Why I Am Switched Focus to Qantas Platinum (Despite Having Qatar Platinum)

I have made no secret of my affection for the oneworld alliance. While I hold top-tier status with other alliances, there is something uniquely rewarding about oneworld Emerald. Unlike Star Alliance Gold or SkyTeam Elite Plus, which typically cap out at Business Class lounge access, oneworld Emerald opens the doors to First Class lounges regardless of the cabin you are flying in. For Singapore-based travellers, this is a massive perk. It means access to the spectacular Qantas International First Lounge at Changi Airport Terminal 1, where the salt and pepper squid and free-flowing champagne make for an excellent pre-flight ritual. My experience as a oneworld Emerald has also been far better than my time as a PPS Club member with Singapore Airlines.

Photo Credit: Qantas

Earlier this year, I managed to secure Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum status through a fast-track offer linked to my Accor Live Limitless (ALL) Diamond status. If you recall, the partnership between Qatar Airways and Accor allows for a status match if you hold elite status with either programme. As an ALL Diamond member, I was eligible for a fast track to Qatar Platinum (Oneworld Emerald) - this will no longer be the case from 2026.

The requirement was simple: link the accounts and take one paid flight on Qatar Airways metal. I flew from Phnom Penh (PNH) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) on 2 January 2025 to trigger this. Since the number of fast-track approvals is capped annually, I wanted to complete the flight as early in the calendar year as possible to ensure I didn't miss the quota. Strangely, the upgrade didn't process immediately. It wasn't until February 2025 that my account finally reflected Platinum status. The silver lining? My status is now valid through to February 2026, giving me a solid runway to enjoy the benefits.

Photo Credit: Qatar Airways

The Problem: Retaining Qatar Platinum

While having Qatar Platinum is fantastic, retaining it is a different beast. To renew Platinum, you need to earn 540 Qpoints within 12 months (or 1,080 over 24 months). The issue is that Qpoints are most easily earned on Qatar Airways-marketed and operated flights. While you can earn them on partners, the earning rates can be less favourable, and you still need to meet a minimum sector requirement on Qatar Airways itself. Since my travel patterns regularly involve trips to New Zealand and frequent leisure runs to cities in Southeast Asia, flying through Doha to get anywhere other than Europe makes little sense.

Photo Credit: Qantas

The Solution: Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum

This brings me to my new strategy: pursuing Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum. Qantas Platinum is the sweet spot for Singapore-based travellers who fly on oneworld carriers regionally. It grants the same coveted oneworld Emerald status, but the requalification criteria are far more manageable for my travel habits. With that being said, the biggest drawback is having to stopover in Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur on most of your travels.

Qualifying for Qantas Platinum requires 1,400 Status Credits. However, once you have the status, you only need 1,200 Status Credits to retain it.

Membership Tier	Status Credits to Attain	Status Credits to Retain
Gold (oneworld Sapphire)	700	600
Platinum (oneworld Emerald)	1,400	1,200
Platinum One (oneworld Emerald)	3,600	3,600

Qantas requires you to fly at least four segments on Qantas, QantasLink, or Jetstar flight numbers to qualify for status. This is arguably the easiest hurdle to clear. A single return trip from Singapore (SIN) to Melbourne (MEL) or Sydney (SYD) usually involves a connection if you plan it right, or you can simply take two separate trips to Australia or New Zealand over the course of a year. In fact, a simple SIN-SYD-MEL routing and back meets this requirement instantly if booked correctly.

Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific

One of the main reasons I am shifting to Qantas is how well it rewards partner flying in premium cabins. When redemption flights are hard to come by, I often pay for Business Class revenue tickets. I fly Cathay Pacific quite frequently to Japan and Korea. A typical return Business Class itinerary from Singapore to Tokyo/Seoul via Hong Kong books into Zone 3 for both sectors:

• SIN-HKG: 80 Status Credits

• HKG-HND: 80 Status Credits

• HND-HKG: 80 Status Credits

• HKG-SIN: 80 Status Credits

That is a total of 320 Status Credits for a single return trip to Japan, which typically costs between S$2,200 to S$2,500. Do that four times a year, and you have already retained Platinum (1,280 Status Credits), assuming you have met the four Qantas segments separately.

Of course, no loyalty strategy is perfect, and the elephant in the room is the value of the points themselves. It is widely accepted that Avios are generally worth more than Qantas Points. Qantas Points are notoriously difficult to use for good value redemptions - redemption rates are often higher, and carrier surcharges can be steep. In contrast, Avios have historically been a better currency, offering excellent value for short-haul flights on partners like Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines.

Photo Credit: JAL

However, an Avios devaluation is expected to happen next week, which may close the gap between the two currencies significantly. Ultimately, I am making a conscious decision to prioritise Status over Points. I earn the bulk of my redeemable miles through credit card spend (which I can still route to other programmes), so I am happy to accept a weaker airline currency (Qantas Points) from my flights in exchange for a status tier (Emerald) that I can actually retain.

Photo Credit: Qantas

Finally, the most compelling reason for my switch is the validity period. Unlike Qatar Airways Privilege Club, which follows a strict timeline, Qantas operates on a personal membership year. I am currently on track to hit the 1,400 Status Credits required for Platinum by December 2025. Because I will achieve the status partway through my membership year, I will get to keep it for more than a year:

• The remainder of the current membership year (December 2025 to March 2026).

• The entirety of the next membership year (April 2026 to March 2027).

This effectively means my status will be valid through to 30 April 2027.

By timing the status run correctly, I am essentially securing 16 months of oneworld Emerald benefits with a single qualification run. This bridges the gap perfectly when my Qatar Airways status expires in February 2026.

Photo Credit: Qantas

Having oneworld Emerald status has changed the way I travel. The ability to choose the front-row seats on partner airlines and access the Qantas First Lounge in Singapore makes the travel experience significantly more enjoyable. While I am trading away the superior value of Avios for the arguably weaker Qantas Points, the combination of reasonable retention rates and the ability to lock in status until 2027 makes Qantas Frequent Flyer the logical choice for my long-term travel strategy for now.