Tips for moving from QFF to BAEC (QF WP + LTG)...

[ish]

Hi all,

I’ve been doing a bit of research here on AFF and on the interwebs since QFF’s announcement of their inspiring LTP tier. I am seriously considering moving over to BAEC instead with the view of having something meaningful to aim for in terms of LTG (OWE), and I noticed that a few regulars on here have done just that - some even before the recent QFF changes.

I have a few questions though and wondering if any can share their thoughts / experiences?
- I believe you can still leverage your QFF status through the transition period (ie. use QFF # for access to dom J lounges when flying Y in QF), is this correct? (And yes, that is how I earn my WP every year.... the painful way - mostly PER<>BNE dom Y red-e-deal flights....)
- How hard is it to get the 4 BA segments each year? Can it be done with a few creative routings (say PER>SIN>BNE)? We usually do 1-2 international trips a year as well, but always somewhere different, and not predictable SYD/MEL <> LHR which would make this a no-brainer...
- I believe BAEC Gold = OWE, means you can access QF dom J lounges once you reach gold in BAEC?
- And no issues using BAEC Gold for access to QF int’l F lounges in Syd / Mel?

I always have QFF LTG to fall back on, but as has been mentioned here before, that’s more of a safety net rather than a desired state of life! Some of these questions might be a bit obvious (to some) but I’m struggling to find info to help me decide.

Any thoughts, insights, advice or tips greatly appreciated!

 

[Danger]

The leveraging question is tricky. In theory, yes, you can do it but the reality is it's not always easy. See here: AA Challenges - Questions and General Discussion.

I was going to say I don't believe you'll be able to book Qantas-operated, BA-marketed (i.e. codeshares) that don't involve an actual BA-operated flight. You can book BA-coded itineraries entirely operated by IB and AA but I don't think you can do it with QF. However, I just did a quick search on the BA app for SIN-BNE and it returns the direct QF service with a BA flight number, 7406. It also returns SIN-SYD on the their metal and a connection to BNE with QF on BA's code so it does seem as though it would be possible.

Yes, your BA Gold card will get you into QF J (and F) lounges.

Remember, though, Executive Club is in theory not open to Australian residents. When you sign up you will need to enter an address from one of the countries that the program is open to. Remember also that BA is notorious for their fuel and other surcharges on award tickets.

 

[SydneySwan]

Remember also that BA is notorious for their fuel and other surcharges on award tickets.

Surely you are not suggesting that QF isn't?

 

[cwd]

- I believe you can still leverage your QFF status through the transition period (ie. use QFF # for access to dom J lounges when flying Y in QF), is this correct? (And yes, that is how I earn my WP every year.... the painful way - mostly PER<>BNE dom Y red-e-deal flights....)

One thing to watch out for is non-earning booking classes. You may end up earning 0 tier points for some of those flights if the red e-deal books into E class.

You're fortunate actually, because PER-BNE earns the same in discount economy as it does on QFF (20). If you were doing BNE-MEL or BNE-SYD you'd be earning 5 TP in discount economy. If you flew flexible economy, you'd earn 70 on PER-BNE, which is a pretty great deal. Although, QFF credits K and M as flexible, BAEC credits them as discount economy. I'm assuming Qantas sell flexible tickets in K and M too, and of course they don't tell you when you book online which class you're booking into.

 

[JessicaTam]

Hi all,

I’ve been doing a bit of research here on AFF and on the interwebs since QFF’s announcement of their inspiring LTP tier. I am seriously considering moving over to BAEC instead with the view of having something meaningful to aim for in terms of LTG (OWE), and I noticed that a few regulars on here have done just that - some even before the recent QFF changes.

I have a few questions though and wondering if any can share their thoughts / experiences?
- I believe you can still leverage your QFF status through the transition period (ie. use QFF # for access to dom J lounges when flying Y in QF), is this correct? (And yes, that is how I earn my WP every year.... the painful way - mostly PER<>BNE dom Y red-e-deal flights....)
- How hard is it to get the 4 BA segments each year? Can it be done with a few creative routings (say PER>SIN>BNE)? We usually do 1-2 international trips a year as well, but always somewhere different, and not predictable SYD/MEL <> LHR which would make this a no-brainer...
- I believe BAEC Gold = OWE, means you can access QF dom J lounges once you reach gold in BAEC?
- And no issues using BAEC Gold for access to QF int’l F lounges in Syd / Mel?

I always have QFF LTG to fall back on, but as has been mentioned here before, that’s more of a safety net rather than a desired state of life! Some of these questions might be a bit obvious (to some) but I’m struggling to find info to help me decide.

Any thoughts, insights, advice or tips greatly appreciated!

There is nothing wrong with accessing the lounges using your QF status with your BA number in the booking. Just have your card handy.

You can get 4x BA flights without flying BA. E.g. MEL-SYD-SIN return. Just book on the BA website and choose the codeshares. But you need to book a route on which codeshares are available, obviously. So booking MEL-SYD on BA will error out, but MEL-SYD-SIN is fine.

BA Gold is indeed OWE. Full access to dom J and int F lounges if flying QF. Note that you will not be able to access lounges if flying Jetstar or Emirates in Y.

 

[ish]

One thing to watch out for is non-earning booking classes. You may end up earning 0 tier points for some of those flights if the red e-deal books into E class.

You're fortunate actually, because PER-BNE earns the same in discount economy as it does on QFF (20). If you were doing BNE-MEL or BNE-SYD you'd be earning 5 TP in discount economy. If you flew flexible economy, you'd earn 70 on PER-BNE, which is a pretty great deal. Although, QFF credits K and M as flexible, BAEC credits them as discount economy. I'm assuming Qantas sell flexible tickets in K and M too, and of course they don't tell you when you book online which class you're booking into.

Thanks cwd, that’s a good tip!

 

[ish]

There is nothing wrong with accessing the lounges using your QF status with your BA number in the booking. Just have your card handy.

You can get 4x BA flights without flying BA. E.g. MEL-SYD-SIN return. Just book on the BA website and choose the codeshares. But you need to book a route on which codeshares are available, obviously. So booking MEL-SYD on BA will error out, but MEL-SYD-SIN is fine.

BA Gold is indeed OWE. Full access to dom J and int F lounges if flying QF. Note that you will not be able to access lounges if flying Jetstar or Emirates in Y.

Thanks JessicaTam, that was what I was thinking - ie. crediting to BA, but leveraging my QF WP while it still lasts for dom J lounges (I just re-qualified a month or two ago, so still have 13-odd months before I would need to fall back on my LTG and the <eeeek> QP!). Thinking that should give me enough time to get up to BA Gold ....but need to plan it all out.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks JessicaTam, that was what I was thinking - ie. crediting to BA, but leveraging my QF WP while it still lasts for dom J lounges (I just re-qualified a month or two ago, so still have 13-odd months before I would need to fall back on my LTG and the <eeeek> QP!). Thinking that should give me enough time to get up to BA Gold ....but need to plan it all out.

Some simple tips:

PER-MEL is < 2,000 miles, but PER-SYD/BNE is >2,000 miles so a much better earn.

MH AU-KUL in J credits as J!

 

[ish]

Mmmmm..... having researched and thought more about this I think the biggest deciding factor is no longer being able to do Y to J upgrades via QFF points. I don’t do this all the time, but I do it enough to make the regular PER <> BNE commute bearable that the loss of this would be a bit of a blow. Is that right though? No way around that problem?

That and the fact that there are no regular DSC promos on BA (although admittedly this could disappear anytime at QFF), might be enough to keep me with QFF, although I wonder if I’ll regret it ....with all those LT SCs going to waste. With BAEC, at least they would be building toward something useful - albeit a long long way away, but at least more obtainable than 75k SC.

Has anyone been able to make the switch work when flying predominantly domestic in Aus? Or is this just further proof of the heuristic that your FF program should be with the carrier you most often fly with? <sigh>

 

[TonyHancock]

Mmmmm..... having researched and thought more about this I think the biggest deciding factor is no longer being able to do Y to J upgrades via QFF points. I don’t do this all the time, but I do it enough to make the regular PER <> BNE commute bearable that the loss of this would be a bit of a blow. Is that right though? No way around that problem?

I book SYD-PER in Y, checking ExpertFlyer for U availability first. I use QF points to immediately secure J and then change the FF number to my BA one via the Finnair website. (You need a QFF points income stream to do this, obviously, because you aren't earning QF points through flying. (Mine come from my Amex Plat card.)

 

[ish]

I book SYD-PER in Y, checking ExpertFlyer for U availability first. I use QF points to immediately secure J and then change the FF number to my BA one via the Finnair website. (You need a QFF points income stream to do this, obviously, because you aren't earning QF points through flying. (Mine come from my Amex Plat card.)

Ahhhhhh, that makes sense! Good tip, thanks TonyHancock!

 

[drron]

One of the best ways to accumulate Tier points is the BA return fare on BA to BKK.If you can purchase J,and it is often on sale-you can fly PER-SYD-SIN-NRT-BKK-SIN-SYD-PER which in J gets you 800 TPs so over half way to BAEC gold plus knock off 2 BA segments.

 

[Danger]

Surely you are not suggesting that QF isn't?

Oh God no. Just something to be aware of if you're looking for another program.

 

[Stevo.1702]

I have finally decided to make the switch. I am only on 11k lifetime Qantas status credits so don't have the LTG to fall back onto.... yet. I regularly achieve QF Plat and last year QF P1. My new attitude is acknowledging that I am better off chasing LTG with BAEC rather than LTP with QF. I have a significant increase in MH and QR flights coming over the next few years so now seems to be the best time. I will treat 10 SC as equal to 10 TP. Whichever credits me the most will decide with FF number I use. Once I reach QF LTG all future earn will be with BA. I have even decided to forgo QF Plat each year if it means my OW flights are better off being funneled towards BA.

I'm 26 years old and expect to have many many years to go before I reach this goal.

 

[ish]

Yep, I am tending towards thinking that way too, ....although (alas!) not 26, but still think I have quite a few more heavy years of travel ahead of me!

 

[ish]

Ok, so an update on my current thinking (in case it is useful to anyone!)....

As I’ve thought more about this, it all hinges on my ongoing ability to retain QF WP currently.... Basically, if DSCs go away I will struggle and will drop back to LTG. To me, that is the point where directing my SCs to QFF no longer makes sense. At that point I resign myself to all things LTG; QP instead of dom business lounge etc, and might as well redirect SC earn to BAEC, in the hope that one day the lifetime SC might help make it to LT OWE. Mind you, at that rate it will take decades, lol! But it beats them going to waste!

But..... if DSCs still keep on popping up and/or I keep getting the occasional int’l work trip in J, then I’ll stay with QFF, requal WP and forgo BAEC and any aspiration for LT OWE.

I think that logic makes sense?

 

[Matt_01]

@ish I think some (not all) high mileage QF travellers think of switching to BA at some stage. I am WP1 and have been for around 5 years, only about a third of the way to QF LTP so that will never happen. I am also VA WP and *G. Earlier this year I asked very similar questions and reached out to a few that have responded on this thread for advice. After consideration and when combined with the fact that I want to cut back on travel chasing OWE with BA did not make sense. The tangible benefits BA offer are far better than QF however it is unlikely I would be able to use them as I rarely travel to the UK or EU these days.

Just my thoughts

 

[levelnine]

if DSCs go away I will struggle

The challenge is predicting whether they will go away or not. There's certainly lots of speculation that last year (3 DSC offers) was an aberration and we might be back in the era of 0-2 DSC offers per year.

 

[MH_fan]

The thing I'm most looking forward to when I switch to BAEC is being able to earn J credits when flying MH. It's been a real pain since QFF reduced their earn rates but not anymore!

 

[mikeact]

You say you are thinking of jumping ship to BA........fine, but from scratch/zero ?
I would be looking at the potential number of AVIOS I would likely accrue per year and relevant tier points.
To redeem, you generally need a hefty amount to turn left, and hope there are seats etc.
Here in the UK, we have many more opportunities to fly around Europe for excellent Avios redemptions and now only £1 to cancel any European redemptions.