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

 

[Flyrner]

Presumably the price

I had a look at some examples and see what you mean thanks

 

[wandering_fred]

Being frugal in my wandering (OK down and out cheap) and wanting to have a trip to the USA later in the year (NOT in the Y cabin). and given Perth is far enough west to consider alternatives, I consulted the normal suspected intermediate departure points for premium economy fares.
In the end I found a PNE78YN3 fare offered by AA DPS via SYD to LAX for about $AU2200 compared to the approximate $AU5000 fare PER-SYD-LAX entirely with QF.
The fare has limited offerings on the AA flights and is quickly disappearing.
And the DPS-SYD portion books into B class (fully flex) so offers an inexpensive classic upgrade request. And the QF segments are a fair SC earner at 60 each way (and that without x2 DSC ).

I had to make a date change and the AA USA reservations desk was most helpful (the Australian AA desk was not) and I ended up with a free date change. Warning the next more expensive fare class does NOT offer changes. And with the date change my cheap JQ fare PER-DPS has gone, but the total PER-DPS (even with the overnight hotel and visas) will never exceed the trans-Pacific savings.

PY tickets on JL flights from BKK are the next most affordable but BKK-TYO is in Y.

Happy wandering
Fred

 

[Vee711]

I'm about 90SC short from the next tier. I think I will be on 4 Domestic trips before my status expire in December. I won't have an opportunity to fly International so I think my best chances are the domestic flights. What is the most cost-effective way to maximise the SC?

The 4 trips will be, most likely with the Red E-Deal tickets:
BNE-CBR (10SC)
CBR-BNE (10SC)
BNE-SYD (10SC)
SYD-BNE (10SC)

From a quick look, Flexi tickets are 2.5x more expensive than Red E-Deal which doesn't seem worth it for 2x SC.

I just missed out on the DSC promo in March so my initial thoughts were to do BNE-SYD-CBR flight and CBR-SYD-BNE for a total of 40SC + the BNE-SYD return for a total of 20SC but then I'm still about 30SC short.

Alternatively, I was thinking to redeem Reward Flights (will probably cost me 50k points and probably not the best way to use the points) and use points for U tickets at 18 SC per leg, as I'm in the Points Club. This is assuming BNE-SYD-CBR nets me 36SC.

Welcome any thoughts.

 

[dairyfloss]

I'm about 90SC short from the next tier. I think I will be on 4 Domestic trips before my status expire in December. I won't have an opportunity to fly International so I think my best chances are the domestic flights. What is the most cost-effective way to maximise the SC?

The 4 trips will be, most likely with the Red E-Deal tickets:
BNE-CBR (10SC)
CBR-BNE (10SC)
BNE-SYD (10SC)
SYD-BNE (10SC)

From a quick look, Flexi tickets are 2.5x more expensive than Red E-Deal which doesn't seem worth it for 2x SC.

I just missed out on the DSC promo in March so my initial thoughts were to do BNE-SYD-CBR flight and CBR-SYD-BNE for a total of 40SC + the BNE-SYD return for a total of 20SC but then I'm still about 30SC short.

Alternatively, I was thinking to redeem Reward Flights (will probably cost me 50k points and probably not the best way to use the points) and use points for U tickets at 18 SC per leg, as I'm in the Points Club. This is assuming BNE-SYD-CBR nets me 36SC.

Welcome any thoughts.

Yes - if you can find options, the BNE-xSYD-CBR-xSYD-BNE in U as a PC member should net you 72SCs (0-750 miles is 18SCs per flight), and then you can just do SYD<>BNE direct flights using Red E-Deal for 2 x 10SCs. Total 92SCs. Depending when it is, you might have some difficulty getting business (U) on SYD-CBR, unless you can perhaps layover at SYD and open up earlier AM options.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[aikman]

BNE-MEL-CBR costs the same in points and gets you an extra 10SCs.

 

[Vee711]

BNE-MEL-CBR costs the same in points and gets you an extra 10SCs.

That's good to know! Thanks

Depending when it is, you might have some difficulty getting business (U) on SYD-CBR, unless you can perhaps layover at SYD and open up earlier AM options

I imagine a lot of parliamentary members flying in business?

 

[sudoer]

I imagine a lot of parliamentary members flying in business?

The issue is that most aircraft operating this route (Dash 8 variants) don't have a business cabin. But yes, towards the start and end of sitting periods the J cabin is usually quite full.

 

[nancypants]

After much jiggery pokery I have booked DRW-MEL-SYD-NAN-SYD-AKL-RAR-AKL-MEL-DRW, mixed QF/FJ/JQ, J/Y. Total of 850 SCs of which 650 are DSC, around $5-6/SC. Not terrible and a couple of weeks of holiday in the mix

Pls can someone check my maths, I feel like I’ve stuffed up!
DRW MEL 80+80
MEL NAN (became direct) 20
NAN SYD 25
SYD AKL 85+85
AKL RAR AKL 40+40
AKL MEL 80+80
MEL DRW 80+80

Have received the ones in bold so far
Had 270 to start
Currently at 520
525 still to come
Gives me 1045 ie 155 short of renewing (which is fine as I will undoubtedly end up with a JQ return to the east coast and green tier before the year is out)

For some reason I had it in my head that I was only up to 800 or so?!

 

[wandering_fred]

To further clarify by post #6402
The PY ticket should in QFF earn 2~ and 300 SC plus 120 SC for DSC = total 420
plus whatever you can earn getting to/from DPS (at least 100 SC ?)
Happy wandering
Fred

 

[PineappleSkip]

There are only so many bottles of De Bortoli Legacy Shiraz one can store at home...

This seems to be a recent obsession of ACCOR, the last two of their hotels I stayed at featured it alarmingly heavily.

The PY ticket

The penny has dropped. You are referring to Y+ and not Surinam Airways!

Cheers skip

 

[tdimdad]

If it happens that a J sale to NZ does not happen this autumn, what'd be the other cheap ($/SC) ways to get 240 SC ex SYD, please? Timeframe in Jul-Sep.

I was planning on doing a SYD-xMEL-CHC-xBNE-SYD loop (or mini holiday) but am after a Plan B in case a sale doesn't eventuate.

 

[Lynda2475]

The NZ sales has already been and gone last month, not sure there will be another.

You can get 160SCs relatively cheaply flying J to NOU and back.

 

[mviy]

If there’s another sale to NZ, I might book, but probably wishful thinking.

 

[clifford]

If there’s another sale to NZ, I might book, but probably wishful thinking.

From what I can see, a NZ sale will only save you a few hundred dollars R/T, so for 320 SC ex CBR it's still not all that expensive.

 

[tdimdad]

The NZ sales has already been and gone last month, not sure there will be another.

Geez, that slipped past quick. Any recollection when it was (like it would matter much afterwards, though, but I'd like to know when did I blink and miss it)?

 

[RichardMEL]

If it happens that a J sale to NZ does not happen this autumn, what'd be the other cheap ($/SC) ways to get 240 SC ex SYD, please? Timeframe in Jul-Sep.

I was planning on doing a SYD-xMEL-CHC-xBNE-SYD loop (or mini holiday) but am after a Plan B in case a sale doesn't eventuate.

SYD-MEL-OOL may be a good bet in J for domestic = 100 SC each way in discount J at under $10/SC. Perhaps looking at some flex fares like SYD-BNE-CNS may also be work out, but I haven't done the sums.

note current dom J sale isn't so good for connections, but say SYD-ADL may be worth a look. SYD-CNS unfortunately woul only earn 60SC direct (vs 100 going via BNE/MEL).

120 going MEL-BNE-CNS (so a return would get the 240). However you're still probably looking at around $10/SC

you'd want to do your sums though as domestic fares aren't the greatest for connections

 

[FrustratedQP]

I’m arriving AKL at 0030 and departing 0610 the same day HLO only. Does anybody know if I can use the transit lounge to wait before the Qantas Lounge opens?

 

[snabbu]

I’m arriving AKL at 0030 and departing 0610 the same day HLO only. Does anybody know if I can use the transit lounge to wait before the Qantas Lounge opens?

You will likely need to enter NZ, head back upstairs and wait for immigration / security to open around 4am.

 

[JessicaTam]

I’m arriving AKL at 0030 and departing 0610 the same day HLO only. Does anybody know if I can use the transit lounge to wait before the Qantas Lounge opens?

You will likely need to enter NZ, head back upstairs and wait for immigration / security to open around 4am.

I am doing the same thing next month and I am hoping to OLCI for my departing flight so I can transit without entering NZ.

 

[snabbu]

I am doing the same thing next month and I am hoping to OLCI for my departing flight so I can transit without entering NZ.

Unless processes has changed recently the transit area is closed from about midnight till 5am. There is a phone to call someone if you have a delayed connection however in my eperience they don't come down and manually process pax on flights from about 6am onwards.