Do I Travel Enough??

[Gold60]

Hi Guys

I have been cruising alll over The site since i joined last weekend, and have a question.


Based on my expected travel plans/pattern over the next few years, how do I work out how to best use of AFF, what can I find out, what can I learn.

My proposed story:

• Just joined QFF and linked it to my soon to arrive Woolies shopping card thingo
• Will fly BNE to LST once or twice a year for awhile
• Am planning an open jaw/RTW trip soon with mainly CX in Prem Econ to UK and home via East Coast USA
• Will then do a flight to a near Asian port, probably BKK for a couple of weeks each year.
• And that is about it.

Will/do I fly enough to make it worthwhile getting all excited and my knickers in a knot about all this flying stuff, or should I just sit quietly down the back of the bus and behave myself.

I would value any wizened counsel from my more experienced brothers and sisters of the air.

Thanks,
Al

 

[defurax]

Sadly, since the "Simpler & Fairer" changes in July the CX Y+ flights will earn less than they used to when credited to QFF. My guess is that you will reach PS with QFF with the amount of flying you mentioned.

PS is good for a few things (extra baggage allowance, some level of recognition across OW, international priority check in, etc.), but not lounge access, which I guess for most frequent flyer is the most important thing.

 

[Gold60]

Sadly, since the "Simpler & Fairer" changes in July the CX Y+ flights will earn less than they used to when credited to QFF. My guess is that you will reach PS with QFF with the amount of flying you mentioned.

PS is good for a few things (extra baggage allowance, some level of recognition across OW, international priority check in, etc.), but not lounge access, which I guess for most frequent flyer is the most important thing.

Thanks defurax.



What is the attraction of the lounges for FF, as opposed to better seats, etc or other benefits?

 

[Jack_OC]

What is the attraction of the lounges for FF, as opposed to better seats, etc or other benefits?

The lounges have free booze!

 

[defurax]

Thanks defurax.



What is the attraction of the lounges for FF, as opposed to better seats, etc or other benefits?

I think lounge access when travelling a lot internationally is the only way to keep your sanity. Many lounges are a haven of tranquility where one can relax, take a shower, eat something and catch up on emails. Without lounges I think there would be a 100 fold increase in passenger rage and tantrums from apoplectic DYKWIA types! :mrgreen:

Of course seat selection is useful, especially on AA, AY, CX and BA, since QF is now cutting privileges for their own members.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Thanks defurax.



What is the attraction of the lounges for FF, as opposed to better seats, etc or other benefits?

Somewhat subjective question and the answer is (sort of) dependant on the actual lounge itself. It can be compliamentary food and drink, a shower, wifi/computer access and/or a quieter area to relax in whilst awaiting boarding.

 

[RooFlyer]

You pose a really good and sensible question.

You CAN fly more if you work hard on the points earn - a number of 'high flyers' here earn hardly any points via aircraft but manage to swan around in the front. But it does take a knowledge of the lurks, which you can learn here. No harm at all in earning points via minor amendments to your regular lifestyle.

But the downside of doing it that way is that the availability of 'award' seats is very limited, especially if you don't have status. If you can plan ahead a full year, with some flexibility, you can probably get Qantas J seats, and also the other One World airlines (I think we are talking about Qantas being your main FF program?). But no harm in accumulating points and them using them for the occasional upgrade or whatever. And of course Y seats are much easier to get (I'm talking all international here - using points for domestic flying isn't good value, unless you have no wider ambitions - then they are fair game!)

If you only do a couple of paid, therefore Status Credit earning. trips a year, you will never get high status (eg Gold, and especially Platinum status on Qantas), and therefore the priorities, seat selection and lounge access that we crow about. But for the occasional flyer, maybe these perks aren't important as for those who fly regularly and its all a bit of a hassle, and we need a couple of stiff drinks to keep us going .

Keep reading and learning. After a while it won't be that difficult and you'll be earning points faster than you thought possible.

 

[Gibbels]

The lounges have free booze!

Indeed a reason to go there.

 

[clazman]

Lounges also have clean toilets ...... that cleaned more than one every six months like the general public ones, which also helps with the removal of Jack3193 fee booze

 

[Gold60]

Thanks for your insights so far folks.

i presume that PS = Plebeian Silver (or a silver cards in the real world ?)

yes my "bias" for want of a better word is CX on the RTW/OJ flight, and possibly Qantas on the flight to the USA West coast ?

From BNE to Asia - well anything short of a camel flight would do - and i would even consider a camel ride for the trip if the camel was good looking enough - true story - would i lie to you guys ??

noting i am destined not to rise to the lofty heights of the FF fraternity - i would be happy to try and get either a better seat or a cheaper flight - should such beasts exist.

in any event i am looking at PEcon on the longer flights and just plain old, good old Economy on the straight to Asia only flights.

Have come to the conclusion i must be a bit of a social/travelling oddity - the only thin that really interests me is the QTY of Legroom, the width of seat - i can put up with almost ANYTHING else on the flying front - cheese sangers for food; water for drinks; lost baggage (i will only try and travel o/s with carry on), and indifferent service - which abounds apparently.

OH the joys of flying !!! LOL

Al

 

[JohnK]

Sad to say you don't appear to be planning enough travel to earn status and make use of that status.

Indeed a reason to go there.

That would depend on the person.

I don't think free booze has been a good idea for me. If I had to pay for booze I may have one at airport and one on board but not always.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Your life can change and with a little knowledge capitalise on the travel benefits you could garner. You don't have to change many things in order to travel 'smarter'.

 

[andye]

With that much flying it's unlikely that's you would get much in the way of status
but...
that is not all that AFF is about
Seeing as you are planning a long way ahead, look around the site for advice on using credit cards to gain miles or buying miles from airlines directly to get premium quality flights
eg it's possible to buy American or Alaska Miles that might well get you a large part of your proposed trip on CX in Business rather than PE for the same money
eg if you'd taken up the free ANZ Credit card offer earlier this year you could have a leg of the Asian trip in PE rather than Y
So much to learn