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

 

[exceladdict]

Well short little holiday to HBA (from PER via MEL) in J with MrsDaver6 booked. Both PC so that's 224 SC for 83k points and ~$146 in fines each.

I did not realise until today that only one flight a day between HBA and MEL actually has J.

Keep an eye on it that you're not downgraded, we were both ways unfortunately. Orc could be difficult to claim DSC for

 

[ferni]

Look at the table for earn rates under the section that says “East Coast USA/Canada or Europe” - that covers it doesn’t it?

ahh yes you're right, i totally missed that "or Europe" thanks!

 

[rcn]

Made a booking return trip to Christchurch business one way return in economy on the way back, procrastinated on the return so ended up economy still end up with keeping Qantas Gold for another year, and keeps me ticking along to Life time Gold.

There is a hotel called Jucy Snooze cheap accommodation in Christchurch which showed up on Qantas hotels but there is also the option for pod style accommodation for $44.

Christchurch I have an activity to do Saturday AM likely catch up with friends for lunch before flying home.

Jucy Snooze CHC is quite adequate for a solo traveller, esp is arriving near midnight and leaving on the early morning MEL or SYD flights. Otherwise I'd try the Novotel, looks really good.

 

[Daver6]

Keep an eye on it that you're not downgraded, we were both ways unfortunately. Orc could be difficult to claim DSC for

Why would it be any more difficult claiming DSC for the ORC if downgraded?

 

[exceladdict]

Why would it be any more difficult claiming DSC for the ORC if downgraded?

Just another factor that could go wrong.

 

[levelnine]

Why would it be any more difficult claiming DSC for the ORC if downgraded?

If they downgrade the route far enough in advance, isn't it possible that they might simply refund you the difference in points between Y & J rather than allow you to claim ORC? Could be problematic if you were counting on those SCs to maintain/attain a particular status level.

 

[I’ll go the Beef please]

Hi travel gurus -

Syd or Melb departing s/c dashes. Domestic or International or both. I’m struggling this late into the offer to find some great bang-for-buck runs. Open to multi-stopover ideas under approx $4/sc.

Promise I ask this after a decent few hours trying myself! Please let me know any quick recommendations and dates. Many many thanks!

 

[sudoer]

Just throwing my DSC bookings into the mix in case it helps spark ideas for others.

I made three separate bookings - two classic awards (SC earn via Points Club) and a double open jaw cash fare booked via Amex IAP (saved about $400 vs QF website)

1. SYD-MEL-HBA / U class / 41.5k QFF + $76 tax / 72 SC

2. HBA-SYD (stop) SYD-MEL-CGK (stop) MNL-SYD (stop) SYD-MEL-CNS / I class / $3.8k / 840 SC

3. CNS-BNE-SYD / U class / 41.5k QFF + $79 tax / 72 SC

Total cost ~$4k for 984 SC for three separate holidays to TAS (October long weekend), SE Asia over the peak Dec/Jan season (depart Friday before Christmas return Monday after new years i.e. standard shutdown) and then a weekend in Cairns in mid Feb. Pretty happy with the end result. The hardest part was finding decently priced seats in/out of Aus in that peak Dec/Jan period. ExpertFlyer sub paid for itself...

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Does anyone know whether a OW ticket from Aus to NZ will permit OLIC? I was considering doing a B2B with MEL-OOL-MEL on separate tickets.

 

[bodog]

Syd or Melb departing s/c dashes. Domestic or International or both. I’m struggling this late into the offer to find some great bang-for-buck runs. Open to multi-stopover ideas under approx $4/sc.

How many SCs are you after? It matters - a lot!

 

[levelnine]

1. SYD-MEL-HBA / U class / 41.5k QFF + $76 tax / 72 SC

PC/PCP have completely changed the game on domestic J for me.

I used to think, why would anyone in their right mind pay astronomical sums for a J seat on a short domestic hop? Apart from those on corporate/government travel & connecting international J itineraries, of course.

Now with DSC & PC/PCP, I do more domestic flying in J than Y.

With MEL-SYD being 12500 Avios (which cost me about $42 to acquire) + $58 in taxes, I see no reason not to pay $100 for MEL-SYD in J when it earns 36SC (with DSC). It's even a fair SC earn rate without DSC.

 

[I’ll go the Beef please]

How many SCs are you after? It matters - a lot!

Appreciate that. Definitely matters.

Current have 400. Will get approx 500 through the year with work trips (unfortunately can’t lock those in now). So aiming for 500 in personal trips.

Ideally 2 x trips that are 300+ s/c (eg. MEL>BNE>AKL in business or MEL>Christchurch.) Also open to holidays that aren’t the best best earn ($4-$5 s/c).

 

[Daver6]

If they downgrade the route far enough in advance, isn't it possible that they might simply refund you the difference in points between Y & J rather than allow you to claim ORC? Could be problematic if you were counting on those SCs to maintain/attain a particular status level.

I've already requalified for WP and I think MrsDaver6 will be ok for SG even with a few less SCs.

If they make the change that far in advance I can always push for them to reroute us in J on other flights. I'm not overly concerned in the grand scheme of ways QF can make like difficult for passengers.

 

[bodog]

Current have 400. Will get approx 500 through the year with work trips (unfortunately can’t lock those in now). So aiming for 500 in personal trips.

Sorry I can’t help with lower SC runs but here’s one that might help for those looking around 600 or so

Gold Coast - Melbourne - Sydney - Auckland - Sydney - Gold Coast in Business will give you 620 SC including the DSC bonus ones - cost is around $2500
Your $4-5 per SC is a good price to aim for

 

[I’ll go the Beef please]

Sorry I can’t help with lower SC runs but here’s one that might help for those looking around 600 or so

Gold Coast - Melbourne - Sydney - Auckland - Sydney - Gold Coast in Business will give you 620 SC including the DSC bonus ones - cost is around $2500
Your $4-5 per SC is a good price to aim for

Amazing, big help. I’ll check out a 5-stop combo like above. Do you mind letting me know roughly what dates you looked at? Relative rookie when it comes to s/c runs.

Thank you again.

 

[bodog]

Amazing, big help. I’ll check out a 5-stop combo like above. Do you mind letting me know roughly what dates you looked at? Relative rookie when it comes to s/c runs.

I’m doing that status run between 26 and 30 May as I wanted a couple of nights in Auckland - even get to see Hamilton (in an Arena setting) in Auckland on the Sunday night during its limited season over there - that’s a real bonus for me

As I live in Sydney I tacked on economy flights from Sydney to Gold Coast to connect at the beginning and the end and that gives me another 20 SCs - total cost is around $2800 with those extra legs included

The good thing is I can do Sydney - Gold Coast - Melbourne - Sydney on 1 day then Sydney - Auckland - Sydney on another or over 2-3 days to suit my plans then do Sydney - Gold Coast - Sydney the next day - that way I get to sleep in my own bed in Sydney for at least 2 of the nights between flights

 

[Chief Wiggum]

Hi travel gurus -

Syd or Melb departing s/c dashes. Domestic or International or both. I’m struggling this late into the offer to find some great bang-for-buck runs. Open to multi-stopover ideas under approx $4/sc.

Promise I ask this after a decent few hours trying myself! Please let me know any quick recommendations and dates. Many many thanks!

AU to NZ. Multiphop through MEL / BNE.
I booked yesterday BNE-xMEL-CHC return for total of 580 SC at about $3.50 / SC.
Travel in Nov 2023 travel.
I'm based in Melbourne so also involved in positioning flights TO/FROM Brisbane, booked using points.
Was hard to find MEL routes, most were SYD, but had 110 base SC vs 145 for the MEL-BNE routing.
I think AKL has more options.
I've seen CNS-xBNE-AKL is another good option.

 

[WilsonM]

Amazing, big help. I’ll check out a 5-stop combo like above. Do you mind letting me know roughly what dates you looked at? Relative rookie when it comes to s/c runs.

Thank you again.

Just did a quick search for MEL - AKL via BNE, on May 19-20. Found fares for $1926.34, which earned 580SC with the DSC promotion (works out to be $3.32 per SC). This one isn't a holiday, as you'd have 7 hours in AKL, which is overnight, but I'm sure if you wanted to explore Auckland for a bit you could push out the dates.

In general, MEL - BNE - 'NZ' gives you an extra 20SC (40 with DSC) than going MEL - SYD - 'NZ', each way. So looking for flights connecting through BNE is better for SC earn, while often costing the same as flying thru SYD.

 

[FrothDaddy]

Could someone please give me an example of a business classic reward itinerary that I can book to gain 360 SCs to bump from silver to gold status with this promotion? Any help would be so greatly appreciated. Happy to travel anywhere domestically or to NZ. I have Points Club Plus.

 

[Daver6]

Could someone please give me an example of a business classic reward itinerary that I can book to gain 360 SCs to bump from silver to gold status with this promotion? Any help would be so greatly appreciated. Happy to travel anywhere domestically or to NZ. I have Points Club Plus.

Would help if you gave us your starting point.