Help with Points & Status

[norton]

O, wize ones.....

I am a member of The Qantas Club & Freq Flyer

22,000 points
Current Status: Bronze
Status credits earned from 01 Sep 2004: 0
Additional Status credits required by 31 Aug 2005 to attain Silver: 350

Problem:
My wife and I have booked a Oneworld Explorer RTW Ticket Economy Class.
Leaving on May 7th for at least 6-9 months

Syd-HNL , HNL-SFO, SFO-DFW, DFW-SEA, SEA-STL, STL-MEM, MSY-LGA, LGA-LHR, LHR-DUB, DUB-CPH, CPH-MAD, MAD-ATH, CDG-HKG, HKG-SIN, SIG-SYD.

Is it worthwile doing the AA Plat Challenge. Can I use the points from AA for flights in AUS Domestic? or should I just earn Quantas Points?

Please help
Norton

 

[NM]

Norton, welcome to AFF.

I am assuming you are traveling in economy in which case the fare is booked in L class. L earns 100% mileage towards AA Elite Status on AA flights. Qantas flights booked in L class earn 50% Elite Status Miles in the AA Program.

BA flights trans-Atlantic will not earn anything on AA, while all other BA flights will earn 25% elite status miles. Iberia flights will earn 15% towards elite status and Aer Lingus and Cathay Pacific flights earn nothing.

So if you have a chance, change any flights that are booked as QF, BA, IB , EI or CX that also have an AA flight number (codeshare) to be the AA flight number.

So, SYD-HNL can be done on AA7365 (codeshare on Qantas metal), so that eans 5066 miles and if hyou fist sign up for Gold challenge that is completed upon landing into HNL so also get the 50% bonus miles. At at HNL you have 5066 EQM and 7599 AA Miles in you accont.

Then by the time you reach SEA you will have completed the Plat challengs and be earning 100% bonus miles, and have 10,589 EQM and 16,713 AA miles.

So yes, it probably is worthwhile. Also note that your Qantas Club memebrship will get you into the AA lounges, and then your QQ Plat status (OneWorld Sapphire) will get you into IB, CX lounges as well.

 

[norton]

How do you change Flights from QF to AA?

tHANKS FOR THE INFO, BUT......

On the QF flight Syd-HNL we have used points to upgrade to Business Class. Can I still change to AA code?

How do I change the other flights to AA codes.?


Warm regards
norton

 

[NM]

No you can't change and retain the business class upgrade. Also note that if you have already had the ticket issued, you cannot change that flight without incuring a re-issue fee, as it is the first international sector. And since you have already upgraded that sector, you must have already paid for the fare and hence the ticket is already issued.

And if you were to change to the AA code, it is the same as changing to a different flight altogether, so you lose any upgrade you have confirmed.

So plan on only 50% EQM for that sector, so you won't hit Gold and Platinum until a few flights later.