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.

---

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

 

[SYD]

1)Offset a cheap domestic flight

Mixed results reported, but more than $1 offset on a (paid) revenue flight at the same time as booking, is most likely to post without intervention. The actual flight can be months ahead but the leaf should post in about ~48 hrs.

The rest can be knocked over in a few hours and again post within about 48 hrs.

Only the Donation is points only (the rest can be $ or points).

 

[sudoer]

3) Buy the energy offset for 1 person in Tas.

If not in a rush, joining Red Energy (referral thread here) and paying for GreenPower (government certified renewable electricity - very different to carbon offsetting) can also be a good way to get this leaf now.

Obviously check their rates for your address, but at least for me they are pretty competitive especially once factoring in the 10k/5k sign-up bonus and no Amex surcharge.

 

[Kerrodt]

1)Offset a cheap domestic flight
2) donation
3) Buy the energy offset for 1 person in Tas.
4) Do the climate positive delivery while doing the above.
5) Quiz.

Just did this. It was a whole lot easier than I thought it would be.

 

[willyroo]

Program Year End Date: 31st October 2023
Desired Status: Gold
Current Status Credit Balance: 605
Remaining Status Credits Booked: 0
Status Credits Needed: 95
Status Credits Taken with JetStar/Qantas Group:
Points required for 50 status credit Loyalty Bonus:
Monetary Budget: prefer under $500
Time Budget: Short/Long Weekend
Qantas Green Tier Status Attained (Yes/No): No
Geographic Flexibility: Any region is fine
Points Club: passed on SCs, unlikely ANZ CC 110,00 points application and minimum spend in time

Options out of BNE or CNS for Mrs willyroo, on the cusp of Gold. A lot of travel next year, be good to get the free QC, bonus points, global lounges, seat allocation etc etc by qualifying.

Looking at Green tier - these are done so assume 50SCs:
1) Offset flying (she has October trips already counted for above)
2) Offset home
3) Delivery
4) Donation
5) Quiz via wellbeing app

So assume 45SCs for Gold. Thinking a BNE-CNS or BNE-MEL overnight, JQ Max one way and QF discount Y or JQ Plus the other?

 

[xetrok]

Hi All,

Starting to get a grasp of the QFF world!
Currently a lowly bronze with 40 SC but want to change that next year (hopefully with some DSC).

Desired Status: Gold / Plat
Home Airport: MEL (happy to reposition)
Points Club: On track for points club plus by Nov 2023
Current Status Credit Balance: 40
Remaining Status Credits Booked: 144
Status Credits Needed: Start in new membership year (Mar), 100 SC rollover, 600 (gold) / 1300 (plat)
Status Credits Taken with JetStar/Qantas Group:
Monetary Budget: As cheap as possible
Time Budget: Flexible
Qantas Green Tier Status Attained (Yes/No): No
Geographic Flexibility Australia (Any), NZ (Any), Asia (SIN, NRT, HKT), North America (Either LAX, MCO)

I've read back in the thread (probably a little too far back ie. JASAs) but need to get my head around how to maximise the next DSC. Happy to run a few routes more than once. I assume there's no limit on bookings for DSC?

What are some sample routes to maximise SC earn?
What's the best way to find/book? (points + pay, points club classic rewards)
How do I know which class to book for the route - are they all J?
Are there any other tips or hints you could reccomend?

 

[aikman]

Program Year End Date: 31st October 2023
Desired Status: Gold
Current Status Credit Balance: 605
Remaining Status Credits Booked: 0
Status Credits Needed: 95
Status Credits Taken with JetStar/Qantas Group:
Points required for 50 status credit Loyalty Bonus:
Monetary Budget: prefer under $500
Time Budget: Short/Long Weekend
Qantas Green Tier Status Attained (Yes/No): No
Geographic Flexibility: Any region is fine
Points Club: passed on SCs, unlikely ANZ CC 110,00 points application and minimum spend in time

Options out of BNE or CNS for Mrs willyroo, on the cusp of Gold. A lot of travel next year, be good to get the free QC, bonus points, global lounges, seat allocation etc etc by qualifying.

Looking at Green tier - these are done so assume 50SCs:
1) Offset flying (she has October trips already counted for above)
2) Offset home
3) Delivery
4) Donation
5) Quiz via wellbeing app

So assume 45SCs for Gold. Thinking a BNE-CNS or BNE-MEL overnight, JQ Max one way and QF discount Y or JQ Plus the other?

I would do the Green Tier thing asap. There is a lag from when you do the activity to when the green leaf appears. There's also reports of the reward not appearing until your next membership year.

A trip to CNS or MEL is as good a plan as any. Flying out of Gold Coast could potentially be cheaper.

 

[SYD]

I would do the Green Tier thing asap. There is a lag from when you do the activity to when the green leaf appears.

Usually about 48 hrs but the flight offset doesn’t have to be flown, just paid for.

There's also reports of the reward not appearing until your next membership year.

Only for those retaining GT for year 2, 3 etc. First timers will get their reward choice within about 48 hrs (approx 90 days to chose pts or SCs).

 

[willyroo]

Green Tier thing asap. There is a lag

The last one to post was the $1 marketplace green shipping. The flight offset was ~24 hours.

She's at 645SCs with the 50SCs from Green tier. 2 x 15SC flights in the system for next week = 675SCs.

1 way to CNS on JQ Max = $186 = 30SCs.

I might go with her

Oh and her ANZ Black FF application was approved yesterday. We should be able to drop about $13k of travel bookings on it next week - so slight chance of Points Club by 31 Oct as well

(Edited to add - thank you @aikman and @SYD for your comments, and the community in general for this rather good thread)

 

[Ric]

Can anyone tell me what routes does Jetstar flies to that has business class? Either I am not looking properly or it is not on their website.
Thinking of doing a status run and Jetstar business class might be an option. Start point is in Sydney
Many thanks!

 

[SYD]

Can anyone tell me what routes does Jetstar flies to that has business class? Either I am not looking properly or it is not on their website.
Thinking of doing a status run and Jetstar business class might be an option. Start point is in Sydney
Many thanks!

Wherever they fly B788. See the bottom of this page but not all ex SYD (eg SIN and BKK).

https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/dreamliner

Note also that you effectively pay full flex fare to earn SCs in J - unless they’ve changed their pricing? There isn’t an in between Max fare that gives SCs but not fully flex. So it’s difficult to get good value out of JQ J Sale fares.

 

[moa999]

Basically mostly international routes.. apart from the very ocassional domestic tag.

 

[Ric]

@SYD & @moa999
Thank you for the info!

 

[Jacksta]

Thanks - i thought they did .... but when I called Qantas to check I got connected with the call center in Manila and they said that Qantas link flights would count but those operated by Alliance Air would not ......???

Just for future reference if anyone is searching for the same question my double status credits on recent alliance Air flights posted within a week of talking the flight

Hi - quick question for the experts out there ...
Do flights operated for Qantas out of Canberra on Alliance air and Qantas Link that have a QF flight number (eg QF1516 QF 1863) qualify for double status credits?
Thanks in advance for any help!

Just for future reference if anyone is searching for the same question - my double status credits on recent alliance Air flights successfully posted within a week of talking the flights

 

[prozac]

I found and booked what I thought was a pretty good earner on BA.

LGW-DLM in J for GBP123 gets 80 SC as it's 1738 miles. Available now till next month at least.

I don't really want to go to DLM (although it's quite nice), but am going to AYT, and I couldn't pass up this fare, which includes sensible flight times and a decent spell in the LGW FCL (which is better than that at LHR IMO).

I'm on-flying to AYT via IST the next day on TK. A bit silly, but there you are...

@clifford , @Mattg , where do you post the points to? I gather the SC stays with the airline flown?

 

[clifford]

@clifford , @Mattg I gather the SC stays with the airline flown?

Not true.

I'm posting to QF on this flight. In the past I've gained BA Gold by flying QR, so not the airline flown.

 

[Mattg]

@clifford , @Mattg , where do you post the points to? I gather the SC stays with the airline flown?

I'm crediting the above Finnair flights to Qantas Frequent Flyer.

 

[prozac]

I'm crediting the above Finnair flights to Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Not true.

I'm posting to QF on this flight. In the past I've gained BA Gold by flying QR, so not the airline flown.

Excuse my naïveté.
So SC can go to QFF?

 

[clifford]

So SC can go to QFF?

Yes indeed.

 

[Kangol]

Yes indeed.

The issue with OW partners, as a general rule, is that if they fly on the same route as QF, your QFF earn rate on the competing sector will be dramatically reduced.

 

[clifford]

The issue with OW partners, as a general rule, is that if they fly on the same route as QF, your QFF earn rate on the competing sector will be dramatically reduced.

True, it's a valid point, that's why I avoid that situation.

I don't think QF flies LGW-DLM (not many airlines do).