The best laid plans ... need advice on how to satisfy the 4 eligible segment rule

[diablo]

Hi all,

I am midway through a DONE4, which I had planned to give me enough status credits to retain SG until November 2012. The travel completed so far has moved me up to SG from PS, so my next status renewal will be in November 2011. I live in the UK, and will be completing the second half of my DONE4 in March next year.

At present, I don't plan on returning to Aus next year. I have to fly LHR-ATL-LHR in December for a conference, and will need to fly LHR-HKG to resume the DONE4 in March. I'll then be flying HKG-BOM-BKK-HND-PEK-HEL-IST-LHR to complete the DONE4. As far as I can see, there is no QF metal or codeshares available to me on any of these flights.

I thought I'd ask the experts at AFF on how, given my travel plans above, I might wangle the 4 QF segments I need by 30th November next year, without having to make an expensive and time consuming trip back to Aus. I am open to rerouting some of the later segments of the DONE4 if this will help me (after BOM). I also don't mind short trips within Europe, but I believe that QF codeshares are only available with a corresponding long-haul flight on QF metal.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Flashback]

I'll watch this thread with interest, as this may apply to myself soon also.

 

[samh004]

The only thing I can think of, if you’re going to be in certain parts of Asia, is a cheap JQ flight, well, 4 of them

 

[flychrisfly]

I recently flew from Sydney to Budapest via SIN and FRA all on QF flight numbers and QF metal apart from FRA-BUD which was on Malev metal (but still a QF flight number). My FF activity statement shows the FRA-BUD flight counts as 1 flight towards the 4 flight minimum. So a few select QF codeshare short haul European trips might do the trick.

 

[dk4]

The only thing I can think of, if you’re going to be in certain parts of Asia, is a cheap JQ flight, well, 4 of them

Or a not so cheap JETSTAR airline flight (3K, VF or JQ) in JetFlex (i.e. the flexible booking class).

• get to SIN with a QF code (Qantas or British Airways)
• do a side trip to... Bali(?) [SIN-DPS(?)-SIN] with a VF and/or JQ code (Valuair or Jetstar)
• fly to HKG with a 3K code (Jetstar Asia)

(Note; Jetstar flights with BL don't earn in QFF: specifically that is Jetstar Pacific domestic services in Vietnam.)

 

[diablo]

flychrisfly, would there be a way for me to book these shorthaul European codeshares independently of a longhaul flight on QF metal? My understanding is that they can't be sold independently. If there is a way to do this, it seems like the best bet. I know that there's a QF codeshare on BA metal flying LHR-TXL-LHR, which would be ideal, as I can visit family in Berlin.

 

[NM]

I recently flew from Sydney to Budapest via SIN and FRA all on QF flight numbers and QF metal apart from FRA-BUD which was on Malev metal (but still a QF flight number). My FF activity statement shows the FRA-BUD flight counts as 1 flight towards the 4 flight minimum. So a few select QF codeshare short haul European trips might do the trick.

You cannot book the European QF codeshare flight except in conjunction with a QF flgiht to Europe. They are not available for sale as stand-alone tickets.

 

[samh004]

Or a not so cheap JETSTAR airline flight (3K, VF or JQ) in JetFlex (i.e. the flexible booking class).

Do they have to be JetFlex? Sure, JetFlex will post points and SC’s, but I’ve put in a claim for non-earning flights before and they’ve shown up in my account with 0 in all fields. I had already past my 4 eligible flights, so don’t know if they counted, but would assume they should.

 

[dk4]

Do they have to be JetFlex? Sure, JetFlex will post points and SC’s, but I’ve put in a claim for non-earning flights before and they’ve shown up in my account with 0 in all fields. I had already past my 4 eligible flights, so don’t know if they counted, but would assume they should.

You assume wrong.

To get a "~" next to a JETSTAR airline flight, it needs to be on a JetFlex fare. * (3K, VF, JQ)

A JETSTAR airline flight with a JetSaver fare (where a QFF number is entered into the booking) will show on the QFF activity page as 0 earn and there will NOT be a "~".

The "~" is required for the flight to count toward the 4 segment minimum for status.

 

[medhead]

I don't really know about this stuff but a couple of ideas. Your positioning flight to HKG could be with QF. If so can you link that in with a QF codeshare in Europe. That might get 2 or 3 ~'s. Say bud-fra-lhr-hkg

Also is there a QF codeshare ist-lhr on BA?

 

[samh004]

You assume wrong.

To get a "~" next to a JETSTAR airline flight, it needs to be on a JetFlex fare. * (3K, VF, JQ)

A JETSTAR airline flight with a JetSaver fare (where a QFF number is entered into the booking) will show on the QFF activity page as 0 earn and there will NOT be a "~".

The "~" is required for the flight to count toward the 4 segment minimum for status.

I had a quick check back through my transactions and see you’re right, good to know.

 

[JohnK]

The only thing I can think of, if you’re going to be in certain parts of Asia, is a cheap JQ flight, well, 4 of them

Unfortunately it needs to be a flexible fare that earns SC's and then it is not so cheap.

 

[medhead]

At present, I don't plan on returning to Aus next year. I have to fly LHR-ATL-LHR in December for a conference, and will need to fly LHR-HKG to resume the DONE4 in March. I'll then be flying HKG-BOM-BKK-HND-PEK-HEL-IST-LHR to complete the DONE4. As far as I can see, there is no QF metal or codeshares available to me on any of these flights.

Ok I've just had a look. There is QF metal or codeshares available for LHR-HKG. Searching from the German Qantas website I get FRA-LHR-HKG on QF3601and QF30 for 374 euro on 3 March. So there are 2 QF segments.

Searching from the UK qantas website I can find sayEdinburgh-LHR-HKG on QF3460 and QF30 for just under a thousand quid. But it wouldn't price a LHR-edinburgh-LHR-HKG.

You could try a FRA-edinburgh-hkg maybe. But the point is that you should be able to get 2 segments from your planned travel with a little sidetrack. A TA might be able to book you something like BUD-FRA-LHR-HKG, to get 3 segments.

 

[dajop]

I was going to say ..... Is BKK a must? You could fly BOM-SIN (QF metal) -HND (QF code, JL metal) ...... but looks like that when HND services commence (31 Oct) QF are no longer going to be codesharing to Tokyo from SIN.

 

[ajw373]

If you don't do the segments what do they do to your membership? Do they cancel it alltogther, drop you down to no status at all (or what ever life time status you may have) or do they just drop you down 1 level?

Looks like I too am cutting it a bit fine. I have already comfortably re-qualified for platinum (with 12,500 life time status credits) with 5 months to go before my nominal renewal date but have just 3 Qantas segments. Living in London my only option would be a trip to HKG, BKK or SIN on Qantas metal to get the 4th segment. Seems a bit over the top, so I am hoping for a gifted renewal.

 

[straitman]

If you don't do the segments what do they do to your membership? Do they cancel it alltogther, drop you down to no status at all (or what ever life time status you may have) or do they just drop you down 1 level?

Looks like I too am cutting it a bit fine. I have already comfortably re-qualified for platinum (with 12,500 life time status credits) with 5 months to go before my nominal renewal date but have just 3 Qantas segments. Living in London my only option would be a trip to HKG, BKK or SIN on Qantas metal to get the 4th segment. Seems a bit over the top, so I am hoping for a gifted renewal.

Qantas are right into soft landings, so you would only drop to gold if you don't get the 4th segment.




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[coyote25]

Too bad you can't book cheap flights in Aus and get someone else to fly them - obviously against the rules. Four flights could cost as little as 400 total depending on sales and location.

Without the 4 flights you should be dropped one level at a time but I seem to recall on flyertalk when this started someone in US complaining of a drop to the bottom but they may have never met the 4 flight rule

 

[pauly7]

Too bad you can't book cheap flights in Aus and get someone else to fly them - obviously against the rules. Four flights could cost as little as 400 total depending on sales and location.

Well... You could risk it! All Aussie airlines are hopeless at checking ID.... Bit of a risk though

 

[diablo]

Searching from the German Qantas website I get FRA-LHR-HKG on QF3601and QF30 for 374 euro on 3 March. So there are 2 QF segments

This sounds like a plan medhead. I'd like to make a trip to Berlin anyway, so could book TXL-LHR-HKG using QF3606 / QF30 to give me two segments. I don't seem to be able to book it one-way on the QF German website though, only return. Perhaps a TA can help me book the one-way. IF I can do LHR-TXL-LHR-HKG, then all the better

Is BKK a must? You could fly BOM-SIN (QF metal) -HND (QF code, JL metal

Good suggestion dajop, maybe I could fly BOM-SIN-NRT all on QF metal / codeshares. I'll have to call the AA RTW desk to see if they'll allow me to fly SIN-NRT on QF4021.

 

[opusman]

Bit of a risk though

Not really - internet checkin + no luggage, there's virtually no chance of being asked to show ID. If I were the OP I'd consider this a viable option