Any chance of reaching Silver?

[Binxx]

First of all a great and a very informative forum for FF's and associated point accumulation schemes.

I started accumulating points on Qantas FF last year and was looking for some advice.

1. I currently have 160 Status Credits
2. My summary says i need 190 more before 31 Aug 09 to attain Silver
3. I will be accumulating 70 more by 31 Aug as have booked Syd - Mel - Syd sector 7 times in total from now till end Aug. 09 (10 service credits per flight)

I only travel for work during July / August every year (domestic) and my boss who I travel with is a Platinum member so check in's are a breeze and the lounges, brilliant!

My dilemma is that im flying Qantas to Asia in Dec this year for a personal family holiday and would love to avail of the Silver status for check in and extra luggage allowance which would help with our two infant's.

Question for you folks is the most feasible way of doing this and if it is worth it at all??

Thanks

Ps If any help, I also have nearly 300k of Altitude points (Post 04)

 

[moa999]

Probably cheapest way would be too see if you can upgrade any of your domestic legs to 20 SC earning status (Flexi Fares and above).

Even then seems unlikely to make sense unless you will use the excess baggage (and otherwise have to pay extra)

More sense if you were only a little bit off Gold

 

[cmon0005]

Possibly upgrade some of your sectors to Business to get the extra SC's. Sure it might cost you a bit more however you can get the extra SC's you need before the end of the month.

Cheers,
C

 

[JohnK]

The simple equation is 120 SCs required in the next 3 weeks to get Silver status. Even if you can get these SCs for $4/SC then it still requires a spend of $480 for priority check-in and extra luggage allowance.

I am almost certain that the extra luggage allowance would apply to you only and not the others on your booking. I am sure you will end up paying way less than $480 for excess luggage and is priority check-in really worth a status run?

You are probably much better off spending the extra money getting Qantas club membership for the priority check-in , extra luggage allowance and a bonus of lounge access as well....

 

[ejb]

The simple equation is 120 SCs required in the next 3 weeks to get Silver status. Even if you can get these SCs for $4/SC then it still requires a spend of $480 for priority check-in and extra luggage allowance.

I am almost certain that the extra luggage allowance would apply to you only and not the others on your booking. I am sure you will end up paying way less than $480 for excess luggage and is priority check-in really worth a status run?

You are probably much better off spending the extra money getting Qantas club membership for the priority check-in , extra luggage allowance and a bonus of lounge access as well....

I totally agree with JohnK on this you would be much better off paying for QC membership and enjoying the range of extras that membership grants.

ejb

 

[Leumas]

. I will be accumulating 70 more by 31 Aug as have booked Syd - Mel - Syd sector 7 times in total from now till end Aug. 09 (10 service credits per flight)

If you've SYD-MEL-SYD 7 times, you should be getting 140SCs, not 70.

So you're only about 50 short, therefore needing to upgrade fewer sectors. This may be a bit easier to stomach than buying a QP membership?

 

[Binxx]

Thanks for the replies.

Looks like I will have a crack at Silver next year

 

[Binxx]

If you've SYD-MEL-SYD 7 times, you should be getting 140SCs, not 70.

So you're only about 50 short, therefore needing to upgrade fewer sectors. This may be a bit easier to stomach than buying a QP membership?

I should have been more clear.

I meant Syd - Mel & Mel - Syd a total of 7 times on QF

 

[Binxx]

The simple equation is 120 SCs required in the next 3 weeks to get Silver status. Even if you can get these SCs for $4/SC then it still requires a spend of $480 for priority check-in and extra luggage allowance.

I am almost certain that the extra luggage allowance would apply to you only and not the others on your booking. I am sure you will end up paying way less than $480 for excess luggage and is priority check-in really worth a status run?

You are probably much better off spending the extra money getting Qantas club membership for the priority check-in , extra luggage allowance and a bonus of lounge access as well....

Is there a option to get SC's @ $4/SC?

How much is the membership and would the lounge be available for all the family? I thought not?

Is the membership available through points?

 

[medhead]

Is there a option to get SC's @ $4/SC?

How much is the membership and would the lounge be available for all the family? I thought not?

Is the membership available through points?

$4/SC refers to the cost of earning the status by flying. for example, a good earner for me is ADL-xSYD-CBR, which has been as low as about $100. This route earns 25 SC or $4 per SC. But SC can only be got by flying.

The full retail cost of QC membership is showing as $775 on the qantas website, including joining fee. But it can be had cheap through a corporate scheme, such as if you sign up as a gold member of this forum. A corporate scheme is showing as costing $555 on the qantas website.

Renewal can be paid by points but I'm not sure if the initial membership can be paid with points.

In terms of access a member can take in one guest. And children under 3 or 4 years don't count. So you and your other half and infants would be able to get in together. Myself I'm yet to be denied access for a family of four, with the children being 8 and 5. But this situation can't last forever.

 

[mannej]

I believe membership was iirc 150k points.
I could be wrong but thats the number that sticks in my head in regards to QC value in points

 

[munitalP]

The simple equation is 120 SCs required in the next 3 weeks to get Silver status. Even if you can get these SCs for $4/SC then it still requires a spend of $480 for priority check-in and extra luggage allowance.

I am almost certain that the extra luggage allowance would apply to you only and not the others on your booking. I am sure you will end up paying way less than $480 for excess luggage and is priority check-in really worth a status run?

You are probably much better off spending the extra money getting Qantas club membership for the priority check-in , extra luggage allowance and a bonus of lounge access as well....

+ another one here, JK's QP option isby far the best option...


Mr!

 

[Travel Guru]

I agree also, i'd never throw money away trying to reach silver when you could get the same benefits plus lounge access by joining the QP.

Silver's really a waste of time unless you're going to reach it anyway and you don't care about lounge access.

Go the QP.

TG

 

[JohnK]

Is there a option to get SC's @ $4/SC?

SYD-AKL-SYD return with LAN business class would get you 160 SCs for ~$690 or $4.3/SC. From memory there is current thread on AFF about 20% off booking with Webjet and paying with Paypal which effectively makes it 160 Scs for ~$550 or $3.44/SC. There are also some runs in SE Asia and the best returns are the YUPP/KUPP fares in the USA.

How much is the membership and would the lounge be available for all the family? I thought not?

Not sure about joining fee for Qantas Club membership but yearly membership is $405. Joining Qantas Club via AFF corporate scheme would save ~$200.

Qantas Club membership allows you one guest but generally they are sympathetic to families with children. But remember that you will have lounge access when you travel for business and not just when you travel with family.

Is the membership available through points?

Sure is. Requires 150,000 QFF points.

 

[medhead]

Qantas Club membership allows you one guest but generally they are sympathetic to families with children.

Not to mention that children 3 and under don't count as a guest. As the OP referred to infants, they wouldn't count against the OP when entering the lounge.

 

[Binxx]

OK guys, seems that the best way forward is to join the QFF.

If you could now tell me the most cost effective (as there is no reimbursement involved) way to join, then I will do so in the next few weeks.

Thanks heaps again

 

[tuapekastar]

OK guys, seems that the best way forward is to join the QFF.

If you could now tell me the most cost effective (as there is no reimbursement involved) way to join, then I will do so in the next few weeks.

Thanks heaps again

No, you already appear (from your profile) to be a member of QFF. (and if you're not, then joining the Qantas Club will give it to you gratis).

What you need to do is join the Qantas Club.

If you can access a discounted membership through either a) work or b) a professional society eg. CPA, CSIRO that you belong to then that may be cheapest.

If those options are not open to you then probably best to join through this forum (AFF). You need to become a Gold member of this forum (for $50) then you can access a corporate Qantas Club membership for a reasonable discount off the price Joe Public would pay.

Refer here for details...any questions then PM admin, who I'm sure would be happy to assist.

You may be able to claim some or all of the membership against tax, but that should be checked with your accountant.

 

[Binxx]

No, you already appear (from your profile) to be a member of QFF. (and if you're not, then joining the Qantas Club will give it to you gratis).

What you need to do is join the Qantas Club.

If you can access a discounted membership through either a) work or b) a professional society eg. CPA, CSIRO that you belong to then that may be cheapest.

If those options are not open to you then probably best to join through this forum (AFF). You need to become a Gold member of this forum (for $50) then you can access a corporate Qantas Club membership for a reasonable discount off the price Joe Public would pay.

Refer here for details...any questions then PM admin, who I'm sure would be happy to assist.

You may be able to claim some or all of the membership against tax, but that should be checked with your accountant.

I just proved that I'm a total newbie

I meant Qantas club not QFF, still trying to come to terms with all the acronyms

btw, I cannot access the link you provided

 

[anat0l]

What you need to do is join the Qantas Club.

I just proved that I'm a total newbie

I meant Qantas club not QFF, still trying to come to terms with all the acronyms

Well, I guess I should tell you that most of us here know the Qantas Club as the QP for short, i.e. Qantas Pub . I don't think I should have to tell you why.....

 

[Binxx]

Well, I guess I should tell you that most of us here know the Qantas Club as the QP for short, i.e. Qantas Pub . I don't think I should have to tell you why.....

Another good reason to join QP