Gold or PLat?

[Lord Mud]

Hey guys,
Thanks for all your help on this one.

I have booked my flights as follows
LHR - JFK AA class L
JFK - LAS AA class Q
LAS - LAX AA class M
LAX - LHR AA class L

I am assuming that the two L class and the M class fares will count towards the challege at 1.0 and the q at 0.5 I am trying to figure out If I would 1. qualify for plat on this or if I should just be happy with the gold as I can go for the platinum next year using the gold bonuses.

Some opinions woul d be nice

Cheers

[Dave Noble]

It should just make Platinum. Do check with the AA site on the exact miles, but using Great Circle mapper

LHR-JFK = 3451 miles . In L class => 3451 qpoints
JFK-LAS = 2248 miles . In Q class => 1124 qpoints
LAS-LAX = 236 miles. Since < 500 miles, the min of 500 will apply
LAX-LHR = 5456 miles. In L class => 5456 qpoints

Total earned = 3451 + 1124 + 500 + 5456 = 10531 qpoints

Should give Platinum status via the challenge

Spending miles earned would be 3451 + 2248 + 500 + (2 * 5456 ) = 17,111

Dave

[simongr]

Darn - Dave just posted as I was finishing

Just for clarification, if you don't get Platinum on this trip or this year then the "Gold Bonuses" won't help with qualification next year. Status is only earned based on the class of travel - not on your current status.

[Lord Mud]

Thanks for your replies.
I should have clarified what I was on about. I am pretty sure I can get Plat from this trip, but I was thinking from a more long term point where I could do gold this year and then attempt Plat from Gold Next year thus using all of 2010 to requal for Plat or get soft landing to Gold for 2011. I only do a handful of long haul flights a year (2 to usa and 2 back home to Aust as I live in Uk) and a handful of internal flights when I am there.
I just wanted to find out some opinions.

[Dave Noble]

Thanks for your replies.
I should have clarified what I was on about. I am pretty sure I can get Plat from this trip, but I was thinking from a more long term point where I could do gold this year and then attempt Plat from Gold Next year thus using all of 2010 to requal for Plat or get soft landing to Gold for 2011. I only do a handful of long haul flights a year (2 to usa and 2 back home to Aust as I live in Uk) and a handful of internal flights when I am there.
I just wanted to find out some opinions.

If you take the plat challenge this year, you will have Platinum for all of 2009 . You have all of 2009 to requalify normally for platinum before dropping to gold

Dave

[Lord Mud]

Thanks dave,
I have one other question and it may be unrelated
I have a bucketload of QFF points to cash in and I want to book an upgrade from Econ to premEcon for a trip from UK to Aust in Feb. Is it possible to use my points to upgrade the flight then change the FF number to AA in order to get the basic Econ points attached to AA. I had hoped to do this a few times over the coming year to help my requal with AA, but spend my QFF points at the same time.
Cheers

[Dave Noble]

Thanks dave,
I have one other question and it may be unrelated
I have a bucketload of QFF points to cash in and I want to book an upgrade from Econ to premEcon for a trip from UK to Aust in Feb. Is it possible to use my points to upgrade the flight then change the FF number to AA in order to get the basic Econ points attached to AA. I had hoped to do this a few times over the coming year to help my requal with AA, but spend my QFF points at the same time.
Cheers

You don't need to have the Qantas frequent flyer number in a booking to upgrade by phone iirc

You can indeed put a QF number in and then swap to an AA one, however I wouldn't recommend doing it unless absolutely necessary. Get the AA number in properly and leave it in is my recommendation. You should still be able to request the upgrade . If needed, then you can do as you suggested

Dave

[NM]

You don't need to have the Qantas frequent flyer number in a booking to upgrade by phone iirc

You can indeed put a QF number in and then swap to an AA one, however I wouldn't recommend doing it unless absolutely necessary. Get the AA number in properly and leave it in is my recommendation. You should still be able to request the upgrade . If needed, then you can do as you suggested

you can even request an upgrade on-line without putting the QF FF number into the reservation. Just sign in to your QF FF account and select "Using Points" then "Flight Upgrades" then "Upgrade with points" then "request an upgrade using your points". Then enter the Amadeus booking reference number and surname into the fields and click "go". This will retrieve the booking without altering the FF details in the booking. Then request the upgrades desired. You will be asked to select the relationship of the eligible family member you are upgrading. Since "self" does not exist in the list, select one that makes most sense.

I find this safer since the QF FF telephone agents often try to be very helpful and change the FF details since they assume you will want to be earning to your QF FF account.

[Lord Mud]

Thanks NM, I was actually just thinking that yesterday when I logged on to check my account. I thought i should change over now and then credit the points accross. My question to you is the amount still the same? they are quoting 55K for the upgrade to PremEcon from LHR-MEL would that be the same if they are 'gifted'?

[NM]

Thanks NM, I was actually just thinking that yesterday when I logged on to check my account. I thought i should change over now and then credit the points accross. My question to you is the amount still the same? they are quoting 55K for the upgrade to PremEcon from LHR-MEL would that be the same if they are 'gifted'?

Yes, the same points cost.