170 SC's to hit Gold. Suggestions?

[newformula]

With the booked travel I have this year, I'll be 170 SC's short qualifying for QF Gold with 3 months before my year is up. I will have the necessary 4 QF flights in the bag, and would want to travel ex SYD.

I'm looking to doing a trip which would check off the remaining 170. I will have already been to NZ (one way in LAN J) so not particularly keen on doing that again, but I know that's the obvious choice. I haven't seen that much of Australia (or South Pacific in general) so open to some interesting suggestions (flights and places to see) in June, July or August over the course of a long weekend (say 4 or 5 days) to get me over the line to SG and see some of Australia (or South Pacific).

I also have around 60K QFF points in the bag so could pay a leg or two with these once the 170 SC's has been hit. My other travel is pretty inflexible for doing additional flights to accrue status, so that's not an option.

Let me know what you think!

 

[thewinchester]

Thanks to a suggestion I've recently received from Serfty, start off with some SYD-CBR J @ $346/40SC ($8.65/SC) and possibly CBR-MEL J @ $468/40SC ($11.70/SC).

 

[Leumas]

As posted on FT recently, a SYD-NAN-SYD run in J is quite good too. ~$1300 (all in) for 160SCs (I think).

 

[Sprucegoose]

As posted on FT recently, a SYD-NAN-SYD run in J is quite good too. ~$1300 (all in) for 160SCs (I think).

Who was that with AP or QF?

SPRUCE

 

[Sprucegoose]

As posted on FT recently, a SYD-NAN-SYD run in J is quite good too. ~$1300 (all in) for 160SCs (I think).

Is that on AP or QF?

SPRUCE

 

[newformula]

I just checked it out; it's QF codeshare on Air Pacific metal. Would earn 80 SC's each way.

 

[samh004]

As posted on FT recently, a SYD-NAN-SYD run in J is quite good too. ~$1300 (all in) for 160SCs (I think).

But that’s almost double the LAN flight, for just a bit more you could do 2 returns on LAN for 320SC’s. $8.1/SC or $4.3/SC

I know the OP has already done LAN this membership year, but it’s much more economical.

 

[newformula]

I know the OP has already done LAN this membership year, but it’s much more economical.

I'm after a combo of new/different sights/experiences as well as qualifying for SG, so not massively concerned about the absolute best value $/SC.

 

[cmon0005]

I just checked it out; it's QF codeshare on Air Pacific metal. Would earn 80 SC's each way.

What if its booked directly through Air Pacific with FJ flight number, are status credits still applicable? (the air pacific booking site allows you to enter your QFF number)

 

[samh004]

What if its booked directly through Air Pacific with FJ flight number, are status credits still applicable? (the air pacific booking site allows you to enter your QFF number)

I’m pretty sure it needs to be a QF flight number.

Edit: My bad, needs to be a QF flight number if you want to access the F lounge. Will earn on an FJ flight number though.

 

[newformula]

What if its booked directly through Air Pacific with FJ flight number, are status credits still applicable? (the air pacific booking site allows you to enter your QFF number)

From Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Status Credits:

"You can earn Status credits when flying on eligible Qantas, oneworld Alliance airlines (American Airlines®, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, JAL (Japan Airlines), LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Mexicana and Royal Jordanian Airlines), Air Pacific, Jetstar or QantasLink services."
Also see point 20.1.2 on Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions - "Status Credits are earned for paid travel (excluding for the avoidance of doubt Award Flights) on certain regular scheduled flights of Qantas, oneworld Alliance Airlines, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airlines and QantasLink, or other airlines as determined by Qantas."

So as far as I can see, an Air Pacific ticketed flight would earn you QFF SC's. Tickets on codeshares other than Qantas are ineligible. I suppose that's unsurprising given that Qantas owns 46% of the airline (according to Wikipedia).

Air Pacific ticketed SYD-NAN returns in J are $20 cheaper than those on the Qantas codeshare it would appear...

 

[Frequent Frier]

JQ3/4 in Starclass SYD-HNL return will gain you 280 points, and can be purchased for about $2,000 when on sale - i.e. close to $7 per SC.

Best wishes.

 

[Leumas]

In the true spirit of a mileage run, you can start the trip from BNE. The QF web site will offer you a route like BNE-MEL-NAN for around the same price. So even if you position yourself to BNE (from SYD, for instance), the total price will be like ~$1500 (SYD-BNE on a separate Y ticket),

The route I get from the QF web site is BNE-MEL-NAN return, this will get your 280SCs. Adding the discount economy SYD-BNE return, the total will be 300SCs.

It works out to be ~$5/SC.

Also, note that I don't think you can access the F lounge regardless of which flight number you book under. So if booking under the FJ number is slightly cheaper, then that may be the way to go.

 

[serfty]

...
Also, note that I don't think you can access the F lounge regardless of which flight number you book under. So if booking under the FJ number is slightly cheaper, then that may be the way to go.

A WP flying on the QF codeshare on FJ metal should indeed be able to access the F Lounge. (Not on the FJ number however.)

 

[newformula]

In the true spirit of a mileage run, you can start the trip from BNE. The QF web site will offer you a route like BNE-MEL-NAN for around the same price. So even if you position yourself to BNE (from SYD, for instance), the total price will be like ~$1500 (SYD-BNE on a separate Y ticket),

The route I get from the QF web site is BNE-MEL-NAN return, this will get your 280SCs. Adding the discount economy SYD-BNE return, the total will be 300SCs.

It works out to be ~$5/SC.

That's an awesome suggestion, nice work! Seems uneconomical for Qantas to offer that ticket, but best not question these things

 

[Leumas]

Don't thank me, thank the OP of this thread:

Advice on FJ mileage run - FlyerTalk Forums
I just played around on the dates and route and posted what came out.

BTW, I'd expect F lounge access with a QF flight number too, but the QF site seems to imply it must an OW metal...

next onward flight that day must be on a oneworld Airline Members operated and marketed flight.Note: a oneworld marketed flight refers to a flight with a oneworld flight number, eg QF1 or AA222. A oneworld operated flight refers to the actual aircraft or 'metal' on which you fly, eg Finnair aircraft.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I think Fiji will be nice in April; I priced $1283 BNE-SYD-NAN-SYD-BNE for a 2 night stay in Fiji.

So that should be 40+80+80+40 = 240SC not great but not too bad as I would like to visit Fiji some time.

The MEL-NAN flight would be an overnight flight so that saves a nights accom. but then you really couldn't enjoy a holiday for 24 hours with a lack of sleep. :shock:

I should make silver but with this sort of deal I could make Gold.

 

[Joshua]

The routing rules for BNE-NAN include BNE-MEL-SYD-NAN. Looking at an early start in the day for that one. The QF engine kicks up the 6am out but personally I'd make a multi-booking and use the 5am for greater flexibility and lounge time, trying to get a some wide bodies planes on the way. Sure that's messy but many more SC - you're then looking at 360SC R/T! Pretty nice for this part of the world.

You can ticket through FJ but they won't have such routings. Also there is the flounge access issue as they're not a OW airline. QF is a little more expensive but routing gold. Additionally purchasing return flight from the Fijian side brings up a cost of 865 FJD ~ 485AUD... cheaper again.

I've been looking at doing this myself, though possibly with a NAN-AKL-SYD return in FJ & LA J respectively however might just use the QF codeshare for the return now.


Now, I remember reading on this forum somewhere about... and know there's fine print in the QFF point earnings - domestic flights within Fiji. Anything worth flying while over there to add a bit?

 

[samh004]

The QF multicity engine throws erros when I try the BNE-MEL-SYD-NAN vv route in it. Suggests a cheaper fare and wont allow me to proceed with the cheaper fare or the one I chose

 

[Joshua]

Interesting. Probably a fare bucket mismatch or something? Certainly a few days come up with the option automatically and don't need the use of multi-trip tool. I randomly picked Jan 14th. It comes up with:

05:00 Brisbane 08:20 Melbourne QF601
09:00 Melbourne 10:25 Sydney QF418
12:55 Sydney 18:45 Nadi (Fiji) QF391

All for $642. Also a slightly later MEL-SYD flight option, but much better having spare time on the terminal transfer and int. lounge front. That's a pretty good earner. I had considered doing similar in Y sometime ago. J at that price very interesting.

To bring this back OT. If you don't need that many SC, it could be done one way back to Aus. cheapest, using points or a LCC to get there in the first place. Certainly adds another place to go instead of AKL and in my view, better value? <AU$500 for NAN-BNE netting 180SC.