A shortcut to Status

[Moindardt]

I am currently sitting in the *cough* QF first class international lounge *cough* in Brisbane, working out how to get to the first class lounge Hong Kong, wondering how on earth I got here. Before this 2015, I didn't even know lounges existed, much less seen inside of one. Even when I was flying business class, I was that guy that was running to the plane just before the doors closed. After all the airline strikes 25+ years ago, my entry into an airport was one of absolute last possible choice. Having kids (4 of them) made me even more determined to stay away as I could see the disaster any of those type of delays would cause.

After moving house, we had to change dance studios. Last September, their new studio performed at Disneyland and did a workshop on Broadway. So we turned it into a trip and did Los Angeles and Harry Potter World and San Francisco as well. So much of what we did was a total disaster. We had no idea of what we were doing and so many things of where a disaster. My wife ended up next to the toilets in coach on 3 separate AA flights. We said, "great, we have done it, will never do it again!" I had joined QFF the night before the flight at the insistence of our agent.

At Christmas last year, my brother and his fiancé told us their wedding was going to be in Ibiza. Congratulations we said and that was the last of it. A couple of months later, my Brother rings up and goes "so?" , "so what?" I respond. "You coming to the wedding?" "Umm.. Who is going to look after the kids? My wife's dead parents?" "Maybe Mum and Dad can?", "I think they will be busy.. At your wedding!". We left it at I would discuss it with my wife, but after the disasters we had last year, doubt it.

A week or so later I get an email from QFF saying I am 5 points away from gold and if I get gold I get access to lounges etc. What are lounges I wonder? And so begins my descent into the soul consuming abyss that is Frequent Flyer and Hotel loyalty schemes. A week later I had a same day return flight from Brisbane to Sydney upgraded on points. I hit gold as my newly downloaded Qantas app, that a guy in the lounge told me about, showed. Anyway I turned up to the airport late for the return flight. I went to the counter and they said it's ok, I am gold flying business class, and just moved my flight. No having to pay for a new ticket. This meant I actually had time to go to the lounge and have a meal and some drinks. OMG!! How good is this status stuff.

Not long after that, we decided to go to the wedding and turn it into a trip to London, Rome and Paris as well. I thought the couple of hours I had spent on Ausbt had made me a hardcore frequent flyer guru. So little did know. As planning went on, I realised how much more I needed to know and started trawling through AFF and Flyertalk. This started my real education on the power of DYKWIA! *just joking* however status was a powerful tool and if I was going to not repeat past mistakes, I needed it.

Time to get on my first flight with Cathay. I have heard so much about their J product and now get to try it. . More when I am sitting in the wing

 

[OATEK]

I am currently sitting in the *cough* QF first class international lounge *cough* in Brisbane, working out how to get to the first class lounge Hong Kong, wondering how on earth I got here. Before this 2015, I didn't even know lounges existed, much less seen inside of one. Even when I was flying business class, I was that guy that was running to the plane just before the doors closed. After all the airline strikes 25+ years ago, my entry into an airport was one of absolute last possible choice. Having kids (4 of them) made me even more determined to stay away as I could see the disaster any of those type of delays would cause.

After moving house, we had to change dance studios. Last September, their new studio performed at Disneyland and did a workshop on Broadway. So we turned it into a trip and did Los Angeles and Harry Potter World and San Francisco as well. So much of what we did was a total disaster. We had no idea of what we were doing and so many things of where a disaster. My wife ended up next to the toilets in coach on 3 separate AA flights. We said, "great, we have done it, will never do it again!" I had joined QFF the night before the flight at the insistence of our agent.

At Christmas last year, my brother and his fiancé told us their wedding was going to be in Ibiza. Congratulations we said and that was the last of it. A couple of months later, my Brother rings up and goes "so?" , "so what?" I respond. "You coming to the wedding?" "Umm.. Who is going to look after the kids? My wife's dead parents?" "Maybe Mum and Dad can?", "I think they will be busy.. At your wedding!". We left it at I would discuss it with my wife, but after the disasters we had last year, doubt it.

A week or so later I get an email from QFF saying I am 5 points away from gold and if I get gold I get access to lounges etc. What are lounges I wonder? And so begins my descent into the soul consuming abyss that is Frequent Flyer and Hotel loyalty schemes. A week later I had a same day return flight from Brisbane to Sydney upgraded on points. I hit gold as my newly downloaded Qantas app, that a guy in the lounge told me about, showed. Anyway I turned up to the airport late for the return flight. I went to the counter and they said it's ok, I am gold flying business class, and just moved my flight. No having to pay for a new ticket. This meant I actually had time to go to the lounge and have a meal and some drinks. OMG!! How good is this status stuff.

Not long after that, we decided to go to the wedding and turn it into a trip to London, Rome and Paris as well. I thought the couple of hours I had spent on Ausbt had made me a hardcore frequent flyer guru. So little did know. As planning went on, I realised how much more I needed to know and started trawling through AFF and Flyertalk. This started my real education on the power of DYKWIA! *just joking* however status was a powerful tool and if I was going to not repeat past mistakes, I needed it.

Time to get on my first flight with Cathay. I have heard so much about their J product and now get to try it. . More when I am sitting in the wing

I love this line "the soul consuming abyss that is Frequent Flyer and Hotel loyalty schemes".

I was travelling Y to the UK every year, and sometimes twice, on either QF or CX between 2006 and 2012, and while aware of lounges, and occasionally guested in, didn't think much of it. The there was a QP offer (no joining fee) and with work paying half, I jumped on it. But still status was in the back of my mind, for other people.

Then in 2012 I began planning a more expansive trip, and in googling various things came upon AFF. I will be gold for the first time next week, and have been flying 80% J over the last 2+ years. My wife enjoys flying J so much she has stopped saying "are you ever going to stop playing around on the flying site"!

I love CX J (and QF J, and AY J)....

 

[Pushka]

I My wife enjoys flying J so much she has stopped saying "are you ever going to stop playing around on the flying site"!

Change 'my wife' to 'my partner' and that is quintessential AFF.

 

[Moindardt]

Sitting in the restaurant in the Wing first class lounge (the pier is too far away), having just had a lovely shower, I have to wonder whether all this status stuff is really worth it. I wonder for about a millisecond and place my order for Chef's special omelet.

Back to to my noob trials and tribulations. Having reserved our flights, my wife decided that instead of a 40th party, she wanted a Louis Vitton from the Paris main store and this trip was to be her celebration. As we were going to go in J, with the kids down the back, despite the stupid pricing, I decided to upgrade us to F. I was Gold as well, so between the two, Feel the Powa!! And then a reality check. Because we have 4 kids, we either have to leave 2 outside or no lounges. Also we had no status with hotels, so unless we were paying for special treatment, there was none forthcoming. Trust me, when you have 4 kids, you need a little leeway.

I spent every waking moment on websites reading. I got the Amex platinum and Citi Prestige based on the recommendations of the forum. Because we were always going to have 2 rooms, we decided to go with SPG. We had already booked the Taj in London and added The St Regis in Rome and Prince de Galles with best rate guarantees at the Taj and St Regis.

So we had hotel programs sorted out and airline program but only at gold status for both thanks to credit cards. Real recognition comes at platinum. Having QF platinum wasn't really going to help us as most lounges are not kid friendly and only +1.

My dad and I had many times over the years, discussed a little business opportunity in the states but it was severely limited by the lack of control we had over the infrastructure. While I had been in New York the previous year, I said looked into and we could do it if we set up a US company. Long and short is, if I could fly to New York and set things in motion, we could do it. If I am going to New York, why not do one of the Mileage runs I keep reading about. That still doesn't fix our +1 issue. After more research I found there was no age Limit and if my 13 yr old came with me in the holidays, we could do this. A bit more digging came up with issues of other Runners. We decided to add some extra runs into it just in case. Now I know that original routing credits would have applied. As we had extra runs and I was already gold, I put decided to do the American Airline Platinum Challege. After some advice from here, we changed it around as a business class flight from BNE-LAX completes the challenge.

Time to board my flight to NRT and then on to LAX. Details of the QF Plat MR, AA Plat Challenge and SPG Platinum Challenge to come while I sit in the QF Flounge in LAX, along with some photos if i can work this stupid ipad out.

 

[love_the_life]

Sorry Moindardt, it annoys me when parents fly J or F and put the kids in Y. I know people do it but it gets right up my nose.
Apart from that it is interesting to read your experiences with getting points and status.

 

[Moopere]

Sorry Moindardt, it annoys me when parents fly J or F and put the kids in Y. I know people do it but it gets right up my nose.
Apart from that it is interesting to read your experiences with getting points and status.

Yeah I ponder this. For a long time, without thinking a lot, I guess I probably fell down on the side of 'equality for all' - we all travel J or we all travel Y.

I'm reconsidering that position though. Dependent upon age to a large degree I think, the children just don't really care. I mean, -you- might care, but the kids don't. Sort of like buying your 4yo daughter an $8000 Louis Vuitton handbag. Would she care or even prefer if it were a colourful Target plastic special? Probably not.

Other things fall into a similar category. I recently traveled with wife and son and we stayed at both a Hilton and Holiday Inn during the trip (Asia). I'm used to staying in Exec rooms and suites now (oh, status, how it changes you!) - so made sure we were all accommodated in the manner to which -I- had become accustomed. You know what? Despite son being mid teens, he really didn't care, it was lost on him. At this age his mind is totally consumed with other things (video games and girls mainly, with what little is left after those ... school ... oh and food hehe).

Would it have made any difference at all if I'd scored a suite for the wife and myself and put son into a standard room? I'm convinced it wouldn't have. In fact, it would have probably been better. Suites have sitting or dining rooms and lounge areas separate from the bedroom and kids generally 'hang out' with their parents using their own room to simply sleep in.

With J versus Y seating on planes - chances are good that because of the increasingly private nature of J, family interaction, such as it is, during the flight would be minimal with all seated in J. As for comfort level and food etc, probably depends again on age and also temperament of the child. From probably tweenage to late teens for me food was just fuel, I would be more interested in either staring at or interacting with a cute girl nearby than to recline and have a sleep ... or, if I did have an electric recliner then my interest wouldn't have extended past moving the mechanism up and down up and down non stop in endless fascination. hehehe.

Because I'm a strong believer in egalitarianism I still have a niggle about it at the back of my head - but I'm inclined to try the theory at the next opportunity to see whats what.

 

[love_the_life]

I'm not having a go at Moindardt and it's not so much about the money/points being wasted on the children if they don't appreciate or care.
IMO it's that they become someone else's problem down the back of the plane. I don't care how many times a parent may go down to check on them, in effect they are unaccompanied minors and it is not up to the other passengers around them or the FAs to keep an eye on them. I know, I know people will say that they have travelled with children who are much better behaved than adults and I am sure they have, but I don't want to be in that situation, though come to think of it haven't done Y for a while on an international flight.
I'm just a grumpy old bag I guess.

 

[andye]

Sitting in the restaurant in the Wing first class lounge (the pier is too far away), having just had a lovely shower, I have to wonder whether all this status stuff is really worth it. I wonder for about a millisecond and place my order for Chef's special omelet.

Back to to my noob trials and tribulations. Having reserved our flights, my wife decided that instead of a 40th party, she wanted a Louis Vitton from the Paris main store and this trip was to be her celebration. As we were going to go in J, with the kids down the back, despite the stupid pricing, I decided to upgrade us to F. I was Gold as well, so between the two, Feel the Powa!! And then a reality check. Because we have 4 kids, we either have to leave 2 outside or no lounges. Also we had no status with hotels, so unless we were paying for special treatment, there was none forthcoming. Trust me, when you have 4 kids, you need a little leeway.

I spent every waking moment on websites reading. I got the Amex platinum and Citi Prestige based on the recommendations of the forum. Because we were always going to have 2 rooms, we decided to go with SPG. We had already booked the Taj in London and added The St Regis in Rome and Prince de Galles with best rate guarantees at the Taj and St Regis.

So we had hotel programs sorted out and airline program but only at gold status for both thanks to credit cards. Real recognition comes at platinum. Having QF platinum wasn't really going to help us as most lounges are not kid friendly and only +1.

My dad and I had many times over the years, discussed a little business opportunity in the states but it was severely limited by the lack of control we had over the infrastructure. While I had been in New York the previous year, I said looked into and we could do it if we set up a US company. Long and short is, if I could fly to New York and set things in motion, we could do it. If I am going to New York, why not do one of the Mileage runs I keep reading about. That still doesn't fix our +1 issue. After more research I found there was no age Limit and if my 13 yr old came with me in the holidays, we could do this. A bit more digging came up with issues of other Runners. We decided to add some extra runs into it just in case. Now I know that original routing credits would have applied. As we had extra runs and I was already gold, I put decided to do the American Airline Platinum Challege. After some advice from here, we changed it around as a business class flight from BNE-LAX completes the challenge.

Time to board my flight to NRT and then on to LAX. Details of the QF Plat MR, AA Plat Challenge and SPG Platinum Challenge to come while I sit in the QF Flounge in LAX, along with some photos if i can work this stupid ipad out.

I understand AA are quite generous with family access for Admiral's Club members in their own lounges

 

[Moopere]

I'm not having a go at Moindardt and it's not so much about the money/points being wasted on the children if they don't appreciate or care.

I'd be lying to suggest that the points and money aspect isn't a consideration for me. I guess I'm always hunting for 'best value' which is different from best price. It does come down to knowing your children I guess. If you know they'd enjoy it then I've no problem. As I said above though, if I feel its totally lost on them then I'd be disingenuous to try and say to folks that I won't try to save some money and points. Ultimately, that cost can be put towards activities that they might enjoy and will appreciate.

IMO it's that they become someone else's problem down the back of the plane. I don't care how many times a parent may go down to check on them, in effect they are unaccompanied minors and it is not up to the other passengers around them or the FAs to keep an eye on them.

Thats a very reasonable point. I must admit, I did pay particular attention to booking side by side hotel rooms. I want the child to feel we're close at hand, and -I- want to know they are close at hand too. I doubt I'll extend my musings on this subject to wife and I on level 50 of a hotel in a suite with child(ren) on level 20 and far out of sight.

If I knew that Moopere Jr. was prone to being a bit naughty, or noisy, or any likeminded behavior I'd be a lot more cautious.

I know, I know people will say that they have travelled with children who are much better behaved than adults and I am sure they have, but I don't want to be in that situation, though come to think of it haven't done Y for a while on an international flight.
I'm just a grumpy old bag I guess.

No, I wouldn't say that and I didn't mean to imply anything either. I picked up this piece of the thread because its going through my mind at the moment.

 

[Moopere]

I understand AA are quite generous with family access for Admiral's Club members in their own lounges

And with this in mind, I wouldn't dream of leaving the kids outside whilst wife and I enjoy the lounge.

 

[love_the_life]

Thats a very reasonable point. I must admit, I did pay particular attention to booking side by side hotel rooms. I want the child to feel we're close at hand, and -I- want to know they are close at hand too. I doubt I'll extend my musings on this subject to wife and I on level 50 of a hotel in a suite with child(ren) on level 20 and far out of sight.

If I knew that Moopere Jr. was prone to being a bit naughty, or noisy, or any likeminded behavior I'd be a lot more cautious.

No, I wouldn't say that and I didn't mean to imply anything either. I picked up this piece of the thread because its going through my mind at the moment.

I think having hotel rooms next to each other is somewhat different, especially as many are interconnecting anyway. I agree with your thoughts of you and your wife on Level 50 and the kiddies on Level 20! We've had adjoining rooms in the past when the children were young and we travelled as a family (well grown up now). We did have one who was prone to naughtiness but when he was out he was usually well behaved and in fact older people used to comment on his wonderful manners.

I didn't direct my comment at you at all and did not assume you meant that. I do know there are many posts on AFF where the comment has been made that children travelling by themselves etc have been better behaved than many adults. That was what I was referring to.

Regardless of Moindardt's seating plans I am looking forward to reading the rest of the TR to see how he achieved status and how he is using it. It will be a terrific trip I am sure.

 

[mooingchicken]

Sorry Moindardt, it annoys me when parents fly J or F and put the kids in Y. I know people do it but it gets right up my nose.
Apart from that it is interesting to read your experiences with getting points and status.

While I do agree with this I think there is a difference between kids and teenagers, He hasnt mentioned ages except mid teens. if this is 15-16 then I don't see an issue, they are more than capable to fend for themselves. If they are like 6 or 8 or whatever then its a bit of a bigger issue unless traveling with older siblings who are mature and responsible enough to 'babysit'. FA's should not be relied on to do this.

 

[love_the_life]

I take your point mooing chicken. I am not so sure about the older siblings having look after them if they are younger, but every family is different.

 

[amaroo]

Sorry Moindardt, it annoys me when parents fly J or F and put the kids in Y. I know people do it but it gets right up my nose.
Apart from that it is interesting to read your experiences with getting points and status.

love_the_life please forgive me However, I'm so looking forward to our CDG-HKG CX F .... with our two behind the curtain in J Not because I don't want to travel with them, but because it's nigh impossible to secure 4 x F on anything these days.

It's not that bad - they're very well travelled, and bordering on 15 & 12++ by January.

 

[love_the_life]

Oh Amaroo nothing to forgive; every family is entitled to do what it wishes. But... if I was taking the hard line I would want to know why you and partner have F and the kids in J not one parent in F and one in J sitting with a child each. But of course I am not going to pursue that at all as I note that they are not young kiddies and I know from your posts/TRs that they have travelled extensively.

 

[amaroo]

Oh Amaroo nothing to forgive; every family is entitled to do what it wishes. But... if I was taking the hard line I would want to know why you and partner have F and the kids in J not one parent in F and one in J sitting with a child each. But of course I am not going to pursue that at all as I note that they are not young kiddies and I know from your posts/TRs that they have travelled extensively.

I've waited and waited for this! Both are considered adults by the airline, both are approaching 6 foot :shock: and CX J has them sitting in their own F like suite in the B777 mini cabin.

It's highly likely the only one requiring assistance/attention will be their old man, getting off at HKG It's a daytime flight after all

 

[love_the_life]

Amaroo I was just being naughty! I'm sure your kids can manage wonderfully and at their ages will probably enjoy the time alone. Anyway I am sure you can't be that old to need assistance ......
Which reminds me of the case of the parents of a local doctor who were flying in from the UK. The family in Australia were a bit worried about the ages of the parents (in their 70s) and how they would manage. Their worst fears were realised when the mother came off in a wheel chair and was rather disoriented. Turns out she was drunk as father had been plying her with booze to keep her strength up Don't imagine that that would be you (and anyway you're much younger!)

 

[Pushka]

I've waited and waited for this! Both are considered adults by the airline, both are approaching 6 foot :shock: and CX J has them sitting in their own F like suite in the B777 mini cabin.

It's highly likely the only one requiring assistance/attention will be their old man, getting off at HKG It's a daytime flight after all

Its funny you should say that about a day flight in F. We are travelling back from Dubai in Qantas 380 in Jan. departing at 9.30am. I was thinking not much time in Dubai F lounge. MrP is thinking we will get the most of the F experience being a daytime flight. Of course he is right. 13 hours worth.

 

[amaroo]

Amaroo I was just being naughty! I'm sure your kids can manage wonderfully and at their ages will probably enjoy the time alone. Anyway I am sure you can't be that old to need assistance ......
Which reminds me of the case of the parents of a local doctor who were flying in from the UK. The family in Australia were a bit worried about the ages of the parents (in their 70s) and how they would manage. Their worst fears were realised when the mother came off in a wheel chair and was rather disoriented. Turns out she was drunk as father had been plying her with booze to keep her strength up Don't imagine that that would be you (and anyway you're much younger!)

The return flight is a carefree flyer indulgence. 12h's in F, 6 hour transit in those lovely CX F lounges, followed by a sleepy J flight home to BNE ... I better pace myself

 

[Deleted member]

Sorry Moindardt, it annoys me when parents fly J or F and put the kids in Y. I know people do it but it gets right up my nose.
Apart from that it is interesting to read your experiences with getting points and status.

Why does this offend you? Kids in Y is frankly a good way for them to appreciate the fact that not everything is easily provided.
Kidd in Y. Good idea.