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

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

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

Presumably the DSC offer applies to Business Sale fares and isn't restricted to higher Saver or Flex fares, as some recent offers have been.

 

[sudoer]

Presumably the DSC offer applies to Business Sale fares and isn't restricted to higher Saver or Flex fares, as some recent offers have been.

Presumably yes, but doesn't matter as he only needs 55 SC.

 

[Spider]

Requalifying for Silver this weekend, after 3 weeks. Aiming for Platinum as I have various business trips this coming year but not lo. 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?

I have 320 SC for this year, rather in the past 6 weeks.

Anniversary is April 2020.

I haven't booked anything yet as a lot of my travel is last minute.

 

[sudoer]

I have 320 SC for this year, rather in the past 6 weeks.

At that rate you'll hit WP comfortably without the need for any status runs, maybe even P1 if it's mostly on QF.

I haven't booked anything yet as a lot of my travel is last minute.

Are these last minute trips in Y or J?

If they're in Y, maybe consider a QC membership. You can access corporate rates by becoming an AFF supporter (pays for itself)
If they're in J, you won't see enough benefit from WP to justify multiple thousands on status runs.

Anniversary is April 2020.

It's quite likely we'll see another DSC before your anniversary so I'd suggest waiting until later in your membership year before committing to any status runs.

There aren't any lucrative QF domestic J runs to my knowledge - even the indirect MEL-CNS run you've alluded to is $10+/SC. When DSC rolls around some of the domestic runs can be worthwhile for an SC top-up (100-200SC) but if you need 1000+ SC it's far easier (and quicker) to just fly overseas.

One of the cheapest ways to earn 1000+ SC is SYD-MEL-DPS return (QF, 320SC for $2000) and 3-4 x DPS-KUL-LGK returns (MH, 200SC for $450 per run)

But again, WP really is not worth spending that much on....

 

[jpp42]

One of the cheapest ways to earn 1000+ SC is SYD-MEL-DPS return (QF, 320SC for $2000)

I am new to status run ideas, but I wouldn't actually mind a visit to DPS and I'm based in SYD, so interested in this, as I have the targeted DSC offer right now. You mention this is 320SC for $2000, is this based on "Business Sale" fare of $1100 outbound and $1135 return, which is actually $2235 total? According to the calculator, Discount Business fares yield 120 SC's MEL-DPS and 20 SC's SYD-MEL , so that's only 280 SC. Can you advise what I'm missing here?

 

[defurax]

SYD-MEL is 40 SC in J.
With the DSC only on international flights this itinerary would give you 560 SC.

 

[sudoer]

You mention this is 320SC for $2000, is this based on "Business Sale" fare of $1100 outbound and $1135 return, which is actually $2235 total?

Likely yes - you may be able to find it cheaper on other dates/months of the year.

According to the calculator, Discount Business fares yield 120 SC's MEL-DPS and 20 SC's SYD-MEL , so that's only 280 SC. Can you advise what I'm missing here?

As @defurax mentioned the domestic sectors are 40SC each.

 

[jpp42]

Thanks, I think instead I may go with SYD-AKL return for $940 Business Sale, am I right that this would yield 160 SC (320 with DSC promo)? I have a lot of bad luck recently with many fewer SC's than I expected based on a poor understanding of booking classes (mostly for MH and CX bookings). This is closer to the number of SC I'm more likely to need - I think I will be around 400 SC short for WP renewal, based on current travel plans, so with DSC this is under $3/SC so seems reasonable, especially given it's only two segments, both A330 flat seats.

Edit: just realised the booking page shows you the number of points/SC's earned, so yes this itinerary is 160 SC base earn before the promo.

 

[onemore]

Thanks, I think instead I may go with SYD-AKL return for $940 Business Sale, am I right that this would yield 160 SC (320 with DSC promo)? I have a lot of bad luck recently with many fewer SC's than I expected based on a poor understanding of booking classes (mostly for MH and CX bookings). This is closer to the number of SC I'm more likely to need - I think I will be around 400 SC short for WP renewal, based on current travel plans, so with DSC this is under $3/SC so seems reasonable, especially given it's only two segments, both A330 flat seats.

Edit: just realised the booking page shows you the number of points/SC's earned, so yes this itinerary is 160 SC base earn before the promo.

Thanks for the heads up on that sale, you just saved hours of searching, well done.

 

[Hvr]

Thanks, I think instead I may go with SYD-AKL return for $940 Business Sale, am I right that this would yield 160 SC (320 with DSC promo)?

Yes you're right re the SC earn.

A good fare and one I've just availed myself of with a DSC offer.

My membership year ends on 30 Nov and the trip to AKL on that day will just tip me over to WP and the return trip on 01 Dec will start the year off with 160 SCs.

 

[Spider]

Are these last minute trips in Y or J?

If they're in Y, maybe consider a QC membership. You can access corporate rates by becoming an AFF supporter (pays for itself)
If they're in J, you won't see enough benefit from WP to justify multiple thousands on status runs.

All are last minute J trips, so full fare.

I am also a member of Q Club.

One of the cheapest ways to earn 1000+ SC is SYD-MEL-DPS return (QF, 320SC for $2000) and 3-4 x DPS-KUL-LGK returns (MH, 200SC for $450 per run)

But again, WP really is not worth spending that much on....

SYD-MEL-CNS/DRW r/t gives 200SC and 400SC with DSC for $2000 while keeping me domestic. But the DPS run seems attractive if I can sort out a very slight name difference between my license and passport with QF. Same photo, same person but one letter difference in name. This is why I avoid putting international flights into my QFF account. Sounds really silly but QF digs their heels in.

 

[jpp42]

Same photo, same person but one letter difference in name. This is why I avoid putting international flights into my QFF account. Sounds really silly but QF digs their heels in.

I had this issue but it was easy enough to sort by sending them a copy of my passport. They fixed the QFF account to match. Just email [email protected].

 

[sly_rx3]

Hi, I am going to fall short of attaining platinum by 85 SC. Any help on the cheapest way to do this would be great. I can only take flights at the end of this month due to work also..... from Melbourne

 

[Hvr]

Hi, I am going to fall short of attaining platinum by 85 SC. Any help on the cheapest way to do this would be great. I can only take flights at the end of this month due to work also.....

Where are you starting from?

 

[sly_rx3]

Melbourne sorry....

 

[DanziM]

Hey guys...sorry if this is the wrong place but if my gold expires in June 2019...does that mean I have Gold until 11.59pm on the 30th June? I ask because qantas says I need to earn my remaining 15sc to retail gold before 30th June. Can anyone confirm what theirs says and does that mean I'd need to complete a flight o the 29th? It's very weird! Thanks in advance e

 

[sudoer]

if my gold expires in June 2019...does that mean I have Gold until 11.59pm on the 30th June?

Yes

I ask because qantas says I need to earn my remaining 15sc to retail gold before 30th June. Can anyone confirm what theirs says and does that mean I'd need to complete a flight o the 29th? It's very weird! Thanks in advance e

Ignore that, you need to earn the 15sc before July 1.

 

[serfty]

Hey guys...sorry if this is the wrong place but if my gold expires in June 2019...does that mean I have Gold until 11.59pm on the 30th June? I ask because qantas says I need to earn my remaining 15sc to retail gold before 30th June. Can anyone confirm what theirs says and does that mean I'd need to complete a flight o the 29th? It's very weird! Thanks in advance e

Your flight's scheduled time of departure must be on or before 11:59pm on June 30th.

e.g. A Red-eye from PER departing 11:45pm on Sunday 30th June and arriving 5:30am into MEL at 5:30am on Monday 1st July will count for the current "year", not "next" - even if it does not credit until, say, July 4th.

It's been postulated it's for this reason that status is retained for up to a week into the next month, even if someone has not requalified..

 

[DanziM]

Your flight's scheduled time of departure must be on or before 11:59pm on June 30th.

e.g. A Red-eye from PER departing 11:45pm on Sunday 30th June and arriving 5:30am into MEL at 5:30am on Monday 1st July will count for the current "year", not "next" - even if it does not credit until, say, July 4th.

It's been postulated it's for this reason that status is retained for up to a week into the next month, even if someone has not requalified..

Thanks mate....makes sense!

 

[jrobin]

I need 315 SC's:I can travel anytime July 29-August 5 from YYZ/BUF/DTW.

Thanks Hvr for suggesting DFW-PHX-GEG.
I looked at YYZ-DFW-GEG-PHX-DFW-YYZ return at 300 SC's for about CA$1300 and YYZ-CLT-DFW-PHX-SEA return at 400 SC's for less than CA$1700...
I have reason to spend a couple weekdays in SJO, but have not found bargain business fares there either.

I have found YYZ-CLT-DFW-PHX-SEA-PHX-DFW-YYZ for about CA$1350 and 400 SC's.

Any better suggestions?

I am happy to go almost anywhere: other years I have gone to PTY, SJU and BNA.

Thanks