Gold Status

[torrorosso]

Hi All,

I have been Gold for a couple of years now, and just missed out on keeping it by 20 status points. A guy at work in a similar position got renewed at Gold, and I didn't. I do all business travel with them (2 flights a month) and most personal travel (one OS trip a year) Is there anyone I can email to beg to keep gold? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[drewbles]

Hi All,

I have been Gold for a couple of years now, and just missed out on keeping it by 20 status points. A guy at work in a similar position got renewed at Gold, and I didn't. I do all business travel with them (2 flights a month) and most personal travel (one OS trip a year) Is there anyone I can email to beg to keep gold? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Welcome to AFF torrorosso!

Unfortunately, if you fail to attain sufficient SC's to keep a status level, you will drop back to the previous level. Qantas are very strict on this, and there's not been a known example of someone keeping it by requesting it.

Of course if you're only 20 SC's short, you could do a quick trip (you don't mention where you're based so it's hard to offer suggestions, but as an example, MEL-SYD is 10 SC's in discount economy, so a return would fix your problem).

If you're going to remain travelling with a similar pattern after your year ends, it's probably worth a few hundred to keep as a Qantas Club membership is a lot more than that, and of course, the other perks that go with Gold.

 

[bodog]

and there's not been a known example of someone keeping it by requesting it.

Not sure that's correct - you seem pretty certain with that claim that "not a known example" of it happening - I've seen Qantas grant the retention of status levels despite SC levels not being met. Not quite the same as "someone requesting it" but retention of levels is definitely possible without meeting the SC requirement - so asking Qantas for it to be considered is not a crazy idea

Having said that I'd say failing by 20 SC's is really something that could have been avoided with a bit of forward planning - thus avoiding the dilema

 

[markis10]

There is a fair bit of evidence that QF uses an average SC over a couple years, I was given a SG renewal a few years ago when sitting on 120 SC with no notice, I suspect my average SCs over the previous few years worked out to be above the SG level.

 

[drewbles]

Not sure that's correct - you seem pretty certain with that claim that "not a known example" of it happening - I've seen Qantas grant the retention of status levels despite SC levels not being met. Not quite the same as "someone requesting it" but retention of levels is definitely possible without meeting the SC requirement - so asking Qantas for it to be considered is not a crazy idea

Having said that I'd say failing by 20 SC's is really something that could have been avoided with a bit of forward planning - thus avoiding the dilema

The OP asked 'who they had to beg to'. That won't work.

I myself have been granted an extension on a status level despite failing to re-qualify. It's generally based on your history of re-qualification from what has been observed. QF will occasionally re-qualify people automatically despite failing to have the correct number of SC's. Begging will not work.

QF have also sent a 'please explain' letter/email to people in the past saying 'we've noticed that you may not achieve the number of SC's required to retain your level' and asking for your future travel plans and they make a decision based on that.

I've had both the above. The first was when I was PS around 10 years ago. I was granted another year of PS after being asked my travel plans(and got around 600 SC's the next year). Then, I fell a few short on WP a few years ago and was granted an extension with 'even though you did not re-qualify we would like to recognise your past loyalty'. I then got 1500 SC's the next year.

QF have comp'd a re-qual in the past, but asking them to do so will result in a firm 'no'. You need to wait to hear from them. As the OP is only 20SC's short, IMHO, a quick run is probably worth it.

There is a fair bit of evidence that QF uses an average SC over a couple years, I was given a SG renewal a few years ago when sitting on 120 SC with no notice, I suspect my average SCs over the previous few years worked out to be above the SG level.

That would be consistent for me. The year QF comp'd my WP, I had been averaging around 1600 SC's a year for the past few years.

 

[bodog]

The OP asked 'who they had to beg to'. That won't work.
.....QF have comp'd a re-qual in the past, but asking them to do so will result in a firm 'no'. You need to wait to hear from them. As the OP is only 20SC's short, IMHO, a quick run is probably worth it.

I think "beg" was a generalisation as opposed to a specific action - maybe the word approach would have been more appropriate

How can you be so certain that "asking them to do so will result in a firm 'no'" - do you work for QFF?

The way I read the OP is that its already happened - he has missed requalifying - so that means it's too late now for a short SC run to get the 20 SC's - a little bit more forward planning was required

 

[amaroo]

Don't they normally send a letter requesting your planned travel for the next year prior to dropping you?

I would definitely call & probably punch an email into the system requesting a review. Include your planned travel for the next year & cross your fingers:!:

 

[nuxie1]

QF have comp'd a re-qual in the past, but asking them to do so will result in a firm 'no'. You need to wait to hear from them.

This is not true. A friend of mine who had been WP for a few years (only just achieving ~1400SC/year), only hit 700 by year end, fell back to gold, rang QFF with only one future return flight booked (in F), and was reinstated to WP. So it does happen.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Don't they normally send a letter requesting your planned travel for the next year prior to dropping you?

I would definitely call & probably punch an email into the system requesting a review. Include your planned travel for the next year & cross your fingers:!:

+1 to this. No personal experience in failing to re-qualify but I have a colleague who did : Within 100 SC's of retaining WP, did not know this at time of year ending, found out about it when a Gold card arrived in the post :shock: He called QF and was advised to send an email outlining travel plans and was after a couple of follow-up phone calls reinstated WP.
He had been WP with QF for 6 years prior to this but appeared to have either missed or not received the "Please Explain" email prior to being dropped.
To the OP yes it's probably a very rare thing to occur but the worst that can happen is a simple "No"

 

[drewbles]

How can you be so certain that "asking them to do so will result in a firm 'no'" - do you work for QFF?

Anecdotal evidence. No one on AFF that has requested (begged or otherwise) of QFF being so short of re-qualification has been successful. The mantra has and always will be 'do the SC's, get the status' for QF. I have requested once when I was 30 short of retaining silver and was told a firm 'no chance' (and that was the year I got the 'please explain' email).

I don't pull figures out of the air, it's based on a long term history of people posting their experiences on here.

 

[drewbles]

This is not true. A friend of mine who had been WP for a few years (only just achieving ~1400SC/year), only hit 700 by year end, fell back to gold, rang QFF with only one future return flight booked (in F), and was reinstated to WP. So it does happen.

It's far more likely that he was slated to be re-qualified due to a history of earning 1400 SC's for years (the re-qualification is 1200).

If they were 'gifted' a re-qualification without explaining their future travel requirements, it would be the first i've ever read of it anywhere in well over 5 years.

 

[serfty]

Anecdotal evidence. No one on AFF that has requested (begged or otherwise) of QFF being so short of re-qualification has been successful. The mantra has and always will be 'do the SC's, get the status' for QF. I have requested once when I was 30 short of retaining silver and was told a firm 'no chance' (and that was the year I got the 'please explain' email).

I don't pull figures out of the air, it's based on a long term history of people posting their experiences on here.

While what you post is in line with anecdotal evidence here, you fail to mention many are 'comped' retention of their status level proactively by QFF - they receive their new card 5-6 weeks before their status is due to run out.

Those who don't get such an offer generally receive a letter as described by amaroo.

To the OP, when does/did your status expire? Have you received such a letter as described.

 

[drewbles]

While what you post is in line with anecdotal evidence here, you fail to mention many are 'comped' retention of their status level proactively by QFF - they receive their new card 5-6 weeks before their status is due to run out.

Those who don't get such an offer generally receive a letter as described by amaroo.

To the OP, when does/did your status expire? Have you received such a letter as described.

My post directly above amaroo does

The OP asked about requesting an extension, and yes, I did fail to put in there that QF do sometimes offer an extension without attaining the necessary SC's.

 

[nuxie1]

It's far more likely that he was slated to be re-qualified due to a history of earning 1400 SC's for years (the re-qualification is 1200).

If they were 'gifted' a re-qualification without explaining their future travel requirements, it would be the first i've ever read of it anywhere in well over 5 years.

Nope, gold card arrived in the mail. A few phone calls and sweet talking and reinstated WP. I have read about this happening on occassion, you just sound a bit bitter in your response maybe because you weren't requal'd silver in the past? And Princess Fiona indicates a similar experience from their friend..

 

[drewbles]

Nope, gold card arrived in the mail. A few phone calls and sweet talking and reinstated WP. I have read about this happening on occassion, you just sound a bit bitter in your response maybe because you weren't requal'd silver in the past? And Princess Fiona indicates a similar experience from their friend..

Bitter? No. QF comp'd me to PS once with the 'please explain' letter (which, as I stated above, I then more than re-qualified for the next year). I then was comp'd WP after not quite attaining enough SC's (and again, as stated above, I then more than re-qualified the next year). I suggest you read my posts fully as to my experience.

He had been WP with QF for 6 years prior to this but appeared to have either missed or not received the "Please Explain" email prior to being dropped.

As PF says, they may have missed the email. Your friend may have as well. I have heard of a few people who missed the 'please explain' email, to call QF and have the 'well please explain' told to them too. Spam filters will do that to you

 

[bodog]

My post directly above amaroo does

My issue with your statements are that whilst the purport to be definitive they cannot be backed up by fact to conclusively confirm your assertion

Your observation of AFF posts on the topic is not definitive as AFF posts are not necessarily a reflection of everything that Qantas have ever done

It will cost the OP nothing except his time to politely ask Qantas if they will extend his SG status

BTW I was offered a comp retention of SG by Qantas last year before my year was up - it wasn't actually required in the end as I did the required flights and earns my SC's - but it's another case of Qantas preserving status without a request from a member

 

[JohnPhelan]

I've had one extension of Gold when I was under the required status credits - just got the "recognising your past loyalty" letter without any previous correspondence. A friend has just retained Silver that way too.

One other time, when I was just a bit short, I got the "please tell us your travel plans" letter; I gave the details and my status was continued at the higher level.

So QF do perform these things proactively at times.

In the OP's case - how on earth did you manage to end up 20 status credits short ??

And as for ringing up and asking - good luck, but I see this the same as people who turn up at check-in and ask for an upgrade ........

 

[drewbles]

My issue with your statements are that whilst the purport to be definitive they cannot be backed up by fact to conclusively confirm your assertion

So my direct experience is not enough for you?

Your observation of AFF posts on the topic is not definitive as AFF posts are not necessarily a reflection of everything that Qantas have ever done

They're a better representation than the general public as the people around here are about maximising their FF benefits. Up until a lot of us found out about websites like this, we just trundled along earning whatever we were earning. Thanks to AFF, we have all been able to obtain better benefits out of the program. That's the point of AFF

It will cost the OP nothing except his time to politely ask Qantas if they will extend his SG status

Agreed, although the OP should politely expect a 'no'. Of course it never hurt to ask.

 

[bodog]

So my direct experience is not enough for you.......

Agreed, although the OP should politely expect a 'no'. Of course it never hurt to ask.

No - because my personal experience tells me that comps do happen without a request or justification letter

The OP may well get a no - but they might also get a yes - your original claim was that they would ONLY get a No - I think we've moved past that claim now haven't we?

 

[drewbles]

No - because my personal experience tells me that comps do happen without a request or justification letter

Which is *exactly* what I said. I stated several times QF granted me an extension without intervention 'as you have been a loyal customer'.

The OP may well get a no - but they might also get a yes - your original claim was that they would ONLY get a No - I think we've moved past that claim now haven't we?

Now who's being picky I already said the worst that could happen is that QF would say no. Of course the adage 'Please don't ask as refusal often offends' may be held here.

To the OP, you have nothing to lose by calling QF and asking, but expect a no, and then anything in the affirmative is a bonus!