Hi all,

I usually stay quiet on these boards, preferring to read. EI has done the un-imaginable. As the world's meanest frequent flyer programme, you would think there was little more they could do.

Now they have announced that the cheap web fares in economy R/S/X are no longer valid for TAB points.

I always used to qualify for Gold Circle (Ruby) status by the number of segments I flew - going to LHR 3 times weekly and occasionally elsewhere. They abolished segments and reduced the threashold to 3500 TAB points for Ruby. No problem.

Now, it looks like I won't requalify next December, as I won't earn points on the majority of flights. I do have KL Plat Elite, but there's no FD lounge in DUB.

So, what airline should I switch my FF card to, to rearch enough points for lounge access?

Qantas would do the trick. With 3 r/ts to LHR a week, it would take you 6 weeks to reach silver (ow ruby) , another 6 to reach Gold (OW Sapphire) and another 12 to reach Platinum (Ow Emerald)

Only fare bases of T, G, E, L, W, S and I are inelgibable for credit to QF on Aer Lingus

Would take you 12 weeks to get business lounge access and 6 months to get 1st lounge access

Dave

[This message has been edited by Dave Noble (edited 12-12-2002).]

I completely agree with above post. I am on my way to be QF platinum as I feel it is an excellent FF program

I'll double check on Monday... but, I remember seeing a sign in DUB that Quantas cards, for whatever reason, couldn't get you in to the Gold Circle lounges. Something about the agreement between the two airlines being suspended. I'll get back to you on this.

If this were the case, what would be the next choice?

Also, would any oneworld airline give me a matching status for my KL Royal WIng card, do you think?

A friend of mine who has been flying 200'000 miles on KLM, almost all of them AMS-HKG for the past 10 years, asked CX for recognition, and they gave him a Gold card and now he is Diamond. He stopped flying KLM completely and is now an avid CX fan.

"I'll double check on Monday... but, I remember seeing a sign in DUB that Quantas cards, for whatever reason, couldn't get you in to the Gold Circle lounges. Something about the agreement between the two airlines being suspended. I'll get back to you on this."

That could be related to Qantas Club members ( paid lounge membership ) rather than to Qantas Gold/Platinum members. I would be surprised if there is any issue with access with OW status
Dave

For now, perhaps, but do you seriously believe that they will keep giving you QF miles for booking classes that no longer qualify for EI miles? Whatever restrictions they introduce for earning miles in their own programme are more than likely to apply also to partner programmes.

David - you hit the nail on the head. A quick phone call sorted that out. Quantas Gold/Plat are welcome in the Gold Circle lounge, but not bought club members.

Hagbard - S is one of the common internet economy fares. Still R, X and N haven't appeared on the blacklist yet. I agree with your sentiment that eventually these fares will be blocked too.

My feeling is that CX asia miles may be the way to go; I use this card to gather miles from BA, where only Y, B, W and T will earn on a TAB card. Barely better on a BA Exec Club card. CX seems to be the most inflation proof of the cards over the years.

I wouldn't bet on it changing to be honest. There are various differences around schemes already. If QF were to decide to change earning requirements, then there would be a 6 month advance notice period. As it stands currently, if I were to collect cheap BA fares to a BA account, I would get no status credit and minimal miles. With Qantas , I get full miles (min 500) plus status credits. It has been like that for a long while and there seems to be no intent to change.

With the suggestion to use CX, isn't getting status with CX one of the hardest to get?

Dave

[This message has been edited by Dave Noble (edited 12-14-2002).]

A fly in the ointment! You need to fly a small amount of Quantas segments each year to qualify for status... same with Lan Chile. Never get the opportunity to fly with either. What about Finnair? Anyone?

Qantas don't enforce that requirement

Dave

Yes - but all EI flights to the UK codeshare with BA. Book the BA codeshare, and every fare calss is eligible. And you get the 500 mile minimum.