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.

---

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

 

[Kinchy]

See how you go with the JQ Max options, but jetting over to AKL for lunch on Sunday is a real possibility. With the current promo it would net 100SC.

View attachment 160470

Thanks sbor90!

I think you're right, also ties in with a Amex offer I have yet to use!

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

I should finish next year on 1190 status credits, only 210 short of Platinum. Even though I've been content with Gold for the last few years, this is close enough to consider a status run to tip me into Platinum.

One of upcoming my trips is to New York City (next January/February), and on this trip I'll also be visiting Washington and Chicago, likely in this order: NYC -> Washington -> Chicago -> NYC.

If I understand the Qantas SC calculator correctly, I'd get this number of SCs flying American Airlines business class:

• NYC -> Washington: 20
• Washington -> Chicago: 30
• Chicago -> NYC 30

A total of 80 SCs for around A$1,000 (vs about $500 flying Economy). This would still leave me 130 SCs short, so would need to consider a special status run over and above that.

I'm aware that AA domestic first class tickets now only earn business class SCs (except for transcontinental flights) so I assume that for the purposes of getting Qantas SCs there's no difference flying US domestic first or business (except on the three-class transcontinental service).

Generally speaking is flying first/business class on American Airlines for intra-USA flights still a good value way of getting SCs? Or should I be looking at other options?

 

[defurax]

AA runs are not as good as they used to be, but you should be able to almost double the SC you calculated simply by adding a few connections. Usually the price will be the same or cheaper if you connect through some AA hubs e.g. CLT, PHL, MIA

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

AA runs are not as good as they used to be, but you should be able to almost double the SC you calculated simply by adding a few connections. Usually the price will be the same or cheaper if you connect through some AA hubs e.g. CLT, PHL, MIA

Thanks for the advice. Other than taking advantage of DSC offers, I haven't looked seriously at accumulating SCs, so this is something that hadn't occurred to me. Is the multi-city booking function on the AA website the best tool to play with routes?

 

[defurax]

The starting point would be to use ITA matrix to find the cheapest itinerary between each city pair.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

The starting point would be to use ITA matrix to find the cheapest itinerary between each city pair.

Thanks again!

 

[DanziM]

Hey guys,

Sorry if I should be posting this elsewhere but looking for some help.

Need to gain about 150 SC before end of June to retain Gold. I am needing to fly from LAX to Nashville but looking to work out the best options from experience of the forum do the required legs to retain. I have had a play and can do a multi leg with about 7 stops for about $600 going to SAN, PHX, CLT and PHL however is there any other hack city that might be more appropriate and keep the cost down?. Also I cant find a good F option that isn't crazy expensive.

I also cant work out if the AA flight will be QF codeshare, so this changes the SC earn by double I believe. Looking for Early-Mid June departure.

A direct flight with AA from LAX-BNA is about $300, so I wont be losing much other than 1 day which I am happy with to retain gold.

Cheers all.

 

[pauly7]

I'm aware that AA domestic first class tickets now only earn business class SCs (except for transcontinental flights) so I assume that for the purposes of getting Qantas SCs there's no difference flying US domestic first or business (except on the three-class transcontinental service).

I actually didn’t realise you could still earn first class status credits on 3 class trans con. Is that the widebody services?

 

[sudoer]

Is that the widebody services?

Narrowbody - A321 configured with three cabins:

American Airlines Transcontinental First Class A321T LAX-JFK | Two Hearts Traveling
Touring American's A321T — First, Business and Economy

 

[Flashback]

I actually didn’t realise you could still earn first class status credits on 3 class trans con. Is that the widebody services?

A321T, there's also the odd 773 on some routes too.

 

[Spider]

Requalifying for Silver this weekend, after 3 weeks. Aiming for Platinum as I have various business trips this coming year but not long enough. Prefer to keep it domestic 'J'. Any suggestions, apart from MEL-BNE-CNS? I'm mostly based in SYD.

 

[sudoer]

Requalifying for Silver this weekend, after 3 weeks. Aiming for Platinum as I have various business trips this coming year but not long enough. Prefer to keep it domestic 'J'. Any suggestions, apart from MEL-BNE-CNS? I'm mostly based in SYD.

Platinum is a long, long way from Silver. You'd likely be up for about $10k doing it in domestic J.

How many SC do you currently have?
When is your membership anniversary?
How many SC worth of upcoming travel do you have booked?

 

[global_nomad]

Hi all, I'm 55 SC short of retaining SG and my rollover is Aug 31st. Any suggestions for an affordable run xMEL, ideally between now and mid-June? Unfortunately I can't take any additional leave from work so it would have to be a weekend.

I received a (seemingly targeted) double SC offer last week, need to book by May 15th and travel before July 28th.

I was thinking of SYD Red e-Deal out and Flex back for 30 SC (= 60).

 

[sudoer]

I was thinking of SYD Red e-Deal out and Flex back for 30 SC (= 60).

Classic award across to Queenstown, then ZQN-MEL in J one-way on 21st, 23rd, 25th, 28th, 30th June or 2nd July for $360. You'll end up with 160 SC which is way more than you need but about the same price as the SYD return and you get to visit an amazing city!!

 

[global_nomad]

Classic award across to Queenstown, then ZQN-MEL in J one-way on 21st, 23rd, 25th, 28th, 30th June or 2nd July for $360. You'll end up with 160 SC which is way more than you need but about the same price as the SYD return and you get to visit an amazing city!!

Love it, thanks sbor!

 

[Krusher]

Hi all,

I am 265 sc short of hitting plat with a rollover date on the 31st of July. This short fall already accounts for planned travel up until the first two weeks of June.

I don’t have much leave so will need to make up for this shortfall over weekends.

Was wondering if anyone had any good runs ex mel that isn’t too expensive and time consuming?

I guess I could do the above run (zqn-mel) twice

Thanks!
K

 

[Ade]

Classic award across to Queenstown, then ZQN-MEL in J one-way on 21st, 23rd, 25th, 28th, 30th June or 2nd July for $360. You'll end up with 160 SC which is way more than you need but about the same price as the SYD return and you get to visit an amazing city!!

Hey thanks for the tip, I was thinking of using it for me to retain Gold and I checked the flights but I can see only 80 SC's on the dates mentioned. Was the 160, a typo?

 

[sudoer]

Hey thanks for the tip, I was thinking of using it for me to retain Gold and I checked the flights but I can see only 80 SC's on the dates mentioned. Was the 160, a typo

@global_nomad mentioned they had a targeted DSC offer hence the 160 SC. The standard earn is 80 SC.

 

[Ade]

@global_nomad mentioned they had a targeted DSC offer hence the 160 SC. The standard earn is 80 SC.

My apoligies, @sbor90 . I missed to note the DSC point in his comment

 

[sudoer]

My apoligies, @sbor90 . I missed to note the DSC point in his comment

No need to apologise!