Go for Gold?

[AaronBradford]

Hi all,

I flew SYD-CDG-SYD with EY late last year and netted myself a nice 420 SCs (for the return leg I got double due to the promotion a while back). I made Silver as I only had a small amount of SCs prior to that.

Taking into account a flight I have in February and the SCs that will drop off the radar in the near future, I will need 49 more before 4th March to make Gold. As you could probably guess I'm an 'infrequent-frequent-flyer' ... more of an enthusiast as I don't have to travel for work. I probably don't have a hope of re-qualifying for Gold or Silver ... and I'm also wondering if is it a soft landing down from Gold, or does it go straight to Red?

I have in mind a trip that would net 50 SC for the lowest spend I could find. The first leg involves SYD-BNK-SYD on 25th February ($79 each way); am I right in that this would net me 40 SC as it's not a sale fare and that as the aircraft would be returning to SYD with me on it the turnaround time would not be a problem? The second leg is SYD-OOL on DJ ($65) and OOL-SYD on JQ ($55), both on 26th February. That gives me an overall $278 spend to attain Gold at $5.56/SC. Can anyone find something cheaper than that?

So I'm wondering whether it is worth it to shoot for Gold status keeping in mind that up to March 2013 I'll probably make three or four short domestic return trips, but I think I'd be taking advantage of Anytime Access a bit.

Thanks!

 

[LiamR]

Hi all,

I flew SYD-CDG-SYD with EY late last year and netted myself a nice 420 SCs (for the return leg I got double due to the promotion a while back). I made Silver as I only had a small amount of SCs prior to that.

Taking into account a flight I have in February and the SCs that will drop off the radar in the near future, I will need 49 more before 4th March to make Gold. As you could probably guess I'm an 'infrequent-frequent-flyer' ... more of an enthusiast as I don't have to travel for work. I probably don't have a hope of re-qualifying for Gold or Silver ... and I'm also wondering if is it a soft landing down from Gold, or does it go straight to Red?

I have in mind a trip that would net 50 SC for the lowest spend I could find. The first leg involves SYD-BNK-SYD on 25th February ($79 each way); am I right in that this would net me 40 SC as it's not a sale fare and that as the aircraft would be returning to SYD with me on it the turnaround time would not be a problem? The second leg is SYD-OOL on DJ ($65) and OOL-SYD on JQ ($55), both on 26th February. That gives me an overall $278 spend to attain Gold at $5.56/SC. Can anyone find something cheaper than that?

So I'm wondering whether it is worth it to shoot for Gold status keeping in mind that up to March 2013 I'll probably make three or four short domestic return trips, but I think I'd be taking advantage of Anytime Access a bit.

Thanks!

If you are looking for a quick 30SCs you could do a MEL-OOL-MEL return one day (Like while you are visiting me in Melbourne) IIRC that's the cheapest SC/$ ratio around.

Personally I'd go for Gold, especially since its only 400SC to requalify. Each to their own.

Virgin have a soft landing policy. (Although my flight yesterday didn't have such a smooth landing )

 

[markis10]

Only the Flexis earn full SC, so you are going to need to do 5 cheap short trips to get the 50 SC.

 

[AaronBradford]

If you are looking for a quick 30SCs you could do a MEL-OOL-MEL return one day (Like while you are visiting me in Melbourne) IIRC that's the cheapest SC/$ ratio around.

Personally I'd go for Gold, especially since its only 400SC to requalify. Each to their own.

Virgin have a soft landing policy. (Although my flight yesterday didn't have such a smooth landing )

I was thinking about that, but unfortunately I'm not staying overnight in MEL - I have the 9pm flight back so I have to be a bit of a party-pooper

Only the Flexis earn full SC, so you are going to need to do 5 cheap short trips to get the 50 SC.

Damn

 

[The Rok]

Go for GOLD
Go for GOLD
Go for GOLD
Go for GOLD
Go for GOLD
Go for PLATINUM

 

[Moopere]

I have in mind a trip that would net 50 SC for the lowest spend I could find. The first leg involves SYD-BNK-SYD on 25th February ($79 each way)

Who is this with? $158 return SYD-BKK is an amazing price! I don't want to derail your thread, but this sounds like a velocity rewards flight and if so it won't give you any SC or FF's

 

[markis10]

Who is this with? $158 return SYD-BKK is an amazing price! I don't want to derail your thread, but this sounds like a velocity rewards flight and if so it won't give you any SC or FF's

SYD-BNK is normally $79 each way, however Ballina is not Bangkok.

 

[Moopere]

SYD-BNK is normally $79 each way, however Ballina is not Bangkok.

Oops. Read the OP way too quickly and got excited

 

[n17]

Go for Gold, have a year of perks! Then you will drop back to silver get: extra baggage, priority check-in, two lounge passes (or discount men), 50% bonus points for another 12 months. I think its worth it. Theres a ton of cheap flights in happy hour should be easy to pick up 50SC

 

[AaronBradford]

Hmm ... in that case, I can attain Gold by a very ambitious day-trip on 25/2/12:

SYD-OOL DJ505
OOL-MEL DJ728
(a nice break for lounging)
MEL-OOL DJ749
OOL-SYD DJ536

Total cost for this is $338 for the 50SC. There's a tight turn-around in OOL in the morning of 45 minutes ... would that be enough?

 

[samh004]

Go for Gold, have a year of perks! Then you will drop back to silver get: extra baggage, priority check-in, two lounge passes (or discount men), 50% bonus points for another 12 months. I think its worth it. Theres a ton of cheap flights in happy hour should be easy to pick up 50SC

Sorry to go off topic, but where do you get the discount men from?

I’m also aiming higher without a shot at re-qualification, because I see the value in the free year at a higher status, with extra points, and then a soft landing the following year. 50SC is easy!

 

[Justinf]

Go for it.
I did the same thing last year with little hope of being able to maintain Gold status.
But I have enjoyed the free Lounge access and have been given a few op-ups as well.
I still have until late July to enjoy my Gold status and and the soft landing back to silver will at least give me the opportunity to purchase a discounted Lounge membership.

 

[awilcockson]

Hmm ... in that case, I can attain Gold by a very ambitious day-trip on 25/2/12:

SYD-OOL DJ505
OOL-MEL DJ728
(a nice break for lounging)
MEL-OOL DJ749
OOL-SYD DJ536

Just make sure you book SYD-OOL and OOL-MEL separately (and simirlarly MEL-OOL and OOL-SYD), otherwise you will only early SCs for SYD-MEL and MEL-SYD (i.e. 20 SCs rather than 50!)

 

[markis10]

Just make sure you book SYD-OOL and OOL-MEL separately (and simirlarly MEL-OOL and OOL-SYD), otherwise you will only early SCs for SYD-MEL and MEL-SYD (i.e. 20 SCs rather than 50!)

You dont need to book the separately, just make sure they are not classed as transfers, as SYD-OOL-MEL will not show on SYD-MEL options it wont happen!

 

[awilcockson]

You dont need to book the separately, just make sure they are not classed as transfers, as SYD-OOL-MEL will not show on SYD-MEL options it wont happen!

OK fair enough, just would hate for him to fly it expecting to get 50 Scs and only get 20 ...

 

[AaronBradford]

It wouldn't let me book those together anyway as the connection time is less than 90 minutes I think I should be safe though ... hopefully!

 

[AaronBradford]

SYD-OOL-MEL-OOL-SYD booked Gold here I come!

 

[markis10]

SYD-OOL-MEL-OOL-SYD booked Gold here I come!

Dont forget to post the compulsory OOL lounge progress update, its in your interest as a soon to be gunuine Gold member!