Qf Platinum Status Renewal

[Batesy]

Howdy all and happy 2009, hope everyone has had a happy and safe season.

Mrs Batesy is currently QFF platinum. Her assesment/evaluation is at the end of January 09. This has been her first year as platinum.

She has only acheived 610 status credits this year. Last year 2020 credits. So 2630 across the last two years. On top of the 610 credits there have been 6 domestic and two international sectors with Jetstar that earnt nothing.

I emailed QFF with this information yesterday requesting that they extend her platinum status for another year. I indicated that her travel would increase again this year and that we would be flying to LHR in J.

I got a voice mail from a lady at Qantas today telling me that no, they would not be maintaining her status and that she would need to earn the required credits. I find this surprising as other posts that I have read in the past have indicated that QFF look across the history over more than one year when re-assesing status.

Has anyone had any recent experience with getting status renewed without getting the published required credits? Please share as I would like to keep getting into that 1st class lounge!!!!

Thanks
Batesy

 

[medhead]

I can only remember hearing of this type of status renewal happening when Qantas have approached the member first. IME it also only happens once.

Could their be a difference in you approaching qantas and has a "free" membership renewal already been granted in an earlier year.

Happy 2009 to you and your family.

 

[MelUser]

My understanding is that with Gold and maintaining Gold, they can be generous in some years (it is inconsistent) to ensure that member maintains some sort of lounge access if flying in Economy.

I don't think this generosity extends to Platinum because the drop is down to Gold which still gets lounge access (although a lower quality one).

 

[taswegian77]

My experience is that if she only qualified in year 1 and then fails to get enough points in year 2, then they will not re-qualify her. I have been Platinum status since 2003 and held it outright till 2006, then had a similar occurrence where I was about 120 SC short of renewal and wrote to them and they replied to say they would extend my Platinum another year. As things turned out I got the required 120 SC anyway so in my case it appeared keeping Platinum for a few years might have worked in my favour. My personal opinion is that I do not expect favours so I aim for the 1200 SC mark each year, that way I avoid any possible disappointment. Bad luck but there is always looking forward to getting it next year and once again enjoying the 1st lounge.

 

[munitalP]

This does extend to Platinum - see previous post here

I think the major problem here is that Mrs Batsey wasn't even close. As mentioned, Mrs Batsey will drop to GOLD which gives similar benefits to Platinum anyway - be thankful, most silver members who earned 610SC wouldn't see a comp GOLD


Mr!

 

[moa999]

I think the major problem here is that Mrs Batsey wasn't even close.

Definitely extends to Plat
I would say the issue may be more just having a single year of Plat,
not being close was not an issue in my case

My comparative history:
01-05 Only ever made silver averaging 300-400 SCs
05/06 2300 - DONE4 helped
06/07 1250 - Just got over the line
07/08 120 - Re-renewed about 2 months out unexpectedly
08/09 920 to date and will easily requal.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have received an auto renewal one year which only had around 600 SCs , however I had had about 5 years of making the qualification previously

I can fully understand them not renewing someone who made it as a one off

Dave

 

[coyote25]

I was comped as a WP this year with only 800 status credits. My understanding from a relative you used to work in the IT side of the QFF is that they look at your average over 3 years if you don't make the renewal.

In my case I wasn't going to get comped until I got the 3 year average over the requalification mark. I'm assuming they go for 3 years so they are only 'rewarding/looking after' those that have a longer term high value relationship with QANTAS.

I keep in mind the 3 year rule when crediting and booking my last few flights and got the letter 5 weeks out that I was going to be okay.

However SG is still a good level with lounge access etc, the main reason I wanted the WP was for the international RTW travel I'm doing this year and access to first lounges on Y travel.

 

[straitman]

Maybe then I got the exception to the rule then when considering the three year averaging. QF actually approached me in late 2006 prior to the comp and I pointed them at the canceled bookings (2 X ATW in J) that I had and advised them I would be re booking those flights shortly which I did. I did not get such an approach in 2008.

My anniversary date is 30 Nov.

I qualified Gold in 2004
Qualified Plat (just) 2005
Comp Plat in 2006 with only about 270 SC
Re qualified Plat 2007
Dropped to Gold in 2008 with approx 700 SC

 

[jayr]

Now that WP provides the additional benefit of access to Dom Business lounge (larger party pies) it may be that QANTAS are applying the criteria more strictly.

I earned WP 2007/08 and looke like being 100 short at my reset date in Nov 08; they sent me letter asking me to outline travel plans but I ended up retaining with 1205 SC. Hopefully if my travel drops this year they may look more kindly after retaining for 2 years.

 

[luckydog]

Well I am watching with interest as I come up for review in March without enough SC to retain Platinum at this point.

My QF year is April 1 --> March 31.

2005 - 1420 SC - First achieved Platinum
2006 - 1550 SC - Renewed without issue
2007 - 650 SC - Comped after being sent a letter asking about my plans
2008 - 1780 SC - Easily renewed
2009 - 1095 SC - got till March 31 to make the final 105

 

[Mal]

My year ends End Feb. Currently sitting >1150 Sc's, but below 1200.

No forward bookings, but a Credit voucher in my account ~$140.

Have been renewed for the next year pretty recently.

I think I had about 1400 sc's last year, and have easily made Plat 1 or 2 times before that.

 

[Batesy]

Here is a bit of an update.

I spoke with a lady at QF executive relations yesterday who I have liased with before on other matters. She advised that she had spoken with QFF and that they would not be renwing Mrs Batesy's platinum.

Ironically when I got home last night there was the "we might make an exception this time, if you tell us your intended travel in the next year" letter from QFF. It is quite specific that they may make an exception this year, but not again. Definitely a one-off.

So I went to the link and plugged in our propsed RTW J itinerary plus our normal 1/2 dozen odd flights SYD-MEL that we do most years.

Watch this space!!!
Batesy

 

[JohnK]

I can only remember hearing of this type of status renewal happening when Qantas have approached the member first. IME it also only happens once.

I know someone who has been comped Platinum 2 years running by Qantas with only ~600 SCs although he was not a first year Platinum....

 

[Aggi]

I know someone who has been comped Platinum 2 years running by Qantas with only ~600 SCs although he was not a first year Platinum....

Lucky them!! My Platinum re-assessment is at the end of this month and I am going to fall short, having been Platinum for 3 years. I received an email from Qantas in December which said " If your travel plans involve enough eligible flights* (whether booked or not) between February 2009 and January 2010, we may be able to extend your Platinum privileges for another year."
So I submitted my travel plans which included around 35 return trips (worth around $20k, enough to maintain Platinum) and received a response which said "Thank you for letting us know your future travel plans. Based on the travel information provided we are unable to retain your Platinum status".
So I pretty cheesed off and asked Qantas to explain why, but haven't received a response. If they weren't going to comp me based on my travel plans then why did they ask for this information in the first place???:evil:

 

[straitman]

If they weren't going to comp me based on my travel plans then why did they ask for this information in the first place???:evil:

A good question and we would all like to hear the answer from QF when they get around to answering you :!:

 

[JohnK]

So I submitted my travel plans which included around 35 return trips (worth around $20k, enough to maintain Platinum) and received a response which said "Thank you for letting us know your future travel plans. Based on the travel information provided we are unable to retain your Platinum status".

That is really disappointing and makes no sense how they determine who gets comped Platinum status and why? I hope you get a satisfactory explanation from Qantas.

 

[Batesy]

Update folks;
Mrs Batesy has been comped for the next year!!!!!!!!

I submitted the online travel plans, which fell short of 1200 credits.
I spoke with QFF yesterday. They told me that her plans added up to an amount slightly short. I explained that there were other sectors planned in our RTW but there were not enough input lines on the web page to put them in. consultant suggested that I write an email again and see what happens.
She also said that the online travel plan submission was an automatic thing. It seems that if you submit planned travel that adds up to more than 1200 credits you will get it. If not the system just moves you down automatically.

I wrote the email, got a call last night, asked where else she was flying. Told them. Same person called back an hour later and said yes, Platinum for another year but must earn it the following year.

Suggest some human intervention for you AGGI, give them a call and find out how much you fell short by.

 

[munitalP]

In my humble opinion, if you don't earn it, you shouldn't get it. Asking and pleading for comp's makes a total mockery of a system designed to reward the most frequent flyers, not those who moan and winge until they finally get what they want - a disgrace.

QF should immediatley put a stop to this - then maybe the true frequent flyers will see benefit from the system

Mr!

:evil:

 

[medhead]

In my humble opinion, if you don't earn it, you shouldn't get it. Asking and pleading for comp's makes a total mockery of a system designed to reward the most frequent flyers, not those who moan and winge until they finally get what they want - a disgrace.

QF should immediatley put a stop to this - then maybe the true frequent flyers will see benefit from the system

Mr!

:evil:

I think you're making a total mockery of your own reasoning (in the nicest possible way). Take the true frequent flyer who is flying enough to make Plat twice each year for 3 years. Then for some reason or other (long service leave, head a external review team) they take off six months from flying duties and fall just short for getting to plat. (plat twice a year = plat SC every 6 months).

Surely, you must agree that by assessing the individual situation qantas are in fact providing a benefit to a true frequent flyer?

edit: of course your position might be more valid at lower status levels.