I'm over Qantas FF - Is there a better value program for an Oz Resident?

[turtlemichael]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

And NM, if you can readily calculate it, the AA points were?

 

[NM]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

And NM, if you can readily calculate it, the AA points were?

90,000 per person. 45K each way. It is booked as economy. Would have only been 60K each way in Business Class or 80K each way in First Class but there was only economy available.

Seems my family has cottoned on to my AAdvantage mileage balance is determined to stop it getting into 7 digits.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Thanks everyone for your contributions to this thread.

I'm partway through this other thread now http://www.australianfrequentflyer....he-great-points-transfer-aadvantage-6802.html
and thoroughly enjoying it. It's good stuff.

Just had a idea come into my head.

I'm planning a trip to the US next year and the reason for the trip was primarily to get QF WP however I may now have other ideas.

For the Platinum challenge is there a minimum amount of flights you actually have to take ?
If not - then surely I could credit the MEL-LAX-JFK return Y flights to AA (as long as its booked in an appropriate booking class) and the journey being 20,000+ miles should get me to AA Platinum as it would be 10,000miles even at the 50% booking classes ? ie. G,N,S,M,V,L.

And then still credit my AA status runs to QF so then I return back with both QF WP and AA Plat ?
Would that work ?

Also - is there a way to credit the points from a JASA/FASA to AA ? Perhaps book over the phone then before you fly call up QF and get them to put your AA number in there ?

 

[serfty]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

The 'cheap' JASA/FASA's book into U and P class on QF. Travel in these classes (as well as Z and X) on QF flight numbers does not earn anything with AAdvantage (although one might put yon AAdvantage Number into the booking to take advanatge of an AA status).

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

The 'cheap' JASA/FASA's book into U and P class on QF. Travel in these classes (as well as Z and X) on QF flight numbers does not earn anything with AAdvantage (although one might put yon AAdvantage Number into the booking to take advanatge of an AA status).

Thanks.
How about the other thing I mentioned ?
Can you do an AA challenge without even taking an AA flight ?

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

It seems that you must book AA flight numbers to credit flights for an AA challenge ? Is this still the case ?
Is it possible to book say MEL-PER using AA flight numbers ?
It seems that in Lindsay Wilson's 'great points transfer' thread he was able to:

1. Get QF flight numbers credited for his AA challenge, and
2. That he was getting the J EQP multiple (i.e., 1.5) for flights that he upgraded using his QFF points.

But that thread is from 2006, so are the above two points still the case today ?

Thanks

 

[serfty]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

You can execute the "challenge" without setting foot on an AA aircraft and without using an AA flight number.

See the "challenge" thread I linked to in post #5 it has been kept updated as parameters have changed time since originally written.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

You can execute the "challenge" without setting foot on an AA aircraft and without using an AA flight number.

See the "challenge" thread I linked to in post #5 it has been kept updated as parameters have changed time since originally written.

Thanks serfty,
I had another look at that challenge thread.

Another couple of questions please:
1/ I notice now that CC spend does not count towards status. I know this is probably a long shot, but do bought miles count towards status ? If so how are they calculated ? 1 mile = 1 point ?
2/ Do the points that I attain as part of a challenge count towards a higher status level in the same qualifying year ? As in, if I go for the platinum challenge and manage to get say 20,000 points, do I then need 80,000 more to reach EXP ?

Thanks, appreciate the help

 

[geordieladinoz]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

The awards I find good value for QF are the oneworld 280k in J and domestic awards.

I would agree with you on those but in my situation here I am not looking to spend 280k per person. I have already booked JASA's SYD-NRT followed by Trans-Siberian and Europe. The trip will, hopefully, finish with a JASA LHR-SYD if I can find something suitable.

So for me, this trip will burn approximately 400k points (SYD-NRT = 144k and LHR-SYD = 256k) with a spend of around $2k (SYD-NRT = $800 and LHR-SYD = ~$1,200). For this we will earn a nice wedge of points and SC's which will get us towards having 600k points in the bank which I will use for RTW in 2015 and retain WP until June 2015. Work dependant, I may drop off the face of the WP cliff after this so I am maximising my requirements.

So whilst I agree the OneWorld award is excellent value, it does not suit my situation here.

And yes, the LHR-MEL-HBA flights nabbed by Sale are excellent value and I stick by it along with Ketsuzei!

 

[kooky]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

The awards I find good value for QF are the oneworld 280k in J and domestic awards.

Do they allow true stopovers or is it transit only? Is it effectively similar to OWE, etc?

 

[JohnK]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Do they allow true stopovers or is it transit only? Is it effectively similar to OWE, etc?

You are allowed 16 sectors, 5 stopovers and up to 35,000 miles. Not exactly a Oneworld Explorer but close enough.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Is it possible to credit JASA/FASA flights to AA ?
If it is, you could probably hit EXP about as fast as WP by flying a few international flights in J, once you have AA Plat.

 

[JohnK]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Is it possible to credit JASA/FASA flights to AA ?
If it is, you could probably hit EXP about as fast as WP by flying a few international flights in J, once you have AA Plat.

You would still need ~66,660 flown miles.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

You would still need ~66,660 flown miles.

AA Plats get 100% bonus so its more like 40,000 miles ?
American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status Bonus | aa.com

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Another question for those in the know.

Say I start the AA Plat Challenge and I amass say 20,000 eqp in the 3 month period.
Does that mean that I now need an additional 80,000 eqp to hit EXP or do I have to start from 0 again because the 20k was for the Plat Challenge ?

Thanks.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Just as an example.
If I'm flying on MH MEL-CDG via KUL in J and I already have AA Plat.
That comes to 20,820 miles.
Great Circle Mapper

Because I'm flying in J I get 1.5 EQP per mile flown so that's 31,230 EQPs.
Due to my AA Plat I get 100% bonus of the base miles.
American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status Bonus | aa.com
So that's 31,230+20,820 = 52,050 EQPs.

And then as I am flying in J do I get an additional 25% cabin bonus as per here ?
American Airlines oneworld partner

If so that will add another 5,205 giving a total of 57,255 EQPs ?

Is that correct ?

Also my understanding is that the cheapest J fares on MH book into Z class which is the class that some people here have complained about not getting credited properly to QF ?
Do AA also have this problem of not automatically crediting MH flights ?
I may have to keep the boarding pass etc just in case.

 

[cove]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Always keep your boarding passes as identity theft could result from leaving a boarding pass in a plane seat pocket.

 

[anat0l]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Just as an example.
If I'm flying on MH MEL-CDG via KUL in J and I already have AA Plat.
That comes to 20,820 miles.
Great Circle Mapper

Because I'm flying in J I get 1.5 EQP per mile flown so that's 31,230 EQPs.
Due to my AA Plat I get 100% bonus of the base miles.
American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status Bonus | aa.com
So that's 31,230+20,820 = 52,050 EQPs.

And then as I am flying in J do I get an additional 25% cabin bonus as per here ?
American Airlines oneworld partner

If so that will add another 5,205 giving a total of 57,255 EQPs ?

Is that correct ?

Also my understanding is that the cheapest J fares on MH book into Z class which is the class that some people here have complained about not getting credited properly to QF ?
Do AA also have this problem of not automatically crediting MH flights ?
I may have to keep the boarding pass etc just in case.

Can someone double check this, because my impression is that the elite status bonus miles (e.g. 25% for GLD, 100% for PLT/EXP) doesn't count towards your EQPs?

As for your calculation, the way that I read it, it goes:

• 20820 miles is the GCM distance, then
• Miles earned as a PLT (i.e. redeemable miles) is 20,820 * 100% (base miles for MH in J) + 20,820 * 25% (class of service bonus miles) + 20,820 * 100% (elite status bonus miles for PLT flying MH) = 46,845 miles
• Elite Qualifying Miles (for status purposes) is 20,820 * 100% (base miles for MH in J) = 20,820 EQMs
• Elite Qualifying Points (for status purposes) is 20,820 (EQMs) * 1.50 (elite qualifying points for MH in J) = 31,230 EQPs
• Elite Qualifying Segments is 1 EQS.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Can someone double check this, because my impression is that the elite status bonus miles (e.g. 25% for GLD, 100% for PLT/EXP) doesn't count towards your EQPs?

As for your calculation, the way that I read it, it goes:

• 20820 miles is the GCM distance, then
• Miles earned as a PLT (i.e. redeemable miles) is 20,820 * 100% (base miles for MH in J) + 20,820 * 25% (class of service bonus miles) + 20,820 * 100% (elite status bonus miles for PLT flying MH) = 46,845 miles
• Elite Qualifying Miles (for status purposes) is 20,820 * 100% (base miles for MH in J) = 20,820 EQMs
• Elite Qualifying Points (for status purposes) is 20,820 (EQMs) * 1.50 (elite qualifying points for MH in J) = 31,230 EQPs
• Elite Qualifying Segments is 1 EQS.

Looking at it again, you are correct in that the 25% cabin bonus only applies towards miles accrued and not EXPs.
Not sure about the elite bonus status miles (100% for PLT) - we'll wait for others' responses.

Why is Elite Qualifying Segments just 1 ?
I would have thought 6 ?
Looks like its pretty hard to qual/requal based on EQSs rather than EQMs or EQPs ?

 

[anat0l]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Looking at it again, you are correct in that the 25% cabin bonus only applies towards miles accrued and not EXPs.
Not sure about the elite bonus status miles (100% for PLT) - we'll wait for others' responses.

Why is Elite Qualifying Segments just 1 ?
I would have thought 6 ?
Looks like its pretty hard to qual/requal based on EQSs rather than EQMs or EQPs ?

Whoops I read the GCM mileage you gave as the one-way mileage. Silly me.

In that case, EQS count will be 4 (two flights required in each direction). AFAIK EQS count is not subject to any bonuses - it is simply one per eligible sector flown.

EQS is more for those that fly plenty of cheap Y fares which earn less than unity for EQM or EQP. For example, someone who flies weekly SYD/MEL discount Y (on an eligible AAdvantage earning class) return in Australia on QF could be a AA EXP. On QFF, they would only be a Gold.