160SC Short of Gold

[Deleted member]

I must admit I have been grappling with whether to try for the needed 80SC to make Gold this year. 4months to go, but no travel expected at this stage, all done for the year. Would be nice to get over the line, but don't really see any major benefit now that I have shifted most of my international travel away from QF. Also most domestic travel in J on pts, so no real benefits from lounge access. As Robolb says, could cost a lot just to get Gold, could cost more than QP. Undecided....

Is that international travel with OW? Status might be valuable if so

 

[OATEK]

Is that international travel with OW? Status might be valuable if so

Next big OS trip in J with CX, so good access to lounges in SYD, HKG and CDG. Don't see any real status benefit from QF Gold for that trip. Did JQ SYD-MCY-SYD a couple of weeks ago, and no lounge access for that. Off to MEL this week in QF and VA J on points, so plenty of lounge access there. I would really love to get Gold from the point of view that being nearly retired that is as high as I will ever go, but trying to be realistic about whether there is value apart from getting over that line once.

Back in the day when I did a lot of domestic Y for work I never even thought about FF programs and status, or I would probably made an equivalent level (before losing all my points with Ansett). Perhaps if I get a double SC offer I might do a domestic return to pick up the 80SC, but otherwise, F lounge notwithstanding, I don't think I will be bothered with flights across the ditch just for SC.

 

[Reeldeel]

I travel QF weekly for work. Love the airline and the service is generally very good.

I used to think that achieving status meant lounge access and a more relaxing commuting experience.
I now find myself more frequently bypassing the lounge and waiting at the gate. Some domestic Qantas lounges have become a noisy and slightly stressful experience with very ordinary offerings and rude people.

Sorry if I am complaining but my point is that I would not go all out to achieve status anymore on the basis of lounge access.

 

[RichardMEL]

OATEK isn't that delectable morsel of the QF SYD F lounge titbit just enough to tempt you to fly SYD - AKL/SYD - CHC in F and then back in whY?
If you have done the SYD F lounge, then I take the above back, but if not, SYD - AKL/SYD - CHC while $$$ will elicit a visit to the F lounge.
I know I would aim it just for it once.
Though, have to say, when my this one more year of SG ends, I will go back down to QF PS, and travel less often, but more opulently that one return trip each year (F).

Pooch, not everyone is obsessed with the F lounge.. as nice as it is. The OP originally set a budget of around $1k - you're proposing significantly more (and who'd want to go from F back to Y? it would be more even to go J both ways).

Also noting pre these morning EK departures the F lounge offers breakfast. Not a bad breakfast, specially with some bubbles, but not the full menu and for those that enjoy spa treatments, that option is pretty much out too. The value is not really there IMHO 9and I've done it before).

Everyone's mileage varies of course, and everyone has different goals. Yours is clearly to try the F lounge, and more power to you and hope you enjoy it. Next stop CX The Pier F in HKG? Others have different priorities

IMHO

 

[RichardMEL]

Status means different things to different people. Some wear it on their sleeve, some don't care, some see it as useful in certain situations and irrelevant in others. I think of myself as one of the later.

For example, if you're on a paid (or award) international trip in a premium cabin (let's say the CX J as above) then you'll get Biz lounge access included. Sure, a OW Emerald status will get you into F lounges, and no doubt QF at SYD/MEL and CX at HKG are magnificant places to wait for a flight) but for many people who would prefer short transits and not much airport time, then a J lounge is more than fine specially if you can fit a shower in at the mideay point.

For others who fly domestically weekly (road warriors) status probably doesn't mean a lot, for example most RW's I know of get there as late as possible, get on plane, endure, and get off. so lounges etc don't mean much, maybe priority boarding helps, but we all know QF is hit and miss there anyway and most travel HLO so again status doesn't help much.

but I find status very helpful for other situations - eg: flying domestic USA where OWE (and even OWR and OWS) get you free bags and some sort of priority treatment) and sometimes the odd op-up and same day free change /standby etc I have used and appreciated).

the big part where status can help over and above a paid premium fare is when things go bad. your airline will tend to focus on the higher status (and paid fare pax) first and can be quite helpful (not always though) in terms of flight re-routes, or even standard of accom offered (no UA, that Red Roof Inn is not what I want !). and so on.

my point is every situation is different.. someone's value of, for example, QF Gold is far different to another person's and all depends on use - current and future and what one does to achieve it. There's no "one size fits all" here.

 

[opusman]

Also noting pre these morning EK departures the F lounge offers breakfast. Not a bad breakfast, specially with some bubbles, but not the full menu and for those that enjoy spa treatments, that option is pretty much out too. The value is not really there IMHO 9and I've done it before).

Agree with this. The F lounge is nice but if it's your first experience of it and something you're really looking forward to, an early morning EK flight would be a complete waste. The QF F lounge doesn't even open until about half an hour before boarding starts. It's certainly not a relaxing first class experience.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Bubble of dreams just exploded.
Thanks Opusman.

 

[RichardMEL]

Agree with this. The F lounge is nice but if it's your first experience of it and something you're really looking forward to, an early morning EK flight would be a complete waste. The QF F lounge doesn't even open until about half an hour before boarding starts. It's certainly not a relaxing first class experience.

I think the opening times at SYD and MEL have been amended somewhat, and it's easier with Daylight savings during the Oz summer. eg at MEL the EK AKL departure leaves 0810, board from around 0730(at least last time I flew it IIRC) and the lounge opens prior to 0600, so plenty of time there. i think it's similar in SYD.

Winter is a bit different with the hour earlier departures.

 

[opusman]

I think the opening times at SYD and MEL have been amended somewhat, and it's easier with Daylight savings during the Oz summer. eg at MEL the EK AKL departure leaves 0810, board from around 0730(at least last time I flew it IIRC) and the lounge opens prior to 0600, so plenty of time there. i think it's similar in SYD.

I actually took EK406 a few weeks ago; the lounge opened on the dot of 6 and they called boarding at 6:30. So enough time for breakfast but not much else.

Agree in Summer the extra hour would be better.

 

[Reeldeel]

Status means different things to different people. Some wear it on their sleeve, some don't care, some see it as useful in certain situations and irrelevant in others. I think of myself as one of the later.

For example, if you're on a paid (or award) international trip in a premium cabin (let's say the CX J as above) then you'll get Biz lounge access included. Sure, a OW Emerald status will get you into F lounges, and no doubt QF at SYD/MEL and CX at HKG are magnificant places to wait for a flight) but for many people who would prefer short transits and not much airport time, then a J lounge is more than fine specially if you can fit a shower in at the mideay point.

For others who fly domestically weekly (road warriors) status probably doesn't mean a lot, for example most RW's I know of get there as late as possible, get on plane, endure, and get off. so lounges etc don't mean much, maybe priority boarding helps, but we all know QF is hit and miss there anyway and most travel HLO so again status doesn't help much.

but I find status very helpful for other situations - eg: flying domestic USA where OWE (and even OWR and OWS) get you free bags and some sort of priority treatment) and sometimes the odd op-up and same day free change /standby etc I have used and appreciated).

the big part where status can help over and above a paid premium fare is when things go bad. your airline will tend to focus on the higher status (and paid fare pax) first and can be quite helpful (not always though) in terms of flight re-routes, or even standard of accom offered (no UA, that Red Roof Inn is not what I want !). and so on.

my point is every situation is different.. someone's value of, for example, QF Gold is far different to another person's and all depends on use - current and future and what one does to achieve it. There's no "one size fits all" here.[/QUOTE


Totally agree RM. As a "road warrior", lounge access is, well, "meh". I usually have carry on only and arrive at the gate with about ten minutes to spare.
However, when the wife and I travel overseas the lounge becomes the perk and a place where we can refresh and relax. If Qantas could add a bit of that magic to their domestic lounges then I'm sure they would steal a bit more business such as mine.

 

[Steady]

Totally agree RM. As a "road warrior", lounge access is, well, "meh". I usually have carry on only and arrive at the gate with about ten minutes to spare.
However, when the wife and I travel overseas the lounge becomes the perk and a place where we can refresh and relax. If Qantas could add a bit of that magic to their domestic lounges then I'm sure they would steal a bit more business such as mine.

There are many roads - not just the ones QF and VA fly directly between.

As someone who has to connect to a destination not serviced by flights departing every 30, 45 or 60 minutes I find the lounges valuable.

 

[RichardMEL]

Totally agree RM. As a "road warrior", lounge access is, well, "meh". I usually have carry on only and arrive at the gate with about ten minutes to spare.
However, when the wife and I travel overseas the lounge becomes the perk and a place where we can refresh and relax. If Qantas could add a bit of that magic to their domestic lounges then I'm sure they would steal a bit more business such as mine.

I think the new PER J lounge, and BNE lounges to come are a real step in this direction.

 

[ithongy]

To the OP you might want to consider SYD-NAN in J return flying on a QF no to net 160SC. Not too sure if you can do same day turn around.

 

[OATEK]

newcomic, have you had any targeted offers from QF. I got an offer of SC on reward flights this week. A little more tempted with that....

 

[coyote25]

I guess you can use a points booking if you do so by Tuesday 6 October and register.
https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/memberSpecials/classic-rewards-status-credit-offer-sep15