Took the gateway drug…*I'm hooked

[tsjbaker]

G'day AFF!

Tom here, first-year uni student out of SYD. I've lurked here for the last six months or so as I have slowly caught the 'bug'.

I was signed up for QFF at an early age by my parents and for a long while didn't realise it was quite possible to rise through the status ranks even on my 'povo' student budget and it's safe to say I'm now hooked.

I've done a fair bit of QF and CX J flying in the past riding on dad's coattails [WP] but often my QFF membership was forgotten and it's only been in the last year or so that I have become diligent with getting every OW flight associated with my QFF#.

After seven years of lowly NB I stumbled upon the QF holy grail in February '13 with an op-up from J to F from SYD-LAX. That, as they say, was the tipping point. Suddenly PS had arrived for the first time, and with some creative YUPP flying on that trip and domestic duties back home, I've just earned SG and sitting on 780 SC for the year with six months left……………

And now I'm indecisive about whether WP is worth a shot!

 

[Hvr]

Welcome aboard tsjbaker, you're in good company here. When I joined I was pleased to make SG and then I thought life was complete at WP. Now I'm about to hit WP1 all thanks to the great advice from my fellow AFF'ers.

The strength of AFF is its people, hope you hang around long enough to make a positive contribution.

 

[RooFlyer]

After seven years of lowly NB I stumbled upon the QF holy grail in February '13 with an op-up from J to F from SYD-LAX. That, as they say, was the tipping point. !

Splutter, splutter .... old git noises .... etc ... reaches for heart pills ...

Young whipper-snapper! Children (= aged under 25) should never appear in the F cabin, especially as an op-up! Especially when I'm not getting the op-up!

Mumble mumble ... thinking dark thoughts about getting Unis de-funded.


Well, yes, welcome tsjbaker and good luck with the flying . Just don't be in front of me in the queue for boarding F, else you'll feel the sharp end of my cane.

ps don't worry about WP, its horrid and not worth the effort.

 

[Inver]

Welcome tsjbaker that was a good way to introduce yourself, you've already made me jealous

 

[tsjbaker]

Young whipper-snapper! Children (= aged under 25) should never appear in the F cabin, especially as an op-up! Especially when I'm not getting the op-up!

We got very lucky indeed! Overbooked J on our original QF107. Rare levels of QF generosity in offering my WP companion and I op-ups as compensation for our three hour wait for QF11, not that anyone should complain about extra time in the SYD F Lounge.

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF tsjbaker!

 

[casanovawa]

Yes welcome, as for attempting to reach WP, soberly (or with a drink, whatever floats your boat ) sit down and consider the pro's and con's... What perks do you value or would you use against what does it cost to attain and then maintain on your poor student subsistence level...

If your not getting anything of much value and will be costing you your hard earned that you could be spending on other better things, don't play the status game just because its there... Residing in Syd with a FLounge makes it more tempting than if your out in the sticks.. Or Perth... Unless you usually travel with a WP companion anyway...

 

[Simo]

Welcome to the forum

 

[yo yo ma]

And now I'm indecisive about whether WP is worth a shot!

Welcome Tom!

As has been mentioned by RooFlyer, WP is terrible and not worth it (makes more room for us in the lounges!!!)

 

[SeatBackForward]

My advice would be that any chasing of status should be based not on how much flying you have to do to achieve that status..but based on how much flying you'll do once you *have* that status.

No point getting to WP if it doesn't offer any ongoing benefits.

 

[JohnK]

No point getting to WP if it doesn't offer any ongoing benefits.

I think with some people it does not matter.

The only flying they are likely to do is the flying they do to reach Platinum or Platinum One. Not because they need to do that flying but as a hobby they have chosen those goals and then plan the flying to get there.

They obviously think it is worth it having status next to their name.

 

[tsjbaker]

The only flying they are likely to do is the flying they do to reach Platinum or Platinum One. Not because they need to do that flying but as a hobby they have chosen those goals and then plan the flying to get there.

They obviously think it is worth it having status next to their name.

In my case, it's that flying in future years is likely to be ~800SC, retaining SG with some extra room. Pushing out to 1400SC to earn WP in Year 1 is a stretch, but future years with 1200SC retention isn't that much of an effort.

I'm SYD-based and fly regularly enough, both Dom and International, that I'd enjoy the enhanced experience - not a matter of just having Plat status purely for DYKWIA reasons.

That said there is a hobby factor, with the plane trip being part of the holiday However, for some, the status itself is a hobby. That's legit for them - whatever floats your boat!