Buying status

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brett-au

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Apr 5, 2007
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284
Hi All

Seeing that - for a trial period - its possible to redeem flights for points and earn status credits, I was curious to know about the next logical step. IE buying status using your points.

Wouldn't it be easier, faster, farer (is that a word?), greener to say 10 status credits for x,000 points? You could just upgrade to gold for y,000 points.

Personally, I've only started flying again, and its going to be a long slow road from red to gold, but I still have z,000 points left in my account. I've got almost a return domestic flight a week for the next 3 months (PQQ/TSV/MEL/PER/etc).

jso

ps solve for f(x)
 
jso said:
I was curious to know about the next logical step. IE buying status using your points.
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There has been the odd way of gaining SCs without flying (CC promotions etc) but SCs in my book relate to flying and more importantly, some nice benefits to assist those who fly lots.

That said, you can already buy the benefits of status by purchasing a business (or first) fare where available. If you aren't flying, then there's no need for status (apart from flashing around at the tennis club).
 
In the old program, there were a few tantalising references to the ability to buy status, but I am not sure that anyone ever worked out how to do it!
 
I always found it strange that people would sit on a plane for several hours just to fly sydney to adelaide via melbourne and canberra and back in a day, just for the status points (to gain/regain).

I just thought we could cut out the unnecessary flying, open up more reward tickets for those who actually want to go on a holiday, save the planet, and get me back in a comfy lounge. Every body wins.
 
jso said:
I always found it strange that people would sit on a plane for several hours just to fly sydney to adelaide via melbourne and canberra and back in a day, just for the status points (to gain/regain).
Click to expand...

Depends if you enjoy flying, some may find the concept of going for a sunday drive strange when they could just drive to work Monday morning.
 
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jso said:
I always found it strange that people would sit on a plane for several hours just to fly sydney to adelaide via melbourne and canberra and back in a day, just for the status points (to gain/regain).

I just thought we could cut out the unnecessary flying, open up more reward tickets for those who actually want to go on a holiday, save the planet, and get me back in a comfy lounge. Every body wins.
Click to expand...

The whole ide of Status credit earning is it's earned when your bum is on the seat. I happen to agree with that too. If you don't wish to sit in a plane then the status doesn't mean that much IMO. I also believe it devalues the program and really makes it a frequent spenders program as you could get gold without ever stepping foot into an aircraft.
 
nlagalle said:
The whole ide of Status credit earning is it's earned when your bum is on the seat. I happen to agree with that too. If you don't wish to sit in a plane then the status doesn't mean that much IMO. I also believe it devalues the program and really makes it a frequent spenders program as you could get gold without ever stepping foot into an aircraft.
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Cool. I get that. But I dont really see that as an issue. If I spend $250,000 a year on a credit card and decide to 'waste' that on status instead of using it for a flight, there has to be a reason for it.

I can only think of it being for people who had status and lost it and want it back quickly.
On the other hand, if they dont fly often, then having status wont change anything, you are unlikely to see them in the lounge/priority queue.
 
jso said:
Cool. I get that. But I dont really see that as an issue. If I spend $250,000 a year on a credit card and decide to 'waste' that on status instead of using it for a flight, there has to be a reason for it.

I can only think of it being for people who had status and lost it and want it back quickly.
On the other hand, if they dont fly often, then having status wont change anything, you are unlikely to see them in the lounge/priority queue.
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My impression is that the main people who fly for status are those who fly a moderate amount and are just short of the next level. So they take extra flights to get there.

I can't think of anyone who has talked about flying just to get status and then not flown otherwise. I did however take some extra trips one year to get to silver, mainly just to get silver, without having an expected growth in flying in following years. But still that wasn't just flying to get status, I visited used those extra flights to visit family and friends.
 
I know someone on the Gold Coast who flys all around Qld just for the fun of it and to get status.... He frequents this board too :)
 
MarkD said:
I know someone on the Gold Coast who flys all around Qld just for the fun of it and to get status.... He frequents this board too :)
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Ah guessing game is it?

Now I live on the GC and fly all around Qld, but unfortunately, it's not just for the fun of it........so I'd guess at the one who loves chilli dogs?
 
jso said:
Personally, I've only started flying again, and its going to be a long slow road from red to gold, but I still have z,000 points left in my account. I've got almost a return domestic flight a week for the next 3 months (PQQ/TSV/MEL/PER/etc).
Click to expand...

jso said:
If I spend $250,000 a year on a credit card and decide to 'waste' that on status instead of using it for a flight, there has to be a reason for it.
Click to expand...

Hey jso, I just had a Minties moment!

If you've got all those points sitting in your Velocity account at the moment and you're going to fly 2 sectors a week for the next three months, then the answer to your lack of status dilemma must surely be to grab a heap of J reward (or reward + pay) seats, which earn promo SCs until June 31. If you only do short hops + the odd longer flight (like the TSV & PER ones mentioned), that in itself will;
a) give you all the benefits of having status (plus J seating, J service and J F&B); and
b) qualify you for platinum for the proceeding 12 months

Win, win for all concerned, but in particular, you!
 
jso said:
Cool. I get that. But I dont really see that as an issue. If I spend $250,000 a year on a credit card and decide to 'waste' that on status instead of using it for a flight, there has to be a reason for it.

I can only think of it being for people who had status and lost it and want it back quickly.
On the other hand, if they dont fly often, then having status wont change anything, you are unlikely to see them in the lounge/priority queue.
Click to expand...

No but buying status further devalues the frequent flyer scheme. It isn't a frequent spending program.

It's simple, you want status, fly in J several times and you'll have it before you know it.
 
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