Upgrade to Gold with just 480 credits ?

[Jack_OC]

Given you only need 20 SC, I'd be doing a cheap return trip (eg SYD-MEL) for cash or even a points redemption (given points redemptions earn SCs now because that gets you exactly the number of SCs you need. If you for example earn 40 SCs but only need 20 to qualify for Gold, you will lose the extra 20 for ever when they assess your level. If you however earn exactly what you need to achieve Gold, your SCs you'll earn going to India will all count for next year.

Sorry to veer a bit OT, but what do you mean the extra 20 would be lost forever? I thought with VA when you move up a level your SC tally just keeps running? So in this case if the OP went straight up to 520 SCs, their balance would stay at 520 after upgrade to Gold, and therefore the extra 20 SCs would be the first 20 on the way to Platinum. Have I got that wrong?

The reason for my concern is that I'm currently sitting on 600 SCs but no eligible sectors, so, I'm still on Red. I have 4 VA flights booked and I had assumed that after the first 2 I'd go to Silver and then Gold when I take the next 2. So I'm really hoping my SC balance doesn't go to zero when I get Silver!

 

[notzac]

Sorry to veer a bit OT, but what do you mean the extra 20 would be lost forever? I thought with VA when you move up a level your SC tally just keeps running? So in this case if the OP went straight up to 520 SCs, their balance would stay at 520 after upgrade to Gold, and therefore the extra 20 SCs would be the first 20 on the way to Platinum. Have I got that wrong?

You've got that right - however let's say someone was sitting on 480 SCs and took a flight that gave them 80 SCs - pushing them up to 560 SCs and over the line to Gold. Hooray! But, because the requalification date is changed when you're upgraded, the requalification counter is reset to 0 .. and those extra 60 SCs are never added back in to your requalification count, so in a sense you've lost them. Boo.

(the 60 SCs are still there on the rolling SC counter and will absolutely count towards an upgrade to Platinum, but if you've got no chance of getting there - they won't be much use to you)

The reason for my concern is that I'm currently sitting on 600 SCs but no eligible sectors, so, I'm still on Red. I have 4 VA flights booked and I had assumed that after the first 2 I'd go to Silver and then Gold when I take the next 2. So I'm really hoping my SC balance doesn't go to zero when I get Silver!

Sounds like you've got nothing to worry about (though the SCs that you earn from those 4 flights may not count towards your requalification, per above..)

 

[Jack_OC]

Sounds like you've got nothing to worry about (though the SCs that you earn from those 4 flights may not count towards your requalification, per above..)

Thanks for the clarification - that's a relief!

Also thanks for explaining about the requalification issue - good to know. As it happens I will accrue another 560 SCs via EY in April, meaning Platinum should be within easy reach later this year - pending another 4 eligible sectors of course. I guess that makes requalification for Gold irrelevant. However, it could be a major frustration when it eventually comes to trying to requalify for Platinum. As things stand I will reach over 1000 SCs before getting Gold and over 1300 SCs before getting to Platinum!