Is it worth paying extra for more QFF status credits?

[MR2000]

Hi All,

Brand new here so apologies if this is in the wrong spot, but just wanted to get some thoughts from more experienced people.

I joined QFF just pre-covid in Aus so it's kind of been sitting dormant for a few years, and I'm now starting to look at how I can better make the most of my membership as flying starts again and I am going to be flying a bit more for work (and hopefully leisure), and more specifically increase points and status. I'm not expecting to climb a tier by the end of my current membership year but I remember reading for lifetime every point counts.

So, a mate and I are flying to Adelaide for a couple of days in mid-August, and it's currently cheapest to fly with a stop in MEL as it's on sale, plus you get the bonus of points and SC from both flights, so we figured why not as we don't mind the stop. However, coming back it's not on sale so, with a stop (and double points/credits), it's around an extra $110. My mate is almost the same as me when it comes to being a QFF, and reckons it's worth spending the extra for the additional points/credits. I'm very much on the fence so wanted to see if anyone who has more experience had any insight into whether there is value in the additional cost.

Apologies for the essay and if anyone has any other thoughts or tips, feel free to pass them on.

Cheers

 

[justinbrett]

Status credits are only useful for moving up the status tiers (Silver / Gold / Platinum).

Silver is not really worth spending any money on; Gold could be worth it depending on your travel patterns. You need to work out how much extra you'd spend to get gold, and ask yourself if it's worth it.

If you don't have a chance in getting to gold or above, I wouldn't spend a dollar on status.

 

[RichardMEL]

Welcome MR2000,

well made question.

How long is a piece of string? Or rather, your mileage may vary perhaps is more apt in my view.

If you're flying the sale fares, you're looking at 20SC for SYD-MEL-ADL (v.v.) vs 10SC for ADL-SYD. So, is 10SC worth $110?

it used to be, back in the day, accepted that a SC was never worth more than $10 (and this would be $11) but of course inflation.... it's certainly on the higher side.

Perhaps more importantly though is what will those extra 10SC's get you in the short/medium and long term?

and this is where the string/mileage varying comes into it.

What are the goals? As you say you won't move up in this membership year.. and 10 extra isn't a huge difference given 300 required for Silver, 700 for Gold to attain etc.

Longer term, yes lifetime status credits all add up, this is true. Again though, you're looking at 7000 for LTS (Silver) and going from there.

I guess my question to you, or rather something for you to ponder is what are the goals vs your projected travel - both work and lesiure - both in the short term (ie: the next membership year), the medium term (say 5 years) and then longer term.

What I mean is - how realistic is it for you to attain any of the status levels with your estimated travel? eg Silver, Gold, Plat etc.

If you think maybe you may not quite make 300 in a year for example, then realistically chasing extra SC's are probably not going to be worth it over the convenience of the nonstop (let alone any delays or other issues with the connection). Why? You'd be unlikely to make Silver (and as above it's not worth a whole lot) and even longer term you'd maybe just make it to half way to LTS in say 10 years. Many would say not worth the extra effort/cost.

OTOH if you see business travel ramping up, maybe some international Business fares to places, and you could see earning say 700+ (or more) then this potentially changes things - because status is more attainable, and Gold at the least is considered a "sweet spot" and worth going for (and by extension, longer term the lifetime SC's add up).

of course we can't always know or predict what the situation (both worldwide, QFF or our own) will be in a few years so it's never easy to know, but I guess considering things like one's job trajectory, likely travel patterns and so on can still be a guesstimate.

Probably in this specific case, to be honest, I would take the cheaper nonstop and not worry about it. Now if it was a J fare with a DSC offer, that might be another issue totally. Each to their own though.

Many would argue to ignore the whole "status handcuffs" and just go with Best Fare of Day(BFOD) or the product/airline you prefer (for leisure travel) and that argument has merit too. Definitely in our current world it has its merits as an alternative to chasing status.

good luck whichever way you go and welcome to the whacky, weird and frustrating world of QFF, status and the rest.

 

[Mattg]

In your circumstances, I wouldn't spend an extra $110 to get an extra 10 status credits. (Heck, I probably wouldn't even spend that on myself and I have Gold status with Qantas.)

 

[justinbrett]

I missed the comment on lifetime status. It takes basically 20 years at qualifying for that status every year to achieve lifetime status (except LTP, which is far longer).

If you aren't already holding status, it shouldn't even be a consideration. For most people you will achieve a higher annual status than what you earn as your lifetime status (ie, most people who get LTS will have got to gold at least a few times, LTG will have got to platinum etc). Not always, some do the hard slog at the same level. But if you're thinking to never get status but eventually get LTS, or even to hold silver and get LTG - you're going to be very old by the time you get it and likely the system will have changed.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @MR2000 . If you are just doing 'casual' flying, then I'd say it is not worth it to spend extra chasing either stutus credits or points.

Status below gold on Qantas is of dubious value and arguably Platinum and above is where you'd aim to be to see a noticable difference in service and amenity, but even Platinums are being called "the new Gold" by some here .

If you have a sustained increase in flying in the future, then it may be worth strategising how to maximise SCs to go to a higher status (ie take advantage of the occasional double SC promos) but remember you have to do it every year - 'lifetime' gold will take a long time to achieve (for questonable benefit).

Qantas points are of little value for flying, frankly, except if you have '00s of '000s and are prepared to pay extra cash for a 'Award' flight. Business class awards are extremely had to get at the best of times, as everyone wants them and the higher status QFFers get first dibs.

Save your $$ for now - go BFOD (best fare on day - including Virgin).

 

[PuravidaTC]

Welcome to AFF @MR2000 . If you are just doing 'casual' flying, then I'd say it is not worth it to spend extra chasing either stutus credits or points.

Status below gold on Qantas is of dubious value and arguably Platinum and above is where you'd aim to be to see a noticable difference in service and amenity, but even Platinums are being called "the new Gold" by some here .

If you have a sustained increase in domestic flying in the future, then it may be worth strategising how to maximise SCs to go to a higher status (ie take advantage of the ccasional doble SC promos) but remember you have to do it every year - 'lifetime' gold will take some time to achieve.

Qantas points are of little value for flying, frankly, except if you have '00s of '000s and are prepared to pay extra cash for a 'Award' flight. Business class awards are extremely had to get at the best of times, as everyone wants them and the higher status QFFers get first dibs.

Save your $$ for now - we say BFOD (best fare on day).

my personal feeling is that WP will in fact be of much higher value from about mid 2023, being that will be the time most all the Covid extensions run out and a lot will drop back as far less flying being done and those that are seem to be using points (with very little status value on those).

now my hope is that even this year those that have actually earned WP via $ flying are in some way valued ahead of the extension granted (when it comes to upgrades) as for myself, that is a highly valued component of status being it's pretty much exclusively how I use my limited amount of points (I might be the minority but don't actually chase points).

just my hope!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, if you are very close to QF SG.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, if you are very close to QF SG.

Since the OP wrote

I'm not expecting to climb a tier by the end of my current membership year

then he is not.

 

[BenSQ380]

Another thing to consider is the loyalty bonus (drill down on your status activity to see progress). If 10SC gets you over the line for 500SC on QF for a loyalty bonus then it could be a decision around 60SC (10SC flying, 50SC bonus) for the extra $110.

 

[MR2000]

Thank you all for your insight. As many noted, at this stage, it will have a minimal short-term impact to go with the additional points and credits, so opted for the cheaper flight and 2-hour sleep-in.

 

[leon_rex]

Status below gold on Qantas is of dubious value and arguably Platinum and above is where you'd aim to be to see a noticable difference in service and amenity, but even Platinums are being called "the new Gold" by some here .

Last flight on QF had many Jetstar crew who had recently come to QF (their description, not mine) and my assessment was they couldn't have cared less about WP, LTG (me) or anything else. On a near empty a330 to Perth the J service was swift, sterile and the angry swish of the curtain closing served as a warning. As in: don't expect a coffee later and go to sleep!

Save your $$ for now - go BFOD (best fare on day - including Virgin).

I've bitten the bullet and flown 3x with VA this year. BNE-CBR and SYD-DRW return. All three discount business booked about two weeks ahead of time and I'm already silver. QF was triple the cash price in J with measly status credits and the usual slum service (no gin and tonic 'because Covid').

 

[tdimdad]

Silver is not really worth spending any money on;

I have enjoyed the business class check-in on int'l flights as a silver. But that was the only real fleeting joy from that level. If someone is already creeping towards silver *and* will have int'l flights coming up, then it *might* be worth some extra $ to push over the qualification threshold.

To me, back in time it was worth doing a quick loop to NZ to qualify for gold. Lounge access and swooping to row 4 at the magic T-80 has made travel a whole lot nicer.