Platinum to gold :( coming up

[JohnM]

One interesting point raised on the last AFF podcast was that once you hit LTG there is literally 0 reason to keep flying QF or OneWorld partners. Indeed, status matching to another program like Asiana (Star Alliance) or Air France (SkyTeam) may be more sensible given how easy it is to earn lifetime top tier status with them. In the case of Asiana, it's 500,000 miles flown with them and partners (or 500 Asiana flights taken) and with Air France Flying Blue it's 10 consecutive years at the

That does, to some degree at least, assume sufficient remaining longevity or anticipation of substantial overseas travel to take advantage of a change...

I was content to stick with QF/OneWorld while doing an annual DONEx for 16 consecutive years BC. For various reasons my travel now is much more likely to be point-to-point rather than about 6-15 weeks roaming around on a RTW trip. Been there, done that.

 

[RichardMEL]

I have to say it is actually quite... disconcerting to go outside the Qantas bubble (excluding reward seats ) we are even looking outside OneWorld. It is perhaps the familiarity of certain things that I will miss .

It can be a good thing to experience other offerings out there - good and bad. In a couple of weeks I'm flying Star Alliance and while I expect very little from the experience, just something different is actually quite nice. Later in the year I'll be including JL in an itin - and that's going to be new for me - and I'm looking forward to that more than QF J flights - good or bad, it will be different.

What's that saying about variety is the spice of life?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

It can be a good thing to experience other offerings out there - good and bad. In a couple of weeks I'm flying Star Alliance and while I expect very little from the experience, just something different is actually quite nice.

As a United Premier Gold refugee who left the program after they tied frequent flyer status to $$$ spent, I will say there are things I miss about being United elite and travelling on them specifically. For instance the ability to change to an earlier or later flight for free up to 24 hours before departures on virtually any fare I book with them be it domestic or international. In terms of Star Alliance Gold benefits I'm giving up, well one biggie is the re-protection policy when travelling on inter-continental itineraries whereby the airline must provide hotels, meals, alternative travel on other airlines when things go sideways, including for weather events. I like the fact that I can book award tickets on Star Alliance partners and not be worried if things go sideways because StarNet will let me select a new flight instead of having tickets vanish as I hear is the case for some QFF travellers. I love the fact that I can upgrade from a cheap economy K fare to Polaris Business class from London to Sydney for 35,000 points + $650 USD co-pay. A real bargain for such a long journey and a far cry from what QF would charge for such an honour.

Looking over at SkyTeam, what I really enjoy is how the benefits cross over to the other airlines so well. For instance, as a Delta Gold Medallion I can select pretty much any seat on partners be it KLM, Air France, Korean or otherwise for free, or at a greatly reduced price ahead of time. Contrast this with United or Qantas where those benefits typically accrue just to the airline you are a member of. Similarly, I can request upgrades using points on partners as well. Now I know some will point out Star Alliance Upgrade Awards (SAUA) but in reality that is a theoretical concept they suggest. First you have to be ticketed into one of a couple of high end fare classes (i.e. full Y), second, you have to put the request in through the FF desk who then contacts the airline, and even then there is no guarantee it'll work or they'll recognize the status. Whereas with Delta my understanding is you can make those upgrades on most fares online.

-RooFlyer88

 

[levelnine]

I love the fact that I can upgrade from a cheap economy K fare to Polaris Business class from London to Sydney for 35,000 points + $650 USD co-pay

Interested to hear why you consider that a superior option to QF's model. Correct me if I'm wrong, but United upgrades are lotteries based on status, just like QF upgrades.

And 35K + $AUD950 is very expensive in my view. Far prefer the 100-150K points QF charges, which can be attained for about $300 with one or two credit card sign-on bonuses.

 

[RichardMEL]

Interested to hear why you consider that a superior option to QF's model. Correct me if I'm wrong, but United upgrades are lotteries based on status, just like QF upgrades.

And 35K + $AUD950 is very expensive in my view. Far prefer the 100-150K points QF charges, which can be attained for about $300 with one or two credit card sign-on bonuses.

Not quite the same thing.

UA does offer (on occasion!) upgrades available to book at any time from booking if the seat is there - much like the QF domestic situation. Now it's rare in practice (that I've seen in recent years) but it does happen and so one could confirm an upgrade at time of booking.

Additionally, for higher tier UA elites (Premier Platinum, 1K and I presume GS) are given these little things called "PlusPoints" which are kind of like what the old timers with QFF may recall as UC's, but not quite. There's a perk that on some flights where normal tiers are dumped into an upgrade waitlist, sometimes the option to "bypass the waitlist" for more points pops up, and again one can confirm an upgrade (and additionally, pluspoint upgrades require no co-pays or mileage pay).

So UA upgrades are somewhat different to how QF works internationally - in a number of ways better (though one needs decent status to actually have a hope).

Finally the other really great tool UA provides is in their app (and on gate displays if it gets down to that) you can see the upgrade waitlist a few days out from departure, you can see your spot in it, and how many seats are sold/available in higher cabin(s)... so even as a 1K waiting for a upgrade, if there's 2 seats left, and I'm 8 on the list I don't bother worrying.. but if I'm 1st on the list... So it's transparent and honestly one doesn't have to ask someon "what do you think my chances are?" if the flight is booked full up front you know it's zero and so on. AA and DL do similar too iirc. This s one area where QF could vastly improve imo (but this is not news to anyone)

 

[MrJetset]

I have to say it is actually quite... disconcerting to go outside the Qantas bubble (excluding reward seats ) we are even looking outside OneWorld. It is perhaps the familiarity of certain things that I will miss .

The irony is that the very thing you fear is what will set you free.

Most Australians are locked into QFF and missing out on:

1) Vastly superior products, particularly in F on SQ, EY, EK, TG, AF etc;
2) Better fares in F;
3) Superior one stop networks via DXB (QF codeshares aren’t available everywhere), AUH, SQ etc.

I do think OW is the best global network as *A doesn’t even have preferred seating as a standard, but there remains an incredible amount of exceptional experiences that most will never experience because they’re locked into QFF. Equally, I’ll book Easyjet Row 1 if it’s the most direct route rather than fly via a OW or other airline hub just to fly J.

I fly the airlines and routes I choose and have done so for ever a decade. None of my memorable or best experiences have been on QF, in fact they’re bottom of the list.

 

[Pushka]

The irony is that the very thing you fear is what will set you free.

Most Australians are locked into QFF and missing out on:

1) Vastly superior products, particularly in F on SQ, EY, EK, TG, AF etc;
2) Better fares in F;
3) Superior one stop networks via DXB (QF codeshares aren’t available everywhere), AUH, SQ etc.

I do think OW is the best global network as *A doesn’t even have preferred seating as a standard, but there remains an incredible amount of exceptional experiences that most will never experience because they’re locked into QFF. Equally, I’ll book Easyjet Row 1 if it’s the most direct route rather than fly via a OW or other airline hub just to fly J.

I fly the airlines and routes I choose and have done so for ever a decade. None of my memorable or best experiences have been on QF, in fact they’re bottom of the list.

I travel through DXB and get equivalent credits on Qantas and with all the benefits that WP gives in the first lounge. I can't remember the last time I travelled Qantas internationally.

 

[Seat0B]

I travel through DXB and get equivalent credits on Qantas and with all the benefits that WP gives in the first lounge. I can't remember the last time I travelled Qantas internationally.

...presumably by using QF codeshare flights on EK metal? I ask because I am very interested in DXB as a hub given Seat Son's location. I love the DXB F lounge.

 

[Pushka]

...presumably by using QF codeshare flights on EK metal? I ask because I am very interested in DXB as a hub given Seat Son's location. I love the DXB F lounge.

Yes. Booked through QF. Must have QF code when booking.

 

[RichardMEL]

And QF/EK is VERY nice when considering Europe/Africa/ME and maybe India for opportunities, but is useless for North and South America (and asia) which is a huge market.

And let's face it for options to North America, CX isn't what it used to be (but superior to QF) and AA welkl...is AA... so options are limited. Star has UA and AC over to USA/Canada and while product is iffy, it offers great options to the USA;Canada.

South America is a bit more difficult since LA joined ScaryTeam, so OW and Star options are more limited to points beyond SCL, but there are options.

As for Asia. exc;usoing QF via SIN and BKK/MML, it's basically CX, MH and Jetstar Asia. * offers options on TG/OZ/SQ/NH and tbh to Asia, it's depends on where you go. North Asia is probably better suited by TG/OZ/NH, and South Asia via SIN and 3K or MH via KUL (vs SQ/TG)

it all depends on one's destinations and requirements

 

[sudoer]

As for Asia. exc;usoing QF via SIN and BKK/MML, it's basically CX, MH and Jetstar Asia. * offers options on TG/OZ/SQ/NH and tbh to Asia, it's depends on where you go. North Asia is probably better suited by TG/OZ/NH, and South Asia via SIN and 3K or MH via KUL (vs SQ/TG)

Hmm I have to disagree, I think Oneworld trumps *A into North Asia from Australia.

QF/JL/JQ fly direct from 5 different cities to Japan, on top of which CX/MH/FJ offer one-stop alternatives. QF/CX obviously have a duopoly on flights to HKG. JL and CX serve good connections into both South Korea and Taiwan, with better frequencies and usually shorter total travel time than SQ/TG (special mention to the JL HND-GMP also)

I'm out of the loop on routes to mainland China, I'm not sure where Cathay's resumption is up to.

 

[RichardMEL]

Hmm I have to disagree, I think Oneworld trumps *A into North Asia from Australia.

QF/JL/JQ fly direct from 5 different cities to Japan, on top of which CX/MH/FJ offer one-stop alternatives. QF/CX obviously have a duopoly on flights to HKG. JL and CX serve good connections into both South Korea and Taiwan, with better frequencies and usually shorter total travel time than SQ/TG (special mention to the JL HND-GMP also)

I'm out of the loop on routes to mainland China, I'm not sure where Cathay's resumption is up to.

Fair point. I tend to forget about JQ

 

[Matt_01]

Hmm I have to disagree, I think Oneworld trumps *A into North Asia from Australia.

QF/JL/JQ fly direct from 5 different cities to Japan, on top of which CX/MH/FJ offer one-stop alternatives. QF/CX obviously have a duopoly on flights to HKG. JL and CX serve good connections into both South Korea and Taiwan, with better frequencies and usually shorter total travel time than SQ/TG (special mention to the JL HND-GMP also)

I'm out of the loop on routes to mainland China, I'm not sure where Cathay's resumption is up to.

There is also QF SYD-ICN and if you are just planning to use point or cash (not as part of a OWR) there is also the option of MEL/SYD/BNE-TPE with CI. Interesting you mention HND-GMP I have rewards flight booked on that route for next year.

 

[Blackadder]

The irony is that the very thing you fear is what will set you free.

Most Australians are locked into QFF and missing out on:

1) Vastly superior products, particularly in F on SQ, EY, EK, TG, AF etc;
2) Better fares in F;
3) Superior one stop networks via DXB (QF codeshares aren’t available everywhere), AUH, SQ etc.

I do think OW is the best global network as *A doesn’t even have preferred seating as a standard, but there remains an incredible amount of exceptional experiences that most will never experience because they’re locked into QFF. Equally, I’ll book Easyjet Row 1 if it’s the most direct route rather than fly via a OW or other airline hub just to fly J.

I fly the airlines and routes I choose and have done so for ever a decade. None of my memorable or best experiences have been on QF, in fact they’re bottom of the list.

All well and good if flying to Asia/Europe , not so good for Pacific Islands, North/South America.

 

[MrJetset]

All well and good if flying to Asia/Europe , not so good for Pacific Islands, North/South America.

I've flown EY Apartments SYD-AUH-JFK for $12k return when QF wanted $21k for SYD-LAX-JFK on QF/AA. I even booked a side trip to CAI and it was still cheaper.

 

[kookaburra75]

Agree. It's July onwards people who are unfortunate from my reading. Doesn't your account have a banner stating that your status has been extended? Mine had that from months before end of year date (April 30). Most of us have had multiple extensions to status.

Thanks for pointing that out. I did a bit of digging around in my online account and found the message - I had to go to the Status Activity screen to find it, to see they are extending me. The notes when I follow the "Learn More" link, say I'll get notified that I'm being extended in late June.

At least MrsK will be happy, as I can take her on her first visit to the Sydney 1st Class Lounge, when we head off in late July.

 

[AIRwin]

At least MrsK will be happy, as I can take her on her first visit to the Sydney 1st Class Lounge, when we head off in late July.

Keep it a secret for now?

 

[kookaburra75]

Keep it a secret for now?

I could try, but as the 1st Class Lounge is the first one we'd come to after going up the escalator, she would instinctively turn to go into it without asking.

 

[bPeteb]

Just catching up with recent posts and this one made me check. Like k75, my green extension banner is there today. What I had forgotten about is the 'up to 500SC' carry-over. If I take off DSC earned during this year I'll carry over 485 and with FFY23-24 future bookings I'll not need a carry-over next year to retain WP. Sydney FC lounge before we head off to JNB will be very nice

 

[bPeteb]

Did anyone else return to zero SC today? Maybe it will update sometime soon? I've also posted this on the main extension thread.