Further Qantas Status Extension?

[Laptop Jockey]

Hi all,
I'm currently gold status, with an expiry of 28 Feb 2022, so I just miss the year extension, but got the gifted 300 SC, as per the November 2020 status support package.
However, as work policy is now only the most "essential" travel (and even then I've had all three domestic trips this year cancelled due to border closures, most recently two weeks ago on the morning of travel) and I'm currently on my first successful return flight (holiday) of the last 18 months after multiple cancellations (one literally while in the business lounge), there is zero chance of me racking up the full 300SC in the next seven months with no international travel, WA competing with North Korea for the title of the world's most closed state, and NT not far behind.

Given that the last status support package was November 2020, and I think it was anticipated there would be a lot more flying going on (including multiple international travel bubbles and no/minimal domestic border closures), and a lot more certainty to book trips without constant border closures, what is the feeling of the scope for a further annual extension? It seems crazy they would cut the golden handcuffs on people that *couldn't* fly, and the ongoing uncertainty makes booking personal travel such a massive gamble even at the shortest notice. I can't help but think how the current July 2021 situation is far worse than the GFC ever was in Australia, yet they extended then?

Interested in thoughts. Should I just resign myself to dropping to silver? I assume others are in a similar boat?

Cheers, LJ

 

[oz_mark]

I am pretty sure they will do something, although I fully expect that that will require you to do something. I guess they will see how long the current issues go on before announcing the next round.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Laptop Jockey . I have the same anniversary for Plat. My thinking is that, unless things go drastically wrong and lock-downs continue through Christmas, there wont be any more StatusKeeper. I have so far earned 200 of my assisted requirement of 600 SCs to retain Plat and have bookings (several with DSCs) to easily get me over the top. Had to defer one, but I'm confident of being able to get there before March next year.

It will be tough if you are mostly relying on work travel, but even from WA, from Qantas point of view, a few skips from WA to, say, direct to Hobart would just about get you through, plus lots of internal WA flying available.

 

[nancypants]

I am on track to qualify for the 1 year extension to September 2022. Booked my one and only trip in near enough 18 months between 3 preeeeeettty solid Covid cold spots, a little over 7 days in advance of travel (Darwin to Townsville to Norfolk Island). Within 24 hours, 2 of those places had become hotspots. I managed to salvage Norfolk Island by skipping Townsville, but that gave me a grand total of 250 SC and mentally it was a lot of work to even get that

is there an entirely Australian/NZ status run that will get me platinum through honest means next year? If I can’t find something like that I don’t think I’ll be managing to keep platinum next year

 

[Laptop Jockey]

Thanks for the welcome!
Unfortunately being east coast there isn't a lot of options to rack up decent SC; I squeezed in a Darwin trip after a few failed plans, but even another J trip plus one or two sneaky short Y will still leave me fairly short of the SC required. (A NZ status run, or any status run that would be sufficient isn't really an option unfortunately either)
Oh well, hopefully Oz Mark is right and they run the numbers on how many indentured low-end Golds they'll lose and extend it closer to the date. Fingers crossed!

Cheers, LJ

 

[Longtoo]

QF will make an announcement soon. Most likely the package will be a combination of on the ground and bum on seat status credit at a reduced threshold for requalification. They need high tier Fflyers as the core of their customer base but they would need some $$.

Me, I have done my part, one trip to SYD-PER just before the lockdown to get myself ok for another year. My Plat status will be useless in 2022 but i would try to collect on the ground SC then hope that i can requalify with minimum flying.

 

[DC3]

QF will make an announcement soon ..

Interesting news. Do you have a date for this?

 

[Beano]

I was hoping to retain QP this year and my plans were on track until the recent events in Syd and Mel. An extension would be nice as I am planning a trip to Europe as soon as things settle down; perhaps late 2022? Otherwise I have to make do with LTG.

 

[nightelves]

I'm hoping they extend the fast track as well.

 

[Ade]

I'm hoping they extend the fast track as well.

I thought this was done already ?

Qantas Status Fast Track | Qantas Frequent Flyer

For a limited time, we're offering eligible members the chance to move their airline frequent flyer status to Qantas to help them fast track to Qantas Gold.

www.qantas.com

 

[nightelves]

I thought this was done already ?

Qantas Status Fast Track | Qantas Frequent Flyer

For a limited time, we're offering eligible members the chance to move their airline frequent flyer status to Qantas to help them fast track to Qantas Gold.

www.qantas.com

Yeah but we've practically gone through half of July without being able to fly still and it doesn't look like borders is open anytime soon.

 

[Ade]

Yeah but we've practically gone through half of July without being able to fly still and it doesn't look like borders is open anytime soon.

oh yea, that's right ... I think QF will extend this as well, hopefully.

There is, if not much, revenue that can be generated via this scheme. Those that don't choose to fly QF will try QF for the lucrative offer of Gold.

 

[Port Power]

Hi all,
I'm currently gold status, with an expiry of 28 Feb 2022, so I just miss the year extension, but got the gifted 300 SC, as per the November 2020 status support package.
However, as work policy is now only the most "essential" travel (and even then I've had all three domestic trips this year cancelled due to border closures, most recently two weeks ago on the morning of travel) and I'm currently on my first successful return flight (holiday) of the last 18 months after multiple cancellations (one literally while in the business lounge), there is zero chance of me racking up the full 300SC in the next seven months with no international travel, WA competing with North Korea for the title of the world's most closed state, and NT not far behind.

Given that the last status support package was November 2020, and I think it was anticipated there would be a lot more flying going on (including multiple international travel bubbles and no/minimal domestic border closures), and a lot more certainty to book trips without constant border closures, what is the feeling of the scope for a further annual extension? It seems crazy they would cut the golden handcuffs on people that *couldn't* fly, and the ongoing uncertainty makes booking personal travel such a massive gamble even at the shortest notice. I can't help but think how the current July 2021 situation is far worse than the GFC ever was in Australia, yet they extended then?

Interested in thoughts. Should I just resign myself to dropping to silver? I assume others are in a similar boat?

Cheers, LJ

I also have a February anniversary. I have already taken advantage of the last DSC offer to earn sufficient SC to retain WP. You probably could have done a J flight to NZ via another capital city to retain, but those border shutdowns just make one so nervous about leaving home! Especially if you work full time and don't want to risk having to quarantine. However, I think Jan/Feb anniversaries might also be offered the “book and fly one leg to retain status”. No inside knowledge, just a feeling. Good luck.

 

[WLGFlyer]

It will be tough if you are mostly relying on work travel, but even from WA, from Qantas point of view, a few skips from WA to, say, direct to Hobart would just about get you through, plus lots of internal WA flying available.

I'm not worried but retaining top tier status from WA is very hard right now unless you're flying a lot to (regional) NT or FIFO to one of the WA mine sites. Almost all internal WA flying is non-stop and often comes with Y only...

 

[PineappleSkip]

QF will make an announcement soon.

I take this as a prophesy, and agree it’s likely. Meanwhile the on the ground SC offers (insurance, BP petrol etc) are rolling in, just as they did last year.

cheers skip

 

[exLXCXFF]

I really hope they do - I have a January 2022 anniversary. I easily requalified Gold for 2021 with my travel schedule from Feb - mid-March 2020 (3x Europe in J), so the past extension that would have kicked in during Jan 2021 was not required in my case.

I have already done a few domestic trips in Y (earning 10/20/30 SCs) but had a J trip planned next week to NZ which is now cancelled. I also have a trip to Hamilton Island planned in early August which surely won't go ahead and a WA trip in early September (who knows what is going to happen with that one).

It's not that I don't try to make it work, it's just COVID-19 being an enemy. If QF does not give a blanco extension to everyone, it would be great to see that they give an extension to QFF who at least tried and had bookings that were canned.

To be seen...

 

[JohnM]

I am LTG about 3-4x over. My greatest fear, up to now, has been that I might one day have to invoke it - but my intention was never.

I now fear that day is looming.

Gaaahhhh...

How humiliating can things get?

 

[Beano]

I have achieved Qantas Platinum travelling exclusively Y for several years between NZ and OZ with some OZ domestic, Darwin, Perth etc, and an occasional long haul to Europe. It is hard work with regular travel, and any distruption messes up the plan. I'm just glad I have LTG to fall back on. Any lounge is better than none.

 

[pagingjoan]

I am LTG about 3-4x over. My greatest fear, up to now, has been that I might one day have to invoke it - but my intention was never.

I now fear that day is looming.

Gaaahhhh...

How humiliating can things get?

I feel for you!
And echo the sentiment.

 

[DC3]

I am LTG about 3-4x over. My greatest fear, up to now, has been that I might one day have to invoke it - but my intention was never.

I now fear that day is looming.

Gaaahhhh...

How humiliating can things get?

The Walk of Shame to the Qantas Pub.