Hi brains trust - am looking to maintain QF gold this year (resets December 31) and currently at 285sc ( low travel year this year).

Hi brains trust - am looking to maintain QF gold this year (resets December 31) and currently at 285sc ( low travel year this year). Have 2 trips booked which one will get 30SC and the other 20SC so I need 265SC to go. Was thinking of a JQ J flight to OOOL- NRT and back and maybe a OOL-MEL return to make it. Any other creative and cheap options - I'll be able to travel freely from December 14

How much are you willing to spend?

You could also look at trips to NZ in First Class like OOL - SYD (JQ Plus Fare 10SC) SYD - AKL (Booked on QF Website EK Operated Flight in First Class 120SC) AKL - CHC (JQ Plus Fare 10SC) CHC - SYD (Booked on QF Website EK Operated Flight in First Class 120SC) SYD - OOL (JQ Plus Fare 10SC) This would get you 270SC and only cost $2906 this would be the quickest and could be done in a couple of days with limited flying time.

The cheapest as you suggested would be OOL - NRT and back (~$2400) netting 240SC and then OOL - MEL (Plus fares) for ~$350 to get an extra 30SC. Total ~$2750

Personally if you willing to spend a bit more then the NZ trip would be quicker and nicer in First Class with the SYD first lounge and EK First across the ditch with ~11 hours total flying instead of ~20

I should also add, If you don't want to fly OS then for roughly $2400 you could fly OOL-SYD-PER-SYD-OOL twice to get 240SC (In Flex Economy) and also a OOL-MEL return on JQ Plus Fare to get 30SC. 

If you want to retain Gold for the lounge benefit only wouldnt it be cheaper to purchase Qantas Club instead of spending upwards of $1500? Wont give you OW lounge access but will give you QF...

Personally, I'd rather languish at QF Silver than endure an OOL-NRT  / OOL-MEL return in JQ.

Is $2750 (or $2906 with Henrus' suggested itinerary)  worth it for 12 more months of QF gold?  

I'd be asking myself the following to determine whether forking out over $2500 for gold would be a better option than simple QC membership:

• How much travel do you actually plan to do in the next year? 
• Is this travel likely to be primarily domestic, international or a mix of both?  (if mainly domestic, then QC membership will be fine for lounge access, I wouldn't bother embarking on all those status runs simply to get priority queue access of slightly better seat selection)
• Are there any specific gold membership privileges you really need access to during the next year?
• Your current SCs are pretty low for 10 months - at the end of the next 12 month period, are you expecting to be able to requalify for gold again easily?

Benno,

I suggest you purchase Qantas Club for next year. Then for Membership Year 2016, budget the amount you are able/willing to spend to earn Gold. Perhaps even plan for the next couple of years the amount you have at your disposal to retain Gold.

Never rely on work trips to get you across the line, if work trips are non consistent and ongoing.

Preparing a budget would allow you certainty and some control over your membership status. At the same  time you are better able to spend wisely and retain status at the cheapest possible rate. Refer to the posts on this site about earning SC at very low rates flying First class domestically in the US. For example, you could get a cheap Jetstar flight to HNL and fly First class on AA to clock up the SC.

OOL-SYD-CGK return in business is about $2500 throughout the year including late December, and yields 330 status credits. The aircraft sits in Jakarta for only 90 minutes, so I'm not sure if a day return can be booked but may be possible.

Hi Benno

In my view, first wait and see.  I don't know your situation, but I travelled enough for gold (never enough for platinum) for 8 years, then job change meant I only made occasional domestic flight.  My gold was maintained for 3 years before dropping back to silver.  Ok that was 2 years back now and I don't know their  current policy.

Silver provides the reasonable checkin queue and I find I can usually get into a lounge using passes, credit card or by paying (not QF ).  Look for status match opportunities for non one world.

My advice is to relax, not spend money on unnecessary flights, but enjoy yourself with a few nice dinners or a present for your partner.