TRIP REPORT: Pointless New Zealand double status credit run to requalify as Qantas Platinum 2023

• TRIP REPORT: Pointless New Zealand double status credit run to requalify as Qantas Platinum 2023
• FLIGHT REVIEW: Qantas Double Status Credits trip to Auckland – Sydney to Melbourne
• LOUNGE REVIEW: Qantas Melbourne International First Lounge. My first time – I was treated gently.
• FLIGHT REVIEW: Qantas QF153 Melbourne to Auckland in Business Class. Perfectly uneventful.
• HOTEL REVIEW: Hotel Debrett – friendly, quirky gem of a hotel in the centre of Auckland, New Zealand
• LOUNGE REVIEW: Qantas First Lounge Auckland Airport and smoking patio
• LOUNGE REVIEW: Strata Lounge, Priority Pass lounge at Auckland International Airport
• FLIGHT REVIEW: Qantas A330 Auckland to Brisbane, Business Class
• LOUNGE REVIEW: Brisbane Qantas Business Lounge. Packed to the gunnels!
• FLIGHT REVIEW: Brisbane to Sydney on Qantas Business Class in a Boeing 737-800

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I’ve been a Platinum tier member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme for a few years now. I qualified back in 2018/2019, and then re-qualified, mainly through status extensions throughout the pandemic lock-downs.

What I like about Platinum

I enjoy the Qantas Platinum/Oneworld Emerald status, mainly for entry to business lounges domestically, and First Class lounges internationally. I also like being able to choose seats at the front of the plane, the priority it gives me in upgrades and redemption seats.

And yes, I like being addressed by name and welcomed back – corny as that sounds. I also like being able to access the Premium Qantas phone line, especially when I get the fantastic staff at the Hobart Call Centre (thanks, Martin, for sorting that booking linking issue yesterday).

Background to the Platinum Status Run

I missed out on getting the full benefits of the Qantas status rollover provisions. If my renewal date were a month earlier, I would have had my Platinum Status extended into 2024. Unfortunately, although I did get the maximum support points, I did not qualify for that one year extension.

I had already travelled considerably, but by my calculations, I would still be between 200 and 300 points down even with a trip to Europe. The status credits required increased, as I had miscalculated some flights on Malaysian Airlines, who’s Business Class, only qualifies for Flexible Economy status credits – not Business Class credits. So that was half the credits expected. So right there, I needed an additional 60 Status Credits.

Itinerary and Status Credit earn towards Platinum

My travelling companion, 2A and I took full advantage of the Double Status Credits promotion announced by Qantas in early 2023, and devised a route to Auckland New Zealand via Melbourne on the way out, and returning via Brisbane.

That way we stood to make a total of 500 status credits (250 without the Doubling promotion) for a cost of AU$ 1,913 return in Business Class, making the cost per status credit AU$ 3.83. Not the cheapest, but certainly a good return. Personally, anything under about AU$6 per Status Credit, I regard as a good earn rate.

Status and Points earned towards Platinum

Here is what we earned in Status Credits, with the doubling in brackets.

• Sydney to Melbourne in business +40 (80)
• Melbourne to Auckland in Business +85 (170)
• Auckland to Brisbane in Business +85 (170)
• Brisbane to Sydney in Business +40 (80

A total of 250 status credits, doubling to 500 each. That sure put 2A nearly halfway to his Platinum renewal, and put me way over my re-qualification amount. Especially because Qantas announced that they were reducing the re-qualification for Platinum a week to two before we travelled. It reduced from 1,200 status credits to 960 for those with a re-qualification anniversary date in July, August or September 2023. I looked at re-booking the trip so it would fall after my re-qualification date, but it was just not possible in my diary, without paying a premium to re-book and a penalty for changing the fare. It may have been worth it for me, but it definitely wasn’t going to be worth it for 2A.

What we did, and what I will review.

I’ll be reviewing each of the four flights outlined above, plus the Melbourne First Class Lounge, the Auckland First Class Lounge and and the Priority Pass Strata Lounge. I’ll give a brief mention of the Brisbane Lounge, because we weren’t there for long, and it was full, so photos were an issue. I probably won’t review the Sydney Business Lounge, as I have mentioned it in other reviews before. Also, its due for a major refurbishment.

I’ll review the quirky boutique Hotel De Brett, and if I get a chance, I’ll put in a review of the Park Hyatt Auckland from a previous stay

2PAXfly Takeout

OK, this trip to Auckland as a status credits run, turned out to be not as necessary as it was when we booked. But any chance to travel in Qantas Business Class, and experience the Melbourne Qantas First Lounge, and travel with 2A is a good trip as far as I am concerned.

I rather like Auckland too, especially its Art Gallery and the food scene in general.

Other Posts in the Series

FLIGHT REVIEW: Qantas Double Status Credits trip to Auckland – Sydney to Melbourne >>