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

 

[airbound]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

Managed to find a nice SC run earning SC @$1.27USD (Obviously in LOTFAP). Only problem is that it leaves me at an airport in the middle of no where... With the only viable option to fly the run in reverse for the same price meaning anyone can go from zero SC to way above WP Qualification... And 6-7 days of being in the sky....

Possibly going to purchase it in the next week.. If it stays around.. I will let you guys in on it after i have booked it!

Sorry for not giving any info away as of yet!

gogo

I forsee a race to become gogo419's new best friend!

 

[gogo419]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

I forsee a race to become gogo419's new best friend!

More than willing to accept bribes....

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

there are lots of runs ROUND THE $1.30 mark per sc. i was looking at SJC the other day after someone mentioned they wanted to start there and found

1 AA2618N 09MAY 4 SJCLAX SS1 1745 1905 /DCAA /E <--- econ
OPERATED BY SKYWEST AIRLINES AS AMERICAN EAGLE
2 AA 182P 09MAY 4*LAXLAS SS1 1945 2055 /DCAA /E
3 AA1738P 10MAY 5 LASORD SS1 0035 0605 /DCAA /E
4 AA 394P 10MAY 5 ORDLGA*SS1 0645 0950 /DCAA /E
5 AA1073A 10MAY 5 LGAMIA SS1 1345 1700 /DCAA /E
6 AA2229I 10MAY 5 MIASJU SS1 1750 2025 /DCAA /E <--- business
7 AA 572I 11MAY 6 SJUMIA SS1 0640 0925 /DCAA /E <--- business
8 AA 809A 11MAY 6 MIAORD SS1 1030 1250 /DCAA /E
9 AA1811P 11MAY 6*ORDLAS SS1 1525 1720 /DCAA /E
10 AA 776P 11MAY 6 LASLAX*SS1 1935 2045 /DCAA /E
11 AA2681N 11MAY 6 LAXSJC SS1 2205 2310 /DCAA /E <--- econ

09MAY DEPARTURE DATE-----LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 23FEB/2359
BASE FARE EQUIV AMT TAXES TOTAL
1- USD998.58 AUD1010.00 63.60XT AUD1073.60ADT
XT 34.80US 10.40AY 18.40XF
998.58 1010.00 63.60 1073.60TTL


i calculated 800 sc but i could well be wrong.

 

[drewbles]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

Drewbles, I've PM'ed you a route that you might like.

Thank you appreciated it. That's definitely a keeper for me (I'm going to be in the originating port later in the year, so a long status run earlier, and when i'm back later i'll be doing the one you sent me!).

 

[drewbles]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

there are lots of runs ROUND THE $1.30 mark per sc. i was looking at SJC the other day after someone mentioned they wanted to start there and found

1 AA2618N 09MAY 4 SJCLAX SS1 1745 1905 /DCAA /E <--- econ
OPERATED BY SKYWEST AIRLINES AS AMERICAN EAGLE
2 AA 182P 09MAY 4*LAXLAS SS1 1945 2055 /DCAA /E
3 AA1738P 10MAY 5 LASORD SS1 0035 0605 /DCAA /E
4 AA 394P 10MAY 5 ORDLGA*SS1 0645 0950 /DCAA /E
5 AA1073A 10MAY 5 LGAMIA SS1 1345 1700 /DCAA /E
6 AA2229I 10MAY 5 MIASJU SS1 1750 2025 /DCAA /E <--- business
7 AA 572I 11MAY 6 SJUMIA SS1 0640 0925 /DCAA /E <--- business
8 AA 809A 11MAY 6 MIAORD SS1 1030 1250 /DCAA /E
9 AA1811P 11MAY 6*ORDLAS SS1 1525 1720 /DCAA /E
10 AA 776P 11MAY 6 LASLAX*SS1 1935 2045 /DCAA /E
11 AA2681N 11MAY 6 LAXSJC SS1 2205 2310 /DCAA /E <--- econ

09MAY DEPARTURE DATE-----LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 23FEB/2359
BASE FARE EQUIV AMT TAXES TOTAL
1- USD998.58 AUD1010.00 63.60XT AUD1073.60ADT
XT 34.80US 10.40AY 18.40XF
998.58 1010.00 63.60 1073.60TTL


i calculated 800 sc but i could well be wrong.

Return is 860 SC's on that route.

SJC-LAX 10
LAX-LAS 60
LAS-ORD 120
ORD-LGA 90
LGA-MIA 90
MIA-SJU 60

You can use MileageMonkey to do the calcs for you.

 

[serfty]

Return is 860 SC's on that route.

SJC-LAX 10
LAX-LAS 60
LAS-ORD 120
ORD-LGA 90
LGA-MIA 90
MIA-SJU 60

You can use MileageMonkey to do the calcs for you.

With a 40 minute AeAgle to T4 LAX at the very first transit, it would be quit a punt to try doing it.

 

[drewbles]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

With a 40 minute AeAgle to T4 LAX at the very first transit, it would be quit a punt to try doing it.

Agreed. That little satellite terminal in LAX can be a commute with the bus!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

With a 40 minute AeAgle to T4 LAX at the very first transit, it would be quit a punt to try doing it.

As I mentioned in pm this was was simply an example and an earlier flight from sjc is easy to find !

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

With a 40 minute AeAgle to T4 LAX at the very first transit, it would be quit a punt to try doing it.

It would be nice to get a thankyou rather than some comment about a connection time which can be sorted pretty simply.

Is it even worth sharing ideas here at all?

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

It would be nice to get a thankyou rather than some comment about a connection time which can be sorted pretty simply.

Is it even worth sharing ideas here at all?

Don't be too disheartened... I've found you have to be pretty thick-skinned on this forum. Lots of members will read the post and not comment/respond/reply at all but still find the information valuable... as I often do, and did so in this case. Of course, in this instance, I did notice a short connection time, and then others add further information pointing out the challenges this may entail -- I for one am not as familiar with terminals and connections etc. in the US, so I just read this as "oh okay.. there's something to note and keep in mind". I'm sure it was not meant as a criticism. And I certainly do thank you for the suggested routing.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

Don't be too disheartened... I've found you have to be pretty thick-skinned on this forum. Lots of members will read the post and not comment/respond/reply at all but still find the information valuable... as I often do, and did so in this case. Of course, in this instance, I did notice a short connection time, and then others add further information pointing out the challenges this may entail -- I for one am not as familiar with terminals and connections etc. in the US, so I just read this as "oh okay.. there's something to note and keep in mind". I'm sure it was not meant as a criticism. And I certainly do thank you for the suggested routing.

it refers to the first leg and it's very easy to choose the previous departure SJC to LAX. thanks for your comments

 

[legroom]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

It would be nice to get a thankyou rather than some comment about a connection time which can be sorted pretty simply.

Is it even worth sharing ideas here at all?

Yes, please do continue to share.

The comment on MCT was made in obvious good faith & intentions to help you / others evaluate the risks.

It is not, I am sure, meant to belittle your comments / ideas.

My honest 2c !

 

[DC3]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

It would be nice to get a thankyou rather than some comment about a connection time which can be sorted pretty simply.

Is it even worth sharing ideas here at all?

In four years and over 1200 posts, I think that you have worked it out by now.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Re: Best Status Run Options - Questions and General Discussion

We all share for the love of it, really. And then, there's always somebody somewhere who will come in and throw a spanner at it.

 

[Chris82]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

So just to update, I ended up going with option 3, except in reverse.

So I paid for a red e-deal BNE-MEL-HBA (which will get me 50SC with DSC) and then booked a JASA for the return HBA-MEL-BNE. It's coming up soon and this will be my first ever status run, so it does feel a little strange for me at this point to make a flight for no reason other than to gain additional SC's, but I'll see how I go. I hope I don't get addicted to it, because I could easily see myself making it a all to regular event if I like it. By the end of the run, I will have achieved Gold for the first time as well...which was obviously the whole point of this endeavour in the first place.

Well I finally did my first status run. Overall it was a pretty easy trip (except for making the amateur mistake of booking a window seat on one leg - which actually had no window), and I'm glad I made the decision to a JASA on the return leg because I needed the food and comfort. Thankfully only had 1 of the 4 legs with the stupid cricket safety video too - I think I actually heard the CSM apologising to some QFFers in J that it was on it's final legs and they didn't have the alternative video for that plane yet. No major delays anywhere, and easy transfers, particularly as I was on the same plane for 3 out of the 4 legs. Was tired by the end of it, but looking back it was actually kind of fun and I got a decent amount of reading/video watching done. Now just waiting on my DSC's to post and I will finally be Gold for the first time!

 

[legroom]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

...I was on the same plane for 3 out of the 4 legs........

Did you get ask why by the FAs?

If yes, what was your reply?

FWIW, I was given an upgrade Y to J by a friendly FA after she was told of my real reason for flying on the same plane.

That leg in J was very expensive, from memory it was about 90,000 points so I had selected YASA instead.

Must be the time of the flight (TSV BNE).

Courtesy of the upgrade, I then had J all the way for my run.

 

[Chris82]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Only had the same FA's on the MEL-HBA and HBA-MEL legs, but because I went from Y to J, I had different crew serving....although I have the feeling they recognised me, they never actually mentioned anything, and I just went about my business. I must admit that I was trying to come up with some excuses in my head (signing a contract, couriering a package etc).

 

[legroom]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

Revitalising our old fav, SJU... AA is matching UA sale fares from SFO (and various other cities) to/from SJU. I'm seeing $460 ai for 360 SCs ($1.28 per SC) via ORD and MSY (and possibly other routes) from July'ish to Nov 19th. You will need to use ITA Matrix to define the 4 segments as AA limits you to three segments in its 'view all results' output.

I've just booked a similar fare but as SFO-LAX-JFK-MIA-SJU for $535 and netting 360 SCs. The difference is the LAX-JFK overnight flight is on a 762 (3 class) in Flagship first class sleepers, along with the JFK-MIA segment. Well worth the extra ~$75 IMHO. My return flights are SJU-MIA-JFK-ORD-SAN for $448 netting 360 SCs ($1.24 per SC).

So all up, 720 SCs for ~$970 AUD (using my 28 degrees at AUD/USD 1.021 forex). Not as good as some of the multi-city killer deals, but pretty good considering I was going to SJU anyway! Looking forward to my 8 day Caribbean cruise now!

First up, I am still a novice in US SC runs here.

When I tried to do a dummy booking, all I saw was an error.

What have I done wrong ?

Please educate me.

 

[DC3]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

First up, I am still a novice in US SC runs here.

When I tried to do a dummy booking, all I saw was an error.

What have I done wrong ?

Please educate me.

I'm no expert, but your dates/times selected are probably unworkable.

Firstly, I would use the ita Matrix and enter your dates, routing:

Matrix - ITA Software






Then, select a date:





Then, you'll see the flight options:





If you double-click on a price in the left-hand column, above, it brings up the details of the flight:

Now you have the information to go to AA.com and enter your multi-city selections as you did previously with your dummy bookings.


​

 

[legroom]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview!

DC3

Many thanks for your time & kindness.

However, it is strange that when I clicked on your IATA link, I could not see the "dates of lowest fares" option.

All I could see is a drop-down box of dates.

Not sure why I am seeing differently.

EDIT: I realised I used Multi-City when you used the One Way option ! Problem solved.

Also, according to serfty's thread, I am supposed to choose Business or higher but you recommended First as the option.

? care to explain any practical difference there

Thanks again

MOD: maybe it should be moved to the AA newbie thread ?