QANTAS: One flight to Lock in your current status for 2021 – 2022

Qantas has been conscious that both it and its customers haven’t been flying as much as they did pre-COVID-19. To that end, they have produced a number of initiatives to help their customers retain the status they have become accustomed to.

First, they extended status for 12 months at the beginning of the pandemic. Then they effectively halved the number of status credits required to attain certain levels by crediting half of the qualifying credits to customer accounts. Next, they started adding 50 points each month to your account as a ‘Status Credit Boost’.

What are the next steps in their support? Read on . . .

One flight, and another year of status

Book and pay for an eligible flight, from today until the end of your membership year in 2021. You must also actually travel before the end of 2021. That’s it. No registration, it’s automatic.

Who’s eligible?

You have to qualify under these conditions:

• Reside in Australia or New Zealand
• Have status of Silver or above (Platinum One, Platinum or Gold)
• Have not earned enough Status Credits to retain your status
• Your current status ends between 31 March 2021 and 31 December 2021
• Make a new booking for one or more flights
• The booking creation date must be between 23 November and your Status renewal date in 2021
• Your Status renewal date must fall between 31 March 2021 and 31 December 2021
• Your travel date must be from today and before 31 December 2021
• You are eligible even if your status of Gold, Platinum or Platinum One is complimentary, or is on a Status Hold – as long as you meet the other criteria

Damn it! I made a bunch of bookings yesterday!

Qualifying flights

You will need to book a flight that meets any one of the following criteria:

• Qantas operated flight with a QF flight number
• Any Jetstar international booking with a JQ flight number and that earns Qantas Points (includes Jetstar in New Zealand, Japan and Asia
• Is not a Jetstar domestic Australian flight
• The benefit goes to the passenger, and not the person who pays for the flight
• Your Qantas Frequent Flyer membership number must be recorded on the booking

Other things you need to know

• You can pay with flight credits
• You can pay with Qantas Points (Yeah!) on Classic Reward or Points Plus Pay
• You can use a Qantas TravelPass
• Your QF membership number must be attached to the booking
• Bookings made prior to today (23 November 2020) don’t count (Damn!)

Status Rollover

And if that’s not enough, Qantas is also allowing members to rollover eligible Status Credits for the year after your Status Extension!

This applies to Membership Years that start between 1 April 2021 and 1 January 2022.

The limit of credits you can rollover is 40% from your Status year ending between 31 March and 31 December 2921 or a maximum of:

• Platinum One = 1,800
• Platinum = 500
• Gold = 250
• Silver = 100

If you need to go to the horse’s mouth to make sure your intended booking qualifies, or to check on qualifying dates and FAQ’s – head over to the Qantas Status Support page.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

This is great news, and very necessary given how status earning possibilities have been curtailed by the ban on international travel.

Put a note in your diary to make sure you make a qualifying booking.

Fortunately, I have a little more travel planned, so I still have room for a qualifying flight!