NB wanting some advice

[ScumGold]

Hey...

I am starting a new job in 3 weeks that has a fair bit of travel internationally (Europe and US) (unfortunately all in Y class.... BLEH!!!)

How ever, I am just glad to be travelling for work. So, I love the Qantas lounges and thought I'd run my plan past all you

What I think I'll do is sign up for 2 years of QP and aim for SG via my many Y class flights. I think my first port of call will be Dublin and I'll possibly be there for 4 months, flying back to Melb every 3 or 4 weeks.
My Anniversary with QFF is Nov 1st so no real point in flying before then as i only have 250 SCs.

Now am I right in saying that, should I make SG by say May next year, I'll have SG from May to Nov and the 12 months from Nov?
Also... Does my 24 months of QP get put on hold?

Cheers.

 

[nlagalle]

Hey...

I am starting a new job in 3 weeks that has a fair bit of travel internationally (Europe and US) (unfortunately all in Y class.... BLEH!!!)

How ever, I am just glad to be travelling for work. So, I love the Qantas lounges and thought I'd run my plan past all you

What I think I'll do is sign up for 2 years of QP and aim for SG via my many Y class flights. I think my first port of call will be Dublin and I'll possibly be there for 4 months, flying back to Melb every 3 or 4 weeks.
My Anniversary with QFF is Nov 1st so no real point in flying before then as i only have 250 SCs.

Now am I right in saying that, should I make SG by say May next year, I'll have SG from May to Nov and the 12 months from Nov?
Also... Does my 24 months of QP get put on hold?

Cheers.

Hey ScumGold,

Welcome to AFF!

Yes you will get Gold for the 16 odd months.

and yes your QC membership is put on ice til you need it again. Mine is currently on ice since last year.

Cheers,

Nick

 

[rtyuiop]

It sounds like you've put together a reasonable plan - only thing I would watch out for is your employer's travel policy. If you're stuck taking the best fare on day (particularly to Europe and the US - there's plenty of competition on both routes), you may find yourself on QF less often than you're expecting.

But it might just be that I'm bitter about being forced to go Air NZ to Minnesota just recently, and missing out on all those lovely SCs!

Danny

 

[NM]

If you a looking to purchase a Qantas Club membership, consider taking out a paid AFF membership here which gives you access to the Corporate Qantas Club membership pricing. The $200 saving for the QC membership will more than pay for the AFF membership fee and provide the other benefits of AFF membership such as ad-free browsing of the site.

See here for AFF membership options and benefits.

 

[ScumGold]

It sounds like you've put together a reasonable plan - only thing I would watch out for is your employer's travel policy. If you're stuck taking the best fare on day (particularly to Europe and the US - there's plenty of competition on both routes), you may find yourself on QF less often than you're expecting.

But it might just be that I'm bitter about being forced to go Air NZ to Minnesota just recently, and missing out on all those lovely SCs!

Danny

Yeah, luckily the company I'm going to is happy for us to travel with Qantas or One World metal.

If you a looking to purchase a Qantas Club membership, consider taking out a paid AFF membership here which gives you access to the Corporate Qantas Club membership pricing. The $200 saving for the QC membership will more than pay for the AFF membership fee and provide the other benefits of AFF membership such as ad-free browsing of the site.

Thanks NM
I took advantage of the Gold subscription. It's worth it just to be rid of the ADs
QP membership saving is fantastic though.

 

[medhead]

My Anniversary with QFF is Nov 1st so no real point in flying before then as i only have 250 SCs.

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but if you already have 250 SC I'd suggest it might be worth trying to get the extra 100SC required for Silver status before November as that gives you 25% status bonus on points. That should add up if flying long distance.

 

[ScumGold]

That's an idea.

I do have another question though. How do I book a flight that will be classed as Y and not discounted Y?

 

[straitman]

That's an idea.

I do have another question though. How do I book a flight that will be classed as Y and not discounted Y?

The frivolous answer is 'pay more money' :!:

A better answer is to look at the various fare type descriptions or compare fare types and see (near the bottom) whether they are treated as economy or discounted economy earning of Frequent Flyer Points and Status Credits.

 

[dajop]

I'm not going to offer advice one way or the other, but my initial thoughts if doing lots of long haul in Y (especially if discounted Y), it may be worth considering a mileage based FF program (AA??) over status credit based program like QF. Catch with these sort of programs may be that discounted fares earn at lower rates anyway or not at all in some instances. There are many more versed in AA than i am, so not going to make any more comments other than throwing it out there!

The advantage though, of sticking with QF is potential for points upgrades once you get to silver and then increasing in chance when getting to gold.

As for the full Y fares, Expert Flyer shows them MEL-LHR return for $4738++ , and if paying this sort of money really getting into fare levels of premium economy or combo (economy to Asia, business from Asia) fares on alternative carriers (but probably not allowed under policy).

Oh, if you find yourself on the darkside for some reason, don't forget the Aegean program for star alliance - 1 return to Europe should just about get you to star gold, which has many of the perks of QF gold.

 

[NM]

That's an idea.

I do have another question though. How do I book a flight that will be classed as Y and not discounted Y?

For Australian domestic flights, book the fares identified as Fully Flexible. For international flights, you need a fare basis starting with Y and in most cases they are going to be very expensive. Many times you can book discounted premium economy fares (like R or T class) for less than a Y fare.

If doing lots of long-haul economy travel, ask your employer to consider sending you in premium economy.

 

[markis10]

For Australian domestic flights, book the fares identified as Fully Flexible..

Domestically flexi saver will do the same job as fully flexible as far as points/SCs go:

http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/amadeus/minirules/AUAURED_SUMMARY/index.html

 

[serfty]

For Australian domestic flights, book the fares identified as Fully Flexible. ...

Domestically flexi saver will do the same job as fully flexible as far as points/SCs go:

Bookings - Fare Types

Yep, for QF domestic flight, if a fare name has "Flexi" in it then it earns SC's at Full Economy rates. In this case, these classes are K, B, H & Y.

More here: http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/info/DomRetlCC0709.pdf

(Just be careful with some multi-segment booking as the class may vary between sectors.)