Renewing status with points now official policy?

[Sdtravel]

Just saw this article by AusBT writer David Flynn (although obviously not an article by AusBT)
Qantas unveils a new hack to getting Platinum

From other threads ive seen pass through this forum it seemed like these were only targeted and not something anyone could just call up and ask for. Or have i not been paying enough attention.

Its interesting as this would challenge what i thought was a given that if you had maintained status for several (i believe 3 or more) QF might gift it to you for an additional year if you fall short followed by gradual steps down in the subsequent years. Kinda sounds like its case of those days are over. Pay points or be prepared to drop (or of course do a status run)

What are everyone's thoughts about this if it is an official policy.

 

[Hvr]

It will certainly focus people's attention on the value of their points and whether status is worth that value.

 

[mviy]

If you would pay for QANTAS Club if you didn't have SG or above and you don't yet have LTG then that is a factor.

I think the key quote is "To provide flexibility and recognise their long-term loyalty, we therefore offer some members the opportunity to use Qantas Points to retain their current tier for another 12 months."

"offer some members" - so you still can't rely on getting an offer. If you want to maintain status the best way is to do the required flying.

"recognise their long-term loyalty" - so even if you do get an offer if you take it don't expect to keep on getting offered a similar deal year after year.

If you're happy to be without status for a short period a cost effective option can be to allow yourself to lose it then re-qualify quickly in your new year giving you nearly two years at the desired level.

 

[Pushka]

It will certainly focus people's attention on the value of their points and whether status is worth that value.

It is certainly a bit of a game changer. Given you can buy points (epicure etc) plus the usuals.

“There's a subset of travellers willing to do a carefully calculated 'status run', taking a flight or two purely to earn enough status credits to get them across the line.”

No, tell me it isn’t so

 

[opusman]

TBH I don't know why Qantas don't just make status outright purchasable. $5K for WP? I reckon some people would pay it.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

"There's a subset of travellers willing to do a carefully calculated 'status run', taking a flight or two purely to earn enough status credits to get them across the line.”

No, tell me it isn’t so

Wow what a revelation! Can't imagine anyone on here doing something as tacky as that.

 

[mviy]

I find status runs a lot of fun. Maybe that's partially because I tend to do them in J.

But realistically I'm not going to keep my current status forever so if QF throws an offer to spend some points to retain WP my way I'll have to consider it.

 

[PeteL]

Qantas called and offered me the option to pay 120,000 points to retain platinum. I was about 200 status credits off retaining the status as I took a hiatus after our first child. I needed to keep the points, so tried all manner of explanations to try and get them to renew me (was my 3rd year platinum). All to no avail, back to gold. They must be taking a harder line. If I had of known about all these status runs probably would have given them a go.

 

[JohnK]

Once you're hooked on status it's hard to let go.

 

[kermatu]

Personally I'm not a fan - though I can see it being relevant to me in years ahead. I like the idea of keeping some element of frequent flyer status related only to actual flying.

 

[citrusb]

If you're happy to be without status for a short period a cost effective option can be to allow yourself to lose it then re-qualify quickly in your new year giving you nearly two years at the desired level.[/QUOTE]

Took the drop to gold after 30th Nov and over last 2 weekends completed status runs (D/Status offer) and went from zero to 1410 s/c giving platinum for effectively 22 months... can now go back to classic awards for a while....

 

[drron]

After mrsdrron got her 120000 points we made a different decision.She will reach LTG comfortably this year so no need to worry.
So we are flying F on BA out of Australia-cheaper than QF J.Will easily earn BAEC Gold so be back to OWE before the end of the year.
So the only money QF will get from us is the money from BA for Flounge and J lounge access and any domestic Y I do for work,which I don't have to pay for.

 

[amaroo]

We're earning more points than we can burn, if I ever get the offer - I'd take it.

 

[Danger]

The thing I find most interesting about this article is that the process or offer is referred to as a "hack".

 

[opusman]

That's just @DavidFlynn trying to get down and funky with the kids.

 

[pauly7]

That's just @DavidFlynn trying to get down and funky with the kids.

Ouch, but I guess noting compared to the comments made about AusBT’s use of English on airliners forum!

I don’t have a major problem with this as suspect will be a very niche offering and uptake...

 

[DavidFlynn]

That's just @DavidFlynn trying to get down and funky with the kids.

Hahaha, but nope – I didn't write the heading, just the article. Editors or subeditors write headings.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Ouch, but I guess noting compared to the comments made about AusBT’s use of English on airliners forum!

Hmmm, I missed that one – I reckon our use of English is pretty accurate, as well as a bit sweet rather than bland and boring – got a link back to the whinge?

 

[pauly7]

Hmmm, I missed that one – I reckon our use of English is pretty accurate, as well as a bit sweet rather than bland and boring – got a link back to the whinge?

Hi David - it’s in the Australian Aviation thread @ airliners. They are more ‘serious’ aviation heads so actually don’t like the ‘sweet’ edge it appears... Words like ‘wheels up’ etc were called out. Each to their own, I’m sure you don’t care

 

[DavidFlynn]

Hi David - it’s in the Australian Aviation thread @ airliners. They are more ‘serious’ aviation heads so actually don’t like the ‘sweet’ edge it appears... Words like ‘wheels up’ etc were called out. Each to their own, I’m sure you don’t care

Hahahaha... doesn't surprise me, and I can understand where they're coming from. I've always sought variety and colour in language, even when I wrote about technology, so for example we try to avoid the dryness of repeating 'arrives' and 'departs' par after par in favour of several different yet commonly-understood words or phrases. All good!