Chasing Platinum Qantas frequent flyer status, worth it?

I've been a gold frequent flyer for a few years now. I always am pretty close to getting platinum but have never really made the extra flights. 

I'm currently sitting on 805 status credits and have approximately 120 points to be allocated for upcoming flights. I've also already earned a loyalty bonus that could give me an extra 50 - haven't used it yet. Leaves me with 475 points to be credited by 30th November 2017. 

• Do you think it would be beneficial to move up? 
• What flights should I do that are cost effective but will get me up to the next level? 
• Would prefer to do either weekend trips
• Wouldn't mind doing a short 1 week stint somewhere, if needed to travel further.
• Pretty flexible on flight class, but just don't want to waste money. 
• Or maybe I've made my mind up, I'm just needing to understand the easiest and most cost effective way of doing it 

Thanks everyone for your help! 

Michael

Hi Michael,

I've found the wait times and quality of service using the call centre is significantly better for platinum. Concur about the business lounges. They're also usually a bit less of a zoo, although not always. Melbourne, for instance, is frequently crowded, even outside of peak times.

If you only travel domestic I wouldn't bother. Platinum is best served on international routes especially with check in, lounges (not just the First in Syd/Mlb but other international ones especially Hong Kong), baggage and yes you get the Aussie based customer service centre with knowledgable staff instead of the off shore call centre. Try it for a year and if its not to your needs you get a soft landing to Gold. 120 SCs is not a lot to chase. 

Definitely worth it for the experience. You really should keep a look out for double status credits promotions. This year's one has already been and there may/may not be one next year. Double Status Credit promos really help with obtaining/retaining status in a cost effective way.

My normal route is Melbourne-Sydney. You need some flexibility with departure time and booking a couple of weeks in advance, there are sales business for just under $800 one way (40 status credit).

$800 for 40 SC is poor value. You can fly indirect MEL-SYD-OOL in J and have a much better earn rate than that. Or one could do e.g. my favourite domestic run MEL-BNE-CNS

I flew Melbourne-Christchurch in business last month for just over $500, from memory: 80 status credits. The downside is that the MEL-CHC leg (QF133) is an overnight flight. 

EK metal, qantas ticket (700-750$) - or just qantas metal, qantas ticket (600-650$) between Aust and NZ gets you 80 stauts credits.

NZ trips are a good quick way to get SCs for a short overseas trip. For domestic if based in MEL/SYD indirect flights to somewhere in QLD offer good value.

It's not for everyone. I certainly find it beneficial, but can understand others not. One of the benefits of Platinum in my view is progressing faster to Lifetime Gold. Achieving Lifetime Gold without ever achieving Platinum would take a very long time. It still takes several years of Platinum to reach Lifetime Gold but it makes achieving it more realistic.

I think only it's worth it if you travel overseas extensively within a year of your status. Domestic flights are hardly worth it as your travel will be mostly business related?  One may question, how often you are going to eat lots at the lounge before your flight?  Do you have that kind of spare times to spend at the lounge prior to your flights?  I've once lacked 300 SCs to make it Platinum with one month left on my status anniversary date.  I did an evaluation of my future 12 months travel plans and concluded that not worth it as I only have a few overseas trips in the coming 12 months and cost me less to buy a discounted J class ticket than to chase for Platinum.