Retaining Platinum Status - what is the quickest/ cheapest way?

[KrugBoi]

Hi. My flying trips will be significantly reduced in the next 12 months and I was wondering if anyone can suggest either the most cost effective and or fastest way for me to retain Platinum? I have been spoilt by starting each trip in style in the Qantas First Class Lounge!

Just out of curiosity as I know there will be people in the know, what is the most cost effective way for someone to reach Gold/ Platinum if starting from scratch from next Jan? Thanks.

 

[Dave Noble]

If you are currently platinum, then you should only drop to gold if you don't make the renewal requirements. Before spending money on trying to keep a shiny card, I would consider really how much incremental value Platinum will give you over gold, especially if your travel frequency is going to be reduced

If desperate to maintain platinum status, then $4700 spent on r/t journeys from Auckland to Sydney will do it. Do 8 trips on LA and can complete it.

I would suggest waiting till near the end of the membership year and see how close you get and then figure whether the incremental cost of getting the requisite SCs makes it worthwhile

Dave

 

[serfty]

Only you can decide if the expense is worth it to you.

If you have a spare week, you can fly to the USA for ~$1200; with another $2300 on carefully selected "YUP" fares you can easily garner 1200 SC's.

For more information, search this forum for threads containing the words "Instant Upgrade".

 

[Bundy Bear]

From the AA website Australian version;

SFO-LAX one way on instant upgrade is currently selling at AUD$159.00 not all flights available at this price; that will get you 60SCs per hit; for something different you could try SFO-LAX-LAS for $382.00 one way on an instant upgrade, that should nett 120SCs.

There are other options available you just need to do some searches; flights up to SEA can also be worthwhile and the flying in on AS but you need to have an AA flight number in the booking.

LAN across to New Zealand is good at about AUD $700 return netting 160SCs. One way LAN from NZ is currently AUD $300 netting 80SCs due to pricing in NZ dollars.

Check where Virgin America or any other low cost carrier is flying (others to check are Jetblue and Airtran) and see if AA are matching.

I think Serfty retained platinum in 6 days, basically flying all the way to NYC then flying to Hawaii and back and Florida and back, plus a bit in between.

I think if you can get it for $5,000 you are doing well but a friend has flown for 6 days across country and back for just over $2,000 and netting 1200SCs:shock:

Searching the forum is good and reading what Serfty has to say, as he has usually flown it and can tell you about it.

Do you really enjoy flying that much and want to retain Platinum, do you have the spare cash and the time; for some the answer is yes.

I enjoy flying would love to reach platinum but I have neither the money or the time so I just have to read what is written here, stuck on lowly Bronze. :-|

 

[Sprucegoose]

Only you can decide if the expense is worth it to you.

If you have a spare week, you can fly to the USA for ~$1200; with another $2300 on carefully selected "YUP" fares you can easily garner 1200 SC's.

For more information, search this forum for thread containing the words "Instant Upgrade".

Yes, good advice, I agree the US represents better value than AUS and will more so if the AUD continues to strengthen.

The Instant Upgrades, do you purchase that online or at departureand is it a reissue of ticket Sefty? - thnxs

cheers

SPRUCE

 

[notzac]

The Instant Upgrades, do you purchase that online or at departureand is it a reissue of ticket Sefty? - thnxs

Purchased online. If you do a forum search for "instant upgrade" as serfty suggests, you should be able to find some sample itineraries. 1200 SCs will take around 4-6 days of solid flying and can be had for around $2.2k - $2.6k AUD.

 

[KrugBoi]

Dave, Serfty and Bundy Bear - definitely have learnt something new today with the YUP fares and ways of earning SC's. I will make sure I remember to book these fares when I am travelling in the US next.

I can definitely say that I will not be making all those trips just to keep my status - I just don't think it is worthwhile for me. Thank you for your advice - I appreciate the "insider knowledge"!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Can you please PM me details on the

"... another $2300 on carefully selected "YUP" fares you can easily garner 1200 SC's."

Much appreciated.
D

 

[serfty]

Hint: Look for destinations to/from ONT (about 100Km east of LAX)

 

[Fishhead]

I have had Qantas platinum status for about five years and do most of my flying outside of Australia. I am seriously considering letting it slide, especially since Qantas made exit rows available for purchase or for those in Chairman's Lounge (as if!). I am currently way behind on my 100 credit per month average needed to retain the status and have registered with SIA for a FF program with a view to getting off Qantas for good (loss of $50 000 per year).

My view is that Qantas treats Platinum flyers like cough - some flights we get an acknowledgement or even an upgrade, most flights its nothing special at all. Cathay treats platinum flyers extremely well.

For some free wine in the First lounge is it really worth spending all that money with Qantas? Maybe a reality check is the go.

 

[plrarm]

I am marginal in maintaining Platinum status this year but yesterday I received a letter from QC advising me that if I can submit my travel plans for next year, then will decide whether they will allow me to retain Platinum.

So, naturally I told them I'd be flying all over the world next year.

It will be interesting to see what they decide.

Then I have to do the flying - I don't think they will allow me to maintain it if I don't do the miles I have "promised" !!

 

[millesm]

I have a trip to Boston later this year. To take advantage of the 'instant upgrade' does that mean I should book directly with AA online in Australia for flights on QF from Melbourne to Boston and take as many hops as I can to boost my SCs?

Can a travel agent access the instant upgrade via their systems?

thanks

Steve.

 

[KrugBoi]

Fishhead - I totally agree with you.

 

[guybaxy]

i did syd-nan-syd eco class on QF thta s40sc

Then nan-lax-nyc -lax-nan for A$3,000 thats 520sc

From the AA website Australian version;

SFO-LAX one way on instant upgrade is currently selling at AUD$159.00 not all flights available at this price; that will get you 60SCs per hit; for something different you could try SFO-LAX-LAS for $382.00 one way on an instant upgrade, that should nett 120SCs.

There are other options available you just need to do some searches; flights up to SEA can also be worthwhile and the flying in on AS but you need to have an AA flight number in the booking.

LAN across to New Zealand is good at about AUD $700 return netting 160SCs. One way LAN from NZ is currently AUD $300 netting 80SCs due to pricing in NZ dollars.

Check where Virgin America or any other low cost carrier is flying (others to check are Jetblue and Airtran) and see if AA are matching.

I think Serfty retained platinum in 6 days, basically flying all the way to NYC then flying to Hawaii and back and Florida and back, plus a bit in between.

I think if you can get it for $5,000 you are doing well but a friend has flown for 6 days across country and back for just over $2,000 and netting 1200SCs:shock:

Searching the forum is good and reading what Serfty has to say, as he has usually flown it and can tell you about it.

Do you really enjoy flying that much and want to retain Platinum, do you have the spare cash and the time; for some the answer is yes.

I enjoy flying would love to reach platinum but I have neither the money or the time so I just have to read what is written here, stuck on lowly Bronze. :-|

 

[Blackadder]

I have a trip to Boston later this year. To take advantage of the 'instant upgrade' does that mean I should book directly with AA online in Australia for flights on QF from Melbourne to Boston and take as many hops as I can to boost my SCs?

Can a travel agent access the instant upgrade via their systems?

thanks

Steve.

AA instant upgrades only apply to flights on AA metal, so would only be good LAX-BOS and vice versa.

You can book via the AA website (aus version), however seems cheaper booking on the US version, however that means you will need to pay for your trips on arrival in the US.

Travel agents should be able to acess the YYUP fares

 

[Paddy55]

Purchased online. If you do a forum search for "instant upgrade" as serfty suggests, you should be able to find some sample itineraries. 1200 SCs will take around 4-6 days of solid flying and can be had for around $2.2k - $2.6k AUD.

Maybe I just did it the wrong way, however earlier in the month I did a SFO - SEA run on consecutive days (and met Drewbles on 1 ). They were booked on the US web site, but I wasn't able to get them on a single booking, nor was I able to pay for them online.

Instead I had to make 2 bookings, call AA locally to make the payment and was charged about $60 for each of the 2 bookings as well.

Can I pay online if I live in Oz and have an Oz credit card?

Paddy

PS Damn good value that run, taking me from Gold to Plat

 

[doobs]

My wife and I have both gained Plat status last month. Obviously we would be happy to keep it beyond its Oct/10 validity and I look forward to positive hints here.

Thanks guys.

Doobs

 

[whippet]

I have had Qantas platinum status for about five years and do most of my flying outside of Australia. I am seriously considering letting it slide, especially since Qantas made exit rows available for purchase or for those in Chairman's Lounge (as if!). I am currently way behind on my 100 credit per month average needed to retain the status and have registered with SIA for a FF program with a view to getting off Qantas for good (loss of $50 000 per year).

My view is that Qantas treats Platinum flyers like cough - some flights we get an acknowledgement or even an upgrade, most flights its nothing special at all. Cathay treats platinum flyers extremely well.

For some free wine in the First lounge is it really worth spending all that money with Qantas? Maybe a reality check is the go.

gotta agree with fishhead. fortunately I travel first class when available so colour of card is irrelevant. qantas first is so far behind that offered by asian competitors that they are always a last resort. Havent flown in the A380 yet but their other configurations are so dated that you feel you are in a tired business cabin on any carrier. AA excepted. they are worse

 

[RescuePilot]

Fish head - I agree with some of the comments
I took Mrs Rescue Pilot to Rome,London and HK (Thanks Serfty/Dave et al for the tips for travel - it worked a treat!!) just returning last week. I am Pl (6 years) and LTS and can state that in the two of the three Qantas sectors I had the misfortune of being on the receiving end of the rudest, crankiest oxygen thieves (trading as Qantas staff). The third sector was crewed by London based crew and they were fantastic. What a pleasant surprise when I travelled Cathay!!! I thought that I had died and gone to heaven - welcomed on board as Platinum - compd to 1st and feted all trip - shame it was only HK-SYD

I am over the QF International - Cathay for me from now on - three years in a row and they only get worse with service less than adequate

Am considering the LAN status run - any feedback from the gurus on service and facilities?Can we still use FL in Syd International?

 

[Ticktock]

Hi All
Re the Platinum status thing: I have been Platinum for the last 15 years, except for the great advantage of going into 1st class lounges, on departure and arrival, I have found no great advantages except line up at airports and seat allocation Q do not do anything special for you. I was motivated to acheive LG, which I have. Now there is nothing, for those who travel constantly it all becomes a bore. I am now using Emirets, great Air line. All the best to those aspiring Q Platinum acheivers