Options if you're about to just miss retaining Qantas Platinum

I’ve been Qantas Platinum for over 10 years (and have Lifetime Gold). My membership year is up at the end of November and I’ve only got 1005 of the 1200 required status points with no more trips to come. The reason I flew less often this year was that I left my job and set up my own business last October. The first 6 months were slow, but the last 6 months have been going well and I am now back flying even more frequently than before. I explained this to Qantas and asked to retain my status which I now fully expect to be able to retain long-term. I got a flat no so now I am looking at possible options. Any advice appreciated please around:

Find some good oneworld business class deal (Qatar) and buy few of them to boost up SCs.

Your breadth of destination makes other options less palatable perhaps, but if you have a dominant destination then perhaps join for that. Ie if Europe/Asia are dominant maybe SingAir and then use other Star alliance airlines for US and NZ and then VA domestically.

I would call QF if I was you. If you have been Platinum for 10 years you should retain this by asking them to review your situation.

Pretty poor response from Qantas to such a loyal customer. I would ring again and speak to someone higher up in the food chain if possible. Dropping them a letter might also be worth the go.

Sometimes Qantas looks at an average between your current year and the previous ones. If you had more than required in the years before, they would add them and divide the total between the years; and if your average was above 1200, they would grant it.

I was Platinum for 5 years. Last year only got to 1160 (miscalculated on a Japan Air flight), so back to Gold. This year I have been mainly flying Star Alliance (top tier in that). Qantas does not seem too impressed with loyalty.

Thanks everyone. I will try going further up the food chain and see if I get any better result.

QF renewed my Platinum in the past when I fell short by a few hundred credits. I'm also life Gold and Platinum for 9 of the past 11 years

If you really close to retaining it QF are pretty good but around 200 SC away they would be unlikely. No guarantee you would keep it next year so why would they? I know if they can see flights booked in the month after your anniversary and that would tip you over they will offer it but tiers are for a reason. To reward those who actually fly.

I love these QANTAS hard line stories. Encourages me to always review all options. Thanks QANTAS.

Last year I was a few short, maybe 100 or so, but was booked on a flight close to the renewal date. I figured it would renew after that but was surprised to see it come through well beforehand. Like you I’m long time platinum and LTG.

There seem to be a lot of sales around at the moment so try a business class fare at an attractive rate. Otherwise, put up with gold for what will probably be less than twelve months if you anticipate more flying in the coming year.

A.Lamont, I was in a similar position in 2016, by choice! Benn a Plat for 12+ years and Lifetime Gold. I stopped flying Qantas completely at Christmas 2016 after a fall out. My annual renewal was July 2016 and that was renewed as normal cause I had enough status credits already. But they renewed my status again in July 2017 - even though I had not flown one time with them in over 18 months. SO I reckon you'll be OK.