Retaining Platinum

[simongr]

Umm no - why would you feel guilty using something that is great? I only felt guilty when I got into the F lounge in SIN on an AA Plat card

 

[fmckenzie]

Didn't feel guilty at all - I thought of it as fair compensation for having to use the truly dreadful demountable lounge at the LA international terminal

 

[Shano]

No guilt here either. Probably half the guests in the new Flounge are WP's flying in Y or J.

Have just finished booking flights to the US for mid September - MEL to LAX via SYD. Managed to get an international SYD-MEL flight on the return so will use the lounge then too.

Will be a battle for me to retain WP this year only flying whY, hence extra segments and getting as much use as possible now from the Flounges in case that is lost next year

 

[serfty]

Sorry, you will have to be using the slightly older Business lounge which is just down the coridoor, turn left at the top of the escalators instead of going straight (the only time on Qantas when turning left is not so good)

Actually, there's a shorter way to get there (As long as stairs do not concern you).

Immediately after x-ray and before you enter the walk through duty-free emporium, on the right there is an unsigned opening. This leads to stairs which take you up one level, coming out about 5 metres from the J lounge entrance (to the left of the top of the stairs). It's also about 40 metres from the Flounge entrance further along. This saves about 2 minutes and maybe 100 metres of walking.

 

[Flashback]

Yep, spot on! Mr Noble informed me of that the last time I was sitting in T1 QP having a chat to him, AFTER I had arrived having gone the long way

 

[rhjames]

Didn't feel guilty at all - I thought of it as fair compensation for having to use the truly dreadful demountable lounge at the LA international terminal

ok - I'll try to get rid of the guilt feelings. I'll test it for breakfast on the next visit.

 

[simongr]

ok - I'll try to get rid of the guilt feelings. I'll test it for breakfast on the next visit.

Wash them down with a glass of Veuve

 

[rhjames]

Wash them down with a glass of Veuve

don't know if that will do it, but I'll make a very good attempt at trying.

 

[fmckenzie]

And have a glass of Veuve for me - I will be sitting in the old lounge

 

[rhjames]

And have a glass of Veuve for me - I will be sitting in the old lounge

My pleasure - anyone else - hang on - this one's only to NZ, and I have to drive when I arrive. But wait, 7am flight, must arrive after midday NZ time, and who wouldn't expect an Aussie to be blotto by that time!!!?

 

[dajop]

As far as the guilt thing goes, it crossed my mind at one point. Have used the new MEL FCL lounge three times - flying TG, NZ & SQ respectively but not yet whilst flying QF.

However on the third visit I had no pangs of guilt as I'd just had 11 QF domestic sectors in the previous 2.5 weeks - most in K class or above. Swings and roundabouts.

 

[Starship]

Some naive questions arising from other references in this thread for the 'Grand Druids' of FF programs residing here.

Maybe these are answered in other threads on the site!
if so - please redirect me

1/. As a QFF Gold, clearly going to make Platinum in next year with 10 RTW trips (plus a few others) thrown in, what are the benefits of converting to AA and picking up the status on that program? I see others here talking about being pushed back to gold swapping over.

I perceive there is better yield (points for miles), and easier retention as well as better One World recognition.

2/. My family will be coming on some of these RTW trips - and are not members of any program (yet). Is it better to register them under an AA program from day 1?

3/. I have seen old references to an AA platinum challenge - does this or similar still exist? ie possilby get the family to platinum

4/. If i swap to AA, is it better that i book all legs via AA, (and still fly QF aircraft) so that they are AA points on AA flights?

5/. My Star Alliance program is with UA historically, but wondering if it is advantageous to swap to Singapore rather than stay there, - as i will be doing more flying to Sing and HK than previously? Albeit Singapore seems to have less yield for miles. (With United as a client, i must say it is probably sensible is stay with them, but want to understand the difference).


PS - I took off my auditor hat 20 years ago, and decided to build businesses not just review them, but sometimes those detailed compliance mind sets are applicable for questions such as above.

 

[simongr]

Welcome

1 - The AA vs. QF choice is a tough one and depends on a heap of factors. Th ekey one being how much Credit Card use contributes to your points and what sort of domestic tickets you use. I switched to AA as I have relatively small CC usage comapred to flights (100K vs. 400K in a year) and I want premium award flights.

2 - Join them now! It's free and you might be able to find some bonus points for questionairres and the like between now and the flights.

3 - In the AAdvantage forum there is a platinum challenge thread - it tells you all you need to knw

4 - AA seem to be strong at understanding RTW tickets and you will pay less in fuel surcharges.

 

[Starship]

Welcome

1 - The AA vs. QF choice is a tough one and depends on a heap of factors. Th ekey one being how much Credit Card use contributes to your points and what sort of domestic tickets you use. I switched to AA as I have relatively small CC usage comapred to flights (100K vs. 400K in a year) and I want premium award flights.

Same - mainly flights, little credit card, and very few domestic legs. Do you lose status transferring, or do they accept your current level?

2 - Join them now! It's free and you might be able to find some bonus points for questionairres and the like between now and the flights.

I will aim to join them in the AA program, after reading the thread below.

3 - In the AAdvantage forum there is a platinum challenge thread - it tells you all you need to knw

4 - AA seem to be strong at understanding RTW tickets and you will pay less in fuel surcharges.

Thanks

 

[simongr]

Do you lose status transferring, or do they accept your current level?

Thanks

The challenge is the way to get status with AA. Flight a certain number of miles and they will give you status ahead of when you would normally be entitled. You will have some transition period.

 

[vt01]

Thank you QF for allowing me to retain my WP status!

I only had 260 SC's this year. No warning letter so I thought I would lose WP for sure this year. But QF comped me to Platinum until 2008!

I still have no idea how they work this out. But I'm not complaining!

 

[jskogsta]

Thank you QF for allowing me to retain my WP status!

I only had 260 SC's this year. No warning letter so I thought I would lose WP for sure this year. But QF comped me to Platinum until 2008!

I still have no idea how they work this out. But I'm not complaining!

Awsome! Congrats mate .. ;-) Hope they'll do it to me as well .. will get close, but maybe miss out with 50-60 SC's if I am unlucky .. all discounted economy these days.. argh!

/Jorgen

 

[rhjames]

Thank you QF for allowing me to retain my WP status!

I only had 260 SC's this year. No warning letter so I thought I would lose WP for sure this year. But QF comped me to Platinum until 2008!

I still have no idea how they work this out. But I'm not complaining!

Just for interest, how many years have you been on platinum?

 

[vt01]

Just for interest, how many years have you been on platinum?

It's about 6 years.. I think it goes something like this:
August 2001 - first qualified
2002 - requalified - just missed out on partner gold
2003 - comped with about 900 SC's
2004 - comped with about 1140 SC's
2005 - requalified
2006 - requalified
2007 - comped with 260 SC's - Started putting all points to the AA programme.

Had I put all last years points to QF I would have requalified.

 

[straitman]

Thank you QF for allowing me to retain my WP status!

I only had 260 SC's this year. No warning letter so I thought I would lose WP for sure this year. But QF comped me to Platinum until 2008!

I still have no idea how they work this out. But I'm not complaining!

I did this last year with 270 SC as a first year Platinum. This year I'll make the required 1200 SC without any issues. Won't make partner Gold so will then credit to AA.