Almost Silver! Need some advice.
Discuss Almost Silver! Need some advice, on the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program forum of FrequentFlyer.com.au, the home of frequent flyers.
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I've been poking my nose around the site for some time, but this is my first post. I've joined QANTAS Frequent Flyer and have (as you'd expect) Bronze membership. Now, I don't usually fly a lot in any given year, but I've wizzed around a little bit and have almost enough SCs for Silver membership.
So I have two questions -
After I return from London in mid January, I will be 90 SCs short of Silver membership. I need to obtain 90 SCs before 30th April 2007 for Silver.
1. What is the cheapest way to earn 90 SCs? I live in Canberra, so we don't have international flights directly from here (Canberra International Airport - ha!).
And
2. Is it worth spending the money on those flights (and the 90 SCs therein) for Silver membership? I will be flying a bit next year too. I understand that it just allows me to check-in at a different desk or something, and the real fun starts at Gold. Given that I'm so tantalisingly close to Silver, this year, should I make the run for it or just let it elapse and worry about Silver another year?
Thanks for your help!
Phil
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Hey cmdwedge - check out this link to the various benefits of status on QF.
The benefits are 25% status bonus on miles earned (mind you 25% of not a lot is still not a lot), business class check in (a god send on Int'l flights - but with OLCI is there a real benefit for domestic), 1 extra piece of baggage domestic (extra 10KG int'l - a key benefit for me) and 1 (that's right 1) free QP entry and finally preferred seating.
Given you are quite a way qualification only you can assess if those benefits are worth the extra costs. Personally I wouldnt do it - if you were say 10/20SCs there would be some benefit and if it was Gold that's a different matter altogether...
A CBR-SYD return trip in business for ~$600 would earn you 80 SC's and leave you 10 SC's short. Another CBR-SYD return trip in economy for ~$230 would earn an additional 20 SC's thereby attaining Silver.
The best benefit as you mention is being able to check-in using the QC or business class queues. There are other benefits.
If you know you are going to get Gold next year it is probably better to wait it out.
Hey cmdwedge - check out this link to the various benefits of status on QF.
The benefits are 25% status bonus on miles earned (mind you 25% of not a lot is still not a lot)
The status bonus is effectively 0 on short flights, since minimum mileage is applied as the last step in the mileage earning calculation.
If you think you have a good shot at Gold next membership year then by doing a run for Silver you only get the value of the Silver benefits for a short period (since you'd qualify silver some time next year on the way to Gold). So may not be worth spending $800 odd.
OTOH, if you think next year you'd struggle to requalify but be close, then the lower target to requalify status may be of some help (plus get the benefits of Silver all year).
Member of: AA Exec Plat; QF LTG; PC Plat; HHonors Gold
Posts: 10,055
Re: Almost Silver! Need some advice
Personally I would not be paying anything much to attain Silver status. And 90 SCs is still quite a way short. If it was 10SCs then may be worth it. I don't see the benefits of Silver as being worthwhile spending money for. I would be considering spending the money on a Qantas Club membership instead.
Personally I would not be paying anything much to attain Silver status. And 90 SCs is still quite a way short. If it was 10SCs then may be worth it. I don't see the benefits of Silver as being worthwhile spending money for. I would be considering spending the money on a Qantas Club membership instead.
I would also consider paying for QP memebership rather than spending >$800 on flights to get Silver status. Even though there is a high up front memebership fee, the renewal costs aren't quite so bad if you fail to gain Gold status the following year and still want lounge access.
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Have you thought about doing the AA Plat Challenge? Your trip to London should get you over the line. Then you get free lounge access and 100% bonus miles.
Check out the AA forum here at AFF for details. AA Plat is way better than QF silver, and you wont have to spend any extra money to get the status.
Have you thought about doing the AA Plat Challenge? Your trip to London should get you over the line. Then you get free lounge access and 100% bonus miles.
Check out the AA forum here at AFF for details. AA Plat is way better than QF silver, and you wont have to spend any extra money to get the status.
cheers
James
I didn't think Plat challenges could straddle a financial year? (Plus is the fare an eligible earning one on AAdvantage?)
DOnt worry about that - if you want to do a challenge (please research it first in this thread (AA Platinum Challenge - Tips) as its not just a simple earn/burn ratio question - there are lots of questions) just call QF and tell them to delete the QF number and insert the AA number.
I have a BA flight booked for Friday where I am using my QF number to get good seat selection and will change the number at check in to my AA number (and will check the BP carefully). Its easy - just needs human interaction (as NM always reminds us)
Almost Silver! Need some advice
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