AAdvantage Elite Status Challenge or Qantas Club?

[eclectic_boogaloo]

Hi everyone, and sorry if I've missed a sticky thread with all my questions already answered!

I'm considering doing an AAdvantage Elite Platinum Challenge in June 2015 during a 10 day US trip (heading from Melbourne to NY, DC, SF and LA before returning to SYD via MEL). However, I'm also looking into Qantas Club membership, which I can get for a lower-than-normal price thanks to a corporate discount. The overall cost difference between AA Platinum and Qantas Club isn't much (AA Plat = AUD$568, QC = $546), but I wanted to check with the experts about what benefits I can get from each and whether they suit my travelling requirements.

I'm not a frequent overseas traveller (generally only heading out of Australia for holidays) and only take a few SYD-MEL trips within Australia (though may make a few other journeys from time to time), and by the looks of it OneWorld won't give me QC access on Australian domestic flights. That being said, if I take future OneWorld flights overseas (or head back to the States) AA Plat/OWS will probably be more useful than the more limited Qantas Club benefits.

Any advice or things I should consider before taking the plunge either way?

 

[Danger]

The benefits of oneworld Sapphire (AA Platinum) are definitely greater than the benefits of Qantas Club, particularly if you're travelling with oneworld airlines other than Qantas.

AA Platinum will indeed give you lounge access on QF domestic flights.

Importantly, however, AA Platinum will not give you AA Admirals Club access purely on North American itineraries whereas a Qantas Club membership would.

 

[knasty]

I'd do the challenge for mileage accrual in any event.

 

[grussellt]

If your flights p.a. are limited you could also look at a series of 30-day AAdvantage memberships at $100 each, depending where you fly.

 

[eclectic_boogaloo]

The benefits of oneworld Sapphire (AA Platinum) are definitely greater than the benefits of Qantas Club, particularly if you're travelling with oneworld airlines other than Qantas.

AA Platinum will indeed give you lounge access on QF domestic flights.

Importantly, however, AA Platinum will not give you AA Admirals Club access purely on North American itineraries whereas a Qantas Club membership would.

That's great - I think I got the Qantas Club lounge mixed up with the Business lounge so I'm very happy that OWS can get me in there (and presumably in other OneWorld lounges too). I might give AA a call with my flight plans and see if that'll get me over the 10K point threshold, and if it does I'll have a go of it.

Thanks!

 

[drron]

It really depends on how much flying you do and which benefits you want.
QP membership will get you QP access in Australia,admiral's club access in the US and maybe still a few Galleries BA lounges.Absolutely no extra miles or SCs.
AA plat will get you access to OW business lounges around the world but not to their own Admiral's Club if on a purely domestic sector.It will get you access if your flight is immediately after an international flight or connecting to an international flight.It doesn't give access to QFs J lounges domestically.
You will earn more miles as an AA plat.You get 100% bonus miles.I always earn more miles as an AA plat than mrsdrron as a WP with QF on our international trips.Their miles are still more valuable than QF miles as well.The 17.5 awards one way in J Australia domestic or to NZ are good value as are 35000 one way in J to most Asian countries which includes Sri Lanka.The AA awards have significantly less taxes etc than QF awards.

 

[JohnK]

That's great - I think I got the Qantas Club lounge mixed up with the Business lounge so I'm very happy that OWS can get me in there (and presumably in other OneWorld lounges too). I might give AA a call with my flight plans and see if that'll get me over the 10K point threshold, and if it does I'll have a go of it.

Please note AA Platinum will get you access to Qantas Domestic Qantas Clubs not Business lounges.

You will get access to International business lounges as a Oneworld Sapphire.

 

[andye]

I understand the date you plan to start a Platinum Challenge in June is important.
If you begin it before June 16th you would only keep AA status until end Feb 2016 (for $200)
If you begin it on or after June 16th you would have AA status until end Feb 2017 (for $240)

Not done one-just from FT wiki

 

[eclectic_boogaloo]

I understand the date you plan to start a Platinum Challenge in June is important.
If you begin it before June 16th you would only keep AA status until end Feb 2016 (for $200)
If you begin it on or after June 16th you would have AA status until end Feb 2017 (for $240)

Not done one-just from FT wiki

Really? The AFF Knowledge Centre says the opposite:

Regardless of when you complete the challenge, the status is valid until the following February, plus one year. This means that if you completed the challenge in December 2014, you would be able to keep your status until at least February 2016. But if you completed it in April 2015, you could keep it until February 2017.

Can anyone confirm which is correct? I'll be doing the challenge in June 2015 so f I only have the status until Feb 2016 I may as well just go for Qantas Club membership instead :/

 

[knasty]

I believe Andye is correct and IIRC that was my experience but youbcan always call AA and ask.

 

[eclectic_boogaloo]

I believe Andye is correct and IIRC that was my experience but youbcan always call AA and ask.

I posted on FlyerTalk as well to see if those guys knew anything, and it seems like AFF is incorrect - you have to do the run after 16 June each year or you only have Plat status until Feb the following year. That's a pity - OneWorld Status would have been pretty awesome - but I can't justify the additional cost to get the points if I only have it for 8 months.

Oh well, another time. Thanks for the help though

 

[knasty]

Indeed late June / July is the ideal time to do a challenge value wise. Happy travels.