to PVG).
 
Not 3rd time unlucky just careless , no one should fall 20SC;s short.. You need to keep an eye on these things , plan in advance etc !
 
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