Cheapest way to earn 30 SC from MEL?

[Harpoon]

My membership rolls over end of may I have 30 SCs more to hit gold. (bugger!) Wondering if there some clever way I can rack up the final 30 on the cheap (would paying for it myself, not work) and make a weekend out of it. I'm based in Melbourne.

Any ideas?

 

[simongr]

Hm - discount economy to BNE would be the easiest choice.

If you flew this weekend it would cost - $330 all up on a red-e-deal. Possible to do in a morning as well...

 

[oz_mark]

Hm - discount economy to BNE would be the easiest choice.

If you flew this weekend it would cost - $330 all up on a red-e-deal. Possible to do in a morning as well...

or make a weekend out of it and come back Sunday (and there's a smattering of $125 one way fares around on the morning flights)

 

[simongr]

Only reason I suggested the morning trip was because teh return flights later in the day on the sunday seemed quite expensive so it would have to be up Sat AM, back Sun AM which doesnt give a good window for getting tanked on Sat night with mates in BNE

 

[serfty]

If only needing 30 SC's, then MEL/BNE return would be your best bet at this stage. $165 e/w (+ $6.60 if paying by CC).

If time constrained, MEL/SYD with a $299 flexi fare o/w for 20 SC's and a red e-deal for $132 the other way and 10 SC's = $431.

Or perhaps MEL-SYD on Saturday morning for $132 and return JQ35 (Sat only) on JetFlex for $229 = $360. (Could get another 20 SC's with

Class for an additional $50.)

 

[Harpoon]

Thanks for the info.

The other question is whether qantas ever offer 'sympathy' and grant you the status level if narrowly missing. I've heard people get their WP renewed like that sometimes. But that might just be a plat thing...

 

[serfty]

"... renewed ..." is the operative word; I was renewed as an SG twice without achieving the 600 SC's. There are many tales of others having their status maintained without actually achieving the required levels.

Anecdotes indicate that one actually needs to reach the 700 SC's to get QF SG.

 

[ejb]

Hi all,

I have had my status continued before when Silver without the required SC's but missed Gold by 10SC one year and asked the question about being granted Gold and was told "NO!"

I think your best bet is drinking in BNE on a Saturday night and flying off the hangover.

 

[Harpoon]

I was looking if I could do a mel-syd-ade-mel type triangle but seems as though the minimum for 30sc is going to be at least $400ish for that.

Brisbane is cheapest at $330 but is not ideal for a weekend getaway because the only red deals home on Sunday are in the morning (understandably) with such a late booking.

Reason why I was wanting to get to Gold is really only because Gold = free QC membership, which would save me $220 renewal fee. but if it's cheaper to pay the QC I might just do that. The other perk of gold is the dedicated business/plat/gold boarding channel but meh I can live without

Might just have to wait till next cycle and make sure I get some J trips in early!

 

[tuapekastar]

Reason why I was want to get to Gold is really only because Gold = free QC membership, which would save me $220 renewal fee. but if it's cheaper to pay the QC I might just do that. The other perk of gold is the dedicated business/plat/gold boarding channel but meh I can live without

Might just have to wait till next cycle and make sure I get some J trips in early!

Another QF Gold benefit is OW Sapphire which would get you into some OW lounges that QC membership wouldn't. Obviously only applicable on OS travel.

 

[dajop]

Another QF Gold benefit is OW Sapphire which would get you into some OW lounges that QC membership wouldn't. Obviously only applicable on OS travel.

Yes which is good if you travel a lot OS. The other benefit of QF Gold over QC (Silver), is the extra 25% FF points, for what (little) that is now worth, again only vaguely worthwhile if it involves a lot longer haul flying (not much benefit if most trips are short domestic hops that you get a 1000 QF FF points for anyway.

 

[mr_matt_t]

I was at 590SC Oct 07 (my expiry month) and called QF to see if I could maintain SG for the following year. They asked me to provide my travel plans for next 12 months which I did over the phone. On that basis I retained SG.

In hindsight I was probaby better looking for a cheap flight to get me over the 600SC line as this year I will probably fall short. I understand QF won't come to the party 2 years in a row.

 

[Harpoon]

Yeah it sounds as though they are sometimes forgiving when it comes to renewals, which makes sense, especially if you have something booked or plan to book something in the future.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[JohnK]

In hindsight I was probaby better looking for a cheap flight to get me over the 600SC line as this year I will probably fall short. I understand QF won't come to the party 2 years in a row.

That is not always the case. There have been quite a few reports on AFF of people being comped status 2 years in a row. A good friend of mine was comped Platinum 2 years running with nowhere near enougn SCs.

More details in this post.

 

[Harpoon]

Shattered!

I just booked work travel for 2nd June Going to miss Gold status by only 1 day as points clear on 1st June!!!

 

[thegurio]

Shattered!

I just booked work travel for 2nd June Going to miss Gold status by only 1 day as points clear on 1st June!!!

Might be an idea to ring up on this one... You never know with it being so close....

 

[opusman]

Might be an idea to ring up on this one... You never know with it being so close....

Or just go the day before and stay in a cheap hotel, would still work out better than paying for QP

 

[Harpoon]

Or just go the day before and stay in a cheap hotel, would still work out better than paying for QP

Not an option for PNG.

 

[JohnK]

Shattered!

I just booked work travel for 2nd June Going to miss Gold status by only 1 day as points clear on 1st June!!!

You still have this weekend and next Saturday 31 May. Gold status has got to be worth at least $300. No need to make a weekend of it. If it was me I would be flying up to BNE and back same day. In fact last year I did a SYD-CBR-MEL-SYD same day middle of May as I was going to be 30 SCs short of Platinum.

 

[GCD123]

You still have this weekend and next Saturday 31 May. Gold status has got to be worth at least $300. No need to make a weekend of it. If it was me I would be flying up to BNE and back same day. In fact last year I did a SYD-CBR-MEL-SYD same day middle of May as I was going to be 30 SCs short of Platinum.

This raises the question :
If Gold is worth $300 (plus convenience benefits) - what is Platinum worth ?
1st Class Lounges, priority seating, luggage and general handling. Not to mention status bonus points.

GCD123