Accor reminder: All Plus China status nights and Qatar Airways Gold challenge

If possible, the start of the year is the best time to upgrade or requalify for status, an example being the Hilton challenge we wrote about last week. Another good example is Accor, where you can fast-track to Gold and get close to Platinum simply by purchasing cards, something we analysed last month and many times before.

An ideal strategy is to first buy Accor Plus to receive 30 status nights, then apply for All Plus China Premium card for another 20 nights. Simply stay 10 actual nights with Accor and you’ll reach Platinum.

Pay attention to the order, otherwise the status nights may fail to post; the maximum status nights you can get through paid memberships is now 50. Interestingly, according to the official website, the Accor Plus sign-up bonus of 2,000 points still seems to be available – has it quietly become a long-term promotion?

Accor Platinum or Diamond status also serves as a stepping stone to Oneworld Sapphire. After linking your Qatar Airways account, you only need to purchase a paid ticket and complete the flight to be upgraded straight to Qatar Airways Gold, valid for 12 months. Previously, Diamond could be matched to Platinum, but now Gold is the cap. For most people however, this change doesn’t make much of a difference.

There are a total of 3,100 slots available. Based on past experience, this is usually more than enough. Despite people frequently contacting customer service and being told that slots are full, in reality almost(?) everyone who actually flies does get upgraded.

If you’re travelling to the Middle East anyway, that’s ideal. If you are based in Asia, consider Qatar Airways’ fifth-freedom route between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, which could cost less than £100.