QFF Status Rules

[MTAB]

My first questions for the experts. I have emailed Qantas FF three times over the last two weeks with them; I get the automated acknowledgement receipt emails but never an answer.

This is my third year as WP but I will lose it this year. My re-assessment date is 30 September at which time I should have 875 SCs (in normal circumstances sufficient for SG) but I will only have three qualifying sector flights.

Question 1: If this is the situation, will I automatically revert to SG or, because I have insufficient qualifying sectors, will I go all the way back to NB or PS (as I do have Lifetime Silver)?

Question 2: I could possibly take the QF2 from LHR to SYD which leaves on 30 September but, as it arrives on 2 October, would it actually count before the 30 September reassessment?

If it was credited to 30 September then that would give me the required sectors but I really don’t want to waste that flight and would rather take the QF2 on October 1 to give my next year’s campaign to regain WP a kick-start.

Your comments and responses will be most appreciated.

 

[ejb]

My first questions for the experts. I have emailed Qantas FF three times over the last two weeks with them; I get the automated acknowledgement receipt emails but never an answer.

This is my third year as WP but I will lose it this year. My re-assessment date is 30 September at which time I should have 875 SCs (in normal circumstances sufficient for SG) but I will only have three qualifying sector flights.

Question 1: If this is the situation, will I automatically revert to SG or, because I have insufficient qualifying sectors, will I go all the way back to NB or PS (as I do have Lifetime Silver)?

Question 2: I could possibly take the QF2 from LHR to SYD which leaves on 30 September but, as it arrives on 2 October, would it actually count before the 30 September reassessment?

If it was credited to 30 September then that would give me the required sectors but I really don’t want to waste that flight and would rather take the QF2 on October 1 to give my next year’s campaign to regain WP a kick-start.

Your comments and responses will be most appreciated.

Hi MTAB and welcome to AFF!

You will drop to SG regardless of the sectors due to the soft landing of the QFF program, meaning you drop one status level at a time if you don't get enough SC's to retain the status level you have.

I would be saving the flight for next years SC's to give it a kickstart.

ejb

 

[markis10]

Hi MTAB and welcome to AFF!

You will drop to SG regardless of the sectors due to the soft landing of the QFF program, meaning you drop one status level at a time if you don't get enough SC's to retain the status level you have.

I would be saving the flight for next years SC's to give it a kickstart.

ejb

No soft landing if you dont have the 4 qualifying flights since QF started getting firm on the 4 qualifying flights, I believe no status will apply without these regardless of the flights you have done or previous status, I also believe you will be OK with getting that flight as the date is based on departure, not arrival.

"The travel required in each Membership Year to attain or retain Silver, Gold or Platinum status level must include a minimum of four Eligible Flight Segments where Qantas, QantasLink or a Jetstar Airline is the Marketing Carrier."

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...ogram/qantas-enforce-4-segment-rule-9498.html

 

[samh004]

Following on from markis10 I believe you’ll receive PS if they don’t give you SG, as that’s lifetime for you and that doesn’t require 4 segments, from what I’ve heard.

 

[ejb]

Following on from markis10 I believe you’ll receive PS if they don’t give you SG, as that’s lifetime for you and that doesn’t require 4 segments, from what I’ve heard.

I am of the understanding that if you do not retain your current level during a year you are granted the level below for the next year regardless of the flights taken.

On this basis the OP will be SG.

If he had acheived 1200 SC's but only 3 flights he would also be SG as he has not qualified for WP and as such drops one level.

ejb

 

[samh004]

I am of the understanding that if you do not retain your current level during a year you are granted the level below for the next year regardless of the flights taken.

On this basis the OP will be SG.

If he had acheived 1200 SC's but only 3 flights he would also be SG as he has not qualified for WP and as such drops one level.

ejb

I wasn’t really weighing in on that as that’s the first I’ve heard about anything like that, though good to know if it’s true for the future. I was just saying if it wasn’t true, lifetime status, from what I’ve heard, doesn’t require the minimum flight segments. So at the very least the OP will get PS.

 

[markis10]

I am of the understanding that if you do not retain your current level during a year you are granted the level below for the next year regardless of the flights taken.

On this basis the OP will be SG.

If he had acheived 1200 SC's but only 3 flights he would also be SG as he has not qualified for WP and as such drops one level.

ejb

You cannot have any status if you do not do the 4 flights, there are reports on the FT thread that confirm this from overseas based WP's who fell a long way, however I have not been in that position to experience it personally, although I have had the benefit of the soft landing.

 

[ejb]

I wasn’t really weighing in on that as that’s the first I’ve heard about anything like that, though good to know if it’s true for the future. I was just saying if it wasn’t true, lifetime status, from what I’ve heard, doesn’t require the minimum flight segments. So at the very least the OP will get PS.

You are right Sam, LTS and LTG do not require any flights to maintain.

ejb

 

[Will]

I agree that it's safest to fly out on 30 September.

However, why not book yourself on QF2 LHR-SIN and then switch to 302 (BA codeshare), or have a day-long stopover in Bangkok before continuing on QF2 the next day?

That way, at least some of those points and SCs will count towards next year's qualification.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

You never really know with QF.

For all we know, you could get WP comped.

I got Silver comped this year, and l was WAY short of the SC's.

(As you mentioned, 3 years WP and you fail to get enough SC's this year, l'm confident that you'll get WP comped. GFC and whatnot, QF have been rather accommodating recently)

 

[JohnK]

The way I read the condition is that one needs 4 eligible Qantas flights to attain or retain a status level. Is there mention anywhere on Qantas terms and conditions if one does not earn the required SCs to retain a status level and if there is a soft landing in place? Does the condition for soft landing specifically state that 4 elgible Qantas flights are required?

What if a Platinum has 0 SCs for the year? Drop back to Bronze? Possibly but does not sound right. If Qantas is using soft landing then this should come into play and the person would drop to Gold and who knows there is a possibility they may be comped Platinum status for another year.

 

[markis10]

The way I read the condition is that one needs 4 eligible Qantas flights to attain or retain a status level. Is there mention anywhere on Qantas terms and conditions if one does not earn the required SCs to retain a status level and if there is a soft landing in place? Does the condition for soft landing specifically state that 4 elgible Qantas flights are required?

What if a Platinum has 0 SCs for the year? Drop back to Bronze? Possibly but does not sound right. If Qantas is using soft landing then this should come into play and the person would drop to Gold and who knows there is a possibility they may be comped Platinum status for another year.

I am not a wordsmith but one could argue that to soft land as a SG is in fact an attainment, therefore requiring the 4 eligible flights, the fact that people have reported the lack of a soft landing when not having done the 4 eligible flights regardless of the current number of SCs for the membership year would lead me to suggest the OP does as much as possible to get those 4 flights into their current year, perhaps even rebooking via a QF flight number to Frankfurt then on to SIN?

 

[JetLagged]

You cannot have any status if you do not do the 4 flights, there are reports on the FT thread that confirm this from overseas based WP's who fell a long way, however I have not been in that position to experience it personally, although I have had the benefit of the soft landing.

Given the OP stated preference to use the next long-haul for next years status run - and that the main issue of contention is the number of eleigible flights taken rather than the SCs, why not pick a quick return domestic flight to Canberra or Melbourne etc - call it a sector run. That way no hassles, cheaper and sure.:?:

 

[JohnK]

I am not a wordsmith but one could argue that to soft land as a SG is in fact an attainment, therefore requiring the 4 eligible flights, the fact that people have reported the lack of a soft landing when not having done the 4 eligible flights regardless of the current number of SCs for the membership year....

How can a soft landing to Gold be an attainment?

I just find it strange that QF has been implementing soft landings for many years irrespective of the number of SCs earned and now soft landings are no longer possible if one does not have the 4 eligible segments. So a Platinum with 0 SCs in a membership year falls back to Bronze but a Platinum with 40 SCs and 4 eligible flights soft lands to Gold. Does not make sense as Gold had not been attained (in the true sense of the word) in either instance.

Anyway I do agree that to be certain of attaining Gold do the last segment required before the reassessment date.

 

[markis10]

Given the OP stated preference to use the next long-haul for next years status run - and that the main issue of contention is the number of eleigible flights taken rather than the SCs, why not pick a quick return domestic flight to Canberra or Melbourne etc - call it a sector run. That way no hassles, cheaper and sure.:?:

I read the OP as being based in Europe and coming home on the anniversary date of their status year from the information provided.

 

[markis10]

How can a soft landing to Gold be an attainment?

By definition of the word in the context of obtain or possession :


1 : to reach as an end : gain, achieve <attain a goal>
2 : to come into possession of : obtain <he attained preferment over his fellows>
3 : to come to as the end of a progression or course of movement <they attained the top of the hill> <attain a ripe old age>

 

[JetLagged]

I read the OP as being based in Europe and coming home on the anniversary date of their status year from the information provided.

Yes, that is a valid interpretation of the OP and I take your point - I had presumed that his flight sector count had included the trip over - not said, reading ipsima verba from this:

I could possibly take the QF2 from LHR to SYD which leaves on 30 September but, as it arrives on 2 October, would it actually count before the 30 September reassessment?

i.e. his 3 flight count included the flight over, but whether he had to fly back a day earlier.

 

[markis10]

Yes, that is a valid interpretation of the OP and I take your point - I had presumed that his flight sector count had included the trip over - not said, reading ipsima verba from this:

I could possibly take the QF2 from LHR to SYD which leaves on 30 September but, as it arrives on 2 October, would it actually count before the 30 September reassessment?

i.e. his 3 flight count included the flight over, but whether he had to fly back a day earlier.

One would assume that the opportunity to get that 4th run would be pursued the easiest way, then again maybe thats not a good assumption . If they are Aus based it will be easier than mucking around with QF2!

 

[JetLagged]

One would assume that the opportunity to get that 4th run would be pursued the easiest way, then again maybe thats not a good assumption . If they are Aus based it will be easier than mucking around with QF2!

Point taken!

 

[docjames]

My understanding was a "soft landing" even if you do zero flights on any OW carrier.

It's not clear to me if the OP is based in UK/EU or Aus?

If Aus based, splitting SYD-SIN-LHR (for example) into two segments with different flight numbers (even if they connect) would be easiest. Or going SYD-MEL-LHR another option.

If UK/EU based, then just travel 1 Oct and take the "soft landing" to gold and get a head start back to WP.