Is it worth doing a status run?

[colcha]

I am currently Qantas Gold and enrolled in a double status credits promo that finishes on Oct 31. In order to requalify Gold for next year, I will need another 400 points to reach the target of 500 points.

As I am based in Sydney, the most cost effective route that I can find at the end of this month is SYD - BNE - TSV - BNE - SYD in J class at cost of 48,000 points and $265. This will give me 5614 points and 200 status credit (plus another 200 status credits from the promo). If I drop back to Qantas Silver, then it will cost me $237.50 for Qantas Club membership. Consequently, I have the following questions:

1. do you think it is worthwhile for me to do a JASA run? At face value, the answer appears to be "no" give that if I value my points at 1c per point, this JASA run is going to cost me $745 (ie. $265 + $480). However, I would welcome your viewpoints.
2. the above route was selected after I did a search using SYD - TSV return and choosing to stop in BNE each way. Am I correct in assuming that the booking system gives you additional status credits if you choose an itinerary that includes stops in BNE in both directions?
3. are there other cheaper routes that I should consider? I would be happy with a route which totalled 350 status credits (after factoring in the status bonus)
4. what is the cancellation fee for a JASA booking?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

[eosphoros]

I'm fairly sure Gold requal is 600SCs, not 500. So you'd need another 500. That being said, if you have only earned 100SCs, are you sure you need Gold?

 

[colcha]

Good pickup eosphoros - I need another 500 SC not 400. My requalification period ends 30 June 2013 and I spend a reasonable amount of time in Y hence the desire to retain Gold. I have separate trips planned to CBR and MEL this week and another one to ADL later on this year so it shouldn't be difficult to earn an additional 100SC.

 

[markis10]

Dont forget you will more than likely clock up a loyalty bonus as well, which is 8000 points for every 500SC. I would not waste the points on a SYD-TSV run, but look at getting up to TSV on a cheap fare then doing the TSV DRW run, same points cost, but earns 11000 points, and 560SC under the double, so that 48000 point used is replenished by 19000 points earned, making the true cost 29000 points + cash.

 

[colcha]

Thanks for the suggestions mark10. I have now booked my JASA flights

 

[angusburns]

Hi,

I have a double SC offer to the end of Nov 13. Could get to Gold if I fly a SYD-CNS JASA (80+80)*2 = 320SC this month.

I don't travel much but have lots of points, so for me, the value of Gold would be if it gave me significantly better FF seat availability. No too bothered about lounge access, as usually short domestic Y flights or FF J international flights so usually get lounge access for overseas flights.

So, I am guessing some of you may have your partner with a different status level. Has anyone done to exercise to see what seats are available, say SYD-LHR or SYD-LAX, to a Bronze or Sliver v a Gold or Platinum FF member?

This is what the Qantas website says, but not much detail:
[h=3]"Preferential access to selected Qantas Classic Award seats[/h]Qantas provides preferential access, when available, to selected Qantas Classic Award seats to Silver, Gold and Platinum Frequent Flyers. On selected flights, preferential access for Gold and Platinum members may be above the access available to Silver and Bronze members^."


For the sake of completeness, does Platinum status give you much better FF seat availability over Gold?

ie is Platinum worth another two days & flights SYD-BNE-CNS-SYD over Gold? (180 doubled = 360 x 2 flights = the extra 720 from Gold to Platinum)

I only ask as my FF year starts 1 Nov, so if I fly a bit with the double SC offer and qualify as Gold in Nov 13, that should carry me through in that status class, with no extra flying required, until 31 Oct 15, no?
(I understand that I also need 4 Qantas flight segments as well as the SC)

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Regards,

Angus

 

[samh004]

At least for Dom Y flights, Gold status will let you see the exit rows on a 737, which I don't think you can see as a Silver.

It's also worth noting Gold gives you 75% more points. So long haul flights become a lot more lucrative, not that you might need any more points of course.

 

[Hvr]

Hi,

<snip>

I only ask as my FF year starts 1 Nov, so if I fly a bit with the double SC offer and qualify as Gold in Nov 13, that should carry me through in that status class, with no extra flying required, until 31 Oct 15, no?
(I understand that I also need 4 Qantas flight segments as well as the SC)

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Regards,

Angus

A big yes re the length of status.

Others here will comment on the availability of FF seats.

 

[CaviAck]

At least for Dom Y flights, Gold status will let you see the exit rows on a 737, which I don't think you can see as a Silver.

It's also worth noting Gold gives you 75% more points. So long haul flights become a lot more lucrative, not that you might need any more points of course.

That's correct, as a PS last year exit rows were not available.

PS gives 50% points bonus and SG gives 75% so an increase of 25%, not very much but still a nice thing to have. The jump from NB to PS however is the big one in terms of points bonus (0-50%).