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

 

[clifford]

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

If it can be confirmed the marketed A class returns First Class status credits then this is 460SC (according to the QF SC calculator).

Very true. Just did this trip a week or so ago and the SC's have already posted. A few hours in CAI is enough for me these days, though (having been there several times before). And the Al Safwa 1st class lounge in DOH is indeed really nice, with complimentary private sleeping rooms with ensuite, if desired.

 

[miniyazz]

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

So turns out MH also only earn you at flexi economy rate when flying to London in J/F. My mistake, should have confirmed that before booking - but now slightly difficult situation. I was planning on reaching Gold for the return leg (extra 15kg baggage allowance would be really handy). However, I will now be 40SCs short. Any ideas that will see me reach 40SCs?

My options are limited - upgrade to business on DRW-KUL-BKK leg ($700+, too expensive), upgrade to business on a flight PQQ-ASP tomorrow (likely to be very expensive even if I had a Y ticket currently, and I'm in V), use my 11h45min stopover in KUL between MNL & LHR to get a cheeky flight in (am I even allowed to do this mid-flight?), do an SC run from England (would rather not and I suspect expensive anyway). Anyone have any bright ideas? I arrive in KUL at 2115 on 4 Nov..

 

[Quickstatus]

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

give us your itinerary and dates

The 40Sc will be easy to get

 

[miniyazz]

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

2/11/16 ASP-DRW-KUL-BKK 1715-1015+1
3/11/16 BKK-KUL-MNL 1955-1220+1
4/11/16 MNL-KUL-LHR 1720-1525+1

Then of less relevance -
16/11/16 LHR-KUL-MNL
17/11/16 MNL-KUL-BKK
19/11/16 BKK-KUL-SIN
19/11/16 SIN-KUL-PER

I hope so! Thanks

 

[Quickstatus]

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

Thats like a JohnK itinerary!!

Hmm leaving it a bit late.

Any flights prior to 2/11 will be super expensive.

You will be hard pressed to get anything less than $10/SC . So it will cost you at least $400 or more.
Would it not be better to use that toward your excess luggage on the way back?

Example below (as an example ignore date) I believe its for at an Economy but "plus" = classed a flexible economy = 40SC
Advanced purchase intra OZ SC cost would be around $10/Sc anyway.

 

[miniyazz]

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

Having only touched on the quagmire of international excess baggage fees I suspect that I will be faced with a very hefty bill trying to add on 15kg for multiple legs! When they give you a price which you think is not great but ok and then you realise it's per kg - no thank you!

Alas while MH have a KUL-SIN leg at $122.75 in J, they have no returns under $300 in economy; and the other way round the economy flight is $70.13 but the business is $364. Plus this is in the middle of a flight from MNL-LHR which seems like a terrible time to faff around with additional flights.

Since I guess there's no guarantee the SCs will even credit in the 2 week turnaround I'm probably better off just sacking off the extra baggage allowance and putting it down to a learning experience. Frustrating as I could have booked with UL for a couple of hundred $ extra which would have earned me sufficient SCs.

 

[Quickstatus]

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

I would not nest a KUL-SIN-KUL flight into a 11 hr window.

Your itinerary is already risky because each sector depends on the ontime arrival of the previous. Though you do have a 9 hrs in BKK and 5 hours in MNL.
Just stick to current and hope there are no delays.

JohnK who flies those parts of the world regularly recently had 9 consecutive delays in that part of the world

 

[miniyazz]

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

Yes that's the trouble with these types of bookings - allowing time for delays, meaning lots of time waiting in airports. Probably a 30hr longer trip than it need be flying direct from Aus. However can't complain too much as it's still 735 SCs at $4079.57 all in J except the ASP-BKK leg, which is over $1500 less than a 'conventional' return trip from Aus with e.g. Qatar, and more than double the SCs.

 

[miniyazz]

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

Now part way through the itinerary, just to update - on four MH flights I've had three delays (of up to an hour). Also MH were unable to check my baggage through (asked on two occasions so far - they seem to get confused because I keep flying via KUL) which has involved a bit of waiting ground side for check-in to open. Fortunately my long stop overs have been in the middle of each separate booking so far so not a major issue just a bit annoying.
At BKK they checked me in 5.5 hrs before departure; it's looking like 3 hrs at MNL.

 

[RichardMEL]

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

QF/EK Y/J/*F* sale ex-oz. Pooch in particular will perk his ears up...

$1736 AUD ex-SYD/MEL/BNE(I think) 1Dec- in F
$1240ish in J

Departures 1Dec16-6Sep17
more restrictive dates for Y fares

no sale fares ez-NZ right now but the roundtrip is still pretty good value.

Sale ends 14Nov16

 

[sostopher]

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

QF/EK Y/J/*F* sale ex-oz. Pooch in particular will perk his ears up...

$1736 AUD ex-SYD/MEL/BNE(I think) 1Dec- in F
$1240ish in J

Departures 1Dec16-6Sep17
more restrictive dates for Y fares

no sale fares ez-NZ right now but the roundtrip is still pretty good value.

Sale ends 14Nov16

Where to? AKL?

 

[RichardMEL]

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

Where to? AKL?

ah yes sorry AKL and I believe CHC also (for F). J fares AKL/WLG/CHC

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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

**OT**, my ears are perked, BUT I have already committed my bookings for flights, up to my anniversary of Jul 17... already booked a F for this Dec, and back in J, SYD - CHC - SYD, and the dom sectors in whY.
Totalling 220 QF SC, plus a dom whJ next year, of 40 QF SC = 260 QF SC.
Giving me PS up to Jul 18. SG runs out Jul 17.
Have decided to fly only once a year now, forgoing QF SG, but paying for the pointy end seats only.
Now waiting for fares to be released for Dec 17. Through ADL - east coast Au - NZ and back, in J.
While my flights are not cheap, and ratio of SC per Aud$1 spent is not good, it serves my purposes of travel, (ie for the fun of it).

 

[jrobin]

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

Has anyone done a transit SC/MR run in CAI?...

Having just booked a transit into CAI to connect with a DONEx, I asked the question in the Qatar thread on FT.
The short answer is with checked luggage - no - hand luggage only - maybe.

I can confirm that transit in CAI to connect with an xONEx is possible, having done so on October 30.

 

[Danger]

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

I can confirm that transit in CAI to connect with an xONEx is possible, having done so on October 30.

Can you expand a little? Who did you fly in and out with? Did you have checked baggage? What was the connection time? Did you pre-arrange anything to make it easier?

With Egyptian pound having been unpegged from the US dollar last week I managed to get CAI-xDOH-BKK return with QR in F for USD1061.

 

[JohnK]

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

Now part way through the itinerary, just to update - on four MH flights I've had three delays (of up to an hour). Also MH were unable to check my baggage through (asked on two occasions so far - they seem to get confused because I keep flying via KUL) which has involved a bit of waiting ground side for check-in to open.

If I remember correctly there are transfer desks you can use in both terminals and they can check you in for next flight and issue boarding pass. I'm not sure if they also transfer luggage like SIN and HKG.

 

[jrobin]

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

I can confirm that transit in CAI to connect with an xONEx is possible, having done so on October 30.

Can you expand a little? Who did you fly in and out with? Did you have checked baggage? What was the connection time? Did you pre-arrange anything to make it easier?...

QR in arriving 11:45 and QR out at 19:00 with hand luggage only.

Along with others I do not believe transit is possible with checked baggage if flying QR to CAI and leaving on a different QR PNR.

I would have preferred to have had a boarding pass leaving CAI when I arrived, but this did not work out for me.
Not having a boarding pass was not a problem; it just meant that the transit process took a bit longer.

I now believe that using transit I could have left at 13:40 on the same plane I came in on, but as it appeared on-line that QR would not sell a ticket to return on the same plane, and I was uncertain how transit worked, I decided to book on the next plane out 7 hours later.

 

[Danger]

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

QR in arriving 11:45 and QR out at 19:00 with hand luggage only.

Along with others I do not believe transit is possible with checked baggage if flying QR to CAI and leaving on a different QR PNR.

I would have preferred to have had a boarding pass leaving CAI when I arrived, but this did not work out for me.
Not having a boarding pass was not a problem; it just meant that the transit process took a bit longer.

I now believe that using transit I could have left at 13:40 on the same plane I came in on, but as it appeared on-line that QR would not sell a ticket to return on the same plane, and I was uncertain how transit worked, I decided to book on the next plane out 7 hours later.

Hmmm. I'm arriving on that 11.45am and departing on the 1.40pm. Separate tickets, of course. It seems no checked baggage is a must.

Did you have to buy a visa? If so, what was the cost?

 

[miniyazz]

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

If I remember correctly there are transfer desks you can use in both terminals and they can check you in for next flight and issue boarding pass. I'm not sure if they also transfer luggage like SIN and HKG.

As far as I know the transfer desk is airside so I can't see that they'd be able to transfer luggage through. Unless they have someone to find my luggage on the carousel!

 

[JohnK]

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

As far as I know the transfer desk is airside so I can't see that they'd be able to transfer luggage through. Unless they have someone to find my luggage on the carousel!

Transfer desks in SIN and HKG are airside and someone manually transfers luggage to onward connections. Just not sure about KUL.