Originally Posted by Traveloguy
QF Gold is more difficult to get than AA Plat when flying in Y.
Take for example an M (average discount economy fare) class fare on QF between SYD and LHR. Credited to AA, you would require roughly 5 returns on AA to get AA Plat, whereas 6 returns on QF to do the same.
It really depends on the routes and airlines you use. To take a similar example, LHR-SIN-MEL which I have flown several times and is close in mileage to LHR-SYD, crediting to QF in this case would require about 4.5 returns, a bit less than AA. So for "average" discount economy, crediting with QF can get you closer to Oneworld Sapphire: it depends on the routing.
Originally Posted by Traveloguy
Go for an H, K or W fare and the difference is even more pronounced as it would take 2.5 return legs to keep AA Plat, yet still 6 trips on QF.
While I could quibble that it is only 4.5 returns on QF with a break in SIN or BKK (rather than 6 if you go straight through), I do agree that for H,K,W fares on some international flights, AA is clearly better, especially on routes where segments are longer.
But this is not always the case. Where segments are shorter, or where BA flights are involved, QF may be about as good or better.
I recently used a BA/QANTAS RTW in K class, with routing LHR-SIN-MEL-BNE-SYD-CBR-MEL-SYD-NAN-LAX-YYZ-LHR
This produced 280 status credits, or about 50% of the status credits for QF Gold renewal.
Had it been credited to AA, my calculation is 23925 EQP, which is also about 50% of the EQP for Platinum renewal.
So in this example of flying K class, crediting to AA is not clearly better. Not clearly worse either, but one cannot say it is better from a status renewal perspective.
Originally Posted by Traveloguy
The moral of the story for those wanting status is:
Discount flyers should stick with AA, whereas premium cabin flyers credit to QF.
I disagree. Again it depends on your flying routes and airlines and classes.
Take the same route I just flew in K class. Had it been more discounted (L class or M class, (or V or R)), the AA EQP by my calculation would be about 13,470 or a bit over 1/4 of the amount needed for renewal of AA Platinum, yet if crediting to QF, it still earns 280 SC, or about half the number needed for renewal.
So in this case for a person flying "average discount economy" QF is far superior: only ~2 RTW needed crediting to QF in discount economy vs ~4RTW crediting to AA to retain Sapphire status.
And even if I retained Platinum status I would not get into AC lounges on NA flights. And even if I happened to do 3 RTW one year, QF status would be assured, but I know the chances of AA deciding to renew me anyway.
If retaining status over the longer haul is desirable, and annual flying averages a bit over 600SC on QF, but does not reach 600 every year, QF may be a better program to retain status, again depending on your flying pattern.
So despite much wistful reading of the glories of crediting with AA (and the short-term points I agree would be worth more) I have not yet been able to convince myself that it makes sense for me to change; i.e. QF Gold seems easier for me to renew than AA Platinum.
I am very open to learning about errors in my assessment.