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

 

[bismarck]

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

Not just the UK trip. I'll have at least 3 trips to Asia (SIN, KUL, BKK and MNL are likely destinations) along with at least 2 trips to the east coast.

I've got sale Y fares to the UK for $4,400 for three of us. The $1,500 wouldn't go far in getting the 3 of us to EU in J. Regardless of that, the Mrs and the nipper would likely lose it.

Who do you generally fly with? For that much money, it'd surely be better to investigate a QF Club membership.

Heck, even splashing out and buying a couple of glasses of Veuve every single time you travel will probably be cheaper.

I know this is a FF forum and all, but J lounges really aren't that special. Psychologically, if you set aside a $1k for your "transit" budget you can probably get a great meal and some drinks in the terminal restaurants and save yourself a bunch of money. I'm not saying I wouldn't go for it, but be careful how much you're willing to spend for the "benefit" of Gold.

 

[theweaselsteve]

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

Thanks but please see my initial post. I'm looking at 310 SC's for $1450.

 

[miniyazz]

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

OK brains trust. I'm planning my first status run.

My anniversary is 31/01/17 and I'm currently at 415 SC's for the year so far. I'm not likely to get as close as this to gold again but with a reasonable amount of whY travel to Asia next year, and a trip back to the UK, Gold would be handy for lounge access and the like. I've tried to keep this as short and as cheap as possible as SWMBO isn't too keen (the promise of lounge access on our trip back to the UK next year seems to be swaying her). All up I'm looking at $1,466.50.

I'm booking two separate tickets both with MH, PER - BKK Return and BKK - CMB Return.

Questions: is this crazy? Have I left enough time for connections? I reckon I'll earn 310 SC's, could someone sanity check please? I have 24 hours to kill in CMB and want to avoid spending money while I'm there, any ideas? Any other advice or pitfalls to watch out for?

PER - KUL - BKK - Discount Economy Arrives 10.15 20/01/17
BKK - KUL - CMB - Business Departs 14.15 20/01/17 arrives 23.15 20/01/17
CMB - KUL - BKK - Business Departs 00.15 22/01/17 arrives 10.15 22/01/17
BKK - KUL - PER - Discount economy Departs 14.15 22/01/17

Thanks in advance you beautiful people!

If you decide it's worth doing (questionable, if just for lounge access there are better ways to spend $1200 but other perks like extra baggage allowance and priority boarding might make it worthwhile for you) i would suggest the following itinerary:
PER-BKK return as you planned, for $743
BKK-MNL return - 1955-1220+1 20/01 and 1720-10.15+1 21/01 for $514.

This should bag you 70SCs for the PER-BKK return in discount economy and 240SCs for the BKK-MNL return in J. In addition you minimise your time in the terrible Manila lounge and have overnight stops in the much better KUL lounge which if you go to the one in the satellite terminal has a quiet room with places to sleep.

 

[onemore]

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

My apologies for hijacking the thread, but I am curious as to what carrier the BKK-MNL is with?

Yes, the Manila lounge is the pits.

 

[theweaselsteve]

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

If you decide it's worth doing (questionable, if just for lounge access there are better ways to spend $1200 but other perks like extra baggage allowance and priority boarding might make it worthwhile for you) i would suggest the following itinerary:
PER-BKK return as you planned, for $743
BKK-MNL return - 1955-1220+1 20/01 and 1720-10.15+1 21/01 for $514.

This should bag you 70SCs for the PER-BKK return in discount economy and 240SCs for the BKK-MNL return in J. In addition you minimise your time in the terrible Manila lounge and have overnight stops in the much better KUL lounge which if you go to the one in the satellite terminal has a quiet room with places to sleep.

Where are you seeing these options? As far as I can see there is only a flight each day that leaves BKK at 11.05 arriving in MNL at 21.20 meaning an overnight in MNL until the first flight leaves at 06.40?

 

[wandering_fred]

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

I would vote for the CMB option - but I'm biased. Next time spend a couple of days in Negombo with the Mrs.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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

My apologies for hijacking the thread, but I am curious as to what carrier the BKK-MNL is with?

Yes, the Manila lounge is the pits.

Indirectly, its doable with 3K via SIN.
Long trip though.

 

[miniyazz]

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

My apologies for hijacking the thread, but I am curious as to what carrier the BKK-MNL is with?

Yes, the Manila lounge is the pits.

Malaysia airlines, via KUL

Where are you seeing these options? As far as I can see there is only a flight each day that leaves BKK at 11.05 arriving in MNL at 21.20 meaning an overnight in MNL until the first flight leaves at 06.40?

On skyscanner. Try using the filter to show just oneworld, or just MH flights and you should be able to find it. It might also help to move the departure time slider across a bit to get rid of all the earlier flights..

 

[onemore]

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

Just a note of caution to ya'all booking with Malaysia Airlines, to be sure what class of ticket you are getting. I booked a business class sale last month Manila>KL>Sydney return. The status credits came back that it was booked under a discount economy class ticket.. just putting it out there.

 

[puppysparkes]

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

Just a note of caution to ya'all booking with Malaysia Airlines, to be sure what class of ticket you are getting. I booked a business class sale last month Manila>KL>Sydney return. The status credits came back that it was booked under a discount economy class ticket.. just putting it out there.

You're not the only one. There may be a crediting bug in the system. See here http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?t=79945

 

[whatmeworry]

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

Where are you seeing these options? As far as I can see there is only a flight each day that leaves BKK at 11.05 arriving in MNL at 21.20 meaning an overnight in MNL until the first flight leaves at 06.40?

Try google flights. IIRC their are couple of timings with MH.

 

[theweaselsteve]

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

Thanks for the suggestions! I can see the flights on Sky Scanner and I think it's a pretty good deal. I'm saving about $200 all up so it's definitely attractive. I don't mind KLIA either which is good as I'll be spending a bit of time there!

I'm wondering why though when I search on the MH website it only gives me one option, even when I select the flights on Sky Scanner and go to book with MH directly. I'd much rather book direct with MH if at all possible because I can check the booking class to be certain of my SC earn.

Does anyone know how I'd go about booking this direct with MH? I'm thinking I'll probably have to call them?

 

[onemore]

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

Go to Malaysiaairlines.com and you can book online there. Be warned though from my previous posts about which class of ticket you get, as they are trying to get passengers back on their aircraft again and offering some very good deals, being what they call their "promotional rates" and on some of them the most you will get is 10 status credits, so stay away from the "Z class tickets"
Cheers,

 

[theweaselsteve]

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

The Malaysian Airlines site doesn't give me the flights I want. They're only showing on Sky Scanner. Thanks for the advice re booking classes but my understanding is that Z class does earn business SC's as long as the flights are intra-Asia. If you're going from Malaysia to Europe, or Malaysia and Australia, that's where the earn is reduced.

 

[onemore]

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

Re the status credits, thanks for the heads up.

Cheers,

 

[miniyazz]

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

Go to Malaysiaairlines.com and you can book online there. Be warned though from my previous posts about which class of ticket you get, as they are trying to get passengers back on their aircraft again and offering some very good deals, being what they call their "promotional rates" and on some of them the most you will get is 10 status credits, so stay away from the "Z class tickets"
Cheers,

No, Z class tickets earn business rates as I had a number of Z flights with MH recently intra Asia. On flights to/from Europe, Australia, NZ they earn at flex economy rates (as do J and F for that matter). It's all on the Qantas earning tables.

I would caution that the best rates often seem to be via online booking agents so you may not get the same deal direct with MH.

 

[NZ_Flyer]

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

Where are you seeing these options? As far as I can see there is only a flight each day that leaves BKK at 11.05 arriving in MNL at 21.20 meaning an overnight in MNL until the first flight leaves at 06.40?

I did this run earlier in the year and it was pretty dire. Booked a cheap airport hotel that was nasty. Lots more stress trying to do research on making it a smooth turnaround with MNL's reputation etc. I'd do the CMB option for sure.

 

[snabbu]

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

Good luck on your run theweaselsteve.

I'd also avoid MNL if at all possible.

Another good thing to remember is that these runs may not seem money well spent to some however IMO it's all relative. If you enjoy fling anyway, and you have future travel planned where status would be nice, then go for it 100%.

 

[theweaselsteve]

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

Thanks snabbu. I do enjoy the odd fling

The option I'm looking at would involve a few hours in the daytime in MNL. Can I ask, what are the reasons you'd avoid it? Having never been myself I'd like some insight if possible?

Cheers.

 

[onemore]

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

For anyone looking to do this and having to stay overnight there is a good, not so expensive hotel not far from Terminal 1, "Nichols Airport Hotel".
I came in from one of the provinces, arriving at 5 a.m. and they gave me a good rate for a day room.
The hotel is very basic but it is clean, no restaurants or eating places in the vicinity.

I usually stay at "Rogers Place" which again is not far from Terminal 1, once again very basic but clean, with a few restaurants nearby, once again very basic.
If you only want somewhere to have a shower get some sleep between flights the above hotels are the go.