Tips for moving from QFF to BAEC (QF WP + LTG)...

[drron]

Was easy from Australia.I do what amounts to a Circle Asia fare twice a year.Used to always be on QF stock until I found I could do basically the same using BA F between SYD and SIN for less than what a QF all J fare costs.And those 2 trips without anything else get me to BAEC gold.

 

[clifford]

now only £1 to cancel any European redemptions.

Well, that depends on whether you went for the more Avios, less Money option, which in my opinion is quite poor value.

I'm a BAEC gold btw, who lives in Australia and the UK (families and citizenship in both).

 

[Mal]

BA can be easier to earn status on than Qantas, but it depends on your flying patterns.
The four segment rule has had odd application over the last years, so no idea if they currently apply it.
Above gold with BA for an Australian flyer isn't really worth it unless visiting UK frequently.
Also keep in mind BA may change the scheme at any time, so LTG might not be as attractive when you're getting close. I certainly hear rumours about mooted changes frequently.

 

[JessicaTam]

I certainly hear rumours about mooted changes frequently.

Keep those rumours to yourself please!

 

[ish]

Keep those rumours to yourself please!

Agreed!

 

[Princess Fiona]

BA can be easier to earn status on than Qantas, but it depends on your flying patterns.
The four segment rule has had odd application over the last years, so no idea if they currently apply it.
Above gold with BA for an Australian flyer isn't really worth it unless visiting UK frequently.
Also keep in mind BA may change the scheme at any time, so LTG might not be as attractive when you're getting close. I certainly hear rumours about mooted changes frequently.

I thought GGL might be useful for those that travel in the USA quite a bit. There are quite a few reports of CK style car pick up at the gate etc.

 

[QF4L]

There is nothing wrong with accessing the lounges using your QF status with your BA number in the booking. Just have your card handy.

Thinking of making the jump too. Is it possible to do this internationally as well - ie can you get into international OW lounges with QF Gold/Plat status in the transition period while getting up to to BA Silver/Gold?

In a practical sense, how does that work? In terms of both booking online and at QF or OW lounge entry when they ask for your boarding pass...you'd need the QFF number on your booking, wouldn't you? So do you book it with your QFF number and then change it after the flight to BAEC to credit it there?

 

[Danger]

Thinking of making the jump too. Is it possible to do this internationally as well - ie can you get into international OW lounges with QF Gold/Plat status in the transition period while getting up to to BA Silver/Gold?

In a practical sense, how does that work? In terms of both booking online and at QF or OW lounge entry when they ask for your boarding pass...you'd need the QFF number on your booking, wouldn't you? So do you book it with your QFF number and then change it after the flight to BAEC to credit it there?

Yes, it can be done. But with QF, at least, it's problematic.

Book as you normally would with your QF number in the booking. Access the lounge with your QF number, then use the Finnair website to change the FF number to BA. Use your boarding pass with your QF status for priority boarding (such as it is).

 

[JessicaTam]

Thinking of making the jump too. Is it possible to do this internationally as well - ie can you get into international OW lounges with QF Gold/Plat status in the transition period while getting up to to BA Silver/Gold?

In a practical sense, how does that work? In terms of both booking online and at QF or OW lounge entry when they ask for your boarding pass...you'd need the QFF number on your booking, wouldn't you? So do you book it with your QFF number and then change it after the flight to BAEC to credit it there?

Yes, it can be done. But with QF, at least, it's problematic.

Book as you normally would with your QF number in the booking. Access the lounge with your QF number, then use the Finnair website to change the FF number to BA. Use your boarding pass with your QF status for priority boarding (such as it is).

Just to be absolutely clear - make sure you change your FF number in the booking to BA before the flight.

 

[clifford]

You shouldn't have a problem if you have your BA number in the booking and show your QF membership card on entry to the lounge. I've done this several times in the past without problem. They will just enter your card details manually.

 

[KitKat]

Just to be absolutely clear - make sure you change your FF number in the booking to BA before the flight.

Sometimes a problem remembering while in the Flounge after a few.....

 

[dlam]

Yes, it can be done. But with QF, at least, it's problematic.

Book as you normally would with your QF number in the booking. Access the lounge with your QF number, then use the Finnair website to change the FF number to BA. Use your boarding pass with your QF status for priority boarding (such as it is).

The only problem with this is if you need to produce boarding passes in the even of a missing points claim, which happens, especially when the original ff number is changed.
Is there any recourse in that situation?

 

[Danger]

The only problem with this is if you need to produce boarding passes in the even of a missing points claim, which happens, especially when the original ff number is changed.
Is there any recourse in that situation?

Yes, that can be another problem. You can always ask a gate agent (or even the lounge agent when you leave, if you dare) to print you a new boarding pass with your alternate program's number on it. You can then have your FF card with elite status ready alongside your boarding pass with no status for priority boarding.

 

[TonyHancock]

......You can always ask a gate agent (or even the lounge agent when you leave, if you dare) to print you a new boarding pass with your alternate program's number on it. You can then have your FF card with elite status ready alongside your boarding pass with no status for priority boarding.

I tending to do the former, mostly, but also had occasion to do the latter. I don't recall any issues.

The one cough up of my own making was changing my FF number back to QF too quickly (i.e. upon landing) for a return flight - I was trying to use points to upgrade the return leg - and lost the TP's to QF.

 

[madmat777]

I'm about to try this for the first time. How long after you land should you wait before converting the number back to QF for the return journey?

I'm sitting on 21,000 SC and spent the last 10 years hoping that QF would introduce LTP. You would think that double LTG would be a reasonable goal. At 75,000, it's more like they were thinking of LTP1. Still, it's time to cut my losses and start the switch. I'll make BA LTG many years before I make GF LTP.

Thanks all for the insights in this post. I still want to extract all the benefits for the last 14 months of being with QF.

 

[TonyHancock]

I'm about to try this for the first time. How long after you land should you wait before converting the number back to QF for the return journey?

I can't give you an exact answer but I waited until flights had credited after my own cough up.

 

[Isochronous]

There used to be a loophole that let you buy standalone KUL-HKG on CX with a BA code but that was closed off about 2 years ago sadly.