Earning Qantas Status credits on Malaysia Airlines

[princessleah]

What cabin do you usually fly on CX (economy,premium economy or business), and how many times per year? Also what's your preference for redeeming flights? Do you have credit cards you want to earn points with? All questions that may give more ideas as to what may fit best for you. With the QF changes earning status on partners that compete on routes with Qantas will be more difficult, but there are several options out there that in the end may also give you many more points to redeem with as well (bearing in mind that some oneworld programs you earn less points than Qantas, but also require a lot less points than Qantas).

CX to HK is Premium Economy. CX on internal flights China - HK etc is Business. Probably twice per year, with a couple of China domestic flights within that. I avoid China Eastern/Southern where I can. Domestic is economy Qantas or Virgin. Personal trips I've always flown with a OW carrier - mainly so I can use my QG - Europe, USA or Asia depending on when and where we go. I accrue QFF points with a couple of credit cards, phone bill and some other bits and pieces.. I'd actually rather not have to change all my cards and spending habits just for points.

Obviously QFF program changes are a disappointing, makes me think CX might be the better program to run with, except for not being able to accrue points via spending?

 

[dajop]

My gut feel, with that flying pattern, it's going to be difficult to achieve Gold whichever program you use. CX is not going to be a whole lot better than QF, it takes five roundtrips (MEL-HKG in premium economy + HKG-China in business) to achieve gold. You can retain QF gold on such flights with only 4.5 roundtrips!

If you put the MEL-KUL-CDG into the mix, this is how many such return China trips (say MEL-HKG in premium economy, HKG-Shanghai in business) you will need to get the equivalent of Qantas Gold:

QF: MEL-CDG return plus 2.5 return China trips
CX: MEL-CDG return plus 3 return China trips
AA: MEL-CDG return plus 1.5 return China trips
BA: MEL-CDG return only.

If you know someone outside of Australia and NZ, and they are happy for you to use their address, British Airways is probably the easiest way to get and retain the equivalent of Qantas Gold (BA has restrictions on membership in Australia/NZ), but it's long haul redemptions come with big fuel surcharges. Otherwise American Airlines looks OK, although do need that long haul business class trip in there. An advantage of AA, is that once Gold, you get 100% bonus miles on CX (+MH and QF) flights, something the other programs don't offer. Maybe some of the AA experts can offer advice here??

Remember, if you decide to move away from QF you will still get gold benefits flying on QF (including on redemptions using QF points for QF or oneworld), however you will NOT get any benefits flying on Emirates or Jetstar, like you would if you were Gold in the QF program.

 

[zainman]

For the past few years there has been a mass double status credit campaign done just after Easter, if they are doing one this year you can expect to get an email after Easter if your selected. The campaign has nothing to do with where peoples membership year is at and normally is applicable for bookings from registration until June 30.

Then again they may not do one this year, regardless if I had bookings to make, I would be waiting just in case.

Cool. Thanks for that. Will wait and see and book JASA's unashamedly to retain WP.