STATUS HOLD? (Unable to fly due to operation)!

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pottsy

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Dec 16, 2003
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Due to an operation, I am unable to take enough flights to retain my silver status prior to 30th June this year (the requirement time to retain my status). (My most recent Qantas flight was in June last year. In August I had a foot/ankle reconstruction and am still undertaking rehabilitation).

I will be flying to London in April this year obviously though that 'one flight' is insufficient!

I am aware that Qantas now allows, upon application, status hold for up to 18 months for 'parental leave'. (Seems a bit unfair on the rest of us, certainly given my current predicament)!!
SO I would welcome anyone's experience with anything similar? Thoughts/suggestions on the likelihood of my success should I provide medical evidence and implore QFF to allow me a status hold??
 
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Due to an operation, I am unable to take any flights to retain my silver status prior to 30th June this year (the requirement time to retain my status). (My most recent Qantas flight was in June last year. In August I had a foot/ankle reconstruction and am still undertaking rehabilitation). T
I am aware that Qantas now allows, upon application, status hold for up to 18 months for 'parental leave'. (Seems a bit unfair on the rest of us, certainly given my current predicament)!!
SO I would welcome anyone's experience with anything similar? Thoughts/suggestions on the likelihood of my success should I provide medical evidence and implore QFF to allow me ,a 65 year old 'lady'. a status hold??
Basically nada, no hope based on other people I know.
 
Due to an operation, I am unable to take enough flights to retain my silver status prior to 30th June this year (the requirement time to retain my status). (My most recent Qantas flight was in June last year. In August I had a foot/ankle reconstruction and am still undertaking rehabilitation).

I will be flying to London in April this year obviously though that 'one flight' is insufficient!

I am aware that Qantas now allows, upon application, status hold for up to 18 months for 'parental leave'. (Seems a bit unfair on the rest of us, certainly given my current predicament)!!
SO I would welcome anyone's experience with anything similar? Thoughts/suggestions on the likelihood of my success should I provide medical evidence and implore QFF to allow me a status hold??
As love_the_life has alluded to, I received no special grace when I couldn’t fly due to a medical condition. And this was at the time when the pause for pregnancy came into force. Not a happy camper. I considered it quite unfair. I could certainly provide specialist evidence. They knew I was about to fly as I had to cancel a couple of flights. It’s worth a try and if they pause then great but go in with low expectations and you won’t be disappointed.
 
As love_the_life has alluded to, I received no special grace when I couldn’t fly due to a medical condition. And this was at the time when the pause for pregnancy came into force. Not a happy camper. I considered it quite unfair. I could certainly provide specialist evidence. They knew I was about to fly as I had to cancel a couple of flights. It’s worth a try and if they pause then great but go in with low expectations and you won’t be disappointed.
I was thinking of you, but had a feeling there were others who received the same answer to their requests as well.
 
Have to draw a line somewhere.
The pregnancy pause is a nice benefit and one that's fairly simple to show.

But I suspect lots of people might like holds for job change, sick relatives, saving for a house, dog ate my Qantas card.
 
Have to draw a line somewhere.
The pregnancy pause is a nice benefit and one that's fairly simple to show.

But I suspect lots of people might like holds for job change, sick relatives, saving for a house, dog ate my Qantas card.
None of which would actually prevent travel but it comes down to a choice, whereas illness does prevent it in some cases. Increasing the family is also a choice.
 
As love_the_life has alluded to, I received no special grace when I couldn’t fly due to a medical condition. And this was at the time when the pause for pregnancy came into force. Not a happy camper. I considered it quite unfair.....

Don't feel bad. Airlines make these decisions based on your future potential value.

There is A LOT of evidence linking new baby and your emotional connection to brands. Fundamentally, if a brand treats you exceptionally well (with bias) when you go through major life changes (births/deaths), you're much more likely to trust that brand, and therefore spend with them in the future.

This is why airlines (and other businesses) are more relaxed if you have one of these two events in your life.

It's not about whether you can fly or not - but around the emotional connection you will hardwire in your brain between the brand, that major life moment, and how you feel.

Think; Birthdays, Winning competitions/sporting events, Landing a high profile role
 
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There is A LOT of evidence linking new baby and your emotional connection to brands. Fundamentally, if a brand treats you exceptionally well (with bias) when you go through major life changes (births/deaths), you're much more likely to trust that brand, and therefore spend with them in the future.

I hate to be cynical but I would say QF only brought in the pregnancy status hold benefit because VA had it first....
 
....Thoughts/suggestions on the likelihood of my success should I provide medical evidence and implore QFF to allow me a status hold??

Sorry Pottsy - you have no chance. I would not worry about calling them - that will just waste some minutes.....
 
Don't feel bad. Airlines make these decisions based on your future potential value.

There is A LOT of evidence linking new baby and your emotional connection to brands. Fundamentally, if a brand treats you exceptionally well (with bias) when you go through major life changes (births/deaths), you're much more likely to trust that brand, and therefore spend with them in the future.

This is why airlines (and other businesses) are more relaxed if you have one of these two events in your life.

It's not about whether you can fly or not - but around the emotional connection you will hardwire in your brain between the brand, that major life moment, and how you feel.

Think; Birthdays, Winning competitions/sporting events, Landing a high profile role

I think serious medical issues might come into play when thinking of major life changes :cool: It sure was for me. And as I still remember it you are absolutely correct then, aren’t you, but now I think of Qantas negatively because of their decision.
 
Thanks everyone. Appreciate your insights. Probably won't waste my time but good to know others feel the same re: Qantas. :(
 
I hate to be cynical but I would say QF only brought in the pregnancy status hold benefit because VA had it first....

Probably took a while for QF to understand the economics behind pregnancy hold. QF is a data-driven company. They don't make decisions (especially ones that change the FFP) without hard factual data proving how the change will impact member behaviour on points earn/burn/CLTV etc. The days of "VA did it so let's copy it" are long gone.

I think serious medical issues might come into play when thinking of major life changes :cool: It sure was for me. And as I still remember it you are absolutely correct then, aren’t you, but now I think of Qantas negatively because of their decision.

Look at the TV commercials QF marketing pumps out. They all have a story theme and are designed to emotionally connect you with things you love the most (family, coming home, Australia etc..) Emotional connection => brand engagement => revenue generation easier. So yeah a super serious medical issue may have the same effect on you and your emotional connection now affects your engagement with Qantas as a brand.

As an interesting side note, I changed the policy at <Previous Employer> Airlines so that in the event of death or serious hospitalization of any travelling party (same PNR or not), there would be total fee waivers and refunds can be authorized by front liners, and if an elite member - someone from the FFP would contact you to see how they can further assist. The thankful emails our team would receive were beautiful as pax were genuinely thankful. One pax made a video, uploaded it to Linkedin expressing his thanks to my team and attached a copy of his newly booked business class tickets.

We're on this planet to help others, and doing the right thing when folks need help always always always results in a win-win.

PS: Another thought to the OP - extending status (regardless of circumstance) when you're nowhere near requalifying will have very real impacts for QF and Oneworld. VA is able to offer more relaxed status extensions because they're not bound by the strict requirements of an alliance.
 
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Same experience for me - a total knee replacement a couple of years back meant reduced flying and there was no consideration. It’s going to happen again this year as my father recently died after an illness and I had to cancel 2 trips as a result of his ill health and death. I will fail to retain Platinum because of this, but there is no allowance at all. It’s pretty disappointing after 22 years of membership, 28000 lifetime status credits, 13 years of Platinum and 3 years of Platinum One, but they just simply don’t care.
 
Same experience for me - a total knee replacement a couple of years back meant reduced flying and there was no consideration. It’s going to happen again this year as my father recently died after an illness and I had to cancel 2 trips as a result of his ill health and death. I will fail to retain Platinum because of this, but there is no allowance at all. It’s pretty disappointing after 22 years of membership, 28000 lifetime status credits, 13 years of Platinum and 3 years of Platinum One, but they just simply don’t care.
You may end up comped for the year if you’ve held P for several years.
 
Same experience for me - a total knee replacement a couple of years back meant reduced flying and there was no consideration. It’s going to happen again this year as my father recently died after an illness and I had to cancel 2 trips as a result of his ill health and death. I will fail to retain Platinum because of this, but there is no allowance at all. It’s pretty disappointing after 22 years of membership, 28000 lifetime status credits, 13 years of Platinum and 3 years of Platinum One, but they just simply don’t care.
Gosh. That is so wrong. So much loyalty shown there. And my condolences for your loss. But as love_the_life said, you may get comped WP or at worst an offer for points.
 
Gosh. That is so wrong. So much loyalty shown there. And my condolences for your loss. But as love_the_life said, you may get comped WP or at worst an offer for points.
Thanks for your kind words Pushka. No matter how old you are, it is always a blow to lose a parent.

The problem I see is that Qantas have an annual transactional view of loyalty.
 
Thanks for your kind words Pushka. No matter how old you are, it is always a blow to lose a parent.

The problem I see is that Qantas have an annual transactional view of loyalty.
Yes, it is. I’ve lost both now and my husband lost his dad when he was 18 and his mother when he was 32. I’ve been much luckier losing mum just a couple of years ago. In fact it was just 6 weeks after her death that I developed the DVT and had to cancel many trips plus a bucket list trip to Alaska I’d planned for years. That was when my Qantas loyalty test came into play but I had nothing like the loyalty you’ve shown to them. 3 years later and that bucket list trip is back on for May.
 
Same experience for me - a total knee replacement a couple of years back meant reduced flying and there was no consideration. It’s going to happen again this year as my father recently died after an illness and I had to cancel 2 trips as a result of his ill health and death. I will fail to retain Platinum because of this, but there is no allowance at all. It’s pretty disappointing after 22 years of membership, 28000 lifetime status credits, 13 years of Platinum and 3 years of Platinum One, but they just simply don’t care.
Sorry for your loss and your frustration.

Not saying I agree - as I have genuinely mixed views - but Qantas could point to lifetime gold, as well as the three-year averaging unoffical rule as the way loyalty is recognised in these circumstances.

Lifetime platinum (even if set much higher than 28000 SCs or 15+ years of status) would of course be better, but that's another debate.

I have benefited from full refunds on compassionate grounds, but personally would not seek any status consideration. If I don't fly, I don't fly. Pretty hard for any company to know how or where to draw the line - and what evidence would be required to prove.

Things like pregnancy pause, and the ease with which someone can obtain gold or platinum these days are confusing factors though when considering your circumstances. So I understand the frustration.
 
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