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

 

[defurax]

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

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

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

I also see TPE-KUL-CGK at $3.58/SC (240 SCs)

 

[esseeeayeenn]

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

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

They used to recurr regularly - though I am not sure if this will continue after the restructure.

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

No - I wasn't suggesting you reproduce my itinerary!
However I noticed the cheapest best SC value fares were available for multi-sector itineraries from departures from outside Malaysia, via KUL, to destinations outside Malaysia.
Single sector itineraries, and itineraries starting or ending within Malaysia, were not as heavily discounted.
So as DPS is out of favour, BKK/HKT-KUL-HKG return might be a good alternative.
You can also do open jaws - on my second trip I did DPS-KUL-BKK with MH flew BKK-HKT with PG then returned HKT-KUL-DPS with MH.

 

[Hvr]

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.

<snip>

Am just looking at flights in the US and have come across this issue as well. The same flight number is used from MIA-SJU and then 60 minutes later on the return trip SJU-MIA.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Am just looking at flights in the US and have come across this issue as well. The same flight number is used from MIA-SJU and then 60 minutes later on the return trip SJU-MIA.

That should be fine though as they are clearly two different sectors. Even if they don't post properly you shouldn't have any problem chasing it up with BPs

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

That should be fine though as they are clearly two different sectors. Even if they don't post properly you shouldn't have any problem chasing it up with BPs

I agree... what are they going to claim the flights are otherwise? MIA-MIA via SJU?

 

[Hvr]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

That should be fine though as they are clearly two different sectors. Even if they don't post properly you shouldn't have any problem chasing it up with BPs

Not really worried, if I book it they will be on separate bookings. I like the fact that it will be the same plane down there and straight away returning. No problems with late arrival etc.

 

[JessicaTam]

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

They used to recurr regularly - though I am not sure if this will continue after the restructure.



No - I wasn't suggesting you reproduce my itinerary!
However I noticed the cheapest best SC value fares were available for multi-sector itineraries from departures from outside Malaysia, via KUL, to destinations outside Malaysia.
Single sector itineraries, and itineraries starting or ending within Malaysia, were not as heavily discounted.
So as DPS is out of favour, BKK/HKT-KUL-HKG return might be a good alternative.
You can also do open jaws - on my second trip I did DPS-KUL-BKK with MH flew BKK-HKT with PG then returned HKT-KUL-DPS with MH.

Transitting Malaysia from another country is the way to go. TPE-xKUL-CGK (above) is about the best value. Just have to factor in the flight to TPE.

 

[coriander]

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

Thanks for the overnight tip, CT, I hadn't considered it: using Matrix-ITA, I was able to get 540SC by doing SFO-xLAX-LAS-DFW-LASx-LAX-ORD-SFO for US$1940 (0700-1022+1), which translates to ~AU$4.80 per SC. I can get 500SC for US$220 less by flying the SFO-LAX on AmEagle and LAX-LAS leg later in the morning but then have to fly DFW-LAX direct to get back on track. I can't select the DFW-PHX-LAX flight on either Google or Matrix-ITA (it gives me DFW-LAS-LAX, though).

Now to do a cost/benefit analysis for WP status to be in better position to select award flights in 2017.

 

[comforttravel]

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

On checking the American Airlines booking site, the DFW-PHX-LAX is offered, so the 45min connecting time in PHX must be permissible. However the DFW-LAS-LAX (AA88/AA23) gives a slightly longer connection time in both DFW and LAS, and would probably be preferable and still gives the same SCs.

 

[snabbu]

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

And I'm guessing via PHX would be on US where via LAS would be AA, which is again preferable IMO.

 

[comforttravel]

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

I agree that AA would be preferable. Your guess is ½ correct, the DFW-PHX is AA metal (32B aircraft scheduled on oneworld timetable) while PHX-LAX is UA.
On reflection, from my experience, just because the timetable shows two connecting flights, the booking may be denied because the transit time is less than the MCT. My experience was a connection of 1h 55m from AA to QF at LAX was denied because it didn't meet the MCT of 2h 0m. This was after AA rescheduled the flight to be 90m later. Hence on doing a run for SCs you need to be sure that the MCT is met. It may be airport dependent.

 

[Moindardt]

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

Thanks for the overnight tip, CT, I hadn't considered it: using Matrix-ITA, I was able to get 540SC by doing SFO-xLAX-LAS-DFW-LASx-LAX-ORD-SFO for US$1940 (0700-1022+1), which translates to ~AU$4.80 per SC. I can get 500SC for US$220 less by flying the SFO-LAX on AmEagle and LAX-LAS leg later in the morning but then have to fly DFW-LAX direct to get back on track. I can't select the DFW-PHX-LAX flight on either Google or Matrix-ITA (it gives me DFW-LAS-LAX, though).

Now to do a cost/benefit analysis for WP status to be in better position to select award flights in 2017.

$4.80/SC is massively expensive in the US. 360SC run in a day with a stop over at a $50 airport hotel and then a simple 180SC run would be far better. I picked a lot of better planes or flights and still was getting $2.70-$3.00 There are a lot of flights that are significantly cheaper because they leave between 5-6am. Pick places like Austin, John Wayne or Palm Beach International. Get an Amex Platinum card because the Amex Centurion lounges are great (only tried DFW and LAS).

Don't do too much because one little delay and the whole thing falls apart.

 

[Moindardt]

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

45-55min connection time is fine. We just did about 8 connections like that last week and only ran once because our DFW to LAX went around a storm and docked at the other end of the terminal. We still made priority boarding.

We only had one connection which was a problem and that was when storms in DFW delayed our LAS-DFW by an hour and a half and we would have missed the last flight to ORD (Chicago), so they put us on a direct LAS-ORD flight in Y (OMG). Still trying to get the original routing credits sorted.

We took 14 AA flights last week and all were full with standby and most oversold with standby, so don't assume you can just get on the next plane if you miss your connection.

Make sure you keep all your boarding passes and e-tickets until the points post. If something goes wrong and you don't have them, it is so much harder to chase.

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximise SC

Thanks so much again for all of your help. I've gone ahead and booked Very pleased and now have a lot more knowledge

 

[cove]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Ok we are often near LAX so going to PTY is not out of the question. To get into Panama City do we need any special visa? How do I get AA to credit status credits to Qantas? Is there a suitable and safe airport hotel there and just how many status credits will this earn for LAX-PTY- LAX?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Ok we are often near LAX so going to PTY is not out of the question. To get into Panama City do we need any special visa? How do I get AA to credit status credits to Qantas? Is there a suitable and safe airport hotel there and just how many status credits will this earn for LAX-PTY- LAX?

Australians don't need a visa to enter Panama. You should just add your QF number into the AA reservation and it should credit within 7 days. Not sure about hotels and airports so many others can chime into that. Do you have the routing for LAX-PTY-LAX? if its just LAX-PTY-LAX then its 200SC in J and 300SC in F.

 

[cove]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

We were thinking of a long cut so at least 2 stops each way for a 12 plus hour status run (each way) to get to Panama City and back.

 

[kreuky]

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

Anyone got good domestic runs out of SFO? I found SFO-ORD-MIA-ATL-CLT-MCI-ORD-SFO @ US$2.39 per SC, over a weekend, though requires overnight in ATL.

 

[Flyer Frank]

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

Hi All,

Long time lurker, first time poster

I'm not a regular flyer for business so have not previously reached PS however I am now 160 SC away from PS. I have a trip to Auckland (ex Sydney) soon and if I travel in J then I can earn 160 for the round trip. I am tempted by LAN's $780 return, especially as they are now flying a 787 on the route; however that price is only available direct from LAN. If the trip is booked through Qantas with a QF codeshare number then the cost is more like $1300 return. As far as I can tell, I would have to book on the QF flight number to get the 160 SCs; if I booked through LAN then this would only be worth 80 SCs.

Am I correct here? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Cheers

 

[eminere]

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

I'm not a regular flyer for business so have not previously reached PS however I am now 160 SC away from PS. I have a trip to Auckland (ex Sydney) soon and if I travel in J then I can earn 160 for the round trip. I am tempted by LAN's $780 return, especially as they are now flying a 787 on the route; however that price is only available direct from LAN. If the trip is booked through Qantas with a QF codeshare number then the cost is more like $1300 return. As far as I can tell, I would have to book on the QF flight number to get the 160 SCs; if I booked through LAN then this would only be worth 80 SCs.

Am I correct here? Does anyone have any experience with this?

You are correct on all counts. It therefore comes down to how much you value those status credits and attaining Silver.