Pay Points to Extend Qantas Status

[Ontime]

I was Platinum for 10 years, got the Platinum banner, no points offer and sent out a Gold pack. First year I did not qualify due to some sickness. I am Lifetime Gold. To be honest i think it is very poor form to have a consistent web error that congratulates you on Retaining Platinum then knocks you down to Gold without explanation. I didn't complain as I find that a very frustrating and pointless exercise with Qantas.

 

[kermatu]

Complaining after the fact is pretty pointless. Maybe the next time someone gets the congrats message they should twitface it and make a big deal about it. Then if the downgrade eventuates make an even bigger deal of it. Might be the only way QF takes this ridiculous problem seriously.

 

[JB expat]

I think it was worth it for me (I paid the points to keep it, rather than drop to gold). Just returned from a USA trip. Used it for
1 - the Platinum check-in & lounge in Melb (booked class of travel was discounted premium economy)
2 - the American Air flagship lounge in Chicago
3 - the Platinum check-in & lounge in LAX
4 - business class upgrade came through for overnight flight home
5 - my luggage was off very early for all One World (Q and AA flights).

Not sure what I will decide in the future if I am short (or if they provide repeat options), but I used the points knowing I had this self-funded (as in, not company funded) trip coming up and I appreciated the platinum perks.

I am still waiting to become lifetime gold so I can take a look at my travel decisions with fresh eyes - will come soon.

 

[VPS]

So only four days into my new year and already dropped from Platinum to Gold - I was hoping QF might give me a call as I'm quite points rich now - any comments on whether they may call me in a week or two?

 

[infinity]

Send an email to Customer Service asking for a points paid continuance of WP,then follow up with a phone call.

Just got my WP back for 120k points

 

[Hvr]

Just got my WP back for 120k points

So how many SCs short were you?

 

[infinity]

So how many SCs short were you?

1150

 

[VPS]

Send an email to Customer Service asking for a points paid continuance of WP,then follow up with a phone call.

Just got my WP back for 120k points

Did they ask you any tricky questions or was it very matter of fact - yeah give us 120k points and here you go

 

[VPS]

And I was only 840 short

 

[mviy]

Nice work. Might need to try sending them an email if I fall short too. Worst case is they say no and I then have less incentive to keep flying QF as flying J on other carriers would get me into their J lounges.

 

[VPS]

So I sent the email on the 15th February and got the reference number. How long should I give them before I call them - is it possible they will just ignore it

 

[Cessna 180]

You need to ring, however think it needs to be done Prior to your year ending....

 

[aussierob]

Why not just scrap SC altogether. Seems pointless if you're just going to pimp-out status for purchase

 

[JB expat]

Why not just scrap SC altogether. Seems pointless if you're just going to pimp-out status for purchase

this has been raised before - the whole "double status" points offering that Qantas has a few times a year rewards travelers who aren't truly frequent flyers from a status perspective.

I benefited from the ability to purchase as I didn't quite reach the renewal threshold last year. I outlined above why it made sense for me. Another benefit is that I am 8 months out from my next renewal and have almost reached the required SC for renewal (purely from flying and without any double SCs) - I wouldn't be this close if I was starting from gold as the SC requirements for Platinum in a non-renewal situation are higher.

One has to conclude that Qantas has looked at their system and it is working how they want it to work - to the benefit of some and with limited downside to others who truly earn their status every year.

 

[Mike65]

I consider myself a reasonably frequent flyer (though nowhere near as frequent as some), averaging one trip per month mostly to Asia and once or twice a year to US. All company purchased, economy. Am I a "truly frequent flyer" JB Expat? Maybe not by some criteria but ask my family what they think!

Anyway, I exist in this nebulous space between SG and WP which I imagine quite a lot also inhabit. By the end of this week I will qualify for WP for the first time, courtesy of several DSC trips. I expect the stars will probably not align that favourably again, so this may be my only year at WP level, but I'm actually excited especially by the Premium lounge access. Hopefully, I won't have too much impact on those of you who really earn their status.....

Mike
PS. You'll recognise me because I'll be the one with the smile on my face as I enter the business lounge

 

[33kft]

Imagine how guilty you'll feel sipping on that champagne.

Also, lets be frank, they'll pimp anything out for money. It's a low margin game and if SCs make people fly for the hell of it, they're golden. I am sure every company wished they had special tokens that people would throw their money at because of some sort of psychological stimulus. It does reward true frequent flyers yes, but it does more than that.

As long as we're all happy, entertained, fed and lubricated then it's all good.

 

[JB expat]

I'm l

I consider myself a reasonably frequent flyer (though nowhere near as frequent as some), averaging one trip per month mostly to Asia and once or twice a year to US. All company purchased, economy. Am I a "truly frequent flyer" JB Expat? Maybe not by some criteria but ask my family what they think!

Anyway, I exist in this nebulous space between SG and WP which I imagine quite a lot also inhabit. By the end of this week I will qualify for WP for the first time, courtesy of several DSC trips. I expect the stars will probably not align that favourably again, so this may be my only year at WP level, but I'm actually excited especially by the Premium lounge access. Hopefully, I won't have too much impact on those of you who really earn their status.....

Mike
PS. You'll recognise me because I'll be the one with the smile on my face as I enter the business lounge

I'm probably like you - previously never beyond gold, got to platinum for the first time one year, didn't re-qualify so I purchased the renewal, and I will "earn" my platinum this year (and this will be an exceptional & not normal year for my work travel). What I meant by "true frequent flyer" is one who meets whatever the relevant airline (Q in this case) establishes for platinum status - and meeting such by accumulating status credits without using DSC. I did not mean it pejoratively - only as a description. I too enjoy the lounge and the other little benefits and found the idea of going back to "just gold" a bit sad in a beyond a first world problem. Consider buying the status with points for the renewal year if you don't quite make it on flights - I found it worthwhile...but it certainly is an individual decision.

 

[DC3]

... You'll recognise me because I'll be the one with the smile on my face as I enter the business lounge

… not to mention the MEL First Lounge on those overseas trips …

 

[Mike65]

Wohoo! Fresh off the press:

 

[sudoer]

Some temporary changes in my travel patterns so I'm unlikely to earn enough SC to retain WP this year. Considering paying the 120k QFF points to retain instead.

Has anyone taken up this offer before? If so, were you able to 'retain' WP the following year for the standard 1200 SC? or did you need to earn 1400 SC to attain again?