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

 

[Moindardt]

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

I'll be doing my first AA status run next northern summer. The most appropriate dates for me are at the start of July 2016, which I initially thought would be a difficult time due to the 4th of July but it seems prices for flights and overnight hotel stays are very reasonable. I've found flights at US$2.27/SC and I'm happy with that.

I'm combining this with ex-EU flights on BA to get to the US and wanted to know about how long it is taking for SCs to post to QF accounts from BA and AA. My membership year ends in July. Apologies if this question is answered previously in this thread (I did search but couldn't find anything).

Couple of pointers:

Just be aware, it is insanely busy. We did 16 flights in a week and every flight was oversold, not a single seat on the plane. They were paying about $300US for people to skip the flight. Apparently it is a past-time to book on oversold flights and take the payment and see how many you can get in a day. Making money without leaving the airport.

Also the storms, DFW regularly gets shut down for a couple of hours. It can get very cold during storms. We were stuck in shorts and T-Shirt at it was 12 degrees. Make sure you get the blankets on the plane and guard them. People in coach try to steal them as they are walking past. Be prepared for delayed flights and how do you get back to home port (especially if you have a 5am flight out of there).

Use your priority boarding because coach try to take all the overhead luggage in First.

Points post in 1-2 days, but keep all your boarding passes and e-tickets just in case.

 

[Mick1969]

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

Although it has been previously posted PTY is still offering good value, I just priced LAX-DFW-MIA-PTY-MIA-ORD-LAS for $708USD and 510 SC in Feb 2016.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Rebekkap, try this. Edit: it was Mms 498 that asked. Sorry Rebekkap, thought it was you.
SYD-AKL-EK metal with a QF flight number in F. Gives you a taste of the F lounge at SYDint.
AKL-CHC-JQ to earn a measly 10 SC.
CHC-SYD-EK metal with a QF flight number in F. No QF lounge, but the Manaia is not too bad.
This would give 250 QF SC.
Do the EK metal QF flight number and the JQ on each's own website though.

 

[eminere]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Rebekkap, try this. Edit: it was Mms 498 that asked. Sorry Rebekkap, thought it was you.
SYD-AKL-EK metal with a QF flight number in F. Gives you a taste of the F lounge at SYDint.
AKL-CHC-JQ to earn a measly 10 SC.
CHC-SYD-EK metal with a QF flight number in F. No QF lounge, but the Manaia is not too bad.
This would give 250 QF SC.
Do the EK metal QF flight number and the JQ on each's own website though.

And does all this cost not more than $2,000?

 

[trixydoza]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

SYD-AKL-EK metal with a QF flight number in F. Gives you a taste of the F lounge at SYDint.
AKL-CHC-JQ to earn a measly 10 SC.
CHC-SYD-EK metal with a QF flight number in F.

What days before October 31 do you see that for less than $2,000?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Alas, must admit, nothing under $25xx.xx.

 

[TomVexille]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Alas, must admit, nothing under $25xx.xx.

Which at over $10/SC is very poor value

 

[ShaneN]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I am about 240 SC short of Platinum... any recommendations for a run ex-SYD. Happy to spend up to $2k. 31 Oct year end for me

Sydney to Darwin via Brisbane (or Adelaide) return earns 240 SCs in business, and is often available for about the same price as direct flights i.e. $2190 return for various dates in October.

 

[TimB]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I am about 240 SC short of Platinum... any recommendations for a run ex-SYD. Happy to spend up to $2k. 31 Oct year end for me

Assuming you can spend the time, SYD-LAX in Y return is $1147; with the remaining ~$850, getting the rest of the SCs (160) ex-LAX is pretty easy. But it'll take 3 days minimum.

 

[trixydoza]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

A tad over, but there are dates where you can fly to Jakarta for AUD2107.98 and earn 240 SCs.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

While going to AKL is expensive and the $ per SC earn is a lot, its one way to get into F lounge at SYDint/MELint.
Nearly all the Asian QF flights nowadays don't have F, going F from SYD - SIN with BA F is $3000 odd one way. And the SC earn is only 60.
Anyway, I will be using some of the SYD/MEL - AKL or SYD - CHC in F (one way) and coming back in J route to retain SG or at least go back to PS this upcoming 12 months.

 

[GalaxyNexus]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I don't think you need to collect any SC to go back to PS. From SG you'll soft-land to PS.

I like taking cheap return flights to AKL/CHC though (usually JQ or QF on sale in Y), just to get a reason to drop by the F lounge

 

[TomVexille]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

While going to AKL is expensive and the $ per SC earn is a lot, its one way to get into F lounge at SYDint/MELint.
Nearly all the Asian QF flights nowadays don't have F, going F from SYD - SIN with BA F is $3000 odd one way. And the SC earn is only 60.
Anyway, I will be using some of the SYD/MEL - AKL or SYD - CHC in F (one way) and coming back in J route to retain SG or at least go back to PS this upcoming 12 months.

But the F lounge isn't the point. And that's a lot of extra to pay for a meal and a few drinks.

 

[eminere]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

While going to AKL is expensive and the $ per SC earn is a lot, its one way to get into F lounge at SYDint/MELint.

Access to the First lounge is not the goal here.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Ok, last one on this thread...
If I try to retain SG this anniversary year (for me to Aug 16), then I will have a soft landing to PS in the next cycle.
My AFF Silver end about Jan 17.
Will then decide, maybe less number of NZ trips, only go once a year return in J, instead of many trips in Y. VFF will go back to NR.
SG does not guarantee a "shadow" but J does.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Ok, last one on this thread...
If I try to retain SG this anniversary year (for me to Aug 16), then I will have a soft landing to PS in the next cycle.
My AFF Silver end about Jan 17.
Will then decide, maybe less number of NZ trips, only go once a year return in J, instead of many trips in Y. VFF will go back to NR.
SG does not guarantee a "shadow" but J does.

Are you asking a question AP?
Or just stating your intention to drop to silver in QFF and Red in Velocity ?
Neither SG nor travelling in J to NZ will guarantee you a "shadow" :?:

 

[medhead]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I am about 240 SC short of Platinum... any recommendations for a run ex-SYD. Happy to spend up to $2k. 31 Oct year end for me

What time availability do you have? Are there airlines you're not prepared to fly? I think I'm picking up 215 SC for $1500 in 2.5 days. It's not going to be pretty, there is medium haul economy involved. With some better planning I could've done 335 SC for $1750. But this doesn't require a trip to the USA.

If you don't want to do ugly, the EK F option between Oz and NZ might work. I'm not sure if the special prices are still on but book the EK first legs starting in AKL. cheapie flight to position to AKL. This would probably require an overnight.

 

[mms498]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

What time availability do you have? Are there airlines you're not prepared to fly? I think I'm picking up 215 SC for $1500 in 2.5 days. It's not going to be pretty, there is medium haul economy involved. With some better planning I could've done 335 SC for $1750. But this doesn't require a trip to the USA.

If you don't want to do ugly, the EK F option between Oz and NZ might work. I'm not sure if the special prices are still on but book the EK first legs starting in AKL. cheapie flight to position to AKL. This would probably require an overnight.

Pretty agnostic... a NZ run is the easiest one but I've been to NZ more times than I care to recall so happy to spice it up a touch and make a weekend of it.

Your run sounds interesting medhead... care to share?

 

[snabbu]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

While going to AKL is expensive and the $ per SC earn is a lot, its one way to get into F lounge at SYDint/MELint.

Pooch u know there's no F lounge at SYDdom/MELdom right?

 

[medhead]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Pretty agnostic... a NZ run is the easiest one but I've been to NZ more times than I care to recall so happy to spice it up a touch and make a weekend of it.

Your run sounds interesting medhead... care to share?

The info is fairly transparently available on the website. I managed to find it. A bit of research will also find what I'm doing. So I'm not hiding the information as such. But rather than just post it outright here, I've sent a PM.