Status schmatus

[4lex]

I've thought in the past it'd be nice to carry primo status, but then I noticed i don't really book tickets in the back of the bus these days. Sure the first class lounge in HND just recently was lovely, and I enjoyed the wing in HKG way back when, but I have to query if the cost of maintaining platinum justifies itself - I mean the business lounges are pretty decent now?

Whaddya reckon?

 

[drron]

I hope you are right. I will loose B A gold at the end of the year and Mrsdrron will loose WP at the end of next year. But I have LTP with AA and she has LTG.
So hello business lounges.

 

[RichardMEL]

Is it worth chasing? probably not. If one travels enough to take advantage of the perks in a real way then they may make the status on their own. However yes, if flying in J or F (via points, cash, whatever) then status is far less relevant for sure.

A recent thread regarding LTG has a related conversation regarding status v cabin.

 

[levelnine]

Was discussed here and in the accompanying thread just a few months ago: Is Airline Status Worthwhile If Flying Business Class?

 

[ozziflyer]

I'd only chase if your points rich and need the reward seat availability that status provides.

Cheapest OWE you can get is roughly$4k but that doesn't give you the above with Qantas.

I don't value the aggregate of the other perks at the minimum $4k on QF metal it cost to get to WP from SG off your own bat.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've thought in the past it'd be nice to carry primo status, but then I noticed i don't really book tickets in the back of the bus these days. Sure the first class lounge in HND just recently was lovely, and I enjoyed the wing in HKG way back when, but I have to query if the cost of maintaining platinum justifies itself - I mean the business lounges are pretty decent now?

Whaddya reckon?

I'm in much the same boat. Been Plat for 15+ years, except for 1 year Gold, always in J internationally. It would have been nice to use the F Lounges the year I was Gold, but the novelty had truely worn off by then so no biggie. The Pier Business lounge was sensational!

Will usually get Plat by an annual DONE4 but if in don't, I won't stress, as QF Plat ain't what it used to be.

 

[MrJetset]

Class of Service vs Status.

My personal conclusion is that loyalty is a trap. I was loyal to QF for a decade then became a free agent.

I've flown EY Apartments, EK F, TG F, BA F, AA F as well as LH, SQ, PG, OS, MS, SV, VA, SK J none of which would have occurred if I didn't release the shackles.

My flying decisions are based around products and direct routes. My days of status runs to maintain QF status are well over. I couldn't imagine anything worse and look back at some of the routes I took like SYD-BNE-TSV-BNE-DRW-BNE-CNS-BNE-SYD on JASAs or flying SYD-LHR-CAI-LHR-JFK-DFW-LAX-SYD in F just to rack up the SCs rather than SYD-CAI via the ME3.

It was when I found I could book EY Apartments and F SYD-AUH-JFK-AUH-SYD and add AUH-CAI return for $12k vs QF SYD-JFK return in F for over $21k that I realised I was being played.

The one argument for maintaining QF WP is award seat release requests which are extremely valuable in the current environment.

The advantage of an AMEX Plat charge is you can decide which program to transfer to and are not locked into QFF. I have SQ Suites
upcoming early next year and am extremely excited!

 

[JohnK]

The past 2 years have been a Godsend.

- I've been in F lounge twice this year
- I don't mind sitting in row 8 or 9
- I've got over 1 million QFF points and I can't use them when I want to use them

I can't see any reason to chase status unless it was very cheap way to do it.

Assuming we do 2 trips to Thailand next year the easiest way forward is with SQ. That will get us VA Gold each year. Hopefully schedules improve and airfares come down.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

As others have alluded to…it all depends.

I just hope I never have to drop below OWE. The beauty of oneworld is that emerald level, a level star alliance and scaryteam don’t have.

 

[Andy_M]

I'm in much the same boat. Been Plat for 15+ years, except for 1 year Gold, always in J internationally. It would have been nice to use the F Lounges the year I was Gold, but the novelty had truely worn off by then so no biggie. The Pier Business lounge was sensational!

Will usually get Plat by an annual DONE4 but if in don't, I won't stress, as QF Plat ain't what it used to be.

Totally agree. Platinum One and Platinum not what it used to be with the Spirit of cough. Not worth chasing, either buy business or get the cheapest airfare you can with another airline. Very disappointed.

 

[BriarFlyer]

To me the major benefits of WP are getting through to the Hobart CC (after 2-3 HUACA, but worth it) and requesting the release of award seats.

 

[mviy]

I like the benefits of WP and maintaining WP does mean faster progression towards LTG. However, if/when I eventually reach LTG I will probably re-evaluate what I do from there.

Even if you only fly J/F long haul internationally most will still fly Y domestically or for international trips that are only short haul, so Gold or higher status will be of benefit to getting into lounges for those trips.

 

[MooTime]

But being WP for years, then achieving LTG it's like a downgrade.
WP to just lowly SG.
WP benefits no more.

 

[mviy]

But being WP for years, then achieving LTG it's like a downgrade.
WP to just lowly SG.
WP benefits no more.

That’s probably exactly QF’s plan for travellers to get so used to the benefits of WP that they spend as little time using LTG as possible.