Platinum One Status Run

[Colin Thwaites]

Hi All, I am a newbie to the forum. I have retained my Qantas Platinum Status for this year (renewal date 31 October 2022) and was thinking of having a go at status run to Platinum One before renewal. I have the double SC for all my future flights till the end of the year as I chose that option when I had a heap of flights cancelled during covid. (ie. I took the double SC offer instead of getting a refund for cancelled flights in covid). Prefer to do it domestically. Anyone got any ideas for best SC value for money runs.

 

[defurax]

P1 is not that great....but if you want to go for it, purely domestic is not usually good value. NZ is good. For example MEL-BNE-CHC return in discount business with DSC is 560SC for ~AUD1200 to AUD1400.

 

[Hvr]

@Colin Thwaites where you starting from? And how many SCs do you actually need?
Do they all need to be QF SC?

 

[Colin Thwaites]

Starting in Sydney. I need 2359 SC's, remembering I actually only need half of that so 1180 SC

 

[Ade]

Starting in Sydney. I need 2359 SC's, remembering I actually only need half of that so 1180 SC

That is a lot of SCs to do a status run for ... IMHO, the whole idea of a status run is to bridge that "little" gap between what one has earned and what one needs to qualify/re-qualify .. if you need 2359 to qualify, then I'd think your regular flying pattern isn't close (or might come close to) to a P1 ... You are in a better position to identify this though ...

The above being said, you can always try and get to P1. For a status run, I'd recommend doing NZ runs originating in OOL usually have better SC earn and better $ fares. For instance, OOL-MEL-AKL/CHC and return will net 280 SC normally, 560 during DSC .. you can also add some domestic routes to increase your SC earn. I'm trying to figure out a route for my next anniversary year DSC run involving ADL, CBR, SYD, MEL, OOL & AKL/CHC. Will update the relevant threads once I'm able to get a ticketable route. There is some good status runs for QFF based in the US.

Please note though, depending on the T&C's of the DSC promo, some routes might not be eligible for DSC. For instance, the current promo (issued 25 Mar 2022) limits DSC earn for QF operated & marketed flights ex-AU. You will also earn DSC for return trips that originated in AU.

There is are threads in AFF that can shed more light into QF status runs. Links here and here

 

[Fergo747]

Starting in Sydney. I need 2359 SC's, remembering I actually only need half of that so 1180 SC

Definitely not worth it. If you were a few hundred away then maybe, but not if you're only a third of the way there. IMO, you'd be best to wait until post Oct 22, and just earn WP in your new membership year to extend it to Oct 24. Not to mention that some of your SC's will roll over so you won't even need to earn the full 1,200.

Out of curiosity, how much travel do you usually do, what is your typical class of travel and what do you actually see as the benefit of attaining P1?

 

[aikman]

Assuming you want to stick to domestic and business class, a quick search is giving me around $4.50 per SC taking DSC into account. So 2,359 SCs will cost you $10K+. You might have to consider NZ flights or wait for the rare domestic business class sale if you want better value for money.

 

[Matt_01]

I am with the other P1’s here, it is not worth chasing.

 

[Hampton Mike]

Similarly, I had a stack of DSC entitled QTPs and I’ve used 2 of them this year for Europe cycling trips in business class. I’ve now achieved P1 (having previously only been gold) but my aim is not necessarily P1 but to maximize the number of lifetime status credits leveraging off the DSC TPs. This year (and next year as I still have one left for another euro adventure) will give a major impetus to my quest for lifetime Gold, which I would probably have been unable to attain except for the enforced holiday savings through COVID, and the DSC TPs offered by QF.

I’m retired and have no business to fly me anywhere, so my quest is self-funded. Accordingly the DSC TPs were a godsend.

BTW, the purpose of lifetime Gold is so that I can get worldwide lounge access without having to re-qualify each year, and travel business class on points for post 2023 euro trips using the warchest of points I have accumulated.

 

[mviy]

It would only be worth it if chasing LTG imo. Or if somehow you’re one of the rare few that has got at least ~50-60k LTSC and chasing LTP is realistic for you, but in that case you’d probably be P1 already.

I would like to go for P1, to experience it once at least, but I am probably still too far off LTG to make it worthwhile. Maybe in a year or two though.

Also, there are some advantages to locking in LTG whilst single if most of your travel is self-funded. Once you have it, you have it for your life or the life of the Frequent Flyer program, whichever is shorter.