Another Status Run Question

[Maia]

Hello from a newbie and thank you to everyone whose advice and hints I've used over the last few years of lurking.
I know there are a lot of status run questions on the board but I couldn't find the right one when I searched... so sorry if I'm duplicating things here.
Basically, my husband needs 70 Qantas status credits by the end of May to retain gold. He usually gets it easily with business flights up and back to Sydney but there have been less of those recently. We did have the SYD-AUK business flights on LAN booked, which would have made everything fine, but... I broke my leg in a major way and won't be off the crutches in time.
Do people think that with that many SC to go he should just give up and buy a Qantas Club membership or is it worth doing a status run?
We will be travelling a bit once I'm back in action so would use the benefits.
Sorry again for re-asking a much asked question.

Jo in Melbourne

 

[djfuzz]

Welcome to AFF.

Everyone has an opinion on this, so I'm just going to proffer mine -

Seems like you will have some use for the benefits of Gold, including the QP - so really it comes to the following:

1. Are you prepared to spend approximately $700-ish on getting those extra credits (my $10/SC rule of thumb for regular, non-Status Run flights)? Of course, if you have some points up your sleeve, you may also consider getting a return Any Seat Award for a Business flight to Perth or similar for relatively good value.

2. Do you have the time and inclination to undertake a different status run? If not, can a convenient status run be combined with any existing, or potential, plans for a personal trip or holiday?

3. If either of the above is a 'yes', is it more or less attractive to you to do that than to spend the $500-odd for a year's QP membership?

Given your post, I'd have assumed that the answer to the above would be 'yes', but of course that's entirely your decision.

 

[markis10]

I would be doing a quick run to NAN on the last day direct or via SYD for $670 to get 80/120 SCs in J, then come back the next day on points or even another J leg for another $670 giving your husband 120SCs to requal for next year, bit more than a QP membership but it has more benefits.

 

[serfty]

Hi Jo, welcome to AFF.

Can you delay the AKL trip until mid May or will you still be on Crutches.

Another possibility is you Husband doing the LAN Thing Solo.

Finally, from SYD:

• A Business class return (on Qantas Jets, not Dash8's) to/from CBR costs that $700 (can be done this coming Saturday afternoon/evening for $699.69)
• Look for the SYS/MEL StarClass runs (e.g. JQi SYD-MEL on Saturday afternoon costs ~$335 and earns 40 SC's.)

 

[djfuzz]

I would be doing a quick run to NAN on the last day direct or via SYD for $670 to get 80/120 SCs in J, then come back the next day on points or even another J leg for another $670 giving your husband 120SCs to requal for next year, bit more than a QP membership but it has more benefits.

Hmm, in this new era of points on Any Seat Awards, I would have thought the 25,000 points for a classic award to NAN would be better used for a one-way J flight to SYD, getting 40SCs for a net use of approx 18,000 points, or 80SC / 37,000 points for a return.

 

[S.A]

Another approach perhaps might be to call QFF to explain about your unfortunate accident and its impact on your flying plans/husband's status.

Since he's requalifying for gold rather than trying to get there for the first time they might give him a complimentary re-qualification. Mentioning the future flying plans wouldn't hurt either.

 

[markis10]

Hmm, in this new era of points on Any Seat Awards, I would have thought the 25,000 points for a classic award to NAN would be better used for a one-way J flight to SYD, getting 40SCs for a net use of approx 18,000 points, or 80SC / 37,000 points for a return.

The reference to points was getting back NAN without using $$$, no reference to classic awards was made , but you do bring up a good point, 40K will get you 120SC on that route either way which is better than cash if you have the points for an anyseat redemption! Since its a retain of the level as others have mentioned its likely a comp is possible, S.A makes a good point, I was comp'd with a lot more required SCs late last year and an empty future bookings list (in appreciation of that the bookings list is now far form empty, stragely with a few NAN flights thrown in as well as the odd Crash8 SC run).

 

[Maia]

Thanks for such quick and thoughtful responses!!
I should have explained in my original post that he's already rung Qantas and the 70SC are what he needs to be considered for a comp.
I like the idea of a classic award return to Sydney in J. No overnight accommodation costs and easily done in a few hours.
I didn't realise classic awards even gave points! Maybe that happened while I was hospitalised or maybe I just haven't been paying enough attention.
Thanks again for any ideas - I'm glad I finally took the lunge and posted on the board.
Jo

 

[markis10]

Thanks for such quick and thoughtful responses!!
I should have explained in my original post that he's already rung Qantas and the 70SC are what he needs to be considered for a comp.
I like the idea of a classic award return to Sydney in J. No overnight accommodation costs and easily done in a few hours.
I didn't realise classic awards even gave points! Maybe that happened while I was hospitalised or maybe I just haven't been paying enough attention.
Thanks again for any ideas - I'm glad I finally took the lunge and posted on the board.
Jo

Jo, classic awards dont, anyseat awards do effective from last week - and given the small difference in points at times it now makes them a handy redemption.

4-5 hours, 40000 points, 80SCs is hard to beat:

 

[Maia]

Sorry - I knew any seat awards were meant.
I also meant to say plunge not lunge earlier - changes the whole image

Thanks again for coming up with ideas that I hadn't thought of!

Jo

 

[v8Statesman]

Jo, classic awards dont, anyseat awards do effective from last week - and given the small difference in points at times it now makes them a handy redemption.

4-5 hours, 40000 points, 80SCs is hard to beat:

Has anyone here actually got Points and SC from an Anyseat reward yet?

 

[markis10]

Yes - on the weekend

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...us-credits-points-any-22270-7.html#post311373

 

[medhead]

If you have the 40000 odd points for an any seat award, I'd suggest doing that. i'd also suggest going to Adelaide might even been quicker than going to SYD from MEL.

You mention that 70 SC are what is required to be considered for a comp gold. If you need more then it might be worth considering doing some that is going to earn all the points required to retain gold and put it beyond doubt.

Finally, I wanted to say that with the current sale fares it is possible to do better than $10/SC in discount economy. I'm currently getting about $7.50/SC for my weekly ADL-SYD flights. A few any seat award i'm looking at come out at $4 per SC (assuming 1 point is valued at 1 cent)