QF status challenge question

[Mattg]

I'm seeing 60SC return in flex... What am I missing?

Is that via SYD or BNE?

 

[Blockers]

Thanks for the info - have been pondering making a move to QFF as I've had some bad experiences with VA lately. Several late flights, bad service etc etc.. By chance had to catch a QANTAS flight a couple weeks back and was impressed with service, cleanliness of the plane and we were on time!! Wasn't keen to start the status journey again so will look into this. Will reply with how I get on.

 

[Blockers]

Update: It took about 10 days but was offered a gold status challenge (200 SC in 90 days) - Was hoping to get a platinum challenge but not offered. Has anyone managed to get offered a platinum challenge recently?

 

[Dannyism]

Currently doing the status challenge and it sucks. Treated like a status-less animal. Earning my 200SC's @10 or 20 SC at a time. While I've got plat with virgin. I've got a few lounge passes. Went into um, Brisbane lounge on a thursday afternoon. COULDN'T EVEN GET A SEAT?!?! WTF?! I'm seriously questioning this status challenge.. Hopefully it's worth it. Jeez

 

[RichardMEL]

Currently doing the status challenge and it sucks. Treated like a status-less animal. Earning my 200SC's @10 or 20 SC at a time. While I've got plat with virgin. I've got a few lounge passes. Went into um, Brisbane lounge on a thursday afternoon. COULDN'T EVEN GET A SEAT?!?! WTF?! I'm seriously questioning this status challenge.. Hopefully it's worth it. Jeez

"Treated like an status-less animal?" so like worse than everyone else or did they put you in the heated cargo compartment? Domestic folks with status don't usually see a whole lot different except maybe the odd greeting in Y for Plat/P1 anyway.

And would I, as a QF P1, get treated like a "status-less animal" in 23E on VA? probably.... Jeez!

BNE should be much better when they split out the new J lounge next year and can reclaim the space that was split off from the QC years back to create the current J lounge. Agree, it can be a zoo. We're all waiting for the new J lounge in BNE!

 

[Dannyism]

"Treated like an status-less animal?" so like worse than everyone else or did they put you in the heated cargo compartment?

Nah, it was worse! They beat me with clubs and stuffed me into the overhead storage. In all seriousness though, the service is nice and you get a drink and meal or whatever. But I miss the priority check in boarding and luggage. Glad to hear BNE lounge was just an exception and not the norm. It is clear that it is harder to get and maintain status with QF though.

 

[RichardMEL]

Nah, it was worse! They beat me with clubs and stuffed me into the overhead storage. In all seriousness though, the service is nice and you get a drink and meal or whatever. But I miss the priority check in boarding and luggage. Glad to hear BNE lounge was just an exception and not the norm. It is clear that it is harder to get and maintain status with QF though.

Really though, for domestic, priority check in seems a little redundant with the kiosks or mobile check in or whatnot. Yes, with bags it's a little more of an issue, but bag drop really makes it not that much different IMHO. Each to their own I guess

MEL has a similar situation to BNE in terms of the lounge situation as they split the QC up to make room for the J lounge back in the day. Same thing happened in SYD, but the SYD QC was always so huge that this hasn't made a huge difference (IMHO). Peak times can be crazy but most times it's not too hard.

You'll get the priority check in etc when you get your Gold form the challenge. 200SC is a very very reasonable target that most would be envious of

 

[Dannyism]

Anyway, I called QF and they told me that in my case, my new status would be valid until the end of my 2017 membership year, so panic averted!

My status challenge due date is Jan 15th 2017. So they don't reset the membership year? I assume I will get ~14 months gold membership? And in the 2017/2018 membership year I will need to get 600SC to maintain gold?

 

[JohnK]

Glad to hear BNE lounge was just an exception and not the norm. It is clear that it is harder to get and maintain status with QF though.

The BNE lounge can get busy at times mainly afternoons. Hardly anyone in there this morning. I understand SYD can also get busy but not at the times I am there.

I don't judge the value of my status on a couple of lounges I visit very regularly. In saying the seating plan of the lounges is totally wrong. Too many 4 seaters and 2 seaters which are hogged by single (not marital status) travellers. There should be more 2 seaters and single seaters. I have seen plenty of lounges that do this successfully.

 

[RichardMEL]

Agree totally with JohnK on this issue. So many 4 seaters and then yes, some selfish types will take them for themselves. I try and sit in singles if possible.

At least MEL has the seats along the windows that are singles (usually taken though), ADL has the long couch type seating and some couches near the bar which helps with this. SYD J has some areas of singles towards the back too.

In general a lot of people travel as singles or pairs (mostly the singles on business/work trips or people like me with no life/partner ) - sure families or groups of colleagues travel - absolutely - but there seems to be too much seating in 4's like this.

but this is OT

 

[WLGFlyer]

I am also interested in the validity of the status achieved via the challenge.

The wife's membership year starts in February. Assuming she makes Gold in February 17 the hard way, status until January 19 - correct? Based on the reports earlier in this topic, the challenge would only give status for the remainder of the membership year, meaning January 18?

 

[Dannyism]

EDIT - OK so I freaked out and called up.
Despite what the image below indicates. I now have gold until the 31st March 2018. I have to earn 600SC to maintain gold from 31March 2017 - 31March 2018.... According to the lady on the phone.

 

[CaptJCool]

Nah, it was worse! They beat me with clubs and stuffed me into the overhead storage. In all seriousness though, the service is nice and you get a drink and meal or whatever. But I miss the priority check in boarding and luggage. Glad to hear BNE lounge was just an exception and not the norm. It is clear that it is harder to get and maintain status with QF though.

Welcome to RyanAir where there is no overhead storage... haha


from qantas perspective this makes business sense - it's their introductory offer to you. .... I mobile checkin the day before so there's no real sense of 'priority checkin' so I think tomorrow I'll checkin my luggage just to get tha business baggage tag. Hahahaha


By asking for the status challenge, that shows you're willing to be invested in the game, and if I was the Airline, I would be falling over myself to give you a winnable chance to show "what you're made of". After all, it's a potential new long-term revenue stream.
For the gamer, where they can "kill two birds with one stone", how could one resist?


in conjunction with the offer though, I would be giving out some lounge passes or some other reward kinda thing as that seems to deliver better ongoing loyalty than the onboard product

 

[NZflygirl]

I am also interested in the validity of the status achieved via the challenge.

The wife's membership year starts in February. Assuming she makes Gold in February 17 the hard way, status until January 19 - correct? Based on the reports earlier in this topic, the challenge would only give status for the remainder of the membership year, meaning January 18?

Sorry I'm confused by the post. She started in Feb 2016?? So if she made gold by Feb 2017 she'd have gold for 1 yr until Feb 2018. If she made gold earlier like August 2016 then she would have gold for remainder of 2016 and until feb 2018.

If she's starting Feb 2017 and makes gold with the status challenge within Feb 2017 then she will have gold until Feb 2018.

I'm confused by your years sorry.

 

[Limewood]

The Gold status commences when you receive it and stays in place from commencement of your following year, say you go Gold Feb., your new year begins in Aug. 2017 so you have Gold for 18 months until Aug. 2018.

 

[ekys]

Was just offered a status match challenge to Gold. 200 SCs in 90 days.

As I'm booked on. A flexible J class to LAX on Thursday, that's 200 SC on my first flight.

The question is, how many more would I then need for platinum ?

 

[serfty]

1200?

Seriously, maybe you could call back and ask about "upgrading" to a WP challenge.

 

[RooFlyer]

Fell from 12 yrs at Plat to lifetime gold after only 300SCs last year. Contacted QF and asked for a status challenge back to Plat. I suggested 800SCs in 6 weeks (I had a RTW in J ticketed that will get me 2,000 SCs in that time, but I wanted First Lounge access on departure) and first Dining in New York.

1. Got a call from overseas call centre, passing on a message from QFF. Answer was completely irrelevant to my request; QFF had not bothered to read the e-mail (of course).

2. Told them what I was after (Plat for a month, effectively - they could see my bookings), and she put me on a long hold.

3. Answer came back, via call centre person (QFF don't talk to actual customers, you see) - no SC challenge, but I could buy Plat for 120,000 points. 'For how long?' I ask. 'For a year' they reply. 'But you said you can see my ticketed booking, and how I will re-qualify in about 6 weeks. Why would I buy an entire year's membership? She offered to ask QFF and to put me on hold, but I saved her the trouble.

So Qantas saved itself a F lounge visit from me - the bean counters must be ecstatic.

In my TR you can see how terrific my Qatar Airways experiences have been (and more to come). Stuff QF and its status challenges. I'll qualify, use your lounges and fly you as little as possible. [/rant]

(ps I currently have 950 SCs 17 days into my new status year, so far )

 

[Dannyism]

Was just offered a status match challenge to Gold. 200 SCs in 90 days.

As I'm booked on. A flexible J class to LAX on Thursday, that's 200 SC on my first flight.

The question is, how many more would I then need for platinum ?

If I recall correctly. When offered a plat status challenge the goal is 400sc. Note though, you are offered one or the other, not both or either. eg. having earned gold, you cannot earn plat with 400sc. if you are trying to earn plat with 400 but only make 200 you will not get gold.

 

[BD1959]

Stuff QF and its status challenges. I'll qualify, use your lounges and fly you as little as possible. [/rant]

Is your new handle "OryxFlyer" .. ??

Regards,

BD