Qantas Gold Re-Qualify Strategy for 2022?

[kangarooflyer88]

Happy New Year, everyone!

This past year I qualified for a status match with QF, matching my existing Premier Gold to QF Gold by taking one rev trip with them (SYD > DRW > MEL > SYD during a double status credit promo to get 100 status credits needed to qualify) and so I've got QF Gold through end of November 2022 (qualifying year ends at the end of every November). Due in part to my eagerness to re-qualify for Gold in this 2022 qualifying year and the relatively cheap fares on offer at JQ (no doubt thanks to SUNTANS program), I've just about managed to re-qualify QF Gold (which is 600 status credits if I'm not mistaken), although I'd like some confirmation from fellow QF flyers and thoughts on strategies for how to gather the remaining status credits:

Flight	Fare	Estimated Status Credits (roundtrip)
SYD <> AVV	JQ MAX	40
ADL > MEL	JQ MAX	20 (Oneway)
SYD <> OOL	JQ MAX	40
SYD <> LST	JQ MAX	40
SYD <> DRW	JQ MAX	80
SYD <> HNL	JQ PLUS	90
SYD<> CNS	JQ MAX	60
SYD <> PER	JQ MAX	80

All these trips will be completed by 5 September, meaning I've got nearly 3 months to earn the remaining status credits I need (whatever that amount is).

Based on my calculations that should bring me to 450 status credits for the program year. Additionally, earlier this year QF announced a status credit roll over program. However, I haven't seen the 100 status credits I earned "last year" (Dec 1, 2020 - Nov 30, 2021) post to my account (i.e. it's just listing the 40 status credits I earned for flying to AVV earlier this month). Any ideas when that should post (the site is saying early Dec but that clearly didn't happen). Also will that mean I'm done booking flights for 2022 since I could take the 450 from flying in the new program year combine it with the 100 status credits I earned flying QF last year that rolled over to cross the 500 status credit threshold for the 50 status credit bonus thereby putting me at exactly 600 status credits. If the 100 status credits from last year don't count towards that bonus, I suppose I could always make one more trip out to earn the 50 status credits to put me at 600 status credits (with the roll over). Then I could sit on the 500 status credit milestone bonus until December 1, 2022 claiming the 50 bonus status credits to kickstart my 2023 travel year.

Would appreciate thoughts on what approach I should take to close the gap here.

Your Trusty,

KangarooFlyer88

 

[RichardMEL]

Perhaps the bigger question is.. what will QF Gold give you that you will actually use and derive value from? Based on the above you're all JQ. Nothing wrong with that, but status benefits are going to be limited there (and things like lounges are problematic at ports like MEL and SYD). Gold is a great tier, but would the benefit outweigh the cost to chase a 600 SC renewal?

I'd also note that a (I call probable) status extension for July-Dec anniversaries is still to be determined(at least via public channels) and you may find the issue moot if that comes to be.

Anyway since you would still need 200 odd, and baring DSC promos (though I presume there will be some) look for J sale fares on leisure routes like OOL. There have been <$500 specials from MEL and ADL in the past netting 60SC, and potentially more under a DSC. Other than that, look for connecting opportunities, eg: MEL-SYD-OOL and r/t can be cheaper than the direct (in many fare classes) and provide an extra 10-20 SC "free"

but again if planned travel is not enough to get there without aid then the value may not be there in the long run. Only you can decide of course.

imo

 

[exceladdict]

Contact QF about the missing SC. None rolled over for me in my end September anniversary; my situation is otherwise very similar to yours except no flying this membership year to date as I'm stuck in Perth.

edit: I contact and complained when my BP credits didn't roll over and they were moved to this membership year for me. They didn't roll over any of the other SC in my account from last year.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Perhaps the bigger question is.. what will QF Gold give you that you will actually use and derive value from? Based on the above you're all JQ. Nothing wrong with that, but status benefits are going to be limited there (and things like lounges are problematic at ports like MEL and SYD). Gold is a great tier, but would the benefit outweigh the cost to chase a 600 SC renewal?

I'd also note that a (I call probable) status extension for July-Dec anniversaries is still to be determined(at least via public channels) and you may find the issue moot if that comes to be.

Anyway since you would still need 200 odd, and baring DSC promos (though I presume there will be some) look for J sale fares on leisure routes like OOL. There have been <$500 specials from MEL and ADL in the past netting 60SC, and potentially more under a DSC. Other than that, look for connecting opportunities, eg: MEL-SYD-OOL and r/t can be cheaper than the direct (in many fare classes) and provide an extra 10-20 SC "free"

but again if planned travel is not enough to get there without aid then the value may not be there in the long run. Only you can decide of course.

imo

Thanks Richard for your thoughts. At this very moment, primarily travelling on JQ, you are quite right that the benefits I have from status are limited. Aside from lounge access (which is nice), there frankly isn't any other special QF benefit I'm using beside that, particularly given I'm booked on JQ MAX fares where baggage and great seats are already included. Indeed, the amount of International travel I have booked for this year is limited due in large part to you know what. At the same time, as a PhD student there is limited opportunity for international travel, aside from conferences, the bulk of which I'm planning to attend in late 2022 and into 2023. The way I see it the QF status was given away to me for very minimal effort (literally one trip to DRW) which I took back in April to get me status through Nov 2022.

At the same time, I am in an unusual situation where I have several unused coupons for international travel on United, Air Canada and other Star Alliance partners thanks in part to me being a UA Premier Gold and COVID happening, including a trip to Toronto in J on AC, and those will all be used next year. Needless to say next year, I will be travelling a heck of a lot to make up for the 2 years lost due to COVID. Pre-COVID I could easily fly 70,000 miles per year. Whilst I reckon that doesn't make me an elite frequent flyer by any stretch of the imagination, I think that still puts me ahead of the kettles

All of that being said, I anticipate that I'll be making new bookings for international travel next summer on QF and other OneWorld partners in economy and reckon I will benefit from the benefits that come from that including baggage, priority security and lounges. Pre-COVID, those benefits were quite lucrative for me with me getting approximately $2000 in value as a UA Premier Gold having spent roughly $3000 on fares with UA and Star Alliance partners. Now UA has significantly changed the rules where you need to spend a minimum of $6000 with them to maintain their status making it difficult for me to justify that outlay. However, with QF it seems trivial to hit those 600 SCs once I can stretch my legs and take trips internationally and domestically with AA/AS when I'm stateside.

Contact QF about the missing SC. None rolled over for me in my end September anniversary; my situation is otherwise very similar to yours except no flying this membership year to date as I'm stuck in Perth.

edit: I contact and complained when my BP credits didn't roll over and they were moved to this membership year for me. They didn't roll over any of the other SC in my account from last year.

Will give them a call. Per the website, it's my understanding that status credits from things like credit cards, flying and BP all roll over (they even give an example of this). Only things like status credit support bonuses don't seem to count. If I can nab those 100 status credits that will make a big difference for me since now we're only talking about 50 status credits versus 100 which should be child's play.

-RooFlyer88

 

[RichardMEL]

At least you will have had your UA status extended till 2023 (My 1K was). hope you get to use all those credits!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

At least you will have had your UA status extended till 2023 (My 1K was). hope you get to use all those credits!

Indeed that was a pleasant surprise from UA, albeit a bit late now that I've committed most of my travel going forward to QF given the challenges of hitting the 6000/8000 PQP requirements on UA. I will say that I'm really going to miss being a UA Premier Gold. One of the big benefits was access to any seat in economy for free (including the extra leg room over-wing seats on their 777s across the pond that would normally cost $400 easily each way). As for the coupons they're all over the board. AC I got rebooked to end of June which I reckon we should be out of the woods when it comes to the thing that cannot be named. With the UA coupon I've got, I'm getting a lot of mixed messages from them. Initially when I cancelled the return leg of my LHR > SYD flight, the agent told me I could rebook the return trip any time I'd like up to end of March 2022 for free (provided there was space available in Y). Fast forward to last month calling UA to rebook and the agent basically told me it would cost me thousands to use that coupon and would probably be cheaper to just make a new reservation.

-RooFlyer88

 

[RichardMEL]

Indeed that was a pleasant surprise from UA, albeit a bit late now that I've committed most of my travel going forward to QF given the challenges of hitting the 6000/8000 PQP requirements on UA. I will say that I'm really going to miss being a UA Premier Gold. One of the big benefits was access to any seat in economy for free (including the extra leg room over-wing seats on their 777s across the pond that would normally cost $400 easily each way). As for the coupons they're all over the board. AC I got rebooked to end of June which I reckon we should be out of the woods when it comes to the thing that cannot be named. With the UA coupon I've got, I'm getting a lot of mixed messages from them. Initially when I cancelled the return leg of my LHR > SYD flight, the agent told me I could rebook the return trip any time I'd like up to end of March 2022 for free (provided there was space available in Y). Fast forward to last month calling UA to rebook and the agent basically told me it would cost me thousands to use that coupon and would probably be cheaper to just make a new reservation.

-RooFlyer88

yikes. hrd to know without knowing the conditions of the refund voucher, ie if original fare conditions apply or not and all of that.

All of that aside since you have at least AC you want to use, the UA*G to real benefit and AC does give some fairly good recognition of the status. So might as well take advantage of the gift if you can

Anyway this is OT to QF Gold requal of course.

I wish you well with your Doctorate studies and of course all the travel you want to o!

 

[nancypants]

I am contemplating how to renew WP. The territory government is not making it easy for me to travel interstate let alone overseas ATM. Only so many DRW-GOV/ASP flights a person can handle (and would need 25 return red e-deal trips to make it work anyway )

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I am contemplating how to renew WP. The territory government is not making it easy for me to travel interstate let alone overseas ATM. Only so many DRW-GOV/ASP flights a person can handle (and would need 25 return red e-deal trips to make it work anyway )

I reckon that will change soon enough in NT. The fact of the matter is COVID is here to stay for the foreseeable future and the best you can do is put your finger on the dike that is Omicron. What I will say was there was a number of great deals on JQ to/from DRW until like yesterday. In particular, I'm booked to fly SYD <> DRW in late March on a Max fare that will net me 80 status credits for around $320. Not bad for a front row seat away from those COVID carrying passengers and extra baggage to boot too! Given the dismal load factors reported elsewhere on AFF, I reckon QF, JQ and others will reintroduce deep discount fares in the near future to boost loads. In addition, should a double SC promo come around at the same time, I could quite easily see you hitting Gold or even Executive Platinum.

Failing all of that, perhaps AFF members in the NT need to write to their MPs to request special VTL flights from DRW to LHR for the purpose of earning status credits. Such flights would land in LHR, refuel and fly back to eliminate the need for any quarantine

-RooFlyer88

 

[kangarooflyer88]

yikes. hrd to know without knowing the conditions of the refund voucher, ie if original fare conditions apply or not and all of that.

All of that aside since you have at least AC you want to use, the UA*G to real benefit and AC does give some fairly good recognition of the status. So might as well take advantage of the gift if you can

Yeah the United coupon was weird. I flew the outbound segment LHR > SYD (via LAX) in January 2020 but then COVID happened and I couldn't fly the return segment SYD > LHR (via IAH). Perhaps I'll HUCA next month if I can find a reason to use that coupon. Either way it's not a huge loss. The ticket only cost $1200 return and I reckon if I were to request a refund the amount would be very negligible (if any).

As for my AC trip, I don't think my UA*G status will make any difference given I'm flying fully in J. It's my understanding that flying AC J versus flying UA*G is just about the same in terms of perks (e.g., lounge access, baggage, IRROPS coverage). Speaking of, that's one thing I'll really miss as a UA*G, which is the whole IRROPs coverage business. I can't tell you the number of times I've had a misconnection due to a mechanical or weather but got put up in a hotel and comped meals due to me being UA*G. I don't know if QF Gold gets me anything similar but it was a real godsend!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

One other question I thought I'd ask, is it worth me stretching my goal to qualify for QF Platinum? So far as I can tell, aside from access to slightly better lounges the benefits are limited. Also how does IRROPs protection work for QF and OneWorld partners for that matter? Do they have a comprehensive policy as Star Alliance does for their elites?

-RooFlyer88

 

[aikman]

These days (and for the foreseeable future) the most valuable benefit of Platinum is that you only have to wait a few minutes on hold when calling Qantas instead of several hours.

 

[RichardMEL]

One other question I thought I'd ask, is it worth me stretching my goal to qualify for QF Platinum? So far as I can tell, aside from access to slightly better lounges the benefits are limited. Also how does IRROPs protection work for QF and OneWorld partners for that matter? Do they have a comprehensive policy as Star Alliance does for their elites?

-RooFlyer88

Again this is really a value proposition that only you can make in my view.

To me, as I mentioned before about going for Gold, is really to look at what is your goal? Would it involve lots of "status runs" to achieve and most importantly for trips that you intend to do (there's covid and I'll get back to that) what benefits will actually assist you potentially to make the effort worthwhile.

WP (Platinum) offers many benefits over Gold but it is very dependent on one's travel pattens, places and yes, airlines. For example upgrade priority and ability to request (sometimes ) award seats can be very valuable to many as much as extra bag allowance and pref seating options and services on OW partners (like AA). Plus the ability to use proper F lounges is often valued by many - specially some of the better ones like CX in HKG etc.

But if most travel may be just domestic and on JQ then the benefits are going to be less useful, even though domestic business lounges are generally better than the QP.

I have personally found Oneworld Emerald (OWE) status - which one gets with Plat to be very helpful, specially in the US for local lounge access to AA (and now AS) clubs - as coughpy as some of them are.. but also for priority service, free bags and I believe OWE still get free snacks in Y on AA?

Other things like preferential seating priority are benefits some people value.

so again is it worth chasing? the million point question... and only you can decide if the effort and investment is potentially worth it to you to achieve based on what you plan to do with it once you have it (same with Gold).

Now Covid... as we all know the pandemic has messed things up for so long now and probably will do so for months if not the next year at least.. so the ability to earn, but potentially more importantly USE a status earned may be limited. Plus you may find your Gold extended (I am uncertain if that applies to the fast track status) and that may be enough.

Personally I think this is probably not a good time to contemplate looking to higher status given the uncertainties continue. I mean things looked good to be much more open now, and we are kind of.. but Omicron has changed things again, and who knows what is coming next? Hopefully less.. but you never know.

Honestly I would be cautious about the whole thing but in general focus on the trips you need to/want to make and doing those as priority and well if a status level seems within reach and conditions suit and things like DSC offers materialise then sure go for it if you feel it's worth it, but I would definitely not go out of my way.

Really though bottom line.. consider what benefits will matter to YOU and what you will potentially actually use and use that as a guide.