Using points to retain Platinum ...

[dairyfloss]

AusBT has published a bit on this today:
Qantas now lets you buy Gold, Platinum status with points

Qantas is now letting some of its frequent flyers 'buy' another year of status with their points, under the trial of what it calls a 'paid retention' plan.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[burnt]

Myself and Mrs B held P1 for 2 years, then WP which expires shortly but have only earned about 50 SC in the past year as we have been using points for all travel, in the past many domestic and OS to AKL, HKG, SIN, LAX all in bus.
We both received offer to purchase WP for 120,000 which we accepted, as the LTG does not give us the ability to request reward seats which we find a very valuable asett to have. We try to book a 35,000 mile OW ticket each year which normally gives us 3 overseas trips per year and being able to request seats is invaluable for QF. I was waiting for a DSC offer and going to plan some QF SC runs to get WP again. We both have LTG

 

[TonyHancock]

Myself and Mrs B held P1 for 2 years, then WP which expires shortly but have only earned about 50 SC in the past year as we have been using points for all travel, .....

Out of interest what is your total SC earn over the last three membership years?

 

[RichardMEL]

man I'm sorry I was right to think they wouldn't comp after giving the offer. boo...

but I guess the rest of us now have more information as to what the future intent and likely outcomes will be.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Just been awarded business class upgrades on red e-deals both flights return to Perth.. So far feeling no different being SG

 

[downgraded]

this really frustrates me....

not you or your post UpInTheAir.. but this is so typical QF.... "They don't know what will happen"

and I suppose t also underscores FroggerADL's experience too.

It almost seems like there's 2 facets at play here (based on both the above) - they MAY still comp or may not rather than "pay the points and get it"

So it seems, if the agent is to be believed, you can pay and be sure, or take your chances.

Personally I do not like what this represents. it winds up being inconsistent (which QF is very consistent at being!) and may or may not have to do with 3 year averages, or if you have a 6 in your FF# or you were born in July. Good Grief!

And the worst thing is that it makes the giving of advice to try and help other pax to be extra difficult. Maybe.. Maybe not.

Take your chances....

I reckon pay up and be sure if that's what you really want and you have plans/bookings for travel next membership year to make it worthwhile and not worry if it's going to maybe be given or not. Specially if the 120k points is not a huge drain on a big balance.

my 2 annoyed cents.

After 10+ years as WP (only comp'd once), didn't get half way there this year, offered 120k to retain, declined, now demoted to LTG.

 

[cmon0005]

After 10+ years as WP (only comp'd once), didn't get half way there this year, offered 120k to retain, declined, now demoted to LTG.

This year I was at 1111 SC at least 3 months before reset no offer to retain with points and no comp, lucky I requalified with some flights 1 week before SC reset..

 

[JohnK]

I'm currently sitting on 1190 SCs with 8 days to go in my membership year and no flights booked.

No comp upgrade as per previous years. No call to offer to retain Platinum with points. Nothing. If I was paranoid I'd think Qantas did not care. Platinum since 2007.

I do have flights that should have received double SCs earlier this month but need to wait 6-8 weeks. I did have a JQ flight on 13 May that will get me to 1200 SCs but that's not likely to post until 11 June and in all likelihood will drop back to Gold for a few days.

Call centre bingo?

 

[Sdtravel]

You dont think the 3 year average rule will come into play / still exists then?

 

[RooFlyer]

It didn't for me end of my year late February ( 400 SC past year, after big previous years, Plat for > 10 years, fell back to LTG) Same as above - no offers or proactivity from QF; I called seeking a status challenge, only offered 120k pts to buy Plat for a year. As I had a ticketed revenue ticket that was taking me back above Plat within 6 weeks I declined ( and shows QFF couldnt give a rat's).

Frankly, with SG, and certainly traveling J, Plat is over rated. Nice to have, and I wouldnt avoid it, but I certainly would never take status run revenue flights to get me over the line.

 

[drron]

I would say the 3 year average has definitely disappeared.Didn't help mrsdrron 6 months ago.
But since her demotion we have only flown F out of SYD so not really missed.

 

[JohnK]

You dont think the 3 year average rule will come into play / still exists then?

That should have already happened. I'll call them early next week and see what they have to say.

 

[opusman]

mrsOpusman got comped silver this year (although as it turned out she just requalified anyway). Interesting that they are still comping (presumably under the 3 year average rule) as well as sometimes offering requal via points.

 

[Ewing]

mrsOpusman got comped silver this year (although as it turned out she just requalified anyway). Interesting that they are still comping (presumably under the 3 year average rule) as well as sometimes offering requal via points.

I was comped Platinum this month on 840 SCs

 

[VPS]

I've only got 360 - what do you think my chances are?

 

[Pablo]

I was comped Platinum this month on 840 SCs

You give me hope. This will probably be the first year I don’t requalify as WP although it might change - but I’ll be hoping for a comp if I need it.

How close to your renewal date did they comp you?

 

[Pushka]

Pleased to say I can spend my points on - well currently toasters it seems.

 

[Ewing]

How close to your renewal date did they comp you?

The Congratulations you've retained banner appeared about 2 weeks out.

There have been some reports of that appearing before a drop however so I didn't get too excited until the new card turned up in the mail.

 

[hossein_au]

I was comped Platinum this month on 840 SCs

What is your 3-year average (SC)?

 

[Ewing]

What is your 3-year average (SC)?

About 1500/yr.