Need 269 SC from Gold to Platinum by 6 Dec..any options pls?

[Jzwl]

HI Everyone,

Apologies if there is a thread on this already but I couldn't find it. I am so very new to all of the "workings" of frequent flyer programs as I have not really travelled that much until January 2017 when I started a job which required travelling every week domestically. I am now a Gold member with VFF we have no say in the choice of airlines, company books whichever fare is the cheapest at the time & usually with Virgin. However, they generally don't book until a few days before departure date.

Currently, I am sitting on 731 SC so 269 short of making platinum, in order to upgrade, the App tells me I need to achieve this by 6th December, as it is down time in November for us, I haven't travelled much, my next trip is to HKG on 28th November 2017, flights have not been booked yet & I do get a say in which airline this time. Also will be going to HKG regularly in 2018 around February. My questions are:

1. What are my options to achieve Platinum if at all possible by 6th December?
2. Which airline should I book the flight from BNE to HKG to get maximum SC?
3. If I don't achieve the 269 points by 6 December, what happens? Also noticed that I will start loosing SC.
4. I am also a member of QFF but currently only bronze, would I be better off trying to get more SC with Qantas instead & just remain Gold with VFF?

Thank you so much in advance & would appreciate any advice at all on FF programs even if is not related to this particular question.

 

[brown891]

From what I’ve read in terms of VFF Platinum and my own opinion as well, there aren’t many benefits or valuable benefits to platinum over VFF gold. So unless you’re wanting plat for a specific reason it could be fine to just stay Gold.

Also, you should check when your SC’s expire, it might be that you need 269 by 6th Dec but for example 6th December 2016 you may have earned 10SC’s, so eg on the 7th December you may only need 279SC’s and this might be the case if you didn’t fly between 6th Dec 2016 and say 10th Feb 2017, essentially meaning you would need 279SC’s by 10th feb 2018. Just trying to think of ways you might be able to extend the timeframe you need to attain SC’s should you want Platinum

 

[Jzwl]

Thank you Brown891, I am not after Platinum for specific reason, I just thought that’s what I should aim for (lol) & I may lose points than it will be harder to achieve. I just had a look & you are right in saying there’s not much of a difference in benefits.

 

[brown891]

Thank you Brown891, I am not after Platinum for specific reason, I just thought that’s what I should aim for (lol) & I may lose points than it will be harder to achieve. I just had a look & you are right in saying there’s not much of a difference in benefits.

No problems, my suggestion (and I’m by no means an expert) but if it were me and I was already Gold VFF I would maybe look for gold with QF as you said provided it’s not over the top expensive. Sometimes I find With QF you can earn just as many SC’s in flex economy as prem economy so just be mindful of that in terms of $ (QF website makes it easier to see differences now).
OR
Travel VFF and credit to VF or SQ in case you had a bunch of VF points and were looking for a premium redemption and need a few extra points eg. AUS-SIN-EUROPE Business class

 

[Dannyism]

In my experience I have found a cheap W (flexi-saver) fare on SQ to somewhere like Shanghai or Manilla with a family pooling partner would be good.

I see you are based in Brisbane so I looked up some quick examples.

So BNE-SIN-PVG in W will earn you 200 SC return or 400 for both of you. This is available for 1368pp on 22nd-28th nov
BNE-SIN return in W will 240 for the both of you.

To answer you questions.

1. What are my options to achieve Platinum if at all possible by 6th December? Fly.
2. Which airline should I book the flight from BNE to HKG to get maximum SC? VA or any of its partners. SQ is my pick.
3. If I don't achieve the 269 points by 6 December, what happens? Also noticed that I will start loosing SC. You stay gold, you will then need to earn 400SC in the following 12 months to stay gold.
4. I am also a member of QFF but currently only bronze, would I be better off trying to get more SC with Qantas instead & just remain Gold with VFF? Probably not.

Please see these links for calculating SC earn.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Earn/StatusCredits/
https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Info/StatusEarnFareClass/
https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Earn/Airlines/mileage-calculator/

 

[Jzwl]

In my experience I have found a cheap W (flexi-saver) fare on SQ to somewhere like Shanghai or Manilla with a family pooling partner would be good.

I see you are based in Brisbane so I looked up some quick examples.

So BNE-SIN-PVG in W will earn you 200 SC return or 400 for both of you. This is available for 1368pp on 22nd-28th nov
BNE-SIN return in W will 240 for the both of you.

To answer you questions.

1. What are my options to achieve Platinum if at all possible by 6th December? Fly.
2. Which airline should I book the flight from BNE to HKG to get maximum SC? VA or any of its partners. SQ is my pick.
3. If I don't achieve the 269 points by 6 December, what happens? Also noticed that I will start loosing SC. You stay gold, you will then need to earn 400SC in the following 12 months to stay gold.
4. I am also a member of QFF but currently only bronze, would I be better off trying to get more SC with Qantas instead & just remain Gold with VFF? Probably not.

Please see these links for calculating SC earn.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Earn/StatusCredits/
https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Info/StatusEarnFareClass/
https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Earn/Airlines/mileage-calculator/

Thank you Dannyism, that is some very good information. I am now all cleared & I am only 39 SC to obtain gold for another year & have until June 2018 which should not be a problem.