Moving to The US - want to retain QFF Gold

[georgt]

Hi all,

I am moving to the US next week on an E3 visa for a couple years and I currently have QFF Gold. I am good for this year having flown enough QF flights and I can hopefully get the rest of my SCs through AA.

My question is how do I retain this for the following year or two or even upgrade to Platinum as my new job will require significant travel. I can (as far as I know) book AA flights still to get SCs, but I understand I have to fly 4 QF flights in a year. I can't work out how to book domestic US flights via qantas.com which I thought would resolve the issue.

Thanks in advance!

 

[puppysparkes]

Serfty created a comprehensive thread on how to maximise your booking: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?t=42433

 

[serfty]

The SC's are easy as alluded to by puppysparkes - it's the four Qantas / Jetstar "~" segments that are harder.

You generally can't book the QF codeshares on AA metal USA domestic without an international QF flight in the same booking.

If you are planning on returning to Oz at least annually, that's easy enough if you route via a different city to your destination.

e.g. If heading to SYD, then make sure you book via MEL/BNE each way.

Getting to Europe from the USA is generally cheap enough - from there, QF flight number to DXB may help.

If you get to the realms of the Asian Jetstar routes, a few plus segments can do the trick.

 

[ajw373]

Hi all,

I am moving to the US next week on an E3 visa for a couple years and I currently have QFF Gold. I am good for this year having flown enough QF flights and I can hopefully get the rest of my SCs through AA.

My question is how do I retain this for the following year or two or even upgrade to Platinum as my new job will require significant travel. I can (as far as I know) book AA flights still to get SCs, but I understand I have to fly 4 QF flights in a year. I can't work out how to book domestic US flights via qantas.com which I thought would resolve the issue.

Thanks in advance!

Simple, fly to Australia on Qantas once a year and make sure you have two domestic legs as part of that trip.

 

[georgt]

Thanks everyone for the input. Ok, I've already planned one trip back in Jan, So just going LAX>SYD>MEL>SYD>LAX sounds like it will do the trick.

 

[cirqueboy]

I have this dilemma too, being based in continental America. It will be good for you to maintain the QF status in your future years as it will grant you domestic USA and US/CAN transborder lounge access (unlike any US status will). As has been suggested above, one return trip with a return Aus domestic flight an you are good.

 

[UP4014]

Depending on location in the states and travel patterns flying via Hawaii might help with an extra leg.

 

[samh004]

You just need to increase your flying now and get 14,000 SC, then there's no worry about the "~"

 

[drsmithy]

A slightly dodgy alternative might be to ask someone back home to fly masquerading as you - if they just have hand (or no) luggage and check-in online to print their own boarding pass, there won't be any need to show ID anywhere.