Cheap status run

[Perilous_Asteroid]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a NB with 110 SC, ~70k points, and four months left before renewal. I received the double SC offer the other day and started thinking about doing a SC run to top up the credits needed for PS and get a head start on next years SC. I've been looking at JASAs, but can't seem to find something cheap within the next couple of weeks (happy to use points + a little cash).

I have 6 weeks travel coming up at the end of June: MEL-SYD-LAX RT with QF, LAX-MCO-JFK-IAD O/W with AA, with possibly one or two other 500-1000mi O/W AA domestic trips on top. Flying whY for the whole lot, so by my estimates that should be 140 SC should I not find something before I head OS. (One AA leg is in Q.)

It'd be great to upgrade before I head overseas if possible! Any ideas on some good, cheap SC earners ex MEL?

Thanks for your help!

Regards,
Stuart.

 

[pshepvic]

I'm doing MEL-SYD-NAN J-class in September for approx $1300 - if you go ex-BNE you can get more complicated routing for about the same price and more SCs. On the double SC promotion you'd get 480 SCs for this, so you'd be on your way to Gold, not just Silver! The other thing about going to Fiji is you could always stay a few nights, relax and enjoy yourself!

Another option is for $750 you can fly LAN from Sydney to Auckland return in J class - that would earn 160 SCs, then maybe use points for a JASA to get up to Sydney and back. No double SCs on the LAN flights, but the JASA would be 80 SCs each way, so a total of 320 SCs.

There are some other good value Domestic JASAs (Business Any Seat Awards) to bump the SCs up using points instead of cash but I'm not an expert on the cheapest/best of these purely for SC earn at the cheapest rate.

 

[Perilous_Asteroid]

I bit the bullet and flew my first JASA on the weekend, an overnighter in Cairns flying MEL-BNE-CNS-SYD-MEL. Netted 240 SC and bumped me up to PS (plus only 10 SC off from PS for the following year with the double SC bonus). The cost was more than I'd hoped for, but for a last minute booking, I guess I can't really complain!

I tried out the QPs along the way, as I'm quite undecided whether it's worthwhile joining for the USA trip next month (figuring maybe 12 visits during it). I can see what people mean by the noise levels - definitely worst in MEL (am) and SYD (pm).

This was the first time I'd flown J in about seven years I think, the last time being for work. From what I remember of that experience, the service seems to have been ratcheted up a notch in the mean time (although more regular J flyers may beg to differ!).

 

[serfty]

...
This was the first time I'd flown J in about seven years I think, the last time being for work. From what I remember of that experience, the service seems to have been ratcheted up a notch in the mean time (although more regular J flyers may beg to differ!).

Yes, the J service is a little better in base product these days. Seven years ago, QF had no real pointy end competition; it showed! ( & Even in the QP's)

 

[Perilous_Asteroid]

It'll be interesting to see how DJ shakes things up inside QF with their new focus on J/premium fares. Also if QF had no real competition to the QPs all those years ago, why have they allowed the service to slip (so it seems from what I've read on AFF)? Or is it more about letting some standards slip to give more people the chance to get in, thus preventing churn to other airlines?

 

[serfty]

I am here to tell you the quality of the food and wine in the QP's were at there nadir in the years after AN's (and the Golden Wing's) demise.

I used to approach the wine (of the week?) with trepidation and generally subsequent despair. At least the Beer was Ok.

Vineleaf rolls / sausage "meat"balls anyone ?

 

[Perilous_Asteroid]

I used to approach the wine (of the week?) with trepidation and generally subsequent despair. At least the Beer was Ok.

oh. Queen Adelaide? Bottle or cask?

 

[serfty]

Yes QA did make some appearances.

During that period I gave wholly up on the still whites.

I'd look at the "pinot"/"merlot" and then the "Cab"/"Siraz", taste a little of one, then the other, then blend them. Generally the bend did the job ... sort of ... or maybe I'd retreat to a G&T ... :-|