Maintaining Gold status - how?

[Warks]

I've been a Gold for the past 4 years courtesy of a major Business Class RTW trip to start and a few re-organisations of the QFF programme where they extended my Gold status for another year without me making the required number of points/status credits. I started off the new year (October is my join date) with a rush and got halfway to my 600 SCs I needed for Gold retention by about March. Since then I've hardly flown - only a few discounted SYD-BNE or MEL flights which don't get me too many.
Currently I need 250 SCs by the end of October or I lose my key to the Executive Washroom that is the Qantas Club. I received an email from QFF telling me that I was set to lose it. And I quote:

A preliminary review of your flight activity to date indicates that you may
not re-qualify for your Gold membership when we re-assess it in October.

To view a summary of your membership, including your current Status credits
balance, visit https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyns/LoginForm

We value your ongoing support for Qantas and we hope that we can extend
your Gold membership for another year.

To help us do this, simply supply by return email any relevant information
regarding your travel plans over the next 12 months with Qantas, one world
alliance airlines or Air Pacific.

Alternatively, you may contact the Frequent Flyer Service Centre on 13 11
31 within Australia, 0800 101 500 within New Zealand, (61) 3 9658 5302 from
elsewhere, or by fax on (61) 1300 305 747.

My question is will they extend my membership if I just say that I have a big overseas trip planned for November or would they have to see bookings made? What are my chances of promising to travel more next year offering the excuse for the remainder of this year that my company has cut all travel but will turn over a new leaf on Jan 1st? (that's true BTW)

Yes I am not hopeful in any case... so feel free to shoot my dreams down in flames.
Got a cheap SC run? One that costs less than QC membership anyway!!

 

[davem]

You searched for a minimum cost routing from SYD to SYD earning at least 250 status credits.

Search results are as follows:


SYD to WLG, costing $216.00 and earning 20 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to WLG, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
WLG to CHC, costing $61.10 and earning 10 status credits.
CHC to SYD, costing $172.02 and earning 20 status credits.

Total cost $1671.12, earning 250 status credits, @ $6.68/SC


or

if you don't want to go to nz

You searched for a minimum cost routing from SYD to SYD earning at least 250 status credits. International flights have not been included in the search.

Search results are as follows:


SYD to MEL, costing $80.00 and earning 10 status credits.
MEL to CBR, costing $82.00 and earning 10 status credits.
CBR to OOL, costing $150.00 and earning 20 status credits.
OOL to CBR, costing $153.00 and earning 20 status credits.
CBR to OOL, costing $150.00 and earning 20 status credits.
OOL to CBR, costing $153.00 and earning 20 status credits.
CBR to OOL, costing $150.00 and earning 20 status credits.
OOL to CBR, costing $153.00 and earning 20 status credits.
CBR to OOL, costing $150.00 and earning 20 status credits.
OOL to CBR, costing $153.00 and earning 20 status credits.
CBR to OOL, costing $150.00 and earning 20 status credits.
OOL to CBR, costing $153.00 and earning 20 status credits.
CBR to SYD, costing $88.00 and earning 10 status credits.
SYD to BNE, costing $75.00 and earning 10 status credits.
BNE to SYD, costing $79.00 and earning 10 status credits.

Total cost $1919.00, earning 250 status credits, @ $7.67/SC

 

[thadocta]

Just tell them that you intend making more flights next year, and that your anticipated flights will be more than this year.

They will comp you to Gold anyway, as the "feel good" factor is worth far more to them than what it actually costs you - and will make you more loyal to them.

Dave

 

[swissbignose]

$1670 to get a $685 QANTAS Club membership...

Somehow I think there's a better way.

I would definitely write to QANTAS and let them know of your future travel plans. Given that you've re-qual'd Gold three times now, they may be accommodating. I know that I was close to missing (maybe 150 SCs away) a couple of years ago and received the same letter from QANTAS. I didn't respond with any future travel plans, but was re-qual'd Gold anyway.

I believe that it would be different if you were 250 SCs away from qualifying in the first place...

 

[thadocta]

They WON'T comp you there if you fall short and aren't there already - that would devalue the whole thing.

But they will comp you based on past usage, and I think three years of requalifying will do it.

They comped me after I qualified for the first time with 955 SC's, and then failed to requalify the very next year with 415 SC's. I think they must have looked at it, saw "700 to qualify, 600 to requalify equals 1300 over two years" and then looked at me "955 one year, 415 the next is 1370 SC's over two years" and decided to give it to me anyway.

Email them, see what happens.

Dave

 

[NM]

I have never received one of those emails (I know many people who have), so can't speak from personal experience. However, I would recommend being very careful to tell too many pork pies if you don't think you will re-qual next year. If you tell them you will make it and you don't, then don't expect the same generosity next year.

That said, QF are reasonably generous in comping re-qualifications if they think it will retain your loyalty. But as thadocta said, QF won't promote you to a new level unless you make the points, but re-qual for an existing level is not unheard of.

 

[oz_mark]

While I wouldn't condone telling too big a tale about your plans, I would suggest yoyu would be better off arguing that you will do enough flying next year to requalify.

I did that last year, and while I am still waiting the business class trip to the US , most of the rest of what I said happened.

 

[QF WP]

If you are looking for some SC chasing (mileage runs, call them what you will), then you should check out StevePER's thread on Flyertalk's Qantas forum about his status chaser calculator...

Back to the points about re-qualification, thadocta's post (three above) and NM's follow-up are both smack on the money. I may be in exactly the same position early next year, as I will have screamed past Gold requal level but may be just short of Plat. After 2 years of Plat re-qual, I'm hoping my SC average (2365 + 1200 + ??) will be sufficient for them to show loyalty to me (and I'll do so in return - what other airlines fly around Australia, anyway??)...

 

[NM]

...will be sufficient for them to show loyalty to me (and I'll do so in return - what other airlines fly around Australia, anyway??)...

Hmm, better not tell them about that *Gold card and those upgrade certs you now carry around with you :wink: . Did you get the LH or UA flavour in the end?

 

[Warks]

Thanks for all the feedback. I will have a fair bit of domestic plus at least one overseas trip next year so they should keep me on. Also the brakes have come off a little on domestic travel within the company - I've got to go to Darwin a few times so will work out some high SC flights: SYD-BNE-TSV-Darwin (dunno code) and back via Alice Springs and MEL?? Won't get me over the line but might get me in range.

 

[HardieBoys]

Lindsay, I'd be interested in how close to you get to requalifying for Plat, and whether or not QFF offers 'leniency'. It does seem that they take past history into consideration. I got Life Silver last year, and the letter than accompanied it clearly indicated that they'd gone through the last few years' travelling, as they commented on it.

 

[QF WP]

NM, it was the United flavour (only valid to 28 February 2004), should have gone for the LH flavour as it apparently was valid for longer...but the U-certs are languishing in my filing cabinet and don't look like being used before expiry. I must be the only Gold member with 3,500 points and no flights to their name (1K sign-up and 2.5K member-get-member bonus).

Warks - Darwin is DRW. But route should be SYD/BNE/CNS/DRW on the way up...I've done it in the past (when I used it to connect to DPS), as CNS/DRW is 20 SC's...but it will take you a long time to get there.

HardieBoys, re-qual isn't until 28 Feb 05, but I'll report back.

 

[NM]

NM, it was the United flavour (only valid to 28 February 2004), should have gone for the LH flavour as it apparently was valid for longer...

I hope that was meant to be 2005! Otherwise those U certs are not worth much. Maybe worth putting them up on FT's Coupon Connection as you might get something more useful for them, such as a Budweiser beer coaster or an Alitalia lounge pass?

 

[Rick93]

On the subject of 'getting to GOLD' or even PLATINUM...

I'm preparing for a little action myself...

This may sound a bit odd to a few... but hey! It'll work for me!

I work in a field, where I can work in any capital city (or pretty well anywhere else for that matter).

I'll be doing a night shift in Sydney (finish at 0700hrs.), then drive to the DOM airport, pleasure myself for a short session in the QC, then fly up to Brisbane. Get on the train into the city, walk 15 mins. to my 'other' place of employment, do an afternoon / night shift double. Get back to the airport, QC for brekky etc., fly back to Sydney... drive home.

I'll be doing this twice a week.

Benefits: Firstly, the SCs, followed by the QFF points. Of course, the freebies of the QC. But here is the really good part....

Because I'm travelling DIRECTLY from one site of employment to another... I can claim full tax deductability of the land and AIR travel!!!

So, I anticipate working up to PLATINUM QFF within twelve months, plus, I'll get about 160 - 180,000 QFF points.... which is one return BUSINESS CLASS airfare to LA (Disneyland), worth say, about $11,000.

After the tax deduction, I've paid about $5,000. for the Business seat to LA, got my PLATINUM status, and got a few upgrade credits as well!!!

Any comments?

regards,

 

[HardieBoys]

If you do a return trip between Sydney and Brisbane twice a week, you should end up with around 1800 - 2000 SCs (calculating that you'll do this a maximum of 50 weeks per year). You should hit Gold within 4 months, and Platinum at just over 8. But the idea of working a night shift, flying to Brisbane, and then doing another shift, twice a week...

 

[Rick93]

I figure 40 SC a week, for say, 30 weeks per year will get me requalified each year (I've already got X number of SC from this year anyway.... this is how I'll finish off at PLAT.

I'm quite use to night shift. I do six nights a week. (unless I'm off somewhere, travelling). It's not too bad, considering in Sydney, I can grab a few hours (sleep) if need be.

regards,

 

[NM]

I think my way of requal Plat was much easier - and potentially cheaper as well as a heck of a lot quicker! I paid the difference from my employer's economy fare to the USA to upgrade to a DONE4 OneWorld Explorer. Cost me $3700 which is also tax deductable as it was purely a business trip. 1200 SC's with only a few extra days of my time to take the long way home.

 

[Rick93]

Ummmm...... yes, that sounds a hell of a lot faster....

Unfortunately, I don't have those work privileges.

from what I recall seeing on this site... many of those who get flights paid by 'work', don't get the points / SCs, due to heavy discounts etc. by QF to various employing companies. So, perhaps you are very fortunate!

I'm green with envy!!!

regards,

 

[NM]

It was much better when they used to pay the J fares. But its been back of the bus for the last few years so I have had to find creative ways to retain Plat. The down side is spending so much time away from the family.

 

[sully]

On the subject of 'getting to GOLD' or even PLATINUM...

I'm preparing for a little action myself...

I'll be doing a night shift in Sydney (finish at 0700hrs.), then drive to the DOM airport, pleasure myself for a short session in the QC, then fly up to Brisbane.........

Gordon, I would go easy on that because you may develop RSI before you get to platinum stage.