QF Silver to Gold with Points

[maver!ck]

Hi All,

After some advice please.

I didn't make the required status credits for QF Gold last year and have now dropped to Silver. I spoke with Qantas about reinstating Gold based on a lot of upcoming travel. Unfortunately they wouldn't come to the party but have offered me the option to retain Gold by using 80,000 points.

Overall do you think this is a good use of points? I do have a Platinum Amex so have Priority pass for lounge access in most places (although sometimes the lounges not great). Are the other Gold benefits worth this points spend?

I may or may not make Gold in my own right this year - I'm about 800 SC off lifetime Gold so this is the ultimate goal.

I would appreciate any advice - thanks in advance!

 

[mviy]

Up to you. I can easily replace 80,000 points through sign-up bonuses from changing cards so I'd probably do it unless I expected to level back up quickly.

Or you could consider using the Double Status Credits promo that started today (you need to register for it before you book) to do some status runs to get back up to Gold and maybe even lock in that LTG so you never have to worry about getting/retaining Gold with QF again.

For example on Double Status Credits, MEL-BNE-CNS return in J will earn 480 SC instead of the normal 240 SC. Flying indirect earns better than flying direct. So if you are flexible enough to fly indirect you can do quite well.

 

[featheast]

One thing i am curious to know is, did you just call their number and they offer you this points option? or like others reported here that you got an email?
I'm in a very similar situation but my expiry is end of Feb. I am nowhere close to retain gold this year, but have quite a few coming trips (albeit not all on QF) so would love to enjoy the oneworld benefits.
I'd happily to spend 80k points for another year's gold.

 

[Deleted member]

I suppose it comes down to cost benefit analysis.
If the cost is offset by the current DSC promo, I guess it’s worth the effort.

 

[juddles]

Seeing you are so close to Life Time Gold, my focus would be on that. And this current DSC offer is perfect timing for you - you may be both able to move back up to Gold soon in the year, and also secure that LTG.

The other thing is, as in all cases like yours, is how much do you fly, and what would the Gold status really mean to you for those trips THIS year. 80.000 points is a lot if it just means you get access to a One World lounge a couple of times.

Each has their own valuation of points (as the way each person uses them really defines their value), but I love a very crude valuation for general purposes of 10.000 = $100. So in that belief you would be forking out $800 at least for the priveledge. If you do four overseas trips, that means you are paying $100 per lounge visit. Even I do not drink enough to make that worthwhile

Obviously it is a little more complicated than that.....

 

[ozflier]

One thing i am curious to know is, did you just call their number and they offer you this points option? or like others reported here that you got an email?
I'm in a very similar situation but my expiry is end of Feb. I am nowhere close to retain gold this year, but have quite a few coming trips (albeit not all on QF) so would love to enjoy the oneworld benefits.
I'd happily to spend 80k points for another year's gold.

Hi,
I am looking at a lot of flying in the next 2 years and decding whether to keep it with oneworld or with the star alliance.
You seem to be happy with Gold status - do you mind telling me why you say this - ie what are the benefits to you ?

 

[featheast]

Hi,
I am looking at a lot of flying in the next 2 years and decding whether to keep it with oneworld or with the star alliance.
You seem to be happy with Gold status - do you mind telling me why you say this - ie what are the benefits to you ?

Well, basically the things I value most for my gold benefits is all the 'priorities'. I fly economy half of the times and most of my travel are interantioanl, so priroity check in and boarding is a major benefit to me.

 

[CaptJCool]

It's unfortunate they complicate your final steps to LTG.

WHAT with 5.7% of the way to go to arrive there a setback like this particularly when forward travel bookings are on the agenda is a pain in the a...

Others have mentioned possible Work-rounds. - flying J definitely I'd because then it doesn't matter anyway...but if It's a drip-feed of Y (especial discounted) to get across the line, then it's definitely painful sitting in the terminal to 'qualify'.... knowing you're so close to the prize

PS As mentioned in another thread, I fortunately received a comp retention and still need over 25% to qualify for LTG. Have I been comped to wp ?
The vagaries of the AI

 

[RoMambai]

Further to Juddles' point (which I concur wholeheartedly), if a big concern is lounge access, you can always buy lounge passes for a lot less than $800 to get you out of a pickle. I think the going rate is circa $50 a pop but I'm sure there are better deals out there if you looked hard enough, not to mention the many sign up bonuses which seem to hand out passes like bonbonieri at a Sicilian wedding.