Possible status run

[fantasy86dj]

Hello everyone,

Just want to get everyone's opinions on the following:

I am thinking of doing a status run - I currently have 70sc's but my anniversary year does end 28feb13. I also have a double status credit promotion that will end on the last day of my anniversary year. With my upcoming travel before end of anniversary year I would also need to do a Melbourne to Perth return in Business Class to get me to 310 status credits for a cost of $2500ish.

I would be able to retain the Silver status I would be able to do 3 return Melbourne to Sydney flights in Business class and a return in Y to Hobart.

I have been a frequent flyer for 6 years and this would be my first time off Bronze.

Question to my fellow AFF's: Would it be worth me paying $2500ish to move up to Silver and retain it in years to come or should I just stick to Bronze. I doubt heavily if I will ever reach Gold in an anniversary year - I just would not fly enough to earn the 700 sc's.

All of the flights would be non work travel.

 

[JessicaTam]

Whilst silver does have some benefits, they are not as significant as the step up to gold.

You may be better off waiting until your new year starts and then concentrate on trying to make gold. If you are happy to pay for MEL-PER in J return, then you would only be 50 away from silver, and 550 from gold. You would also have a year to get them.

Once you qualify for status, it will last until the end of your next membership year.

Do you have many QFF points? You could put them towards a JASA which will make your climbing of the status ladder that little bit easier.

 

[fantasy86dj]

I do have about 135k points that could help me as well. I would really like to get off the Bronze and have a status for a change.

 

[JessicaTam]

I do have about 135k points that could help me as well. I would really like to get off the Bronze and have a status for a change.

Just looking at a random date in Mar, a JASA PER-xSYD-MEL return would cost $660 and 72,000 points. However you would earn 240SC and 7,000 QFF points.

If you did that twice, you would be 220 SC away from SG.

I am not sure of the best staus runs ex PER, so I am sure there are better examples. (PER-xSYD-ADL = $830/72,000 for 280SC/8,000)

 

[markis10]

Use the points, much better value, a run ex MEL to ASP can be good value, alternatively get yourself to TSV then do the TSV BNE DRW return run for 48000 points + cash, that would net 560 SC so Gold is not far away!
See here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uent-flyer-program/how-do-i-book-j-29610.html

 

[flyinghightoday]

Speaking of the TSV BNE DRW flights, best I've found is 40k points each way in J.

Brings it down to around $300 and 48k points

 

[muppet]

hi fantasy86dj

What benefits of silver do you think are worth $2,500?
The most I'd be willing to do for silver is a multi-sector flight instead of direct, it's not worth any $$ to me.

How about purchasing Qantas Club membership? It can be had for as low as $500 and actually get's you into the lounge, plus all silver benefits.
m.

 

[Kangol]

How about purchasing Qantas Club membership? It can be had for as low as $500 and actually get's you into the lounge, plus all silver benefits.
m.

Some, but not all.
ie Seat selection, higher place in the upgrade queue, OWR -> free checked baggage on AA Y.
Plus if it matters to you, NGCI bag tags and a different coloured Q card.

My thought is if you struggle to get PS, you aren't flying enough to justify the benefits that having status gives you.
If you were easily PS and close to SG, that would be a different story.

Whilst 70 SCs in 10 months is more than what many people would get, IMO it doesn't define someone who flies "frequently".

I'd personally spend the $2500 on something else.

Do you have any travel that is not self funded?

 

[travelislife]

2 words, 'your mad!'. Even for this board that is just crazy. If you are only getting 70SCs in a membership year then status wont actually be worth the card it is printed on. As even if you spend the crazy amount of money to get it, you would hardly ever be using it!

It would be a struggle to even justify QP membership of you are only doing 70SCs a year. It would be $100 a visit approx. if those flights were red e deals MEL-Syd, just crazy stuff.

You need to ask yourself a couple of questions: why do I want status? How will status improve my life? Is the cost to get it worth it?

IMO it wouldn't be worth spending more than $100 to get to silver, if you were already close, which you aren't.

Sorry if seems a bit harsh, but prob need a bit of a reality check before you go do something crazy like spending $2500 for nothing! I know it is each to their own with ones money, but I would like you to try and justify it to yourself (something better than I just want a coughpy plastic silver card in my wallet) before blowing the coin.

 

[timmitch]

$1660 will get 4yrs Qantas club membership. Sound lots better to me IF!!! you want to send the cash

 

[amaroo]

I do have about 135k points that could help me as well. I would really like to get off the Bronze and have a status for a change.

If you're not building the points for anything special.....I would blow the points on a oneway F trip to SIN (will soon end) or HKG or wait for a few more points and get over to LAX - go out in style & come back Y.

You have a decent point total......just make sure you cash them in wisely:idea:

 

[madrooster]

Could always collect another 5000 points and do a RTW OW award in Y too.

 

[fantasy86dj]

Update - I have contacted my work about a QANTAS Club join - was told $815 for 2 years including the joining fee or $515 for 1 year so that might be another avenue to go down.

 

[fersea]

There is another way of getting status. Have a look at the threads about Amex Platinum. $900 and you get complementary access to Cathay Pacific Gold which means you are One World sapphire which makes you Qantas gold or at least the benefits of Qantas gold (although not on Jetstar I believe).

I think you also get access to the virgin lounges plus priority pass for overseas.

I don't have it personally but I would consider it for my RTW trip.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Just looking at a random date in Mar, a JASA PER-xSYD-MEL return would cost $660 and 72,000 points. However you would earn 240SC and 7,000 QFF points.

If you did that twice, you would be 220 SC away from SG.

I am not sure of the best staus runs ex PER, so I am sure there are better examples. (PER-xSYD-ADL = $830/72,000 for 280SC/8,000)

OP is ex Mel?

I always like the JASA CBR SYD HBA SC's. Close to mel for positioning flights

 

[JessicaTam]

OP is ex Mel?

I always like the JASA CBR SYD HBA SC's. Close to mel for positioning flights

Hmmm, now where did I get that from?
Oh well, MEL-xSYD-ADL will gain 100 SCs each way for 16,000 points.

 

[Kangol]

Hmmm, now where did I get that from?
Oh well, MEL-xSYD-ADL will gain 100 SCs each way for 16,000 points.

The cheapest I can find for that that is 16k + $351 (both legs in U class)

I can see MEL-CBR-ADL for 16k + $304 (also in U) for 100 SCs

 

[JessicaTam]

The cheapest I can find for that that is 16k + $351 (both legs in U class)

I can see MEL-CBR-ADL for 16k + $304 (also in U) for 100 SCs

Which of course leads us to the never ending question of the definition of cheap. Points or dollars?

I will tend to use fewer points if I can, as they are a little hard to come by for me. YMMV