4 QFF "squiggles" required to maintain WP (North America)

[bmcc]

Looking to draw upon the collective wisdom of the group...

I have been WP with Qantas for 3 years, averaging between 1400 and 2500 SCs per year.

I will finish this membership year on 31 October with approximately 1700 SCs. However, having relocated to New York I have not been able to take any Qantas flights, nor do I have any immediate plans to. It seems likely I won't be able to get the 4 Qantas marketed flights in this membership year required to maintain status unless I take a specific trip.

From JFK, the cheapest/easiest appears to be JFK>LAX>PPT on American airlines and Air Tahiti codeshares. This is a 15hr trip in economy for US$2,000 which is more than I wish to spend to maintain status.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and have any ideas as to a cheaper / easier way to make the 4 required flights? Many thanks in advance!

 

[jrobin]

1. Thanks for the info. I did not know QF sold tickets JFK-PPT.
2. JFK-NAN could also work.
3. Or if money is the constraint and time less so, use points to get to Asia and take 4 QF Jetstar-metal flights there. A couple years ago I flew BKK-SGN-DAD return. I know there are less expensive options also.

 

[offshore171]

Would you be better off seeking a status match to move over to the AA program?

I guess it depends on how long your relocation is for.

 

[justinbrett]

From JFK, the cheapest/easiest appears to be JFK>LAX>PPT on American airlines and Air Tahiti codeshares. This is a 15hr trip in economy for US$2,000 which is more than I wish to spend to maintain status.

Is it not cheaper/easier/better to just fly JFK-LAX-BNE (or MEL)?

 

[bmcc]

Is it not cheaper/easier/better to just fly JFK-LAX-BNE (or MEL)?

Thanks all for the replies.

I considered moving across to AA but I'm not far from LTG with Qantas and so planning to stick with it for the time being.

Time is more of a constraint than money, but in any event it fees faintly ridiculous to contemplate spending ~US$2,000 to maintain WP status.

Perhaps it is best just to drop back down to Gold. I recall reading something about Qantas comping your status if you have a 3 year rolling average above 1200 SCs - is this still a thing? I would meet this benchmark I believe.

 

[juddles]

..... I recall reading something about Qantas comping your status if you have a 3 year rolling average above 1200 SCs - is this still a thing? I would meet this benchmark I believe.

bmcc, I haven't seen much on AFF in recent times regarding that unofficial thing, but it certainly did exist. About 5 (?) years ago that saved me one year, and I only had two squiggles.

 

[RooFlyer]

The comping of WP with 3 year rolling average didn't save me this year. You are more likely to get an offer to renew WP for 120K points.

Do you normally travel J? If so, SG is quite enough, at least for a while

 

[bmcc]

The comping of WP with 3 year rolling average didn't save me this year. You are more likely to get an offer to renew WP for 120K points.

Do you normally travel J? If so, SG is quite enough, at least for a while

Thanks for the data point, RooFlyer. I normally travel in J but some of the Emerald benefits I will miss. I'm in HKG often and the Pier is too nice, and using the dedicated entry in JFK T8 is also helpful to avoid the TSA goons.

Looks like a long weekend back in Aus might be in order. QF full fares are frightful!

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for the data point, RooFlyer. I normally travel in J but some of the Emerald benefits I will miss. I'm in HKG often and the Pier is too nice, and using the dedicated entry in JFK T8 is also helpful to avoid the TSA goons.

Looks like a long weekend back in Aus might be in order. QF full fares are frightful!

As I noted in a recent Trip Report, the Pier Business is fantastic too, and would be a First Lounge almost anywhere else, and I also survived the TSA at JFK ! I'd rather be WP (as I am now) than SG (as I was for 2 months then) but if you usually travel J then there is no way I'd do a status run just to re-gain WP.

 

[serfty]

I considered moving across to AA but I'm not far from LTG with Qantas and so planning to stick with it for the time being.

How many SC's do you need for LT Gold?

At 1700 SC's get those four flights and you'll have WP for another year and at least SG status for a year after that - anecdotally there's been no 4 ~ flight requirement in the soft landing.

Me? I'd suck it up with an economy sale fare to MEL/BNE on QF - that'll get those 4 segments and with WP you can make the economy experience 'better'.

At least you have nearly four months to work it out.

 

[teamhamsandwich]

Buy a gold coast holiday for a melbourne mate under your name. Mel>Syd>Coo return will get you there for a few hundred bucks.

 

[blackcat20]

Buy a gold coast holiday for a melbourne mate under your name. Mel>Syd>Coo return will get you there for a few hundred bucks.

Which is illegal, and would get you both in huge trouble if caught.

 

[cosi]

I have a similar issue even living in Perth and flying regularly to Hong Kong and Japan with CX.

Not an issue when QF operated Per-Hkg flights but lost WP when these flight were discontinued.

Last thing I want to do in a QF domestic run just to get the 4 squiggles crossed off.