Getting close to Silver

[Kelstarama]

I'm a Bronze FF and am quite close to becoming Silver. I need to make a trip to Sydney from Melbourne next month and and will reach Silver if I book in business class (instead of the usual economy) . I think I would fly enough in the following year to retain it. Any thoughts on if it's worth spending the extra $ on the Sydney trip to do it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[lovestotravel]

You are better off buying Qantas Club access for nearly the same price as one J flight SYD-MEL

 

[Kelstarama]

Thanks to my lovely boss I am already a QC member. Sorry, forgot to mention that part...

 

[samh004]

I was told much the same when I strived to hit Silver, and the long and short of it is that Silver doesn’t offer much (though seat selection is very useful, assuming that’s not offered with QC?). However, once you’ve tasted the first bit of status, you’ll all too soon realise Silver isn’t enough, and want to hit Gold, and then Platinum, and so forth.

I think it’s worth the effort if it doesn’t cost too much, and that’s the problem, what’s it worth to you, what is too much. I think Silver will just be the start though… next year you’ll be asking us if it’s worth it to aim for Gold

 

[cmon0005]

How many SC's do you need?

It can be worth it, QC doesn't have a lot of the benefits that Silver has and vise-versa. A combination of QP and silver is better than just silver or just QP in my opinion.

Just to name a few benefits:
*50% Bonus points. (extra points come in handy).
*Preferred seating. (Better than QP and bronze seating).
*Advance seat selection for free rather than $20 per seat per sector. (QP do not get free seat selection).
*Free Q-Tag bag tags. (QP do not get free tags, valued at $49.95 each).
*One lounge pass, good for those times when you've got more people with you than you can guest.
*Priority checkin at QC/Silver counters or Business counters where not available.
*Extra baggage allowance.
*Bags tagged as priority when travelling DOM or Business when travelling INTL. (This doesn't seem to be advertised but has always happened to me.)

There was another thread on this a while ago that might be of interest: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/need-15-sc-38991.html#post602581

 

[rechoboam]

For seat selection it may be worth it. That's all I got out of it.

Maybe a JASA for the J flight?

 

[The Rok]

I too am Bronze, having always flown J in DJ and retained Velocity Platinum. My new employer puts everything through QF in Flexible Y. I NEED status quickly with QF. This business of sitting in row 22 is not acceptable. :shock:

Is there a cheap/Quick way to but QF status, i.e Gold or Platinum? I cannot use points as I only have 4500.

 

[mannej]

Silver has it's perks that QP doesn't have. (Travel in the US springs to mind)

Could you use points to book a JASA instead of purchasing the actual J fare with money?

 

[samh004]

Is there a cheap/Quick way to but QF status, i.e Gold or Platinum? I cannot use points as I only have 4500.

No.

You could email them and say you’re switching from DJ, but they don’t status match so don’t know what your result would be.

 

[tuapekastar]

I too am Bronze, having always flown J in DJ and retained Velocity Platinum. My new employer puts everything through QF in Flexible Y. I NEED status quickly with QF. This business of sitting in row 22 is not acceptable. :shock:

Is there a cheap/Quick way to but QF status, i.e Gold or Platinum? I cannot use points as I only have 4500.

It may ease the pain somewhat to purchase QP membership (I realise you probably can use anytime access in DJ lounges - where they exist - when you fly, but QP membership may open up slightly better seat selection, others will need to comment on that) in the interim. If/when you reach QF Gold any remaining months in your QP membership get put on hold until such time as you may fall back below Gold. Corporate QP membership can be had via being a Gold member of this site, or perhaps you can con, err, persuade, your employer to pay for it?

 

[The Rok]

Is it possible to do a cash status run? Say for $1,500, would that even get me Gold?

 

[Awesom Andy]

While it is possible to do a cash status run, it is very costly... generally, you might as well use the cash for something else that you like.

As for going SYD-MEL in J instead of Y, you'll find that 4x red e-deal tickets to be cheaper than 1x J ticket.

 

[samh004]

Is it possible to do a cash status run? Say for $1,500, would that even get me Gold?

On AA, yes, and considering your location, I think you could fly to NAN with a creative route for about that. You’ll have to ask markis10 though.

 

[rechoboam]

Silver has it's perks that QP doesn't have. (Travel in the US springs to mind)

Could you use points to book a JASA instead of purchasing the actual J fare with money?

What perks? I must have missed that at Silver or do they overlap with QC?

 

[samh004]

What perks? I must have missed that at Silver or do they overlap with QC?

AA offers free luggage to OneWorld levels, and I think fast tracked security or something like that. I’ve never flown to the US with status so not sure exactly but a Silver member would do better than a Bronze member if they had luggage is what I know.

 

[serfty]

PER-xBNE-xSYD-NAN-xMEL-PER vv earns 380 SC's and costs from $2035.

In the USA, 300 SC's can be easily earned from USD520 - but ya gotta get there ...

 

[Awesom Andy]

Although, come to think of it, if you have been selected for the DSC promotion, you could probably go all the way to gold? That might be a run worth doing.

 

[arraitch]

PER-xBNE-xSYD-NAN-xMEL-PER vv earns 380 SC's and costs from $2035.

At the risk of copping the dreaded 734, it's usually possible to route - at least one way - via ADL for a few extra $, earning a few extra SCs!

 

[scheps]

+1 to the JASA, even if you had to pay a bit. Buying a J off the bat is prohibitive and is poor value IMHO.

Can also do SC run in japan if you are going there for some reason....

 

[Kelstarama]

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. I have since received an email from Qantas offering me double status credits until the cut off date so I should be able to get to silver easily. Now for gold...