Beating the status addiction - one case of success!

[Jacques Vert]

Reading through these posts, I would define myself as a mild addict. Had been travelling extensively for work (99% overseas) for 20 years and am a member of QF, VA, SG and AA. Most of my travel was with QF so ended up with WP (this was before the introduction of P1) and stayed at that level for 10 years. A few years after that I got laid off work and haven't found work since. My QF status finished up with a LTS at which point my LTC totalled 11370. Since I'm fairly close to getting LTG (requiring 13000), I've been tossing whether I should struggle to get there since all my limited travels are now on personal expense. I'm not as obsessive as some I know who would take up SC offers and re-arrange flights to increase earns, but I just can't seem to give up the idea that LTG is achievable. Incidentally my VA gold status has also dropped to silver and my Elite status with SG is down to nothing - but now that my resources are limited, my loyalty would go to QF. I have no fancy wishful thinking about reaching any kind of status - I just want lounge access every time I do travel without having to pay for it. I'm still having a philosophical debate with myself about this .... !

I am in a similar situation to you, achieving LTS before being retrenched a few years ago and am now basically retired.

I took up the DSC offer for flights I was going to book anyway; in fact, had put off purchasing them to wait for a DSC offer. Also considered doing a status run of some sort but thought about the cost/benefit as juddles and others have so correctly pointed out.

Everyone's situation varies and in my case most of our flying in recent years has been on 280k award tickets in J, plus an occasional domestic flight in Y. This is the first year in a long time that I haven't had lounge access through Qantas Club or status, but when you are in J you have access anyway, as you know. I have a number of lounge invitations to cover the Y flights for a while. When I had WP I did enjoy 3 visits to the Sydney F lounge but will need guesting in future.

One thing that some members have hinted at, but is an important point in my case, is that to get the benefit of status you actually have to fly somewhere, and fly often enough to make the cost of attaining status worthwhile. So when you are paying for your own flights, not only does it cost a lot of money to achieve status but it also costs to get a benefit from having it.

LTS gets me extra baggage allowance when I need it while I inch my way towards LTG which I hope to reach one day. So I guess I am not totally cured just yet.

 

[OzEire]

The 'good' thing about lifetime status is that it builds up over time. Even for those who don't make PS each year, they can accrue LTS over the longer time. I hit LTG in the last 12 months, in the month of my 20 year QFF'aversary, so averaging gold each year with a few good years (after joining AFF !). All of those lean years did add up.

 

[NZflygirl]

Everyone's situation varies and in my case most of our flying in recent years has been on 280k award tickets in J, plus an occasional domestic flight in Y. This is the first year in a long time that I haven't had lounge access through Qantas Club or status, but when you are in J you have access anyway, as you know. I have a number of lounge invitations to cover the Y flights for a while. When I had WP I did enjoy 3 visits to the Sydney F lounge but will need guesting in future.

If our paths cross I'd be more than happy to guest. I've appreciated your advice with PGR.

 

[CaptJCool]

Other people's money is the best way to achieve status. Of course it involves regular trips. (A normal spend to achieve WP looked to be at least $15k, Syd -Melb $135 for 10 credits)

Using your own own funds makes it difficult where home port has limited fruitful opportunities to 'dog-leg' trips. Or where cashflow is lower (no longer working) or erratic. And where you are supporting others upon it....

that said, the recent DSC offer had some really innovative solutions to maximising SC earn while minimising $$ involved. (From memory, WP was doable for $3-5,000)

Gamification at at its finest.

 

[cougar_df]

Hi serfty, I'm currently at a little over 11,500 so I guess I'm not really that close considering that my journey there has to be self-funded. I do at least one international vacation a year in Europe or North America + maybe an Asian one if I can afford it. Even so, it looks like I won't get very far since I usually travel in discount economy.

 

[serfty]

At that level I'd simply suggest maximising the SC earn from the travel you do.

That many SC's would entail earning WP for three years; easy enough in days gone past but no so much now. It's at least $10k expenditure.

 

[cougar_df]

Am also thinking if I want to take up the ANZ Black VISA card offer which has 75 SC as part of the deal. Last thing I want though is another credit card, not to mention the $425 annual fee which I know is waived for the 1st year. Sounds like an addiction to me!

 

[boomy]

Am also thinking if I want to take up the ANZ Black VISA card offer which has 75 SC as part of the deal. Last thing I want though is another credit card, not to mention the $425 annual fee which I know is waived for the 1st year. Sounds like an addiction to me!

You don't sign up because you need another CC but because you're getting heaps of points for nothing.
After making the necessary purchase you can cancel.

IMO getting multiple CCs for the signup bonus is a positive "addiction", basically buying points very cheap and using them to book flights that would otherwise cost much more. Status "addiction" on the other hand is the complete opposite - waste of money that could been otherwise used in smarter ways to book the same flights cheaper and maybe further up front.