Qantas Status Credits with Jetstar can be better value

[darcy]

Hi All
l recently had a desire to earn some Qantas status credits (75 points) so I could maintain my status. I looked at many Qantas flights to determine the best value - I could get as low as approx. $13/point however it meant that I would have go somewhere I wasn't intending to go and I may have had to incur the cost of an overnight stay.
Given that I had to travel to Brisbane to see my son I looked at different priced Q flights and the SC earning rate. The best earn rate I could get was around $16/SC and I would have gotten the required SC's by flying buisiness one way and economy the other at a cost of over $1100. Not worth it.
I then looked at Jetstar and noted that they have a Dreamliner flight M->B. By booking a "business class" seat (definitely no BC frills but plenty of room) for $439 and a standard bundle plus fair for a total cost of around $600 I was able to earn 75 SC's. Earn rate approx. $8/SC. Dreamliner flights are not daily and you have to go through the international terminal. Other Jetstar flights also have better earn rates per $ than equivalent Q flights eg Melb -> Sing. Sort of defeats the purpose of wanting to fly Q but if you are after SC's this is a very cost effective way of doing it.
Hope this helps and I am not repeating something that you all know already.
Cheers

 

[SYD]

They used to be better when the then Star Class fares all came inclusive of Points/SC and Lounge access (including Sales).

Now you have pay Max Bundle to get those. What irks me is they don't have an in between Plus Bundle that gives you points but not the full flexibility :evil: - Plus is only available on whY fares.

I think there's a whole thread on that topic...

 

[samh004]

You have stumbled onto something much more lucrative than mere status credit earn... however my wife has used the method you describe to attain Silver status.

 

[mviy]

If you put a value on lounge access the impracticality of using the QANTAS Club when flying Jetstar does affect the equation.

 

[RickyT84]

If you put a value on lounge access the impracticality of using the QANTAS Club when flying Jetstar does affect the equation.

True. But the OP is on the domestic leg of an international flight so he/she will access to the better QF International lounge in MEL (and vice versa from BNE).

 

[mviy]

Ah missed the reference to the international terminal. There is the risk that the flight could get cancelled if there is not enough demand for it still.

 

[Dr_Goz]

True. But the OP is on the domestic leg of an international flight so he/she will access to the better QF International lounge in MEL (and vice versa from BNE).

Was at Melbourne this morning, it appears a JQ 787 was doing a MEL - OOL route (then onwards to Japan), but the 787 was parked up near T4 and had stairs attached.

Didn't see that flight depart, but seeing as there is room to park at 787 (as opposed to T1), will they will stop using the international terminal for these flights?

 

[RickyT84]

Ah missed the reference to the international terminal. There is the risk that the flight could get cancelled if there is not enough demand for it still.

No problems. That's the risk of catching a domestic leg of an international flight, but I am sure these flights are run (to an extent) due to the need to position an aircraft for its next sector.

 

[RickyT84]

Was at Melbourne this morning, it appears a JQ 787 was doing a MEL - OOL route (then onwards to Japan), but the 787 was parked up near T4 and had stairs attached.

Didn't see that flight depart, but seeing as there is room to park at 787 (as opposed to T1), will they will stop using the international terminal for these flights?

Looks like the plane ferried from MEL to OOL as JQ8991 with no pax carried. I have also noticed a 788 parked at T4 (Bay G43) last time I was travelling with JQ and assumed that it was just a place to park the a/c between flights although your suggestion could work if T2 was too busy (with pax bussed from T2).