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

 

[map]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I am doing a JASA SYD-xBNE-TSV return this Saturday, arriving TSV at 10:55 and departing for the return leg at 16:40.

Is the QP at TSV any good (thinking of using the complimentary QP pass I received with my PS pack) or is there something worthwhile I can do in TSV in that amount of time?

Sorry if this comes across as ignorant about the sights and wonders of TSV, I promise to invest in an extended stay at some stage!

 

[markis10]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I am doing a JASA SYD-xBNE-TSV return this Saturday, arriving TSV at 10:55 and departing for the return leg at 16:40.

Is the QP at TSV any good (thinking of using the complimentary QP pass I received with my PS pack) or is there something worthwhile I can do in TSV in that amount of time?

Sorry if this comes across as ignorant about the sights and wonders of TSV, I promise to invest in an extended stay at some stage!

If you are on a JASA you wont need to use your pass, the QP is small but comfortable enough, and going into town is difficult and expensive with no bus service until the end of the month.

 

[tm.smile]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

You can always try to get on the earlier flight. Only problem is explaining why you turned right back ;-)

 

[QF WP]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Go down to the 'See" and "Do" areas in the Wikitravel page. Personally, I'd get a Sunbus into town:

The Airport Shuttle service operates regularly between Townsville Airport, city, selected hotels and the Sunferries Ferry Terminal for $10 each way. Telephone +61-7-4775-5544(8:30AM-6PM)

and take a walk up Castle Hill (fantastic view) and then chill down by The Strand. Then get the bus back to the airport. That should eat up your alloted time.

Alternatively, not sure if you have enough time to do justice to Magnetic Island (not having done it for 20+ years), however others can tell you whether this is manageable:

Magnetic Island is only accessible by boat from Townsville, which is 8 kilometers away and which has a well served airport. There are two ferry services, both arriving at the Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal:

• Sunferries, Breakwater Terminal, Sir Leslie Theiss Drive, Townsville, ☎ +61-7-4726-0800(fax: +61-7-4771-3955). Sunferries operate eleven or more passenger ferry services between Townsville and Magnetic Island daily. Adult passengers are $15.50 ($29 return), children and pensioners $8.30 ($14.50 return).
• Fantasea Magnetic Island Passenger & Car Ferry, Ross Street, South Townsville, ☎ +61-7-4772-5422 ([email protected], fax: +61-7-4721-3576). The ferry transports both cars and passengers from Townsville with seven or eight departures between 7am and 7pm every day. It leaves from the wharf in Ross Street, South Townsville. Trailers and caravans can be transported. Adult passengers are $12.50, students $9.00 and children and pensioners $7.50. Transport of cars starts at $80 ($160 return).

Ferries take approximately half an hour to reach Magnetic Island.

 

[gizzard]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Is the QP at TSV any good (thinking of using the complimentary QP pass I received with my PS pack) or is there something worthwhile I can do in TSV in that amount of time?

The experience I had from my own SC run earlier in the year is that it's pretty basic and gets crowded before each QF flight. You could use it to freshen up and have a bite to eat. A five minute walk away you can catch a local bus into town. You could always grab a cab, of course. I think that might be a better option than spending 5 hours in the lounge.

 

[markis10]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Go down to the 'See" and "Do" areas in the Wikitravel page. Personally, I'd get a Sunbus into town:

As per my earlier post there is no bus from the airport until recently (Sunbus lost it in May), however Connexion have started now!

Con-X-ion Coaches - Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Sunshine Coast and Hobart Airport Transfers, Theme Park Transfers

$10 each way.

 

[gizzard]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

A five minute walk away you can catch a local bus into town. You could always grab a cab, of course.

The notes from my trip indicate that a cab into town was $17 including a $2 airport fee. The bus is either 205 or 215. The stop is a 5 minute walk away, the trip takes about 15 minutes and the bus runs every 30 minutes. I paid $2.80 to the driver for a one-way ticket. Look for Garbutt on the map...http://www.sunbus.com.au/documents/tvillewebAug2012204-5-15V1.pdf

 

[map]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Thanks for all your helpful responses! These things are good to know.

I should clarify that only my SYD-xBNE-TSV leg is a JASA. The return TSV-xBNE-SYD is a red e-deal, so I suspect I will need to use that QP pass at TSV (as on-going flight is Y).

Also why I can't change the time of my return flight as it's inflexible Y.

Cheers!

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I am doing a JASA SYD-xBNE-TSV return this Saturday, arriving TSV at 10:55 and departing for the return leg at 16:40.

Is the QP at TSV any good (thinking of using the complimentary QP pass I received with my PS pack) or is there something worthwhile I can do in TSV in that amount of time?

Sorry if this comes across as ignorant about the sights and wonders of TSV, I promise to invest in an extended stay at some stage!

From memory the TSV lounge is quite small. The airport is close to town so a short bus/taxi trip and then a walk along 'The Strand' foreshore might help lose a couple of hours if the weather is nice... Then again it's Townsville, the weather is always nice - cyclones excepted.

 

[MiLK_MaN]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Have to be in Seattle in October for work, thinking of doing a SC run to SJU.

20th OCT: SEA-DFW-MCO-MIA-SJU = $511.70 = 330 SC's
AA2228 SEA-DFW (F)
AA426 DFW-MCO (F)
AA1701 MCO-MIA (F)
AA1675 MIA-SJU (J)


21st OCT: SJU-MIA-ORD-LAX = $487.70 = 300 SC's
AA557 SJU-MIA (J)
AA2295 MIA-ORD (F)
AA1445 ORD-LAX (F)

I only need 560 SC's by Mar 31 to retain WP, looking to spend as little as possible to reach it as all my other flying is going towards VA wherever possible.

Checked today, and the same fare is now only $888 USD, so just booked it.

 

[SteveJohnson]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Trying to put together a status run while I'm in the USA around middle of this month, SJU definitely seems a good place to end one set of flights of a night and start another the next day, is there a hotel at SJU which AFF members favour to stray overnight on these runs?

 

[SteveJohnson]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Okay, I think I've put together a decent one to start on my US trip:

AA 1960 SFO 8:05PM LAX 9:30PM 1h 25m Boeing 737 First (P)
Layover in LAX 2h 50m
AA 2400 LAX 12:20AM DFW 5:10AM 2h 50m Boeing 737 First (A)
Layover in DFW 0h 55m
AA 1712 DFW 6:05AM MCO 9:30AM 2h 25m MD-80 First (P)
Layover in MCO 2h 35m
AA 1593 MCO 12:05PM MIA 1:10PM 1h 5m Boeing 757 First (P)
Layover in MIA 1h 10m
AA 1869 MIA 2:20PM SJU 4:55PM 2h 35m Boeing 757 Business (I)

This comes out at 410 SCs for US$595. I suppose I could try to get the first lot of flights into the daytime, then pick things up at SFO for the start of this run.

Anyway, what does everybody think of this one?

 

[serfty]

...

Anyway, what does everybody think of this one?

Not too shabby at all!

Good one
Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[pauly7]

Okay, I think I've put together a decent one to start on my US trip:

AA 1960 SFO 8:05PM LAX 9:30PM 1h 25m Boeing 737 First (P)
Layover in LAX 2h 50m
AA 2400 LAX 12:20AM DFW 5:10AM 2h 50m Boeing 737 First (A)
Layover in DFW 0h 55m
AA 1712 DFW 6:05AM MCO 9:30AM 2h 25m MD-80 First (P)
Layover in MCO 2h 35m
AA 1593 MCO 12:05PM MIA 1:10PM 1h 5m Boeing 757 First (P)
Layover in MIA 1h 10m
AA 1869 MIA 2:20PM SJU 4:55PM 2h 35m Boeing 757 Business (I)

This comes out at 410 SCs for US$595. I suppose I could try to get the first lot of flights into the daytime, then pick things up at SFO for the start of this run.

Anyway, what does everybody think of this one?

Great work!

 

[gizzard]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Okay, I think I've put together a decent one to start on my US trip:

AA 1960 SFO 8:05PM LAX 9:30PM 1h 25m Boeing 737 First (P)
Layover in LAX 2h 50m
AA 2400 LAX 12:20AM DFW 5:10AM 2h 50m Boeing 737 First (A)
Layover in DFW 0h 55m
AA 1712 DFW 6:05AM MCO 9:30AM 2h 25m MD-80 First (P)
Layover in MCO 2h 35m
AA 1593 MCO 12:05PM MIA 1:10PM 1h 5m Boeing 757 First (P)
Layover in MIA 1h 10m
AA 1869 MIA 2:20PM SJU 4:55PM 2h 35m Boeing 757 Business (I)

This comes out at 410 SCs for US$595. I suppose I could try to get the first lot of flights into the daytime, then pick things up at SFO for the start of this run.

Anyway, what does everybody think of this one?

Looks good - what dates are you looking at? Where to after SJU?

 

[SteveJohnson]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Looks good - what dates are you looking at? Where to after SJU?

Middle of this month. No idea where to after SJU, wanted to first of all see if the experts here thought this run sounded like a good deal or not. I was hoping to get under the $1/SC ratio.

I actually cleared my schedule so I could start my status run in the day so I might try to stack some flights in front of this.

The other thing is that I've heard of an AA flight which is actually run by Alaska Airlines, SFO-LAX-SEA, as Alaska is a Qantas partner I might look into this as well. Still would like to fine-tune this run though if I can.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Middle of this month. No idea where to after SJU, wanted to first of all see if the experts here thought this run sounded like a good deal or not. I was hoping to get under the $1/SC ratio.

Getting under $1/SC is extremely difficult, especially when you still have to factor in currency conversion fees on your credit card (unless you use 28 Degrees Mastercard or other foreign fee free card), plus getting your card's exchange rate as close to mid-market rates as possible.

If you're under $2/SC you're doing quite well; between $1 - $1.70 (in AUD) per SC and I think that's quite good as it is. Improving your current routing is probably minimal; you might get more points if you could route via North USA rather than cut through DFW straight to Florida, but that said you'd be back to the grindstone, and if your target travel time is within two weeks, you don't have much time to be fiddling with options. Don't forget that chucking in more sectors can also compromise your connection timings (and you've got pretty good connections as it is already).

Overall, you've done well IMO. The simplest thing to do after SJU is of course just to come back; with the same routing in reverse, the economics are the same, so you just double the price and the SCs earned. If you'd like, you can investigate a different routing from SJU if you'd like to draw on the variety spice of life.

 

[Kangol]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Middle of this month. No idea where to after SJU, wanted to first of all see if the experts here thought this run sounded like a good deal or not. I was hoping to get under the $1/SC ratio.

Good run - I think you'll find that for AA KUP/YUP fares, under $1/SC is extremely rare.

 

[gizzard]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

A quick look showed me an SFO-LAX-LAS-ORD-MIA-SJU for 420 SC and US$501.70 but with less than an hour in ORD.

 

[jrobin]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

I need 30 SC's by the end of September and for September I am based in MEL.
MEL-BNE return is an obvious option for about $400.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks