My QF Platinum Challenge

[Mrmaxwell]

My challenge is to qualify for WP status by Sept 30.

I am currently bronze with no SC's so it's a full 1400 SC count needed (work has signed me up with QC). My upcoming work trips will be SYD-BKK-SYD and SYD-LAX-SYD both in Y class

For the Thailand trip I've thought of going via JQ in Starclass (either via booking or ODU) to get me started. For the USA trip I'm also thinking of taking the JQ route via HNL in Starclass then AA onto LAX. As I will be in the US for a month the AA SC run will be a vital requirement to qualify (serfty has got me going on a sample route).

Am I a tad dellusional here or is it possible? I would be paying for the AA SC run in the USA, as well as the StarClass upgrade (unless I wrangle more budget). I was also thinking it may be possible going direct from BKK to LAX via one of the asian hubs (AA from HKG??).

 

[serfty]

The really cheap YUP fares ex HNL are basically not available at the moment; there are good ones from SFO, TPA and ATL. Avoid "Hubs" like LAX, DFW, ORD & JFK.

Carefully booked, 3 return YUPS from any of these ports can net you the 1400 SC's required for approx USD3000.

 

[simongr]

Are you planning a heap of travel in 2008/2009 that you would benefit from having WP status? It is an awful lot of money to pay if you are not going to get max benefit out of it...

 

[NM]

How much do you really want the status? How much are you willing to pay?

Here are some thoughts:

Can you include the Thailand and LA trips into the same time period? If so, then can you be flexible with how they are funded?

Assuming a corporate deal of a flexible but discount economy fare for each of those trips, you would be looking at something like $1600 for SYD-BKK-SYD and up to $3000 for SYD-LAX-SYD.

Now if you are paid a per-diem allowance for meals and incidentals while travelling, and assuming rates similar to my company for a week in each of Thailand and USA that would come to around $1000. And if paid a per-diem allowance, you may also be eligible for a tax deducation Taxation Determination TD 2007/21 that may amount to another few hundred dollars.

And if this is a 100% work trip, then if you pay the difference between the economy fare and the business class fare, you may also be able to claim a tax deduction for the fare difference.

So now a DONE4 OneWorld Explorer business class fare will cost $10,500, less the SYD-BKK-SYD and SYS-LAX-SYD fare costs of $4600 means you pay $6900. Save the per-diems and each cheap, so now about $$5900 out of pocket. Then with tax deductions you could get that down to around $3000 out of pocket.

now if using a Circle Pacific fare, the starting fare is $7600, less the BKK and LAX fares of $4600 brings it down to $3000, less per-diems and you are $2000 out of pocket before tax deductions. But a DCIR22 is not going to earn you 1400 SCs. So will need some other travel before the anniversary date.

Talk to you accountant or tax agent before banking on any tax deductions to ensure you are entitled to them.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Some good advice here. My travel will be ramping up hence my post...many colleagues have racked up substantial travel miles but as most fly Y class they never get higher than silver/gold status. I am thinking WP status would be worth it for upgrade ops and 100% cabin bonus - the complimentary QC membership doesn't help as work pays for that. Maybe FF bronze and QC membership is enough? In my last few trips to QC the damn flight gate lounge has had more seats and been quieter! Mmmmm F lounge

Maybe I am mistaken but as Serfty said US$3k for WP status via AA SC runs does not seem too bad considering the amount of Y/J class runs one would have to do to achieve the same status?

 

[Dave Noble]

Some good advice here. My travel will be ramping up hence my post...many colleagues have racked up substantial travel miles but as most fly Y class they never get higher than silver/gold status. I am thinking WP status would be worth it for upgrade ops and 100% cabin bonus - the complimentary QC membership doesn't help as work pays for that. Maybe FF bronze and QC membership is enough? In my last few trips to QC the damn flight gate lounge has had more seats and been quieter! Mmmmm F lounge

Maybe I am mistaken but as Serfty said US$3k for WP status via AA SC runs does not seem too bad considering the amount of Y/J class runs one would have to do to achieve the same status?

If you are going to be doing a fair amount of travel in Y and is in a decent booking class, you might want to consider crediting to AA; if you did SYD-BKK-SYD on BA in WT+ that would earn you 13,986 qpoints and the SYD-LAX-SYD would earn in most AA fares or higher QF fare would earn 14976 points which is 28,962 qpoints and enough for Gold status on AA. Earn another 21,038 points for Platinum (Sapphire) level status. If doing a fair amount of travel a year, would be quite easy to maintain AA Platinum status and get 100% earning on miles

If able to book on AA flight number to USA, then by challenge could get Platinum status just off the r/t itself

Decent status level and no personal funds wasted on trying to buy coloured airline cards

If you have Gold status and are travelling in the US, then you can preselect exit seats and also earn/buy upgrade credits to upgrade domestic travel

If keen to get QF top tier status, then I would suggest waiting till closer to september and seeing how close you can get before throwing personal money at buying status; If you can get gold on its own merit but will cost $3000 to get Platinum, I would say to leave it and use the $3000 for something more substantial ; if you find yourself just short of a status level then it could be worth a small amount of travel to cross the line


Dave

 

[Evan]

Seems like a difficult task, especially since your flying whY.
Making gold would seem like an easy task, but platinum is a long way after that. (but then again whats the advantage of gold if you have QP membership and fly QF/BA/AA, not much really)

I would only do it if you find that you can take some holidays etc on your status runs to make the trips mean something.

If on the other hand you can pay to upgrade to J for a little extra then it could be also worth it just for the comfort.

NM,

And if this is a 100% work trip, then if you pay the difference between the economy fare and the business class fare, you may also be able to claim a tax deduction for the fare difference.

That is GOLD !! this i did not know, i will keep that in mind now, especially when BA offer on departure upgrades for reasonable money.

E

 

[NM]

NM,

That is GOLD !! this i did not know, i will keep that in mind now, especially when BA offer on departure upgrades for reasonable money.

E

Do note the use of the word "may" and the suggestion to check with your accountant or tax advisor.

 

[Evan]

Do note the use of the word "may" and the suggestion to check with your accountant or tax advisor.

Yes, of course.... My accountant tends to stear me in a correct course so far, and will always tell me is something is not a good idea. (ie could cause issues in an audit). The last thing i need is an audit, not because i have anything to hide just because it would be a pain to deal with and time consuming on my part.

E

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Seems like a difficult task, especially since your flying whY.
Making gold would seem like an easy task, but platinum is a long way after that.

E

Yes it seems like a sums game....I guess aiming for SG might be better short term.

 

[simongr]

Have a serious think about AAdvantage - the benefit is the earn/burn rate if in thoery will be QF SG - but if flying in asia and maybe a few CX flights you get the status bonus - obviously you miss out on BA status bonus.

 

[serfty]

Carefully booked, 3 return YUPS from any of these ports can net you the 1400 SC's required for approx USD3000.

Note that QF SG can be obtained using the same careful booking strategy for ½ that cost, perhaps less.

 

[Chucksta]

Are YUPs advisable with check in luggage?

Given the number of transits, I fear that check in luggage may go AWOL.

I need 1200 SC by Sep 2008 to keep my WP status!

Thinking of buying a SIN-HKG-LAX D fare on CX for 8000 SGD and getting the remaining 600 odd SC by doing YUPs on AA.

Anyone got a better alternative?

thanks

Chucksta

 

[JohnK]

Are YUPs advisable with check in luggage?

No!

I need 1200 SC by Sep 2008 to keep my WP status!

Thinking of buying a SIN-HKG-LAX D fare on CX for 8000 SGD and getting the remaining 600 odd SC by doing YUPs on AA.

Anyone got a better alternative?

Do you really need to have QF Platinum status? That sounds like a lot of money to spend on one trip just to retain Platinum status.

Why not just wait for the please explain letter and you may even be comped Platinum again without the letter. Worst case scenario is you only to QF Gold which still gives you lounge access. And no I do not think First class lounge access is worth that much money....

 

[serfty]

To be pedantic, checked luggage is not anathema to YUP's; checked luggage is anathema to MR's; especially multi segment routings with several connections.

YUPS are a great way to travel First class in the US without worrying about getting upgrades/upgraded. It's only when they are employed (as I ans others do) to gain/retain status that checking bags is to be avoided.

e.g. SEA-JFK-SEA can be had for USD1155 and would earn 300 SC's with QFF, by all means take the direct flights and enjoy your trip.

If looking for additional SC's, then book SEA-DFW-EWR-DFW-SEA for USD1160 and earn 480 SC's - but don't check baggage.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

As an aside does QP membership mean anything outside Oz? Any international club access, or does status level kick in once you leave Australian soil?

 

[Dave Noble]

As an aside does QP membership mean anything outside Oz? Any international club access, or does status level kick in once you leave Australian soil?

Outside of Australia a Qantas Club member can access AA Admiral's Clubs when departing on AA or QF and can access BA Business Lounges when departing on BA or QF

Dave

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Thinking out loud...

Is there any special OW fare that could get me SYD-BKK-LAX-SYD with any added stop overs/combinations in between?

The DCIRC22 looks perfect but it seems one needs to go SYD-USA and not in the other direction (essential as I need to go to BKK first).

 

[NM]

Is there any special OW fare that could get me SYD-BKK-LAX-SYD with any added stop overs/combinations in between?

The DCIRC22 looks perfect but it seems one needs to go SYD-USA and not in the other direction (essential as I need to go to BKK first).

Circle Pacific can go in either direction. So your routing is ok. just need to cross the north Pacific in one direction (BKK-LAX) and south Pacific in the other direction (LAX-SYD).

Obviously no OneWorld direct between BKK and LAX, so need to route that via HKG or NRT.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Circle Pacific can go in either direction. So your routing is ok. just need to cross the north Pacific in one direction (BKK-LAX) and south Pacific in the other direction (LAX-SYD).

Obviously no OneWorld direct between BKK and LAX, so need to route that via HKG or NRT.

Well I think this may the best solution for me...and I can use my whY budget towards (if not pay for all) the DCIRC22 fare. I will get J class on all flights and some nice SC's + points which although not getting me to WP may pull me out of NB status

It seems the best way to book is via the AA rtw desk rather than locally through QF? Less fuel sucharge? Have I read this correctly?

PS. I'm on the 5 day trial of expert flyer...very useful in this instance!