10 SC short to retain gold, best option?

[slowpod]

Newbie question: will be 10 SC short to retain gold, membership ends 30 Sep. Already done green tier. What other options available besides a short hop to TAS (I'm MEL based)? Any possibility of buying SC using points? What is your experience?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Newbie question: will be 10 SC short to retain gold, membership ends 30 Sep. Already done green tier. What other options available besides a short hop to TAS (I'm MEL based)? Any possibility of buying SC using points? What is your experience?

I think it’s a short trip. Can’t buy SCs using points, unless you’re points club, then an award seat would earn SCs, but at a reduced rate.

 

[Hvr]

I think it’s a short trip.

Agree. Are you happy to spend a night somewhere? Fly out on Saturday 30 Sept and return on Sunday 01 Oct.

Or fly to the cheapest destination on a paid fare, probably SYD and return on a points redemption ticket later that day.

Enjoy a couple of hours in the lounge.

 

[SYD]

You could contact QF and see if they’ll comp you?

But a short hop somewhere would be safest. Pay oneway / points the other?

 

[tdimdad]

Jetstar to ADL, SYD or LST might be the cheapest way for you to get the remaining 10SC, especially if you have the flexibility to travel on any day of the week, on a 6 am flight or from Avalon. Find the cheapest flight and add the Plus bundle, and you're sorted. Then a reward flight back home.

 

[ChrisMars]

You could contact QF and see if they’ll comp you?

But a short hop somewhere would be safest. Pay oneway / points the other?

Ya +1 on this, there was a couple of reports of this happening this year (unheared of before), though cant remember if it was to qual or requal. OP shouldnt expect success, but can hope for a nice gesture.

 

[SYD]

Ya +1 on this, there was a couple of reports of this happening this year (unheared of before), though cant remember if it was to qual or requal. OP shouldnt expect success, but can hope for a nice gesture.

Yes, there was at least one person but it was 1 SC to requal! Maybe a second person off the back of that success.

 

[slowpod]

Thanks for all the very helpful suggestions. It does look like a short trip is the best way to go. Trying to get a comp from Qantas could be risky, would be the last resort imo.

 

[bussyboy]

Wife short ten SC for gold

Hi all, My wife and I went for a short hop from HBA to MEL this week on discount economy with the double status credit promotion to get her the last 30 points she needed before her end-April membership year for her first ever gold status upgrade. Trouble is, we have subsequently discovered she...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Thanks for all the very helpful suggestions. It does look like a short trip is the best way to go. Trying to get a comp from Qantas could be risky, would be the last resort imo.

Best not to risk it. Yes they may comp but no guarantees, and wouldn't it be a pity to downgrade to Silver all because you didn't take one flight? I always point out to people that status has zero value unless you use it. The more you fly the more valuable that status is, especially on international travel like access the Emirates lounge when flying to Europe or across the ditch, or the American Flagship lounge when flying domestically in the US.

There are plenty of options to get you to that point, albeit the cheapest is probably Melbourne to Adelaide for $279 return (it's the cheapest same-day turn I could find on Qantas from Melbourne to Australia). Others have pointed out that you could book it as a one-way then use an award ticket, and I guess that could save you a couple of bucks. However, one has to wonder how much "cost savings" there are versus the points you have to spend (and the taxes and fees you have to pay) on a classic award especially since you are forgoing earning QF points on the return, too.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Tryin Bingham]

Outside the box thought - I recall seeing a cc offer that awarded SCs. 50 from memory. It would appear that you have enough time to satisfy that qualification - there was a minimum spend and 'allow for X weeks' to credit your account clause.

Otherwise I second all the others. A short jaunt and a couple of coffees later....

 

[Tryin Bingham]

Outside the box thought - I recall seeing a cc offer that awarded SCs. 50 from memory. It would appear that you have enough time to satisfy that qualification - there was a minimum spend and 'allow for X weeks' to credit your account clause.

Otherwise I second all the others. A short jaunt and a couple of coffees later....

Searching now, I think this offer is ancient history. The QF Premier Titanium card gives 20% bonus SCs - however the $1200 fee is multiples of your flight to ADL.

 

[slowpod]

Searching now, I think this offer is ancient history. The QF Premier Titanium card gives 20% bonus SCs - however the $1200 fee is multiples of your flight to ADL.

Yeah, I remember something like that, but seems a very expensive way of getting 10 SC.

 

[Kceips]

Ya +1 on this, there was a couple of reports of this happening this year (unheared of before), though cant remember if it was to qual or requal. OP shouldnt expect success, but can hope for a nice gesture.

I just got an email from qantas telling me to ring them if I want to keep my gold status for another year. At the time they sent the email I had 440 SC for the year.
I have just flown on Qatar and am waiting for points to appear so shouldn’t need to be comped anyway.

 

[RichardMEL]

I just got an email from qantas telling me to ring them if I want to keep my gold status for another year. At the time they sent the email I had 440 SC for the year.
I have just flown on Qatar and am waiting for points to appear so shouldn’t need to be comped anyway.

Interesting. sounds like the "pay to retain" (with points) offers may be back again... and being a bit proactive.

Post automatically merged: Aug 18, 2023

IIRC there was a promo pre pandemic with ANZ Black that included 75 bonus SC'. I don't think there's been a CC based SC offer for awhile though.

 

[Tryin Bingham]

Interesting. sounds like the "pay to retain" (with points) offers may be back again... and being a bit proactive.

Post automatically merged: Aug 18, 2023

IIRC there was a promo pre pandemic with ANZ Black that included 75 bonus SC'. I don't think there's been a CC based SC offer for awhile though.

That was the one. You're spot on. An SC bonus on top of the points, or a choice bw points or SCs. I recall it being a card with the usual mid-tier annual fees ($250-450) not the Titanium slap of $1000+

 

[CaptJCool]

well hopefully the OP got the extra 10SC with the AGM announced SCs QFF Bonus Status Credits/Points gift on back of Aug 2023 profit

 

[slowpod]

Yes, got 5000/75 bonus, problems solved, now off to cancel some flights...

 

[joelby]

With the Jetstar Plus Bundle, any idea how long it takes for Qantas SC to be awarded recently? I'm also 10 SC short and I took such a flight yesterday, but am now worried I'm cutting it fine with only five days to go!

 

[SYD]

With the Jetstar Plus Bundle, any idea how long it takes for Qantas SC to be awarded recently? I'm also 10 SC short and I took such a flight yesterday, but am now worried I'm cutting it fine with only five days to go!

Give a day or two. Unless you have immediate need for the rolled over status, you ought to be ok getting the SCs to count towards requalifying.

Also, welcome to AFF and your 1st post!

PS did you get the 30 or 75 gratis SC offer?