Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

[support]

This thread is for Questions and General discussion regarding the Best Status Run Options for QFF as per this thread:

Overview of Best Status Run Options [not the discussion thread]

Please keep your questions and queries to this thread and avoid posting in the other.

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You can also get some status run inspiration from this AFF article:

The Best Qantas Frequent Flyer Status Runs

Haven't earned enough status credits in your Qantas membership year? Here is a selection of the best Qantas Frequent Flyer status runs.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I could be wrong too, however I can't see a SEA-PHX then PHX-ORD using the same flight number so am guessing that it's actually SEA-ORD direct which in P/F would accrue 120SC's.

Apologies I see exactly what you mean

To the OP if you travel AAA-BBB-CCC and both of those sectors are the same flight number then you will get the points and SC for AAA-CCC IME.
In your example it will be 120SC. You will not get SC SEA-PHX and PHX-ORD which would be a better earn as 90 each.

 

[The.Don]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Gday All,

Newbie AFF (using abbreviations already go me) member here. I have until 30th-Sep to earn 250 status credits to reach gold (I’ll be away 28th-Aug to 13th-Sep).

I understand J any seat is now dead and buried so was reading through the "Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!". I did paste a link to it but the editor made me remove it sorry because I only have 5 posts.

Looks like I will need to do a domestic run usin flex fares on routes

• MEL-xSYD-OOL return | 80 SCs and costs $500
• HBA-xMEL-xBNE-CNS return | 160 SCs and costs ~$1,100

How do veteran members search for these flights? Qantas multi city allows only two cities per day not to mention that I couldn’t find anything between now and 28th-Aug anywhere near the pricing suggested?

I took a read through the recommended threads for new members but couldn’t find instructions? Surely in the technology age we aren’t calling Qantas?


Cheers,
Don

P.s should I just concentrate next year on hitting 700 instead of chasing the 250? Looks like it’s going to cost a couple of thousand and I doubt the perks are worth it?
P.p.s HBA-xMEL-xBNE-CNS does the x represent stop over?
P.p.p.s "LAN offers a good J deal for those wanting to make a quick run to NZ" what is LAN? It's not on the abbreviations list and it’s not an airport?

 

[JohnM]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Attaching screenshot here from ITA matrix app (hope this works)
View attachment 52058

There are plenty of options that avoid this conundrum (via DFW as suggested above) but I'm now just kind of interested in the answer as to how it would be treated.

Thanks for responses.

The only time that I can see this sort of situation possibly being useful would be on an xONEx - as long as the whole itinerary counted as one sector of the 16 allowed. I'm unsure if that is the case, though. Hopefully someone can clarify that.

 

[comforttravel]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Certainly it would be better to try for 90s and 120s SCs for economy of travelling time. If you go to the east coast then it's better to leave the west coast around 12mn to take the overnight flight to reduce transit times. I've looked at the one-world download timetable to suggest the following:
[TABLE="width: 401"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]dep[/TD]
[TD]arr[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]SC First[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]QF3221[/TD]
[TD]sfo lax[/TD]
[TD]0700[/TD]
[TD]0838[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]QF3153[/TD]
[TD]lax las[/TD]
[TD]0940[/TD]
[TD]1050[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AA1629[/TD]
[TD]las dfw[/TD]
[TD]1250[/TD]
[TD]1742[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]90[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AA49[/TD]
[TD]dfw phx[/TD]
[TD]1840[/TD]
[TD]2020[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]90[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AA640[/TD]
[TD]phx lax[/TD]
[TD]2105[/TD]
[TD]2136[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AA219[/TD]
[TD]lax ord[/TD]
[TD]2359[/TD]
[TD]0602+1[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]120[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]QF3242[/TD]
[TD]ord sfo[/TD]
[TD]0740+1[/TD]
[TD]1022+1[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]120[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]total[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]540[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[The.Don]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

How do veteran members search for these flights? Qantas multi city allows only two cities per day not to mention that I couldn’t find anything between now and 28th-Aug anywhere near the pricing suggested?

UPDATE - ITA Matrix by Google (brilliant). Any way to specify the fare type instead of cabin? I.e. flex fare for Qantas?

 

[defurax]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

UPDATE - ITA Matrix by Google (brilliant). Any way to specify the fare type instead of cabin? I.e. flex fare for Qantas?

Use this command in the advanced routing and insert the fare buckets you want. This would only give you flights in M or K fare: [FONT=Source+Sans+Pro]/f bc=m|bc=k[/FONT]

 

[Captain Halliday]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Welcome aboard Don. I see you've been tipped off to ITA Matrix which is good and the command defurax has shared will make finding the right fare bucket easier. To some of your other questions:

P.s should I just concentrate next year on hitting 700 instead of chasing the 250? Looks like it’s going to cost a couple of thousand and I doubt the perks are worth it?

It depends what you want gold status for and what your travel plans are for the year ahead. Certainly SG= Qantas Club access so that's a saving if you would have otherwise have paid for membership. There's some reciprocal benefits with OW carriers, higher points earn on flights and a few other benefits. But if you're young to have to spend more than $1k to get it, then it's not worth chasing IMHO. But of course retaining is easier than earning, so if you think you'll hit 600 Ne to year, but not 700, then maybe the equation changes for you.

HBA-xMEL-xBNE-CNS does the x represent stop over?

Yes.

"LAN offers a good J deal for those wanting to make a quick run to NZ" what is LAN? It's not on the abbreviations list and it’s not an airport?

LAN is a South American airline. LAN.com - Country Selector

 

[Captain Halliday]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

With flights already booked and paid for in my next FF year (Oct-Sept), I'll be sitting on 880 SC. I have one of two days (4 or 5 Nov) available to me for a status run that starts/finishes in SFO in order to push to WP. So far I've found a 24 hour run starting at 1250h: SFO-DFWx-AUS-DFWx-DEN-DFW-ORD-SFO which by my reckoning is 90+40+40+40+40+90+120= 460SC leaving me a tantalising 60SC short of WP (and US$3.20/SC). Any suggestions for tweaking this to add a few more SCs to my tally?

If you haven't already, maybe try expanding on some of the options in post 216 in this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....m/best-status-run-options-quick-35258-22.html

 

[gizzard]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

P.p.s HBA-xMEL-xBNE-CNS does the x represent stop over?

x = connection, not a stop over.

You haven't mentioned your base airport. Assuming MEL then when I last looked about 6 weeks ago the cheapest runs per SC were:
MEL-xSYD-OOL in Flex Y for $261 at $6.53/SC
LST-xMEL-xSYD-OOL in Y for $193 at $6.43/SC was the cheapest that I could find but for only 30 SC.
MEL-xBNE-DRW in J yields 140 SC at $7.40 but it would be a $2,000+ round trip

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Apologies I see exactly what you mean

To the OP if you travel AAA-BBB-CCC and both of those sectors are the same flight number then you will get the points and SC for AAA-CCC IME.
In your example it will be 120SC. You will not get SC SEA-PHX and PHX-ORD which would be a better earn as 90 each.

I'm not sure of the answer for the OP, and not disagreeing with this response, though it's worth pointing out that a lot of airlines in the USA use flight numbers very differently compared to domestic flights in Australia. A flight number can be used multiple times on multiple routes within a day: a flight number is not unique to a day, the combination of a flight number, origin and destination make it unique. And flight numbers are re-used all over the place e.g. AA1317 was MIA-SJU back in Sept last year, but is ORD-MIA in the current schedule, AA1200 was LAX-ORD, but is now DFW-DCA and DCA-ORD.

So it would be interesting to see how QF count these different sectors. I suspect people are right, and they would be viewed similar to how QF1 (SYD-DXB-LHR) are counted, but just wanted to point out that the principles are slightly different and in Australia we think of a flight number a unique value typically on a particular route (E.g. QF400 is the first flight out MEL-SYD and QF500 is the first flight out SYD-BNE).

-

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I'm not sure of the answer for the OP, and not disagreeing with this response, though it's worth pointing out that a lot of airlines in the USA use flight numbers very differently compared to domestic flights in Australia. A flight number can be used multiple times on multiple routes within a day: a flight number is not unique to a day, the combination of a flight number, origin and destination make it unique. And flight numbers are re-used all over the place e.g. AA1317 was MIA-SJU back in Sept last year, but is ORD-MIA in the current schedule, AA1200 was LAX-ORD, but is now DFW-DCA and DCA-ORD.

So it would be interesting to see how QF count these different sectors. I suspect people are right, and they would be viewed similar to how QF1 (SYD-DXB-LHR) are counted, but just wanted to point out that the principles are slightly different and in Australia we think of a flight number a unique value typically on a particular route (E.g. QF400 is the first flight out MEL-SYD and QF500 is the first flight out SYD-BNE).

-View attachment 52080

View attachment 52081

I am aware of that. The two examples you have posted are AAA-BBB-AAA and these do post as separate sectors (at least they did for me for VA earning on DL). The OP's is very different to that and I would be very surprised but delighted for them if AAA-BBB-CCC posts as anything more than AAA-CCC due to it being the same flight number.

Hopefully someone will chime in who has been game enough to book one. I know I looked at various runs with these weird flight numbers and after taking advice here and elsewhere didn't book them.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I need 140 SCs to retain Platinum.
Wuld be better on QF metal to get a points bonus but that isn't essential.
Any interesting suggestions ex PER?

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I am aware of that. The two examples you have posted are AAA-BBB-AAA and these do post as separate sectors (at least they did for me for VA earning on DL). The OP's is very different to that and I would be very surprised but delighted for them if AAA-BBB-CCC posts as anything more than AAA-CCC due to it being the same flight number.

Hopefully someone will chime in who has been game enough to book one. I know I looked at various runs with these weird flight numbers and after taking advice here and elsewhere didn't book them.

Sorry, my comments weren't specifically addressed at you, I just happened to use your post as a reference point for the topic in the thread: I guess I was just talking generally to the topic at large.

Yeah, the first example is AAA-BBB-AAA, though the second example is AAA-BBB-CCC, and from my perspective, I don't know enough about AA's timetabling approach to know whether they consider this two separate flights, or whether they view it as AAA to CCC via BBB.

Agree with you.. it'd be helpful to know what others have experienced if they've booked these sectors previously.

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Sorry, my comments weren't specifically addressed at you, I just happened to use your post as a reference point for the topic in the thread: I guess I was just talking generally to the topic at large.

Yeah, the first example is AAA-BBB-AAA, though the second example is AAA-BBB-CCC, and from my perspective, I don't know enough about AA's timetabling approach to know whether they consider this two separate flights, or whether they view it as AAA to CCC via BBB.

Agree with you.. it'd be helpful to know what others have experienced if they've booked these sectors previously.

Actually, it's interesting to note in the second example, the arriving gate for AA1200 DFW-DCA, Gate 31, is different to the departure gate for AA1200 DCA-ORD - Gate 33, so it's potentially not even the same aircraft. This to me would almost indicate they are two different flights rather than a via-flight.

 

[defurax]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Actually, it's interesting to note in the second example, the arriving gate for AA1200 DFW-DCA, Gate 31, is different to the departure gate for AA1200 DCA-ORD - Gate 33, so it's potentially not even the same aircraft. This to me would almost indicate they are two different flights rather than a via-flight.

Not necessarily, QF 18 JFK-LAX-SYD often has a change of aircraft at LAX and still count as a single flight when crediting. I wonder if another way to look at it is if EF shows the flight has having a stop or if it shows two different flights when searching.

Edit: EF indeed gives US895 as a single flight with a stop, so it should credit as a direct SEA-ORD. I guess the simple workaround is to book SEA-PHX with US895 code and PHX-ORD with AA895.

​

 

[JessicaTam]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

I will be in BKK next month and have been looking at a SR whilst there. I can get down to about $4.50/SC with MH crediting to QF (BKK-xKUL-HKG). Has anyone seen anything better recently? I may be heading to SIN/HAN/TPE or HKG during my stay so could add them into the mix.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

When I did my SRs with MH I managed to get it down to about $2.05 with their business promo deals. That was DPS-KUL-HKT return with a HKT-KUL-HKG return nested in there.
The KUL-HKG flights are the best value. Worth trying a few date options to see if the fares change.

 

[Hvr]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

I will be in BKK next month and have been looking at a SR whilst there. I can get down to about $4.50/SC with MH crediting to QF (BKK-xKUL-HKG). Has anyone seen anything better recently? I may be heading to SIN/HAN/TPE or HKG during my stay so could add them into the mix.

See what a TPE-HKG-MNL return (160SCs) prices out for, it can be done in a day albeit a very long day.

TPE-HHG-BKK return (200 SCs).

Or a TPE-HKG-SIN return (240 SCs).

 

[serfty]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I am aware of that. The two examples you have posted are AAA-BBB-AAA and these do post as separate sectors (at least they did for me for VA earning on DL). The OP's is very different to that and I would be very surprised but delighted for them if AAA-BBB-CCC posts as anything more than AAA-CCC due to it being the same flight number.

Hopefully someone will chime in who has been game enough to book one. I know I looked at various runs with these weird flight numbers and after taking advice here and elsewhere didn't book them.

How points and SC's post for such should be in direct relation to how it is ticketed.

If booked and ticketed as AAA-xBBB-xCCC-DDD then it should post as AAA-BBB,BBB-CCC and CCC-DDD.

If booked and ticketed as AAA-xCCC-DDD then it should post as AAA-CCC and CCC-DDD.

Having typed that, I will admit I have not been able/game to book so. The only time I did try, I ran afoul of "married segment" logic. In any case better to avoid all doubt.

...
Edit: EF indeed gives US895 as a single flight with a stop, so it should credit as a direct SEA-ORD. I guess the simple workaround is to book SEA-PHX with US895 code and PHX-ORD with AA895.

As noted, currently most AA flight numbers have a US codeshare of the same number and vice versa. e.g. AA1234 is codeshared on US1234 and US5678 has an AA5678 codeshare. (I have been booking AA numbers in any case due to the better earn at generally the same price.)

This weekend, any US flight numbers for operations beyond October 17th will be removed from the schedules and any booked on such will be transferred to their AA equivalent. (Also, any US booking for travel beyond October 17th (on the SHARES GDS) will be transferred to SABRE and an AA booking reference will be the sole access.)

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What do the QFF T&C's state? Here's the relevant clause:

9.3.3 Points may be earned for each Flight Segment travelled on Eligible Flights by a Member. The number of Points earned is either:
(a) specified in the Airline Earning Tables; or
(b) calculated using the shortest distance on the surface of the globe between the origin and destination of the Flight Segment, regardless of any intermediate stops, at the mileage rates set by Qantas Loyalty.

For mine, a flight booked as AAA-BBB is a flight segment, regardless of having a subsequent BBB-CCC as a transit in the same booking with the same flight number. For a start, having the additional segment results in the taxes, levies and charges being generally higher than for AAA-CCC.

 

[JessicaTam]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

When I did my SRs with MH I managed to get it down to about $2.05 with their business promo deals. That was DPS-KUL-HKT return with a HKT-KUL-HKG return nested in there.
The KUL-HKG flights are the best value. Worth trying a few date options to see if the fares change.

Appreciate the suggestions.
I think I have missed the J sale for now.

And I am not sure that DPS is the place to be

See what a TPE-HKG-MNL return (160SCs) prices out for, it can be done in a day albeit a very long day.

TPE-HHG-BKK return (200 SCs).

Or a TPE-HKG-SIN return (240 SCs).

SIN might be the place to go. $3.90/SC