Chasing Status: What's your motivation?

[Cult of one]

I have never done a status run but would miss the "extras" of status. In 8 months on VA I only flew economy and had 100 plus flights domestically with one OS flight as well as some Qantas flights. Now being a WP with Virgin there are some great things.

1-The crazy Brisbane storms come in and delay everything for 3 hours...... Hello lounge and cold beer.
2-off the plane first with priority bags means I can literally be in the hire car while others are just walking off the plane.
3-Bonus points 100% extra as a WP so free flights when I have holidays with family
4-I some times run into friends in the airport and am able to invite them into the lounge as guests.
5-On that international flig I took I was moved to 4 vacant economy seats because of my status and slept like a champion
6-The best however is when I finish work interstate early and am able to jump on an early flight and then get to surprise my kids by showing up early. Can't put a price on that.

 

[AnnaB]

I had never heard of status runs before I joined this forum and I don't know if I am ever going to get any kind of status. I can clearly see all the perks but as I am merely travelling for holidays and not for work it is quite hard to get to that tire. This year I might be close to silver status on SQ though as I have a few flights with them this year but I still think that I am going to fall short.
Perhaps I will have to do my first status run ever But I cant see that it would be worth it for Silver only.

 

[Deleted member]

I've given up chasing status. I have QF lifetime silver, lifetime Cub access and mostly fly J, so what's the point? Most of my FF points now come via the credit cards, so I have accumulated sufficient points for free flights. My flying is all for leisure now so it would cost me a fortune to retain Gold status - I'd rather spend the money on an overseas comfy J seat.

I like your thinking. I am near to LTS and have LTQP as well. WP is nice though, and when I fly out of SYD in 2 weeks time, I shall enjoy the bounty on offer at the F Lounge.

 

[Quickstatus]

I'd suggest the Trip Report area or maybe Jetstar. Assuming Travel News is more about published news and travel stories.

Thanks and correct - again!

 

[Quickstatus]

Why travel BKK-BNE direct when you can travel BKK-SIN-MNL-SYD-BNE? Didn't quite get the timing right this time but I willl get better.

How many PNRs for the scenic route?. What would be a good timing for you?

 

[mbeder]

240 SCs for MEL-SYD-CHC in J with QF and (even better) EK

Nice!

 

[wandering_fred]

The advantage of status... Being able to avoid the shopping malls they call airside at terminals.

Though the definition of a MR can be quite flexible...
I will detour to find less expensive starting points, especially if extra mileage is involved. I suspect my attachment to CMB airport is recognized.

I guess the closest I have come was when AA had "special" EQM credits from STL. So as part of an EXP re-qualify I flew STL to SAN (visiting friends) via NRT. (both SWUs cleared)

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[JohnK]

If you are paying your own fares and not on business, status is really not worth it.

Do you mean not travelling for business or not travelling business class?

I pay my own fares, travel with 30kg-40kg of luggage and prefer the comfort of an economy seat of a full service carrier. Status is very important.

It doesn't cost as much as you think to get status if incorporated into your regular travel.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Is it worth chasing status - No. you become a hamster running on a wheel.

Yes, but a hamster holding a glass of Krug!

 

[cove]

We only have status with QF and Admirals Club with AA. Nothing with VA nor SQ. What we have concentrated on is running up points and miles to give us second choices as a minimum to places we are flying. If you want that glass of Krug it is 91,375 Kris Flyer miles from SIN to LAX or LHR in Saver one way.

 

[Denali]

I had never heard of status runs .....

Status runs are fun for us, we usually do one on Christmas day as SCs are not an issue for us but we need a couple of sectors flown.

Our first status run was SYD>MELB>HBA. The FA asked us if we couldn't get a direct flight (same FAs for flights), we said no, its a sector run as we needed the sector recognition. FA said, "Oh, youre one of... thooseeeeeeee" and smiled.

 

[Quickstatus]

Status runs are fun for us, we usually do one on Christmas day as SCs are not an issue for us but we need a couple of sectors flown.

Our first status run was SYD>MELB>HBA. The FA asked us if we couldn't get a direct flight (same FAs for flights), we said no, its a sector run as we needed the sector recognition. FA said, "Oh, youre one of... thooseeeeeeee" and smiled.

Will they know if you said "we want to get some tildes"??

(tilde = ~)

 

[coco50]

While not consciously doing status runs, living in Ballina if we want to go with the QF program, we must fly JQ. We joined the QFF program in September 2001 when Ansett crashed. At that stage Qantaslink flew from Ballina and there was no problem acquiring points and SC when flying. However, the QF group turned the route into a tourist run using their LCC, JQ. When I book flights now from either BNK to either SYD or MEL I book us as Starter+ so that we can access points and SCs. So to that extent, we do status runs.

 

[drewbles]

I have been guilty of doing status runs, as late as last year (12 flights, 3 days). I'm also very fortunate that I have an employer that sends me to the USA at least once a year for work, meaning I can do it cheaply.

This year will be the first year I've retained both WP in VA and QF without a status run required. Unfortunately thanks to the US/AA merger and 'simpler and fairer' having come in, AA runs for QF SC's are not what they used to be. There are still some that hover around the $2.50-3USD/SC, but you used to be able to get around $1.50 with some work.

DL have some amazingly cheap F fares on the routes I have to fly for work, so this next trip it's DL for most of it and AA for only one (Which was not cheap but only $200 more than the coach fare) meaning my VA account is nicely topped up (will re-qualify on SC's with 6 months to go, and only 1 VA segment required to lock it in which won't be an issue).

So whilst I think my hardcore status run days are behind me thanks to a combination of refusing to travel Y and learning how to find reasonable priced premium fares, it was a fun way to fast track towards LTG (should get that in the next 12 months with any luck). That said, I will always follow the 'why fly direct' mantra wherever it's possible time and dollars wise.

My years of runs and what not have secured me status for any OW airline now, even if I lose WP. I flew a SkaryTeam airline earlier this year, and it was an eye opener. I was in J, but OW is definitely a better value proposition for status IMHO.

Now it's more a matter of which FF program do I move to, if at all, when I hit LTG!

 

[Quickstatus]

Now it's more a matter of which FF program do I move to, if at all, when I hit LTG!

Interesting question.

SQ?

 

[Deleted member 62084]

I am another who only flies for holidays. Currently at Velocity Red level. My wife and I are at the stage of our lives when air travel is a lot more possible than what it was previously. We will reach Silver by the end of the year, not from status runs, but by careful selection of sectors and fare classes to our planned holiday destinations. I have enough plans in place for the next few years to maintain Silver; for us, this will be good enough.

The main advantage to us is the fact that we will be able to select seats in the front half of the plane, guaranteed, at time of booking. This negates the need to negotiate steps down to the tarmac and back up to the rear door of the plane (dodgy knees) or being exposed to coughpy weather, at major airports at least. The two bonus lounge entries will be welcome but realistically that would be all that we would require anyway. International priority check-in will be nice too.

Just a comment on domestic priority check-in, with some members here suggesting that Gold status is required to jump the queues. Reading through these pages it seems that most people don't bother checking in online and it is my experience witnessing the long queues at airports that this is the case. It is soooo easy to check in online, select your seat if you haven't already done so and join the much shorter bag drop queue at the airport, but most people just don't??? Realistically, the choice is between 20 min for check-in, less than 10 for bag drop or a few minutes for priority. Not sure if Gold is worth it just for a small saving like that, especially if one is called up to that counter from the bag drop queue anyway.

 

[Awesom Andy]

We will reach Silver by the end of the year

When you say "we", is that both of you, or is it one of you (via family pooling)? It appears that both of you will always be on the same booking so perhaps family pooling would work really well here, if you aren't doing it already.

 

[coco50]

Just a comment on domestic priority check-in, with some members here suggesting that Gold status is required to jump the queues. Reading through these pages it seems that most people don't bother checking in online and it is my experience witnessing the long queues at airports that this is the case. It is soooo easy to check in online, select your seat if you haven't already done so and join the much shorter bag drop queue at the airport, but most people just don't??? Realistically, the choice is between 20 min for check-in, less than 10 for bag drop or a few minutes for priority. Not sure if Gold is worth it just for a small saving like that, especially if one is called up to that counter from the bag drop queue anyway.

I always check in online domestically and also always travel carry-on - even internationally. These two things must have saved me days.

 

[medhead]

I am another who only flies for holidays. Currently at Velocity Red level. My wife and I are at the stage of our lives when air travel is a lot more possible than what it was previously. We will reach Silver by the end of the year, not from status runs, but by careful selection of sectors and fare classes to our planned holiday destinations. I have enough plans in place for the next few years to maintain Silver; for us, this will be good enough.

The main advantage to us is the fact that we will be able to select seats in the front half of the plane, guaranteed, at time of booking. This negates the need to negotiate steps down to the tarmac and back up to the rear door of the plane (dodgy knees) or being exposed to coughpy weather, at major airports at least. The two bonus lounge entries will be welcome but realistically that would be all that we would require anyway. International priority check-in will be nice too.

Just a comment on domestic priority check-in, with some members here suggesting that Gold status is required to jump the queues. Reading through these pages it seems that most people don't bother checking in online and it is my experience witnessing the long queues at airports that this is the case. It is soooo easy to check in online, select your seat if you haven't already done so and join the much shorter bag drop queue at the airport, but most people just don't??? Realistically, the choice is between 20 min for check-in, less than 10 for bag drop or a few minutes for priority. Not sure if Gold is worth it just for a small saving like that, especially if one is called up to that counter from the bag drop queue anyway.

Re using the back door, I didn't think Silver advanced you that far up the cabin. But regardless of that, if you have any issue using the stairs I recommend using the front door. I have trouble walking up stairs so would use the front door of the aircraft. It is a bit of a hassle having to wait for people coming from the back towards the front. But probably less hassle than having me block up the stairs for a few minutes. You could also let the person at the gate desk know you have difficulty with stairs and ask to board during the "need assistance" stage.

Regarding the online check in, one issue with Virgin Australia is checking in removes any ability to change the ticket. So there is always a trade off between early check in to get decent seats and the risk that you might miss the flight for some reason.

 

[Deleted member]

While its nothing to write home about, i am on the verge of a milestone (LTS)
I will fall to Gold this year, and when Gold eventually fades away to just a memory, i will have my meager LTS tr give me some comfort

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