AurelAF96

I want to be platinium this year, and i'm currently gold until 2019. Do i need to renew gold before the 31 March or it's not a big deal?
With the conversion i will have 160 XPs, do i have to reach the 180XPs (with conversion)?

irishguy28

You understand, just as I do, that for segment-running purposes, buying business and/or flying longhaul is a TERRIBLE way to accumulate segments.

Only after 1 April does this old style of segment-running end. When business class earns 3 times more than economy class, then status-chasing becomes more refined than just finding the cheapest segment. With fixed "ratios" between the XPs awarded on any flight based on the cabin selected, one now also has to consider if the same ratio exists in price. If business is only twice the price of economy, but you get 3 times the XPs - then, this is a case where you need to consider, in your overall (re-)qualification strategy, if Y is really the choice on this flight.

You misunderstood. I have NEVER recommended business-class flights for status (segment) running purposes in Flying Blue. And I certainly didn't advocate taking J-class flights prior to the new rules. Segments are the key to easy qualification in the current Flying Blue, so buying J doesn't help in the current system. And for someone whose XPs are going to come from segment numbers, not from Level Miles, then you are "throwing away" XPs. A segment earned in the first quarter - regardless of whether it was an ultra-long First Class segment (good for 60XP in the new scheme) or a domestic economy hop (2XP) will convert to just 7XP.

Only after 1 April 2018 will the old-style segment running end. The new rules of FB will force you to find the best "bang" for your buck - which, for segment runners like me, for the first time will involve considering certain J itineraries, with an eye on price. (If a J ticket is less than 3 times the cost of a Y ticket, then it may certainly makes sense to fly J on that ticket)

irishguy28

To get Platinum, you have to reach 300 XP and you have a full 12 months from 1 January to 31 December 2018 in which to do this.

It doesn't matter when you renew Gold.

It's not a big deal for you, because you are already at the one-below status level.

Fabo.sk

I even quoted you in my reaction: (emphasis mine)

Look, yeah, you've made a mistake here, maybe a brain fart happened and you didn't realize flights won't convert according to new rules when you wrote that. It happens, I feel like I'm running on half power today as well. I was just addressing the incorrect information in your initial post.

Concerto

I was up to 2am last night trying to book that 6 segment run between BSL and LHR (transiting AMS and CDG all on AF numbers). Using expedia, it simply wouldn't go through and every time I got to the payment page it yielded an error. Then I went to Air France directly (clicking through cashback portal shoop.de) and tried to build the itinerary there, but it wouldn't permit it saying the MCT was too short, no matter how much time I added to the connections. I gave up in the end, tired. Some things are not meant to be.

splflyer

Flew ALC-MAD-AGP-MLN AND THEN MLN-AGP-AMS .Most domestic flights operated by swift /air europa express. alc=mad has been credited as mln-agp. mad-agp=mln has to be credited. you earn 15-25% miles and segments...
So if you ever wanted to visit MLN/Melilla and make lots of segments...

Concerto

That’s interesting, is all that ticketed in one? There are good fares on the nonstop from ZRH to MAD (EUR88 RT), but any add on destinations beyond MAD tend to price up as a lot more. What about a run from Madrid, maybe to MLN via AGP. Will I need a Saturday night stay?

Right now I am up to 14 segments! More next week!

Concerto

As an element of desperation creeps into my calculations, I am now wondering if miles really can be collected on domestic Italian flights in the lower classes, namely L and O. We had a lot of problems with Alitalia along the way, and I more or less dropped them for mileage collecting purposes. I don't trust the Flying Blue site, even though there is no mention of restrictions on domestic flights there. Any experiences or updates?

irishguy28

There is only a single earning table now for Alitalia, and no exception for domestic sectors.

AlicorporateUK

As good-old @irishguy28 pointed out, AZ domestic flights (even those booked through Economy Light i.e. the cheapest fares, most commonly W/L/O) do qualify for miles/segments (they didn't for a year or so and up to mid-2016 if memory serves right but all good as we speak).

G

Concerto

Ah, those are without baggage. I'm glad you mentioned it, that could have a sting in the tail (because of the person accompanying me). I check fares on expedia.de because I find it easy to use and pretty reliable.

AlicorporateUK

Indeed!

G

irishguy28

You were planning on bundling them into a suitcase and bringing them along, but you don't want to pay to check them?

Concerto

Ah, brilliant idea, you must stop giving me great ideas! No, I’ll just pay a baggage fare for the companion. Is it possible to add that afterwards even if booking on Expedia? This latter only reveals the cheapest fares, which clearly are without baggage.

AlicorporateUK