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

 

[hossein_au]

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

It is always fun trying to decipher AustraliaPoochie's posts

 

[RichardMEL]

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

MEL - AKL - MEL in J for $1134 (160 SCs) as a day trip ($7.25/SC).

That's not the worst (and would give me the 145 SCs needed).

Am I likely to find anything closer to $1000 for similar SCs?

F was on sale ex-AKL at the same time, so one could get J out for $600 or so ($660 QF code on EK) and NZD 899 AKL back to oz in F. 200SC for ~$1400ish is not bad work. I've done this a few times.

 

[RichardMEL]

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

So, today's MEL-AKL-MEL SC run on EK406/EK407 has not gotten off to the best start - EK406 (DXB-MEL segment) diverted to ADL due to weather, and now scheduled to leave MEL five hours late!

I'm assuming it's highly likely they'll turn the same plane around as EK407, so the delay shouldn't cause me to completely miss the return flight. However, I'll have much less time in AKL than expected - how long does it take to turn around an A380, perhaps 1 - 1.5 hours?

Hence, I'm wondering if anyone who has done the same run knows whether I have to clear customs in AKL, or whether I can just head to the airside transit area? I'm assuming I can (just transit), but would like to double-check in advance to save time in AKL. I already have my BP for the return, in case that makes any difference.

Thanks!

Well you of course found the answer (no) and returned on the same plane getting back into MEL around 2 hours late IIRC?

As it happens I was on this flight too (in F) and it was a fun day.

The "weather" was partially the reason for the delay. What happened was that the ILS for Runway 16 @ MEL was down (maintenance) and 380's can't use 9/27 (which was up) so EK406 and QF94(ex LAX) were diverted - EK to ADL and QF to SYD. I understand from hearing some peed off pax that 406 actually circled MEL and lowered gear... then diverted! A lot of connections to QF MEL-WLG missed and they had to stick it out through ADL then onto AKL and finally onto WLG (I wonder if they got there Sun night). Horror day but not much EK could do about it.

for me I wound up spending 7 hours approx in the F lounge. Poochie might think this is a great thing, but it gets old real fast specially one has gotten up at 0400!

I did walk through J on that MEL-AKL sector and J was *EMPTY* - I reckon about 20% full? I was also shocked that only 3 of us in F and nobody had apparently been upgraded as a courtesy with the delay.

I had the same crew coming back last night (all on time) and we had a nice little chat about it all

 

[Pushka]

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

F was on sale ex-AKL at the same time, so one could get J out for $600 or so ($660 QF code on EK) and NZD 899 AKL back to oz in F. 200SC for ~$1400ish is not bad work. I've done this a few times.

And I have a 50% status credit offer as of last week. 300 sc for $1400ish is even better.

 

[wafliron]

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

Wafliron you are back! Turning an A380 around tends to take 90 to 120 minutes.

Kinda, cove - I still lurk from time-to-time (and pop up to ask the odd question), but I just don't seem to be able to find the time anymore to be an "active" participant on AFF :-|

Well you of course found the answer (no) and returned on the same plane getting back into MEL around 2 hours late IIRC?

Correct.

As it happens I was on this flight too (in F) and it was a fun day.

Hah, really? I was in F too. IIRC there were only two of us in F, so you must've been the gentleman in 2K?

The "weather" was partially the reason for the delay. What happened was that the ILS for Runway 16 @ MEL was down (maintenance) and 380's can't use 9/27 (which was up) so EK406 and QF94(ex LAX) were diverted - EK to ADL and QF to SYD.

Interesting, thanks. I assume what you mean here is that the weather was bad enough that ILS was required to land, but was offline for maintenance on runway 16? i.e. if ILS had been online, or if the weather had been better, no diversion would've been necessary?

for me I wound up spending 7 hours approx in the F lounge. Poochie might think this is a great thing, but it gets old real fast specially one has gotten up at 0400!

I'm with you on that - I was in the F lounge by about 7am and had well and truly had enough of lounges by the time the flight eventually departed. I actually switched to the new EK lounge for the last hour or so, just for some variety - not as good as the QF F lounge, but still a nice lounge all-in-all.

 

[wafliron]

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

So, today's MEL-AKL-MEL SC run on EK406/EK407 has not gotten off to the best start - EK406 (DXB-MEL segment) diverted to ADL due to weather, and now scheduled to leave MEL five hours late!

I'm assuming it's highly likely they'll turn the same plane around as EK407, so the delay shouldn't cause me to completely miss the return flight. However, I'll have much less time in AKL than expected - how long does it take to turn around an A380, perhaps 1 - 1.5 hours?

Hence, I'm wondering if anyone who has done the same run knows whether I have to clear customs in AKL, or whether I can just head to the airside transit area? I'm assuming I can (just transit), but would like to double-check in advance to save time in AKL. I already have my BP for the return, in case that makes any difference.

I'm going to comprehensively answer my own question, for the benefit of anyone else searching for the same info in the future:

- The same plane turned around to fly the return leg, although based on some checking I did on FlightRadar24 this isn't always the case (I assume sometimes the plane that flew, e.g., EK406, is turned around to operate EK413 AKL-SYD or EK435 AKL-BNE instead of EK407 AKL-MEL).

- I did not need to clear customs in Auckland, just went through international transit and straight back out into the airside international departure area. I reckon this took no more than about 10 minutes from the moment I stepped off the plane (helped by the fact there was literally no other pax at international transit when I arrived).

- My BP for the return flight - printed and given to me when I checked-in @ MEL - was all I needed to board the return flight, no further checks of any sort required in AKL (I double-checked at the EK lounge in Auckland).

- Turnaround was fast - I didn't time it, but I reckon no more than 90 minutes.

- Going to stuff some keywords in here for future searchers - the same info would be relevant to anyone flying EK412 & EK413 (SYD-AKL-SYD / Sydney - Auckland - Sydney) or EK434 & EK435 (BNE - AKL - BNE / Brisbane - Auckland - Brisbane).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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

Most important to me though, is on the way back into Aust, did you use Smartgate, or the staffed counter?

 

[wafliron]

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

Most important to me though, is on the way back into Aust, did you use Smartgate, or the staffed counter?

Who is your question directed at? Me?

 

[Loga2015]

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

My Qantas Anniversary is 20th April. I will get to Silver by Easter, and have 185 SC left. What is the cheapest option to do a domestic run before end of April? Is it worth doing it before Anniversary, or do a run to re qualify silver after April?

 

[JessicaTam]

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

My Qantas Anniversary is 20th April. I will get to Silver by Easter, and have 185 SC left. What is the cheapest option to do a domestic run before end of April? Is it worth doing it before Anniversary, or do a run to re qualify silver after April?

What do you mean by you will 'have 185 SC left' ? If you mean over and above what you needed for Silver, it will be zeroed at your anniversary.

If you have 185 SC needed to reach gold then it will cost in the order of $1-2k to earn that.

Lastly, where are you based?

 

[RichardMEL]

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

Hah, really? I was in F too. IIRC there were only two of us in F, so you must've been the gentleman in 2K?

I was in 3K, and a Business type was in 1K so there were 3 of us

Gentleman though - that's pushing the bounds of accuracy

Interesting, thanks. I assume what you mean here is that the weather was bad enough that ILS was required to land, but was offline for maintenance on runway 16? i.e. if ILS had been online, or if the weather had been better, no diversion would've been necessary?

yes, pretty much. As you'd recall the weather had improved enough that by 8050 or so when EK404 arrived from SIN it was able to dock at gate 11. At one point I thought they could use that 380 to fund MEL-AKL (since it sits on the ground till 1900) but then realised that the incoming 406 had a ton of through pax so they wouldn't do that.

I'm with you on that - I was in the F lounge by about 7am and had well and truly had enough of lounges by the time the flight eventually departed. I actually switched to the new EK lounge for the last hour or so, just for some variety - not as good as the QF F lounge, but still a nice lounge all-in-all.

Funny. I thought about doing the same but I just couldn't be bothered by 1100 and the 2nd SQ arrival I was not feeling motivated for much. Heck part of me wanted to ask for QF F lunch, or at least the S&P squid but nope. lol

Aside: no real contact from QF or EK since. Maybe I shouldn't expect any but you'd hope even an auto generated email saying "hey sorry you had this huge delay" or something might have been nice. Some other airlines do this as a matter of course in my experience. No biggie and I'm not after compensation (stuff happens) or the like, but it might have been nice. The most I got was one text saying the flight had been delayed till 0900, then nothing. Obviously I was monitoring other sources of information (and the lounge did make some announcements too)

 

[RichardMEL]

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

My Qantas Anniversary is 20th April. I will get to Silver by Easter, and have 185 SC left. What is the cheapest option to do a domestic run before end of April? Is it worth doing it before Anniversary, or do a run to re qualify silver after April?

Assume you actually mean anniversary is April 30, not 20

if you'd need 185 SC to make Gold, ie 515 SC earned prior to April, then it's do-able but not cheap. Depending on where you're based something like MEL-SYD-OOL r/t in J would get 160 SC for ~$1350ish (or SYD-MEL-OOL) then could tag on discount Y flights say to position, or say MEL-ADL-MEL/SYD-CBR/BNE-SYD or something similar.

Another domestic option could be say MEL-BNE-DRW/TSV or similar.

OOL is usually the best option for higher earning SC's (specially in paid J) from the east coast IMHO.

 

[RichardMEL]

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

Most important to me though, is on the way back into Aust, did you use Smartgate, or the staffed counter?

Why is this so important?

I understand the context - you are concerned about questions for a day return from Border Farce and hope to bypass by using SmartGate..

Why would one NOT use SmartGate?

And remmeber no matter if you talk to a human or a machine customers can and may sitll stop you for a random check. Though I haven't had that since 2012 or so but hey that's their job and what they do and not a concern for any traveller with nothing to hide.

With MEL now having out bound SmartGate (YAY!) it's simplicity itself. And arriving on Monday off EK407 I exited the aircraft at 2051 and was at the bus stop at 2057. Couldn't be easier.

Sorry Pooch but you strike me as a rather fearful traveller in this respect with absolutely NO reason for it that I can see. Immigration/Customers(Border Force) don't CARE if you do a day return to AKL or whatever. they'd care more if it was BKK or something, but the bottom line is you're not doing anything illegal or wrong. And guess what if customs stop you (or me) and ask and want to look at HLO then that's their job, and there's nothing to hide. So what is the issue if one uses smart gate or talks to an agent?

I really don't get it.

As it is Smart Gate is the easiest and quickest way to go for one with an e-passport. I wouldn't bother with a human to save time. Like I said 6 minutes docking to bus. Beautiful.

my 3 cents

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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

One look from the 2 band officer and I fall to bit mate.
I always use incoming Smartgate, its when they collect the Smartgate that is the lottery. Will they or won't they, but as an Aust citizen now, I am a bit more relaxed than before as an Aust PR visa holder.
To keep on thread topic: will try to do ADL - SYD (Y), SYD - CHC (F), CHC - SYD (am flight), SYD - ADL 16.40pm flight (J) this Jul. Gives me time to see the SYD dom J lounge in daylight.
Should then give me over 600 SC to keep SG.
Right now, flown 330, have booking of 100, planned (not booked) 60 WLG - SYD - ADL comfort seat, then ADL - SYD in Y (10), SYD - CHC in F (120), CHC - SYD - ADL in J (120).

 

[RichardMEL]

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

One look from the 2 band officer and I fall to bit mate.
I always use incoming Smartgate, its when they collect the Smartgate that is the lottery. Will they or won't they, but as an Aust citizen now, I am a bit more relaxed than before as an Aust PR visa holder.
To keep on thread topic: will try to do ADL - SYD (Y), SYD - CHC (F), CHC - SYD (am flight), SYD - ADL 16.40pm flight (J) this Jul. Gives me time to see the SYD dom J lounge in daylight.
Should then give me over 600 SC to keep SG.
Right now, flown 330, have booking of 100, planned (not booked) 60 WLG - SYD - ADL comfort seat, then ADL - SYD in Y (10), SYD - CHC in F (120), CHC - SYD - ADL in J (120).

Just ensure your flights over and back are not separate PNR's (bookings). Or rather ADL-SYD-CHC is one PNR, CHC-SYD-ADL is a 2nd. That way you would be protected by QF/EK if things go belly up (as they did for many last Sunday - rare, but it happens).

As for being nervous when you approach a customers or immigration officer... you do realise that if it's obvious they will pick up on that and likely find you more "interesting" to question if you appear nervous or anxious. I get you can't help it if that's how you feel but they do train to spot body language and the likes. My point was to not try to have a go at you but to remind you that all of this is absolutely 100% legal and above board and there's nothing, absolutely nothing, one should be nervous or anxious about. If one is questioned (unlikely then it's still no big deal. you're on a mileage run, or wanted to try F on EK, or whatever. The Truth will set you free my friend.

as for SYD dom J. really if you weren't too impressed by MEL F then I really wouldn't spend a lot of time in SYD dom J IMHO. In fact I rate your local ADL QP as a higher quality experience - the staff are lovely, the changes to bring around drinks and snacks and give table service is great and it's a nice big area. SYD dom J can be insanely busy and crowded at times - perhaps the only reason to spend time there might be to try the "dinner" plates but even that is debateable. Each to their own I guess.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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

I have tried a lot of the Qantas lounges around Au, so am just trying the others that I have not seen, or not seen during the daytime.
My last trip was in EK J with a QF flight number, (the pm flight from CHC - SYD - ADL), saw the SYD dom J lounge in dim muted lighting!
I might have to do separately the Au - NZ booking, and the one coming back, as its cheaper to do the flight back in NZD$ than AUD$.
Thanks for your views about our friends in dark blue though.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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

On your anniversary, Loga2015, your 185 SC left, is not "left". With Qantas, it resets to zero.
Lets say, so if on your anniversary day (before midnight), you have 485 SC, you will be PS at 300, and that precious 185 SC disappears from your Qantas FF account!
It will count to lifetime Silver, but it goes on the dot at the last date of your anniversary month.
I had 855 SC by the end of 31 Jul 15, I had made SG (600 SC) in Dec 14 though, so keep SG till Jul 16.
But my excess over the 600 of 855 SC (ie, 255 SC) does not count to WP/P1, it disappeared.
Edit: if you have enough points by 20Apr16 to attain PS, don't do any more flights till after that date, ie, you can fly 21Apr16, and start the meter from the 21.

 

[Steady]

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

I have tried a lot of the Qantas lounges around Au, so am just trying the others that I have not seen, or not seen during the daytime.

AP - you should try to fly QF Dom out of PER in J - on a pm departure - that's a nice lounge.

The DRW QP is also worth a look IMO

 

[Loga2015]

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

What do you mean by you will 'have 185 SC left' ? If you mean over and above what you needed for Silver, it will be zeroed at your anniversary.

If you have 185 SC needed to reach gold then it will cost in the order of $1-2k to earn that.

Lastly, where are you based?

Oops!

I mean Ill have 185 points left out of 255 to reach Gold(currently 245/300 Silver) . I am based out of Melbourne.

 

[JessicaTam]

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

Oops!

I mean Ill have 185 points left out of 255 to reach Gold(currently 245/300 Silver) . I am based out of Melbourne.

You know that you need 700 to reach gold, not 500?