AA Platinum Challenge - Tips

[NM]

Be sure to let the traveller know that he can still use his Qantas Platinum card to use the F checkin and F lounges, but to make sure the check-in and lounge agents don't try to "do him a favour" and change is FF details to his QF account. He needs to ensure hos Boarding Pass has his AA number showing.

 

[adrian]

Thanks for the help with the Platinum Challenge - qualified on the first flight (SYD-LHR), for a total 10349 qmiles, and 23285 point miles. Platinum already - too easy!!!

 

[smithym]

Thanks for the help with the Platinum Challenge - qualified on the first flight (SYD-LHR), for a total 10349 qmiles, and 23285 point miles. Platinum already - too easy!!!

What class did you fly? I have got similar trip coming up and want to make sure I qualify on the first leg.

 

[adrian]

It was Qantas business - D class, I think. Good luck!

 

[Dave Noble]

What class did you fly? I have got similar trip coming up and want to make sure I qualify on the first leg.

You need to fly in 1st or business or YBHK economy classes on Qantas
or 1st or business or World Traveller Plus or YBH economy classes on BA to complete the challenge on a single sector Australia-LHR

Dave

 

[simongr]

OK I just skimmed over the 19 pages of this thread over lunch in London. I am just about to hit QF Gold with a re-assessment at the end of September - so I should be gold until Sep 2007 and after that I have Qantas Club for another 18 months or so.

I am going to do a fair amount of business class travel over the next couple of years and after that - who knows.

My itineray for the next 12 months is probably something like:

SYD-JFK - twice
SYD-LHR - twice
SYD-SIN - Once
SYD-Tokyo - Once
SYD-AKL - Once

There might be a few SYD-HKK trips on top of that as well.

What I am wondering is two things. First as I understand it - if I registered for AA challenge I would be platinum at the end of my first SYD-JFK trip and then all flights after that earn a 100% status bonus? Seems a bit easy to me?

Secondly - what benefits am I really going to see? I have no intention of using points for domestic flights and only want to either upgrade domestic flights or upgrade International flights for Mrs Simongr if she flies with me when I travel on business. I dont see much of a difference at check in between Business and First (ok so I havent done that much international business travel yet so maybe I am bit overwhelmed about it) and with QF Gold (and maybe platinum next year) I get access to lounges in most places.

Is the benefit simply a better earn rate for me?

S

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Do you mean Hokitika (HKK) or Hong Kong (HKG)? Quite a difference

Is the benefit simply a better earn rate for me?

Yes, since it doesn't appear that you be flying AA much (if at all).

 

[Dave Noble]

What I am wondering is two things. First as I understand it - if I registered for AA challenge I would be platinum at QUOTE]
the end of my first SYD-JFK trip and then all flights after that earn a 100% status bonus? Seems a bit easy to me?[/
It is that easy. Great isn't it

Secondly - what benefits am I really going to see? I have no intention of using points for domestic flights and only want to either upgrade domestic flights or upgrade International flights for Mrs Simongr if she flies with me when I travel on business. I dont see much of a difference at check in between Business and First (ok so I havent done that much international business travel yet so maybe I am bit overwhelmed about it) and with QF Gold (and maybe platinum next year) I get access to lounges in most places.

Is the benefit simply a better earn rate for me?

S

With this travel, you could get Executive Platinum status and also get the 8 Systemwide upgrades , which if you are going to be unable to use , you can give to friends/family or perhaps even trade them on FTs coupon connection ( worth about 25-30k miles each)

You do not just get a better earn rate, you get a better burn rate.

e.g. if Mrs Simongr wanted to travel to UK. it would cost $2000 ish for an economy ticket on QF plus 192,000 points to upgrade r/t using QF points. Using AA points, you can get an award free business class ticket to UK for 120,000 points plus airport taxes of about $200.

Going JFK , a r/t upgrade using QF points would again be 192,000 vs 125,000 for a r/t J award from AA

Going to SIN, a r/t upgrade costs 80,000 vs 70,000 for a r/t award from AA

Going to NRT a r/t upgrade costs 96,000 vs 90,000 for a r/t award from AA

Going to AKL a r/t upgrade costs 32,000 vs 35,000 for a r/t award from AA

Going

Given a min of 81,000 miles travel in J in your given itinery, as an AA Platinum/Executive Platinum you would earn a min of 182,685 miles ( base plus 100% plat plus 25% J ) . You can then also convert the 8 earned electronic domestic upgrades to miles giving an extra 16,000 miles giving a total of 198,685 miles. For QF travel, most of your earning will be base plus 50% bonus plus 25% cabin bonus. Taking it just in the listed order only the SYD-AKL-SYD would get 100% mileage. Earning would be approx 144,000 miles which would not be enough to even upgrade r/t to london

It seems to me that you would get much higher value based on your intended itineries and class of travel crediting to AA than you would crediting to QF and, should you attain EXP status, the 8 Systemwide upgrades are worth a fair bit too

Dave

 

[kelix]

Hey guys.
Im new to the FF scene (still pretty young) but now im in a situation where I have a lot of Domestic travel for work. So while I slowly accru points I wouldnt mine being a OW saffire? thanks to a AA challenge. Im looking at going OS at the end of the year (LHR from BNE and back). so whats the best way for me to achieve OWP and AA Plat? Ive heard its possible if i fly full economy or Business. Will i get any points bonuses in future for being OWP when it comes to my QFF miles flying QF domestically? also Im a QC member thanks to work and its corporate rate, however im hoping to get gold status too? once im AA plat and OW saffire any miles advantage going OS on QF?

Best and thanks,

Jono

 

[wandering_fred]

If I were doing it

1. A cheap as possible ticket BNE-SIN
2. World Traveler Plus SIN-LHR-SIN
purchsed from a SIN TA
3. QF V class (1 year validity) SIN - BNE -SIN

BKK fares are about the same.

Alternative: LONE4 ex BNE with WTP upgrade SEAsia - LHR. get it issued by AA and use the AA codeshares transpacific.


YMMV

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[kelix]

Ok.
If i get a Discount Business class ONE4 and fly BNE to LHR I should have anough to get AA plat and OW sapphire yea now that im a new AA member, pending I use my AA number for that segment? I also want to try and get Silver/Gold/Plat for QFF im a QP Bronze member now with 130 SC's. 31 october is my annual renewal.

Is it possible to go a plat challenge with my AA card to LHR. then fly with my QFF number for the rest of the segements.. im not interested in staying longer than 2 days if i have to in each spot once i have say, 10 days in London/Paris, how many segments would i need to go in Discount business to qualify for silver/gold/plat, how many legs are available in QF metal?? I should have my OW sapphire, will that help with segment bonuses/lounges?

As im new to this all im interested in the best value for my $ as possible. People like David seem to be an absolute amazing resource.. i hope to learn alot!

P.S. my girlfirned will be flying with me.. she, however, doesnt want to spend the $$ for D business. any reccomendations for her?

 

[simongr]

Thanks for the replies. Just a couple more points. Yes it was HKG not HKK

Re the upgrades for Mrs Simongr - the company is paying for a full fare economy so the upgrade cost should be as high - think it was 60,000 points QF for london each way (as I will only have about 80,000 points on the way there Iam not sure what we are going to do about her upgrade...)

In relation to the system wide upgrades - are they just for AA domestic flights? Do they expire?

My only concern is that if my travel drops off in 18months - 2years then am I left with AA status and not much use for it - whereas some QF points might be more useful..

 

[NM]

Re the upgrades for Mrs Simongr - the company is paying for a full fare economy so the upgrade cost should be as high - think it was 60,000 points QF for london each way (as I will only have about 80,000 points on the way there Iam not sure what we are going to do about her upgrade...)

Check the fare booking code to ensure it is Y. Some people will refer to a fully flexible and refundable ticket as full economy, but it could be booked in something like B booking code. Be aware that often a Y fare costs almost as much as a business class fare, but there are some discounted Y fares available from time to time on some routes. It is unusual to have a Y booking code on international flights since they are so very expensive and B has few if any restrictions over Y and is often very much cheaper than Y. But only Y gets to pay the full economy rate for international upgrades.

In relation to the system wide upgrades - are they just for AA domestic flights? Do they expire?

AA's e-VIP upgrades, which an Exec Platinum member gets 8 each year, can be used on any AA flight. The ticket must be issued by AA on their 001 ticket number sequence since they are confirmed upgrades and they actually re-issue the ticket in the new fare class. I understand they expire at the end of the Feb at the same time as the current membership would expire (ie the year after the EXP qualification was reached). So someone making EXP status now would receive 8 x e-VIP upgrades that would expire in Feb 2008.

My only concern is that if my travel drops off in 18months - 2years then am I left with AA status and not much use for it - whereas some QF points might be more useful..

I am not sure I follow you logic. You will earn AA miles at the same or faster rate than QF FF points (from flying) and I would expect a balance of AA miles would be more useful than a similar sized balance of QF FF points for someone with first or second tier status in either program.

 

[NM]

Ok.
If i get a Discount Business class ONE4 and fly BNE to LHR I should have anough to get AA plat and OW sapphire yea now that im a new AA member, pending I use my AA number for that segment?

If doing a DONE4 starting in BNE, I suggest you first head to SYD or MEL and take a single flight number from one of those places to LHR (e.g. QF1, QF9, QF29, QF31). That way your Platinum Challenge completion flight is the full SYD/MEL-LHR and you get the 100% bonus miles for the whole long flight.

If you start with BNE-SIN followed by SIN-LHR, you don't get any status bonus for BNE-SIN and only get the Plat bonus for SIN-LHR. That would earn you 17,346 miles. While BNE-MEL-LHR would earn you 21,863 miles and BNE-SYD-LHR would earn 21,646 miles.

I also want to try and get Silver/Gold/Plat for QFF im a QP Bronze member now with 130 SC's. 31 october is my annual renewal.

Why do you want Qantas status? Its your choice of course, but the only benefits I see are:

• Easier to get to OneWorld Emerald on QF if flying business class, and that brings F check-in and F lounge access
• Higher priority for QF upgrade waitlists if using QF FF points

And you will earn a lot more AA miles as a Platinum member (due to 100% bonus miles) than you will as a QF FF member using the trip to move up from Bronze to Silver to Gold and hopefully yo Platinum (0, 25%, 50% and 100% status bonus applies as you progress up the QF food chain).

Is it possible to go a plat challenge with my AA card to LHR. then fly with my QFF number for the rest of the segements..

Most definitely can be done. Just need to follow the instructions given many times in this forum for changing the FF details in the reservation. And make sure you check the boarding pass each flight and have the check-in or lounge agent fix it if the wrong one shows.

im not interested in staying longer than 2 days if i have to in each spot once i have say, 10 days in London/Paris, how many segments would i need to go in Discount business to qualify for silver/gold/plat, how many legs are available in QF metal?? I should have my OW sapphire, will that help with segment bonuses/lounges?

The earning rate for QF status credits and AA miles are not reduced by the fact that a OneWorld Explorer is a discounted fare booked in D. You get the same status credits or EQPs for D as for full fare J. So you need to fly enough segments to earn 350/700/1400 status credits to make QF Silver/Gold/Platinum. Look at the QF FF web site for the table that shows how many SCs earned by distance flown.

By way of example, a trans-Pacific flight (LAX/SFO-SYD/MEL/BNE) will earn 160 status credits. A trans-Atlantic flight will earn between 100 and 140 SCs depending on the route.

Remember that AA domestic flights operated as 2-class earn First Class SCs on a DONE4 fare, so something like MIA-LAX earns 120 SCs. There is no advantage in the SC earning rate to being on QF flights. All OneWorld flights in paid business class earn the same SC rates. Its only QF, AA and BA flights that also earn the QF status bonus (25% for Silver, 50% for Gold and 100% for Platinum). On AA, all OneWorld flights in paid business class earn the 100% Platinum bonus.

P.S. my girlfirned will be flying with me.. she, however, doesnt want to spend the $$ for D business. any reccomendations for her?

Start saving now! You can save some money by purchasing your DONE4 ticket in a place like Thailand and using either a cheap fare (perhaps even JQ international) or an award flight to get there to commence the journey.

Otherwise she can reach AA Platinum using a LONE4 fare. I would recommend she consider paying the upgrade to BA World Traveller Plus between SYD-LHR or at least SIN-LHR and that way she can get to AA Plat by London and enjoy the 100% mile bonus for the long flight and subsequent flights.

 

[Dave Noble]

My only concern is that if my travel drops off in 18months - 2years then am I left with AA status and not much use for it - whereas some QF points might be more useful..

AA Platinum status gives you everything that QF status gives you ( i.e. business check in and lounge access ) and the points are , imo, more useful. AA points can be used to redeem J awards on QF flights for ( in nearly all cases ) less points cost than it would cost to just upgrade using QF points and a lot less than redeeming a J award using QF points. Also, the taxes charged by AA are just the actual taxes and no fuel fines are applied.

I can't see how QF points would be more useful

Dave

 

[kelix]

NM.. thanks... im so happy there are some amazing people on here willing to share... I hope i can help people out once i get my footing too.
ok.. so AA platty.. that gives me OW Sapphire right? will QF treat me any nicer due to this? I mean your right.. im a QP member so i already get good checkins domestically... why get platty? Can I book domestic QF flights and drop in my AA number? or do i need to book with AA for my Aussie domestic travel? Is it easy to use AA points for domestic flights? will i get 100% mile bonuses domestially even tho i wont be on QFF metal? AA platty/OW sapphire wont get my in QC for nix will it?

 

[Dave Noble]

Can I book domestic QF flights and drop in my AA number? or do i need to book with AA for my Aussie domestic travel? Is it easy to use AA points for domestic flights? will i get 100% mile bonuses domestially even tho i wont be on QFF metal? AA platty/OW sapphire wont get my in QC for nix will it?

You can book your domestic flights as normal and just add the number into the booking over the phone or at check in. Note, of course, that you earn zero miles on N class (the more expensive) red-e-deals . If you book your Australian domestic flights on AA.com , you will always get a mileage eligable fare

AA Platinum gives access to OW business class lounges when travelling on an OW carrier, so you are entitled to Qantas Club access when travelling

You get 100% mileage bonus

Dave

 

[kelix]

You guys are amazing! thanks... ok.. so.. get a flight to Mel not using my AA# as it will count as a leg(is that right)?.. then start my challenge there in MEL with AA flying D class to LHR have platty by the next day. Best to pool all future legs with AA # and dump QFF?

Anyone got a good suggestion for a Millage run for a DONE4? I want to reap as much as I can first time around so it makes requalifying easier. is there a better time of year to do this? I'd prefer some time in Eurpoe with maybe 3 days in NY, the rest of the states can be a Mileage run.
I'll be flying a lot of Domestic routes with QF, now i know what fare codes to use (thanks guys!) i'll just place my AA number on it with amadeus and show my AA card at the domestic QP's for access well not much point till my QP subscription finishes.

 

[simongr]

A couple of things that might or might not change this for me (my reluctance is mostly based on the suspiscion that once I stop being a Qantas gold or platinum (which I might get next year) then I wont feel as special) are as follows:

1 - I have no control over what carrier I fly on or the route that I take. My fligths are booke through corporate travel agent and we are not allowed to to do anything to the flights that serves personal benefit at a cost to the company (and in my role I have to whiter than white when it comes to applying policy).

2 - Now this one will sound silly but... I have heard that the cabin crew treat WP differently to gold/silver - does this sort of special treatment follow if you are plat on another program - and this sort of applies to the ability to get upgrades/moved up waitlists etc.?

 

[Dave Noble]

A couple of things that might or might not change this for me (my reluctance is mostly based on the suspiscion that once I stop being a Qantas gold or platinum (which I might get next year) then I wont feel as special) are as follows:

2 - Now this one will sound silly but... I have heard that the cabin crew treat WP differently to gold/silver - does this sort of special treatment follow if you are plat on another program - and this sort of applies to the ability to get upgrades/moved up waitlists etc.?

Cabin crew treat people equally. On some flights the CSM might come round and say hello, but unless you have an extremely fragile ego , I can't see how this would matter. Remember too, with your plans, you could well make OW Emerald and be at the same level anyway

As far as mileage upgrades go, you are ahead of golds, but with AA PLT/EXP you can get a free business ticket for less miles anyway plus have it confirmed at booking time, rather than taking a gamble. As far as involuntary upgrades go, these are rare at best and not, imo, really worth worrying about. Friends of mine have received involuntary upgrades as AA PLT

Waitlisting does require a waitlistable fare, and as an AA PLT you would be just behind AA Gold and if AA EXP , just behind QF Platinum

Look at the redemption levels, there is no contest on which will work better in your situation imo

Dave