jasonja3 said:
Unforunately my experience was completely different, I had contacted them and got a very cold and flat "no" response to status match, I even told them I can show future travel plans etc.:evil: Maybe I should try again, as I enjoy their product.
Per the answer you've already had, I'm a QF Platinum, so maybe that helps. Also, VA's Gold is equivalent to QF Platinum, actually a bit better if anything. They don't really seem to have an equivalent to QF gold, their median tier seems, to me, somewhere between QF gold & silver.
They were very helpful. They only asked for a copy of my QF platinum card, so I would take it from there that any plat could get this deal. I've been plat for several years now, > 2000 SC's but I only sent the statement as the copy of the card came out awful.
Back from my trip now (off again Monday). All up, I'd have to say that I don't like the upper class seats. They're simply badly designed. You can't see out the window unless you're a contortionist (and lucky to get just the right seat, which seems to be about 30% of them). The headphone socket is behind the most pointless armrest I've ever seem, and takes me 10 goes to plug the headset in. The headsets are hopeless (take your own noise-cancelling unit). But, saving > $1,000 over Qantas each time I go to HK, makes this a no-brainer. And the service can't be beat. On top of that, no taxi costs to or from the airport, as they send a limo to pick me up and another meets me on exit from customs to take me home, no waiting for a cab, and another $200 in taxi fares saved on the trip.
Also, I make the earn-burn-status rates somewhere between 150% to twice as good. A simple calculation - to retain Plat on QF takes 5 return trips in business to HK (at 120 SCs each way, need 1200 SCs to retain). Virgin needs 3 returns to HK in Upper Class (5 tier points each way, 30 to requalify for gold). And when I requalify I get a free partner ticket anywhere - which could easily be worth $7,000 if I take my wife with me to the UK on upper class.
The HK lounge was excellent .. and they have actual meals. When you sit down, you're offered a menu. I had a great dinner, so when I got on the plane, I put my seat down (for those so inclined, you are even allowed to do that on takeoff) and crashed out as soon after takeoff as the bouncy air this time of year in HK would allow. And the seat is a real flat bed, though I found it a little uncomfortable. I'll take an inflatable pillow next time which will fix that.
Others have pointed out the vastly better points earn-burn rate, and from others it seems that redemptions are far more available than QF. A business class redemption to LA on QF .. if you can get one with less than 6-9 months notice, you beat me. QF redemptions are basically just economy on any of the international routes you are more likely to want to use (UK, USA in my case).
And with Virgin Blue becoming a VA partner at the end of this year, earning will be easier. And they crack it with Amex cards being able earn towards Flying Club points.
The icing on the cake is the wide range of partners, particularly SIA, who I love to fly with and can take me from SYD to anywhere I'd want to go, and Air NZ whioch seems to be improving in leaps and bounds, so have two USA options (NZ or SIA). ALl, of course, requiring one stop, but usually allowing that stop to be a layover if desired .. I could shop and rest in Singapore for ever. Lots of friends there, too.
Qantas - goodbye, and when I go so do those of my co-workers and those I bring here or take away with me on business. I've just been unceremoniously dumped in an airport or grumped at by an international FA too many times of late, and paid a significant premium for the privelege.. I hate to say it, but I think QF is going to slowly morph into a collection of LCCs and a boutique international carrier with a limited route selection.
Now, how to eat my million QF points quickly while I'm still platinum and get priority on waitlists? I can see a lot of free domestic travel for my extended family coming on.... though I'll probablky still have the odd OneWorld carrier flight to get my SCs up to LTG, so I can use the QF lounbges for the rest of my life (until they pull that privelege from their frequent flyers, too).