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

 

[sudoer]

Unsure if this has been discussed in any detail but would be curious if there are any sweet spots when it comes to classic award status credit accrual (supposing of course you are a points club member).

It has been for single legs.

SC earning with Points Club and Award Flights

Yes. I have been awarded 72 SCs for QF93 MEL to LAX, in J Classic Award (so U class). Which matches the table linked. I'm pretty happy with that SC earn rate (or any, really) for a Classic Rewards flight so thumbs up from me.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Multi-leg awards are definitely better value, but there are limits to how many flights the Qantas engine will allow you to book in a single day - although there appears to be some exceptions for transcon red eyes.

 

[jen100]

I need 320 SC by 31st Jan to attain platinum. Home base is BNE, would prefer to fly business. Any suggestions?

 

[sudoer]

I need 320 SC by 31st Jan to attain platinum. Home base is BNE, would prefer to fly business. Any suggestions?

DPS via SYD/MEL.

 

[RSD]

DPS via SYD/MEL.

I need 320 SC by 31st Jan to attain platinum. Home base is BNE, would prefer to fly business. Any suggestions?

I don't know about J, but premium Y BNE-SYD-SIN-DXB-CAI return should do the trick from memory

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I believe it's total miles travelled. For example CBR > BNE is 593mi and thus the lowest bracket (8000pts). But CBR > SYD > BNE is 613mi and thus 12000 pts. But CBR > MEL > BNE still falls within the distance until the next bracket (1200mi) so that costs the same as if you route through sydney. But as MEL > BNE breaks the 750mi cap, you earn 11 SC instead of 7SC for going backwards.

Interesting. So if that's the case in theory I could book something like SYD to ABX (via CBR, MEL) for 8000 points as that is exactly 600 miles in length. This would work out to 21 status credits total for a status credit per point value of 380 points per SC. Not bad!

One interesting question is how taxes and fees are determined for connecting flights. I know some airports in the world will only pass on a fee if the connection exceeds a certain threshold (i.e. 4 hours). But would be curious to learn what the rules are here for domestic flights. Is it an airport specific thing?

 

[elanshin]

Interesting. So if that's the case in theory I could book something like SYD to ABX (via CBR, MEL) for 8000 points as that is exactly 600 miles in length. This would work out to 21 status credits total for a status credit per point value of 380 points per SC. Not bad!

Money cost is one thing but time cost of a status run is also a real cost too which is why I don't think too many stops for small points makes sense. If you're going to do CR based SC run, it should almost certainly always be J even if the points per SC is better in Y.

One interesting question is how taxes and fees are determined for connecting flights. I know some airports in the world will only pass on a fee if the connection exceeds a certain threshold (i.e. 4 hours). But would be curious to learn what the rules are here for domestic flights. Is it an airport specific thing

I think theres airport fees and other fees. Like CBR > MEL > BNE is cheaper than CBR> SYD > BNE. And every stop point adds a significant portion in tax. I think i paid $143 for SYD > CBR > MEL vs the $41 for direct.

 

[sudoer]

I think i paid $143 for SYD > CBR > MEL vs the $41 for direct.

Avoid CBR. Some of the highest taxes in Australia.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Interesting. So if that's the case in theory I could book something like SYD to ABX (via CBR, MEL) for 8000 points as that is exactly 600 miles in length. This would work out to 21 status credits total for a status credit per point value of 380 points per SC.

In theory, yes. However, I used to be able to book PQQ-SYD-OAG-SYD-CBR for 8,000 points earning 28 SCs. 594 miles.

Now it prices as two separate awards for 16,000 points.

OTOH, my recent status run starting in CHC priced on distance only, as expected.

Consistently inconsistent.

 

[sudoer]

OTOH, my recent status run starting in CHC priced on distance only, as expected.

Consistently inconsistent.

I think difference is the inclusion of international legs - from my playing around with the multi-city tool anyway.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I think difference is the inclusion of international legs - from my playing around with the multi-city tool anyway.

In addition, there’s also that issue related to date of departure which sometimes comes into play with the return sectors on TT.

For example in a CHCxSYD-BNE trip, if CHC-SYD falls on a different calendar day as SYD-BNE then they’ll price as two sectors.

 

[aikman]

I've been interested in visiting Longreach for a while but was never keen on paying the 36,000 points for a return classic reward ticket.

So when I needed to book a one way AKL-MEL ticket recently for 18,000 points I decided to tack on a 22 hour stay in Longreach to my one way ticket. So for a total of 25,200 points I booked:

Day 1: AKL-MEL (overnight transit at home)
Day 2: MEL-BNE-LRE (22hr transit)
Day 3: LRE-BNE-MEL

The extra SCs are nice but the taxes weren't exactly cheap so it's not great for a status run.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Money cost is one thing but time cost of a status run is also a real cost too which is why I don't think too many stops for small points makes sense. If you're going to do CR based SC run, it should almost certainly always be J even if the points per SC is better in Y.

In terms of points per status credit I think J classic awards are the best bang for your buck. And if booked during a DSC such a trip could net 108 status credits. Whether it makes best sense of one's time is a question open for debate and one not worth exploring as a frequent flyer since there are a number of irrational things we do to earn status (ask me how I know).

I think theres airport fees and other fees. Like CBR > MEL > BNE is cheaper than CBR> SYD > BNE. And every stop point adds a significant portion in tax. I think i paid $143 for SYD > CBR > MEL vs the $41 for direct.

Yeah looking around it seems like different connection airports pass on different fees with MEL being one of the cheaper airports to connect thru.

Avoid CBR. Some of the highest taxes in Australia.

That's what I notice too. There really needs to be some reform in this area, especially if the airline isn't covering the cost (as they do with things like APD in the UK).

-RooFlyer88

 

[marki]

In terms of points per status credit I think J classic awards are the best bang for your buck. And if booked during a DSC such a trip could net 108 status credits. Whether it makes best sense of one's time is a question open for debate and one not worth exploring as a frequent flyer since there are a number of irrational things we do to earn status (ask me how I know).

Yeah looking around it seems like different connection airports pass on different fees with MEL being one of the cheaper airports to connect thru.


That's what I notice too. There really needs to be some reform in this area, especially if the airline isn't covering the cost (as they do with things like APD in the UK).

-RooFlyer88

Melbourne cheap ? Well that’s good we will attract the flights.

 

[serfty]

Yeah, I have a few annoyances with Classic Reward earn, mainly around how Northeast and Sourtheast Asia all earn the same amount of SCs (48 in J) but cost different amounts to redeem (62k or 82k)

Blame "simpler and fairer ™ " ; until then the bands had basically aligned.

 

[SYD]

Blame "simpler and fairer ™ " ; until then the bands had basically aligned.

PC/PC+ earn on CRs post dates S&F but TBH I’ve not looked that closely at what burn/earn glaring discrepancies exist.

Classic Flight Reward tables | Qantas Frequent Flyer

See how many Status Credits you’ll earn on Qantas marketed Classic Flight Rewards as a member of Points Club or Points Club Plus.

www.qantas.com

Relatively speaking, the ~70% whY SC earn looks good but as mentioned earlier, the actual points / SC earn on J is better, despite only ~half the regular SC earn.

 

[serfty]

PC/PC+ earn on CRs post dates S&F but TBH I’ve not looked that closely at what burn/earn glaring discrepancies exist.

Reality is that PC status credit earn is about a relatively constant certain percentage of revenue SC earn.

Revenue earn zones became misaligned with award zones with the introduction of "simpler and fairer ™" .

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Was just looking at my options for TYO > SIN when I saw

GK+3K Jetstar 3 flights. 47k yen Max Bundle (or about $500) one way. That's a nifty 90 SC by my calulcation which is fairly decent at $5.55 per SC.

What is that TYO > MNL > KUL > SIN?

It's an okay run I suppose if you are in the region, although one wonders if there might be a more efficient (cost and time) way of earning said status credits in the region.

Downside is you're on Jetstar all day and there's a tight MNL connection.

That could be a positive thing, especially if you get a nice cancellation forcing a longer reroute with JetStar covering your hotel and meals.

 

[elanshin]

What is that TYO > MNL > KUL > SIN?

It's an okay run I suppose if you are in the region, although one wonders if there might be a more efficient (cost and time) way of earning said status credits in the region.

That could be a positive thing, especially if you get a nice cancellation forcing a longer reroute with JetStar covering your hotel and meals.

Sorry I missed one thing about that flight - it's not actually connecting at manilla, just stopping and thus would not be two separate earn rates I believe at least it shouldn't be.

Flight is NRT > KIX > MNL (continuing) > SIN.
Makes it significantly worse as an option from SC PoV hence removing the post.

 

[RichardMEL]

oh for the days of JASA and FASA..... is all I can say

 

[elanshin]

First mini holiday/status run booked.
MEL > AKL (Y)
AKL > BNE > MEL (J).

Not the cheapest run but will put me into WP if my math is right. ended up around $1400 for estimated 165 SC . Probably left it too last minute.