Quick ways to OW status (AA status challenge or other?)

[777]

Most of you who will know me will know i'm pretty much a VA loyalist but i'm looking for an opportunity to hedge my bets here.

The immediate reason is that i need to take a trip to SCL early in the new year and it's pretty much a O/W monopoly so if i'm smart i could use it to take a big bite out of status requirements. Part of the reason i've never built up status with QF is simply their fixed membership year is poorly timed for me -- by the time i've requalified for VA i have no time left in the year -- so status via another O/W airline might be an option.

I'm afraid i'll be travelling in Y but i'm not afraid of a circuitous route if need be (up to 8 segments booked in AA L and approx 28,000 miles). The most obvious thing is to book with QF or AA and sign up for an AA platinum status challenge. If i do the routing correctly, that trip alone with get me to OW Sapphire. I think if i do it in January it should be valid for the rest of that year and the following year -- can anyone confirm this? Can i also confirm that AA status allows access to domestic QPs? The downside of going that route is that it might be tricky to requalify, or hit a higher tier and it won't allow QP access when flying JQ (which i might need to do a bit).

So a few questions:

1. Is there a better option for getting to OW elite status that will allow access to domestic lounges?

2. Can an Australian do an AA status challenge?

3. If i qualify via AA challenge in January how long will it be good for?

4. *If* i have OW sapphire can i credit to QF (or another OW program) and use AA for lounge access? Might ease the transition to QF status when my year rolls over?

Any other thoughts on a OW program i could build status in over the next year given i could be starting with a reasonable pot from January?

Thanks everyone.

 

[serfty]

1. Do some "[Inflexible] First" class travel in the USA. (or just a 30 day A/C membership for USD99).

2. & 3. Yes & End Feb. 2015. (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html)

4. Yes

What month does your QFF "Year" rollover?

 

[777]

1. Do some "[Inflexible] First" class travel in the USA. (or just a 30 day A/C membership for USD99).

2. & 3. Yes & End Feb. 2015. (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html)

4. Yes

What month does your QFF "Year" rollover?

Thanks serfty.

1. I am familiar with the status runs you suggest but as much as if love to visit The Caribbean I basically don't have the time to burn any time soon perhaps in a future year.

2, 3 and 4 are all good to know.

Can I confirm if OW Sapphire (AA plat) is good for domestic QP access or only international? Would I need an Admirals Club membership for domestic QP or only domestic US?

My QF membership year ends in June. My VA at end of August. Basically I typically requal for virgin plat in February/march by which time there's not enough time of the QF year left to chase any meaningful status. A calendar year AA cycle would likely suit me better.

If I earn 30000 odd AA miles in Jan as part of the challenge it appears they will also count towards requalifying in that calendar year? Shouldn't be too hard to earn the extra 20k if that was the case.

 

[serfty]

Except for most Solely North American journies, AA Plat (*O Sapphire) is good for lounge access at any oneworld carrier operated 'Business' lounge before travel on a oneworld carrier.

All travel in a calendar year counts for Qualification in that year, so the first 10000 EQP's in January counts for both.

 

[lovestotravel]

So your main end requirement is getting access to domestic lounges in Australia ?

 

[777]

So your main end requirement is getting access to domestic lounges in Australia ?

It's not my main end requirement but it is the thing i would most likely use it for. As much as i'd love F lounge access, it's probably not realistic for the amount of OW flying i'm actually planning to do.