Status Credits advice

[bronwyn75]

Hello, hoping for some advice.
My husband and I flew First Class Qantas SYD-LHR-SYD in July/August. (yes, we paid for the tickets ourselves)!

The status credits earned mean that I have now reached Gold (from Bronze). Unfortunately, my husband's earning year ended 3 weeks after the outbound flight so he lost 420 credits. I realise the credits are still credited for lifetime coughulative total, but we usually only fly a few times a year and this most likely will be the only time we would reach Gold.

The return flight gave him enough for Silver, but we are wondering if there is any way we can contact Qantas FF to ask about his credits being reinstated?

 

[TheInsider]

Unfortunately not. Status credits are only based on your membership year. It will be impossible to get them reinstated.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

The status credits earned mean that I have now reached Gold (from Bronze). Unfortunately, my husband's earning year ended 3 weeks after the outbound flight so he lost 420 credits. I realise the credits are still credited for lifetime coughulative total, but we usually only fly a few times a year and this most likely will be the only time we would reach Gold.

The return flight gave him enough for Silver, but we are wondering if there is any way we can contact Qantas FF to ask about his credits being reinstated?

On paper the status credits you earn in your program year determine what status you'll have for the following program year meaning if those 420 status credits earned in July cannot count for the new program year if that program year starts after you took that flight. With that being said, it does not hurt to call Qantas Frequent Flyer up and see if they can make an exception here. Don't expect they will say yes to rolling over the credits, but see if they can offer something to soften the blow. Another thing I will point out is that the best time to book Qantas flights if you are looking for status is late March as that is generally when Qantas runs their double status credit promotion. The significance for that trip to London in First class would mean that you would earn 1680 status credits return instead of just 840 which is more than enough to earn Platinum status on Qantas which amongst other things gives you access to lounges on arrival with Qantas, first check-in, lounge access, the ability to request Qantas to release award seats for you, to name but a few things.

What I will tell you and something that everyone new to pursuing frequent flyer status must consider is being details oriented to the point of being cough-retentive. For all the flights I book where I have to spend my own (or my employer's) hard earned money I consider what status I want on which airline/alliance. At the beginning of this year I was planning on just retaining Gold status with Qantas as I only had around 1000 status credits (far enough away from the 1400 required to qualify for Platinum to not make it worth it) with my program year ending at the end of November 2023. However, additional work trips ended up having to be booked (some at the last minute meaning they had to be booked into Flex fares). I spent considerable time looking at my flight options both on OneWorld (to earn Platinum) but also elsewhere (to retain United Premier Gold or Delta Medallion Gold status). In the end I determined that it would be difficult for me to retain status on either United or Delta by the end of the year but the fare codes I found for my trips on OneWorld carriers made it a cake walk to earn Qantas Platinum status. Indeed, after 8 more flights I have booked I will cross the 1400 status credit threshold to earn Platinum.



-RooFlyer88

 

[bronwyn75]

Thank you both for your thoughts. TheInsider - I figured that was the case..always hopeful. Kangarooflyer88, appreciate your detailed info and the points you make. We haven't ever been near status thresholds before, I guess that's why this one hurts so much. He will give them a call and ask - you never know.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

We haven't ever been near status thresholds before, I guess that's why this one hurts so much.

Once you get airline status you'll never want to go back!

He will give them a call and ask - you never know.

Keep us posted. Even if he was unsuccessful here, this certainly will be a nice data point to have.

-RooFlyer88

 

[bronwyn75]

Called yesterday afternoon and got straight through to a very helpful agent; she explained the membership year situation (as expected), but did offer a 'courtesy' 60 status credits which have now appeared in his account. To be honest, we didn't expect anything so at least this will go towards him at least retaining silver.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Called yesterday afternoon and got straight through to a very helpful agent; she explained the membership year situation (as expected), but did offer a 'courtesy' 60 status credits which have now appeared in his account. To be honest, we didn't expect anything so at least this will go towards him at least retaining silver.

If your or your husband haven't already, they should qualify for Qantas Green Tier. That will earn them 50 status credits right there for a couple of minutes of work. You also earn a loyalty bonus of 50 status after earning 500 status credits with Qantas and JetStar. This offer is selectable once you earn those 500 status credits and can be selected up to 3 calendar months after you earn it. Unsure if this will help your husband much but something to consider. 700 status credits is quite the way to go to earn Gold status but it can be attainable, particularly during a double status credit promotion. For instance, last year I booked Sydney to Auckland (connecting in Melbourne) in business for $1100 return and that earned me 480 status credits right there.

Another thing to realize is that much of the Gold benefits you receive apply to your husband as well when they are travelling with you. For instance, you can guest your husband into any Qantas/OneWorld lounge you can access when they are travelling with you. Your husband can use the business class check in when travelling with you (even if they have no status). I believe (and AFF members people correct me if I'm mistaken here) they also get the same checked baggage allowance when travelling with you on the same ticket.

So the only downside so far as I can tell are those instances where your husband is travelling Qantas/JetStar/OneWorld without you. In that case, it'll fall squarely on what status he has. Now Silver status isn't as bad as it seems. You do get a lounge pass and business class check-in and security, preferred seating, additional checked bag allowance to name but a few features.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Seat0B]

Called yesterday afternoon and got straight through to a very helpful agent; she explained the membership year situation (as expected), but did offer a 'courtesy' 60 status credits which have now appeared in his account. To be honest, we didn't expect anything so at least this will go towards him at least retaining silver.

Thanks for closing the loop for us. Not ideal, but not a bad outcome.

 

[tdimdad]

If the 60 SC are credited for this FF year, that's nice little seed for accumulating this years tally. If he also got the 420 SC from your return flight and will get 50 SC from the Green Tier, you've got only 170 to go for the gold. If you have a habit of booking into J or F, that should be easy to get. In fact, one return SYD-LHR in F would take him 1370, just 30 SC shy of Platinum.

 

[bronwyn75]

Hello everyone - many thanks for your suggestions and encouragement. Really appreciate it. We do have some future trips booked, so I will look forward to enjoying my Gold status, and as Rooflyer88 and tdimdad point out, it should be feasible for my husband to also reach Gold.
Happy flying