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
)