Mileage runs

[NM]

Must admit that I have made a few trips business class in the past when nearing my status credit review date, however, I am very curious to ask how you feel when expending time and money on mileage runs when considering the following:

- some QF members are apparently selectively getting the benefit of accelerated SC accrual whilst some of you are heroically trying to get those last few SCs to maintain your status!

Yes, it would have been nice to be hit one of those promotions. But I was not. I am happy for those that were.

- the QF FF is going backwards fast so your extra effort and expense is being dliuted as fast as you can maintain your status

Yes, we all know th epoints value is dropping greatly next month. But for me there does not remain much choice. I use my point for long-haul upgrades and our company policy puts me on OneWorld airlines. No other OW airline will permit me to upgrade BNE/SYD/MEL-LAX as well as LHR-BNE/SYD/MEL and SIN-BNE. So even though I will be needing more points per upgrade, at least I still the opportunity to upgrade. I may reconsider once I reach Lifetime Gold status.

- QF will assess you favourably even if you aren't going to make the required total SCs if you can convince them that your upcoming travel plans warrant continued status at your current level so mileage run may be unnecessary

Yes, requal seems to be assessed about 60 days before expiry date. I have be requalified with less than the required SC's, but I am not willing to risk assuming that practice will be continue. Last year I was requalified 60 days early with considerably less than 1200 SC's, but by the end of that 60 days I had actually reached 1200 SC's anyway. I have never been asked to justify future travel plans - just had the new card sent in the post.

Incidentally, from what I can work out your status is re-assessed sometime before your SC anniversay date - I noticed the Platinum expiry date change over in my online profile about a month before the anniversay date, presumably the average rate of accrual was judged sufficient to grant the next year even though the gross number of SCs hadn't been reached yet.....so some of you may be doing mileage runs quite unnecessarily!

As I said above, the assessment seems to be done about 60 days before expiry date to ensure the new card is delivered on time. I would not assume that Qantas will continue to be so flexible in requalifying people who have not reached the mark. They are making it easier to attain the SC requirements for status renewal in the new program. For example, my next trip will earn me 1150 SC's, while under the post May rules it would earn me 1400 SC's for the same routing.

 

[Amerrican]

I appreciate that once one gets status (although my husband is only Gold) one likes to hang on to. I like him to hang on to it too - cause the thought of an airport without the comfort of a lounge is frankly quite a scary thought after years of being spoiled (and yeah, he has retained it for 2006 - yay!). .

I find the lounge useful, however the biggest perk in my mind is the ability to bypass the long, long economy check-in lines.

 

[JohnK]

I find the lounge useful, however the biggest perk in my mind is the ability to bypass the long, long economy check-in lines.

Absolutely but the priority tags on checked luggage is also a great perk. The other day returning from DRW my luggage and golf clubs were within the first 20 bags to come out and I was able to get home by taxi within 30 minutes of getting off the aircraft.

 

[oz_mark]

Absolutely but the priority tags on checked luggage is also a great perk. The other day returning from DRW my luggage and golf clubs were within the first 20 bags to come out and I was able to get home by taxi within 30 minutes of getting off the aircraft.

I actually find the priority luggage tags to be the most hit and miss of all the perks. My favourite perks are access to the lounge and generally good seating.

 

[JohnK]

I actually find the priority luggage tags to be the most hit and miss of all the perks. My favourite perks are access to the lounge and generally good seating.

Well it was a good perk the other day as I was tired and just wanted to go home instead of waiting for 30 minutes for luggage to arrive.

The lounge access is quite good but I am still to receive a good seat with Gold status. I had seat 11D allocated ADL-SYD the other day and got to ADL QP 2 hours before flight. I asked if this was the best seat available and was told yes. When I boarded 7C, 7D, 8D, 9D, 10D were all available and all those rows only had one person in them. Maybe just bad luck.

 

[oz_mark]

Well it was a good perk the other day as I was tired and just wanted to go home instead of waiting for 30 minutes for luggage to arrive.

The lounge access is quite good but I am still to receive a good seat with Gold status. I had seat 11D allocated ADL-SYD the other day and got to ADL QP 2 hours before flight. I asked if this was the best seat available and was told yes. When I boarded 7C, 7D, 8D, 9D, 10D were all available and all those rows only had one person in them. Maybe just bad luck.

Lately I have been surprised when checking in for a 73H flight that I am given seat 7D or 8C, and Quick Check offers me 4C or 4D. Has happened a couple of times in the last month!

 

[JohnK]

Lately I have been surprised when checking in for a 73H flight that I am given seat 7D or 8C, and Quick Check offers me 4C or 4D. Has happened a couple of times in the last month!

I can understand Quick Check stuffing up but QP counter.

Does QF have a policy of blocking a whole row for a WP on a lightly loaded flight?

 

[oz_mark]

I can understand Quick Check stuffing up but QP counter.

Does QF have a policy of blocking a whole row for a WP on a lightly loaded flight?

On lightly loaded planes the whole weight distribution thing comes into play as well.

 

[serfty]

On lightly loaded planes the whole weight distribution thing comes into play as well.

Not signifiantly on 737's and bigger. However, there is some level of weight optimisation in lightly loaded flights.

FWIW, Domestically, the majority of weekday QF Jet flights have significant amounts of non PAX freight; this generally renders static SLC positioning issues redundant.

 

[serfty]

I can understand Quick Check stuffing up but QP counter.

Does QF have a policy of blocking a whole row for a WP on a lightly loaded flight?

Probably; they did it for me on QF25 last Friday week... albeit back in row 62!