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.

---

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

 

[JohnK]

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

Actually hoping that AA doesn't do something stupid (for members) with the PEY/Y+ cabin earn before Feb 2016.
Earn your status in starting Jan 2016 and it will hold through Feb 2018.

QFF? soft landing to PS.

It's bound to happen. The gravy train is not going to last forever. The gravy train may have had a chance if not many people were on it but once word gets out and the numbers stand out on some monthly report then they're bound to make changes.

 

[Ric]

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

Hello all,

Presently I am planning my 2016 Alaskan fishing trip in July and would like to get some suggestions from my learned friends here.

What is the most convoluted routing (whY flight direct if you can....) from LAX to ANC?
Looking for the maximun SCs with the best value e.g. YUPP/KUPP(terminology?) fares?

Many thanks,

Ric

 

[levelnine]

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

Hi,

I'm looking to get 70SC by the end of April 2016 to obtain Gold.

I'm based in MEL.

I have three return trips to SYD/CBR that I am yet to book. I am currently counting them in my total as 60SC (3 return trips in Discount Economy), but I could book them as Flexible Economy or Business.

Another option is to do a status run.

What is the most cost effective way of obtaining the final 70SC? Upgrade the SYD/CBR flights or go on a status run. If the latter, what's a good option ex MEL?

Thanks your help!

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

Hi,

I'm looking to get 70SC by the end of April 2016 to obtain Gold.

I'm based in MEL.

I have three return trips to SYD/CBR that I am yet to book. I am currently counting them in my total as 60SC (3 return trips in Discount Economy), but I could book them as Flexible Economy or Business.

Another option is to do a status run.

What is the most cost effective way of obtaining the final 70SC? Upgrade the SYD/CBR flights or go on a status run. If the latter, what's a good option ex MEL?

Thanks your help!

If you mean upgrade with points then that won't help you as you will still earn at the as-booked rate. If you mean 'upgrade' by booking J off the bat then yes, that will work.

 

[whatmeworry]

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

Hi,

I'm looking to get 70SC by the end of April 2016 to obtain Gold.

I'm based in MEL.

I have three return trips to SYD/CBR that I am yet to book. I am currently counting them in my total as 60SC (3 return trips in Discount Economy), but I could book them as Flexible Economy or Business.

Another option is to do a status run.

What is the most cost effective way of obtaining the final 70SC? Upgrade the SYD/CBR flights or go on a status run. If the latter, what's a good option ex MEL?

Thanks your help!

Cheap deathstar flight to Launceston with plus bundle on one or both legs.

 

[TomVexille]

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

Hi,

I'm looking to get 70SC by the end of April 2016 to obtain Gold.

I'm based in MEL.

I have three return trips to SYD/CBR that I am yet to book. I am currently counting them in my total as 60SC (3 return trips in Discount Economy), but I could book them as Flexible Economy or Business.

Another option is to do a status run.

What is the most cost effective way of obtaining the final 70SC? Upgrade the SYD/CBR flights or go on a status run. If the latter, what's a good option ex MEL?

Thanks your help!

To clarify. You need an additional 70 SC on top of the 3 yet to be booked SYD-CBR returns?

 

[RichardMEL]

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

I would consider making the existing trips you have planned work better for you.

You could stay in Disc Y and for example for a MEL-CBR trip, do MEL-SYD-CBR-SYD-MEL (or transit SYD in one direction) it may not add too much cost but give you additional SC, or do one of the trips in flex.

or a flex JQ(or JQ max bundle whatever it is) on SYD-MEL or v.v. could also work.

I wouldn't do an extra status run for this given planned trips you have and the relatively small number of SC's required.

good luck

 

[levelnine]

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

To clarify. You need an additional 70 SC on top of the 3 yet to be booked SYD-CBR returns?

Yes, that's right. I haven't booked them yet, but I've counted them towards my total at the minimum possible rate (10SC each way). I could book them as Flex Y or J. Or I could book them as Discount Y and go on a status run instead to get the additional 70SC.

 

[gizzard]

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

It may depend what is more important to you, cost or time.

Costwise, MEL-CBR for more points is not great value.
Discount Y can be obtained for $179 for 10 SCs
Flex Y is $360 for 20 SCs, so same rate.
J is $750 for 40 so a higher rate.

Unfortunately, going via SYD doesn't improve the rates.

For an SC run on top then you can look at the MEL-SYD-OOL return in Flex Y for $289 each way earning 80 SCs at a much better rate.

 

[RichardMEL]

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

It may depend what is more important to you, cost or time.

Costwise, MEL-CBR for more points is not great value.
Discount Y can be obtained for $179 for 10 SCs
Flex Y is $360 for 20 SCs, so same rate.
J is $750 for 40 so a higher rate.

Unfortunately, going via SYD doesn't improve the rates.

For an SC run on top then you can look at the MEL-SYD-OOL return in Flex Y for $289 each way earning 80 SCs at a much better rate.

Yes, I agree with these. I had read it that since the trips were not booked, but "counted" that that one needed 70SC from 3 CBR trips, but it seems that what levelninep/b] is really saying is that they have planned 3 MEL-CBR trips, at a minimum of 60SC earned, but still will need another 70SC to earn Gold, so basically 130SC to earn by April next year.

It may make sense to do a SC run, eg to OOL, to get those extras. It just seems a pity to me to not be able to leverage, in some way, the existing planned trips in some way to get the SC's that way via existing planned travel rather than another trip. I can see it could be a bit difficult short of a J sale coming up, but even then the MEL-CBR J "sale" prices are only ~500, so still over $10/SC, but one could do 2 of those (eg: MEL-CBR-MEL for 80SC, then the do 2 of the other legs in Flex Y, and Disc Y to get to the total that way, but it would cost more overall than an OOL run). (and that assumes a J sale will come up by then(for travel prior to april) which is not that likely tbh)

Also be careful with OOL now to book connections over SYD now that MEL-OOL is a direct QF service.

 

[levelnine]

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

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into the MEL-xSYD-OOL status run.

 

[Foxxy74]

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

There is a possibility I will need to go to India (Hyderabad) for a few weeks before I leave. If that is the case, does anyone know what sort of points earn I would be looking at for DUR -> JNB -> DOH -> HYD return on a combination of BA and Qatar Airways?

Well it's not India, but I am being sent to Poland for a few days before returning to Australia. I am flying QATAR Airways for 4 segments, 2 of which are 'B' class fares and 2 of which are 'N' class fares. Does anyone know if Status Credits will be earned on the 'N' Class fares? I am thinking I am still going to have to do a status run, just not 100% sure how many points I am going to need. Qatar legs are JNB -> DOH -> WAW (50 SC's I believe) and MUC -> DOH -> JNB (45 SC's I believe if I can earn on the 'N' Class Fare). I am still thinking the NZ option is best, just obviously trying to spend as little as possible to retain WP.
Any assistance appreciated.

 

[CaviAck]

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

Well it's not India, but I am being sent to Poland for a few days before returning to Australia. I am flying QATAR Airways for 4 segments, 2 of which are 'B' class fares and 2 of which are 'N' class fares. Does anyone know if Status Credits will be earned on the 'N' Class fares? I am thinking I am still going to have to do a status run, just not 100% sure how many points I am going to need. Qatar legs are JNB -> DOH -> WAW (50 SC's I believe) and MUC -> DOH -> JNB (45 SC's I believe if I can earn on the 'N' Class Fare). I am still thinking the NZ option is best, just obviously trying to spend as little as possible to retain WP.
Any assistance appreciated.

Won't earn anything on N fares when crediting to QF.

 

[Foxxy74]

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

Won't earn anything on N fares when crediting to QF.

Suspected as much after checking the earning table.

Looks like I will be doing the BNE -> SYD -> CHC -> SYD -> BNE run upon my return to Brisbane !!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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

If you can fly BNE to SYD the night before, (and more so can afford it, doing it individually), you can earn 120 QF SC by flying SYD - CHC in F. Its an EK plane, but carries a QF flight number. Also get to try the QF SYD F lounge, if you have not done so.
If you don't mind flying all in J, then they can all be done on the same PNR by doing a multi city and flying different days.
If you want the SYD - CHC F in the same PNR, you will get an error code if you book online, but will get to join J and F if you do a QF telephone booking.

 

[Rourke]

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

Work is sending me to a few places in China. Surprised about the high SC earn on DragonAir, not that I would recommend hopping in and out of China for a status run! Cities within 90 minutes of HKG including Xiamen and Fuzhou can cost as little as $A110 return and every class earns at least regular Economy, 20SC each way. That's about $2.8 per SC, quite nice for Y.

 

[Awesom Andy]

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

Work is sending me to a few places in China. Surprised about the high SC earn on DragonAir, not that I would recommend hopping in and out of China for a status run! Cities within 90 minutes of HKG including Xiamen and Fuzhou can cost as little as $A110 return and every class earns at least regular Economy, 20SC each way. That's about $2.8 per SC, quite nice for Y.

Are you sure those are class V and above fares? Also, HKG based fares quote the price before tax and surcharges. Only at the end you would find out how much in total you have to pay. From what I can see, you are looking at a minimum of $200 AUD return to earn any SCs.

And speaking of which, flights within 90mins would fall under the 750 miles bracket, where you earn only 10 SC each way. Only full fare Y would earn 20 each way, so you're looking at spending more than $10 per SC.

 

[Rourke]

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

Not certain because they were booked for me in class L. Qantas table shows every DragonAir class at Economy or higher. Skyscanner finds $150 return to Fuzhou for instance, which I thought includes fees but I'm new to that part of the world.

 

[gizzard]

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

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into the MEL-xSYD-OOL status run.

What you could also look at, to tie in with your CBR trips is MEL-xSYD-OOL and then OOL-xSYD-CBR or vv.
The OOL-xSYD-CBR in J can be got for $718 and 80 SCs.

It might be worth a look.

 

[serfty]

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

Not certain because they were booked for me in class L. Qantas table shows every DragonAir class at Economy or higher. ...

Unless it's booked in "Y" class, it will earn as (discount) economy, not "Full" or "Flexible" economy.