I have been a Virgin and SQ/Star Alliance Gold member for a few years now. My current job requires me to travel internationally much more than I used to but the the "cheapest ticket" rule pushes my more often to One World airlines so I am thinking of switching over. I.e. this weekend I am going to the UK via HK (the way in) and via SG on my way out, totalling 6 flights all on a mix of One World airlines. Is there an airline FF program that is known to get you to sapphire or emerald status faster/easier than others? I'll usually fly economy with the occasional exception of premium economy... Would CX be the smarter option than Qantas? or anyone else? Thanks in advance for your help and experience!
TLDR for lengthy post below: Consider a status match with a oneworld program; Royal Jordanian easiest to get Oneworld Sapphire; Choose CX if flying CX exclusively (due to great Silver benefits); Choose QFF for better earn and easier to reach Sapphire compared to CX (good for diversifying between Oneworld airlines).
First, given that you are Star Gold, you should apply for status matches with any oneworld carrier that is willing to take your business. The QF challenge might be a bit hard for you but it can be doable while others reported successful matches with other oneworld carriers. Check out statusmatcher.com for people's status match experiences.
I think Royal Jordanian has a relatively low qualifying requirement for Oneworld Sapphire at 40,000 tier miles. Flights earn 25% tier miles from the actual miles flown booked on the cheapest R fare bucket while the more common saver tickets earn 75%. The website does not appear to state any difference in earning between Royal Jordanian or other oneworld airlines. That may be a good choice to achieve Oneworld Sapphire quickly.
If deciding between QF or CX's program, do keep in mind that CX has two programs - Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles. Asia Miles are for your points and Marco Polo for Status Credits. Marco Polo (needed to earn any Status like Oneworld Sapphire) requires a $99 USD membership fee that is waived for the next year after you earn at least 20 status credits a year which is a piece of cake.
Marco Polo Club requires a total of 920 credits be earned to get Gold/Sapphire (as the status count resets as you climb each tier). This is compared to QFF's 700 status credits total to get Gold. However, if you are a frequent CX flyer, silver status with Marco Polo can be very helpful as it includes lounge access to CX lounges prior to any CX flight in any class. Silver with Marco Polo only requires 320 credits, 20 more than QFF but providing much better benefits if flying CX.
Strangely, you earn less status credits with Marco Polo than QFF with flying on CX. Example: HKG to LHR earns 55 status credits on Marco with cheapest PE fare bucket with 60 credits earned on QFF. As such, it may actually be worth crediting to QFF instead of Marco Polo Club if you intend to fly not exclusively with CX as QFF is the easieest to earn Gold out of the two and has better earning rates surprisingly. Cherry on top is that earning on QF flights with QFF is very lucrative.
First of all, Thanks a lot for those details - super helpful! ...and wow, what a weird system when comparing CX and Qantas. I think I am going with qantas then. I'd probably fly CX reasonably often, as they are actually my client. But when adding US and domestic flights with Qantas, it may be the better option. Trying the Status Match as well, usually I am never lucky with that kind of stuff - but lets see :) Thanks again for the brilliant help!
If choosing between CX and QF and think can achieve top tier status (ie MP Diamond or Platinum One) then I would go CX as evidence that CX give far more upgrades than QF.
One thing to remember is that in the Oneworld alliance dufferent carriers have their own policy when it comes to which flights quslify for status points and mileage credits, especially when travelling economy so if you fly MH or Malaysia Airlines as a Qantas frequent flyer, QF will not credit those flights flown at the same level than they would if you were flying with Qantas. For example, a discounted business class ticket Mel to KUL on MH gets credited as economy with Qantas. So if you join any Oneworld carrier but use another airline within Oneworld it is always wise to ensure you fly on a codeshare flight so that way you get the fullest benefits both in terms of status and mileage
BA gets you to Sapphire really quickly (much more than Qantas). The only obstacle for non-Europeans is the requirement for 4 BA flights per year. But it works if you go to Singapore / UK / within Europe
If choosing between CX and QF and think can achieve top tier status (ie MP Diamond or Platinum One) then I would go CX as evidence that CX give far more upgrades than QF.
I honestly don't think there is any measurable difference between Platinum and P1. However, yes CX I would agree gives out way more gratis upgrades than QF.
Also something that is to be considered is lifetime status. Currently CX's marco polo program does not offer any life time status whatsoever, while qantas at least offers life time silver and gold. Best program for life time status would be BA but as bdellis9 noted, it requires 4 BA flights.
You might also consider Malaysian given that Asia is one of your destinations. To get Sapphire status you need to take four sectors on MH and 50,000 miles, and would earn 125% mileage if travelling in CX or BA business, but 160 - 200% on Malaysian (depending on fare class). To get emerald status you also need four sectors on MH, and 100,000 miles. Like BA you do not get reset to zero each time you reach a tier level, so clocking up 100,000 miles in a year will get you straight into the top tier. Do bear in mind that on CX, by contrast, you first have to qualify for Silver but then get set to zero (losing the benefit of any "balance" of tier points on the sector that takes you over the threshold), then have to qualify for Gold and again get set to zero, and then qualify for Diamond. That requires a LOT of travel in one year to get straight up to oneworld status.
If you are married (and it has to be marriage, not any other form of partnership), MH emerald status will entitle your spouse to a card as well, so you would have the benefit of two oneworld emerald cards - that's a pretty sweet perk if your spouse also flies solo.
Incidentally although CX/KA do give out upgrades, that applies to other oneworld status holders as well. On a recent trip to Nanjing, Senior Offspring (who is sapphire with AY) was upgraded immediately upon check-in, and later (because we were in a cheaper fare bucket) the Memsahib (who is emerald with MH) and me (CX Diamond/emerald) - so even though I had higher status and was in CX's own programme, Senior Offspring with lower status and in a partner programme took priority over me. Having said that, I am sure that if we had been in the same fare bucket I would have taken the first upgrade as CX Diamond but it does show that partner elites are also given priority over elites on cheaper fares.
Welcome to oneworld, btw, I hope you like it! I do think it is the best programme for business travellers as the F lounges in many stations are far better than the *A G lounges I have been to.
Last editedby Ian_from_HKG at Oct 23, 2018, 03:30 PM.
Kind of related - through work I can get my Delta status matched to American Airlines. AA isn't quite as useful to me as QF (hard to transfer points from credit cards etc). But, thinking of getting the AA status and then doing the QF status challenge. But wondering, while travelling are QF likely to let me into the Qantas Clubs if I have an AA Platinum card but I have no status yet on QF and have my QF number on the booking?
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Sedat
Sedat
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 30 May 2017
Total posts 6
Hi all,
Is there an airline FF program that is known to get you to sapphire or emerald status faster/easier than others? I'll usually fly economy with the occasional exception of premium economy... Would CX be the smarter option than Qantas? or anyone else?
Thanks in advance for your help and experience!
djtech
djtech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Sep 2018
Total posts 375
TLDR for lengthy post below: Consider a status match with a oneworld program; Royal Jordanian easiest to get Oneworld Sapphire; Choose CX if flying CX exclusively (due to great Silver benefits); Choose QFF for better earn and easier to reach Sapphire compared to CX (good for diversifying between Oneworld airlines).
First, given that you are Star Gold, you should apply for status matches with any oneworld carrier that is willing to take your business. The QF challenge might be a bit hard for you but it can be doable while others reported successful matches with other oneworld carriers. Check out statusmatcher.com for people's status match experiences.
I think Royal Jordanian has a relatively low qualifying requirement for Oneworld Sapphire at 40,000 tier miles. Flights earn 25% tier miles from the actual miles flown booked on the cheapest R fare bucket while the more common saver tickets earn 75%. The website does not appear to state any difference in earning between Royal Jordanian or other oneworld airlines. That may be a good choice to achieve Oneworld Sapphire quickly.
If deciding between QF or CX's program, do keep in mind that CX has two programs - Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles. Asia Miles are for your points and Marco Polo for Status Credits. Marco Polo (needed to earn any Status like Oneworld Sapphire) requires a $99 USD membership fee that is waived for the next year after you earn at least 20 status credits a year which is a piece of cake.
Marco Polo Club requires a total of 920 credits be earned to get Gold/Sapphire (as the status count resets as you climb each tier). This is compared to QFF's 700 status credits total to get Gold. However, if you are a frequent CX flyer, silver status with Marco Polo can be very helpful as it includes lounge access to CX lounges prior to any CX flight in any class. Silver with Marco Polo only requires 320 credits, 20 more than QFF but providing much better benefits if flying CX.
Strangely, you earn less status credits with Marco Polo than QFF with flying on CX. Example: HKG to LHR earns 55 status credits on Marco with cheapest PE fare bucket with 60 credits earned on QFF. As such, it may actually be worth crediting to QFF instead of Marco Polo Club if you intend to fly not exclusively with CX as QFF is the easieest to earn Gold out of the two and has better earning rates surprisingly. Cherry on top is that earning on QF flights with QFF is very lucrative.
Sedat
Sedat
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 30 May 2017
Total posts 6
First of all, Thanks a lot for those details - super helpful! ...and wow, what a weird system when comparing CX and Qantas. I think I am going with qantas then. I'd probably fly CX reasonably often, as they are actually my client. But when adding US and domestic flights with Qantas, it may be the better option. Trying the Status Match as well, usually I am never lucky with that kind of stuff - but lets see :)
Thanks again for the brilliant help!
Kefci2000
Kefci2000
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 03 Oct 2018
Total posts 5
If choosing between CX and QF and think can achieve top tier status (ie MP Diamond or Platinum One) then I would go CX as evidence that CX give far more upgrades than QF.
1Worldfreqflyer
1Worldfreqflyer
Member since 29 Jun 2016
Total posts 15
One thing to remember is that in the Oneworld alliance dufferent carriers have their own policy when it comes to which flights quslify for status points and mileage credits, especially when travelling economy so if you fly MH or Malaysia Airlines as a Qantas frequent flyer, QF will not credit those flights flown at the same level than they would if you were flying with Qantas. For example, a discounted business class ticket Mel to KUL on MH gets credited as economy with Qantas. So if you join any Oneworld carrier but use another airline within Oneworld it is always wise to ensure you fly on a codeshare flight so that way you get the fullest benefits both in terms of status and mileage
bdellis9
bdellis9
Member since 03 Oct 2018
Total posts 1
BA gets you to Sapphire really quickly (much more than Qantas). The only obstacle for non-Europeans is the requirement for 4 BA flights per year. But it works if you go to Singapore / UK / within Europe
djtech
djtech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Sep 2018
Total posts 375
I honestly don't think there is any measurable difference between Platinum and P1. However, yes CX I would agree gives out way more gratis upgrades than QF.
Ian_from_HKG
Ian_from_HKG
CX
Member since 05 Jun 2012
Total posts 61
You might also consider Malaysian given that Asia is one of your destinations. To get Sapphire status you need to take four sectors on MH and 50,000 miles, and would earn 125% mileage if travelling in CX or BA business, but 160 - 200% on Malaysian (depending on fare class). To get emerald status you also need four sectors on MH, and 100,000 miles. Like BA you do not get reset to zero each time you reach a tier level, so clocking up 100,000 miles in a year will get you straight into the top tier. Do bear in mind that on CX, by contrast, you first have to qualify for Silver but then get set to zero (losing the benefit of any "balance" of tier points on the sector that takes you over the threshold), then have to qualify for Gold and again get set to zero, and then qualify for Diamond. That requires a LOT of travel in one year to get straight up to oneworld status.
If you are married (and it has to be marriage, not any other form of partnership), MH emerald status will entitle your spouse to a card as well, so you would have the benefit of two oneworld emerald cards - that's a pretty sweet perk if your spouse also flies solo.
Incidentally although CX/KA do give out upgrades, that applies to other oneworld status holders as well. On a recent trip to Nanjing, Senior Offspring (who is sapphire with AY) was upgraded immediately upon check-in, and later (because we were in a cheaper fare bucket) the Memsahib (who is emerald with MH) and me (CX Diamond/emerald) - so even though I had higher status and was in CX's own programme, Senior Offspring with lower status and in a partner programme took priority over me. Having said that, I am sure that if we had been in the same fare bucket I would have taken the first upgrade as CX Diamond but it does show that partner elites are also given priority over elites on cheaper fares.
Welcome to oneworld, btw, I hope you like it! I do think it is the best programme for business travellers as the F lounges in many stations are far better than the *A G lounges I have been to.
themmc
themmc
Member since 10 May 2018
Total posts 10
Kind of related - through work I can get my Delta status matched to American Airlines. AA isn't quite as useful to me as QF (hard to transfer points from credit cards etc). But, thinking of getting the AA status and then doing the QF status challenge. But wondering, while travelling are QF likely to let me into the Qantas Clubs if I have an AA Platinum card but I have no status yet on QF and have my QF number on the booking?