I'm taking a soft landing to Qantas Gold in February. I've relocated to the US and my business travel is picking up again.
The question is, is it even worth pursuing an AA Status Match..yet?
Sure, I can probably meet the AA status challenge requirements, but that doesn't afford me domestic lounge access like Qantas gold will. Qantas gold will also continue to allow me main cabin extra seats as well, another big perk of the AA status. The drawbacks of not moving to AA sooner seem to be missing out on upgrades, accruing less and more unusable miles into Qantas.
It seems like the biggest perks I already have and it would be better to just status match towards the end of my Qantas Gold period anyways.
I live in the US and was in the exact same boat. I would 1000% recommend switching your program to AA for multiple reasons:
1. You'll have opportunity to get domestic upgrades, and if you reach Exec Platinum (emerald), you'll get x4 system wide upgrades to be used on the whole AA network.
2. Domestic lounge access in the US sucks. Couple of free pretzels and measly snacks. Not worth it chasing QF gold for it.
3. If lounge access is really that important, there are many credit cards over here that you get Priority pass memberships with (Amex Platinum, Citi Prestige, Chase Sapphire Reserve). Amex Platinum also gives you amex lounge access which is prob the best domestic lounge anyway.
4. You'll earn more miles with AA, and spend less miles with AA on partner airlines. AA also releases very little “Saaver” level awards which are accessed by partners, so having AA miles will allow you more flexibility, as they are increasingly moving to a revenue based redemption program.
5. Priority access on phone calls, standby and same day flight change as an AA elite.
Depending on where you're based in the US, lounges have improved hugely over the last couple of years. The AA flagship lounges are on a par with the best business lounges of other airlines. Think they have them in New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles and they can be accessed with Qantas gold.
Depending on where you're based in the US, lounges have improved hugely over the last couple of years. The AA flagship lounges are on a par with the best business lounges of other airlines. Think they have them in New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles and they can be accessed with Qantas gold.
True, but there are not my base and QF Gold will be hard to maintain, I dont see the 4 flight minimum happening
Then it's a no brainer as the four flights is key one return trip home with a connecting flight but if you can only access rather ordinary lounges then go with AA as the other perks outweigh what QF can offer and upgrades are a key perk.
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Matching Qantas status to American Airlines
czechwonder
czechwonder
Member since 22 Feb 2017
Total posts 10
I'm taking a soft landing to Qantas Gold in February. I've relocated to the US and my business travel is picking up again.
The question is, is it even worth pursuing an AA Status Match..yet?
Sure, I can probably meet the AA status challenge requirements, but that doesn't afford me domestic lounge access like Qantas gold will. Qantas gold will also continue to allow me main cabin extra seats as well, another big perk of the AA status. The drawbacks of not moving to AA sooner seem to be missing out on upgrades, accruing less and more unusable miles into Qantas.
It seems like the biggest perks I already have and it would be better to just status match towards the end of my Qantas Gold period anyways.
Any thoughts on this?
pab2025
pab2025
Member since 25 Jun 2012
Total posts 126
I live in the US and was in the exact same boat. I would 1000% recommend switching your program to AA for multiple reasons:
1. You'll have opportunity to get domestic upgrades, and if you reach Exec Platinum (emerald), you'll get x4 system wide upgrades to be used on the whole AA network.
2. Domestic lounge access in the US sucks. Couple of free pretzels and measly snacks. Not worth it chasing QF gold for it.
3. If lounge access is really that important, there are many credit cards over here that you get Priority pass memberships with (Amex Platinum, Citi Prestige, Chase Sapphire Reserve). Amex Platinum also gives you amex lounge access which is prob the best domestic lounge anyway.
4. You'll earn more miles with AA, and spend less miles with AA on partner airlines. AA also releases very little “Saaver” level awards which are accessed by partners, so having AA miles will allow you more flexibility, as they are increasingly moving to a revenue based redemption program.
5. Priority access on phone calls, standby and same day flight change as an AA elite.
Hope that helps...
rwSydney
rwSydney
British Airways - Executive Club
Member since 23 Mar 2018
Total posts 48
Depending on where you're based in the US, lounges have improved hugely over the last couple of years. The AA flagship lounges are on a par with the best business lounges of other airlines. Think they have them in New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles and they can be accessed with Qantas gold.
czechwonder
czechwonder
Member since 22 Feb 2017
Total posts 10
Originally Posted by rwSydney
Depending on where you're based in the US, lounges have improved hugely over the last couple of years. The AA flagship lounges are on a par with the best business lounges of other airlines. Think they have them in New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles and they can be accessed with Qantas gold.
True, but there are not my base and QF Gold will be hard to maintain, I dont see the 4 flight minimum happening
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
Then it's a no brainer as the four flights is key one return trip home with a connecting flight but if you can only access rather ordinary lounges then go with AA as the other perks outweigh what QF can offer and upgrades are a key perk.