Having been WP for more years than I care to remember, and WP1 since inception, I was faced with the very real possibility that my future travel plans with QF over the coming 12 months wouldn't see me requalify for WP1.
The status has been beneficial, I like shiny cards and all that goes with it, despite the majority of the benefits derived being available to me via my mostly J & F travel patterns.
I had toyed with a mega AONE6 or similar, but the moons aligned with the DSC announcement in March, followed shortly thereafter by a NZ F Sale fare.
In short, I set myself the challenge to achieve WP1 in a short window, easy routings and at an attractive $/SC.
In summary, I sit here in the QF AKL J Lounge now having completed 15 sectors across the Tasman in the past 14 days.
All travel was ex Melbourne on QF8762, with same day returns on QF8761.
All flights were booked via redemption of $50 vouchers acquired during the DSC window on 5 March. All vouchers were redeemed on 18 March to capture the excellent return QF F fares on EK metal.
I started the adventure on 3 May, and subsequently flew 5,6,9,11,12,15 & 17 May.
The back to back flights were ok, but not ideal.
Loads ex Mel were typically light, with a maximum of 8 in the cabin and a minimum of 2.
Return sectors were even more sparsely populated. I had the F cabin to myself on 4 occasions.
With a 07:10 departure, I had my standard MEL F Lounge breakfast, omelette and corn fritters. Most days I arrived at the airport just shy of 6am, no customs and security issues, quick breakfast and last to board.
I consider myself to be a fairly low fuss flyer, typical shunning the meals on these outbound runs and catching up on work.
Divided my lounge time in AKL between both QF and EK. No real preference, as they fit the bill for basic amenity and food offering. EK was busier. Only 2 of us in the QF lounge this afternoon.
EK hard product, whilst not to my personal taste, is excellent. Likewise service is near faultless, and the teams typically read the customers persona/demeanour and act accordingly. Was great to see them pampering once-in-a-life time F passengers.
Depending on departure time and flying time I had an avg. of 3.5hr turn around in AKL. I visited the nearby golf driving range twice, inspected a horse at Karaka once, walked to the local shops on sunny day and lounge hopped the other couple of days. I did clear customs each time for some fresh air, and was never questioned by Border/Customs officials at either end.
My flights have posted one business day after the trips, with the double SC's within 4 days of travel. Still some to come through.
In summary the 15 legs cost a total of A$14,953 or $4.15/SC for a total of 3600 SC's. Has also pushed me past 50k lifetime SC's. Lifetime Platinum anyone??!!
I used QF Valet vouchers purchased with points for MEL parking, and had no accommodation cost.
I will now have WP1 through 31 April 2019.
Only issue is who do I credit this superfluous return flight to MEL to?
