Quickest AND Cheapest path to QFF Gold

[Zwilder]

Hi all

I'm really upset! My status credits expired just short of gold and I'm stuck on (stupid) silver again!!!

I've had enough and would like some suggestions on the cheapest and quickest way to QFF gold status.

I've read some of the posts, but some seem a little old. Is back and forth SYD-AKL-SYD on LAN still the best option? Seems you need to spend a night in AKL, and time is an issue for me, (that's why I ask - quickest & cheapest).

I already have a plasma tv, etc... for those who are thinking...

Status credits are back to ZERO! and although I have quite a bit of travel planned I would like to put this to bed asap.

Hope you don't find this too stupid and look forward to any fantastic ideas you could provide.

Many thanks
Z

 

[markis10]

Where are you located, the best flights vary by your startling location.

 

[Zwilder]

Hi Markis10

Sorry, good question. Based in Melbourne.

Cheers
Z

 

[newformula]

Get yourself to Singapore - either a points redemption or a paid flight.
If paid - 60 SC's return in Y.
Do a SIN-BKK via HKG return in J on CX - 280 SC's right there for ~$520 inc taxes. Should go a fair way to redeeming status.
I priced this (inc. a paid flight to SIN) over the first weekend in May, which gives around $900 for MEL-SIN rtn on the friday (afternoon or overnight).
SIN-BKK on Saturday, BKK-SIN on Sunday, and return overnight on Sunday night = 340SC's for ~$1420 or $4.17 per SC. If you can redeem points to get to SIN, reduces $/SC down to $1.91. It's the fastest way I know of at the minute to get a heap of SC's in a short amount of time.

Not that I have done this route though, just saw a previous post on it - so full credit to whoever found it originally, not me!

 

[drewbles]

Try doing a search for YUP and KUP fares in the US on this forum. It's going to be cheaper and more SC effective to take a flight to the USA to do a run.

You can book MEL-SYD-SFO for very little more than MEL-LAX, and you'll net 110SC's for the return. These are around $1300. Then, you can find some good runs there for some good value. Have a digg around here for YUP/KUP fares and how to find them on aa.com

Good luck

 

[Zwilder]

Do a SIN-BKK via HKG return in J on CX - 280 SC's right there for ~$520 inc taxes.

Can anyone advise where I can find details about this? The Cathay site doesn't mention anything about SC's. Would you just book this online with Cathay? How can I know for sure this is the number of SC's that will be awarded?

Does a universal one world SC calculator exit anywhere?

Cheers

 

[markis10]

SIN-BKK on Saturday, BKK-SIN on Sunday, and return overnight on Sunday night = 340SC's for ~$1420 or $4.17 per SC. If you can redeem points to get to SIN, reduces $/SC down to $1.91. It's the fastest way I know of at the minute to get a heap of SC's in a short amount of time.

BNE-MEL-NAN-SYD-MEL-BNE for $1256 in J will get you 320 SC without the need for an overnight stay in Fiji, but you need to get to BNE and also find flights which tend to be non weekend for the cheap price.

 

[SFSC]

Can anyone advise where I can find details about this? The Cathay site doesn't mention anything about SC's. Would you just book this online with Cathay? How can I know for sure this is the number of SC's that will be awarded?

Does a universal one world SC calculator exit anywhere?

Cheers

Milage Monkey should do the job for you. Just put your itinerary in the One World Explorer field, check the "ignore errors" box and click "Go!". Scroll down to see your SC.

 

[11sjw]

Get yourself to Singapore - either a points redemption or a paid flight.
If paid - 60 SC's return in Y.
Do a SIN-BKK via HKG return in J on CX - 280 SC's right there for ~$520 inc taxes. Should go a fair way to redeeming status.
I priced this (inc. a paid flight to SIN) over the first weekend in May, which gives around $900 for MEL-SIN rtn on the friday (afternoon or overnight).
SIN-BKK on Saturday, BKK-SIN on Sunday, and return overnight on Sunday night = 340SC's for ~$1420 or $4.17 per SC. If you can redeem points to get to SIN, reduces $/SC down to $1.91. It's the fastest way I know of at the minute to get a heap of SC's in a short amount of time.

Not that I have done this route though, just saw a previous post on it - so full credit to whoever found it originally, not me!

I so have to keep this one in mind. I can even manage it out of Perth by Jetstarring (pay the Jetflex to earn SCs and FFPs)it up and Q'ing it back.

 

[Blackadder]

Could look at AA and the YUPP fares (First class credits at a fraction of the first class cost), example LAX-SFO-LAX is 60 sc each way for a total of $690ish+taxes

LAX-DFW-BWI-DFW-BWI is another handy SC run for YUPP

 

[kpc]

Do a SIN-BKK via HKG return in J on CX - 280 SC's right there for ~$520 inc taxes.

...and you will get to enjoy the wonderful Cx lounges in HKG as a bonus! Do this 5 times and you will be QF Plat for an incredible $2600 although you will still need your 4 QF segments!

 

[Zwilder]

Do a SIN-BKK via HKG return in J on CX - 280 SC's right there for ~$520 inc taxes.

If I put this into a multi city itinerary on cathay is comes back at AUD$4,441.30 !!!!

Can anyone explain how you could book it for $520???

 

[markis10]

...and you will get to enjoy the wonderful Cx lounges in HKG as a bonus! Do this 5 times and you will be QF Plat for an incredible $2600 although you will still need your 4 QF segments!

That will take 5 days so its going to cost you a bit more than $2600 when you factor accom, transport and misc expenses. Having done something similar when AY had their cheap J I have to say it was good fun but hard work after the second day!

 

[dajop]

If I put this into a multi city itinerary on cathay is comes back at AUD$4,441.30 !!!!

Can anyone explain how you could book it for $520???

Need to select CX's Singapore website, then do a flexible date search in business class. Once you find dates, then go in and find your flights, or then play around with dates etc in multicity to find the preferred options if not giving them.

It may have of course been withdrawn or have filled up.

 

[newformula]

If I put this into a multi city itinerary on cathay is comes back at AUD$4,441.30 !!!!

Can anyone explain how you could book it for $520???

It has to be booked as SIN-BKK. Then the CX site comes up with the option when you go through to select the flights on the day you require - there's one direct flight, but a fair few via HKG (which are the fare level above the lowest, so you'll need to adjust that too). Prices given are SGD as the flight is ex SIN.

So, no layover in HKG unfortunately.

 

[kpc]

Having done something similar when AY had their cheap J I have to say it was good fun but hard work after the second day!

I didn't say I would personally do it! I think it would take 10 days as I don't think you could do SIN-HKG-BKK-HKG-SIN in one day:shock:
I wonder what customs / immigration would think?...high chance of being suspected as being a drug runner I would say!

So, no layover in HKG unfortunately.

but one option I saw gave you about 10 hours transit in HKG...more than enough time to head (on the convenient trains) to town for a reasonable walk around , then back to the airport for a nice relaxing shower and drink in the Wing / Pier prior to your next flight!

 

[dajop]

but one option I saw gave you about 10 hours transit in HKG..

I think I've forced an option that allowed a 20 hour (overnight transit) also, but once the HKG transit went >24 hrs (ie stopover there) the price went sky high.

 

[11sjw]

If I put this into a multi city itinerary on cathay is comes back at AUD$4,441.30 !!!!

Can anyone explain how you could book it for $520???

I just chose SIN-BKK on the 15th May - Return 16th May and it came back with Sing$643. Yes, must choose flexible with date option.

 

[drewbles]

Could look at AA and the YUPP fares (First class credits at a fraction of the first class cost), example LAX-SFO-LAX is 60 sc each way for a total of $690ish+taxes

LAX-DFW-BWI-DFW-BWI is another handy SC run for YUPP

Last time I looked the SFO-LAX-SFO YUP run was around $300ish AUD for 120 SC's. This of course is cheaper than you're going to get here, but a long way short of the best runs which net around 580SC's for $1k AUD (overnighter in one city required).

 

[serfty]

Get yourself to HNL*; then travel to BGI (Barbados) and back on an "instant upgrade" fare, ensuring you go via JFK each way.

760 SC's for USD1652.

On you've done that you think "that was a P.o.P.", bring on WP.

*MEL-xSYD-HNL, HNL-xSYD-MEL to get your 4 Qantas flights.