Yes it does pay to do your homework, and thankfully some AFF members assisted me in my search for flights with Malaysia airlines for inter Asia flights that earn status credits.
I recently booked flights with Malaysia airlines during their Business Class Sale, Manila>KL>Bangkok for a shopping trip and I wasn't the one doing the shopping, the flight was advertised as Z class and having been informed by an AFF member that it would be a earner I booked the flight, the fact that I had a 4 hour layover in KL didn't deter me, I also checked the QANTAS earn calculator and it showed Z class with Malaysia airlines as a earner.
I only arrived back yesterday, but to date I have been credited 140 status credits for the out leg and I reckon the return credits won't be long coming.
So fellow AFF members being a member of this forum has lots of advantages, especially when looking for a way to boost the status credits instead of doing the searches on the Qantas website looking for a bargain, or a way to boost status credits, that the members here are only too willing to share their knowledge.
By the way did I mention that members here gave me the good oil on the flights?
Now my Christmas wish is that there are no enhancements to the program next year.
On a side note and so I don't have to search for the thread, when I was leaving Sydney international last month I did not have priority card for the customs check, but I did mention to the young lady collecting the cards that I have dicky knees and cannot stand for too long, and she very happily waved me through.
In most countries in Asia they have priority queues for the elderly, so I wonder if that will ever happen in Australia.
Further to the subject, a CSM on Qantas revealed to me about the miracle flights that Qantas operate from some Asian countries, where you see the wheelchairs lined up at the gate boarding gate ready to embark first, then on arrival in Australia, they merrily walk off the aircraft, it is indeed a miracle!
Merry Christmas and a very happy new year to everyone, be safe out there.