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

 

[eminere]

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

shoot! Is that new??? I don't recall there being one previously.

mea culpa! Thanks for the correction!

All good! I'm not sure when that came into play exactly but it was definitely already being levied as of mid last year. I remember looking at flights during one of the usual F sales ex-NZ and thinking to myself that it was at least only NZD7 and not the horrid AUD30 charged for flights ex-AU.

 

[RichardMEL]

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

That's annoying. I've booked and flown 3 or 4 of these since mid last year and simply don't recall seeing an additional charge. must be getting lax !!

 

[wandering_fred]

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

A mileage or status run should always have the opportunity of adding a new country to the "I have visited list".

YMMV - but that comes with the territory of wandering

Fred

 

[David Crowley]

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

Hi all

I am new on here and I am seeking some advice on status runs - my membership renews in August and I will be about 300-400 SC shy of Platinum.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[defurax]

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

Hi all

I am new on here and I am seeking some advice on status runs - my membership renews in August and I will be about 300-400 SC shy of Platinum.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Have you tried reading this thread? http://www.australianfrequentflyer....gram/best-status-run-options-quick-35258.html
An easy run for 320 SC is MEL-SYD-CGK return for AUD1,905 ($5.95/SC).Some people also like going to NZ. If you are in the US, then you'll find some MR at less than $2/SC.

 

[Hvr]

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

Welcome David Crowley a couple of things we need to know:
1) exactly how many SCs do you require?

2) where are you? I.e. what is your home airport?

 

[David Crowley]

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

Thanks for the response Hvr.

1) I am just estimating based on forecast travel but I would aim for 400 SCs
2) my home airport is Brisbane

Thanks

 

[medhead]

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

Well put it this way, say I went to the US for work and had a choice of spending a bit of extra time over there for a break. I could choose to stay in the state I visited for work or fly to another state using some cost effective flights and spend a few days there to experience somewhere different. Were it not for the status credits I may not do those flights.

I'm not planning on doing a status run this year (in fact I've never done one) as I'm too far off from the next status tier to make a run worth it for me, but another year I may visit a state in the US I wouldn't visit were it not for the status credits.

I think it counts if you're using out of the way routings and stuff as part of the holiday.

It is true that a "proper" status run has no purpose to the flying (or hotel staying a.k.a. mattress run) other than simply to accrue status earning points, but one can easily include a SC run to a trip with another purpose

Indeed, I remember visiting CBR a few years back to see friends. Just out of the blue. the SC earn was merely coincidence.

 

[JessicaTam]

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

Time effective for the flights required to get the status.

If you're having a holiday, does it count as a status run?

I am doing a SR from MEL to PTY for a weekend. I am staying there for three nights - does that mean it has become a holiday?

 

[Isochronous]

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

I am doing a SR from MEL to PTY for a weekend. I am staying there for three nights - does that mean it has become a holiday?

Sounds like a good run!

 

[hossein_au]

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

I am doing a SR from MEL to PTY for a weekend. I am staying there for three nights - does that mean it has become a holiday?

Yep, visiting PTY is always a holiday regardless of how long/short the stay is

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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

A lot of ports that QF flies into in Asia now earn 120 SC in J.
/ by 4 if you fly whY or / by 2 if you fly flexY.
400 is a big huge one to go for.
4.5 months, can be achievable by one big huge trip in J to LHR in F/J.
Or many smaller trips.
All depending on the individual, I tend to make mine fast and furious.
Here's mine, have done MEL - AKL in F (120), back in J (80), MEL - WLG in whY (20), WLG - SYD - ADL in J (120), will be doing MEL - SYD in J (40), and a few whY ADL - MEL vv, SYD - BNE, BNE - SYD, SYD - ADL cheap skate.
Thats brings me to 550 all up.
10 return flexYs between BNE - SYD will give you that 400.
Other people like making many smaller trips.
Edit: JessicaTam, you mean going to PTY as in Panama City, if so, wow! That will be a big trip.
>>>
Not considering price, for this one, but will give you 400.
BNE - NRT (J) - 120 one way
NRT - HKG (J) - 80 one way
HKG - NRT (J) - 80 one way
NRT - BNE (J) -120 one way

 

[hossein_au]

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

A lot of ports that QF flies into in Asia now earn 120 SC in J.
/ by 4 if you fly whY or / by 2 if you fly flexY.
400 is a big huge one to go for.
4.5 months, can be achievable by one big huge trip in J to LHR in F/J.
Or many smaller trips.
All depending on the individual, I tend to make mine fast and furious.
Here's mine, have done MEL - AKL in F (120), back in J (80), MEL - WLG in whY (20), WLG - SYD - ADL in J (120), will be doing MEL - SYD in J (40), and a few whY ADL - MEL vv, SYD - BNE, BNE - SYD, SYD - ADL cheap skate.
Thats brings me to 550 all up.
10 return flexYs between BNE - SYD will give you that 400.
Other people like making many smaller trips.
Edit: JessicaTam, you mean going to PTY as in Panama City, if so, wow! That will be a big trip.
>>>
Not considering price, for this one, but will give you 400.
BNE - NRT (J) - 120 one way
NRT - HKG (J) - 80 one way
HKG - NRT (J) - 80 one way
NRT - BNE (J) -120 one way

Would you mind sharing (roughly) how much your suggested itineraries cost?

I am going on a limb here and presume cost *may* impact people's decision on any SC run. For example, one may decide to do a SC run for 400 SCs if it all adds up to, say, $6 per SC, but the same individual may not want to pursue the same if the cost is, say, $12 per SC. Your suggested LHR trip if F/J could cost upwards of $15-$16k. Each to their own, but I sure as hell will not pay that for 400 SCs.

 

[drdpr]

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

Hi all, I have a conference in Washington DC Sept 21-23. Currently Business saver fares to ADL-LAX for $5300 leave Sunday 18th arrive Sunday LAX 8am depart LAX 25th. Would like to do status run on AA first since this is far cheaper anyway then booking direct to ADL-DCA. I have found for 19th LAX-DFW-MIA-DCA then 25th DCA-LAX (plane type 738) arriving LAX 10am with Q A380 flight standard 10pm departure for 1318 USD. There is a non direct which squeezes in Atlanta between DFW-MIA for 1291 USD. But this initial flight from LAX leaves unfriendly time of 1am so not so keen (and only a 32B plane). Any suggested improvements? I am flexible on my dates. Conference does end ~4pm Friday so could do 6pm+ plus flight and happy to stop NY for a day then LAX etc if better plane for return. Will earn 445 status for Qantas flights to LAX. I would like to get reasonably close to the 1200 for platinum renewal. My status calendar falls as a FY basis. Appreciate and tips.

 

[Awesom Andy]

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

Would you mind sharing (roughly) how much your suggested itineraries cost?

The cost of BNE-xNRT-HKG and return would be astronomical. You need to be on QF metal to NRT to get the full points/status instead of whatever partner earn you get. Then you need to get on a partner flight to HKG. You can't even book this on the QF website. Forcing this itinerary through flight matrix returns something around $13k, or more than $32.5 per SC.

I can spend $13k on QF marketed Y internationally to most destinations, and I would be pretty close to renewing WP. Or, to earn 400 SCs, I can go to each of BKK, SIN, HKG, and TYO, on separate saver fare journeys, with a domestic connection. It costs a tad more than 1/3 of $13k.

 

[medhead]

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

The cost of BNE-xNRT-HKG and return would be astronomical. You need to be on QF metal to NRT to get the full points/status instead of whatever partner earn you get. Then you need to get on a partner flight to HKG. You can't even book this on the QF website. Forcing this itinerary through flight matrix returns something around $13k, or more than $32.5 per SC.

I can spend $13k on QF marketed Y internationally to most destinations, and I would be pretty close to renewing WP. Or, to earn 400 SCs, I can go to each of BKK, SIN, HKG, and TYO, on separate saver fare journeys, with a domestic connection. It costs a tad more than 1/3 of $13k.

I'd suggest it'd be better to book BNE-NRT-BNE, with a nested NRT-HKG-NRT. This doesn't remove the point that this thread isn't just about looking at a route map and picking the leg with the highest SC earn.

An optimised Status run is going to involve connections on those flights where they can be had for a small marginal extra cost. Not point to point flights. Poochie being ADL based is ideally set for that sort of caper. Without actually checking I'd guess ADL-NRT in J will cost about the same as BNE-NRT. If that ends up as ADL-BNE-NRT then there is 180 SC in one direction or 360 for the return. That's almost the magical 400, without adding in a NRT-HKG.

I won't go on, the name of the status run game is to find the good connecting routes.

AustraliaPoochie Looking at interesting point to point SC earning is very interesting. The trouble is that isn't the topic of this thread. Perhaps you might like to start a new thread about interesting routes?

edit: and here is the interesting route thread.. http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/why-fly-direct-75294.html

 

[hossein_au]

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

The cost of BNE-xNRT-HKG and return would be astronomical. You need to be on QF metal to NRT to get the full points/status instead of whatever partner earn you get. Then you need to get on a partner flight to HKG. You can't even book this on the QF website. Forcing this itinerary through flight matrix returns something around $13k, or more than $32.5 per SC.

I can spend $13k on QF marketed Y internationally to most destinations, and I would be pretty close to renewing WP. Or, to earn 400 SCs, I can go to each of BKK, SIN, HKG, and TYO, on separate saver fare journeys, with a domestic connection. It costs a tad more than 1/3 of $13k.

Exactly! I was trying to point out the flaw as politely as possible

 

[RichardMEL]

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

if only we all had unlimited budgets this thread wouldn't be needed, we'd all do trips to europe or LAX/DFW in F and all be P1 ...

Liking the idea of nesting a Japan-asia trip out of BNE. Possibly even a JQ sector to/from Japan with a Business Max bundle could work too for SC earn and to save some $$. Another option may be to head to BKK and do one of those MH runs through MNL.

And of course, one could also achieve 400 SC with a couple of BNE-AKL-BNE's in J/F (just wait for the next J sale that co-incides with a F sale ex-NZ) which could work out to something along the lines of ~$1400 or so for 200 SC and possible in a day or overnight if time is an issue.

there is also the question that if one is projecting to only earn 800 SC (so retain Gold) is it worth basically doing another 50% SC earn on top in 4 or so months to renew WP? It suggests travel 2016/17 would want to be enough to warrant the status.. so there's probably a cost/benefit analysis (and not just $$ but time taken too) involved in terms of deciding if this goal is reasonable or not (but it's a personal choice we all make at some point I think)

 

[medhead]

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

I'm trying not to brag,
but about to set off to earn 420 SC in 23 hours (plus driving to the airport) for $1700.
I think the cost/benefit/time analysis is fairly positive.

 

[Pushka]

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

I'm trying not to brag,
but about to set off to earn 420 SC in 23 hours (plus driving to the airport) for $1700.
I think the cost/benefit/time analysis is fairly positive.

Brag away!
Is this the trip you've talked of for a while? Where are you off to?