2400 SCs earned, 4 more months of flying and won't make P1. What should I do.

[Timsboot]

At the end of my last trip I ticked over the 2,400 SC mark and cashed in for 50,000 points. But now I have to decide where to credit my next four months of flying. I won't make P1 because I am based in BKK and my upcoming big trips are to Europe and America (mainly flying CX). Simply not enough QF numbered SCs. But I probably have another. 800-1000 SCs worth of flying to do this year.

I have been reading about the AA program and how redemption on QF is cheaper using AA. However aside from QF the airline I fly the most is CX. So brains trust, what is your advice. Pile more miles on QF and "waste" the SCs, join AA or CX or some other insider idea?

 

[simongr]

CX are one of the airlines that you can do a challenge to get status I think. That will quickly take you to AA Platinum - same level as QF Gold. If doing lots of flying on CX than AA is a no brainer as you get the status bonus on CX that you don't get when crediting to QF. Status bonus for an AA Plat is 100%.

 

[samh004]

Considering you're already LTG there isn't a lot of incentive to credit to QF I'll agree. I've been coming to terms with a similar scenario, being on 1945 SC 5 months into my year and thinking it's not worth forging past 2400 as I'm only a domestic flyer and P1 domestically means nothing.

In your case, if you fly a lot on CX in premium classes then crediting to AA would probably make more sense now and into the future, perhaps in the future splitting your crediting between the two to achieve QF Platinum on one hand and make the most of the rest of your miles on the other.

Have you also considered a different alliance for the other half of your travels?

 

[drewbles]

CX are one of the airlines that you can do a challenge to get status I think. That will quickly take you to AA Platinum - same level as QF Gold. If doing lots of flying on CX than AA is a no brainer as you get the status bonus on CX that you don't get when crediting to QF. Status bonus for an AA Plat is 100%.

Alas CX don't count for this:

UPDATE: As of July 2012, flights marketed and operated by certain partners will also be eligible to earn points that count toward the completion of a Challenge: British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines and Qantas. (Cathay Pacific is notably missing.) The specific language from the challenge confirmation says "And now you have more opportunities to complete your Challenge because points earned on qualifying flights on American Airlines, American Eagle, the AmericanConnection® carrier, British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas and their eligible codeshare flights count toward your Challenge."

Challenge (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki

Depending on your flying, i'd be considering AAdvantage and ditching QF, but if you travel thru the US, QF WP will get you lounge access on domestic itineraries (AA's Ex Plat/OW Emerald does not grant lounge access on domestic itineraries, only domestic segments as part of an international itinerary).

 

[Grooba]

Depending on your flying, i'd be considering AAdvantage and ditching QF, but if you travel thru the US, QF WP will get you lounge access on domestic itineraries (AA's Ex Plat/OW Emerald does not grant lounge access on domestic itineraries, only domestic segments as part of an international itinerary).

Agreed, based on the OP's flying habits.

Many of us now credit the bare minimum of 1200SC to QF to keep WP/OWE then send any other qualifying flights over to AA where the redemption options and value put QF to shame.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

At the end of my last trip I ticked over the 2,400 SC mark and cashed in for 50,000 points. But now I have to decide where to credit my next four months of flying. I won't make P1 because I am based in BKK and my upcoming big trips are to Europe and America (mainly flying CX). Simply not enough QF numbered SCs. But I probably have another. 800-1000 SCs worth of flying to do this year.

I have been reading about the AA program and how redemption on QF is cheaper using AA. However aside from QF the airline I fly the most is CX. So brains trust, what is your advice. Pile more miles on QF and "waste" the SCs, join AA or CX or some other insider idea?

At the risk of being labelled a traitor... you can get the status match from TK to instantly become a Star Alliance Gold for 2 years. You could then use your flights (perhaps with TG, SQ, TK or another *A partner) over the next 4 months to requalify for another 2 years.
I am a big oneworld fan, but as you've already done LTG and have done Platinum this year, I don't think a little bit of diversification would hurt?

 

[Timsboot]

Alas CX don't count for this:

Depending on your flying, i'd be considering AAdvantage and ditching QF,.

and

Many of us now credit the bare minimum of 1200SC to QF to keep WP/OWE then send any other qualifying flights over to AA where the redemption options and value put QF to shame.

Can you help me out with how the transition works. Say I join AA and end up as a NB or similar on my first flight. How to I get access to lounges and other Emerald benefits from my QF WP status while I ring up the necessary flights to get to a higher status on AA. I presume that I cant have one FF number/program attached to my ticket and then use another program for lounge access, check in counters etc. Not much of an issue when flying J (though will miss out on the CX F lounge) but is an issue if I have to fly some Y segments. Thanks in advance

 

[Timsboot]

I don't think a little bit of diversification would hurt?

is a good idea, the only risk is it may mean flying United to America.....

 

[samh004]

Can you help me out with how the transition works. Say I join AA and end up as a NB or similar on my first flight. How to I get access to lounges and other Emerald benefits from my QF WP status while I ring up the necessary flights to get to a higher status on AA. I presume that I cant have one FF number/program attached to my ticket and then use another program for lounge access, check in counters etc. Not much of an issue when flying J (though will miss out on the CX F lounge) but is an issue if I have to fly some Y segments. Thanks in advance

You can.

As an example, my dad is an CX MPC Diamond (Emerald), but when he books red-e-deals with QF they usually earn nothing to Cathay. When booking he uses his CX MPC number to choose better seats, before switching it out at the airport or before, to make sure miles are earned to QFF. Despite his QFF number being on the BP, he can access the First lounge (or J lounge domestically) by showing his MPC Diamond card, and if necessary they'll check that it's valid.

Only thing that this could perhaps limit is an op-up based on status, as the system wont see you as having status. Though they're not that frequent anyway, at least in my experience, so it's not a huge loss.

 

[drewbles]

and



Can you help me out with how the transition works. Say I join AA and end up as a NB or similar on my first flight. How to I get access to lounges and other Emerald benefits from my QF WP status while I ring up the necessary flights to get to a higher status on AA. I presume that I cant have one FF number/program attached to my ticket and then use another program for lounge access, check in counters etc. Not much of an issue when flying J (though will miss out on the CX F lounge) but is an issue if I have to fly some Y segments. Thanks in advance

Sure. Remember, if you're flying AA without status whilst trying to earn it, you can use your QF WP card to get into lounges and what not.

If you're going to do it properly, pay the money and do the AA Platinum Challenge. Read through the T&C's properly, as it's tougher to get on QF than on AA, but it's entirely possible to do.

The system AA uses actually allows for two FF numbers, but trying to find an agent that knows how to do it is tough. They have a field for FQTV and FQTS. The first is the number you want to use for earning miles towards and the second is for a FF number that you're using for status, ie to get priority boarding/access to lounges etc. Typically I do as above. Add FF number, get seats, then once i'm in the lounge, change the FF number, get the new BP and keep the old; the old has your 'priority AAccess' on it to get on board quickly, which you want on AA

So, once you've got your 1200 on QF, simply start crediting to AA. If doing the challenge, read the link I posted earlier for the ins and outs, and when the best time to start the challenge is. Alas it's not free, but it'll get you to AA Platinum (equivalent of QF SG) very quickly. Executive Platinum, or EXP, is tough to get. 100k EQM's, PQM's or 100,000 Miles BIS. The perks are good if flying AA a bit though!

 

[markis10]

At the risk of being labelled a traitor... you can get the status match from TK to instantly become a Star Alliance Gold for 2 years. You could then use your flights (perhaps with TG, SQ, TK or another *A partner) over the next 4 months to requalify for another 2 years.
I am a big oneworld fan, but as you've already done LTG and have done Platinum this year, I don't think a little bit of diversification would hurt?

Good idea ex Bangkok!

 

[Timsboot]

If you're going to do it properly, pay the money and do the AA Platinum Challenge. Read through the T&C's properly, as it's tougher to get on QF than on AA, but it's entirely possible to do.

The system AA uses actually allows for two FF numbers, but trying to find an agent that knows how to do it is tough. They have a field for FQTV and FQTS. The first is the number you want to use for earning miles towards and the second is for a FF number that you're using for status, ie to get priority boarding/access to lounges etc. Typically I do as above. Add FF number, get seats, then once i'm in the lounge, change the FF number, get the new BP and keep the old; the old has your 'priority AAccess' on it to get on board quickly, which you want on AA
!

Thanks for the advice. Time now to put the AA challenge into action. I have a flight in two weeks (early Sept) BKK-SYD-BKK on QF in J. Then in late October BKK to LHR in F, LHR to BKK in J. Plus a return LHR to AMS in J on BA. Finally in November I will be BKK to NYC and back in J. Probably CX but might have to move it to JAL if I want to contribute to the challenge.

Does that sound like enough to meet the challenge criteria ?

thanks