December Status run - roughly 4000 eqps required

[simongr]

Hi all

Time to start planning a status run I think. I have flagged this in a couple of threads but now it's time to get serious.

Here is the situation.

I am currently on 74906 qpoints

I have a trip syd-hkg-bom,blr-hkg-syd planned for 9 Nov on a combination of CX/KA

That should take me to 96,390 qpoints

As such I am trying to figure out a way to 100,000 qpoints in a short flight - or a couple of flights. I have some fairly limited time and wold like to keep the budget tight.

I also have my free domestic flight from Amex which I would pay to make upgradeable.

I would like to avoid an overnight if possible.

I also have 36K QFF points that could be used for positioning potentially (or upgrades if not) .

The tricky part is that I can't book any of this until 9 Nov as I am not convinced that the India trip will happen until I am in the cab to the airport almost.

Any suggestions to make this workable? My target date for travel would be 6 Dec or at worst in the week between Xmas and New Year.

Any ideas?

I am thinking paid syd-adl-syd and then Amex flight adl-bne-adl - just not sure on the practicality of doing that in a day?

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

S

 

[openseat]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

I realise that you probably are having to go for higher fare buckets but just be careful with the red e-deals on QF. I have noticed this week the dreaded 'E' fare popping up all the time and nary an 'O' red e-deal to be seen.
No PLAT so... to the back of the bus for this QP NB!:shock:

 

[simongr]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

OK all here we are again. When last this was being debated the Inidia trip wasn't confirmed and thus the imperative was not there.

But now things have moved on. I am sat in HKG at the moment and so far two on my status earning flights (I had two Jet flights that were in O so no earning there ) have posted and I am waiting on tonights flight and my BLR-HKG flight to post - expected next week I think.

Currently sat on 85,779 qpoints. I forecast another 10,514 which leaves me tantalisingly close on around 96,293 qpoints.

Being that close I think a status credit run might be required. So I am now seriously looking for options.

I might have to leave the travel to late December but need to explore some options for cost effective points earning.

I am planning to utilise the free Amex flight and pay to upgrade that to points earning (and J upgradeable) and I think the best use of that would be ADL-BNE with a positioning flight SYD-ADL. But even if I get into H class - that is only around 3400 qpoints.

I could book SYD-CBR for around $120 in O class I guess for a quick turnaround...

Any more suggestions?

S

 

[QF WP]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

I would have thought either SYD/CBR/SYD's in J or SYD/AKL/SYD in J (LAN). The LAN flight leaves ~10.30am arriving after 5pm in AKL, you could return the next morning (at OMG :shock: o'clock). You could utilise the cheap motel that Skyring used in his Trip Report

 

[serfty]

Until the end of the year, an AAdvantage member will earn the same 500 EQPs for those O class SYD/CBR flights as they would in J, but at a much lower cost.

Also, with AA, it's more the long distance 1½ EQP earning fares in WHY that are most cost effective- J earns the same EQP's

Mind you, SYD-AKL-SYD in J will earn just over 4030 EQPs.

 

[simongr]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Only problem with the SYD-AKL-SYD option is that it is a straight cash outlay rather than margin cost.

I have a horrible feeling that this might prove too expensive

Just checking ADL-BNE-AKDL and L class looks cheaper than O (which is what the Amex free flight books into I think).

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

What are the routing rules on your ticket for coming back from Asia on this trip?

If routing permits it, you could do ( for example ) HKG-MEL-SYD to get an extra 500 points . Depending on the rules you might even be able to do HKG-MEL-CBR-SYD for an extra 1000.

No cost to you but gets you closer

Dave

 

[simongr]

Good point that I didnt think of. I have no idea of the routing rules as for once this was booked through our Corporate travel agent. I should have thought about that. I guess the lack of belief that this trip might happen clouded my thoughts. I fly out tonight at 9:30PM so a little late to change now.

 

[NM]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

How about take advantage of the QF 2-for-1 deals and then its not just a straight cash equation as it becomes a weekend away for Mrs Simongr.

 

[simongr]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Isnt the 2-4-1 for travel next year?:

Available to a great range of destinations for travel for selected dates from 1 February to 31 May 2009.*

 

[NM]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Isnt the 2-4-1 for travel next year?:

oh well. I didn't take too close a look since I won't be using it myself.

 

[simongr]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Ok - another idea:

Sat 20 Dec:
07:00 SYD-MEL
10:00 MEL-SYD
12:30 SYD-CBR
14:30 CBR-SYD

That's 2000 qpoints for around $450

Then I could book another trip for $250 and one Amex free flight.

Around $800 for status...

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Why not just do SYD-CBR-SYD twice rather than go to MEL.

with each sector being $120 comes to $480

syd-cbr 0810-0905
cbr-syd 0945-1040
syd-cbr 1125-1215
cbr-syd 1310-1400

Dave

 

[simongr]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

I saw flights for $105 to MEL so a marginal saving and potentially avoids some boredom...

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

I saw flights for $105 to MEL so a marginal saving and potentially avoids some boredom...

SYD-CBR/CBR-SYD is 35 minutes flying vs 55-60 minutes on the MEL run

Also the Business lounge is right next to gate at CBR so no having to walk distances to/from the gates.

would have thought that 2.5 hours less time spent travelling would avoid more boredom

Dave

 

[simongr]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Might even be able to do three in one day...

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Might even be able to do three in one day...

if you need 3, then 3 runs to CBR is quite viable in 1 day

After the ones listed above, take the 1435 to CBR and then return on the 16:15 arriving back to SYD at 17:00

if you want to do a 4th then there is a 1725 to CBR and then return on 19:00 arriving back at 19:55

Dave

 

[simongr]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Sadly I need 4(ish)

I will be I think 3,700 qpoints short

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Sadly I need 4(ish)

I will be I think 3,700 qpoints short

Well, the 4000 can be obtained all in 1 day on CBR runs

Dave

 

[medhead]

Re: December Status run - roighly 4000 eqps required

Don't know if this is too late, but

if you get to ADL you could look at ADL to CBR. On a weekend there is a lack of direct flights on this route and you can pick up routes via MEL or SYD that cost marginally more.

i.e. ADL-SYD is showing at $174 on 3 Dec. ADL-CBR via SYD or MEL is coming up at $184 on the following Saturdays.

SYD-MEL-ADL-(SYD)-CBR for like $370 + a CBR-SYD.