Attaining to QF or VA Gold level

[kamchatsky]

OK all, I need some QF and VA experts here to help me on this, especially in terms of getting to say Gold level.

I have just started a new job on Monday and already I have done a trip to HBA and CBR already (from SYD). So far, I have flown mix of QF and VA (2 flights each). I will be going to MEL next week.

Looking at future plans, it looks like I will be doing more trips from SYD to say MEL/ADL/CBR/HBA. Not exactly sure of frequencies yet. There are no requirements for international travel. For leisure overseas trips I always use my points so I won't earn extra SCs that way.

Whilst technically there is BFOD policy, I actually can book my own flights directly online, so if the price difference is not great I can choose one airline over the other.

So I am trying to work out, is that what is the best way to maximise my flight pattern to get myself to Gold level if possible? Currently I am EY Gold (via status matching in the past) which means I can get into VA lounge anyway (except no lounge at HBA) but I need to credit it to EY program. However it expires in March next year, and I cannot see how I can retain it especially with all those short trips it is very hard to retain Gold with EY. Also I have used a QP Pass earlier this week, and still have one in hand, but I will certainly use up in my next QF trip if booked in the afternoon.

So question is, does QF and VA right now offers status matching to Gold, or is it a challenge? Also, which is easier to attain Gold, given that I would book discount Economy fare classes anyway? Or I should look for another QF/VA partner airline to status match so that I can still get to the lounges post March next year?

From a feature priority point of view, the most important thing is to get myself into QP or VP, then getting exit row access (which somehow I managed to get for all 4 flights this week).

 

[NZflygirl]

If you're flying VA and crediting to EY then you could ask QF for a status challenge. Given you status matched to EY, does your EY activity statement show lots of VA flights in the last 6 months? That's what QF will be interested in. Anyway no harm in emailing them for the status challenge request [email protected]. Fly 200 sc within 3 months to get gold. You'd only need 600 to retain gold for the following year.

VA I think have pilot gold which is also a challenge. https://www.virginaustralia.com/cs/...ntent/~edisp/velocity-pilot-gold-brochure.pdf
VA has family pooling which QF don't so you can use family to pool both points and status credits to you to earn/keep status. It's also 500 to earn and 400 to retain.
VA announced some changes to their fare structure and names which are in effect now but there are some status credit earn changes to come I think Jan 2017. 5sc earn on cheapest, no tier bonus on cheapest - read on....
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....lia-velocity/new-va-fare-structure-77594.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../program-update-virgin-australia-s-78145.html

Redemption wise with VA international you need to be gold or above for upgrading with points on VA metal which is only 2 destinations currently LAX and AUH.
Apparently redemptions on EY aren't that palatable due to charges. Can redeem on NZ also.
Transferring your VA points to SQ is a nice benefit 1.35:1 loss and same on return back but if you like flying SQ that's an option for redemptions and I guess supplement with SPG AMEX or other cc and that could be your leisure trips. Or redeem on Scoot Biz for vouchers.
VA you can get HH gold if needed as apparently a one off benefit or status upgrade with Europcar or Hertz.

VA drive me insane with flights not accruing for weeks sometimes, chasing them up or just other things along the way. Still fly them though. No android app.

QF obviously has EK and OW partners. I prefer QF in that there's an app, the Q-tag for quick check-in, flights have always posted. Lots of other ways to earn. I think I may prefer QFs cancellation policies too just off the top of my head. I think there are a couple of changes with VA recently also. I care about the type of plane I fly also and QF have more A330s for transcon, although I've chosen VA recently for a couple of routes as they've had the embraer or 737 as opposed to the QF turbo prop. Some people care, some don't.

I guess outright rewards you can score points from cc so could use either programme. I don't know the intricacies of doing that.
Both require flying 4 eligible flights for gold.

If I had to start again and only choose one I don't actually know which one I would choose but probably QF if it was attainable. Some things are just easier with them and that in turn makes life less stressful. I think VA is still probably easier due to pooling and lower requirement but...there's changes on the way so you'll need to go through them and see if they'll affect you.

If you can get a status match from someone else then definitely get that it might be handy!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

QF gold is about the same difficulty to obtain as Va platinum and if you can choose which flights you're on its even easier.
So it's not a question of QF or VA gold but rather QF gold or VA plat. I know which I would choose!
This may help too : flyora.com/calculator

 

[samh004]

So it's not a question of QF or VA gold but rather QF gold or VA plat. I know which I would choose!

QF Gold?

Looking at this from what the info provided, you have EY Gold that gives you lounge access on VA already. I know that on QF/CX flights you can use one membership to earn to and the other to access the lounge etc, so simply based on that, I would choose VA as you can build your status as you access the lounge on the EY membership. Hopefully by the time you lose EY Gold, you'll have hit VA Gold.

However, if you're going to be flying a lot to HBA, they don't have a VA lounge there as you say, but QF does. Sure it's nothing amazing, but it is there. I recently flew through Alice Springs... the lounge was terrible, but it was still better than the terminal!

Perhaps also consider that you have no lounge access on Tiger (I believe) as a VA status member, but you do have lounges access on Jetstar as a Qantas status member, so if the QF flight is more expensive than VA, which is more expensive than JQ, you can always pick that. A Plus bundle will give you points/SC and their new Biz bundle will give you the ability to fly ahead or before, something you need status for on VA

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

The only issue with crediting to VA is the new fare structure which NZflygirl alluded to above.

If you are always booking the cheapest fare class then the new fare structure will hurt. However, if you can about 30% more than the cheapest fare to get Elevate fares then you will be able to accrue SCs at a much faster rate.

Even attaining gold with VAs lower thresholds may be challenging on such short east coast routes where frequency is not known. In light of this, can you claim a QP membership through work? This would allow lounge access and some other benefits regardless of how many flights you take with QF. You could fly VA and credit to VA until your EY Gold runs out then switch to QF and purchase QP membership at that point and try to build QF status.

 

[BAM1748]

I'd be aiming for QF gold, better long term option in my opinion.

Matt

 

[kamchatsky]

Thank you for all the responses!

Just an update, I have another trip to MEL coming up, and just before booking I was still think choosing between QF and VA, so I logged into QF and saw this:

Date	Description	Qantas Points	Total points	Status credits
30 SEP 16	EXPIRED STATUS CREDITS 30SEP16	-	0	-10
15 SEP 16	QF 1513 DISCOUNT ECONOMY 15SEP16 SYDNEY/CANBERRA	400	800	10

Now that annoyed me greatly. My naive assumption was that earned SCs would last a year before they get expired. But in this case, it expired after 2 weeks! To me, that makes no sense!

Checking with VA policy, it looks like that earned SCs should last 1 year before getting expired. It sounds much more reasonable.

So I have decided to go for VA instead, even though most of my colleagues go for QF. It also helped that I am still EY Gold so I can still go to VA lounge. Now my work pays for my meals on business travel but I found that I eat most of the time at the lounge, and in some way, saving my company money from eating at the cafes/restaurants at the airport.

A minor point, someone needs to keeps VA afloat so that they can keep QF honest. VA has not been doing well financially and they need all the cash they can get.

Now it would be even better if a VA partner can come up with another status match to match my EY Gold right now ......

QF gold is about the same difficulty to obtain as Va platinum and if you can choose which flights you're on its even easier.
So it's not a question of QF or VA gold but rather QF gold or VA plat. I know which I would choose!
This may help too : flyora.com/calculator

Thank you for the calculator. I think I will benefit from the new changes as I can pick my flights on routes which is high frequency.

If you're flying VA and crediting to EY then you could ask QF for a status challenge. Given you status matched to EY, does your EY activity statement show lots of VA flights in the last 6 months? That's what QF will be interested in. Anyway no harm in emailing them for the status challenge request [email protected]. Fly 200 sc within 3 months to get gold. You'd only need 600 to retain gold for the following year.

VA I think have pilot gold which is also a challenge. https://www.virginaustralia.com/cs/...ntent/~edisp/velocity-pilot-gold-brochure.pdf
VA has family pooling which QF don't so you can use family to pool both points and status credits to you to earn/keep status. It's also 500 to earn and 400 to retain.
VA announced some changes to their fare structure and names which are in effect now but there are some status credit earn changes to come I think Jan 2017. 5sc earn on cheapest, no tier bonus on cheapest - read on....
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....lia-velocity/new-va-fare-structure-77594.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../program-update-virgin-australia-s-78145.html

Redemption wise with VA international you need to be gold or above for upgrading with points on VA metal which is only 2 destinations currently LAX and AUH.
Apparently redemptions on EY aren't that palatable due to charges. Can redeem on NZ also.
Transferring your VA points to SQ is a nice benefit 1.35:1 loss and same on return back but if you like flying SQ that's an option for redemptions and I guess supplement with SPG AMEX or other cc and that could be your leisure trips. Or redeem on Scoot Biz for vouchers.
VA you can get HH gold if needed as apparently a one off benefit or status upgrade with Europcar or Hertz.

VA drive me insane with flights not accruing for weeks sometimes, chasing them up or just other things along the way. Still fly them though. No android app.

QF obviously has EK and OW partners. I prefer QF in that there's an app, the Q-tag for quick check-in, flights have always posted. Lots of other ways to earn. I think I may prefer QFs cancellation policies too just off the top of my head. I think there are a couple of changes with VA recently also. I care about the type of plane I fly also and QF have more A330s for transcon, although I've chosen VA recently for a couple of routes as they've had the embraer or 737 as opposed to the QF turbo prop. Some people care, some don't.

I guess outright rewards you can score points from cc so could use either programme. I don't know the intricacies of doing that.
Both require flying 4 eligible flights for gold.

If I had to start again and only choose one I don't actually know which one I would choose but probably QF if it was attainable. Some things are just easier with them and that in turn makes life less stressful. I think VA is still probably easier due to pooling and lower requirement but...there's changes on the way so you'll need to go through them and see if they'll affect you.

If you can get a status match from someone else then definitely get that it might be handy!

Sure I can ask QF for challenge but I think 200sc in 3 months would be tough for me. For VA it looks like my company needs to be part of accelerate program, and then if they buy certain amount of VA flights, they can nominate 2 people for Gold. I don't think our company participates that though.

 

[yohy?!]

VA is easier but far less valuable status - been there done that and just not enough in it to interest me (can't get row 3 on domestic, poor status recognition on partners, limited award available etc).

putting aside the status benefits or points earn, all that domestic travel would be better going on QF even whilst you're building status.

T2 in SYD gives me the sh!ts and VA has really gone off their game onboard - keep your sanity whilst you build status.

 

[kamchatsky]

QF Gold?

Looking at this from what the info provided, you have EY Gold that gives you lounge access on VA already. I know that on QF/CX flights you can use one membership to earn to and the other to access the lounge etc, so simply based on that, I would choose VA as you can build your status as you access the lounge on the EY membership. Hopefully by the time you lose EY Gold, you'll have hit VA Gold.

However, if you're going to be flying a lot to HBA, they don't have a VA lounge there as you say, but QF does. Sure it's nothing amazing, but it is there. I recently flew through Alice Springs... the lounge was terrible, but it was still better than the terminal!

Perhaps also consider that you have no lounge access on Tiger (I believe) as a VA status member, but you do have lounges access on Jetstar as a Qantas status member, so if the QF flight is more expensive than VA, which is more expensive than JQ, you can always pick that. A Plus bundle will give you points/SC and their new Biz bundle will give you the ability to fly ahead or before, something you need status for on VA

I tend not to fly JQ these days as we don't do a lot domestic travel personally. We always used our free VA ticket from our 2 * Platinum Edges and of course our VA Amex. I prefer to travel overseas for leisure and always ended up fly J or F using points anyway, so status is not important when travelling internationally.

The only issue with crediting to VA is the new fare structure which NZflygirl alluded to above.

If you are always booking the cheapest fare class then the new fare structure will hurt. However, if you can about 30% more than the cheapest fare to get Elevate fares then you will be able to accrue SCs at a much faster rate.

Even attaining gold with VAs lower thresholds may be challenging on such short east coast routes where frequency is not known. In light of this, can you claim a QP membership through work? This would allow lounge access and some other benefits regardless of how many flights you take with QF. You could fly VA and credit to VA until your EY Gold runs out then switch to QF and purchase QP membership at that point and try to build QF status.

For me this would work in my favour as I can pick flights myself via our travel portal, and I normally book the trip only 1-2 days before the trip. However I have never asked whether our company will pay for QF Club membership though. Chances of that is low.

VA is easier but far less valuable status - been there done that and just not enough in it to interest me (can't get row 3 on domestic, poor status recognition on partners, limited award available etc).

putting aside the status benefits or points earn, all that domestic travel would be better going on QF even whilst you're building status.

T2 in SYD gives me the sh!ts and VA has really gone off their game onboard - keep your sanity whilst you build status.

I agree T3 at SYD is much better experience than T2. Yes QF is part of OW and their status is definitely more recognised. However it is harder to earn than VA as well. My goal is to at least get to Gold level, and I am not sure if I can do this with QF, especially I can go to VA Lounge right now when I fly, until end of March next year at least.

 

[yohy?!]

I agree T3 at SYD is much better experience than T2. Yes QF is part of OW and their status is definitely more recognised. However it is harder to earn than VA as well. My goal is to at least get to Gold level, and I am not sure if I can do this with QF, especially I can go to VA Lounge right now when I fly, until end of March next year at least.

bear in mind that if you are on BFOD and booking the most restricted fares for at least half your trip you will find that VA SC earn is halved from jan next year making it much harder to get to Gold, although even just getting to silver at least will give you discounted lounge access (the novelty wears off pretty quick ive found though sadly)

 

[kamchatsky]

bear in mind that if you are on BFOD and booking the most restricted fares for at least half your trip you will find that VA SC earn is halved from jan next year making it much harder to get to Gold, although even just getting to silver at least will give you discounted lounge access (the novelty wears off pretty quick ive found though sadly)

Well that's where it gets interesting. It is not BFOD. Somehow the portal just let me pick whatever flight I wanted really, and it has different price categories so I can book Elevate fares if required.

 

[samh004]

Thank you for all the responses!

Just an update, I have another trip to MEL coming up, and just before booking I was still think choosing between QF and VA, so I logged into QF and saw this:

Date	Description	Qantas Points	Total points	Status credits
30 SEP 16	EXPIRED STATUS CREDITS 30SEP16	-	0	-10
15 SEP 16	QF 1513 DISCOUNT ECONOMY 15SEP16 SYDNEY/CANBERRA	400	800	10

Now that annoyed me greatly. My naive assumption was that earned SCs would last a year before they get expired. But in this case, it expired after 2 weeks! To me, that makes no sense!

Checking with VA policy, it looks like that earned SCs should last 1 year before getting expired. It sounds much more reasonable.

Qantas has a fixed status year, ending in the month you joined the program every year. Therefore, to earn status you need to earn your status credits between the first day after your year 'resets' and the last day of your membership year. In your case, this would be a membership year from 1st October to 30th September, every year.

Virgin has a rolling status year, as you have no doubt figured out. I'm not going to begin to explain it as you most likely understand it already, but I find the fixed year easier to wrap my head around than a rolling year.

All status credits you earn on Qantas count to your lifetime tally though! So once you hit 7000 you get lifetime Silver and 14000 gives you lifetime Gold. Virgin doesn't have that