Possibility of reaching Platinum

[mviy]

Flying EK even on a QF flight number you wouldn’t get DSC, so it wouldn’t make sense to maximise SCs during a DSC promo

 

[CaptJCool]

The lowest I’ve heard in here to achieve Platypus (platinum) was $3,000 - involving indirect routings to Noumea or somewhere like that

The lowest likely ever is to be in Points Club (while it only pays roughly 70% of the original JASAs that enabled fantastic SC) you can get to points club for very little extra cost by credit card churning bonus points) but having gotten there relies upon rewards seats being available

My hack did not involve a passport so was to fly ADLxMEL-OOL
THIS delivers 200 SC doubled up 400 per trip was a lot cheaper but today is $2,126 and easy enough to do on a weekend (and I like trams and trains so it’s riding them through to Brisbane) and I walked from the airport to the Gold Coast YHA and stayed in a cheap private room ($80-100 per night) so my overall cost was manageable (Nowadays, once I made LTG After 24 years, from a lot of business funded Y travel, my low taxed superannuation is able to fund future travel )

The Trans Tasmans from the East Coast
Currently Bris - Christchurch J is $1443 160 SC doubles to 320
4 Status Runs = 1280 SC just under $6,000
So if there’s specials then that drops further
The loophole necessary is to make placeholder bookings during the DSC period and change them later when the J sales are on

 

[DejaBrew]

Also worth noting that whilst earning WP in the first place takes 1400SC, retaining it in subsequent member years only requires 1200SC, which can potentially be reduced to 1050SC through a combination of PC+ and Green Tier (if you can make that work for you).

 

[RB001]

Also worth noting that whilst earning WP in the first place takes 1400SC, retaining it in subsequent member years only requires 1200SC, which can potentially be reduced to 1050SC through a combination of PC+ and Green Tier (if you can make that work for you).

Lower still if you earn a Loyalty Bonus or two along the way. You can choose a 50 SC bonus for every 500 SC you earn on QF, JQ and GK.

 

[elanshin]

Also worth noting that whilst earning WP in the first place takes 1400SC, retaining it in subsequent member years only requires 1200SC, which can potentially be reduced to 1050SC through a combination of PC+ and Green Tier (if you can make that work for you).

Hit 1700 for a year and just been doing the minimum since. But that way I get to fly sone other airlines as when its suitable. With all the extras i doubt i do more than 700 SC of real flying with QF/OW.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Also worth noting that whilst earning WP in the first place takes 1400SC, retaining it in subsequent member years only requires 1200SC, which can potentially be reduced to 1050SC through a combination of PC+ and Green Tier (if you can make that work for you).

@RB001 beat me to it - add in a loyalty bonus of 50 SC's @DejaBrew

 

[DejaBrew]

@RB001 beat me to it - add in a loyalty bonus of 50 SC's @DejaBrew

Agreed. I was primarily referring to what can "easily" be carried over into your future membership year, but yes, a loyalty bonus lowers the bar even further.

For my next member year (Oct 1st) I'll only be needing to find a max of 1000SC to retain WP. There's a chance that will be lowered further still to only 950SC (and I already have at least half of that in forward bookings).

 

[SYD]

Also worth noting that whilst earning WP in the first place takes 1400SC, retaining it in subsequent member years only requires 1200SC, which can potentially be reduced to 1050SC through a combination of PC+ and Green Tier (if you can make that work for you).

Should stress that PC+ is not particularly easy if not churning or passing a decent chunk of business expenses through QF earning CCs. Or buying a LOT of QF Wine / QF Hotel stays.

I easily get PC each year off regular spend and some wine but that extra 200k is always a bridge too far.

 

[justinbrett]

Should stress that PC+ is not particularly easy if not churning or passing a decent chunk of business expenses through QF earning CCs. Or buying a LOT of QF Wine / QF Hotel stays.

I easily get PC each year of regular spend and some wine but that extra 200k is always a bridge too far.

If you shop at Woolies and have a QF earning credit card, you could buy Woolies gift cards and use them for shopping.

On my QF Amex, together with Everyday Extra, you'd be getting at least 6.25 points per dollar not including ER bonuses (3 points for Gift Card, 2.25 for QF credit card spend, 1 point for ER). That's over 80K points per year for a $250/week shop.

I don't actually do this but I bought an Xbox a few weeks ago with QF-sourced Xbox gift cards, and wondered why I don't do the same thing for my groceries. If I did I reckon I could get PC+ fairly easily.

 

[DejaBrew]

Should stress that PC+ is not particularly easy if not churning or passing a decent chunk of business expenses through QF earning CCs. Or buying a LOT of QF Wine / QF Hotel stays.

Agreed. I was trying to suggest that people can take advantage of PC+ and/or GT, assuming that they have the ability to make either/both work for their respective circumstances.

I can similarly hit PC without much effort at all, but PC+ was much harder these last two years, especially without a single CC churn.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Should stress that PC+ is not particularly easy if not churning or passing a decent chunk of business expenses through QF earning CCs. Or buying a LOT of QF Wine / QF Hotel stays.

Agree, not easy.

I easily get PC each year of regular spend and some wine but that extra 200k is always a bridge too far.

I cannot even get a credit limit increase let alone "churn" cards @SYD
I only managed PC+ again this year due to considerable credit card spend in bailing out offspring, domestic expenditure on our house and theirs, Qantas hotels and dental/medical expenses.
I was that close that I succumbed and bought wine to get me over the line!

 

[DejaBrew]

On my QF Amex, together with Everyday Extra, you'd be getting at least 6.25 points per dollar not including ER bonuses (3 points for Gift Card, 2.25 for QF credit card spend, 1 point for ER). That's over 80K points per year for a $250/week shop.

That's an interesting thought and something I'll consider trying out for my new member year.

 

[SYD]

If you shop at Woolies and have a QF earning credit card, you could buy Woolies gift cards and use them for shopping.

On my QF Amex, together with Everyday Extra, you'd be getting at least 6.25 points per dollar not including ER bonuses (3 points for Gift Card, 2.25 for QF credit card spend, 1 point for ER). That's over 80K points per year for a $250/week shop.

I don't actually do this but I bought an Xbox a few weeks ago with QF-sourced Xbox gift cards, and wondered why I don't do the same thing for my groceries. If I did I reckon I could get PC+ fairly easily.

My brain hurts just thinking about the maths…

I at least take advantage of banking my EDRs points for Xmas once I know I’ll reach PC and then turn that off at the start of QFF year for a PC head start. Already well on my way 1 mth in.

I cannot even get a credit limit increase let alone "churn" cards

Ditto. Therefore, churning should be banned!

 

[DejaBrew]

I at least take advantage of banking my EDRs points for Xmas once I know I’ll reach PC and then turn that off at the start of QFF year for a PC head start. Already well on my way 1 mth in.

Great little hack (for as long as they allow us to keep doing it)

 

[mrsterryn]

You can also, with QF buy a comfort seat booking, ie, not a shadow, but you actually pay for your seat + taxes, and also you buy the seat next to you, have to phone QF up and specifically ask, or some say a travel agent can do it too, ...
The seat next to you, does not have any taxes.
Or fly J (business), from home city to SYD, then J from SYD - CHC and back, 80 x 2 for SYD - CHC then 40 x 2, this would give you 240 QFF SC.
If you live in SYD, then SYD - CHC on EK with a QF flight # in F (first), have done it before, this would give you 120 QFF SC straight off, 240 for return.
Very expensive, yes, very.

Have the changed the rules ? I didn't have to pay any taxes on a comfort seat

 

[justinbrett]

Have the changed the rules ? I didn't have to pay any taxes on a comfort seat

From QF website:
Any chargeable taxes, fees, and charges apply to the passenger only and not the extra seat/s, with the exception for Australian domestic fares where GST applies to both the passenger and extra seat/s.

So GST yes, international taxes no.

 

[Haplo]

one of my favorite cheap SC is flying from Manila to Singapore via Hong Kong on Cathay in J. It costs under $1,000 for return and you get 240 SC.

The days of expats to the Philippines.

 

[mrsterryn]

From QF website:
Any chargeable taxes, fees, and charges apply to the passenger only and not the extra seat/s, with the exception for Australian domestic fares where GST applies to both the passenger and extra seat/s.

So GST yes, international taxes no.

Ahh I only had the comfort seat internationally