I need 340 SC to keep platinum...

[Flying mermaid]

no worries, they're striking over the next week so they will only ask 3 questions and not 7

No strike action - Border protection putting safety first after Brussels.

 

[wandering_fred]

Your time schedule is a bit short for these flights (both QF and JQ/3K outbound are the problem price wise)

Economy to BKK is 40 SC each way (so connect SYD/MEL as required to make 50 each way)
MH J fare BKK-KUL-CMB is (40/80 = 120 SC each way) for a bit less than AU$1100 (~THB 28300) at the moment.

Should be less than AUD 2500 all up

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[medhead]

JQ/3K MEL-SIN-BKK should be 55 SC in economy.

 

[galah]

29th March - MEL-SYD-LAX (QF Y), LAX-ORD-LAX (AA F), LAX-MEL+2 (QF Y) - 340SC AUD$2100 approx.

Can be done within 48 hours, although you may hate life afterwards

 

[RichardMEL]

29th March - MEL-SYD-LAX (QF Y), LAX-ORD-LAX (AA F), LAX-MEL+2 (QF Y) - 340SC AUD$2100 approx.

Can be done within 48 hours, although you may hate life afterwards

oh hell NO!!

unless there's time for an in-n-out run! That's just wrong lol

 

[galah]

unless there's time for an in-n-out run!

I'm sure you could get in-n-out delivered by Uber to the LAX QF F lounge. Place the order from ORD first. Done

 

[Quickstatus]

MEL-SYD-CHC in J is the same price as SYD-CHC in J (as there is no direct MEL-CHC) but you get the extra SC on the domestic leg. Requires overnight stay in CHC.

If you realised earlier you would have been able to snare it for about $1600 for 240SC. Currently you would be paying $2500 for 270SC as its business flex which earns slightly more sc.

Unlikely to get 340SC for anything less than $3000. Is this worth it?

 

[TomVexille]

oh hell NO!!

unless there's time for an in-n-out run! That's just wrong lol

Surely there's time

 

[Steady]

and some F Lounging thrown in

 

[UP4014]

29th March - MEL-SYD-LAX (QF Y), LAX-ORD-LAX (AA F), LAX-MEL+2 (QF Y) - 340SC AUD$2100 approx.

Can be done within 48 hours, although you may hate life afterwards

I like a challenge

 

[RichardMEL]

MEL-SYD-CHC in J is the same price as SYD-CHC in J (as there is no direct MEL-CHC) but you get the extra SC on the domestic leg. Requires overnight stay in CHC.

If you realised earlier you would have been able to snare it for about $1600 for 240SC. Currently you would be paying $2500 for 270SC as its business flex which earns slightly more sc.

Unlikely to get 340SC for anything less than $3000. Is this worth it?

MEL-SYD-CHC can be done as a day return *just* as the EK 77W turns back to SYD.

eg: 0730 depart MEL, arr CHC 1520
dep CHC 1655 arr SYD 1815, then 2030 SYD-MEL arr MEL 2205.

long day, but do-able - unless the EK flight is delayed then you may be forced with an overnight in SYD.

 

[juddles]

Maybe these rums are frying my brain, but I am thinking the following:

1.- It appears from your post that your anniversary date is end of March 2016.

2.- You state you head to the States a bit.

3.- To get your needed SC will require extensive travel and $3000+ AUD within the next week or two.

4.- You are currently WP.

5.- Am assuming you will not be in the USA before your QFF anniversary.

So why not:

1.- Don't waste your cash and time yet.

2.- Do a couple of F status runs next time you are in the US. Cheaper to earn the SC.

3.- You will immediately get back up to WP. And in the interim there you will be flying domestic First so no real Emerald benefit loss.

4.- You will not just get back to WP, but THAT WILL LAST THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND ALSO THE NEXT!!

WP till 31 March 2018.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

OR telephone QF up and tell them your situation.
Who knows.
Or you might get a Comp.

 

[medhead]

OR telephone QF up and tell them your situation.
Who knows.
Or you might get a Comp.

As they say, if you have to ask you can't afford it...

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

IMHO....accept GOLD this year, it basically does everything that you want and then if you want PLATINUM, get the flights in real early after your year ticks over and try for PLATINUM in the next year.

On balance, and only IMHO GOLD is the sweet spot between benefit and cost....but only my opinion !

 

[clazman]

what is your average SC over the last 3 years, if close to the re-qualify you should be comped

 

[Moindardt]

It's a shame you didn't do this when you were in the US. Easy to do in a day for less than $1000.

 

[Lounged Out]

Just a note to add - I'm WP and the wife is (was) WP with 760 SC, needed 40 more to retain. We decided against flying just for the hell of it as the benefits of Velocity Platinum are just not worth it. Happy for her to drop back to Gold for a while. Still another 6 months to get back into WP. Velocity duly dropped her to Gold yesterday. Virgin really do need to address the platinum benefits - only thing really worth a toss imo is the Row 3 seating.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just a note to add - I'm WP and the wife is (was) WP with 760 SC, needed 40 more to retain. We decided against flying just for the hell of it as the benefits of Velocity Platinum are just not worth it. Happy for her to drop back to Gold for a while. Still another 6 months to get back into WP. Velocity duly dropped her to Gold yesterday. Virgin really do need to address the platinum benefits - only thing really worth a toss imo is the Row 3 seating.

All the posts above refer to Qantas Frequent Flyer but otherwise I take your point.

And welcome to AFF

 

[birder]

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas. I knew you all would be able to come up with some way that didn't cost $8k! Unfortunately I became quite ill over the weekend and wasn't able to travel anywhere. I'm in the middle of booking a business class trip to KUL for mid-April, and after I do, I'll call Qantas and beg them a bit.