Points Upgrade - Status Credits Question

[RichardMEL]

My point is that he could actually earn the same number of status credits, but do 4 times as many business class flights for an extra 11,000 points above the cost of a single J seat from SYD-MEL using P + P.

Not really wanting to single this discussion down to one person, but AP has oft commented that time is difficult for him to get off to fly, so I think his goal is to minimise the flying as well as max the SC, though I wouldn't want to put words into his mouth (or words on his keyboard, as it were).

It's also an enormous outlay (relative to the journey) of points. I'd suspect if someone had hundreds of thousands of points to burn they'd use them for J or F awards to far flung locales and not even worry about status since the perks of status would be included in the award tickets, but that's just a personal opinion. eg: I have a mate who travels purely off miles in various programs, using all the usual methods to accrue max miles on AA, QF, UA etc then spend those to get where he wants in premium cabins Status is irrelevant to him, and he plays the game to get the most bang for his buck. He has no interest in accuring lifetime SC's or making Gold or Plat in any program. That's fine, that's the way he likes to live his travel life. Others chase status, LTG (or GGL at BA) and all the rest (I am more one of these, though having hit LTG at QF am more looking at other things). Each to their own I reckon. Whatever works, whatever the goals and end game is - is going to be different for everyone

 

[opusman]

if anyone actually fronts up with 100k points for a MEL-SYD flight I'd fall off my chair.

Apparently some people will pay ~$900 for it, so who knows - anything's possible!

 

[RichardMEL]

Apparently some people will pay ~$900 for it, so who knows - anything's possible!

I'd rather pay $900 (I never have, btw) than over 100k QFF's which I value far more highly

of course most of those full J's or whatever the $900 fare is would be business pax on expense accounts who don't care if the corporate travel budget allows it (and they could thus be on discounts anyway).. but I digress

 

[Anna]

My point is that he could actually earn the same number of status credits, but do 4 times as many business class flights for an extra 11,000 points above the cost of a single J seat from SYD-MEL using P + P.

Like it I can see a potential flaw if the upgrades don't turn out to be available on the flights the pax has booked, but other than that it's a good plan. Might look at it myself

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, the equipment swap is what I expect.
But if that happens, so be it.
QF462 has a share where a lot of the flights are 737s, and very few 330s according to FlightAware - Flight Tracker / Flight Status / Flight Tracking.
Right now, its schools holidays, so I have the afternoons to do as I like, but end of Jan, schools starts again.
Most mornings, I have to front up to clean shops, 7am/8am for 2 to 3 hours pure vacuuming carpets, the whole store, nice eh?
And stores open at 8.30am/9am, and I still have to do touch ups at the end, with customers around.
No expense account, even though I have an ABN, I am an end provider, so can't claim the GST back for anything that I buy for my "business". Have to pay quarterly IAS tax statements and get little back at the end of the tax year, and all that jazz.
I have done many different jobs, and flying is my only pasttime, looking forward to Dec this year, another 4 day off.
ADL - SYD whY or J all the way to AKL, 120, or do whY on ADL - SYD and F SYD - AKL. OR might phone up QF telephone sales to do a J ADL - SYD and then an F SYD - AKL, netting 160 QF SC for this one way sector.
Come back J all the way to ADL, 280 total, thus keeping QF PS.

 

[Anna]

No expense account, even though I have an ABN, I am an end provider, so can't claim the GST back for anything that I buy for my "business".

OT, but it sounds to me like you need either a new accountant or a new business model. Perhaps both.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Nah.
Maybe in another dog life.
I don't have a "family" either, so can't set up a "family trust" to secrete income into, (tax deferrance/tax reduction...).
I do know that some people with family trust can legitimately reduce tax legally by putting money into the family trust.

 

[medhead]

Worth mentioning that sale fares using points plus pay can be cheaper than classic awards, and are eligible for upgrades. For domestic flights where upgrades are confirmed immediately points rich, cash poor people can do pretty well.

600 SC is only 30 return cheap domestic flights. just over one turn around per fortnight. From ADL - Port lincoln and Whyalla mean the turn around can be done in a few hours.

Of course, if you're always in J via points status benefits are provided anyway.

No expense account, even though I have an ABN, I am an end provider, so can't claim the GST back for anything that I buy for my "business". Have to pay quarterly IAS tax statements and get little back at the end of the tax year, and all that jazz.

IF you charge GST then you can claim back the GST you pay for your business. +1 for new accountant.

I hope you're in Aquire.

 

[opusman]

The only way you couldn't claim the GST back is if your cleaning was just a hobby you did for fun, and you didn't actually charge your clients for it.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes Opusman, but then I will be an amasser, we all know we have to be a user as well.
Paws crossed it won't change to a 737. Wryly I know it might.
I don't/can't claim the GST as I have a reporting responsibility to an office in Sydney.
What I pay in GST is very small, plus my ABN records say not registered for GST.
Income from ABN work is $5k plus rental income.

 

[RichardMEL]

OK I'll bite...

OR might phone up QF telephone sales to do a J ADL - SYD and then an F SYD - AKL, netting 160 QF SC for this one way sector.
Come back J all the way to ADL, 280 total, thus keeping QF PS.

1. QF publish a fare for ADL - AKL (or other ports in NZ) and one can even route via BNE as well as MEL and SYD (I know, I know, the pooch is obsessed with pawing through the Flounge so would go MEL or SYD)

V FARE BASIS BK FARE TRAVEL-TICKET AP MINMAX RTG
1 ASNAU A X 967.00 ---- 3/1 -/ - EH01
PASSENGER TYPE-ADT AUTO PRICE-YES
FROM-ADL TO-AKL CXR-QF TVL-01DEC16 RULE-5041 IPRPG/8
FARE BASIS-ASNAU SPECIAL FARE DIS-E VENDOR-ATP
FARE TYPE-FOX OW-FIRST CLASS ONE WAY EXCURSION
AUD 1385.00 0511 E09NOV15 D-INFINITY FC-ASNAU FN-
SYSTEM DATES - CREATED 08NOV15/2319 EXPIRES INFINITY

PUBLISHED RTG ADL-AKL/QF511 /TAR-TGRG EF-09NOV15 DIS-INDEF

/WITHIN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE/
MAP CONSTRUCTED LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT
1. ADL-BNE/MEL/SYD-EK/QF-AKL

ie: $1385 or so fare basis ASNAU books into A class for "QF" trans tasman sectors on EK (there is also a F version) and as far as I can tell books into J for domestic sectors (which means you'd get Flex Business SC's for ADL-SYD and v.v.) though something else I saw suggested D class so I'm a little confused, but I do think it's J since I've used similar fares on MEL-SYD-CHC and it's booked into J class for dom, but I digress.

The point is QF offer a published fare for the market with 3 routing choices. If you can't book it online as a connection, QF sales have to sell it to you (fee waived) and be done. Saves $$ and a lot of hassle.

By my calculations an ADL-SYD/MEL-AKL r/t would net 330SC. You could earn a little more going via BNE.

2. You mention "retaining PS" - is this an intended goal, or a side benefit of the trip you wish to do?

Most people generally agree that QF Silver status isn't really worth the plastic it's printed on. As a goal to achieve is it worth the considerable cost? If you want to go to NZ then that's great and enjoy. However you've also done this already. Would you consider other experiences?

You say flying is your only real hobby outside of work and I get that - it's one of my few things too - however I'd look for other experiences if it were me and I had limited time and budget. You've enjoyed EK F trans-tas and sampled the Flounge.. so what might be next on the list?

Just a thought but I don't know that PS is a goal in itself worthy to attain. Gold yes, but even then that's only going to be of fair use if one is travelling a fair bit. eg if your next trip involves paid QF Premium Travel such as the trans-tasman trip again, then you get all the benefits pretty much thrown in with the fare (lounge access, extra bags, priority etc) so maybe you don't need to worry about status so much and focus on experiences. Maybe go to Singapore or something?

just some random thoughts that my cat helped me type up

 

[opusman]

1. QF publish a fare for ADL - AKL (or other ports in NZ) and one can even route via BNE as well as MEL and SYD (I know, I know, the pooch is obsessed with pawing through the Flounge so would go MEL or SYD)

First flight of the day from ADL gets to MEL at 7:45am, and to SYD gets in at 8:25am. Would either of these be early enough to connect to the EK flights?

 

[RichardMEL]

First flight of the day from ADL gets to MEL at 7:45am, and to SYD gets in at 8:25am. Would either of these be early enough to connect to the EK flights?

No it wouldn't work (exception: ADL-SYD-CHC is possible when the CHC flight leaves SYD ~10a)

but the point is QF publish a routing and fare as such one could get the last of the night ADL-SYD/MEL/BNE and connect overnight - involves a overnight stay sure, but I think you'd also face that on the return too with the EK flight timings.

I think the SYD-CHC-SYD flight timings are the only ones that make for a same day connection (and again, the season is important)

 

[love_the_life]

I thought Poochie had made Gold but I may be mistaken

 

[RichardMEL]

I thought Poochie had made Gold but I may be mistaken

While this is all waaaaay off topic to the original thread.. I believe the Dowg's Gold status runs out end of July '16 and I don't think he has near enough SC's to retain but enough for PS, so by end of year when he's thinking to do another AKL run, he'd need those SC's to make Silver for that and the next membership year (ie: 2017/18)

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Sorry, I first made (or achieved or attained) QF SG in Dec 14.
Keep it till end of 31 Jul 16.
From 01 Aug 15, I have started to accumulate, now sitting on 310, with paid bookings for 80 more.
An ADL - SYD planned (unbooked) whY return will be 410, plus a planned (unbooked) Apr MEL - WLG J will give me 80, and WLG - SYD - ADL J one way will be 120. = 610.
After that, I will fly less, probably drop to NB but will fly trans Tasman in J/F return once a year only.
With that, I close my chapter on this thread.

 

[opusman]

but the point is QF publish a routing and fare as such one could get the last of the night ADL-SYD/MEL/BNE and connect overnight - involves a overnight stay sure, but I think you'd also face that on the return too with the EK flight timings.

At the moment the booking engine isn't showing any F available to AKL (even out of MEL/SYD), just says the fare is not loaded or something. Could be a temporary glitch though I guess.

 

[love_the_life]

Still OT, if it works for you, keep doing it Poochie. You might get SG again. I know the feeling, slipping down the status tree - a bit sad really

 

[RichardMEL]

Sorry, I first made (or achieved or attained) QF SG in Dec 14.
Keep it till end of 31 Jul 16.
From 01 Aug 15, I have started to accumulate, now sitting on 310, with paid bookings for 80 more.
An ADL - SYD planned (unbooked) whY return will be 410, plus a planned (unbooked) Apr MEL - WLG J will give me 80, and WLG - SYD - ADL J one way will be 120. = 610.
After that, I will fly less, probably drop to NB but will fly trans Tasman in J/F return once a year only.
With that, I close my chapter on this thread.

So you will have Gold until end of July 2017 then probably fall to Silver.

Are you doing your premium trans tasman flights because you want to go to NZ or just for status though?

 

[RichardMEL]

At the moment the booking engine isn't showing any F available to AKL (even out of MEL/SYD), just says the fare is not loaded or something. Could be a temporary glitch though I guess.

Correct. the "kids" are at it again and there are issues, but that just means a call to QF to get it booked manually.

My point still stands that for ADL-SYD/MEL/BNE-AKL/WLG/CHC routings (well AKL and CHC with F service) there are published fares.. the website can't handle the overnights sometimes so one would need to call and book it. In these cases the service fee *should* be waived (but obviously up to the particular agent). Just IMHO.

AP was suggesting he had to book ADL-SYD and SYD-AKL as separate tickets - he doesn't at all in my view - do it as one PNR via QF Sales - thus one is protected with connections and so on, and it would be a little cheaper and even earn a few more SC's.

my view only. Others' mileage will vary