Chasing Status: What's your motivation?

[Milboo]

I simply like the convenience it provides - not having to queue, a lounge to relax in, being able to fly ahead and forward seating.

It makes flying more enjoyable for me.

Like others have experienced, accessing priority check in can sometimes be a godsend. I had that in Cusco with about 300 people ahead of me but no one in priority.

In about 7 years of gold I have only chased points once - and popped to Canberra for brunch with a friend. But am needing to chase status this year. I have put up 24 segments but as a lot of these are work and cheapest fares, it's a slow build. My downfall was that one of my long haul trips had to be on OW carrier as had no other choice due to route.

Knowing I will have at least 24 segments, 2 Trans Tasman and 2 long hauls in the next 12 months makes me keen to keep it.

 

[straitman]

I like the honesty there! We can rationalise it, or present it as the product of a cost benefit analysis, but we all know there's an element of cool to the whole thing.

And I'm sure that is what Qantas counts on: the intangible value of 'status' will push us to do some odd things.

Agreed.

I also find it interesting how little changes have a big affect on your attitude. Having been Platinum for quite a few years I am now strangely relaxed about it all now that I have achieved LTG. i.e. psychologically at least, the pressure is off.

Now if they would introduce LTP then that might be a whole new ball game.

 

[seanpodge]

I do mainly has status for lounge access. I only travel for holidays. Thankfully, Asiana Club only needs 40,000 points over 24 months to get and keep *G, which I can manage without chasing. Getting to skip queues and the extra baggage allowance are pretty nice perks too, though. There's a lifetime Gold status at 500,000 points, but I'm a fair way off that yet.

Award flights are a secondary consideration, although Asiana also let points stay alive for 12 years, so I can save them up for a decent trip. Have never been opped up due to status, sadly. Closest was when I got given an exit row seat on UA, ironically when I was a mere *A Silver.

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Best QF Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

In Dec 2014 we (4A & 2C) were in Santiago and checking in for a LAN flight to La Paz Bolivia and then onto Santa Cruz Bolivia. It was domestic checkin as the first leg was to somewhere in Chile (forgotten sorry) and the airport was the biggest zoo I have ever seen.

Was this Iquique? IQQ?

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Best QF Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

Its a very sensible question you pose...

I'm sure more than a bit is that shiny card effect in the pocket...

For years I just bought miles or earned points from various places (credit card signups etc) to enable me to get Business award flights and in that case status gets you very little extra, perhaps the platinum/first lounges rather than just standard lounges, but for me that worked out much more cost effective for getting some nice perks that spending $1000's dollars flying to places I wasn't going to see etc.... So for years I was a bottom level status in all the programs I was in...

Last year I managed to sign up for a status challenge to get Executive Platinum with American Airlines for much less than it would regularly take and so I did throw in a slight status run in the US to get me up to that, cost me more than it should of but it was very last minute as I had a spare day all of sudden, but even that I did the sums and found that AA offer some very nice benefits to their top status members (system wide upgrades that allowed me to upgrade me and my son's $1100 tickets to and from the USA earlier this year to business class for free) plus their miles are pretty decent for award redemptions.

Unfortunately they are about to reduce both the earn and the burn side of the program so I will think long and hard about bothering to stay in the program.

But still it was a very rational calculation as to what it got me compared to what I had to pay, not just the shiny card I can tell all my friends about. If I couldn't work out that it was in my favour I wouldn't have bothered...

So some of the status perks are nice as have been covered here for long international trips, for short hops in Europe, the US or Asia I am quite content to use Ryanair, Easy Jet, South West, Tiger Air or Jetstar, but on those longer flights the lounges and priority check in are very nice.

So yeah, I would just advocate doing the sums to find out if chasing status will work for you, or if you're actually falling for the airlines tricks...

 

[galah]

Re: Best QF Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

It all depends on the value you place on the 'benefits' of the program. My advice would be to make 2 lists - one of the benefits you think you'd like/want (need? ) that you don't currently get, and another of the cost / flights required to get to that status level.

Weigh up the pros and cons and put a $ value on the benefits you're looking to obtain and the effort required to get there. Everyone has different tolerances for spend, flying time, slumming it in Y, drinking Beefeater gin, etc.

For example, I regularly fly AA, so the following are important to me:

• Extra legroom Y seats on AA
• Lounge access (inc domestic AA)
• Upgrades on QF when I fly internationally

Things not important to me:

• High-touch customer service
• QF (non)priority boarding
• The state of the Hobart QP

Do your sums, and you will get a lot more out of it. Or at least be able to justify it to yourself..

 

[marki]

I am with JohnK it's the heady addiction feeding and also all the points mentioned here already like avoiding the large queues especially when working doing 4 Continents last thing on your mind is standing in huge winding snaking never ending security line ups!!!

 

[juddles]

To be honest, a huge reason I value my status is the opportunity to sit in row 1.

I don't like most people, and sitting in the front row means I don't have to see them.

 

[Mari]

I also travel for leisure and qualify silver plus 200 more status credits every year but NEVER make it to gold. This coming f/f year I will be the in reach of 700 status so I will be making the extra unnecessary flight to say "yeah I'm gold".

 

[Deleted member]

I have done status runs, but not always just for the sake of it. I try and combine them with a holiday or business trip.
This year I have consciously decided to NOT chase status, so my reign as a WP will end, and a year of Gold beckons.
Mrs GPH, however has chosen to keep up the activity and will once again re qual WP. Have I enjoyed the ride? "Absolutely" will I try and achieve the WP level again in future? Maybe. All I can say is, if I end up travelling so infrequently, I shall probably shell out for flights in J and not worry about status.
FWIW, I will be LTS sometime this year, and as I'm already Life time QP , I won't be completely on the bottom of the status heap.

 

[defurax]

If you reach WP status the CSM or CSS will come and say "Hello" to you after takeoff. After that there is no going back...imagine a flight without the Hello!?!

 

[Denali]

We are self funded and rarely travel for work and really enjoy the 100% bonus points (VA), lounge access and priority check in.

Hubby and I both agree that if we weren't maintaining current status, we wouldn't have travelled to quite a few places over the past few years.

 

[straitman]

Re: Best QF Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

Was this Iquique? IQQ?

Yes thanks.

(I should have looked it up)

 

[SuzieQ68]

Re: Best QF Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

This question actually stopped and make me think about why I chase status - great question!

Initially, we didn't actually have to chase it as partner was flying twice a week GC-ADL-GC with VA for about 40 weeks of the year and I was picking up the slack (just enough to obtain/maintain SG). Things have now changed and we're trying to hold on to WP/SG. Why you ask....

Status allows us:

1. Priority boarding - I hate it when people queue up 15-20 minutes before the boarding call is made. Having priority boarding means we can cruise from the lounge (when the boarding call is made), head right up to the priority lane and just wander onboard - regardless of the number of people in the queue.

2. Seating closer to the front of the aircraft (good if you need a quick exit). As WP access to pre-book first 4 rows of Y, SG next 3 I think. Love Row 3 on VA's aircraft - lots of legroom (not that I really need it ... lol)

3. Lounge access - can grab a bite to eat, something to drink, use the showers (if flying internationally), chill out without (usually) too much noise (although have noticed that it's getting noisier in some of the domestic lounges!).

4. Priority check-in. As per 1 above, don't have to wait in massive queues to check in (if haven't already done it online).

5. Having status with VA allows us access to priority check in, priority boarding, lounge access etc with VA's partners (ie SQ / EY). Love this aspect - especially with SQ. Have taken advantage of SQ's lounges in various cities around the world - makes travelling internationally more relaxed.

6. When something goes wrong (and it does), the higher the status the better the chance of being 'sorted' quickly. Partner especially found it great when travelling home from ADL to the GC (via MEL). He was usually the last flight of the day and there were a couple of occasions that VA re-routed him to ensure he made it home and once where they put him up in MEL when they couldn't get him on the MEL-GC flight (late arrival). I had the same in SYD once. Was at the boarding gate (flight had been called) only to have the flight cancelled. Wandered back to the lounge and the lounge angels got me on the next flight. Many others were waiting a lot longer.

7. Usually travel HLO, but when we need to check bags, they are tagged priority and (usually) make it out early (again, ideal for a quick exit). Status also allows additional baggage at no extra cost.

8. Having VA status also provides bonus FF points (depending on status level). This means we can build our points stash a bit quicker at no extra cost allowing more J redemptions.

Status for us is worth it and we will continue to chase it - especially for the overseas benefits, but as always each to their own.

 

[OATEK]

I also travel for leisure and qualify silver plus 200 more status credits every year but NEVER make it to gold. This coming f/f year I will be the in reach of 700 status so I will be making the extra unnecessary flight to say "yeah I'm gold".

i was one of those who totally failed to take notice of status back when I flew weekly, and spread myself around al the airlines without thought. Like you I regularly obtain QF silver these days, but last year owing to both more domestic travel and mad trip hopping around Europe with AY/BA I made Gold.

This year I will struggle to retain gold, and won't go on status runs to fill the gap unless I am very close to 600 within a month or two of the anniversary date.

I am enjoying being Gold (OWS), with little perks like lounge access on AB flying Y, and extra luggage on CX who are a bit stingy in that regard.

 

[thegeekinasuit]

In Dec/Jan this year I had my first chance to make Gold and I went for it, booking a trip to Brisbane over new years. The excitement is gone given that I realised I'm not going make the most of it at all as my next trip will be in First Class using points.

It was fun but I worked out that if I just book the cheapest/best flights I can and instead just pay for a Priority Pass for any lounge access I'll probably be better off rather than trying to fly only VA aligned carriers.

That's not to say if I had the chance I wouldn't go for it but I won't get the same amount of work trips as I did last year.

 

[Oscarq]

Travelled last year on LAN in Sth America (terrific service & punctual) with my best mate who is QF WP, priority boarding allowed stowage of overhead baggage for the 4 of us. A number of flights were full and the last pax boarding struggled to find o'head luggage space. Sounds minor but can be painful if your are last to load. I can see the value of WP.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...imagine a flight without the Hello!?!

Actually.... it makes for a much more relaxing flight! No sitting there having to wait for the hello, or worried you might snooze/be in the WC and miss it.

No status = nothing to miss out on = do the flight your way and in your time. perfect!

 

[kyanar]

Award flights are a secondary consideration, although Asiana also let points stay alive for 12 years, so I can save them up for a decent trip. Have never been opped up due to status, sadly. Closest was when I got given an exit row seat on UA, ironically when I was a mere *A Silver.

The first time flew UA economy they gave me an exit row seat too, was also NZ*S.

 

[Shamrock55]

4am in Wellington before the Sydney flight, picture a large queue for Y with only three checkin staff handling Y and J. I walk in, stroll right to the front of the queue, check in, then am sitting in the lounge eating free breakfast and coffee and working on the laptop by 415am. That is worth everything.

Same with the massive queue at MEL international, walking past all those people makes me feel both terrible and awesome at the same time

Queue jumping, booking row 4 in the 737s and the ability to shower in between long haul sectors in a OW lounge make it all worthwhile. I don't really get any buzz out of the other stuff. Trying to hit WP this year just to try the F lounges but probablyt won't make it.