Help needed - Suitable AFF Challenge to Requalify for Jun 30

[Caesia]

Help needed am a Perthite, have flown much less this year due to new bub so now 620 SCs short of WP for Jun 30 cut off. Am due to travel regular domestic & international following year though so would like to retain WP if possible. Need cheapest possibility with ability to travel 2-3 more trips this year, one definite international to NZ with Melbourne stop on return. No other international trips really possible till June 30 or need to be exceptionally short! Help any thoughts greatly appreciated? :shock:

 

[Mattg]

With 620 SCs to go, you're still a really long way off retaining platinum! Getting those SCs won't be cheap, and may take a few trips if not one really long one to pick up. You should consider how much you're actually prepared to pay to retain platinum and whether that is really worth it. I'm sure there are a number of runs you could do flying across the country (for example) PER-MEL-SYD-BNE-TSV and back or something like this in J, but that wouldn't be particularly cheap. Ideally if you went to the USA you could do a heap of domestic F flying on AA, but that would require time and of course, you'd have to get to the US first.

 

[daturtle]

Help needed am a Perthite, have flown much less this year due to new bub so now 620 SCs short of WP for Jun 30 cut off. Am due to travel regular domestic & international following year though so would like to retain WP if possible. Need cheapest possibility with ability to travel 2-3 more trips this year, one definite international to NZ with Melbourne stop on return. No other international trips really possible till June 30 or need to be exceptionally short! Help any thoughts greatly appreciated? :shock:

MEL-AKL-MEL in First is ~$2400 w/ 240SCs. Be flying an EK A380 on a QF flight number with the showers which would be entertaining.

 

[Mattg]

Another thought is to fly to SIN or KUL for the weekend and do some intra-Asia J flying on MH or the likes.

But as I think the above example points out, this is going to be costly with so many SCs required. If $2,400 only gets you a little over a third of what you need, I would really think twice about how much you need platinum.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

With so short a time, and that far to reach, personally, bad of me to say this, and you won't accept it, thats for sure, is for the time being, be happy to stick at aiming for SG for this year at least.
SG still gives you lounge access, both in Australia and where QF have one, overseas as well.
I have flown as an SG with LAN and QF, no complains.
Of course, you will miss the F lounge at MELi, have been told J lounge at MELi not as good, but you could always go via SYDi to get the J lounge there.
Spending too much, in such a short time span, will see you probably go into credit card hock, what with as you mention, a new baby.
Stick at SG I say for now, you would have about 500 to 700 SC now?
I can't really see a cheap way to get 620 SC by June this year, even if you go F from PER to DXB to LHR and back (EK with QF flight numbers all the way), that will suck up thousands of your $!
Edit: PER to DXB to LHR in F, flying EK with a QF flight number, gives you 360 SC one way, return, will give 720 SC.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Help needed am a Perthite, have flown much less this year due to new bub so now 620 SCs short of WP for Jun 30 cut off. Am due to travel regular domestic & international following year though so would like to retain WP if possible. Need cheapest possibility with ability to travel 2-3 more trips this year, one definite international to NZ with Melbourne stop on return. No other international trips really possible till June 30 or need to be exceptionally short! Help any thoughts greatly appreciated? :shock:

My boss was short towards the end of his year. He rang QF and asked them to extend it. They said no but instead gave him 3 months of double SC's. He's just finished flying them and has re-qualified. This is the second such instance of DSC being offered which I have heard of recently.
Before you embark on a costly exercise I'd definitely give them a call and explain your situation, after all VA gives a parental pause to their members.

 

[BD1959]

With so short a time, and that far to reach, personally, bad of me to say this, and you won't accept it, thats for sure, is for the time being, be happy to stick at aiming for SG for this year at least.
SG still gives you lounge access, both in Australia and where QF have one, overseas as well.
I have flown as an SG with LAN and QF, no complains.
Of course, you will miss the F lounge at MELi, have been told J lounge at MELi not as good, but you could always go via SYDi to get the J lounge there.
Spending too much, in such a short time span, will see you probably go into credit card hock, what with as you mention, a new baby.
Stick at SG I say for now, you would have about 500 to 700 SC now?
I can't really see a cheap way to get 620 SC by June this year, even if you go F from PER to DXB to LHR and back (EK with QF flight numbers all the way), that will suck up thousands of your $!
Edit: PER to DXB to LHR in F, flying EK with a QF flight number, gives you 360 SC one way, return, will give 720 SC.

What?!? A post from the Pooch without mention of P+P??

Back on topic ...

1. Are you sure QF won't comp you WP? What's your WP requalification been like over the last 3 years? You say you'll be picking up again next year: what will your forward bookings look like at the beginning of June?

2. Along with everyone else, I'm not convinced that busting-a-gut for 620SCs is worth the effort - especially ex Perth!
- Domestic: There's really only the J Lounges and the WP Line for IRROPS - and the former doesn't apply to PER. I suppose seat selection on those red-eyes might come in to play.
- Internationally: No PER FLounge. Very little QFi traffic - so IRROPs and seat selection doesn't really come into play, or will WP QFF seat-release, unless you're planning on heading out via the East Coast. Only WP considerations would be partner F Lounges and oneWorld Emerald baggage allowances.

As far as I can see, WP and PER has been diluted to such an extent that I don't think I'd chase for that number of SCs.

Regards,

BD

 

[RichardMEL]

If one was to contemplate the MEL-AKL-MEL run in F I'd do MEL-SYD-CHC-SYD-MEL in F for around the same price - nets 330 SC rather than 240. Reason is EK only fly SYD-CHC and offer F. QF will sell you MEL (or BNE and maybe other ports)-SYD-CHC in F with dom sectors in J(class and booking bucket) earning an eatra 90SC

From PER though, a hop around Asia may make more sense though watch the partner (eg: CX/MH) SC earn on QFF.

 

[eminere]

If one was to contemplate the MEL-AKL-MEL run in F I'd do MEL-SYD-CHC-SYD-MEL in F for around the same price - nets 330 SC rather than 240. Reason is EK only fly SYD-CHC and offer F. QF will sell you MEL (or BNE and maybe other ports)-SYD-CHC in F with dom sectors in J(class and booking bucket) earning an eatra 90SC.

No onboard showers or bar on the run to CHC though.

 

[Caesia]

Thanks for that tip Princess Fiona... Good to know!

 

[smit0847]

If youve got $5-10k to spend getting an airline status, what do you need a free glass of champagne for?!

 

[Caesia]

Thanks Everyone, Looks like I've made the SC's I'll need (as long as no hiccups) with a combination of a 3 convoluted return trips in J classic reward with SC rewards offer to and from Perth gaining 360 SCs. Had points available to use that will be made up again fairly easily. Plus first SYD-AKL-SYD on QF emirates on A380 (240 SCs, short family holiday to Queenstown) and Jetstar in NZ (40 SCs). Cost all up just over $3000 plus 216000 in points. I can live with that...

 

[Caesia]

If youve got $5-10k to spend getting an airline status, what do you need a free glass of champagne for?!

I don't have that much... but I also don't drink

 

[Mattg]

Thanks Everyone, Looks like I've made the SC's I'll need (as long as no hiccups) with a combination of a 3 convoluted return trips in J classic reward with SC rewards offer to and from Perth gaining 360 SCs. Had points available to use that will be made up again fairly easily. Plus first SYD-AKL-SYD on QF emirates on A380 (240 SCs, short family holiday to Queenstown) and Jetstar in NZ (40 SCs). Cost all up just over $3000 plus 216000 in points. I can live with that...

Well, if it works for you then go for it.

If you want anyone here to double-check your SC earn, feel free to post your routings/fare classes etc.

 

[Caesia]

Just hit 1060 SCs and logged on to Qantas online and got a lovely message saying I've re qualified for Platinum for next year. Didn't even have to ring through as Princess Fiona suggested. Thanks Qantas and thanks Red Roo. Was a nice surprise!

 

[Caesia]

Must say we did love the onboard showers in Emirates first when we headed to NZ