Qf Platinum Status Renewal

[Danger]

I have a similar although not identical situation but due to my previously stated disinclination to start a new thread, I thought I'd seek others' opinions in this one.

I'm platinum with my year ending 30 November. I'm two flights into a DONE4 (booked through AA) that is now on hold for several months until resumption in late November. My flights have been specifically planned to get me over the 1200 SCs mark on exactly 30 November. As it stands at the moment, if I was to take no other flights between now and the resumption of the DONE4, I'd finish my Qantas year with 1185 SCs. However, worse case, I'll simply do a PER-KGI return to finish up with 1205 on 30 November.

So, essentially, I'll have no problem in requalifying.

My concern, however, relates to the fact that I'll have already departed Australia by the time I requalify meaning my new, renewed card will be waiting on the kitchen table when I get back. My fear is that carrying an out of date card may well not suffice at some check-in counters and, in particular, BA lounges where I understand it's imperative to have a FF card in-date.

I'm interested in opinions on how to avoid any issue.

Once I've acquired the lacking 15 SCs, should I write to Qantas and outline the situation, probably sometime in mid to late September, asking them to send my card early? Or perhaps asking if it would be possible to have my renewed card waiting for me at the AA Flagship Lounge in MIA (my first flight on 1 December)?

I don't want to trigger any 'one time exception' or a letter for 'future travel plans' when neither situation is relevant and I may well need to avail myself of one of these possible options in the future.

Advice welcomed.

 

[moa999]

I suspect as an existing WP at that level that you will get a shiny new card about 6 wks out (after your status updating 8 wks out)

If not you will probably get the letter, for which I would just respond with your plans and state that you will requal in any event.

Failing that have to wing it with a printout.

I doubt they would do delivery to a lounge.

 

[JohnK]

My concern, however, relates to the fact that I'll have already departed Australia by the time I requalify meaning my new, renewed card will be waiting on the kitchen table when I get back. My fear is that carrying an out of date card may well not suffice at some check-in counters and, in particular, BA lounges where I understand it's imperative to have a FF card in-date.

I'm interested in opinions on how to avoid any issue.

I would not be too concerned about travelling with an out of date QFF Platinum card.

I did travel with an old QFF Platinum card 3-4 months after re-qualifying and it was only noticed once during the 5 week trip and that was at LHR T-5. The boarding pass does say Platinum but the lady at the desk simply called Qantas and verified I was still QFF Platinum and I was let into the First Lounge + guest in a matter of minutes.

 

[coolumbla]

So heres my question

When i was originally a WP and didnt fly enough i went back to SG

This year i am partner gold and probably wont fly enough to get back to 1200 SC unless i plan some long detours and go to a conference i don't really want to go to

Which will cost me big time because Mrs C will want me to detour via Xian and buy some more life size terra cotta warrior replicas!

Does Partner gold revert back to WP ? or back to SG?



C

 

[ejb]

So heres my question

When i was originally a WP and didnt fly enough i went back to SG

This year i am partner gold and probably wont fly enough to get back to 1200 SC unless i plan some long detours and go to a conference i don't really want to go to

Which will cost me big time because Mrs C will want me to detour via Xian and buy some more life size terra cotta warrior replicas!

Does Partner gold revert back to WP ? or back to SG?



C

Back to SG.

ejb.

 

[coolumbla]

Thanks EJB

Bugger!

 

[medhead]

So heres my question

When i was originally a WP and didnt fly enough i went back to SG

This year i am partner gold and probably wont fly enough to get back to 1200 SC unless i plan some long detours and go to a conference i don't really want to go to

C

Wouldn't you have to get 1400 SC to move from gold back upto platinum?

 

[coolumbla]

Wouldn't you have to get 1400 SC to move from gold back upto platinum?

Medhead

partner gold is above platinum with 2100sc

 

[medhead]

Medhead

partner gold is above platinum with 2100sc

I read that as you being the partner. damn iphone (can't be my fault)

 

[Tooner]

I suspect as an existing WP at that level that you will get a shiny new card about 6 wks out (after your status updating 8 wks out)

If not you will probably get the letter, for which I would just respond with your plans and state that you will requal in any event.

Failing that have to wing it with a printout.

I doubt they would do delivery to a lounge.

I agree, you could get the letter, or QFF may send you the "help" letter and gift you 50SC 2-3 months before. This has happened to me 2 yrs in a row. This year they also comped me in early May (31 MAy expiry) though as it turns out I earned more than enough SCs even with the 50 bonus.

Another 3 years and I'll be LTG :-|

 

[Danger]

Further to my post 41, above, I just contacted the 'premium' Qantas Club service centre where I was told "there's no way we can get a card to you before 30 November unless you requalify before then". I told the 'premium' agent that I've heard reports of frequent flyers being denied access to BA lounges with an expired card and the lady confirmed that I may very well not be allowed into their lounges under my circumstances. The only thing they could do was courier me a new card overseas, for $40, but only once I'd requalified, the agent adding that it can take "10-14 days" for AA flights to post.

Maybe I'm being unfair but I'm a bit disappointed by this approach from Qantas. I have confirmed flights that are part of an already commenced DONE4 and would have been more than happy to send in confirmation of confirmed, non-refundable hotel bookings, thereby adding weight to the fact that I have every intention of travelling as planned.

 

[MelUser]

I have found them very inflexible in this regards - even when they have seen I am in USA partway through a DONE4 itinerary.

The agent went to her supervisor and it was no way - I had to wait for points/SCs to post before they would recognise it for any purpose.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What has been described above seems to be the new way of doing business at Qantas - at least my experience mirrors what has been described. Even to the extent of me being told 'you have never received a card unless you have requalified' - despite me telling them that I had been sent a new plat card 2 months prior to requalification in previous years. It was just downright rudeness by the operators that told me point balnk I have NEVER received a card unless I had obtaned the full amount of SCs.

However - I guess I am pretty much at the bottom end of the plat scale. So Qantas feels they owe me no favours. But I do wonder given their tiny profit this year that they're not going all out to keep as many flyers as possible.

With me going back to gold this year I just can't see the point in staying loyal to them and will now, more so than this year, base my purchase decisions on price.

 

[simongr]

Further to my post 41, above, I just contacted the 'premium' Qantas Club service centre where I was told "there's no way we can get a card to you before 30 November unless you requalif before then".

DONE4 and would have been more than happy to send in confirmation of confirmed, non-refundable hotel bookings, thereby adding weight to the fact that I have every intention of travelling as planned.

There have been people that have had a status extension and then credited flights to AAnother program.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I have found them very inflexible in this regards - even when they have seen I am in USA partway through a DONE4 itinerary.

The agent went to her supervisor and it was no way - I had to wait for points/SCs to post before they would recognise it for any purpose.

It's understandable why this is the case. If they extend your status, you're then free to go and credit the flights to another program, and earn status in that program. Or even just cancel/rebook the flights.

 

[samh004]

It's understandable why this is the case. If they extend your status, you're then free to go and credit the flights to another program, and earn status in that program. Or even just cancel/rebook the flights.

They should be able to get you to sign something that says you’ll credit to them then, and if you don’t, forfeiture of your account, along with any lifetime status. Seems fairly simple to me, but yeah, I guess they can’t do that for whatever reason.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

With me going back to gold this year I just can't see the point in staying loyal to them and will now, more so than this year, base my purchase decisions on price.

+1
Got WP once, and honestly, whoop-de-doo. I will also let my WP lapse next year.

F Lounge Int, Dom J Lounge, double points and 5kg more. No Jetstar benefits (ie, free weight on Jetsaver Light fares). I think that QP (with a corporate discount) is more than adequate.

A few friends of mine now travel on "Mixed fare combo's" to Europe. They fly whY to SIN, then SWISS/LH to Europe in J and it comes out at around 5k return l think. As Kiwiflyer and Dave Noble have often said on Flyertalk and AFF, there are so many options available.

 

[JohnK]

I told the 'premium' agent that I've heard reports of frequent flyers being denied access to BA lounges with an expired card and the lady confirmed that I may very well not be allowed into their lounges under my circumstances.

Why worry about reports of "some" people denied access with an expired card?

I travelled on a Oneworld award with my father and I did not realise my Platinum card had expired 3-4 months earlier. It was only noticed once in LHR and even then was not refused entry to the BA First Class Lounge but rather a call made to Qantas to confirm that I was indeed Platinum.

And another thing is you may find an new Platinum card in the post ~8 weeks (~05 October 2010) before your 30 November 2010 reassessment date. It has happened to me 3 years in a row.

 

[simongr]

Just got my first early renewal card (2650 SCs YTD) for a Sep 30 renewal date...

What I found amusing was the list of benefits - including F lounge access. Surely anyone flying enough to get to WP must know of these benefits?

 

[JohnK]

What I found amusing was the list of benefits - including F lounge access. Surely anyone flying enough to get to WP must know of these benefits?

Nothing wrong with being reminded of the wonderful benefits of the QFF program and Platinum status just in case you are thinking of jumping ship again.