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

 

[jase05]

QR have some good fares to CDG ex MNL or CGK, maybe QF SYD-CGK or MNL and then onwards with QR

 

[SYD]

AY have a sale on at the moment. But I think it ends soon. Look at connecting to AY via HKG, BKK or SIN with a QF flight out of Australia and into your port of choice.

Have you managed to get a QF code ex-Oz connecting to AY recently? That was the norm a while ago and before “Simpler & Fairer” - so didn’t make a difference. But since AY put their code on most/all QF/CX/BA flights between Asia and Oz, the ability to get a QF code evaporated?

 

[Silvia]

QR have some good fares to CDG ex MNL or CGK, maybe QF SYD-CGK or MNL and then onwards with QR

If I go on that idea, also very good offers from ex SIN in J which is a guaranteed QSuites. Just don't catch the 2 45 service, it is painful as!

 

[Kerrodt]

Have you managed to get a QF code ex-Oz connecting to AY recently? That was the norm a while ago and before “Simpler & Fairer” - so didn’t make a difference. But since AY put their code on most/all QF/CX/BA flights between Asia and Oz, the ability to get a QF code evaporated?

If I understand your question correctly, the answer is yes. I booked MEL-SIN-HKG- HEL-others-HEL-HKG-SIN-SYD-MEL in April 2019 for travel in August/September 2019 issued all on a single e-ticket with a 105 prefix (AY). The flights in and out of Australia were QF flights numbers on QF metal and were credited QF earning rates for points and SC’s. The Other flights out of Asia were AY flight numbers on CX and AY metal and credited at the AY earning rates For points and SC’s. It was all in J and a very good haul. I booked it via a travel agent.

 

[SYD]

If I understand your question correctly, the answer is yes. I booked MEL-SIN-HKG- HEL-others-HEL-HKG-SIN-SYD-MEL in April 2019 for travel in August/September 2019 issued all on a single e-ticket with a 105 prefix (AY). The flights in and out of Australia were QF flights numbers on QF metal and were credited QF earning rates for points and SC’s. The Other flights out of Asia were AY flight numbers on CX and AY metal and credited at the AY earning rates For points and SC’s. It was all in J and a very good haul. I booked it via a travel agent.

Cool!

Booking direct with AY doesn’t give you that option. Even when I go into ITA Matrix, you rarely see the option with QF codes ex Oz. But of a bugga - I’ve book SYD-LHR//AMS-SYD in J for June/August next year - all AY codes

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Cool!

Booking direct with AY doesn’t give you that option. Even when I go into ITA Matrix, you rarely see the option with QF codes ex Oz. But of a bugga - I’ve book SYD-LHR//AMS-SYD in J for June/August next year - all AY codes ☹

Isn't that normal?
As a general rule the operating airline will market its own flights under its own code.
I could be wrong but I don't think you can book a flight with an EK code on QF metal via the QF website, for example.
But of course you can book both QF and EK codes on EK metal via the QF website.

 

[SYD]

Isn't that normal?
As a general rule the operating airline will market its own flights under its own code.
I could be wrong but I don't think you can book a flight with an EK code on QF metal via the QF website, for example.
But of course you can book both QF and EK codes on EK metal via the QF website.

In this case, QF is the operating airline ex-Oz. If the partner airline doesn’t have a codeshare, it’s normal to get the operating airline code on connections.

AY pretty much have options for their code on all flights to/from Asia/Oz on QF/BA and CX.

 

[Flashback]

Recently booked for my folks DPS-LON return in J for $3100, non sale fare on QR. Came in cheaper than CGK. Positioning to DPS from PER much easier than positioning to CGK, too!

 

[cchaib]

Hi All, newbie here, question to you all, I am a gold QFF, short of 135 Status point to retain in 3 wks, any advice on how to do achive this? txs

 

[serfty]

Hi All, newbie here, question to you all, I am a gold QFF, short of 135 Status point to retain in 3 wks, any advice on how to do achive this? txs

It can assist to know where you are based.

I do note that you mention three weeks (21 days)? Qantas Gold expiry would be in either 10 days (Oct 31st) or 40 Days (Nov 30th).

 

[cchaib]

It can assist to know where you are based.

I do note that you mention three weeks (21 days)? Qantas Gold expiry would be in either 10 days (Oct 31st) or 40 Days (Nov 30th).

Yes you are right 30 Nov is expiry, so gives me more time,

 

[jpp42]

Yes you are right 30 Nov is expiry, so gives me more time,

You still didn't answer at which airport you are based, this is really crucial to get reasonable advice here.

 

[cchaib]

Ahhh my head is in the air.... Sorry from Sydney,

 

[jpp42]

Ahhh my head is in the air.... Sorry from Sydney,

Since you need to get 135 SC, I would look at trans-Tasman J (business) which normally nets you 80 SC each way for a discount business fare, so 160 total. SYD-AKL round trip is around $1000 with many dates available, or SYD-CHC for select dates such as 28/29 Nov (look for options on Emirates/EK metal for a great business class experience). This is the best way I've found with minimal hassle and is around $6 per SC which is pretty good (anything under $10/SC is decent for Qantas). For QF metal to AKL, look for A330 flights for the lie-flat business seats, although a same-day return on the A330 is tricky, so you need to either overnight or accept a 737 for one leg. If you don't want to over-shoot the 135 SC target, look at discount business one way (80 SC) and discount economy (20 SC) return from NZ, and then pick up another 15-20 SC with something else domestic. But I think you'd still be lucky to get under $1000 total for that 135 SC, so if you're okay spending that, might as well treat yourself to the J return to NZ and get to your SC target with only two segments.

Whether Gold is worth $1000 or not is another question... personally I would only do that to retain Plat.

 

[cchaib]

Since you need to get 135 SC, I would look at trans-Tasman J (business) which normally nets you 80 SC each way for a discount business fare, so 160 total. SYD-AKL round trip is around $1000 with many dates available, or SYD-CHC for select dates such as 28/29 Nov (look for options on Emirates/EK metal for a great business class experience). This is the best way I've found with minimal hassle and is around $6 per SC which is pretty good (anything under $10/SC is decent for Qantas). For QF metal to AKL, look for A330 flights for the lie-flat business seats, although a same-day return on the A330 is tricky, so you need to either overnight or accept a 737 for one leg. If you don't want to over-shoot the 135 SC target, look at discount business one way (80 SC) and discount economy (20 SC) return from NZ, and then pick up another 15-20 SC with something else domestic. But I think you'd still be lucky to get under $1000 total for that 135 SC, so if you're okay spending that, might as well treat yourself to the J return to NZ and get to your SC target with only two segments.

Whether Gold is worth $1000 or not is another question... personally I would only do that to retain Plat.

thanks for the advice, I will look into it and see what I can afford,

 

[cchaib]

thanks for the advice, I will look into it and see what I can afford,

PS: where did you get the SC number for flying with EK?

 

[jpp42]

PS: where did you get the SC number for flying with EK?

Warning: To earn full any status credits on Emirates routes (including SYD-CHC), you must book with Qantas flight numbers (codeshares), just check who is the operating carrier if you want to get the Emirates A380 that flies SYD-CHC and return. That way you earn the same as with a regular Qantas flight (it's the "Marketing Carrier" that matters for points/SC earn, not the operating one). Qantas codeshares are four-digit numbers whereas their own flights are 2 or 3 digits so it's easy to distinguish on that basis too.

The online calculator at Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines - Points Calculators - Earning Points is sometimes useful; it shows 0 SC for all classes (edit: which is correct). Just be careful with the class of service as what's listed here doesn't always quite match with how the fares are sold on qantas.com. For some OneWorld airlines, the sale fares / most discounted economy doesn't earn any SC, but this won't be shown on the calculator when selecting Discount Economy.

 

[sudoer]

although it shows 0 SC for all classes for EK flights SYD-CHC right now which doesn't seem right

It is correct, EK marketed flights have never earned SC.

 

[jase05]

Warning: To earn full status credits on Emirates routes also served by Qantas (like SYD-CHC), you must book with Qantas flight numbers (codeshares), just check who is the operating carrier if you want to get the Emirates A380 that flies SYD-CHC and return. That way you earn the same as with a regular Qantas flight (it's the "Marketing Carrier" that matters for points/SC earn, not the operating one). Qantas codeshares are four-digit numbers whereas their own flights are 2 or 3 digits so it's easy to distinguish on that basis too.

The online calculator at Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines - Points Calculators - Earning Points is sometimes useful, although it shows 0 SC for all classes for EK flights SYD-CHC right now which doesn't seem right, but it's definitely going to be way less than booking the same flight on a QF number.

Just returned this week from a ADL-SYD-CHC return trip on EK codeshare booked through QF.
Was on sale for $1349 and netted me 240Sc’s which wasn’t bad considering they wanted $1049 just for SYD-CHC so got the two domestic J legs for $300.
Brilliant service all round but I’m a bit biased as I love the EK A380

 

[jpp42]

It is correct, EK marketed flights have never earned SC.

Thanks, seems I was mistaking this with OW carriers where you do usually earn some SC, but way less than on a codeshare. Forgot that EK is not OW at all.