The worst day of my life is approaching!
That will be the day I will no longer be refereed to as Miss, or personally welcomed on board an aircraft. It is the day I go from elite flying status to the mundane reality of cattle class.
I failed to meet the requirements for Qantas status this year and let me just say, its pretty devastating. Even if I still fly economy, it’s usually the perks of lounge access and priority services that make flying that little bit more luxurious.
Traveling on a plane almost every day of the week for work in Australia saw me welcomed to the club in no less than three weeks! I had more points than I knew what to do with and the elite status was permission to breeze through to the front of every line and every lounge.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t get to my head just a little bit.
Even my boyfriend, who has never been interested in all that stuff and knows his place on a plane is towards the back, is pretty disappointed he won’t be my “plus 1” anymore.
Whether you call it “trimming the fat” or “thinning out the heard”, as quickly you get the high of flying status, losing it can be as equally low.
And I may have just flown my last flight with the privileges I speak so highly of.
So this is an obituary to my status:
I remained so loyal through thick and thin, even when you changed your reward system.
I loved you the way I wanted to be loved.
I supported and nourished you with endless travel.
I treated you like my most prized possession.
No longer will I have the luxury of taking the priority security check, no more lounge access and worst of all, no more pre-flight champagne.
You were so good to me when my flight was delayed.
While I seem a little obsessed about losing my status, there’s no denying the perks that come with that little platinum card
So farewell to one of my most prized possessions, you will be sadly missed. This flyer will forever mourn your loss every time a mini bottle of champagne is popped.
Herstory is a weekly column on women and travel by Steph Ridhalgh. Steph is a Sydney born; New York based television producer and travel blogger. Not one for being quiet for too long she simply loves talking about travel and lifestyle.
Steph is the founder of STEP(h) ABROAD, a travel and lifestyle resource for those who love to be in the know and know how.
