Oh no. I've been comped Platinum

[Rae]

My year with Qantas ends March 31 and I presently have 1130 SC's. Qantas kindly comped me, but didn't need to as I was going to take one more flight in March anyway, which would have qualified me again.

I've been platinum for 4 years now, and have never been comped as I've maintained status. In 2011 however, I don't think I WILL maintain status as I'll be mostly based in my home city for work.

So... my question dear forumers, is this:
Now that Qantas have comped me for this year, have I lost all hope of being comped next year? And should I bother taking that flight to Sydney in March or put it off until my new year starts in April?

 

[whughes3]

If, as you say, you will have requalified according to the usual criteria, then you won't have been "comped" at all (just renewed early); so, yes, you may indeed have a chance of really getting comped next year if you fall short. Take the flight in March!

 

[Mal]

Don't worry about it.

While there's no empirical evidence that it is good or bad, I have significant experience with this as I've only just made Plat renewal close to end of year.

2011 - Was comped before the relevant SCs had posted. (Missing flights had point claims on them). Letter said "we value your loyalty blah blah blah".
2010 - Was comped before I'd flown the relevant flights. Qantas may have known I was set to fly them, but not sure. Letter again had "we value your loyalty. Blah, blah, blah".
2009 - Was comped (From memory, but can't recall the details. Know I reached the SC required)

 

[JohnK]

So... my question dear forumers, is this:

Is it forumers or forumites?

Now that Qantas have comped me for this year, have I lost all hope of being comped next year? And should I bother taking that flight to Sydney in March or put it off until my new year starts in April?

I have been comped Platinum 3 years in a row 2008-2010 and each time I had managed to attain Platinum before my reassessment date. This year I will not have a chance to be comped again as I will reach Platinum ~-3 months early.

So I would not worry about being comped this year especially if you are going to get the required SCs in March.

 

[simongr]

Do you have a booking in the system that would qualify you?

 

[dajop]

Now that Qantas have comped me for this year, have I lost all hope of being comped next year? And should I bother taking that flight to Sydney in March or put it off until my new year starts in April?

Hard to tell, I was in similar situation to you, I was supposedly "comped" last year, but made 1270 by my anniversary.

I think the biggest factor may be how close you are to 1200, or the alleged three year average, not whether you have been comped before. Don't assume you will be automatically comped just because you've never been comped before (or have been comped, but didn't need it), I was sort of thinking I might have a chance of beingcomped this year after qualifying 8 years in a row, but not to be. Not that it mattered, I deliberately chose not to even try to requalify after October's enhancements..

 

[MrJetset]

I spoke to a QF agent about this at length when I was "comped" before requalifying in my final month. During assessment the system analyses future bookings, and if they calculate that you will requalify then you are comped early.

Of course, others have been comped when they weren't going to requalify, but this happened across airline and hotel programs to continue loyalty during the GFC.

 

[pshepvic]

I spoke to a QF agent about this at length when I was "comped" before requalifying in my final month. During assessment the system analyses future bookings, and if they calculate that you will requalify then you are comped early.

Do they do this for people who are moving up to the next status? I'm currently SG, and am only 5 SC's away from WP (this was a mis-calculation on my last trip - there was an American Eagle flight that I thought the booking class would earn full economy SC's, but turned out it was Discount economy - I found out that Full Economy for points doesn't necessarily align with Full Economy for SCs! QF really needs to update the airline earning table to specifically show both points and SC earn...)

Anyway, being only 5 SCs away from WP, and having several bookings in my profile before my FF year ends in August, I thought that maybe they would upgrade me to WP before my next flight? Hasn't happened yet...

 

[tuapekastar]

Do they do this for people who are moving up to the next status? I'm currently SG, and am only 5 SC's away from WP (this was a mis-calculation on my last trip - there was an American Eagle flight that I thought the booking class would earn full economy SC's, but turned out it was Discount economy - I found out that Full Economy for points doesn't necessarily align with Full Economy for SCs! QF really needs to update the airline earning table to specifically show both points and SC earn...)

Anyway, being only 5 SCs away from WP, and having several bookings in my profile before my FF year ends in August, I thought that maybe they would upgrade me to WP before my next flight? Hasn't happened yet...

All reports I've read would indicate QF only comp for retain, rather than attain, so if they're anything to go by, you'll need those 5SCs to hit WP. I qual'ed WP for the first time last year and I did not actually hit it until the flights were flown and posted, giving me 1400 or more SCs, despite having a few more booked in the following days.

 

[pshepvic]

All reports I've read would indicate QF only comp for retain, rather than attain, so if they're anything to go by, you'll need those 5SCs to hit WP. I qual'ed WP for the first time last year and I did not actually hit it until the flights were flown and posted, giving me 1400 or more SCs, despite having a few more booked in the following days.

It's only 5 SC's though, not 55 ... that's not even half a flight! Doesn't matter though - my next flight is in 2 weeks, and I'm flying with a WP on that date anyway so will get J lounge access. Would be nice to get the extra 50% FF points on top though!

 

[nlagalle]

It's only 5 SC's though, not 55 ... that's not even half a flight! Doesn't matter though - my next flight is in 2 weeks, and I'm flying with a WP on that date anyway so will get J lounge access. Would be nice to get the extra 50% FF points on top though!

Well you could do a quick YASA MEL-SYD for 20sc. It may be worth it if you are doing a long haul flight..

 

[JohnK]

Do they do this for people who are moving up to the next status? I'm currently SG, and am only 5 SC's away from WP

....

Anyway, being only 5 SCs away from WP, and having several bookings in my profile before my FF year ends in August, I thought that maybe they would upgrade me to WP before my next flight? Hasn't happened yet...

Unfortunately they only comp status early if you have that status already.

It is good to read the theories on how one is compled Platinum status at ~8 weeks from re-assessment. Here are my thoughts with examples of why some of these theories are simply.... er... theories.

- It has nothing to do with SCs averaging over the past x years
- It has nothing to do with forward bookings

I know someone who was comped Platinum 2 years in a row and only had ~250 SCs each year with no forward bookings. So much for theory about enough forward bookings.

I was comped Platinum 3 years in a row and I only had 1400 SCs when I first got Platinum and ~1200 SCs the next year. I only just make it over the line each year. The are others who had ~3,000 SCs the previous year and do not get comped Platinum in the next year. So much for theory on SC averaging.

If you are going to get comped ~8 weeks from reassessment it is because someone thought you were worthy of being comped. We don't know the rules or the formula used to work this out.

Some will get a please explain letter and if you are able to convince QF you will do the flying then it is a possibility you will be comped.

And others get the last minute comp when they did not get comped ~8 weeks from reassessment or receive the please explain letter but when the reassessment date ticks over find they have been comped status.

 

[MrJetset]

So much for theory about enough forward bookings.

This was state by QF, and aligns with others' experiences. It is not the only way to be comped, but is the most common reason for status attained earlier than the Status Credits are.

 

[extracta]

So... my question dear forumers, is this:
Now that Qantas have comped me for this year, have I lost all hope of being comped next year? And should I bother taking that flight to Sydney in March or put it off until my new year starts in April?

They don't do it for your benefit, they only try to make you believe it is for your benefit.

If it is to their benefit you will be comped again next year.

 

[pshepvic]

Well you could do a quick YASA MEL-SYD for 20sc. It may be worth it if you are doing a long haul flight..

The next flight is already a paid Mel-Bne flight so not status needed earlier! But I would have definitely if heading o/s soon. On that note we've deliberately booked flights Mel-Syd return on JQi to use the international first lounges to sample their wares!

I've been comped for Gold three times before. The first I was going to miss requalifying but they asked me to fill out the form with the next years travel plans (this was back in 2006). I made it up although didn't honestly think I'd make it, and then they introduced starclass! Then in both 2009 and 2010, about 3 months before my FF year ticked over I received the letter saying "it doesn't look like you'll make gold, so we've comped it for you". They couldn't have reviewed my bookings because if they had they would have seen I had the required flights booked anyway. Either that or their letter was badly worded.

In all 3 cases it did say they'll only ever do it one time, but that seems to be more a threat than reality! I know someone who was comped platinum for the next year and they had zero SCs at their renewal date! They had clocked up enough in the previous three or four years alone for LTG though.

My dad has provided feedback via the QF customer advisory panel that there should be a rollover system - he keeps blitzing silver but only every second year, as they do a big J trip o/s every 2 years and a little but of domestic each year. Theory is any SCs not used at the rollover date towards a higher status or renewal would rollover. Eg, 1550 would mean 1400 goes to WP qualification, and the remaining 150 rollover to the next year.

Within a couple of days of that feedback they had renewed his PS status for the next year even though he was only at 80 SCs! So there is definitely someone sitting at Qantas with a magic button!

 

[JohnK]

This was state by QF, and aligns with others' experiences. It is not the only way to be comped, but is the most common reason for status attained earlier than the Status Credits are.

Don't believe everything you hear from QF customer service. Unless you know something the rest of us don't I don't believe this is that common.

As I said earlier forward bookings mean absolutely nothing as one can have countless business class and first class bookings before their reassessment date and not actually take a single flight.