Buying status

[Deleted member]

Why buy status when they give away the biggest benefit (lounge access) for free: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/the-platinum-card/

Priority pass. Had it , didn't get any value from it.
VA lounge access. Great ......if you fly VA.

 

[Deleted member]

There has been the odd way of gaining SCs without flying (CC promotions etc) but SCs in my book relate to flying and more importantly, some nice benefits to assist those who fly lots.

That said, you can already buy the benefits of status by purchasing a business (or first) fare where available. If you aren't flying, then there's no need for status (apart from flashing around at the tennis club).

I try to fly J where i can justify it, so I get the lounge access anyway, but the occasions when I am restricted to Y having a Plat card is a big help with luggage, lounge access, seat selection and of course earning rates . But a status run for me needs to incorporate a meaningful benefit associated with the flight, a holiday or business trip. ( this helps if like me you are self employed) I will travel to Townsville next month to see a client and complete some business which at a pinch I could do by mail and phone, but the status run is justified by me being able to make face to face contact with other clients while I am there.

 

[777]

Why buy status when they give away the biggest benefit (lounge access) for free: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/the-platinum-card/

A $900 per year fee isn't exactly free.

 

[BrentH]

A $900 per year fee isn't exactly free.

$900

...Minus the cost of a comparable credit card
...Minus the value of 80,000 bonus points
...Minus platinum partner travel discounts and events
...Minus the value of travel insurance

If you use half of this other stuff, you get more than $900 of value before the lounge access is casually tossed on top of the pile.

 

[serfty]

$900

...Minus the cost of a comparable credit card
...Minus the value of 80,000 bonus points
...Minus platinum partner travel discounts and events
...Minus the value of travel insurance

If you use half of this other stuff, you get more than $900 of value before the lounge access is casually tossed on top of the pile.

... much of which has been significantly devalued in the last year or so..

e.g. The Travel Insurance - in 2011 all you needed to do was be a "Cardholder in good standing" - now there's a clause about "buying" the specific travel with the card to be insured for that travel - the concept of "buying" is rather vague in some cases.

 

[777]

$900

...Minus the cost of a comparable credit card
...Minus the value of 80,000 bonus points
...Minus platinum partner travel discounts and events
...Minus the value of travel insurance

If you use half of this other stuff, you get more than $900 of value before the lounge access is casually tossed on top of the pile.

Hmmm... well... if that's your definition of free marketing people must love you.

Actually, if you're after a set of steak knives i can throw them in for nothing if you buy a house i'm selling.

 

[BrentH]

Hmmm... well... if that's your definition of free marketing people must love you.

Actually, if you're after a set of steak knives i can throw them in for nothing if you buy a house i'm selling.

All I'm saying is if you're buying something anyway (e.g. paying for flights with points instead of cash, paying for insurance with credit card membership instead of cash, paying credit card fees) then at a certain point the bonuses have paid for themselves - and the rest is free.

But yes, I like the way you cleverly ignored all that to show off your e-wang in a forum.

 

[777]

All I'm saying is if you're buying something anyway (e.g. paying for flights with points instead of cash, paying for insurance with credit card membership instead of cash, paying credit card fees) then at a certain point the bonuses have paid for themselves - and the rest is free.

But yes, I like the way you cleverly ignored all that to show off your e-wang in a forum.

Let me turn it around a different way: what is the lowest amount you can pay in order to get lounge access with VA (or Qantas for that matter)?

 

[medhead]

I'm sure many will be unsurprised for me to say that preferential seating is vastly more valuable to me than lounge access.

 

[Fruitcake]

I'm sure many will be unsurprised for me to say that preferential seating is vastly more valuable to me than lounge access.

Exactly - the card might give you lounge access, but when you do leave the lounge it will be to join the back of the general boarding queue, to enter via the rear stairs to access your seat at row 16+ (well, until Sabre came along, now if you turn up to the airport and flirt with the ground staff enough you'll probably get 3B quite easily), and then get off the plane to wait for your non-priority baggage to appear.

On the plus side you will be closer to the Y toilets, and you'll be off the plane quicker via the rear stairs (although not necessarily into the terminal quicker!).

 

[EuroFlyer]

I think status should only be earned by flying. That said i dont have any problems with a once off offer like getting some status credits from a credit card offer.
I had 400,000 qf points mainly from family transfers and using my credit card for work expenses but i dont think that should entitle me for platinum status.
I earn far more velocity miles from using my amex card than i do from my up to 4 flights a week so again status should be for taking flights in my own opinion.