rosesplus said:
Can anybody offer some suggestions on the following? I started flying SYD/IAD regularly last yr (every 2 months) in Econ. I'm a QC member and a silver QFF. If I continue with Q I will be Gold by Oct.
Should I ditch QFF and go to AAFF via the Platinum challenge?
You are at the crossroads, in my opinion. Being Silver, you are now getting 25% bonus on your flights and some think it's hard to give up - but not when you are going to get 100% mileage bonus over on AA Plat. But whether you change may depend on the fare class that you are flying.
I'm sure you have already read all about the AA Plat (Lack of) Challenge, so I won't put the link here - othewise, go to the ULTIMATE Qantas Guide.
Will I be able to maintain Platinum AA with 5 econ flights per yr to IAD?
Back to the fare classes - looking at the
QF Table, are you regularly flying G, N/O, Q or S - it will simply take you longer (perhaps on the return leg of your first trip) before you qualify. If you are on M, V, L or above (H,K, B or Y) - you'll get it on the outbound leg of the first flight.
Now, having assessed that first, the next thing is when to start the Challenge. If you start the Challenge before 1 July 2005 (assuming you will have at least 1 if not 2 flights before then) you'll only get Plat until 28 February 2006.
Sure you'll get Plat on the first return flight and for the rest of 2005 (together with 100% mileage bonus on all those flights in 2005); but then you may drop back to Gold for 2006 (it depends on how many flights you have taken, in what class, as well as the EQM's earned in 2005 - have you earned sufficient to re-qualify Plat for 2006).
However, if you start the Challenge after 1 July 2005, you will get Plat status until 28 February 2007. This means 100% mileage bonus for all flights in 2005 and 2006; without having to worry about the re-qualifying for 2006 - you are still Platinum. With an un-interrupted run of say 5-6 flights SYD/IAD/SYD in 2006; then you'll have a good chance of
re-qualifying Platinum again (perhaps Executive Platinum, depending on the fares you buy).
That's my understanding, always ready for
NM to counter my arguments and show me the flaws :wink:
It would make life easy to help you further, if we knew the answers to those questions:
1. When are next two flights likely to be?
2. What class of fare do you buy?