Case Study: How Matt Retained Qantas Platinum in 2025

[ChrisDPom]

At least you’ve got easy access to great partner fares ex Asia to Europe (and even the US) which earn reasonable SCs compared to flying those same partner airlines ex Oz!

Yep . Lots of hubs around me

 

[RooFlyer]

@Mattg

At the start of the year, how was your intention to qualify for QFF Plat: ‘definitely a goal’, or ‘going to try to get there’, or ‘if it comes it comes’, etc

In my case, it’s the latter but it always seems to come about largely helped by a RTW or two.

If it wasn’t always a determined goal at what stage did you decide to go for it?

Did you strategically buy DSC flights with a view to getting platinum, or just to maximise SCs?

 

[AFF Editor]

@Mattg

At the start of the year, how was your intention to qualify for QFF Plat: ‘definitely a goal’, or ‘going to try to get there’, or ‘if it comes it comes’, etc

In my case, it’s the latter but it always seems to come about largely helped by a RTW or two.

If it wasn’t always a determined goal at what stage did you decide to go for it?

Did you strategically buy DSC flights with a view to getting platinum, or just to maximise SCs?

Yes, that was my intention from the start of the year.

 

[NZflygirl]

I've decided I'm going to front load my year by doing the old AKL- DPS with a DSC. I'm keen to get to LTG, but also I want to fly other carriers but they have cough earn rates. It's fun checking out other airlines. I was really looking forward to CX PE on their A350 but my eyes nearly fell out when I saw all of 3 wines on the list Breakfast wasn't great and I really didn't see crew much. CX 777-300 (not the ER) in economy and EVA 787-10 in economy were wonderful surprises! Loved them. Still got a couple more flights and aircraft to trial but... if I front load then I can fly whomever I want for the rest of the year That's my plan anyway. I feel like if I have to juggle it's a PITA. Overall I think I prefer Qantas PE over CX but that's only based on 1 flight so I may well come back into the QF fold... but looking around makes you appreciate what you have at home I guess.

 

[andsob45]

I've put together this case study which breaks down the 1,200 (well, slightly more) status credits I earned during my current Qantas Frequent Flyer membership year to retain Platinum status. You can have a read here:

Case Study: How I Renewed Qantas Platinum Status This Year

In this case study, I explain exactly how I earned the 1,200 status credits required to renew Qantas Platinum status in my 2025 membership year - and how much it cost.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Of course, this is just one of many, many ways you could do it!

Do you think it's worth going for Qantas Platinum status? And if you have it, what kind of flying did you do to get it?

Is it worth going for platinum status?

For me .... yes. I average over 70 domestic and 6 international flights annually. When you spend that much time in the air or waiting in airports, all those little extra benefits you get from it, makes the travel bearable if not enjoyable. Almost all domestic flights are paid for by work. My personal spend on flights is about 3k which is usually for 2 return trips (with routing through another Aussie capital city) to NZ flying biz.

 

[Vic]

Yes, PC/PC+ has been a positive enhancement allowing us to burn points and still earn SCs and not be so obsessed with using cash fares to earn/retain status. Basic PC is the sweet spot. PC+ is just too hard to bother for the 100 SCs rollover - unless you’re churning CCs and/or business owner (who can really rack up serious points on the ground).

Having got PC+ this year, I've come to realise it's worse than PC for me. I'm LTG and Platinum. The two lounge passes are more valuable to me for gifting to family than qantas club membership that cannot be used.

 

[VPS]

Is it worth going for platinum status?

For me .... yes. I average over 70 domestic and 6 international flights annually. When you spend that much time in the air or waiting in airports, all those little extra benefits you get from it, makes the travel bearable if not enjoyable. Almost all domestic flights are paid for by work. My personal spend on flights is about 3k which is usually for 2 return trips (with routing through another Aussie capital city) to NZ flying biz.

And welcome to AFF

 

[VPS]

I will have two more visits to Sydney F lounge and one to Haneda lounge before I expect my interest in retaining Platinum April 2026 is gone. Won't be chasing it anymore. Likely we will simply pay for J on whatever route suits us. Been a great ride.

How close are you and Mr P to LTG or are you already there

 

[Pushka]

How close are you and Mr P to LTG or are you already there

He is, and has been for many years. I'm maybe three years off if I can retain WP credits but not likely. I do have WP until April 2026 but that might be it. Might qualify for SG the next year 2026.

 

[OsW]

I've put together this case study which breaks down the 1,200 (well, slightly more) status credits I earned during my current Qantas Frequent Flyer membership year to retain Platinum status. You can have a read here:

Case Study: How I Renewed Qantas Platinum Status This Year

In this case study, I explain exactly how I earned the 1,200 status credits required to renew Qantas Platinum status in my 2025 membership year - and how much it cost.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Of course, this is just one of many, many ways you could do it!

Do you think it's worth going for Qantas Platinum status? And if you have it, what kind of flying did you do to get it?

Thanks for informing me

 

[VPS]

Thanks for informing me

Welcome to AFF

 

[Flyfrequently]

I do have WP until April 2026 but that might be it. Might qualify for SG the next year 2026.

I believe you get soft landing to SG from WP as long as you fly 4 eligible sectors @Pushka
If this is not the case, I might need to rethink 2027!

 

[DejaBrew]

A warm welcome aboard AFF @OsW

 

[dairyfloss]

I believe you get soft landing to SG from WP as long as you fly 4 eligible sectors @Pushka
If this is not the case, I might need to rethink 2027!

I don't think you even need the sectors... it just drops a level regardless

 

[mviy]

I am hoping to get LTG, so I am trying to maintain Platinum to help fast track that.

Unless QF adds “achievable” benefits for those in-between LTG and LTP to encourage continued spend, I’ll likely drop back to LTG soon after getting it (if I make it there) and stay there.

 

[aikman]

Platinum is nice but after many years of visiting the same lounges, flying the same planes, on the same routes, to the same destinations, the novelty has worn off. I'll drop to Gold this year and that's ok.

LTG used to be an important goal for me but now I no longer care. Priorities change.

 

[ozflier]

Matt,as always thank you .
I have been Platinum for the last 6 years .
Not going to make it this year by a long shot .
Any status run to retain Plat would be prohibitively expensive.
Before I do the planning , are you aware what happens at the status anniversary date.
I have not enough status currently to achieve even Gold.
Is there any likelihood of getting a drop to Gold in view of previous status and loyalty or would I revert to the level my status points would entitle me to on that date.

 

[RB001]

Matt,as always thank you .
I have been Platinum for the last 6 years .
Not going to make it this year by a long shot .
Any status run to retain Plat would be prohibitively expensive.
Before I do the planning , are you aware what happens at the status anniversary date.
I have not enough status currently to achieve even Gold.
Is there any likelihood of getting a drop to Gold in view of previous status and loyalty or would I revert to the level my status points would entitle me to on that date.

Soft landing coming your way. You'll drop to Gold to start your next year.
I deliberately did this last year when it was clear I had neither firm plans nor time to requalify. However, everything lined up for me to get back to Platinum in the first 2 months of my current year. Now I have it for this year and next.

 

[ozflier]

Soft landing coming your way. You'll drop to Gold to start your next year.
I deliberately did this last year when it was clear I had neither firm plans nor time to requalify. However, everything lined up for me to get back to Platinum in the first 2 months of my current year. Now I have it for this year and next.

Thanks , Do you think QFF took into account when you go the soft drop the likelihood you would make it back to Plat status in the next year - ? because of already booked flights .
Or is it pretty standard to go back to Gold?

 

[RB001]

Thanks , Do you think QFF took into account when you go the soft drop the likelihood you would make it back to Plat status in the next year - ? because of already booked flights .
Or is it pretty standard to go back to Gold?

It's standard, I believe. I didn't have much of my new travel booked when I dropped.