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

 

[dylarr]

Awesome. That was it. The overnight stop does indeed seem to be the problem. Using the multi city tool per your suggestion is working perfectly now. Thank you!

 

[ausfox]

Having cancelled a trip Syd to LHR I am now going to be short for platinum renewal.
I can't find anywhere that it is official that Qantas will permit a payment of points for a renewal of status
I am looking to need about 600 status credits and have 9 months to achieve . Currently have 180 and two cash trips booked
Based in Sydney but fine to go elswhere.
Appreciate the assistance

I am about to drop from WP to SG, short by 600 SCs. I was offered upgrade to WP for 120K points last week. I declined.

 

[bigmacwlrgfries]

I don't know whether this has been covered earlier on this thread but I'm interested in what would be considered a low "cost per status credit" when booking flights.

I know it can be a bit variable so let's assume that:
- There is no 50% or double status credits offer applied to the trip
- If it's over 500 SC for the trip then you can add another 50 (given you'd get it as a reward).

Under these conditions it appears that (in 2020) a trip that costs:
- less than $10 per status credit is good value
- less than $8 per status credit is excellent value
- less than $6 per status credit is pretty much impossible

Does that seem reasonable?

 

[gizzard]

First message.....welcome aboard.

I'd say that those are a bit high (by my standards) and relate to flying QF domestic but there are much better options with other airlines and some international flights.

 

[exceladdict]

And the other factor is whether you plan to take the trip other than on an SC run. In which case you should consider removing the cost you'd pay anyway before you go chasing SCs. But each to their own

 

[bigmacwlrgfries]

Both good points - let me revise my assumptions a bit:
- There is no 50% or double status credits offer applied to the trip
- If it's over 500 SC for the trip then you can add another 50 (given you'd get it as a reward).
- It's a trip purely taken to gain credits (not as part of another trip)
- You have to finish where you started (i.e. You need to make it back home!)

I'd be interested in examples of flights that are below the $8 mark per credit - and very interested is there is anything below $6.

 

[gizzard]

It depends where "home" is. If it's TPE then you'd be off to a good start.

 

[bigmacwlrgfries]

Heheh well lets assume that Home is Australian state/territory capital. For me, home is MEL

Perhaps it's not as hard as I assumed - a good example at the moment is:
Qantas Global Sale -
MEL-AKL (Discount Business) in Feb - $500
AKL-MEL (Discount Business) in Feb - $437
This would get you 160 SC at $5.86 per credit.

There is a big difference between getting to Platinum on $6 per SC ($7,800) - vs getting there on $8 per SC ($10,400).

 

[sudoer]

You have to finish where you started (i.e. You need to make it back home!)

This is what classic awards are for! Back to your original question though, for travel from SYD/MEL I'd set my expectations at:

- less than $7 per status credit is good value
- less than $5 per status credit is excellent value
- less than $3 per status credit is pretty much impossible

 

[Ade]

This is what classic awards are for! Back to your original question though, for travel from SYD/MEL I'd set my expectations at:

- less than $7 per status credit is good value
- less than $5 per status credit is excellent value
- less than $3 per status credit is pretty much impossible

Agree with @sbor90

The way I see it is, if you've got some sort of promo on the SC, then it makes it easier to retain, let's say, Platinum. With DSC, one could retain platinum with a little over two trips across the ditch.

I use this route, SYD-OOL-MEL-AKL-MEL-OOL-SYD. With this routing on a DSC, one would end up with 600 SC with approx A$1400 and can be done in one night ( so no taking time off work or anything like that) . Do this twice and you're good to retain platinum and you've spent A$3000.

With no DSC (or any other offer for that matter), for me personally, it gives very little advantage to do a status run. With no offers on SC, you'd have to take at least 4 A$1400 trips to retain platinum and 5 trips to achieve platinum for the very first time

In most cases, once I've reached my desired SC count, I take Classic Reward seats on the return leg

 

[mrsterryn]

@Ade any particular time of the year ? For your above scenario

 

[Ade]

@Ade any particular time of the year ? For your above scenario

I'm most likely to do this when I'm nearing the end of my membership year ...

for instance I did this last month (my anniversary is 31/12) and I had to do this to get 215SC to hit QF Platinum. I did the "intentional" search on QF website for 2 weeks and got 50% bonus SC offer. So I booked SYD-OOL-MEL-AKL for A$700 in J got 240SC. Used Classic reward from AKL-SYD for 18,000 points.

I'm again doing it this weekend, because I'm meeting someone in AKL and I thought why not make it into a status run for just A$200 extra

also, re : time of year - I don't usually look for sale fares. I only book my flights when there is DSC or 50% SC bonus promo ... other times, I take only the cheapest fare, but always on QF

 

[gizzard]

Qantas Global Sale -
MEL-AKL (Discount Business) in Feb - $500
AKL-MEL (Discount Business) in Feb - $437
This would get you 160 SC at $5.86 per credit.

Try:
MEL-SYD-NAN
MEL-SYD-WLG
for slightly better rates.

 

[Ade]

Try:
MEL-SYD-NAN
MEL-SYD-WLG
for slightly better rates.

Just found OOL-MEL-AKL-MEL-OOL for A$1188, 280SC return. Dep : 13th Mar 2020, Ret : 14th Mar 2020

 

[mrsterryn]

I looking at doing a status run just away for two to three days. Only me (husband home minding the dog )
Which destinations have very nice or nice hotels close to the airport ?
Bali
Fiji
Auckland
All seem to have decent sale prices and dates for status runs
Hoping this is still appropriate to this thread

 

[Ade]

I looking at doing a status run just away for two to three days. Only me (husband home minding the dog )
Which destinations have very nice or nice hotels close to the airport ?
Bali
Fiji
Auckland
All seem to have decent sale prices and dates for status runs
Hoping this is still appropriate to this thread

I'd think the below information will help come up with some ideas ;

1. Dates/month you were looking to go (because the dates would affect the price of the ticket)
2. Budget
3. How many status SC you need to accrue

 

[mrsterryn]

1. Dates/month you were looking to go (because the dates would affect the price of the ticket)

Currently early Feb using the current sale

2. Budget

for those locations probable not much more than $250 a night

3. How many status SC you need to accrue

I have a few extra trips that need to happen to give me platinum again. Those darn points trips throw out everything lol

 

[sudoer]

Which destinations have very nice or nice hotels close to the airport ?

DPS has a fairly decent Novotel literally in the airport. $150-170/night. You might remember Qantas were trialing a new lounge at DPS last year.. it was in the Novotel.

Another good value option is the Hilton Garden Inn - especially when HH are running a bonus points offer or if you need a few stays to attain/retain status. $50-70/night. It's probably about 3.5* but is quite new, has a decent pool and bar, and has a free airport shuttle. It's very good value if on a budget.

Otherwise there are no end of 5* hotels at Nusa Dua bookable for $250/night or less. They all have airport shuttles which take about 20-25 minutes.

 

[mrsterryn]

@sbor90 thank you those are great suggestions

 

[LadyC]

So I booked SYD-OOL-MEL-AKL for A$700 in J got 240SC. Used Classic reward from AKL-SYD for 18,000 points.

How do you book this? Is it on the Qantas website or through an OTA? One way or multi city? I am playing around on the Qantas website and can't get those flights as an option.