Qantas v/s Star Alliance - Silver/Gold status, etc....

[Golf888]

On Qantas:-
Silver needs 350 status points (300 to re-qualify),
etc...

For Star Alliance, they use paid miles:-
Silver 25,000 paid miles
Gold 50,000 paid miles, etc....

It seems that it is easier to reach Silver on Star Alliance.
All of my flights are overseas to South-East Asia.
As an example, SYD-SIN-SYD
For Qantas economy, it would take 6/7 return flights to reach silver.
On SIA, it would 4 return flights to reach silver.

What does everyone else think about Qantas policy?
It seem to favor short-distance flights over long-haul flights.
I checked for AA and they also use Paid miles.


Thanks

 

[QF WP]

Golf888, if that is your travel sectors and you want status quicker (with point thrown in for handy use as well), then you really need to have a read about AA's Platinum Challenge...

Others put me onto it and I have successfully put 5 people into AA Platinum (first was our Chief Bridesmaid, my wife, best friend, my father and mother).

You will see how some people call it a "lack of challenge" to get to Oneworld Sapphire status.

One word of warning - if you decide to do it, DO NOT ring the AA staff in Sydney thinking they know about it - they don't!! (I have had trouble with 3 of mine). Use a couple of extra $ and ring AA in USA (I can give you the number) - all their staff that I have spoken to over there know about it and more importantly, what keystrokes are needed to set it up properly the first time.

There are a number of members here who are familiar with the Platinum Challenge...so ask any questions.

 

[NM]

Unfortunately I put lettle value on QF Silver. The benefits offered by QF Silver and OneWorld Ruby are pretty trivial really, and often not recognised by some OneWorld carriers such as BA (who do not have any equiv status level). Gold is where the benefits kick in. Lindsay has indicated the best way to get to OneWorld Sapphire status level, which is equiv to QF Gold, and hence includes access to Qantas Club lounges (just not into AA's Admirals Club lounges).

But, that does not address the issue you mention about earning the status on QF. I really believe QF's status credits for discount economy international flights need to be addressed and have the same Y, B, H, K fares reflect full economy SC's as they do for domestic flights. If these fare types were treated as full economy SC's, you would be earning 50 SC's each way SYD-SIN, and hence get to Silver's 350 requirement in 7 one-way flights. However, those on the heavily discounted fares should be credited at a lower level.

In reality, it is very rare for someone to pay the full Y fare for international flights. That fare is often twice the B fare, which is the first level of discount but still fully flexible and valid for 12 months. There should be some recognition for members paying the higher fully flexible fares such as B and H (and perhaps K, though that is perhaps questionable).

 

[Golf888]

Thanks Lindsay & NM for the replies.

Lindsay,
Hmm... the Platinum Challenge seem too good to be true?
I will think about it and get back to u later.
Cheers

 

[thadocta]

Thanks Lindsay & NM for the replies.

Lindsay,
Hmm... the Platinum Challenge seem too good to be true?
I will think about it and get back to u later.

Just bear in mind though that you can only do it ONCE, so a good sense of timing would be needed.

Dave