How to maximise credits:cost on a status run

[sammy]

Hi again fellow FFs.

Although I have lurked from time to time, its been a long time since I last appeared here. After ten+ years, I have moved back to Australia (hopefully permanently).

Could some of you kind people please give me some advice?
My daughter currently needs 260 sc's by 31 Oct to make gold. We have a return discount flight to J'burg coming up, but its only going to earn her 80 sc's.
So I would like to find her 180 sc's somewhere...
I was thinking about taking her to Cairns next month...
How should I structure this "status run" to earn the maximum points for the least $ ?
When I do the fare search on Qantas, sometimes there are two flght numbers (thru Bris). How can I make it show more sectors?
What would you recommend? Business class?
Also, do kids who pay 80% of the fare get 100% of the sc's and points?
(She's only ten)
Sorry if these seem like silly questions!

- Sammy

 

[sully]

May I ask why it is necessary to have your 10 year old daughter achieve Aurum? Sure she will accumulate the 50% bonus for points but most of the other benefits accrue to the business traveller who checks in at dedicated desks and/or uses the Qantas pub. I assume most if not all of her travel will be with a parent in any case(?????)

Unless the quality of the colouring in books is better............?

 

[sammy]

Well, she will be flying o/s alone in December. This is very, very common among expats.
Also, it helps a lot in getting bookings and good seats, and just generally makes things easier. It will make things easier if she has the same status as me. Plus the extra ff points come in handy when paying for a family vacation.
I don't know why you are so indignant...obviously she flies a lot, and often up the front, or she wouldn't be igetting close to gold in the first place.

 

[sully]

Well, she will be flying o/s alone in December. This is very, very common among expats.
Also, it helps a lot in getting bookings and good seats, and just generally makes things easier. It will make things easier if she has the same status as me. Plus the extra ff points come in handy when paying for a
I don't know why you are so indignant...obviously she flies a lot, and often up the front, or she wouldn't be igetting close to gold in the first place.

Mate, I have been an expat too and my wife and all my kids were memebrs of the highest level with KLM. I know what its like. Upon returning home I let the status go because even though we were taking some flights I never saw it as necessary to pay good money to maintain their status.

Each to your own of course but I find it odd I am considered indignant. Perhaps I don't use my status very well because I fail to see how I get that much better treatment as an aurum. How it makes things easier for a ten year old to have the same status as dad escapes me, but hey, it's your call and dollars.

You going to sign her up for an APEC card too?

 

[sammy]

I am her Mum, not her Dad.
Not trying to escalate, but I did find your tone indignant.

 

[sully]

I am her Mum, not her Dad.
Not trying to escalate, but I did find your tone indignant.

Sorry mum.

I still don't follow but she ain't my kid so good luck with your plan.

 

[futaris]

JetFlex to HNL should do it.

SYD-HNL is 70SCs each way in Economy.
20 SCs for a connecting flight in Economy.

 

[simongr]

What would you recommend? Business class?

- Sammy

Always

If you wanted to keep the cost down you could consider burning some points for your flights and only pay for your daughter?

 

[Mal]

SCruns (as they are sometimes called, and I prefer to call them) or EarthDestroyers (as the tree huggers want to call them ) are pretty tough in Australia domestic.

They used to be fairly cheap at times - eg $4/$5/SC. Nowdays, the average is closer to $10 with a few select cheaper ones. Sometimes sales produce some cheap ones.

Qantas appears to have deliberately 'broken' the ability to route through multiple sectors on most routes to obtain good SC's. The Fuel fine they add per sector as well causes additional cost.

Heading overseas is your best bet. I'm not overly familiar with the best Jetstar StarClass routes to choose SC/$ wise, but they provide one of the best $/SC ratios ex-Australia due to them crediting as Business Class levels. Lan flights to Auckland ex Sydney in Business class are also good. Of course if you want to base yourself in certain Asian countries for a few days, then you can get some cheap SC's, and also parts of the U.S, but that adds heaps to the cost of obtaining them and adds to the time spent.

My suggestion is to tack a small holiday onto the end of the SCRun (if doing one overseas). Saves lots of hassles with Customs, immigration at overseas ports and gives you something for the money spent.

 

[simongr]

OK - looking at simple options - checking on mileage monkey for destinations that are >1201 miles and less than 2401 miles:

econ
1343 SYD-AKL
1256 SYD-ASP
1354 SYD-AYQ
2101 SYD-BME
1322 SYD-CHC
1227 SYD-CNS
1962 SYD-DRW
1232 SYD-NOU
2038 SYD-PER
1385 SYD-WLG
1206 SYD-ZQN

Obviously Cairns and AKL are good options.

Checking for AUgust for a weekend trip to AKL - it would be A$2200 - not a great rate for SCs - and that's just for one person!

Trying Cairns it doesnt look much cheaper...

 

[sammy]

Thanks.

Cairns looks like a good option for us as we have people to visit in Port Douglas, and we really do need to get away (currently going through renovations which are driving us nuts).

 

[justinbrett]

Don't you have to be over 18 or under supervision to enter the qantas club?

 

[serfty]

From the QP T&C:
(Types of membership)

3.1 Individual membership is open to individuals who are over 18 years of age and is not transferable. Membership options - one year, two years, four years or life membership.

(Access to lounges)

10.11 Qantas Club Members under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult when visiting any Qantas Club lounge.

3.1 indicates a person under the age of 18 cannot directly joind the QC & 10.11 indicates that if an underage QFFer attains membership via status they still need to in the company of an adult to enter.

 

[markis10]

Obviously Cairns and AKL are good options.

Checking for AUgust for a weekend trip to AKL - it would be A$2200 - not a great rate for SCs - and that's just for one person!

Trying Cairns it doesnt look much cheaper...

Get yourself to Melbourne and grab a Jetflex at $500 to DRW on Deathstar, that will give you 80 SCs per leg and a lot cheaper than $2000.

 

[JohnK]

Get yourself to Melbourne and grab a Jetflex at $500 to DRW on Deathstar, that will give you 80 SCs per leg....

Have I missed an announcement recently? Since when has JetFlex earned business class SCs? JetFlex should only earn standard discount economy SCs, which is 40 SCs in total for MEL-DRW-MEL, 20 SCs each way.

As Mal mentioned most domestic trips in Australia, including Jetstar, will only earn at best ~$10/SC possibly a little better during sales periods. If what you say is true then it is possible to earn ~$3/SC in Australia. I don't think so....

 

[Nathan75]

Why a child needs Gold status is beyond me. Maybe they need the leg room in business??

Speak to Dave Noble, he is the god on all things SC.

Also if you need 260 sc's, why don't you do the AA Platinum Challenge if your looking to go to HNL. From what I understand if you complete 10,000 miles you qualify for AA Plantinum which equates to One World Sapphire / Qantas Gold and you'll get the benifits your after.

PM Dave and he'll get you sorted.

 

[oz_mark]

Get yourself to Melbourne and grab a Jetflex at $500 to DRW on Deathstar, that will give you 80 SCs per leg and a lot cheaper than $2000.

MEL-DRW would be 40SC?

 

[nlagalle]

Have I missed an announcement recently? Since when has JetFlex earned business class SCs? JetFlex should only earn standard discount economy SCs, which is 40 SCs in total for MEL-DRW-MEL, 20 SCs each way.

As Mal mentioned most domestic trips in Australia, including Jetstar, will only earn at best ~$10/SC possibly a little better during sales periods. If what you say is true then it is possible to earn ~$3/SC in Australia. I don't think so....

AFAIK Jet flex get you standard Economy SC. On that leg it would be 40 SC each way. I know you get full ecomony SC as i did when i flew MEL-OOL last year.

from the qantas website when i selected mel - DRW with a jetflex ticket:

Qantas Frequent Flyer

• Classed as Economy for Status Credit earn.
• Minimum 1,000 Frequent Flyer points.

Nick

 

[serfty]

So, it's 80 SC's for the return!

I believe the return jetflex fare ~$550 each way - so that's $1,100.

 

[JohnK]

AFAIK Jet flex get you standard Economy SC. On that leg it would be 40 SC each way. I know you get full ecomony SC as i did when i flew MEL-OOL last year.

OK sorry I did not bother to check the exact SCs earned on JQ flights.

So, it's 80 SC's for the return!

I believe the return jetflex fare ~$550 each way - so that's $1,100.

Which is effectively ~$13.75/SC. The are many, many, many more domestic routes with much more profitable SC returns. And you don't have to get anywhere near a JQ aircraft....