Question for Gold or Platinum QF FF members

[jasonja3]

For me, the travel is not just a means to an end, but a hobby in itself.

I think this is true in someway for me, and probably for many other members here.

For me it is all work. A little domestic, and approx. monthly travel to S.E Asia. Being able to use the info gained here has made travelling a little more enjoyable with status etc and getting the best value from points redemption.

 

[simongr]

For me, the travel is not just a means to an end, but a hobby in itself. Others restore vintage cars or climb mountains. For me, being ten kilometres up with a view out over the world and a glass of spiced tomato juice on the tray table, well, that's my idea of heaven.

Just to follow up on Skyrings comment here - although my work is what drive sthe travel that I do - I chose the job because of the opportunity to travel - it was a major selling point for me to be able to be paid to visit New York.

 

[Flashback]

Although this doesn't necessarily cover everyone I find that

• Having a unique skill of some sort
• Being in sales
• Some sort of manager for a company that has branches

Seem to be the avenues that lead to travel.. YMMV.

 

[Febs]

Seem to be the avenues that lead to travel.. YMMV.

Being a fortunate Big 4 grad can work well too.
(From 0 to ~1,100 SC's in 10 months )

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Entirely play for me. I belong to a worldwide community that organises regional get togethers. Wellington, Charleston, Brighton and Melbourne this year. I enjoy meeting my online friends in the flesh so much that I am happy to pay for *ONE4s a couple of times per year to attend these gatherings.

I saw an article in the Wellington newspaper over the weekend that book crossing convention was being held last weekend. Were you there for that? Unfortunately I only read about it when I was flying out from WLG - doh.

 

[Commuter]

Being a miner that is on FIFO contract could help too

(I'm not, though.)

 

[Hawkeye]

My profession enables me to take 5-6 international J trips per year (Europe and USA), usually paid for by sponsors. So although I am a relatively infrequent flyer, the bias towards rapid status accumulation for J/F travel, enables me to remain top-tier.

The downside of this is my trips involve very short stays at the destination - just got back yesterday from a 24hr visit to Paris (meaning the entire trip was divided roughly evenly into outgoing flights, meeting, and incoming flights). For these journeys, the benefits of access to nice lounges, wine and shower facilities is greatly appreciated. At least jet-lag is minimal as you don't get time to adjust the body-clock.

There may be a time when these trips become too tiring, but for now, I really enjoy it. My biggest dislike is going to work directly on return, but that is something over which I have no control.

 

[NM]

Being a miner that is on FIFO contract could help too

(I'm not, though.)

Not always. Many FIFO operations use charter flights that don't earn any FF benefits for the passengers.

 

[Flashback]

Yep, unless you work on mines in the North of WA which are generally QF flights e.g. Karratha, Tom Price (Paraburdoo), Port Hedland, Newman, Leinster

 

[SeaWolf]

A number of them are serviced by National Jet Systems as well, which you can also earn QANTAS points with.

 

[Flashback]

Yes and no. Where it is codeshared by QF (i.e. the majority of flights up North) this is the case. These will leave from the QF terminal.

From my experiences anything south, or anything that leaves from the actual National Jet hangar, has nothing to do with QF at all and won't earn points.

 

[NM]

A number of them are serviced by National Jet Systems as well, which you can also earn QANTAS points with.

Unless its a QantasLink flight (QF flight number) operated by National Jet Sysyems, then QF FF points only, but not Status Credits which are needed to reach QF Gold or Platinum FF status per the original question. Eligible fare types ofr NC flights are Q, M, K, Y and J.

And no points earned if its a charter operated by NC.

 

[SeaWolf]

Yes and no. Where it is codeshared by QF (i.e. the majority of flights up North) this is the case. These will leave from the QF terminal.

From my experiences anything south, or anything that leaves from the actual National Jet hangar, has nothing to do with QF at all and won't earn points.

National Jet is a 'partner airline', so any of their flights SHOULD be earning you points as well.
Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Air

 

[StevePER]

National Jet is a 'partner airline', so any of their flights SHOULD be earning you points as well.
Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Air

Any of their flights in classes JYKMQ, except...
Excluded: Points are not earned on services between Perth and Ravenstorpe.

Just out of interest, why would anyone want to go to Ravensthorpe?

Steve

 

[Flashback]

Heh, the only trips I've had on NC (where it hasn't been part of QF) have been down to RVT

Obviously, our minesite is down there.

 

[QF WP]

I am a financial planner, with corporate and personal clients in most of the state capitals (excluding DRW and HBT). I've been Plat for 5 years and am just waiting on my re-assessment (due 28 Feb).

Unfortunately, my flying reduced in 2006 as I am involved in a partnership organising the purchase of a significantly sized family business from my (retiring) parents. This has meant curtailing non-essential travel (to interstate clients), particularly in the last 6 months of 2006. This necessitated the creation of a new corporate structure from the ground up.

Given the new corporate structure, I was given the responsibility (as Company Secretary of the new entity) to create and implement our Corporate Travel policy. Naturally, oneworld is our alliance of choice for all travel for our 3 Directors (1 Plat, 1 Gold, 1 Bronze), 5 staff (1 Silver and 4 Bronze) and 2 consultants (both Bronze). We have yet to set foot on a Virgin flight.

My travel (over the last 12 months) has been largely economy travel (both Domestic and International), with my International travel being leisure, whilst the majority of Domestic travel for business.
On all my domestic business trips, I travel on Super Saver or Flexi Saver fares for my outbound sector; with all subsequent sectors exclusively being Flexi Saver (predominately K class) or Fully Flexible. For previous (and any future International travel) it would be in B or H class.

The majority of my flights are booked within 1 week of travel and are often multi-city itineraries. Expected flying in 2007:

BNE/SYD: 8 return flights
BNE/MEL: 6 return flights
BNE/SYD/MEL/BNE: 2 return trips
BNE/PER/ADL/BNE: 3 return trips
BNE/ADL: 2 return flights
BNE/ADL/SYD/BNE: 1 return trip
BNE/ADL/MEL/BNE: 1 return trip
BNE/CNS: 2 return flights
BNE/TSV - 1 return flight
BNE/NTL - 1 return flight
BNE/MKY - 1 return flight

in addition to leisure flights with my wife and soon to be mini-LW (5 weeks)

 

[james_1972]

As a bit of a follow on question - what sort of volume of flights are people taking to get Gold - as some suggested - 3 or 4 Business Class trips return will get Gold.
I only fly discount economy - I got to 845 points last status year, which would have been 17+ return flights Perth to Melb or Adelaide, 1 UK return and UK -> US -> return.
Other people doing the same volume - are you travelling business or economy?

 

[Evan]

LOTS ! if your flying discount economy.
700 SC required for gold can be had as you pointed out in a few flights in J, but in Y it could be 10 return trips to Europe. MEL-HKG/SIN-LHR/FRA for example is only 70 SC each way.

Domestic if you fly MEL-SYD as a lot of people do in cheap Y fare buckets then it could be 17.5 return trips... at 20SC return for SYD-MEL.

I know i earn mine the hard way... in the current 1 month window... MEL-SYD-NRT-ICN-NRT-SYD-MEL & MEL-HKG-LHR-STR-LHR-SIN-MEL. Most in discount economy (Although the first trip the SYD-MEL & MEL-SYD legs posted in full economy 20 SC each)

Evan

 

[Reggie]

Yep, unless you work on mines in the North of WA which are generally QF flights e.g. Karratha, Tom Price (Paraburdoo), Port Hedland, Newman, Leinster

Leinster (and Mt Keith for that matter) are no longer Qantas flights. BHP have been rumoured to have paid for Alliance to set up in Perth. They have taken over the old Gold Wing lounge, apparently biscuits, tea and coffee is the go.

 

[oz_mark]

Leinster (and Mt Keith for that matter) are no longer Qantas flights. BHP have been rumoured to have paid for Alliance to set up in Perth. They have taken over the old Gold Wing lounge, apparently biscuits, tea and coffee is the go.

By the look of the signage in the terminal, it is more than just the lounge.

Also, I had heard a rumour that Virgin's Perth lounge would be opening mid-year, so Alliance must not have got the whole lounge!