Pay Points to Extend Qantas Status

[readyone]

Looks like I'm going to fall around 280 credits short of retaining Platinum this year and will drop back to (lifetime) Gold for the first time in 10 years. Qantas rang today to offer me 12 more months Platinum for 120,000 points (just over 50% of my current balance) and I declined as I won't be flying as much as I used to over the next 12 months.

Has anyone had a better offer than 120k points? I've probably got 12-15 domestic return trips ahead of me over the next 12 months (80% of them in the next 3 months) and I just don't think it's worth it.

 

[Kerrodt]

If you’re LTG and you only expect mainly domestic travel in the near future, then I’d suggest that LTG will serve you well for the coming year.

 

[RooFlyer]

120K was the extortion request I got. Ridiculous. I earned it the old fashioned way a month later (and the bookings were in place, and ticketed when the offer was made )

 

[Steady]

120k here also - had already retained WP but had to wait for 40 DSC’s to post

 

[JohnK]

Has anyone had a better offer than 120k points? I've probably got 12-15 domestic return trips ahead of me over the next 12 months (80% of them in the next 3 months) and I just don't think it's worth it.

You won't find better than 120,000 points. Gold is 80,000 points.

Some have reported getting status comped for free.

 

[Danp]

Hi All,

Looks like I'll be falling short of retaining platinum for the first time in about 5/6 years of being at that level by 160 SCs as my membership year ends at the end of the month and I have not more flights I "need" to take.

I did get a call from Qantas offering me to retain platinum if I paid 120,000 points to keep my status from falling to gold. I have at this point said no to the offer as I feel that is quite a large amount of points for only 160 status credits short.


Does anyone else have any ideas on retaining platinum for a lower amount of points under the above offer? I thought I had heard stories that the first time you missed retaining your level of FF membership they would often give you one freebie at the higher level?

Alternatively, any ideas on a cheapish status run to get the last 160 SCs before end of the month if I'm based out of Sydney?

 

[serfty]

My minimum value of 120k QFF points (based on attaining) is approx. $2000.

A business return to AKL can earn that 160 SC.

Tough with only two weeks.

 

[JohnK]

With school holidays approaching last minute airfares are not cheap. You won't get a better points offer and don't count on free comps these days.

How much do you value Platinum and how much are you prepared to spend?

 

[Danp]

With school holidays approaching last minute airfares are not cheap. You won't get a better points offer and don't count on free comps these days.

How much do you value Platinum and how much are you prepared to spend?

I was thinking around the $1,000-$1,500 mark would be worth while but not sure I'll find anything that can get me over the line in this short a time period.


I do really value Platinum for the F/J lounge access but probably not 120,000 points worth to be honest. If there was a much larger gap on my SC's than 160 I'd be more open to considering it.

 

[RooFlyer]

I thought I had heard stories that the first time you missed retaining your level of FF membership they would often give you one freebie at the higher level?

The used to be an unpublished 'benefit' where if you averaged Plat over the 3 years before the one where your came up short, you could get 'comped'. Extremely rare these days. I was plat for 10+ Years, then fell short. Got the 120K offer as above.

 

[Danp]

My minimum value of 120k QFF points (based on attaining) is approx. $2000.

A business return to AKL can earn that 160 SC.

Tough with only two weeks.

Yeah its looking quite expensive over the next 2 weeks. The other flight options I was thinking about would be say a Sydney - Townsville in Domestic J as that is around 100 SCs each way but not looking great in terms of fare pricing for that either at this stage

 

[serfty]

This thread may assist:

Wiki - Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

But it is really tough at less than three weeks notice.

 

[Danp]

The used to be an unpublished 'benefit' where if you averaged Plat over the 3 years before the one where your came up short, you could get 'comped'. Extremely rare these days. I was plat for 10+ Years, then fell short. Got the 120K offer as above.

Ok good to know, your run of 10+ years is a lot longer than mine too so looks like that doesn't really make an impact.


How many SCs short were you out of interest in the year you got the 120k points offer? I wonder how close you have to get to renewing at 1,200 SCs before they make that offer?

 

[serfty]

I was thinking around the $1,000-$1,500 mark would be worth while but not sure I'll find anything that can get me over the line in this short a time period

You can book SYD-AKL-SYD 21st/22nd for $1360 to earn that 160 SC with business "sale" fares. need to overnight in AKL.

If you have a free weekday it may be possible as a day trip.

 

[RooFlyer]

How many SCs short were you out of interest in the year you got the 120k points offer? I wonder how close you have to get to renewing at 1,200 SCs before they make that offer?

I was about 200 SCs short, and didn't get an 'offer'. I knew I would requal with a RTW I was leaving on in 6 weeks time, so when absolutely nothing happened when my year ticked over (and I went down to LTG), I called seeking a status challenge, so I could get F lounge benefits on the trip. Na. 120K points for the 6 weeks. No, thanks.

 

[Cessna 180]

How many SCs short were you out of interest in the year you got the 120k points offer? I wonder how close you have to get to renewing at 1,200 SCs before they make that offer?[/QUOTE]


It doesn’t matter if you are 10 or 1000 short. The offer of 120000 points is the same.

 

[RichardMEL]

MEL-SYD-OOL r/t in J can get 160 SC for just under $1500.

 

[mviy]

If you know you'll fall short it's better to plan ahead and take advantage of a DSC offer to get status credits more cheaply. Bit late for that now though.

MEL-SYD-OOL r/t in J can get 160 SC for just under $1500.

I like that but Danp is based in SYD so it may/may not be practical for Danp.

 

[kamchatsky]

Is there a offer to retain Gold as well? Or just Platinum only so far?

 

[serfty]

Is there a offer to retain Gold as well? Or just Platinum only so far?

In the OP's case, and given 1) the OP likely has 1040SC and 2) the anecdotal existence of QFF's undocumented 'soft landing', that's not likely to be an issue.

I have come across SG buy ups for others but can't find the reference.