Article: The Cost-Saving Strategy of Earning Status Every Two Years

[AFF Editor]

In this article, I outline a somewhat left-field airline status strategy where you only earn the required status credits every two years. It's definitely not for everyone, but there are some people who do this quite effectively - including to maintain Platinum One status on Qantas with half the amount of flying.

The Cost-Saving Strategy of Earning Status Every Two Years

One unorthodox strategy to maintain your airline status, without spending as much, is to let yourself drop down and then upgrade again at the start of every second year.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

What do you think of this idea? You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[aaa99]

Nice article and handy tips.
I think some airlines like BA also give you a grace period. So, your status is valid for an extra month even if you don't meet the requirements that year.

 

[eastwest101]

Nicely put and simple economic equation to work off, maybe changing that number to say $20 per Qantas Status Credit might be a decent 'rule of thumb' for people unable to do last minute or plan a year in advance leirure flights or status runs and/or flying BFOD Y a lot, as you say, a simplified example but well written.

 

[SeatBackForward]

This article sounds almost like my strategy for the past few years! maybe not the full two years benefit, but certainly trying to achieve it early in the anniversary cycle.

The hardest part of this strategy, especially if trying to tie in with a DSC promotion is having dates that far out to commit flights to. Less of an issue if the travel is leisure, but if work/business related, plans are not often made that far in advance.

 

[Ade]

In this article, I outline a somewhat left-field airline status strategy where you only earn the required status credits every two years. It's definitely not for everyone, but there are some people who do this quite effectively - including to maintain Platinum One status on Qantas with half the amount of flying.

The Cost-Saving Strategy of Earning Status Every Two Years

One unorthodox strategy to maintain your airline status, without spending as much, is to let yourself drop down and then upgrade again at the start of every second year.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

What do you think of this idea? You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

I think the circled area needs to be Velocity tier?

 

[aikman]

A lot cheaper than Lifetime Platinum with almost the same result.

Yes you drop to Gold for a few months every second year but it's good to get back to the real world every now and then to make you appreciate what you are missing.

 

[levelnine]

The other downside of this strategy is that all your regular flights during those two years basically go to waste in terms of status attainment/retention (apart from the tiny 100SC points club plus rollover).

That arguably makes it more expensive than the traditional way of attaining/retaining Platinum — a status run at the end of the year to make up any missing SCs.

A regular person might spend, say, $5-15,000 on flights that they want to take and then attain/retain Platinum with just a few hundred extra dollars spent on a status run.

 

[Nellycoo]

Are you able to change your membership date? Our renews end of August, but we generally travel June-August, so we never get to keep our status for as long.

 

[AFF Editor]

View attachment 414656

I think the circled area needs to be Velocity tier?

Thanks, have fixed this.

 

[CaptJCool]

After JASA
This had been my preferred strategy as it made sense to aim to get it early and then get closer to two years of Flounges while spending squat all on airfares (points redemptions)

During the middle period in between the end of JASA and the beginning of Points Club it was a way to maximise the longevity (also helped to have a couple of comped WP as well) but it was more of the yo-yo style

Having idled for several years (WP) over COVID and 93% of the way to LTG Kinda cured me from the “need” to Flounge (although I did do a couple of farewell JQ dom PAX on international flight) Lounge runs in the weeks before I dropped out of WP)

And in any event if you wishEd to check out the J lounge in Adelaide it had not existed so no great incentive to chase further (an egalitarian lot here so everyone mixed in the same relaxed lounge (soon to be a relic of a by-gone era)

Besides one can still park in the Flounge if flying F so that’s also an option when doing rewards F redemptions

 

[serfty]

I have done this with Qantas Points Club for the last few years. I can't be bothered churning credit cards so I use Woolworths rewards; 30%-40% of my Points Club qualifying earn has been from "Bank for Christmas" accumulation turned on into my new year, every second year. Add 20K from flying, 20K from QBR combined with a few points earned here and there (such as Hotels) including a couple of strategic wine purchases from Qantas Wine.

I am then earning SC's on awards flights for the next 22 months or so.

(I have no desire or need for Points Club Plus.)