Pay Points to Extend Qantas Status

[Mrsfefe]

Is this a one-year only option? As anyone tried or succeeded in “buying” platinum status for a second year?

 

[coriander]

Is this a one-year only option? As anyone tried or succeeded in “buying” platinum status for a second year?

I'll let you know in 12 months' time. My travel for next 12 months is all on points, SQ in the main. Paying for flights on QF without a DSC makes flying with QFi very expensive compared to other carriers (I suppose we all have to help do the "heavy lifting" with AJ's renumeration package).

 

[JB expat]

This was also my experience - Qantas did not pro-actively make the offer to me, but rather I rang them up. To be clear, I did not explicitly ask to exchange points for status, but rather tried to phrase my question in a way which didn't rule out a pure 'comp' (something along the lines of "is there anything that can be done to let me keep platinum for another year"). In response, the customer service rep immediately offered me the option of paying 120,000 points.

Based on my experience, and other reports up-thread, I suspect that Qantas will happily take 120,000 points of any platinum FF who is short of the re qualification requirements and bothers to ring them up.

This was my experience last year. This year I've more than made it (based on the # of SC needed for renewal and not a "clean" earn)

 

[Ansett]

With only 160 Status Credits on QF this year due to work and family issues reducing my flying and alos taking advantage of other one world airlines at times, I was ready to take advantage of my lifetime gold but received the following this morning.

Renew your Platinum status today​

​

Dear Ansett​

​

We hope you've been enjoying the benefits of Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum status. Reviewing your flight activity, it looks like you may not retain Platinum status this membership year. However, as a valued member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, we would be pleased to discuss options available to retain your current tier.​

I already have 12 flights booked for next Year MEL-AKL return plus some European and domestic flights which will see me requalify for WP with in 6 months, and really not sure I see the value of 120K points for F lounge access.

The QF representative also confirmed that the old 3 year average is definitely dead and buried. So I guess once you regain WP as a LTG, if you do, there is no more advantage to keep crediting to QFF.

Had the rule still be in place then I would have been comped WP for 12 months and with the planned flying would have retained again for the next year.

Another way QF is screwing over its loyal customers.

When will QF stop devaluing the program and give us back some benefits.

 

[UP4014]

I was thinking around the $1,000-$1,500 mark would be worth while but not sure I'll find anything that can get me over the line in this short a time period.


I do really value Platinum for the F/J lounge access but probably not 120,000 points worth to be honest. If there was a much larger gap on my SC's than 160 I'd be more open to considering it.

Sydney Cairns return via Brisbane in Y give you 100. Can do it in a day easy. So either another day trip or up a couple of legs to J.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

So I guess once you regain WP as a LTG, if you do, there is no more advantage to keep crediting to QF.​

Other than LTP , P1, and the loyalty bonuses at 2400 SC's, 5000 SC's, etc.

 

[Kefci2000]

I was out of work for 10 months till July and little flying other than cheap JQ so am well short.

Have been WP for 10 years and my average including this year would be at least 1200 as a couple of 2400 and 1800 SC years in there.

No call or mail from QF so I rang them and they said the only way I could keep WP was to pay the 120,000 points.

I am saving for 2 round the world business class flights for my wife and I so have difficulty letting go of 120k points when I am almost at my goal.

Yes I should travel 2 times o/s next year but even that may not be enough to requalify the year later, even at 1200 let alone 1400.

Tough call

 

[JB expat]

I was in your shoes Kefci2000. I'm saving for around the world business (family of four) - and I'm more than 3/4 there. Two years ago I just missed my platinum renewal. I opted to spend the points. One of the few decisions that in hind sight was the right decision. I travel (personal - read "not business paid for") within the USA from time to time, and having status is great for luggage, seats and lounge when flying in the back of the plane. You also get the lower "renewal" SC requirement for Platinum which I just met the following year. My travel and spending - for better or for worse - has earned me back a lot of the spent points.

 

[ovtraveller]

Regular readers will have heard this before: I am 10 SC short on reaching P. Have a raft of bookings with Qantas and other OW airlines which will cover me over & above P before the end of my FF membership year and beyond. Made the request for a 10 SC ‘consideration ‘ as suggested by a fellow reader some months ago, but am still waiting to sell some surplus points. Disappointed is not the word I would use in this circumstance.

 

[Pushka]

Regular readers will have heard this before: I am 10 SC short on reaching P. Have a raft of bookings with Qantas and other OW airlines which will cover me over & above P before the end of my FF membership year and beyond. Made the request for a 10 SC ‘consideration ‘ as suggested by a fellow reader some months ago, but am still waiting to sell some surplus points. Disappointed is not the word I would use in this circumstance.

If you will reach the target why do you need the 10 credits?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I was out of work for 10 months till July and little flying other than cheap JQ so am well short.

Have been WP for 10 years and my average including this year would be at least 1200 as a couple of 2400 and 1800 SC years in there.

No call or mail from QF so I rang them and they said the only way I could keep WP was to pay the 120,000 points.

I am saving for 2 round the world business class flights for my wife and I so have difficulty letting go of 120k points when I am almost at my goal.

Yes I should travel 2 times o/s next year but even that may not be enough to requalify the year later, even at 1200 let alone 1400.

Tough call

While this goes against the AFF ethos....... do you really need Platinum status when you're not flying much?

I'd skip the 120K and drop to what would be LTG for you.

 

[Kefci2000]

Ended up paying the 120k points, if I take up an ANZ Credit card I should make back the points and only have to pay the half annual fee.

Given wife and I are flying O/S plus 1-2 work trips decided the Tattenger3 courses and red wine are worth the ~$200 CC fee

Plus as pointed out earlier the 1200 requal level much more achievable than 1400

 

[levelnine]

As all the status renewals start to end, people are now dropping down tiers. It appears the ability to pay Qantas points to extend your status is back (see previous thread).

And judging by this post on Facebook, the points cost is the same as last time: 80K for Gold:


Presumably that means it is still 120K to retain Platinum.

Though I would argue that the points cost has gone up given that it is now more expensive to attain Qantas points with all the credit card devaluations.

 

[exceladdict]

As all the status renewals start to end, people are now dropping down tiers. It appears the ability to pay Qantas points to extend your status is back (see previous thread).

And judging by this post on Facebook, the points cost is the same as last time: 80K for Gold:
View attachment 336971

Presumably that means it is still 120K to retain Platinum.

Though I would argue that the points cost has gone up given that it is now more expensive to attain Qantas points with all the credit card devaluations.

Give or take $800 at 1c/p vs 93,000 points or $600 (excl joining fee) for a Qantas club membership, plus with gold you get other and oneworld benefits.

600 SC at $800, or $1.33/sc, is much better than any of the recent runs I've seen.

But if you're starting from a base of zero SC, you're presumably not using the benefits (unless flying JQ starter or non-earning OW fares), so probably won't get much value from the membership.

As always, a big case of YMMV.

 

[levelnine]

But if you're starting from a base of zero SC, you're presumably not using the benefits (unless flying JQ starter or non-earning OW fares), so probably won't get much value from the membership.

I really do hope they continue to offer it.

I can see myself making use of it in the future.

If one can acquire those 120K points for $0.005/pt or less through churning, that's $600 for Platinum.

It would free me up to switch my European flying to Qatar (at least while it remains dirt cheap to redeem QSuites on Avios) and I'd still get good use out of the higher tier of lounge access and the Platinum award release feature.

It would also free up a lot of my credit card churn to focus on programs that earn Avios (cheaper Qantas domestic redemptions) and hotel points. Only need to do 1-2 Qantas-earning cards per year plus that required to meet my Platinum seat releases. No more mass churning of Qantas cards to maintain PC/PCP.

Indeed, I could switch all my credit cards to US cards, and just flick over 100K to Qantas when Amex have their annual 20% transfer bonus.

For better or for worse, I already have Platinum locked in until mid-2025 with my current flying plans, so it will be a while before I need to consider this parachute.

 

[Lynda2475]

s all the status renewals start to end, people are now dropping down tiers.

Well not until later in the year, given that:

1, anyone with a FF anniversary between Jan-Jun got an extension to next year;
2. anyone with a Jul-Sept anniversary got a last minute offer only requiring 80% of the usual SCs to retain WP or P1.

I wouldnt expect to see many falling before October.

 

[levelnine]

I wouldnt expect to see many falling before October.

The post I quoted was someone who is Gold. Anyone with a July anniversary who is Gold has been offered nothing. They will be dropping.

 

[Lynda2475]

The post I quoted was someone who is Gold. Anyone with a July anniversary who is Gold has been offered nothing. They will be dropping.

True but this was known since the start of their FF year. It was well publicised the status support ended 30th June.

But with borders being open since Dec 2021 they have had a full year of unrestricted travel to earn status the old fashioned way (and I say this as someone who also has a 31-July anniversary and earnt WP for first time 1400SCs by flying so get zero benefit from the recent 20% discount for WP or P1).

I wouldnt pay points to keep gold, just book reward travel before your status falls and if flying J you get the benefits anyway.

For WP or P1 retention one would hope the amount of points charged would depend on the size of the deficit. If I was 10SCs short it wouldnt be fair to be charged the same as someone who was 1000SCs short.

 

[levelnine]

For WP or P1 retention one would hope the amount of points charged would depend on the size of the deficit.

That's not how it has worked in the past, so I doubt that's how it will work in the future.

If you are very close, you are better off doing a status run.

There's no obligation on Qantas to provide this offer, so one shouldn't expect them to tailor it to make it as fair as possible.

 

[Pagans]

Didn't make it to retain Gold this year ,but I have been given a chance to keep it for 80'000 points thoughts on this offer !