Qantas loyalty bonus: points or status credits?

I'm a bit of a newcomer to all this, but with some work travel coming up thanks to a new job I've decided to get more into points and status. I've just qualified for my first Qantas Frequent Flyer status bonus, the choice is 8,000 points or 50 status credits. I'm leaning towards the status credits but is there a good reason for going for points instead? Thanks in advance!

It depends if you're likely to receive more status credits before the end of your membership year to get you to gold. If those status credits will help you get up to gold, then go for it. If you end up not getting up to gold, and you chose the status credits, they will be completely useless to you in the future. So only choose the status credits if they will be of any help, if not, the extra boost in points should be good, that's a short classic rewards flight worth of points given to you for free :)

Good Luck :D

Very good suggestion above. Check your current status and your progress towards the next milestone. If you are on the way to Silver and have a lot of work trips coming up it might not be worth going for status credits because Silver doesn't have a lot of real benefits and your work trips might get you to Silver anyway. If you are on the way to Gold then every extra status credit can help and Gold is worth having.

The bonus Status Credits do count towards Lifetime Status so depending how achievable that is and how close you are it may/may not be worth taking the Status Credits even if taking them isn't going to make a difference to your current status level.

I've recently become eligible for this also, but have a question regarding the redemption time. My anniversary is Nov 30, and I will be 150 SCs away from Gold, and not able to do any flights to get over the line. So the 50 SCs this year won't help, however, can I wait until December to choose and then pick the 50 SCs so it credits next year?

You get 3 months to choose.

I always choose status credits as they go for lifetime gold membership. If you have on a long range plan to moving up the tiers then they are always handy to have. Using points and getting value for dollar is debatable.

I always choose SC, points are so easy to come by so many avenues but you nearly always have to spend money on air travel to get SC, so if they are free take them.

I’ve always taken SC when I’ve had the choice.

This year for the first time I chose points as I have platinum for next year and Life Time Gold so then the point made sense but generally SCs

Here's a good tip for the loyalty bonus. You have three months to make your choice between points and status credits, so if you get the loyalty bonus but have already reached your desired tier in your membership year and that year is almost over, wait until your new membership year rolls over and you are back at zero status credits, THEN activate your loyalty bonus for those 50 status credits. This way you will effectively start the year with 50 status credits already earned towards your new goal.

As per the above advice, depends where you are on the ladder and plans for the rest of the year. I took both SC's in this membership year (100SC) which tipped me over into Platinum status. Also means next year to retain platinum I'll need only 1100 sc's. Also assisting my way to lifetime gold

If you’re in the smaller group of people who are nearing Platinum One, be aware that the status credits don’t count towards P1 for some reason....