Reaching Platinum - how many sectors did it take you?

[Ozmutz]

After several years in Gold I have one more sector to fly to finally reach 1000 SC and hit Platinum.

Reading the exploits of others on how easy it was for them to get Platinum with Family Pooling and long haul J flights etc got me wondering.
I will hit 1005 SC in 2 days time with 44 sectors.
And this doesn't include the 10 sectors I flew on codeshare/partner airlines (booked through partner website not VA).

It got me wondering if I did it the hard way with lots of low earning SC's.

Is there an easier way (other than family pooling) I am missing because it seemed quite difficult for me.

 

[Intra]

What exactly are you asking here? You need 8 Eligible Sectors in VA Marketed or Operated flights to upgrade or maintain Platinum

Some people do Status Runs or are lucky to fly Paid J, short & long haul, which helps. And Family Pooling does make things easier

But besides the once-in-a-blue moon AMEX Sign-up promotions for SCs, one way or another, we all have to fly to gain those 1000 SCs. About to maintain Gold, almost 20 VA Sectors later.

 

[shuuy]

Takes me 8 to renew my Plat.

 

[theevilmuppet]

It got me wondering if I did it the hard way with lots of low earning SC's.

The *vast* majority of my SC earn was on non-VA flights - NZ and DL mainly with a VX sector. None of these flights count as eligible sectors however.

Upon enabling Family Pooling, I was bumped to Platinum as the first pooled points and SCs were credited to my account even though I had only 980 SCs to my name and exactly 8 Eligible Sectors.

 

[WethereX]

took me 8 this time...

 

[Milefest]

43 sectors here and only just qualified for gold. Still another 6 months to reach plat though.

 

[Andyc]

Key to my success is cheap Etihad J tickets out of low-cost cities (BKK is my current favourite) combined with family pooling.
If it adds any credibility to the argument, I write this post from BKK where I'm taking my next cheapie on Etihad tomorrow.

My best ever was 4 sectors... but this was with the help of family pooling and a Virgin Money offer.

 

[theevilmuppet]

43 sectors here and only just qualified for gold. Still another 6 months to reach plat though.

The only relationship between sector count and status is the minimum Eligible Sector requirement, at least officially. Status Credit balance is, at least officially, the sole mechanism examined during status reviews once the minimum required Eligible Sector count has been obtained.

 

[Denali]

Hubby and I make it in 8 flights with SCs to spare, last year he was able to gift Gold as a WP perk.

I think the domestic sloggers do it tough, it must be a grind doing it at 10 or 20 SCs at a time.

 

[OzEire]

Hubby and I make it in 8 flights with SCs to spare, last year he was able to gift Gold as a WP perk.

I think the domestic sloggers do it tough, it must be a grind doing it at 10 or 20 SCs at a time.

It is.



(Extra characters)

 

[Milefest]

The only relationship between sector count and status is the minimum Eligible Sector requirement, at least officially. Status Credit balance is, at least officially, the sole mechanism examined during status reviews once the minimum required Eligible Sector count has been obtained.

Indeed, that's what I get flying only savers domestically.. Though I do have few international flights coming up to get some more SC's.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Max theoretically would be 100 sectors for a new plat, minimum 8, so anywhere in between is possible. I know I must have been close to 80 for a requal, but then other times (thinking here VA stuff up fares that were about once + pooling) must have been close to 8 (or perhaps less as the 8 sector requirement is only a few years old).

 

[medhead]

Seems to be around 40 to 50 per year for retention of platinum.

But I can tell you the exact number of sectors it will take to get me gold this year - ZERO.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Seems to be around 40 to 50 per year for retention of platinum.

But I can tell you the exact number of sectors it will take to get me gold this year - ZERO.

I'll requal VA plat this year, but next............gold via zero sectors it'll be whilst I concentrate on gaining QF plat.

 

[VulpesVulpes]

Yep this is me!! I think this is the point the op is trying to make. My sector count is in the high 40's and I only just tripped into platinum by taking SQ to BKK rather than fly direct.

It's a long road to platinum 10 or 15 sc at a time! One of my poor workmates did zero to plat in 8 months flying only domestic saver tickets.

It's also where the status pays off, this might be controversial but if you're only flying 8 sectors a year, you don't need status, status is ultra handy for those that live and commute in the air and have 40,50+ flights a year. For those that requal in 8 or less I hope you're doing a lot more flying than that.

 

[medhead]

I'll requal VA plat this year, but next............gold via zero sectors it'll be whilst I concentrate on gaining QF plat.

I am being a bit disingenuous. While I've got the tom cough with VA, I have taken about 20 sectors this membership year. Plus I won $10,000 to spend on QF flights. That helps make the decision.

 

[Liroquai]

I'm just about to hit gold with 41 sectors. Mostly flights earning only 10SC's with the odd flexi ticket and a trip to DPS. Hard slog indeed - no lounge access means trying to get to the airport as late as possible (and has also meant a couple of missed flights!)

 

[kevrosmith]

My Platinum requal year starts 1-Feb.

	2014		2015
	Sectors	Date Achieved	Sectors	Date Achieved
Platinum Requal	17	2-May	27	24-Jul
Partner Gold	9	2-Jun	17	15-Oct
Partner Platinum	15	2-Oct	16	11-Jan

2014 was helped along with Double SCs offer.

My future bookings already have me a third of way for Plat Requal for next year (taking advantage of the recent Double Points offer).

 

[Milefest]

I'm just about to hit gold with 41 sectors. Mostly flights earning only 10SC's with the odd flexi ticket and a trip to DPS. Hard slog indeed - no lounge access means trying to get to the airport as late as possible (and has also meant a couple of missed flights!)

You're in the same boat as me except I paid for lounge access. They'll pro rata refund it when you reach gold.

 

[Jack_OC]

When I first qualified for VA status, eligible sectors were the rate limiting step all the way up, as nearly all of my SC earn was on partner airlines. I had over 600 SCs before I got to Silver, and 1,000 SCs before I got to Gold. Then I started pooling my points and SCs to my wife while I clocked up the remaining 4 eligible sectors to reach Platinum. That resulted in my wife reaching Gold before I reached platinum, even though she doesn't fly much at all!

I'm now approaching the end of my first year as Platinum though, during which I've done 26 eligible sectors, and clocked up 1600 SCs. So my wife is now Platinum too, even though she has only done the bare minimum 8 sectors (and all domestic Y trips earning 10-15 SCs each!). Family pooling really is awesome.