Best way to maintain Gold

[DrGuinness]

My situation has changed this year in terms of work, which results in little-to-no flying at all...

I might do one international flight during the year, and SG status really helps in terms of lounge access, and all the other trappings...

I'd like to maintain SG, however I'll probably only do 50 SC worth of necessary flying this year (until my status runs out in October), meaning I'll need another 550 to qualify...

Anyone have any tips on the best way to get these cheap and easily? I looked at a few USA status runs, but I'm not sure I can spare the time to do that.

I was thinking I'll do 4x HBA express runs, (with positioning flights), meaning 480 SC... That suits me since I'll only use around 70,000 FF points, and spend under $1000... Then I might do some cheap JQ ups-and-backs to make up the remaining 70...

Thoughts? I'd appreciate it!

 

[Limewood]

Depends where you live in OZ to where one can fly domestic in short time frame to collect status points at lowest cost.

I did status run last May picked up few hundred points, CNS/TSV/BNE/DWN/BNE/TSV/CNS as a JASA (Bus. any seat award) cost me just 48K points and couple hundred $, did it in 48 hours over weekend.

 

[yohy?!]

Best to compare to Qantas Club access cost compared to the cost of obtaining 550SC (est. at several thousand $$...)

 

[markis10]

The TSV-DRW JASA is the best domestic one on the market, you might find availability on the HBA run hard to lock in for multiple trips. I would wait a little while before planning anything, QF have done a 2X promo after Easter for the last few years as a targeted promo while there are reports of mini campaigns also being done 24000 points spent to earn 140 SC is nice, but when doubled to 280 SC its a lot nicer!

 

[DrGuinness]

Thanks for the replies there... I'll see what happens after Easter!

 

[QF WP]

Agree with markis10, waiting might give you the benefit of QF seeing that you aren't flying and trying to offer you something to get you back in the air.

My QF renewal thus year (ending 28 Feb) was 540 SC's and done mostly on a smaller number of flights but increased use of JASA's. They are the only thing keeping me at Gold and cost me about 100K in points