40 SC's from Retaining Platinum

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rk30

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Hi

I am 40 SC's away from retaining my Plat. My status reassesment date is 31st July 2007. Does anyone have an idea on the best/easiest way of earning 40 SC's in 2 weeks (I have no flights planned before 31/07/2007). I am based in Melb and I was thinking of taking a one way award flight to Sydney and a return Biz class?

Thanks
 
rk30 said:
I am 40 SC's away from retaining my Plat. My status reassesment date is 31st July 2007. Does anyone have an idea on the best/easiest way of earning 40 SC's in 2 weeks (I have no flights planned before 31/07/2007). I am based in Melb and I was thinking of taking a one way award flight to Sydney and a return Biz class?
There are a few ways you could do it. If pressed for time then you can do the flights mentioned above and in the process spend 6750 FF points (8,000 FF points for award seat + earn 1250 FF points for SYD-MEL in J class) and costing around $450.

What I would do in your situation is try to organise a MEL-CBR-SYD-CBR-MEL routing which should cost around $458 ($117 + $112 + $112 + $117) plus any credit card fees. You will earn 40 SCs and a guaranteed 4000 FF points for the 4 flights.
 
I would take either QF 481 or QF 653 to Perth at night, get off and get straight back on QF 648. All done at night so need to miss any work. It's a very early arrival back in MEL but to retain platinum, I'd do it. If you did it during the week you should be able to do it for less than $600 return. A little pricey perhaps but, again, no time required off work (if that's an issue).
 
Do a 1 stop trip to BNE, OOL, CBR or somewhere similar, essentially giving you 4 segments at 10 SCs in discount economy.

Or just do 2 quick return trips.

Otherwise, in discount economy, one return trip to AKL or NZ...

You should be able to do any of the above for less than $500.
 
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rk30 said:
Hi

I am 40 SC's away from retaining my Plat. My status reassesment date is 31st July 2007. Does anyone have an idea on the best/easiest way of earning 40 SC's in 2 weeks (I have no flights planned before 31/07/2007). I am based in Melb and I was thinking of taking a one way award flight to Sydney and a return Biz class?

Thanks

Canberra would be cheaper than Sydney. Including taxes it is $408 one way D class MEL-CBR vs $453 for a D class to Syd ($367 if booked on AA.com). You can get back either on points or pay $117 for an economy red-e-deal back for a total cost of $484 for 50 SCs and 2250 miles. I would do this over 4 red-e-deals since although the miles earned is a bit less, a J flight is more pleasant

Dave
 
Plenty of award seats and D class between MEL/CBR ATM, especially on Saturdays, Dave Nobel's idea is reasonable.

If you are going to find yourself in SYD in the next two weeks, a one-way flight in D between CBR and SYD is $305 (+$4.40CC fee) .

On AA.com for USD240 (AUD280)
 
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rk30 said:
Hi

I am 40 SC's away from retaining my Plat. My status reassesment date is 31st July 2007. Does anyone have an idea on the best/easiest way of earning 40 SC's in 2 weeks (I have no flights planned before 31/07/2007). I am based in Melb and I was thinking of taking a one way award flight to Sydney and a return Biz class?

You could just ask. I hadn't requalified at the end of last year (lots of travel on Emirates) but Qantas wrote asking what my travel plans were. I told them that I had numerous trips coming up on OW carriers and they sent me a new Platinum card.

I requalified anyway by May, but it was nice to have the perks for domestic flights. Qantas seem fairly understanding if one's travel patterns vary from month to month.
 
I think they are harsher on qualifying than requalifying. Obviously worth a shot though - I tried to pursuade tgtwwm to give it a go before this trip but he was happy to wait to qualify....
 
Danger said:
I would take either QF 481 or QF 653 to Perth at night, get off and get straight back on QF 648. All done at night so need to miss any work. It's a very early arrival back in MEL but to retain platinum, I'd do it. If you did it during the week you should be able to do it for less than $600 return. A little pricey perhaps but, again, no time required off work (if that's an issue).

Ah yes, the Mal Colston special.
 
Just call the priority line and let them know. No need to fly. They will ask a few questions on future flight plans. I know of members who have been 150 plus short and retained at QFF's generosity. One member was told he would be downgraded but got his Plat in the mail the other day. Renewed focus at QFF on ensuring frequent travelers feel appreciated.
 
If so close, I would be inclined to just make the effort to earn it ; save asking for a discretionary renewal for another time

Dave
 
Interesting concept - 40 sc away, and spending about $500 to keep enjoying the benefits of Pt over gold. It made me think about whether I would do it.

Just to get into the 1st class lounge instead of business - nice, but I wouldn't pay for this. 1st class check in - nice, but not worth $500. Bonus points - could be worthwhile, but I have millions of points and can't use them because Qantas don't allocate many (if any) international business class seats for FF. Extra baggage - never needed to use this.

Upgrades from business to 1st class? Now I'm really thinking. I get a couple of these each year, though in reality, the sky beds in business are pretty close to 1st class.

Interesting - I really don't know what I'd do in this situation. Anyone else got any ideas on whether they'd spend the money?
 
rhjames said:
Upgrades from business to 1st class? Now I'm really thinking. I get a couple of these each year, though in reality, the sky beds in business are pretty close to 1st class.

Interesting - I really don't know what I'd do in this situation. Anyone else got any ideas on whether they'd spend the money?

Here we disagree; QF business seats are ok, but nowhere near as good as a properly flat bed as offered in F ( or some other carriers J ).

I would tend to try and get extra points needed from travel already being undertaken ( e.g. fly HKG-MEL-SYD or even HKG-MEL-CBR-SYD rather than HKG-SYD ) rather than leave myself needing to fly additional sectors

If that close and not being auto-renewed at <1200 , then I would tend to see if I could make a trip somewhere though would be uninclined to just do a fly A-B-A

Dave
 
Dave Noble said:
Here we disagree; QF business seats are ok, but nowhere near as good as a properly flat bed as offered in F ( or some other carriers J ).
Dave

I just flew Fin Air Asia to Europe business. Makes QF business seats feel good. However, I agree that 1st class totally flat are better, but luckily once I'm asleep (which I do easliy when flying) I don't really notice the difference.

I'm starting to think that in this situation I'd drop the platinum, save the $500, and use up my points on upgrades. I can't seem to find any other way to use them, except domestic flights. I've had no problem with using points on other airlines.
 
Melbourne to Hobart return with Jetsat on Jetflex will get you 40sc's and negate the need to use points etc, for a cost of $418 + CC charges.
 
markis10 said:
Melbourne to Hobart return with Jetsat on Jetflex will get you 40sc's and negate the need to use points etc, for a cost of $418 + CC charges.
Or I guess, MEL-LST for $398+CC charges. ($402)
 
Still think that $367 plus 8k miles to CBR is still the best value since it does give 1 way in J

Dave
 
Seems a shame that when you're only after 40 SCs, the best that you can get is $9-$10/SC. If you were after a lot, then you'd probably be able to do much better.
 
rhjames said:
Interesting concept - 40 sc away, and spending about $500 to keep enjoying the benefits of Pt over gold. It made me think about whether I would do it.
...

Interesting - I really don't know what I'd do in this situation. Anyone else got any ideas on whether they'd spend the money?
I would, since most of my longhaul travel is booked in WHY. :shock:

This means such upgrades are from slimline to (hopefully) Skybed - a Huge difference.

Since becoming a WP I have not failed to get an upgrade for an international flight where I requested one. (nb, all have been requested at T-90 days).
 
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