I made it to Gold... Finally!!

[nlagalle]

Well I am sitting in the BNE J lounge after used some points to upgrade my ticket as a treat. Because on this flight I'll enter as a QC silver and exit as a Gold. Mind you that's if i get to board on time due to the storms here!!

It's taken me 3 years to get to this level. Pretty much all Y or disc Y and DOM travel in that time.

After managing to get Silver for the first time in 2006, i came close in 2007, thanks to double SC promo from QF and I had a J flight in that period. Just managed enough SC's in 2008 to stay silver but a month and a bit out from my renewal I've cracked it.

I'm sharing it here because most of you know how hard it can be to earn SC's etc..

Here's to becoming a WP in the next couple of years!!!

Cheers,

Nick

 

[Nigelinoz]

Well done mate,congratulations,you have better news than me.
I just found out that I'm losing gold,first time in 3 years I haven't got enough SC's so it's back down to silver for me.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Congrats on getting to Gold, at least this now gets you lounge access and in a higher position in the queue to get upgrades.

Domestically the J lounges aren't that much better than the regular Qantas lounges, enjoy the lounging.

 

[Febs]

Congrats! I remember when I first made Gold...it's a great feeling!

While I love being Platinum, IMO the benefits of Gold over Silver far outweigh those of Platinum over Gold - OW lounge access being the key benefit of course.

The Platinum benefits are "nice to haves" (very nice to haves, mind you!)

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Travel Guru]

Congrats Nick, well done, you're right it is a tough one to do on discount dom. Y only, makes it all the sweeter when you get there.

TG

 

[moa999]

The Platinum benefits are "nice to haves" (very nice to haves, mind you!)

very very very nice to haves if going through SYD, MEL Int, HKG, LHR T5 on a OW airline (or JQ)

Oh... And congrats Nick - it is a great feeling to get the comp QC access

 

[tuapekastar]

Congrats nlagalle. Am sure you will enjoy the benefits...

 

[JohnK]

Congratulations Nick.

It is not easy having to commute regularly for work. Good luck in your quest for Platinum status....

 

[serfty]

Congrats Nick

I know how hard it can be.

Before coming across AFF/FT I maintained SG for 4 years flying in discount economy.

It is tough; you just have to keep at those danged 50 SC per month.

 

[oz_mark]

Congratulations Nick, hope you can enjoy the benefits.

It is tough; you just have to keep at those danged 50 SC per month.

Much easier task than 100SC though....

 

[serfty]

I was referring to before I came across AFF/FT and how I felt the need to extract as many SC's from my travel as possible.

In 2003, 10 SC' were what you go for discount economy MEL-BNE/ADL/SYD/CBR etc.

For my BNE trips I would endeavor to route via SYD.

Yes it was tough, and for that I can understand how much travel Nick has put in.

These days, a few YUPs here and there and 100 SC's/month is really a doddle.

$1350 return fare to LAX (90 SC's), $1600 return LAX-ATL - 540 SC's - and because I am travelling on Business, it's TAX deductable

 

[nlagalle]

Thanks Guys...

Your right it is hard... I had carefully planned my trips to get silver originally in 06 (having not flown much for work since 2000).

But with increased travel it's made it easier.. Just a pity they cut the 3 hour J rule last year!!! but thankfully the Dom travel looks like it will be Y not disc Y so 600 SC next year should be doable.. 1400 would be better!

 

[Febs]

very very very nice to haves if going through SYD, MEL Int, HKG, LHR T5 on a OW airline (or JQ)

Don't forget NRT! The new Flounge there is fantastic!

 

[file51]

Congrats, skies the limit now...

I do have to say that AFF has really helped me change my flying strategies over the past couple of years and has made the reward oh so much sweeter.

SG was attained last month (after falling back to Silver last year with paid QP membership - was WP for 5 years, then SG for 2 years prior to that). Now in a new status year the target is WP, probably in August or November (without going on any mileage runs, just changing booking classes, i.e. discount economy in the U.S. to instant upgrade fares).

A huge thanks and big thumbs up to all that contribute here, the mod squad and admin

 

[straitman]

Congratulations nlagalle,

Well done. Now onward to WP :!:

 

[pauly7]

Congrats - enjoy all the frills and perks - its great

 

[Catching 'On FF]

Great Work! I know how hard it is. I made SG for the first time this year as well, all on Disc-Y with only one os trip. The tips I have read from this forum have been a lot of help in maximising my flying experience.

 

[Groundfeeder]

Congratulations nlagalle,
As you can see by previous posts, its a nice club to enter - SG that is.
I made SG last year but it was all through dom QLD flights, usually on K tickets to handle work variability at short notice. I wouldn't recommend heading for WP via the same way!!

 

[medhead]

Congratulations nlagalle
AFF has inspired me to do the extra flights to obtain and retain Silver over an extended period. At least as a step to SG. Anyway, I just wanted to confirm a couple of things about the whole status process. Firstly So you now a gold until your anniversary date and then remain gold for the next membership year?

Also, to make the step to gold I assume you had to get 700 SC, i.e. the 50 SC discount to retain silver doesn't impact on the 700SC to obtain gold.

Sorry if these are really stupid questions, I'm just trying to test my understanding of how this all works.

 

[nlagalle]

Congratulations nlagalle
AFF has inspired me to do the extra flights to obtain and retain Silver over an extended period. At least as a step to SG. Anyway, I just wanted to confirm a couple of things about the whole status process. Firstly So you now a gold until your anniversary date and then remain gold for the next membership year?

Also, to make the step to gold I assume you had to get 700 SC, i.e. the 50 SC discount to retain silver doesn't impact on the 700SC to obtain gold.

Hey Medhead,

in answer to your questions, yes I am now Gold until my next anniversary, which is April 2010. so I'll have it for about 13 months all up. Had i done it sooner, then i would have been able to hold it longer (But still up to APR 2010).

And yes I had to get a total of 700 SC. I got my 300 points for PS back in August last year.

However to re-qualify I only need to get 600SC.

Cheers,

Nick