Maintain status/soft landing dumb question

[SheikYerbouti]

Just trying to clarify something here.

I am WP. I won't make the 800 SCs before my review date in Dec '19.

First question: this means I will "soft land" to SG for the next year, right? Which means I need 400 SCs to maintain SG before Dec '20.

I have a family holiday planned this October, and using the double SC offer currently on, I should pick up a couple of hundred SCs.

Second question: If I get 200 SCs this October, then review and soft land back to SG this Dec, if I get 200 more SCs by Oct 2020 (earlier than my Dec 2020 SG review date but before those 200 expire at 12 mths) I should be ok to renew SG?

I think the answer to both of these questions is "yes," but I'm doubting myself. Do I have to get the 400 SCs to requalify for SG after my Dec 2019 review date?
Thanks.

 

[ozstamps]

Do not forget there are minimum number of flight segments to attain as well.

 

[ozjuice]

if you're only flying once a year does Gold really matter that much?

 

[SheikYerbouti]

if you're only flying once a year does Gold really matter that much?

Probably not, but I fly quite a bit.

A lot of my trips in the next 6 mths are on non-Velocity airlines (unavoidable) hence fewer SCs this year than last year - this will revert to normal VA use in 2020. 4 sectors is not a drama.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

Do not forget there are minimum number of flight segments to attain as well.

Yes, I know, I've been SG and now WP and understand this.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

So back to my two questions....?

 

[TomVexille]

1. I believe you are correct

2. I think you need 400 AFTER the review date to renew

 

[Harthagan]

As i understand it any time you go up or down a tier your review date will reset but your current SCs dont, they roll forward until they expire after 12 months.

Never actually seen the T&C where it is explicitly stated as such but it has been my experience.

*Edit*

Oops i see i was mistaken. Looks like although they wont dissapear they will still not count towards maintaining your new gold status

 

[woodborer]

First question: Yes, you will drop back to Gold. You will then need 400SC between from your review date in Dec '19 until your review date in Dec '20 to renew Gold.
Second Question: The 200SC in October '19 will not count for the Gold renewal period Dec'19 -> Dec'20. The 200 SC in October will only be useful to help you get back up to Platinum, if you do so by Oct 20.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

First question: Yes, you will drop back to Gold. You will then need 400SC between from your review date in Dec '19 until your review date in Dec '20 to renew Gold.
Second Question: The 200SC in October '19 will not count for the Gold renewal period Dec'19 -> Dec'20. The 200 SC in October will only be useful to help you get back up to Platinum, if you do so by Oct 20.

Perfect, thanks.

I won't be getting back up to Platinum, so will focus on 400 SCs between Dec 19 and Dec 20. Shouldn't be a drama with business travel and a family overseas holiday.

 

[odysseus]

Agree with TomVexille. On review date, they look at credits granted in the year to that point, not the maximum at any time in the previous year.

It's only for future increases that rolling credits are used to assess eligibility.

 

[hossein_au]

Going off topic here, but I get the QF system (anniversary of joining the program), and most US-based systems (calendar year).

But what is this cough about a rolling 12-months? I appreciate one can use it to one's advantage (quite effectively, actually), but why would they come up with a system that needs so much explaining? I am literally a rocket-scientist and it took me a while to work it out (no actually "a while", but longer than a couple of seconds any program should). Are there similar systems used by other airlines?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Going off topic here, but I get the QF system (anniversary of joining the program), and most US-based systems (calendar year).

But what is this cough about a rolling 12-months? I appreciate one can use it to one's advantage (quite effectively, actually), but why would they come up with a system that needs so much explaining? I am literally a rocket-scientist and it took me a while to work it out (no actually "a while", but longer than a couple of seconds any program should). Are there similar systems used by other airlines?

I don't think it's too bad. I like it - while it does mean you are restricted to earning in a 12 month window vs a 24 month window that could be arranged between big trips on QF, once you are at a status level it's very easy.

I will say that determining which status credits expire when is a little more coughbersome to determine when upgrading status but it's not hard to find all the detail in the website by going to the "My Activity" page.

 

[hossein_au]

I don't think it's too bad. I like it - while it does mean you are restricted to earning in a 12 month window vs a 24 month window that could be arranged between big trips on QF, once you are at a status level it's very easy.

I will say that determining which status credits expire when is a little more coughbersome to determine when upgrading status but it's not hard to find all the detail in the website by going to the "My Activity" page.

I agree it's not too bad, it's just stupidly too complicated for its intended purpose. I am a big fan of the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) when it comes to designing things.

 

[oz_mark]

I agree it's not too bad, it's just stupidly too complicated for its intended purpose. I am a big fan of the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) when it comes to designing things.

I find it simple enough, even if a bit difficult to explain.
Remember that Virgin and Velocity was basically 'the challenger' when much of this was done, and by allowing a sliding window you get more status members than if you don't.

 

[hossein_au]

I find it simple enough, even if a bit difficult to explain.
Remember that Virgin and Velocity was basically 'the challenger' when much of this was done, and by allowing a sliding window you get more status members than if you don't.

A challenger usually makes its services/products more accessible, cheaper, or higher quality. Let's make our offering more complicated than the incumbent, said no challenger ever!

 

[oz_mark]

A challenger usually makes its services/products more accessible, cheaper, or higher quality. Let's make our offering more complicated than the incumbent, said no challenger ever!

They did a bunch of things to make gaining status easier...and the main reason for the sliding window was to allow more members to get status.

 

[hossein_au]

They did a bunch of things to make gaining status easier...and the main reason for the sliding window was to allow more members to get status.

I know, I'm just having some of those tongue-on-the-cheek moments tonight

 

[trooper]

I agree it's not too bad, it's just stupidly too complicated for its intended purpose. I am a big fan of the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) when it comes to designing things.

NZ has a rolling year...which Ive never found at all complex.... It simply means you can achieve/maintain status on your own 12 month schedule rather than some artificially set start and end point. I like it. Earn status in ANY 12 month period. None of this earned Plat between August and July... but only get Gold because the SC's were split across 2 "years"...

 

[Harthagan]

I have to say i find it a little complex. Not on the surface, but there are strange situations which arise where it's hard to know exactly how your status credits and tier level will play out.

By far, the simplest approach would be to just operate the rewards program based on the calender year. Do any airlines do this? Alongside a status challenge/match process in place i cant see any potential down sides