QFF Membership year

[Trudging]

Hello

I have what is probably a very basic question. I suspect I know the answer already, but want to confirm.

I fly every ten days CNS-BNE return. So while I am a FF, I usually take the lowest QF fare I can get (and use points to upgrade where possible), so I accrue SC's very slowly.

I have just hit silver for QFF. But I've realised that my membership year expires in 2 months (regular flying only started in Dec/Jan). Am I correct in thinking that this means any SC's I earn in the next two months will be virtually useless (other than contributing to lifetime SC's)? I won't get to gold in that time.

So I am thinking I should swap to VA for the next two months and get to silver with them while I wait for my membership year to restart with QF.

Am I right in what I'm thinking? Or is there something I don't know?

Any other tips that I may not be aware of to maximise points/SC's or minimise costs would be much appreciated

Cheers.

 

[Mattg]

Welcome to AFF

You are correct that your Qantas status credit balance will reset to zero at the end of your membership year. If I were in your situation I would probably do one of two things:

1. As you suggest, fly VA for the next few weeks and accrue some status there
2. If you're going to come close to QF Gold status in the next two months, I would book a status run and/or book the BNE-CNS flights strategically so that you reach Gold with Qantas before your membership year is up. This could mean booking a few Flex/business class tickets and/or flying Brisbane indirectly. But it depends just how far off you're going to be - if it's more than, say, 100 SCs then probably not worth it.

 

[Trudging]

Thanks Matt

I prepurchased a few flights in the double SC offer, but I booked them for my new membership year. I didn't want to risk wasting them if I didn't make it this year.

I can't really justify paying for J when I make the trip so often, but what you say makes sense. I might sit down and work out how short I would come up staying with QF and see if it's worth my while pushing it.

400 SC's in two months is a lot when you're only making short trips, even if it's a lot of them

 

[harvyk]

Given your flying is mainly domestic, I would simply purchase a QP membership. It might not give the golden card, by PS+QP (silver with Qantas Club)will give you most of the benefits of SG (gold), and is likely to be cheaper than doing a status run.

I'm another cheapest fare person, it was rather annoying knowing that I had probably done more flying than some of the WP's on the plane (remember that a single J fare is the equivalent SC earn of 4 red-e-deals, and F is worth 6 red-e-deals), just not in the right classes. QP membership was for me my consolidation prize.

 

[gaz0303]

If you buy QP membership, then make QF Gold, your QP membership will be put on hold.

 

[Trudging]

Thank you both for your replies

Harvy, when you say QP and PS will give most of the same benefits, can you elaborate further? It's not actually lounge access that is the biggest benefit of gold for me (or the golden card ), as I wouldn't really use it on short haul flights.

I'm more keen for better seat options, higher upgrade chances and priority boarding. Are these the same for silver and gold?

Also Gaz, do you know if QP membership can be transferred when you get to gold? I'll most likely be flying this routine for 10+ years, so probably don't need it to be on hold for that long.

 

[harvyk]

PS will give you some seat selection, do it at T-80 (roughly 80 hours before departure) and you're able to select any remaining seats. As a PS I never had issues getting exit rows (my preferred row) every flight. SG will give better seat selection inc exit rows at time of booking, but no further forwards than row 11.

No priority boarding, PS gets some upgrades, not as good as SG, but as a PS on Dom I can only think of 1 upgrade that I missed out on.

 

[bsb]

If it's seats, upgrades and redemptions you're after then SG is worth it and will be better than PS but it'll cost you $2300ish to get your extra SCs with a J status run up to CGK unless you'd booked stuff on the double SC offer. Is it worth $2300ish to you? And like a lot of people in here, your ego may also drive that decision, but ultimately your bank balance will decide

 

[gaz0303]

Pretty sure qp membership can not be transferred. If travelling for work then it may be tax deductible.

 

[Trudging]

If it's seats, upgrades and redemptions you're after then SG is worth it and will be better than PS but it'll cost you $2300ish to get your extra SCs with a J status run up to CGK unless you'd booked stuff on the double SC offer. Is it worth $2300ish to you? And like a lot of people in here, your ego may also drive that decision, but ultimately your bank balance will decide

Definitely no ego here, I don't even use the lounges when I have access. I wait at the gate like the pleb I am . I just like to be as comfortable as possible and not wait in queues if I don't have to.

I did book a few trips in the double SC offer, but I booked them for my new membership year to be safe.

I worked out last night that doing my usual trips would have me on 560-ish points by the time my year ends, so given that I fly regularly enough as it is, it's not really worth jamming in more trips or having to pay for J for 3 or 4 flights just to get to SG.

I guess I'll lose my 345 SC's and start again. I should easy get to VA silver in that time. And it will probably take me about 7 months to get to SG next year, but I'll easily retain it after that.

Thank you all for your help

 

[Trudging]

No priority boarding, PS gets some upgrades, not as good as SG, but as a PS on Dom I can only think of 1 upgrade that I missed out on.

Ah yes. I was thinking because I get priority boarding flying J that I would when I get to SG. Bummer. Fortunately most of the good people at CNS gate know me and wave me through priority anyway, but it's BNE that I hate queuing for.

Since I hit silver, I'm 1 from 2 for upgrades. So see how I go. I'm flying QF on Monday and returning on VA, have requested upgrades for both, so will cross my fingers

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hello

I have what is probably a very basic question. I suspect I know the answer already, but want to confirm. I fly every ten days CNS-BNE return. So while I am a FF, I usually take the lowest QF fare I can get (and use points to upgrade where possible), so I accrue SC's very slowly.

I have just hit silver for QFF. But I've realised that my membership year expires in 2 months (regular flying only started in Dec/Jan). Am I correct in thinking that this means any SC's I earn in the next two months will be virtually useless (other than contributing to lifetime SC's)? I won't get to gold in that time.

So I am thinking I should swap to VA for the next two months and get to silver with them while I wait for my membership year to restart with QF.

Am I right in what I'm thinking? Or is there something I don't know?

Any other tips that I may not be aware of to maximise points/SC's or minimise costs would be much appreciated

Cheers.

So your QF year end is 31 May? Sounds like you did the majority of your flying in the last 6 months of your membership year so the next year you should be able to requalify if the frequency of flying continues. Remember that whilst you need to accrue 700 SC so qualify for Gold initially you only require 600 SC to requalify each year thereafter.

Given your flying is mainly domestic, I would simply purchase a QP membership. It might not give the golden card, by PS+QP (silver with Qantas Club)will give you most of the benefits of SG (gold), and is likely to be cheaper than doing a status run.

The OP has mentioned below that with their usual pattern of flying for work if they gave all their flying to QF they'd be at approx 560SC at year end which only leaves them 140SC short of attaining Gold. It's quite possible they could earn those 140SC for less money than it would cost for an annual QF Membership plus the joining fee.

I worked out last night that doing my usual trips would have me on 560-ish points by the time my year ends, so given that I fly regularly enough as it is, it's not really worth jamming in more trips or having to pay for J for 3 or 4 flights just to get to SG.

Paying for J CNS/BNE vv may not be the best way of getting those extra 140ish SC by year end so you could get a bit creative on the return leg of a return trip to CNS eg buy a one way red-e-deal CNS/BNE as usual, then use QF ff points to position BNE/AKL then purchase a J fare AKL/xBNE/CNS to get you home which would earn you 140SC (80 + 60) on a Business Saver fare for NZD1,148.00 (AUD1,046.00).

You can earn 75SC if applying for the QF Amex Ultimate Card. The paragraph relating to the 75SC earn is below but there are more T&C's for other benefits of the card. Note that these bonus SC take 8-10 weeks to post so you would want to apply asap if you were doing this or get the SC you need for Gold with flying then give your new year the 75 SC boost so you would then only need 525SC to go for your Gold requalification in 2018. That would mean that you'd be able to do the occasional flight with VA if they were significantly cheaper than QF on a particular date or had a sale etc.

^ Offer only available to new American Express Card Members who apply by 1 May 2017, are approved and then book and travel on a new Qantas return flight (excludes Classic Flight Rewards and partner or codeshare flights) departing between 12.01am (AEDT) 6 March and 11.59pm (AEST) 30 September 2017. Your Qantas Frequent Flyer membership number must be recorded at the time of booking. If you change or cancel your flight and/or travel is completed outside the specified dates, this offer will not apply. Flights must be booked at Qantas.com. Bonus Status Credits could take up to 8–10 weeks after travel to be credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. Bonus Status Credits will not contribute towards attaining or retaining Platinum One or Loyalty Bonus.

https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/p...n:pr:qantas.com:amexultimate:largepromo:n:n:n

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I worked out last night that doing my usual trips would have me on 560-ish points by the time my year ends,

Does that include an additional 50 status credits from the QFF Loyalty Bonus (for every 500 Status Credits you earn on eligible Qantas and Jetstar flights*)?

Remember that whilst you need to accrue 700 SC so qualify for Gold initially you only require 600 SC to requalify each year thereafter.

Effectively only 650/550 if one is able to take advantage of the Loyalty Bonus.

 

[samh004]

Does that include an additional 50 status credits from the QFF Loyalty Bonus (for every 500 Status Credits you earn on eligible Qantas and Jetstar flights*)?

Effectively only 650/550 if one is able to take advantage of the Loyalty Bonus.

Loyalty bonuses will be taking me to Platinum this year ahead of travel to Europe. While the travel to Europe would ordinarily earn me Platinum, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the enhanced experience along the way if I waited. So they definitely do count for something!