Is Platinum the Holy Grail?

[Oneworldplus2]

Maybe I didn't make myself quite clear.My point is once you have used these for a few years and then reach LTG... then what?
Coops

Ok, I understand now. Guess you have to make that choice yourself. I wouldn't know where to start, but l do understand your question now. LTG, WP, then what? Maybe settle down and stop flying?

As others have said, switch to another FFP. AAdvantage seems to be a popular one, mainly because of the better burn rate and upgrade coupons you receive every year for qualifying AA Ex Plat.

Off topic.
A guy l work with, FIFO worker, travels to coughet every fortnight with Singapore Airlines. PER-SIN-HKT vv. He told me, 16 return trips (in the booking class that earns points) and your Star Gold and that every 4th flight is free from the points he racks up.

 

[samh004]

My point is once you have used these for a few years and then reach LTG... then what?

Well then you shall have reached nirvana, what else is there beyond that?

What is the on going benefits for staying with QFF once you have reached the dizzy heights of the QFF program. CL???

What do other similar programs offer once you reach the high echelons of status with them? Other than AA, which we all know offers upgrade credits every time, and QF did at some point before they replaced them with loyalty bonuses.

Off topic.
A guy l work with, FIFO worker, travels to coughet every fortnight with Singapore Airlines. PER-SIN-HKT vv. He told me, 16 return trips (in the booking class that earns points) and your Star Gold and that every 4th flight is free from the points he racks up.

When you say it’s free, do you mean he can redeem the 4th flight with points and counts that towards his 16 return trips, or does he have to use the points on other things if he wants to continue re/qualifying?

 

[Aikicoops]

Ok, I understand now. Guess you have to make that choice yourself. I wouldn't know where to start, but l do understand your question now. LTG, WP, then what? Maybe settle down and stop flying?

Lol, I can't see that happening, I enjoy my pay packet to much. Not to mention I enjoy traveling.

As others have said, switch to another FFP. AAdvantage seems to be a popular one, mainly because of the better burn rate and upgrade coupons you receive every year for qualifying AA Ex Plat.

Is it worth joining another OW FF program? I only ever travel to EU due to HO being in Italy.

I was thinking about *A but I only ever travel INT 3 - 4 times per year would it be worth it, albeit it is J.
As for keeping WP, that is easy enough as I travel J interstate often enough to keep that.

What do others think about another status for those who reach QFF WP so easily?
May be something like EliteWP But this is out side of OW status. I have no idea what they could offer or how they do it? I am just putting it out there?

Coops

 

[straitman]

Hi,
New to the site, and actively working toward WP.
I've earned 820 status credits since 1 Aug 09, 580 to go!
BTW - status credits have all been earned Discount Economy, thanks to the TA company I work for!

Frantic125,

Welcome to AFF and good luck with your pursuit of Platinum.

 

[JohnK]

My point is once you have used these for a few years and then reach LTG... then what?

Three options:

1) Strive to retain platinum each year, as there are considerable benefits to being platinum over gold, as outlined in this thread.
2) Be happy with QG gold, and start travelling on other carriers to achieve status there (eg gold on DJ if your travel is domestic, or gold on star alliance of your travel is intl
3) Do enough QF/OW travel to maintain platinum, and travel on other carriers to get status there.

As a LTG/WP option 3 works well for me, I have star alliance gold which gives me heaps of options when travelling without having to sacrifice lounge access, and other benefits.

All very reasonable options. Personally option 1 works well for me. I enjoy flying and would still strive to get to Thailand 3-4 times a year so there is a benefit in maintaining status with one alliance if interested in better seats, priority check-in, express immigration clearance even when travelling economy, lounge access etc.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

When you say it’s free, do you mean he can redeem the 4th flight with points and counts that towards his 16 return trips, or does he have to use the points on other things if he wants to continue re/qualifying?

Hey samh004,
From what l understand;
8 return trips (so, PER-SIN-HKT x16) = Star Gold.
Every 4th flight is free. So, do 3, 4th one is booked on points which l don't think earn points or count towards reaching *Gold.
l will find out for you in the next few weeks. He was at 1 time l believe, a double Gold, on Thai and Singapore at the one time.
To qualify Gold on most *alliance airlines is 50,000miles.
PER-SIN 2420
SIN-HKT 607
TOTAL from 1 trip, 1 way = 3027miles
3027 x 16 = 48432
or 6054 (for a return trip) x 8 trips = 48432

Hope that helps and l'll try to get back to you in the next few weeks mate. Happy travels.

 

[JohnK]

Hey samh004,
From what l understand;
8 return trips (so, PER-SIN-HKT x16) = Star Gold.
Every 4th flight is free. So, do 3, 4th one is booked on points which l don't think earn points or count towards reaching *Gold.

I would love to know how he gets every 4th trip for free.

By my calculations it would require 46,750 KrisFlyer miles for a PER-HKT return trip on SQ and in economy one world earn ~6,000 KrisFlyer miles per paid trip. So that would be a free* trip every 8th flight.

 

[dajop]

I By my calculations it would require 46,750 KrisFlyer miles for a PER-HKT return trip on SQ.

But did you know Perth is in a different zone (understandably) to the east coast? It only requires 34,000 points for PER-HKT return.

Two calculations:

Before achieving status:
Return flight = 6054 miles, 4.5 return flights = 27243 miles. After that get silver bonus of 25%, so get 7567 miles per round trip. Therefore 1 more trip to get the requisite 34,000. ie. 5.5 return flights = 1 return free flight.

After achieving status:
4.5 return flights = 1 return free flight.

 

[markis10]

FIFO to HKT - makes you wonder what he is mining , not sure if a return to HKT would be a good or wanted reward flight. Makes you wonder though how many FIFO operators in WA and QLD are WP?

 

[JohnK]

But did you know Perth is in a different zone (understandably) to the east coast? It only requires 34,000 points for PER-HKT return.

Probably not. The award chart I was using was referring to South West Pacific 1 and South West Pacific 2 and both required the same amount of KrisFlyer miles.

So using your calculations 3 BKK-SIN-SYD returns in a year would be 28,710 miles and then next 2 trips will earn 23,926 miles (+25% bonus). So after 5 trips you get one free (~$400 taxes and surcharges) return trip. And then for each subsequent 4 trips receive one free trip. Much clearer thank you.

Handy alternative but if already QF Platinum one can get a free return trip every 3 trips instead of the 4 trips required with SQ once turned Silver.

 

[ejb]

...
Off topic.
A guy l work with, FIFO worker, travels to coughet every fortnight with Singapore Airlines. PER-SIN-HKT vv. He told me, 16 return trips (in the booking class that earns points) and your Star Gold and that every 4th flight is free from the points he racks up.

Why would a FIFO worker use points to pay for flights that a company is paying for....that seems silly.

Save points for personal travel.

ejb

 

[Bang4Buck]

Dave's an oddball in that he doesnt share the same obsession with flying OW as many of us - he actually chooses to fly on the best carrier for his needs - an alien concept to some of us

Thanks for the comment; now I understand. Naturally AFF will be very QF/ OW centric. Ok that's fine.

 

[serfty]

Dave's an oddball in that he doesnt share the same obsession with flying OW as many of us - he actually chooses to fly on the best carrier for his needs - an alien concept to some of us

Thanks for the comment; now I understand. Naturally AFF will be very QF/ OW centric. Ok that's fine.

More to the point, often said travel is optimised by actually being "not in the lowest cabin class".

If one travels F, J or even W (or equivalent) frequently then the overall magnitude of the benefits of high FF status are often somewhat diminished.

Almost perversely frequent travel in said premium cabins can often make such high FF status easier to obtain.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Sorry Johnk,
I was not clear.
FIFO is PER-KFE vv, Skywest, FMG Charter jet, Fokker 100.
PER-SIN-HKT for personal, Singapore Airlines.
Every 3 weeks he does this route and he is also *Gold, so points earned would be decent l would imagine.

 

[dajop]

Probably not. The award chart I was using was referring to South West Pacific 1 and South West Pacific 2 and both required the same amount of KrisFlyer miles.

Ah, OK, that's the (old) star alliance partner award chart. THe SQ/MI award chart has Zone 8: Western Australia and Zone 9: Australia (exc. WA) & NZ. Note the new star alliance partner award chart (updated in Dec) has only a single South West Pacific zone.

 

[JohnK]

PER-SIN-HKT for personal, Singapore Airlines.
Every 3 weeks he does this route and he is also *Gold, so points earned would be decent l would imagine.

Thanks make perfect sense. I was also confused with old SQ award chart.

Ah, OK, that's the (old) star alliance partner award chart. THe SQ/MI award chart has Zone 8: Western Australia and Zone 9: Australia (exc. WA) & NZ. Note the new star alliance partner award chart (updated in Dec) has only a single South West Pacific zone.

Thanks I have saved the new SQ award chart to my favourites so hopefully won't make the same mistake again.

 

[Bang4Buck]

If one travels F, J or even W (or equivalent) frequently then the overall magnitude of the benefits of high FF status are often somewhat diminished.

Hi serfty. It's true, if you pay for any premium cabin than there's no need for "status".

 

[ejb]

Hi serfty. It's true, if you pay for any premium cabin than there's no need for "status".

Partially I agree, with premium cabins status is LESS useful but still useful.

With status you get better seating options (I know all F seats are great but some are even better). Status also gets J pax into FLounge.

In times of trouble, perhaps ash in the air it would be great to have status for access to premium lines and more help from airlines.

ejb

 

[BAM1748]

That is your opinion and and just because you think it is right does not make it right nor logical.

By the way they closed the curtains during the flight, and then opened them for landing and then rushed to close them again for deboarding. It achieves nothing other than anger and it is rude and demeaning. I have no doubt about it.

It is John, yes. While flying on Lan Chile last time and one of only two in first class, after landing I sat there for momement to finish reading the page I was on and some coach people came through to get out. As I closed my book and started to get up the cabin crew rushed to close the curtains so I could get up and get my bag etc.

It was pretty cough treatment of the rest of the passengers to make them stand and wait while I stuffed around with overhead lockers and hand luggage. I didn't find it comfortable and it was being done for me.

Matt

 

[QF WP]

Hi,

I am wondering if Platinum with Qantas is the holy grail that everyone really aspires to?

For example I am interested to know answers or comments to questions like;

1. Are there many platinum members participating on this site?
2. Is it really hard to qualify (there are a lot of posts to status runs)
3. Is Platinum status really revered on this site?

FYI, I have Platinum status with Qantas and I really do think that it has major benefits over Gold.

I travel regularly but mostly in PE.

I check this site daily and I get a lot of great information from everyone that participates on the site, so thank you to all who roll up their sleeve and get involved.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Can't believe I have missed this thread up to now .

parksie,I think enough people have answered these questions by now. From my viewpoint, Platinum was the Holy Grail that I aspired to when I first joined FF websites (AFF around 2000, I thought, the original site migrated to a different version that didn't keep the registration date; whilst FT was in 2003). But then I was young and single and a lot of free cash flow after paying the bills and easily made Silver in the old QF program and Gold in the new. I had a friend in SIN, so I thought nothing of flying up on a Friday and back on Sun night red-eye (going straight to work on arrival) using BA's WT+.

Then I achieved the Holy Grail in August 2002 and had 5.5 years (whilst also marrying in the middle, which helped the travel commitment as we wanted to travel before kids). Then my international travel dropped off and I've maintained Gold from (mostly) discount economy domestic travel.

I'd question whether it's revered, although those with materialistic tendancies probably do. I was materialistic until I realised it wasn't the "be all and end all". However, it certainly has meant benefits that I revered (as well as my wife).