- Joined
- Jun 20, 2002
- Posts
- 17,644
- Qantas
- Gold
- Virgin
- Platinum
Thought it best to start a new topic on this excellent idea (so as to keep another topic on another Forum actually on topic). I'll keep this topic updated so others can see why I'm doing what I'm doing and perhaps in time understand the benefits that I am chasing.
1.0 Current situation
I'll achieve QF Lifetime Silver in 130 SC's time. Together with Lifetime QC means I'll always be able to get into the QC when I'm flying and I'll always earn as a QF Silver member any of those flights credited to QFF. And what do I receive from AMP after a lot of loyalty shown flying QF and other OW carriers are crediting to my QFF account - looks like a letter from the Program Manager. Hold me back from my effusive praise thanking QF for their generousity :roll: :shock: .
Another 7,000 SC's for Lifetime Gold seems a very long way for no perceived benefits once there. Okay, so I'd be a Gold member for the rest of my life (or QF's program, whichever is lesser), or Platinum for any membership year that I achieve it, but there's nothing again from QF management - maybe another letter. Wow, I'm overcome with gratitude again QF . After 14,000 SC's, there is no goal for the very frequent flyer (by that stage, you feel an aircraft is your second home).
2.0 What am I changing??
I'm converting to AAdvantage the majority of my flying after many years of loyal QFF patronage. Dave Noble has finally got through my defences and convinced me.
2.1 Why move to AAdvantage?
I'm not moving to AAdvantage for the short-term membership levels that give benefits (Gold, Platinum and Executive Platinum). I'm thinking forward to the benefits that are offered in Lifetime Gold (achieved by earning 1 million miles) and Lifetime Platinum (2 million miles). Try the delicious idea of a Systemwide Upgrade (SWU). That means a one-way upgrade to the next class of service on American Airlines metal (so Y to F domestically, or Y/J or J/F internationally) to any AA destination. The upgrade is subject to capacity controls, must be available at time of booking and is limited to a one-way trip with a maximum of three segments. Still, that's not shabby, when you think that could mean LHR/JFK/LAX/HNL all using 1 SWU, or another example NRT/LAX/JFK/GRU. Now, members get 4 SWU's when they reach Lifetime Gold and 8 when they reach Platinum.
Now that's a goal worth achieving and an airline and program that truly respects it's highly travelled members...but how am I going to do it, you ask??
3.0 Strategy
I'll continue to credit any QF red e-Deal fares (O or N class) to my QFF account (not that there's many of them anyway), as my earning on them is better in my QFF account (1:1 with a mininimum of 1,000 miles) rather than AA (where they won't earn anything).
I'll be crediting the majority of my future flying (starting now) to AAdvantage. All my Super Saver fares (G, S, V, L, R and M class), Flexi Saver and Fully Flexible domestic fares (K, W, H or Y class). I see little chance for overseas travel for work or pleasure in the foreseeable future, but any that turn up will be credited according to the fare basis purchased.
Most of the mileage will come from CC points that I'll transfer into AA. CC points accrue for Lifetime status over there (crazy but true) and very beneficial as previously noted (whereas they don't in QF, it's only BIS miles that accrue status).
4.0 Outcome & benefits
Better "earn & burn" under AA - try 20,000 points for an award seat from Australia to anywhere else in Australia & New Zealand.
Also, I will not pay fuel fines on your award bookings, unlike when you use QF awards.
5.0 My recommendations to start achieving my goal
I need to look at all my programs (airline, accomodation and car rental) - it has to be an "all in" strategy.
5.1 Frequent flyer programs:
5.1.1 QFF: I can't do anything with the points that are already there, but I'll be using them for upgrading (either using the on-line upgrade tool or On Departure Upgrades at the QC's). Minimal points accrual for hereon. Status will drop to Gold from 1 March 2007 and (at worst) Silver from 1 March 2008 and thereafter (as I'll be Lifetime silver from ~ June 2006). Have 150,000 miles now, with earning of about 3,000 points monthly (from both flying and Qantas ANZ CC) expected.
5.1.2 Northwest: Have about 15,000 miles in that account and don't credit any flying there any more, so use them or lose them (although I have just earned some points there, so current for at least a year). Have to look into whether I can transfer them to say SPG.
5.1.3 United & SQ: Minimal points in both program (3,500 in UA and about 1,700 in SQ). Not worried if I lose them and don't think I'd have enough to transfer. Don't fly *A so likely to lose them, unless I find bonus mile promos out there.
5.2 Credit Card Programs:
5.2.1 Qantas ANZ Gold CC: Nothing I can do about this card as the points are credited automatically to my QFF program, but it's my back-up CC (when Amex isn't accepted). Will at least keep me in upgrades for a while.
5.2.2 Amex Platinum: Very important part of my CC strategy as I earn 1.5 points per $ spent. Have balance of 58,000 points after 6 months of use, so will be maxing the points earned through this card.
5.2.3 Citibank Platinum CC: Now to work out how to get my 81,150 CC points to AA (via another conduit program).
5.3 Hotel programs:
5.3.1 SPG: I have 24,00 points in my account. Every time you transfer a block of 20,000 SPG points, you receive a 25% mileage bonus into your FF program. I transferred 20,000 SPG points today and will see 25,000 AA points hit my account in the next 6 weeks. This program is the most important part of transferring points from programs where there is no direct link to AA. Balance now 4,000.
5.3.2 Hilton Honors: Couldn't get into my HHonors account to see what the transfer rate is, but know it isn't good - maybe I'll just burn these on personal stays. Will be changing my earning to Hilton Points & Fixed Miles (couble dipping), as most of my stays are 1-3 nights and rarely spend for than USD$500...
5.3.3 Priority Club: Have 26,000 points and the transfer rate is 10,000 Points to 2,000 AA Miles. Not going to bother transferring them and certainly will be earning quite a few thousand more before the end of April and/or July (and the bonus point promos end) and expect to have 60,000+ by year end to renew Platinum.
5.3.4 Other programs: I have Hyatt GP, Marriott Rewards, minimal points in both but I'll look into whether I can transfer them.
5.4 My American AAdvantage Account:
Now to my curent AA account:
Program to Date Miles: 7,816
YTD Elite Qualifying Points: 5,216
YTD Elite Qualifying Miles: 5,216
YTD Elite Qualifying Segments: 5
Miles with Expiration Deferred Through 1/12/09: 7,816
Upgrade Account Balance: 0
Total Available Award Mileage: 7,816
all courtesy of crediting some of my recent USA trip to this account. What annoys me is that I didn't follow Dave Noble's excellent idea of doing a Gold Challenge as I would have achieved it (5,000 EQP's). I only have myself to blame :x . Oh well, thankfully April/May is looking very good for flying. Already have plans for BNE/TSV/CNS/BNE, BNE/MEL/BNE, BNE/SYD/BNE (all in K) and a BNE/PER/ADL/SYD/BNE also in K (but will be looking to upgrade to B class, as this will be complete my Platinum Challenge).
I'll update this thread every month with my mileage summary (and where it all came from). If anybody has any questions, ask away. If you have any information about transferring any of those program points to AA, post away 8)
1.0 Current situation
I'll achieve QF Lifetime Silver in 130 SC's time. Together with Lifetime QC means I'll always be able to get into the QC when I'm flying and I'll always earn as a QF Silver member any of those flights credited to QFF. And what do I receive from AMP after a lot of loyalty shown flying QF and other OW carriers are crediting to my QFF account - looks like a letter from the Program Manager. Hold me back from my effusive praise thanking QF for their generousity :roll: :shock: .
Another 7,000 SC's for Lifetime Gold seems a very long way for no perceived benefits once there. Okay, so I'd be a Gold member for the rest of my life (or QF's program, whichever is lesser), or Platinum for any membership year that I achieve it, but there's nothing again from QF management - maybe another letter. Wow, I'm overcome with gratitude again QF . After 14,000 SC's, there is no goal for the very frequent flyer (by that stage, you feel an aircraft is your second home).
2.0 What am I changing??
I'm converting to AAdvantage the majority of my flying after many years of loyal QFF patronage. Dave Noble has finally got through my defences and convinced me.
2.1 Why move to AAdvantage?
I'm not moving to AAdvantage for the short-term membership levels that give benefits (Gold, Platinum and Executive Platinum). I'm thinking forward to the benefits that are offered in Lifetime Gold (achieved by earning 1 million miles) and Lifetime Platinum (2 million miles). Try the delicious idea of a Systemwide Upgrade (SWU). That means a one-way upgrade to the next class of service on American Airlines metal (so Y to F domestically, or Y/J or J/F internationally) to any AA destination. The upgrade is subject to capacity controls, must be available at time of booking and is limited to a one-way trip with a maximum of three segments. Still, that's not shabby, when you think that could mean LHR/JFK/LAX/HNL all using 1 SWU, or another example NRT/LAX/JFK/GRU. Now, members get 4 SWU's when they reach Lifetime Gold and 8 when they reach Platinum.
Now that's a goal worth achieving and an airline and program that truly respects it's highly travelled members...but how am I going to do it, you ask??
3.0 Strategy
I'll continue to credit any QF red e-Deal fares (O or N class) to my QFF account (not that there's many of them anyway), as my earning on them is better in my QFF account (1:1 with a mininimum of 1,000 miles) rather than AA (where they won't earn anything).
I'll be crediting the majority of my future flying (starting now) to AAdvantage. All my Super Saver fares (G, S, V, L, R and M class), Flexi Saver and Fully Flexible domestic fares (K, W, H or Y class). I see little chance for overseas travel for work or pleasure in the foreseeable future, but any that turn up will be credited according to the fare basis purchased.
Most of the mileage will come from CC points that I'll transfer into AA. CC points accrue for Lifetime status over there (crazy but true) and very beneficial as previously noted (whereas they don't in QF, it's only BIS miles that accrue status).
4.0 Outcome & benefits
Better "earn & burn" under AA - try 20,000 points for an award seat from Australia to anywhere else in Australia & New Zealand.
Also, I will not pay fuel fines on your award bookings, unlike when you use QF awards.
5.0 My recommendations to start achieving my goal
I need to look at all my programs (airline, accomodation and car rental) - it has to be an "all in" strategy.
5.1 Frequent flyer programs:
5.1.1 QFF: I can't do anything with the points that are already there, but I'll be using them for upgrading (either using the on-line upgrade tool or On Departure Upgrades at the QC's). Minimal points accrual for hereon. Status will drop to Gold from 1 March 2007 and (at worst) Silver from 1 March 2008 and thereafter (as I'll be Lifetime silver from ~ June 2006). Have 150,000 miles now, with earning of about 3,000 points monthly (from both flying and Qantas ANZ CC) expected.
5.1.2 Northwest: Have about 15,000 miles in that account and don't credit any flying there any more, so use them or lose them (although I have just earned some points there, so current for at least a year). Have to look into whether I can transfer them to say SPG.
5.1.3 United & SQ: Minimal points in both program (3,500 in UA and about 1,700 in SQ). Not worried if I lose them and don't think I'd have enough to transfer. Don't fly *A so likely to lose them, unless I find bonus mile promos out there.
5.2 Credit Card Programs:
5.2.1 Qantas ANZ Gold CC: Nothing I can do about this card as the points are credited automatically to my QFF program, but it's my back-up CC (when Amex isn't accepted). Will at least keep me in upgrades for a while.
5.2.2 Amex Platinum: Very important part of my CC strategy as I earn 1.5 points per $ spent. Have balance of 58,000 points after 6 months of use, so will be maxing the points earned through this card.
5.2.3 Citibank Platinum CC: Now to work out how to get my 81,150 CC points to AA (via another conduit program).
5.3 Hotel programs:
5.3.1 SPG: I have 24,00 points in my account. Every time you transfer a block of 20,000 SPG points, you receive a 25% mileage bonus into your FF program. I transferred 20,000 SPG points today and will see 25,000 AA points hit my account in the next 6 weeks. This program is the most important part of transferring points from programs where there is no direct link to AA. Balance now 4,000.
5.3.2 Hilton Honors: Couldn't get into my HHonors account to see what the transfer rate is, but know it isn't good - maybe I'll just burn these on personal stays. Will be changing my earning to Hilton Points & Fixed Miles (couble dipping), as most of my stays are 1-3 nights and rarely spend for than USD$500...
5.3.3 Priority Club: Have 26,000 points and the transfer rate is 10,000 Points to 2,000 AA Miles. Not going to bother transferring them and certainly will be earning quite a few thousand more before the end of April and/or July (and the bonus point promos end) and expect to have 60,000+ by year end to renew Platinum.
5.3.4 Other programs: I have Hyatt GP, Marriott Rewards, minimal points in both but I'll look into whether I can transfer them.
5.4 My American AAdvantage Account:
Now to my curent AA account:
Program to Date Miles: 7,816
YTD Elite Qualifying Points: 5,216
YTD Elite Qualifying Miles: 5,216
YTD Elite Qualifying Segments: 5
Miles with Expiration Deferred Through 1/12/09: 7,816
Upgrade Account Balance: 0
Total Available Award Mileage: 7,816
all courtesy of crediting some of my recent USA trip to this account. What annoys me is that I didn't follow Dave Noble's excellent idea of doing a Gold Challenge as I would have achieved it (5,000 EQP's). I only have myself to blame :x . Oh well, thankfully April/May is looking very good for flying. Already have plans for BNE/TSV/CNS/BNE, BNE/MEL/BNE, BNE/SYD/BNE (all in K) and a BNE/PER/ADL/SYD/BNE also in K (but will be looking to upgrade to B class, as this will be complete my Platinum Challenge).
I'll update this thread every month with my mileage summary (and where it all came from). If anybody has any questions, ask away. If you have any information about transferring any of those program points to AA, post away 8)