How much would you pay for status credits?

[Mattg]

This is just a hypothetical question, but how much would you be prepared to pay to buy status credits from Qantas outright?

I recently received an offer from United (who I have gold status with) offering to sell me PQMs for USD150 per thousand (up to a maximum of 15,000 PQMs). To put that into perspective, you need 50,000 PQMs to qualify/re-qualify for United Gold status. Considering that you need 700 status credits to qualify for Qantas Gold, that would be the equivalent of paying just over $15 per Qantas status credit.

Obviously at $15/status credit there would be cheaper ways to earn them in the air. But a red-edeal Sydney-Melbourne flight costs around $150 and earns 10 status credits, so that's about on par. The benefit of buying status credits would obviously be that you wouldn't have to take a status run if you were a little short of qualifying for the next tier.

Would you buy status credits if this was offered?

 

[Quickstatus]

Not at $15/SC unless you were a few short of falling over the line

 

[Hvr]

Not at $15/SC unless you were a few short of falling over the line

Yeah, like 5-10 SCs otherwise it would be way too expensive.

 

[Matt_01]

I would not pay anything for SCs, IMO DSC offers from QF and VA have already devalued the programs. I am of the opinion that if you want status with airlines you need to be flying.

 

[jase05]

Probably wouldn’t pay for them unless I was a few short.
I’d much rather airlines allow you to earn SC’s on award flights as you have paid for the flights one way or another

 

[Hvr]

I’d much rather airlines allow you to earn SC’s on award flights as you have paid for the flights one way or another

They used to, search for JASA and FASA on this site.

 

[opusman]

Another way to look at it is what would you be prepared to simply buy status outright?

E.g. Qantas will apparently sometimes offer you WP renewal for 120,000 points. At 1c/point that's only $1200 which seems pretty reasonable to me, and values the status credits at $1 each. Would I pay $12,000 for WP renewal ($10 per SC) or $18,000 ($15 per SC)? No chance.

 

[serfty]

It really depends on how much value you would get from that status.

Similar to points/miles with the value of the points earn to burn ratio against SC earn to use value.

 

[Ewing]

I wouldn't.

The purpose of status is to take some of that pain away from flying regularly.

If you're not flying, then what's the point?

 

[pauly7]

I’d pay to travel less if that was on offer

Personally I wouldn’t pay for SC’s as I don’t use the perks enough to place significant value on them, as I skip lounges arrive at airports with seconds to spare etc

I can see if you were very close to a premium tier how that could be attractive though.

 

[serfty]

If you're not flying, then what's the point?

True that!

The more you fly, the greater the possible benefit of status. If not flying much then there is little benefit.

Ironically, the more you fly the less likely status would need to be purchased.

 

[cove]

It costs us about $8 a status credit to make Platinum in one go using Double status credits and going somewhere we need to go.
We don’t have to do it but it is the thrill of the chase I think.

 

[craven morehead]

They used to, search for JASA and FASA on this site.

Oh how I miss those days !!

 

[serfty]

It costs us about $8 a status credit to make Platinum in one go using Double status credits and going somewhere we need to go.
We don’t have to do it but it is the thrill of the chase I think.

Did you factor in the value of the 65000 WP points earn?

 

[cove]

Didn't have to this time serfty. I did get bonus points on Amex Ultimate too.
We are going J to Sydney and First to LAX on a paid ticket each.....on sale of course ....on double status credits of course.
It gets a lot cheaper once a tax deduction comes into the calculation but I left the points earn and the fiscal fiend contribution out of the figuring.
If Billy makes it to the lodge he can pay half when he lifts our tax rate......

 

[mrsterryn]

Yep I would pay if i was close .
I usually have a trip to Europe in business or first once a year
Try to have a trip to Asia (currently Tokyo)
Try to have a trip to USA
However where I will have issues next qualifying year is I have reward bookings organised on my 'regular trips '
This does affect my ability to requalify.
So yeppers I would

 

[Quickstatus]

I’ll bet QF is spying into this thread!!

 

[cove]

Ok my name is Smith then.....
Then there is the ATO........

 

[Quickstatus]

With recent DSC I paid approx $5 per SC. Now that’s inclusive of the flight unlike what’s offered by UA. I have not included the value of the associated points.

ATO:All receipts and invoices and reason for flight already uploaded to Dropbox.
Will also mean that I have avoided Jury Duty until after that flight - what’s the value there?

 

[Dr Ralph]

but how much would you be prepared to pay to buy status credits from Qantas outright?

Nothing. They have no value to me.