What is the 'sweet spot' for Qantas FF status?

[suparockin]

I can see that if you're close to a higher membership level and you could easily pull forward some travel then it would be the obvious thing to do.

I guess my point was that I might go out of my way (a bit more) to get/keep Gold as that level of benefits is so much more pronounced than Bronze-Silver.

 

[Skyring]

Do you mean getting from SG to WP? Because if you can go from NB to WP for $2K I would be up for that!

No, I mean going from nothing to WP for under $2K. The way to do this - and I would refer you to the numerous threads on the subject - is to go chasing the YUPP and KUPP fares in the USA. You get to fly "First" for not much more than economy and consequently get the SC for F, even though you are really just flying the equivalent of domestic J, and on a very shakey fare to boot.

If you are in the USA to begin with and have a few days free, the idea is to string together a bunch of these fares, zipping around the USA with hand luggage, hoping the weather holds and your connections work.

 

[Skyring]

I guess that if there is a "sweet spot", it is SG, because you get lounge access and the "premium passenger" benefits. WP gives Flounge and a few other perks, but the step isn't as big as from NB or PS to SG.

Kind of like how going from Y to J is a big deal, but J to F not quite so much. Longhaul, that is - any flight of an hour or so I don't much mind where I sit.

Having said that, just how much is lounge access worth. A couple of thousand to pay for a place to sit down, a few drinks and salty/sugary snacks, is poor value IMO. You could spend a fraction of that on airside restaurants or bars and use the surplus to pay for a nice hotel for a few nights.

One really needs to be travelling enough to make the "sweet spot" worthwhile.

 

[lovestotravel]

Kind of like how going from Y to J is a big deal, but J to F not quite so much. Longhaul, that is - any flight of an hour or so I don't much mind where I sit.

Have to say there is a massive difference between J and F

 

[Skyring]

Have to say there is a massive difference between J and F

Sure, but that between Y and J is greater.

 

[Newk]

If you look at it as a game as I partly do you have to make WP at least once. That level came to me about 18 months ago with a combination of finding and exploring AFF (after having Skyring recommend it to me for some years ), some paid business travel and a DSC offer.
I've managed to retain it without too much frivolous travel......I just fly JASAs via dog legs with most domestic travel (howls of outrage expected from some quarters).
From a purely practical analytic view the argument that status isn't important if you can always fly at the front has some validity.
Suffice it to say that everyone, along with their needs and wants, is different so there is no one answer.


Edit to add: I agree that the jump from J to F isn't that great. But, again everyone is different.

 

[nonpop]

If international ... then I'd be shooting for WP if within reach and not breaking the bank. We find priority boarding with F pax to be great when travelling HLO. The 1st lounges are also a nice place to visit as generally on international flights you are checking in a few hours prior vs domestic which (for me) is often clearing security and walking (running) straight to the gate.

International WP also ensures that I never have to worry about if I am entitled to something or not. I just get in the 'best' class of line for everything when travelling on a OW flight. If in economy I like being able to ask for little things to make the flight better e.g PJs, J amenity kit, J headphones, J booze.

And when things go to cough I find (most of the time) as a WP I'm further up the list of fixing the situation.

Domestically ... I like the priority boarding line (when it works) and the J lounges when flying Y.

So it really comes down to where is your bum most of the time ... International or Domestic and this is I think the most important part, will your SWMBO have a great time in the International First lounges having a spa along the way whilst drinking champagne and swanning around.

If it isn't too much cash or points, then shoot for WP. But otherwise, SG is more than acceptable. The real danger becomes hitting WP and then trying to maintain it for fear of what being an SG feels like again.

And last but not least ... it's a game. Not the real world. Have fun chasing status along the way but don't become obsessed.

 

[Timsboot]

The WP sweet spot for me (now that anytime lounge access is gone) is the availability of classic award booking seats. In 2011 I went down to gold for the first time in a decade. I became acutely aware of how much harder it was to book a classic award seat. As a WP the staff on the phone would work overtime to convince yield management to get me a seat. As an SG they simply offered me what was available on qantas.com with no possibility of asking for more.

 

[jmacpher]

Horses for courses as far as I'm concerned. When I travelled more for work and they paid, I made QF platinum and loved the lounges etc. After that, Corporate policy dictated travelling with UA on the USA routes (my main travel), and I fell back to QFF Gold while never aspiring to anything worthwhile with UA and partners. The Company was closed in Australia, and I eventually fell back to Silver - what I missed most was lounge access for international travel (threw $$ at that via this forum) and priority boarding. I now have lifetime Silver status and am very slowing working my way to lifetime Gold...I wish that I'd understood the restrictions on earning status and points on award (versus any awards) flight before I used most of my points on a trip to Japan in business. I got no status or points and felt cheated.

My current role requires me to travel on best fare of the day with no ability to select carrier and I am precluded from accruing to FF points. We do what we can!

 

[justin23]

You know its what you are used to that counts. I can tell you that PS feels like heaven compared to dropping back to NB as well. But anybody who travels discount Y only should be able to at least get to silver. To me being able to select seats especially on international is a bonus. Yeah the lounges and gold is nice and I'd like that, but since I left my last job with business travel keeping silver is as good as it gets for me right now.... although changes to ASA was slightly annoying as I did retain/gain status using my stash of CC earnt points a few times.

 

[hardtolose]

Mr HTL and I travel international J once every two years and this gets us to SG which lasts us for the following year for any domestic travel. We are retirees with a limited income but feel that choosing our seats, using the lounge after travelling to and from airports, and priority boarding are the little perks we went without while kids were growing up etc. There is nothing better than getting to LHR at 6am and going to arrivals lounge, having shower, breakfast if necessary, catching up on news, charging batteries and from there you can go to hotel and leave baggage if too early to check in or catch train to connect with Eurostar later in day. It is also very nice if flight is delayed for any reason. Yes, it is horses for courses, but if you have to get up very early, then travel by train or other transport for a couple of hours as we do, then wait for boarding and fly for many hours it is a very long day and every little comfort helps to start our onward journeys.

 

[katiebell]

Whilst I do like the benefits of WP these have been progressively, and significantly degraded by QF and the benefits of SG significantly increased. This makes the benefits of aiming for WP less appealing than a few years ago as the bar is just as high but the grass is not as green (apologies for mixed metaphors).

By the way, premium boarding from Flounge in DXB is a joke. All the pax from J lounge were on board in J before we were allowed to board from the Flounge. So much for boarding at one's convenience: it only happens at the convenience of EK staff.

 

[jessesd]

Please let me know how to get WP for under $2k?

I am a newby at this, but will travel a bit over xmas new year, and would love to get the extra perks?

 

[serfty]

Please let me know how to get WP for under $2k?

I am a newby at this, but will travel a bit over xmas new year, and would love to get the extra perks?

If points poor, then head to the USA.

See here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....gram/best-status-run-options-quick-35258.html

 

[Steelo]

Its all about planning. If you have additional time there a number of ways you can route your trips to save money; enjoy the benefits that come with higher status; and gain additional status credits. My daughter maintains gold while being on a very average income. Some of the strategies involve booking your flights on One World Carriers in J - but out of Asian ports. Malaysian, Cathay and soon Qatar have some really good prices for business class flights out of Asian ports - including Bali and KL. This may involve taking a Jetstar flight to Asia and routing your trip from there. I always make a judgement by looking at the price a status credit costs you - they can vary significantly. Most mistakes are made by people not understanding the difference between points and status credits. Focus on status credits and the points will flow your way - which in turn should help you maintain your status by using them for marginal any seat awards (while they last). und it a struggle to obtain gold several years ago - but much easier to maintain it once you get to know the system. WP came after an offer of double status credits - and it will be hard to drop back. This forum has been invaluable in refining my knowledge to help the rest of the family gain and maintain their status.

Please let me know how to get WP for under $2k?

I am a newby at this, but will travel a bit over xmas new year, and would love to get the extra perks?

 

[Rono]

I do the flight to the UK often and haven't used the arrivals lounge ever. Can you tell me more about it please?

regards

Rono

 

[hardtolose]

I stand to be corrected (probably by Mr HTL) BUT when travelling J on RTW OW tickets, one trip took us to LHR at 0600 to, I think, Terminal 5 and we went to a BA arrivals lounge where we were able to shower etc and another one took us to Terminal 3 where we were able to use the AA lounge for the same purpose. Both lounges had many amenities and were very comfortable. We were not flying further afield on either days. This meant that we didn't waste a whole day just getting organised after a long journey. We actually found out about it on this site.

 

[MSmith]

I agree that Qantas Gold status is probably the best value. I have been a Platinum member for many years but Qantas has now made it extraordinarily difficult to maintain this level. This is especially so now that points and pay is not generally an attractive option (lots of points for small reduction in dollars). I have lifetime Gold and am seriously considering just taking the best business class deal on offer for international flights (still choosing on safety and service). Also membership for Priority Pass Lounges is a great back up to Gold membership. If you have an American Express Platinum Card (around $1000 per year) you will have included Priority Pass membership for yourself and a supplementary card holder as well as quite good travel insurance). You can also buy Priority Pass direct. I would miss the use of First Class Lounges (especially Sydney and Melbourne), but probably a small price to pay for the potential savings to be gained by flying with far more competitively priced airlines (take a look at JAL).

 

[jessesd]

i had a look at your link, but it was all 2011 posts?
I thought the ASA booking process had put an end to those deals?

 

[JTB]

I think part of the consideration needs to be your base as well. As I am based in Perth, there is no first class lounge or business class lounge, so I only really get to enjoy half of the benefits of extra status because I would only get to taste business class lounge or first class lounge when in Sydney or Melbourne. (As you can see I value the lounges the most for benefits).