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

 

[sudoer]

Based in Wellington and looking at the best earn rates.

You haven't told us what your SC goal is so it's hard to give a helpful answer - but here are some cheaper $/SC rates.

WLG-xSYD/MEL-DPS - AUD$2250 for 800 SC - AUD$2.81/SC
WLD-xSYD-xBNE-CNS - AUD $1915 for 720 SC - AUD$2.66/SC

Also, these questions should be in the Status Run discussion thread (pinned in QF forum)

 

[djsteve]

You haven't told us what your SC goal is so it's hard to give a helpful answer - but here are some cheaper $/SC rates.

WLG-xSYD/MEL-DPS - AUD$2250 for 800 SC - AUD$2.81/SC
WLD-xSYD-xBNE-CNS - AUD $1915 for 720 SC - AUD$2.66/SC

Also, these questions should be in the Status Run discussion thread (pinned in QF forum)

apologies, I should've posted here instead... I am essentially weighing up options for the most efficient accumulation of WP. Currently I am well behind on retaining, but do have until end of May.
Essentially my previous "go-to's" were:
CMB-WLG RT in J via SIN and MEL/SYD. these were particularly cheap and i now know my way round CMB like the back of my hand! i think these are now around $2600. with a DSC promotion this is quite appealing and more interesting than domestic / transtasman runs. A380 if i am lucky sold without F
others include HNL-costa rica etc. getting to LOTFAP via a cheap sale (in Y) or points. time consuming and not as appealing since the devaluation of AA F booking class...
MH sale fares and bouncing around Asia also lucrative, and the Satay is excellent!
CAI-WLG is now gone, but that was great in J with fully flexible fares and chauffeur service at WLG.

So based on most cost efficient, (and second priority of least amount of time), what / where is the hot spot now? With DSC it opens up plenty of QF runs, but i am still finding that these are pricey.
Aim is a large 1000SC, so a journey of 250SC for an outbound will turn into 1000 for a RT under DSC...
I note DPS is 737, although not a really long flight so no worse than MH i guess. WLG-CNS looks appealing and the best so far?

For me, it is about the journey, not really the destination

any further suggestions?

 

[sudoer]

DPS is 737

Qantas has upgauged to an A330 for Dec/Jan.

The DPS run combined with MH DPS-xKUL-LGK ($283 when on sale) would get you 1000 SC exactly. $2530 total.
The CNS run combined with QF CNS-xBNE-xMEL-HBA in Y ($680) would get you 960 SC, and you'd be 20 QF/JQ SC off unlocking a 50SC loyalty bonus. $2595 total.

 

[djsteve]

Qantas has upgauged to an A330 for Dec/Jan.

The DPS run combined with MH DPS-xKUL-LGK ($283 when on sale) would get you 1000 SC exactly. $2530 total.
The CNS run combined with QF CNS-xBNE-xMEL-HBA in Y ($680) would get you 960 SC, and you'd be 20 QF/JQ SC off unlocking a 50SC loyalty bonus. $2595 total.

Many thanks for those further suggestions. If the DPS route is going A330 then this would be very appealing. I tried the A330 when it was first introduced (refurb one) and really like it.
Will do a bit of research. i presume the MH sale fares are random or do they crop up for particular times to allow a tie up while i book in the DSC period...$2530 is pretty excellent,given i was staring at nearer $4k for the WLG-SYD-MEL runs x2

 

[sudoer]

Many thanks for those further suggestions. If the DPS route is going A330 then this would be very appealing. I tried the A330 when it was first introduced (refurb one) and really like it.

No problem. The A330 scheduled to fly SYD-DPS is unfortunately a non-refurb, but it's still a good step up from a 737.

i presume the MH sale fares are random or do they crop up for particular times to allow a tie up while i book in the DSC period

The MH DPS sales come up every few months. Would you consider buying a non-sale fare which is only $120 more? By the way 1 of the 3 KUL-DPS flights each day is operated on an A330 also - it's worth seeking out, if you can.

 

[djsteve]

You haven't told us what your SC goal is so it's hard to give a helpful answer - but here are some cheaper $/SC rates.

WLG-xSYD/MEL-DPS - AUD$2250 for 800 SC - AUD$2.81/SC
WLD-xSYD-xBNE-CNS - AUD $1915 for 720 SC - AUD$2.66/SC

Also, these questions should be in the Status Run discussion thread (pinned in QF forum)

I can't seem to force the CNS runs into sydney and brisbane? is there a trick to using multi-city etc?
can only get SYD stop and then a couple of random ones via DRW that drives the price very high ($3k)....

 

[Captain Halliday]

I can't seem to force the CNS runs into sydney and brisbane? is there a trick to using multi-city etc?
can only get SYD stop and then a couple of random ones via DRW that drives the price very high ($3k)....

Skip the multi city.

Just search WLG-CNS and select the option(s) via SYD & BNE.

 

[djsteve]

Skip the multi city.

Just search WLG-CNS and select the option(s) via SYD & BNE.

interesting. perhaps i am searching on incorrect days, but i can't bring that route up...
Is it a case of trawling through the days to find it? or some other strategy? i only see via syd or AKL with a WLG-AKL leg on NZ or JQ...
frustrating!

 

[sudoer]

Is it a case of trawling through the days to find it?

I was just using Skyscanner on random dates. I can't find the exact same price, but here's the same ballpark: Cheap flights from Wellington to Cairns at Skyscanner

DSC promo is over now though.

 

[k_sheep]

I ended up with a simple BNE-xMEL-DPS for $2.71/SC with DSC. Will look at the MH DPS-xKUL-LGK if I can be bothered ... .or might just do some diving instead

 

[buckleyj]

You can also do SYD-MEL-DPS leaving 3pm on a Saturday, spend 24 hours by the pool at a Bali hotel (there's even one at the airport), do DPS-MEL-SYD on Sunday night and be back in SYD by 10am Monday. $1,955 for 640 SC or $3.05/SC.

Just wanted to say a big thanks for this jetpack — I did this over the weekend, and have just hit WP for the first time. Most grateful!

 

[DC3]

You can also do SYD-MEL-DPS leaving 3pm on a Saturday, spend 24 hours by the pool at a Bali hotel (there's even one at the airport), do DPS-MEL-SYD on Sunday night and be back in SYD by 10am Monday. $1,955 for 640 SC or $3.05/SC.

​

Just wanted to say a big thanks for this jetpack — I did this over the weekend, and have just hit WP for the first time. Most grateful!

buckleyj, I'm doing something similar next year (BNE-MEL-DPS return). How were the B737 flights MEL-DPS-MEL, out of interest?

 

[dough11]

I'm looking for 140 SC's by the end of November. Kicking myself I missed the recent DSC (both of them even!) for this.

Anything good floating around?

 

[buckleyj]

buckleyj, I'm doing something similar next year (BNE-MEL-DPS return). How were the B737 flights MEL-DPS-MEL, out of interest?

Not too bad, although as they're 737s on a relatively short leg, the experience more like a domestic J flight (no PJs, only some seat recline, basic toiletries). The IFE malfunctioned on the return and the attendants has to resort to handing out magazines from a stash they had, but I'm sure that's an irregular occurrence. If you like overnight flights and can deal without a lie-flat, you'll have a fine time. The hotel airport wasn't bad, either.

 

[buckleyj]

Not too bad, although as they're 737s on a relatively short leg, the experience more like a domestic J flight (no PJs, only some seat recline, basic toiletries). The IFE malfunctioned on the return and the attendants has to resort to handing out magazines from a stash they had, but I'm sure that's an irregular occurrence. If you like overnight flights and can deal without a lie-flat, you'll have a fine time. The hotel airport wasn't bad, either.

Oh, and DEFINITELY go to the Emirates lounge instead of Qantas's J bunker. I'm not sure what the exact entry requirements are but I was SG at the time. Just have to watch your boarding time a bit more closely as they won't announce your QF flight, but the experience is easily 10x nicer (empty, way better food, natural light, aesthetically better).

 

[sudoer]

I'm looking for 140 SC's by the end of November. Kicking myself I missed the recent DSC (both of them even!) for this.

Anything good floating around?

Where are you based, and how close are you to the 50SC loyalty bonus?

 

[serfty]

I'm looking for 140 SC's by the end of November. Kicking myself I missed the recent DSC (both of them even!) for this.

Anything good floating around?

What airport would you be originating from?

 

[Pushka]

buckleyj, I'm doing something similar next year (BNE-MEL-DPS return). How were the B737 flights MEL-DPS-MEL, out of interest?

Those flights aren’t all that great. No amenity kits. Y pax continually use J toilets. They even queue for them. Crew was great last time but not the first time. Meals have improved since first trip too. The lounge not so great. I didn’t even know there was an Emirates Lounge I could have gone to!

 

[sudoer]

Those flights aren’t all that great. No amenity kits. Y pax continually use J toilets. They even queue for them. Crew was great last time but not the first time. Meals have improved since first trip too. The lounge not so great. I didn’t even know there was an Emirates Lounge I could have gone to!

Agree with these sentiments. As you'd expect on DPS flights, you see some incredible behaviour from Y pax who act like they deserve business class service because they're flying QF instead of JQ.

EK lounge should be open from ~4pm for EK405.

DPS Premier lounge is very poor, but restaurants in the terminal are quite reasonably priced by Australian standards (~$8 meals). DPS-MEL red eye timings aren't great as the dinner service finishes at about 2:30am Melbourne time.. better off eating in the terminal and going straight to sleep.

 

[DC3]

Not too bad, although as they're 737s on a relatively short leg, the experience more like a domestic J flight (no PJs, only some seat recline, basic toiletries). The IFE malfunctioned on the return and the attendants has to resort to handing out magazines from a stash they had, but I'm sure that's an irregular occurrence. If you like overnight flights and can deal without a lie-flat, you'll have a fine time. The hotel airport wasn't bad, either.

Oh, and DEFINITELY go to the Emirates lounge instead of Qantas's J bunker ... the experience is easily 10x nicer (empty, way better food, natural light, aesthetically better).

OK. Thanks. Good tip about the EK lounge.