How much better is Qantas Platinum than Gold?

[drron]

Thats crazy... Can you post up the legs/classes/airlines to do that?

I cant even get gold and ive probably spent about 5k on flights this year.

Now I dont do things cheaply but i have worked out a way to get both requal for WP and AA plat on the 1 trip for about $13000-a Done4 crediting all non US flights to AA then all US flights to QF and throw in a few instant upgrades and voila.Cheaper if you want to start your DONE4 from outside Australia.Of course you do then have to do your 4 QF sectors-for me no cost as work will pay for 4 these days.

 

[cmon0005]

Thats crazy... Can you post up the legs/classes/airlines to do that?

I cant even get gold and ive probably spent about 5k on flights this year.

I have done about close to 4k this year and haven't even made Silver!!

 

[ejb]

I have done about close to 4k this year and haven't even made Silver!!

If you fly only dom then you will pay a lot more for WP than the people who use YUPPs and KUPPs in the US.

I have been WP for a few years now and have done it all through dom flights so cost is quite high.

It takes 8 flights in J SYD-PER rtn to requal WP at a cost of over $20000.

ejb

 

[serfty]

1400 SC's can be earned in North America for under $2,000; however one still needs to

1. Get there and back, and
2. Fly those 4 eligible QF/JQ segments.

 

[fly by wire]

Sorry but what does YUPPs and KUPPs stand for?

"1400 SC's can be earned in North America for under $2,000; however one still needs to
Get there and back, and
Fly those 4 eligible QF/JQ segments."

This is depressing to know as I just came back from the states

 

[serfty]

Sorry but what does YUPPs and KUPPs stand for?
...

See this thread:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...flyer-program/best-sc-per-you-have-20325.html

[edit]
Oh! You did ...

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/279161-36-post.html

Ok, read the linked threads in the posts earlier than your's.

Also, enter YUP or KUP or "Instant Upgrade" into the Google search field at the top right of this page:

and click on the [Search] Button.

[/edit]

 

[NM]

1however one still needs to

1. Get there and back, and
2. Fly those 4 eligible QF/JQ segments.

I guess those two should easily go hand in hand

 

[drewbles]

I guess those two should easily go hand in hand

My thoughts exactly MEL-SYD-SFO/LAX-SYD-MEL. 4 done and dusted

Why fly direct...

 

[ronone69]

No contest. Platinum is heaps better than Gold

1. Access to First Lounges world wide
2. Check-in at first counters world wide
3. Ability to request award tickets on the flights you want at the standard award point rates (and most times you will get want you want)
4. Access to business lounges in AU domestic no matter what class you fly
5. Priority access to flights, upgrades, standby, luggage, phone service, etc

30 status points is nothing compared to the value Platinum status gives you if you travel a lot and know how to use the system to your advantage.

 

[gwisher]

My QF SCs are due to reset at the end of Feb 2010 and I estimate that the flights I'll be on for work before then are likely to get me within 30-60 SCs of platinum. A couple of years ago this happened when I reset with only 30 to go.
My question is whether people think the extra benefits are worth the cost of a status run. If so, does anyone know any good status run suggestions from Perth?

Cheers

Go for the Plat. seating benefits never fail domestically, QF Bus. Lounge access dom., 1st class lounge access OS, 1st class tags OS, double points earned for plat.

 

[Hermes]

The FFC editor (not gilly) refers to the "illusive" platinum. Methinks s/he means "elusive". On the other hand, perhaps there is something of an illusion about WPs.

 

[straitman]

After a wonderful breakfast in the F lounge in SYD this morning I have to say that Platinum is still much better than Gold. :mrgreen:

 

[rhjames]

I've been platinum for years, and will soon drop back to lifetime gold. Note that most of my travel is international.

The first class lounge is nice, but in my opinion unnecessary overkill. I have no problem dropping back to the business lounges.

First class check in isn't really much different to business class.

There's two things that I'll miss :

1. I was often upgraded from business to first class on long haul (eg Sydney/LA).

2. The additional FF points.

I suggest that if travel is mainly domestic, it's no big deal, but if it's long haul international, it's worth having.

 

[dajop]

The one thing I'd miss if I was gold is the occassional ability to request redemption award seats be made available. Twice I've booked rather complicated RTW oneworld awards, and on both occassions the missing QF sector (which only came available after requesting) would have basically meant I couldn't have done them. Having said that requests are much more difficult to achieve than 3 or 4 years ago when I requested - and had made available a MEL-PER redemption on a flight only selling flexi savers - I believe now they don't even offer it for domestic sectors at all - let alone flights that only offering K class or higher...

The MEL & SYD FCL's lounges are nice, but if they weren't there I'd just get to the airport much much later, like I do when flying SQ or EK out of MEL.

 

[QuikSmart]

November 1 - Qualified WP
December 6 - QF6 SIN-SYD was changed from 2 class to 3 class metal. Was upgraded from J to F (seat only - service was still J) along WITH travelling companion. For the lie flat seat over the Skybed on a 744 - worth it. The difference in food between J and F is negligible IMO.

On International the lounges are a little nicer...also even manged an upgrade form J to F on the A380....once again - worth it.

If I was just travelling domestic - wouldn't normally bother but if it's just 30-60 SC's I would consider a trip to visit family somewhere inerstate and then enjoy the dom J lounges (even though the BNE one is not really different to QP).

 

[adamllee]

Platinum is no better for the exit row seat upgrades and the priority waitlisting can mean you do not get the upgrade to business, you are only guaranteed the economy seat. (This has happened to me).

I fly Qantas for work and Cathay for private overseas trips. Qantas have only once given me a special welcome on board the plane since I attained Platinum/Emerald, Cathay were giving me the special treatment once I got to Gold/Sapphire status. (Although they have been more sporadic recently).

The access to the first lounges internationally is beneficial. Don't forget that with Platinum you can use the International Business Lounge whenever you are flying, regardless of One World Carrier or not. You can enter the business lounge domestic at anytime which is useful if meeting friends at the airport and they happen to be delayed.

First lounges internationally are great when flying OW, the Cathay First lounges are very nice, (so are the business ones), the New Qantas business lounge in HKG is very nice although a little cold which they said was due to teething problems with the new air con system. (The New Qantas First lounge in HKG opens end Dec), the old lounge was a toilet. However there is no other benefit when, like me, you are mainly in W.A. Sand gropers only get a standard business lounge at the moment domestic and international terminal.

If you are just shy of Platinum, well worth spending the money on a flight to get it though, but if say 100-120 points or more shy, forget it.

 

[gilly]

Wow that's quite a discussion I've kicked off!

Thanks for all the opinions. I think this time it is worth spending a little for a flight that gets me a small holiday. I may make the points anyway through work flights but my work schedule is unpredictable.
If not I could look at upgrading one or two of my work flights (737-800s) with my own money to business which will get me 60SCs per flight where I work.

For me the best benefit of WP other than the double FF points would be when redeeming points for the RTW I intend and enjoying international F lounges, some possible upgrades along with the special treatment when pear shapedness inevitably happens!


And I will try Melbourne's highly recommended Eggs Benedict when I get the chance!

 

[kiwial]

You are able to request that Qantas open additional (classic awards) points seats on flights where there are none available, making the process of booking your points flights a whole lot easier.

If a WP books online are these "extra" Classic Award seats available or do you have to go through the call centre?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

That is the current situation but in theory one can re-qualify QF Platinum for just over AUD2000 in Asia. Not as good as the YUP/KUP runs in the USA but still good and a much better destination and carrier in my opinion....

1200 SC for 2k?

1200/2000=$1.66 per SC? That's still pretty good. Most AA Y'up's and K'up's are around $2.00 per SC and up.

fly by wire
Thats crazy... Can you post up the legs/classes/airlines to do that?

I cant even get gold and ive probably spent about 5k on flights this year.

I was in the same boat last year too. l spent more than 5k on QF and only managed to get Silver.

 

[Fishhead]

I have been platinum for about 6 years flying international in discount economy (I work for an NGO). Its a mixed bag. Yes the lounge is nice and the extra points help family trips to make up for all my time away from home. However, lounge access interantionally is nowhere near as good as advertised. the loss of access to exit rows was a feal blow and in my experience over the time since charging came in they are rarely filled. Whsy can't the empty ones be allocated to platinum flyers? my last moan is about codeshare flights. I'm in auckland having just got off an Air tahiti Nui flight. I had a Qantas codeshare ticket (no lounge access in Papeete) was located 3 seats from the rear of the plane. The best airline for looking after Qantas platinum flyers is Cathay Pacific. They talk with you about seat options and offer the best. Qantas check in staff offer nothing - the Australian lounge staff are good though.

So what's better? two Gold or one platinum? that's what it boils down to in flying and status credit terms. One Star Alliance and a One World gives greater flexibility (for international not domestic) and the benefits of platinum are not doouble that of gold