QF - Gold for life, ninth year of Platinum but think I should get out

[Timsboot]

Dear Frequent Flyers. Long time stalker, first time poster.

I just earned QFF Gold for life and renewed by QFF Platinum for the ninth year. That said, I flew less Qantas in 2009 that any year since 1999. My last long haul flight with them was over a year ago. Lots of trips this year on CX and BA because they were cheaper each time. My US trips have moved to United because of a company deal (making me Star Gold as well).

Due to a number of trips using points I am down to only 20k or so points with Qantas.

Now that I am Qantas Gold for life and have few points I am thinking about moving my OneWorld account to either BA or Cathay. What do you think. Should I move to another oneworld provider or stick with QF?

Who am I - a blogger and travel exec.

Tim

The Business of Online Travel blog

 

[BlueAU]

You can't move status between OW carriers AFAIK .... I know I'd be keeping my QF if I had LTG!

 

[Timsboot]

You can't move status between OW carriers AFAIK .... I know I'd be keeping my QF if I had LTG!

Wow - thanks for fast response. Agree you can't "move" status. What I meant is that I stop collecting miles/status points on QF and instead open up a BA or CX FF membership and start collecting their. Would take me a year to achieve top with either of them. In the meantime my QF LTG retains for me the benefits of lounge and check-in access.

As I see it the downside would be reduction in QF priority attention but upside would be improved treatment on board with either BA or CX.

Do you think there is an added benefit of LTG keeping Platinum?

 

[BlueAU]

What I understand is, if you start collecting CX or BA using their mileage programs, then you will have no status and not get priority seating etc. It is going to be a pain for you to quote your QF number when making bookings, and make sure u change to CX when you check in, which will have no status. This may make it confusing at some airports for Lounge access, and you won't get FLounge if you are no longer plat.

I will let some of the more seasoned Sapphire/Emerald OW's tell you all about this

 

[Timsboot]

...It is going to be a pain for you to quote your QF number when making bookings, and make sure u change to CX when you check in, ...

Very good point

 

[serfty]

IMHO, if you wish to switch programs, then you would be generally better off if you credit to AA rather than BA or CX.

Award earning/burning rates for AAdvantage are basically the most advantageous for a frequent one-world traveller.

...
Do you think there is an added benefit of LTG keeping Platinum?

If you still will be travelling with Qantas a lot than maintaining platinum may be worth it to you.

I am WP and QF LTG and have decided for the time being to endeavour to retain WP (and PG) - I am also travelling/crediting quite a few flights to AirNZ to maintain *G (This works for me due to the many Trans Tasman trips I do.)

YMMV

 

[Dave Noble]

Now that I am Qantas Gold for life and have few points I am thinking about moving my OneWorld account to either BA or Cathay. What do you think. Should I move to another oneworld provider or stick with QF?

If you are generally flying on other carriers then it could make perfect sense to change your earning to another scheme depending on what type of fares you are purchasing. AA could well be a good place to credit too; you get the benefits of the OW Sapphire status / QF gold status without having to worry about retaining status so can credit the miles to where it will be best for you

It is a good position to be in.

Dave

 

[NM]

What class of fare do you usually purchase?

If purchasing B or higher, then AA may be a good program to consider. But if purchasing discounted economy fares, the its generally best to use the program of the airline your travelling with as they may not provide any credit for discount fares with partner airlines.

I now make good use of AAdvantage (been EXP for several years) after reaching QF LGT a while back. But my travel patterns fit nicely into god earning rates with AA and that may not be the case for people predominantly buying heavily discounted fares.

 

[Timsboot]

What class of fare do you usually purchase?

Usually discounted business. This year my oneworld long haul travel was exclusively Cathay and BA to either Hong Kong or Europe (with a little JAL thrown in). Means they are more likely candidates than AA. Are you top on AA because you fly them or do they act as your Oneworld program but you actually spread your business across oneworld?

 

[Dave Noble]

Usually discounted business. This year my oneworld long haul travel was exclusively Cathay and BA to either Hong Kong or Europe (with a little JAL thrown in). Means they are more likely candidates than AA. Are you top on AA because you fly them or do they act as your Oneworld program but you actually spread your business across oneworld?

If you are travelling business class then AA would be a suitable candidate for posting miles to. If you fly 34,000 miles in a year in business class on OW airlines you will be able to attain AA platinum status ( OW Sapphire ) and earn 100% mileage bonus earning on your flights ( on top of the base miles plus 25% bonus for business class ) . You will likely find that the redemption rates are lower than QF

e.g. for SYD-LHR QF points required for 1 way business = 128k ; AA points required = 60k

Dave

 

[serfty]

...

e.g. for SYD-LHR QF points required for 1 way business = 128k ; AA points required = 60k

Dave

Also note that Taxes/Levies/Surcharges with QFF redemptions would generally be significantly LARGER than those for AAdvantage on the same route.

 

[Flashback]

Also note that Taxes/Levies/Surcharges with QFF redemptions would generally be significantly LARGER than those for AAdvantage on the same route.

Although it does appear to be dropping ever so slightly, depending on routing.

 

[Commuter]

Assuming it's still the same as the last time I looked, BA will not have you as a new member if you are in Australia.

 

[serfty]

Assuming it's still the same as the last time I looked, BA will not have you as a new member if you are in Australia.

I do know of a few Austrian members ...