The Fall from Grace (QFF Status)

[coyote25]

As I was returning from Brisbane on Wednesday night headed for Melbourne I realised all the benefits I have lost over the pass few years as I've dropped from Platinum to Gold and now QANTAS Club Silver.

For this flight I was seating four rows from the back of the plane (limited seat selection) and it took about 15 minutes to leave the plane once at the gate. Watching people struggle to go backwards to get luggage and delay the de boarding process I started thinking about the loss of first row Y seats just 3 years ago.

Platinum Paradise
The main benefit for a domestic flyer was the early rows in Y. But I also missed the guarantee purchase of a seat which I occasionally used. It was also common to get shadows on the seat next to me making Dom Y travel that much easier.

For my world trips the first class checkin area and particularly the first class lounges are but a fond memory . British Airways Heathrow First Class Lounge I still remember the service and great showers with 7 different water streams. Upgrades also came my way especially on award Y seats to PE Melbourne to LAX - nice.

Beautiful Gold
So I've been Gold for 3 years and domestically it wasn't that big a drop. Sure no business lounge access and early rows of economy were no more but you still have Exit Row Seats and the normal lounge.

Booking OW Award RTW tickets were must easier with more seat selections plus occasionally QF opened up seats for me.

Internationally I still had lounge access for OneWorld airlines so that was great.

Disappointing Silver
The big drop that occurred on 1 February, mitigated by my old paid membership from about 9 years ago kicking in so I still have QANTAS Club access, but still a drop.

Awards seats are definitely harder. Seat maps seem to start at the rear of the plane.

It is easily the biggest drop/change of the membership levels. With I didn't have QC it would seem even bigger. For my international flights goodbye to OW lounge access. I now know how much I've really be spoiled.

So now to a future of longer disembarking processes and I fondly remember a world of higher statuses as I slowly walked to the back of the plane.

Lifetime Gold please save me

 

[nonpop]

This sounded like my nightmare ... so I'm now going to pretend I never read this post and move along the QF Syd Flounge with my glass of bubbles and sit down in a recliner after a rather nice meal. I know it could happen to any of us.

May you one-day reach WP and attain LTG along the way.

 

[amaroo]

Hope LTG isn't that far away....

edit - just noticed your signature

 

[opusman]

Don't forget that at T-80 seat selection opens up on DOM flights and you should generally be able to do better than the back four rows

 

[coyote25]

Don't forget that at T-80 seat selection opens up on DOM flights and you should generally be able to do better than the back four rows

Definitely opus man just not for last minute booking.

 

[coyote25]

Hope LTG isn't that far away....

edit - just noticed your signature

I know I've complained about QFF enhancements in the past but you really miss it when it's gone.

If only my Ansett status transferred I would be LTG

Definitely understand why it's worth maximising SCs to get status

Probably only do 12 Dom Y return flights (24 segments).

 

[eastwest101]

coyote25 - have QF been in touch at all regarding your status and reasons for dropping - whether its decreased flying due to change in job/lifestyle or more flying but not on QF? I seem to remember an earlier thread that seemed to have very few (on no people at all) examples of QF contacting people whom drop status levels. Anyone dropped status level and been asked/called/emailed about it?

 

[middlerowed]

coyote25 - have QF been in touch at all regarding your status and reasons for dropping - whether its decreased flying due to change in job/lifestyle or more flying but not on QF? I seem to remember an earlier thread that seemed to have very few (on no people at all) examples of QF contacting people whom drop status levels. Anyone dropped status level and been asked/called/emailed about it?

A relative of mine would've have dropped from gold to bronze, given they had only amassed 140 SCs...a few weeks later they were sent a complimentary gold card and one more year of SG...didn't ask for it - it was just mailed out unexpectantly.

 

[drron]

QFF let me remain Silver when I fell 30SCs short of requalifying at the end of December.
In view of my Life QP and LTP on AA this really meant a lot to me.

 

[amaroo]

A relative of mine would've have dropped from gold to bronze, given they had only amassed 140 SCs...a few weeks later they were sent a complimentary gold card and one more year of SG...didn't ask for it - it was just mailed out unexpectantly.

I've heard a tale that this may occur when the SC earn for the last three years was sufficient for four years of a certain level. Certainly was the case for a comp year of WP for me.

 

[coyote25]

coyote25 - have QF been in touch at all regarding your status and reasons for dropping - whether its decreased flying due to change in job/lifestyle or more flying but not on QF? I seem to remember an earlier thread that seemed to have very few (on no people at all) examples of QF contacting people whom drop status levels. Anyone dropped status level and been asked/called/emailed about it?

Hi eastwest, no QANTAS didn't contact me, I hadn't even received the new silver kit yet. I'm guessing they waited to see if I had any last minute flights to add late January.

I had been comped previously so I'm fine with the status drop. I've gotten a hell of a lot out of my QFF membership thanks to AFF. I'm just going to miss it

 

[JohnK]

Try to avoid the last minute bookings on full flights.

When I have been down the back it feels like an eternity to get off the aircraft. I guess this is where people would rather have a middle seat near the front than an aisle/window down the back.

Thankfully I now have Lifetime Gold. All that is required is for Qantas to remain in business.

 

[Kangol]

QFF let me remain Silver when I fell 30SCs short of requalifying at the end of December.
In view of my Life QP and LTP on AA this really meant a lot to me.

I must be missing something here - what would you gain from PS besides free seat selection on int Y and a points bonus?
Or are you having a laugh and I can't pick it up?

 

[JohnK]

I must be missing something here - what would you gain from PS besides free seat selection on int Y and a points bonus?
Or are you having a laugh and I can't pick it up?

Priority check-in. Read line up somewhere other than economy. And better seat selection without paying $20 for the privilege.

 

[Kangol]

Priority check-in. Read line up somewhere other than economy. And better seat selection without paying $20 for the privilege.

I would have thought AA LTP (OWS) would have priority check-in for both QF and AA dom and all int?
Not sure about seat selection for AA elites on QF flights though... would have thought that OWS would give you something...

 

[drron]

I must be missing something here - what would you gain from PS besides free seat selection on int Y and a points bonus?
Or are you having a laugh and I can't pick it up?

Just a tad sarcastic.It really makes no difference to me whether I am NB,PS or SG with QFF.Now if they would comp me WP.

 

[boomy]

Hard to believe how easy is to get spoiled by QFF status. I got so used to sitting in row 4 on Dom Y flights that when I got 7D once (flight change) I felt like I was downgraded to Y-

 

[hutch]

A relative of mine would've have dropped from gold to bronze, given they had only amassed 140 SCs...a few weeks later they were sent a complimentary gold card and one more year of SG...didn't ask for it - it was just mailed out unexpectantly.

I was under the impression that you do a gradual drop... ie if don't fly at all, you would go from Gold to Silver in one year, then Silver to Bronze in the next. Am I wrong?

 

[Hvr]

I was under the impression that you do a gradual drop... ie if don't fly at all, you would go from Gold to Silver in one year, then Silver to Bronze in the next. Am I wrong?

The so called soft landing.

Haven't heard of anybody not getting it in an Australian airline FF scheme.

 

[JohnK]

Hard to believe how easy is to get spoiled by QFF status. I got so used to sitting in row 4 on Dom Y flights that when I got 7D once (flight change) I felt like I was downgraded to Y-

And what made that worse was a Platinum moved to another flight quite late and secured 4D and then had an op-up to business clsss.