Dumb Newbie Question.....Status Run

[robolb]

Hi,

Whilst I've been a Qantas FF for 20 years I haven't paid much attention to Status. I was always flying fairly often.

But this year I haven't flown much and I'm concerned I won't keep my Gold Status. I'll need to rack up 350 SC by the end of January :-(


I have to go up to Bangkok, so I've routed that Sydney-Melbourne-Singapore-Bangkok-Singapore-Melbourne-Sydney. KKK-NHH. That should get me 170 SC I think......... This was a paid economy fare.

So then I have 180 to go.

I also need to do 2 other business trips before the end of January anyway.

Sydney-Perth-Sydney
and
Sydney-Melbourne-Sydney

I've been looking at routing the Perth trip via Adelaide, but I suspect I'm not going about this the right way, based on reading old posts here.

I'm just looking at adding additional sectors to boost the SC, whereas maybe I should be upgrading using points + pay. I have to say I found the posts a bit confusing as much of the information was crossed out and marked as no longer applicable.

So any tips would be most appreciated.

Maybe I need to call to make the bookings to do points + pay? I'm not too sure if by upgrading an economy fare to business using points, taht I get more SC?

Sorry, I did say these were Dumb questions............

Any advice on what fares I should be booking on these two trips to get 180+ SC would really be great...........

 

[RichardMEL]

No dumb questions, only (some) dumb answers.

first, if you upgrade a sector with ONLY points via a classic upgrade request (or bid for upgrade), then you will only receive the base (paid for) fare, eg: Y.
If you use Points+Pay to effectively upgrade the *booking class* from Economy to Business (likely to be rather steep on SYD-PER) then yes, you would get the J SC's.. but you'd only be looking at an increase of say 40SC on the one way flight - it may not be worth it unless you have a lot of points to burn and a little cash.

While you say you're looking to add sectors to existing trips to maximise SC's but not add extra travel to the roster, which makes a lot of sense, you may want to consider a mini run of some sort - for example, SYD-MEL-OOL r/t in J for around $1300 r/t (or some combination of P+P) can get you 160SC, or even just a SYD-OOL daytrip can get 80 SC. It occurs you could perhaps change your business trip SYD-MEL, to route SYD-MEL-OOL with a stop for your stay in MEL? buy it in J it may work out OK. I'm not too certain of how easy that would be to get.

I'm sure some will advocate a hop over the ditch to NZ - I disagree.

I am sure some others will come up with some other creative ideas. eg: SYD-PER with a tag to Kalgoolie or BME may be cost effective I think.

 

[sudoer]

I can't answer all of your questions, but here are some...

I've been looking at routing the Perth trip via Adelaide, but I suspect I'm not going about this the right way, based on reading old posts here.

If you're flying in Flex Y, you'll only gain an extra 10SC each way. I'm sure others will have more input here, perhaps via Cairns/Brisbane?

I'm just looking at adding additional sectors to boost the SC, whereas maybe I should be upgrading using points + pay.

Points + pay is a way to pay for the base fare, it isn't a way to upgrade. Unless you mean flying in J with the base fare paid partly in points, but this probably isn't great value (again, others will have lots to say on this)

Maybe I need to call to make the bookings to do points + pay?

You can book online with points + pay. Log in to your QFF profile and you should get the option towards the end of the booking process.

I'm not too sure if by upgrading an economy fare to business using points, taht I get more SC?

Classic Upgrade Rewards will not give you any extra SCs - you will earn the SCs of the fare you originally paid for.

Any advice on what fares I should be booking on these two trips to get 180+ SC would really be great......

ex-SYD? A quick hop across the tasman in Y and return in F (booked when on sale through QF NZ site) gets around 150 and seems to be a popular choice here.

EDIT: Ugh beaten

 

[Moindardt]

Another combo we looked at was a deep discount or rewards flight to HNL and the do the HNL-PTY run. Depending on your situation and budget, this may be a viable option. You might even get WP for a similar price range.

 

[Deleted member]

Given you are traveling for business, and therefore the fare is a deductible cost (I presume) and assuming you are paying for the fares , not the boss. have you considered shelling out a few more bucks for a QF (code share with EK) in J, yielding around 270 SC's and making the last 100 up on the domestic routes you mentioned ?

 

[robolb]

Thanks for all the ideas Guys. Giving me lots ore options to look at. Dinner in Auckland might be viable

 

[robolb]

Given you are traveling for business, and therefore the fare is a deductible cost (I presume) and assuming you are paying for the fares , not the boss. have you considered shelling out a few more bucks for a QF (code share with EK) in J, yielding around 270 SC's and making the last 100 up on the domestic routes you mentioned ?

Did you mean doing this on the Bangkok run (already booked) Or the trip to Perth?

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I would have thought being a QFF for 20 odd years and flying "fairly often" you must be getting close to lifetime gold anyway

 

[robolb]

I would have thought being a QFF for 20 odd years and flying "fairly often" you must be getting close to lifetime gold anyway

Obviously not that frequently :-( Just under 11,000. Seems like you need 14,000 for lifetime Gold.

 

[hossein_au]

Another combo we looked at was a deep discount or rewards flight to HNL and the do the HNL-PTY run. Depending on your situation and budget, this may be a viable option. You might even get WP for a similar price range.

A side question; what is the best HNL-PTY itinerary to maximise SCs? I've seen up to 16 segments, but I'm not certain which waypoints work out the best (either time wise or price wise).

 

[Deleted member]

Did you mean doing this on the Bangkok run (already booked) Or the trip to Perth?

Ahh. My mistake. I didn't realise the BKK trip was booked. Only that it was planned. My thinking was that rather than do "additional" status runs , spend the $ and fly pointy end for more SC's. But I suspect time may not be on your side?

 

[Ric]

Can you do a side trip from BKK?

Putting in some dates, say Jan 19 and back Jan 22 for just under A$1K you can do BKK>KUL>BKI return which will net you 200 SCs.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

EK does not do Australian domestic sectors.
So you can't do an F from SYD - PER, only J, (earning 80 QF SC). Or in non airline speak, Australian airlines do not have a First class, only Business (F/J respectively).
Some US airlines flying within the US on their domestic service do have an F service.
Next time you want to do a SYD - BKK, fly the EK (Emirates) service but with a QF flight number. Leaves SYD every evening, comes in from CHC - SYD - BKK - DXB. I wouldn't go through SIN with 3K (too troublesome), personally, I would (if I had to go up there to BKK) would fly from SYD - BKK with EK with a QF flight number, easy peasy, $$$ but easy peasy.
Going to HNL is okay, if you have an Australian passport or from a VW nationality.