QF after years of bronze i finally make silver - easiest way to retain / build

[y011]

Howdy I fly MEL-LAX and then LAX (or LAS) to DFW to some smaller airports about 1.5 times a year. Some years 2 - some years 3 times others 1 time. I'm from the US originally but live in MEL. Every year for last 6-7 years I've been within 40-50 status credits of Silver but always hit my clearing out date before I make it. So I'm now 5 points into silver and my next annual date is Aug 31, 2009. If I (hah) get 345 by Aug 31, 2008 I can get gold. I have a flight booked to US in Aug. Not sure if it's disc. economy or economy. All tickets are eligible for upgrades (I have enough for biz each way - i *have* at least done that) - have (S) on the booking... not sure if that's the ticket class Basically what should I be aiming for going forward? I'd like to retain silver. Gold for this year isn't a realistic option I think. Not sure what I'll have to do by aug 31, 2009 to keep silver. How to maximize stuff? I have a bus. amex ($1=1pt) and the ANZ freq. flier card (1=1 with cap at 2500/mo i think....). I usually build lots of FF points with these. I guess my main concern isn't points but how to get status credits on QF. I need to go to Christchurch in July and I should book a holiday in Oct/nov and maybe another in mar/apr. Again... suggestions? Been reading the site a bit and I seem some crazy impressive math and scheming going on. I want some of that.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

- have (S) on the booking... not sure if that's the ticket class

For an international flight on QANTAS, anything other than (Y) is discount economy for SC earn (leaving aside business and first class obviously).

I'd like to retain silver. Gold for this year isn't a realistic option I think. Not sure what I'll have to do by aug 31, 2009 to keep silver. How to maximize stuff? I have a bus. amex ($1=1pt) and the ANZ freq. flier card (1=1 with cap at 2500/mo i think....).

The only way to keep/get status with QANTAS at the moment is to fly. Your credit cards won't help here.

Assuming your anniversay date is 31st August, then on 1st September your current SC count will revert to 0, and you will need to earn 300 SCs between 1st September -> 31st August 2009 to keep silver through to 31st Aug 2010.

Personally I wouldn't spend a lot of additional money to keep silver status - you are better off buying a QC membership. That gives you lounge access as well a all the privileges of Silver (well, probably a few more).

Looking for cheap (D class) business class fares is usually a good/cheap way of quickly earning SCs

 

[tuapekastar]

Personally I wouldn't spend a lot of additional money to keep silver status - you are better off buying a QC membership. That gives you lounge access as well a all the privileges of Silver (well, probably a few more).

I'd probably do the same (buy QP), but silver does get 25% bonus miles, and Business Class checkin at all* OW carriers, which QP does not. Not an issue though if flying is restricted to QF/AA as per OP.

*Possible exception = BA (no OW Ruby equivalent status)?

 

[NM]

y011, welcome to AFF.

One option you may want to consider for your August trip to the USA is take the AA Platinum Challenge. If you already have QF Silver in the bag and are unlikely to make Gold, then the AA Platinum Challenge would get you the OneWorld equivalent of QF Gold - OneWorld Sapphire.

Note that in order to take the challenge you will need to change the MEL-LAX flight to the AA flight number, as only AA flight numbers count for the challenge. That will also mean no option to use QF FF points to upgrade that segment.

You need to complete 10,000 Elite Qualifying Points on AA flight numbers within 3 months to complete the AA Platinum Challenge. And MEL-LAX-DFW is about 9100 miles, so very close to it just in that direction. A little bit of creativity with AA routings in the USA could get you to where you need to be before the return trip.

OneWorld Sapphire via the AA Platinum Challenge commenced in August will get you the status through to the end of Feb 2010. This includes lounge access when flying any OneWorld carrier flight (except for AA domestic flights with no same-day international connection).

However, keep in mind that you are unlikely to be able to retain AA Platinum beyond Feb 2010 with your current flying patterns. But then again would you be able to retain QF Gold either?

 

[simongr]

One option to move things along a little might be to book into First on AA LAX-LAS as you then earn the First class status credits - obviously not sure if there is an F option on that trip. Also maybe thinking about doing circle pacific fares in future - basically if you are planning ahead you book into discount business or economy and via Oz-Us-Asia - extra miles and SCs for potentially not much more cost - you might even be able to think about funding a Biz class flight...

 

[Will]

Welcome to AFF, y011.
Congrats on moving up to PS. Getting to skip the kilometre-long queue at LHR makes it all worthwhile!
As the others have said, and I'm sure you know, flying OW is the only way to maintain your status. 300 SCs in the year from August shouldn't be too hard to reach if, as you say, you've been at 300-310 SCs for the last few years anyway.
If you need little bumps to help you get there, consider a starclass flight to Sydney - only $280 IIRC and 40 SC; alternatively AKL-SYD on Lan in business for $400USD gets you 80SC.
Another way might be to upgrade your S class trip to LAX to a Y class ie fully flexible ticket. That will give you another 45 SC each way across the pacific, and may only cost you a few hundred more dollars.
Or, even better, turn your MEL-LAX-LAS-MEL trip (which probably costs $2500-$3500) into a OW explorer (LONE4) that could take you MEL-PER-DRW-SYD-JFK-LAX-ORD-IAD-LHR-HEL-BUD-CDG-LHR-MEL (for example), giving you around 400 SCs (I haven't calculated precisely) for $4-5000. That may even be enough for Gold this year

 

[y011]

Welcome to AFF, y011.
MEL-PER-DRW-SYD-JFK-LAX-ORD-IAD-LHR-HEL-BUD-CDG-LHR-MEL (for example), giving you around 400 SCs (I haven't calculated precisely) for $4-5000. That may even be enough for Gold this year

Hilarious . I'll call my TA tomorrow and ask her what she suggests. My biggest problem SC-wise is that my cycle date falls on the 31st of Aug and August is usually my big travel month.

So I lose my best 'earn' of the year. That AA platinum mentioned sounds promising. I'm obviously not buying my tickets sensibly. I *hate* dealing with AA directly though now that they have nothing other than a FAX number in Sydney these days.

my TA will probably give me good advice. I've been using Qantas Travel mainly because I use the same agent, she's great and looks out for me. I'll mention the AA platinum thing because I probably won't try for a QF upgrade anyway. Tickets are booked and paid though so I'm likely SOL for trying to move any further up this year.

thanks to all for advice

 

[simongr]

Hilarious . I'll call my TA tomorrow and ask her what she suggests. My biggest problem SC-wise is that my cycle date falls on the 31st of Aug and August is usually my big travel month.

Depending on how many lifetime SCs you have, you might consider rejoining the scheme and thus moving your anniversary date? You would essentially forfeit your current lifetime SCs though...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

like someone said recently, "Silver isn't worth more than a card to get the gum off your shoe on the way to the airport". Totally agree.
Would it be wroth to try to gain Silver again, IMO, NO.

Qantas......hmm, just like Telstra IMO. Big, slow + overpriced and will only drop prices if there is a competitor or direct threat (eg, Virgin). The strangle hold they have on Oz sometimes doesn't do us travellers justice.

BA doesn't honour OW Ruby status for check in, but if your with the QC you can use the Business Counters for check in.