Qantas' secret fast-track to Platinum, Gold frequent flyer status
By David Flynn, April 12 2018
This article is part of our ongoing Business Travel 101 series for newcomers to the world of business travel.
Looking for a shortcut to Qantas Platinum or Gold status? The airline's secret Tier Accelerator program is your answer.
It's not publicised and is issued at Qantas' discretion, but the Tier Accelerator provides a fast-track status match against the frequent flyer schemes of competing airlines including rivals such as Virgin Australia Velocity, Air New Zealand Airports, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and more.
Qantas' Tier Accelerator is a little bit 'fight club' – the airline doesn't like to talk about it – but here's how it works and how you can apply for it.
Qantas Tier Accelerator to Gold, Platinum status
The Qantas Tier Accelerator dramatically reduces the number of status credits – and thus the amount of flying – you need to qualify for that shiny Qantas Frequent Flyer card.
A mere 200 status credits is required to earn Gold status, compared to 700 status credits under the usual QFF rules.
Rocketing from a no-status zero to a Platinum hero takes just 400 status credits – a feat that'd usually take a solid 1,400 status credits.
These status credits must be racked up within three months of signing up for the Qantas Tier Accelerator offer,. but that's not a big ask.
One business class return trip from Sydney to Singapore or Hong Kong will net you 240 status credits, so you’re Gold with some to spare.
Two of those trips (or one flexible business class fare to Los Angeles and back) puts you in Platinum territory.
Note however that you won't be gifted Qantas Platinum or Gold status during that initial three month period: the only status you get is that which you earn through flying.
Once you reach that reduced Platinum or Gold threshold, however, the status is yours for a whole year: unlocking all the benefits such as domestic and international airport lounge access, priority check-in, a higher checked luggage allowance, bonus points on each flight and more.
How to apply for the Qantas Tier Accelerator scheme
Make your play for a fast-track to Qantas Platinum or Gold status by telephoning the Qantas Frequent Flyer team (on 13 1131 in Australia, or +61 294332329 from overseas) and expressing your interest in the Qantas Tier Accelerator program.
You'll need proof of your current Platinum-grade or Gold-grade status with a competing airline and be able to supply a copy of your account showing your recent travel with that airline. This is to weed out freeloading status-seekers who have done relatively little flying.
It's then up to Qantas to decide if you’re a customer worth chasing – as noted earlier, an invitation to take part in the Qantas Tier Accelerator program is at the airline's discretion.
Also read: How to get Qantas Lifetime Gold status
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 79
You can email them as well at [email protected] with your opposition status card and statements. They should call you back if they're interested. I don't believe double status credits count towards the challenge. You could decide when the challenge starts too. If you're not flying for 1 month, start it the day before that flight. Happy days!
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 79
Forgot to say it's also up to Qantas whether they offer you the gold or platinum challenge.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
That’s cool, KiwiWings, we’ve made this pretty clear in the article that it’s not an automatic enrollment - it’s up to Qantas to approve any Tier Accelerator application and offer access to the scheme. I expect it’s going to be rather popular in the wake of the Virgin Australia / Air New Zealand split !
27 May 2017
Total posts 21
I am a Qantas Gold but have gold or platnium status with no other airline (though silver with VA) though i want to get to platinum ( nowhere near right now) faster can is till apply?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
Reading this par again, Morgan – "the Tier Accelerator provides a fast-track status match against the frequent flyer schemes of competing airlines including rivals such as Virgin Australia Velocity, Air New Zealand Airports, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and more" – so what do you reckon?
18 Jan 2018
Total posts 63
[Deleted by admin: personal attack.]
12 Apr 2011
Total posts 71
How likely do you think it is that they will offer it to members of other Oneworld programs?
05 May 2016
Total posts 619
Not at all likely.
12 Apr 2011
Total posts 71
True. Though crediting QF flights to another program costs QF money. And if you're not flying QF but tend to fly another OW airline because of your other membership, making you a QF member would encourage you to fly QF more as well as the ancillary revenue (credit card transfers etc).
05 May 2016
Total posts 619
But there's the potential for reciprocity. If QF tries to poach e.g. BA's customers then they may try to do the same to QF customers.
12 Apr 2011
Total posts 71
Just FYI...they do offer this to members of other oneworld programs....
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
01 Mar 2012
Total posts 177
With all the changes at VA and NZ, I have found myself with VA Plat and NZ Gold, however with flights to Europe/Americas and internally meaning that I would be a QF Platinum pretty quickly consolidating it all. This would be tempting to do to test the other side, especially given my colleagues are all with OW. One negative I would have to travel with them and not be able to relax and focus on my work... Thanks for the information, as always it is really useful in planning hassle free business travel (which is what we all want as really we don't want to be away....)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 152
I applied for this and was turned down. Made Gold within three months anyway... BUT, got annoyed with Qantas in the process and booked my remaining flights back on Singapore. Go figure. VA still gives better service to its FFs.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Aug 2016
Total posts 64
David, you state that as soon as the Gold or Plat Challenge is met, the person obtains that status for a year. How can that be when QF operate on a membership year? Should that statement read for the balance of your membership year plus for the following membership year (like normal BiS attainment will give).
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
08 May 2017
Total posts 13
Smart move and obviously aimed at Virgin Gold and Platinum members who continue to walk away due to the Economy X mess and the reductions in loyalty benefits it has caused.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Apr 2018
Total posts 1
After reading this article last week about the Qantas Tier Accelerator, I phoned the call centre to enquire about it. The call centre staff member laughed at me when I mentioned it and told me it wasn't real. I was asked the source of the information and I told them it was in the online media on AusBT. Upon pressing them further, they said they may consider special cases and asked me to email a scan of my Velocity Platinum card and 6 months of activity statement. I sent this through and they replied that they are ‘unable to consider your request for a status match as the loyalty program you’re part of isn’t eligible for the offer’.
25 Feb 2013
Total posts 62
Switching from VA Platinum (with enough SCs to gift Platinum to wife too) to QF has been something I've considered every now and then, largely for access to an international alliance (though I'd be said to lose the amazing DL and SQ links).
I've been approached by QF a few times. But have always walked away when they tell me I'd have to start out with no status during my "trial". It's the same kind of pig-headed QF attitude that drove me to VA in the first place and a nice reminder to nip the QF temptation in the bud.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Nov 2017
Total posts 7
I tried to access this program to match status with Velocity Gold. I was told by QFF that:
09 Aug 2017
Total posts 2
My bet is the best fast track is still to fly Malaysia airlines business class within asia preferably out of Bangkok
27 Mar 2018
Total posts 2
"Once you reach that reduced Platinum or Gold threshold, however, the status is yours for a whole year." So does this mean for the remaining months in your membership year? A total of 12 months from the achieved date of 200/400 SC? Or, if it applies as if you have normally reached that tier, meaning, for he remaining months in this membership year + the following? Thank you.
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