SC Run?

[Ghostdunks]

Hi everyone

I'm a longtime lurker but first time poster so bear with me If I've posted this in the wrong forum, please let me know.

Wanted to get some tips/advice on getting SCs.. Looking to get to Platinum(WP? if I've got the acronyms right) and according to my account summary, I need another 380 SCs by 30 September to get Platinum. During the week, I fly from Melbourne(home base) to Sydney on Monday morning and fly back on Friday evenings, so I'm getting 40 SCs for one return trip per week(20 per flight) . Based on that flying pattern, I've got 10 more flights till my anniversary date, which will net me 200 SCs, leaving me 180 SCs short.

I'm back in Melb on the weekends, and I was thinking about doing an SC run(I think I've called it the right term....) of some sort to try and get the 180 SCs required on one of the weekends I'm back in Melb. I've got about 300,000 FF points, and I think I read somewhere here that I could actually use these points to book an Any Seat Award flight of some sort to try and get my SCs, and I think I rather do it with points than actually pay cash for it...

Any suggestions for a particular route? Or just general advice

Thanks!

 

[samh004]

Welcome to AFF!

Your assumption to book a JASA (J Any Seat Award) is the best idea. You can do this quite simply by logging into your account and then searching for different award flights.

A MEL-ADL-PER and return run could do it nicely, though I’m not sure how many points that’d cost. There are other members who know where the deals are and I hope they’ll chime in with some crazy ideas for you Admittedly, the run I mentioned would earn you 240SC’s, slightly more than needed, but better safe than sorry.

 

[gumpy]

Hi everyone

I'm a longtime lurker but first time poster so bear with me If I've posted this in the wrong forum, please let me know.

Wanted to get some tips/advice on getting SCs.. Looking to get to Platinum(WP? if I've got the acronyms right) and according to my account summary, I need another 380 SCs by 30 September to get Platinum. During the week, I fly from Melbourne(home base) to Sydney on Monday morning and fly back on Friday evenings, so I'm getting 40 SCs for one return trip per week(20 per flight) . Based on that flying pattern, I've got 10 more flights till my anniversary date, which will net me 200 SCs, leaving me 180 SCs short.

I'm back in Melb on the weekends, and I was thinking about doing an SC run(I think I've called it the right term....) of some sort to try and get the 180 SCs required on one of the weekends I'm back in Melb. I've got about 300,000 FF points, and I think I read somewhere here that I could actually use these points to book an Any Seat Award flight of some sort to try and get my SCs, and I think I rather do it with points than actually pay cash for it...

Any suggestions for a particular route? Or just general advice

Thanks!

Something i learnt on this forum is that one of the best sc per dollar flight is the LAN J Class from Auckland to Sydney. It gets you 80 sc for 250 bucks or something. Just book yourself a J ticket to auckland and buy that Lan flight and fly home from sydney on a jetsaver ticket... that should be exactly 180sc

 

[Bundy Bear]

Hi everyone

I'm a longtime lurker but first time poster so bear with me If I've posted this in the wrong forum, please let me know.

Wanted to get some tips/advice on getting SCs.. Looking to get to Platinum(WP? if I've got the acronyms right) and according to my account summary, I need another 380 SCs by 30 September to get Platinum. During the week, I fly from Melbourne(home base) to Sydney on Monday morning and fly back on Friday evenings, so I'm getting 40 SCs for one return trip per week(20 per flight) . Based on that flying pattern, I've got 10 more flights till my anniversary date, which will net me 200 SCs, leaving me 180 SCs short.

I'm back in Melb on the weekends, and I was thinking about doing an SC run(I think I've called it the right term....) of some sort to try and get the 180 SCs required on one of the weekends I'm back in Melb. I've got about 300,000 FF points, and I think I read somewhere here that I could actually use these points to book an Any Seat Award flight of some sort to try and get my SCs, and I think I rather do it with points than actually pay cash for it...

Any suggestions for a particular route? Or just general advice

Thanks!

If you have over 100,000 points spare then you could look at the following.

MEL-ADL-PER-SYD-MEL in business class for 240 SCs and 122,000 points; you get around 8,000 back for the flights you take.

The direct flights MEL-PER are 42,000 points and 80SCs on certain flights, the ones you want to avoid is where the cost is 198,000 points. :shock:

I looked at 11 September returning midnight 0:05 PER-SYD-MEL so no accommodation costs.

Canberra-Sydney-Hobart is another good one for 100SCs each way but you would need to overnight in Hobart. Approx 21,000 points last time I looked, but that would require you get to Canberra.

 

[markis10]

Just head to CBR and do a CBR-SYD-HBA JASA run one weekend.

 

[medhead]

You could also look at going to MEL-NAN-(xSYD)-MEL, using the Friday night midnight flight. I can see flights on 10 and 11 september. leaving at 23:25 on 10 Sept and getting back at 15:35. This is a JASA for 100000 points and $562 or 150000 points outright earning 220SC. No accommodation cost.

 

[samh004]

You could also look at going to MEL-NAN-(xSYD)-MEL, using the Friday night midnight flight. I can see flights on 10 and 11 september. leaving at 23:25 on 10 Sept and getting back at 15:35. This is a JASA for 100000 points and $562 or 150000 points outright earning 220SC. No accommodation cost.

Small advantage with this is you can get some duty free on the way back through too

 

[medhead]

Small advantage with this is you can get some duty free on the way back through too

Really the value to NAN is the paid fares. But just putting it out there. If flying syd-mel on Friday night it would save money on taxis as well.

 

[jakob]

Hi,

OP, From your information you are flying flex (full) economy, thus giving you 40sc return. Can you upgrade some of the flights to business? That'd double your SC earn and mean you'd only need to upgrade some of your flights before your reset date. Since your flying every week maybe you don't want to do a status run as well....

just my thoughts, although i'm all in for a status run as well....

jakob.

 

[nlagalle]

I booked a MEL-PER-KGI return for around 80k points and about $90 in the equivilant taxes. That nets 240scs. You could do it in a day if you booked the right flights too. A heap of flying but not back for a days work!

Nick

 

[Joshua]

Just head to CBR and do a CBR-SYD-HBA JASA run one weekend.

Indeed, this is the cheapest option. Works out approximately 100SC each way for ~12000 points and $67 (once you earn the points back).

If you're happy to burn more points and don't want to waste money on repositioning / hotel overnight then heading to AKL could work, can go via SYD. As alluded to, exiting the country gets some duty free or cash back through the tourist refund scheme.

Honestly, why not make a weekend holiday out of it, go somewhere you'd like to go. Townsville or Cairns via BNE work great, 240SC return in J. Plenty of availability too. It's a bit of a balance between cost of air fares and potential accommodation.

Plenty of options, basically it's a question of where would you like to fly in business class?

 

[serfty]

Hi,

OP, From your information you are flying flex (full) economy, thus giving you 40sc return. Can you upgrade some of the flights to business? That'd double your SC earn and mean you'd only need to upgrade some of your flights before your reset date. Since your flying every week maybe you don't want to do a status run as well....

just my thoughts, although i'm all in for a status run as well....

jakob.

My thoughts too; if you are on Flexi fares then the upsell to Business may not be that much.

Cheapest MEL-SYD flexi fare (K class) is ~$200 less than cheapest Business fare (D CLass) - that's $5 per SC. Although if you are on a B class fare (many are) then the difference is down to $150 and H is $90 less.

 

[Ghostdunks]

Something i learnt on this forum is that one of the best sc per dollar flight is the LAN J Class from Auckland to Sydney. It gets you 80 sc for 250 bucks or something. Just book yourself a J ticket to auckland and buy that Lan flight and fly home from sydney on a jetsaver ticket... that should be exactly 180sc

Ok please bear with me on this, still getting used to the acronyms being tossed around here J is short for business class right? What is LAN?

Also, I'm assuming that when you guys do SC runs, they're always done in business class for more SC credits earned?

Canberra-Sydney-Hobart is another good one for 100SCs each way but you would need to overnight in Hobart. Approx 21,000 points last time I looked, but that would require you get to Canberra.

This sounds pretty good value. Will have to look into this one further, methinks..

Hi,

OP, From your information you are flying flex (full) economy, thus giving you 40sc return. Can you upgrade some of the flights to business? That'd double your SC earn and mean you'd only need to upgrade some of your flights before your reset date. Since your flying every week maybe you don't want to do a status run as well....

just my thoughts, although i'm all in for a status run as well....

jakob.

Would love to do this, but don't think work will allow it

I booked a MEL-PER-KGI return for around 80k points and about $90 in the equivilant taxes. That nets 240scs. You could do it in a day if you booked the right flights too. A heap of flying but not back for a days work!

Nick

Wow, that does sound like a ton of flying...



I do have a general question. What do you guys use to calculate SC earned? I tried using the "Earning Points Calculator" on the Qantas website, and it seems to work for some combinations but not for others. eg. MEL-NAN-(xSYD)-MEL was suggested as a possible route. When I plugged this in, it said stuff like "there are no direct flights between Sydney and Nadi".. Actually, I'm not even sure what NAN stands for. I assumed it was Nadi airport in Fiji. Please correct me if I'm wrong.


Thanks for all the advice and tips guys, its very much appreciated for a newbie such as I.

 

[markis10]

Canberra-Sydney-Hobart is another good one for 100SCs each way but you would need to overnight in Hobart. Approx 21,000 points last time I looked, but that would require you get to Canberra.

CBR-MEL-HBA-SYD-CBR is doable as a day trip and nets the 180 SC.

 

[jsd]

CBR-MEL-HBA-SYD-CBR is doable as a day trip and nets the 180 SC.

It is, but you need to take the first CBR-MEL (QF795) flight to make QF1011 to HBA which departs MEL at 8:45.:mrgreen:

Then you face the MCT in HBA to connect to QF1020 to SYD.:mrgreen:


From there you can pick whatever flight you wish back to CBR


Josh

 

[markis10]

It is, but you need to take the first CBR-MEL (QF795) flight to make QF1011 to HBA which departs MEL at 8:45.:mrgreen:

Then you face the MCT in HBA to connect to QF1020 to SYD.:mrgreen:

Josh

No MCT issues, there is no chance of a miss-connect as the operating aircraft ex MEL goes to SYD via HBA, two separate bookings required.

 

[jsd]

True, its the same aircraft but I was leaned towards the fact that you are off the plane and straight back on again leaving not much time in HBA and remember that you go straight into landside arrivals at HBA so security re-clearing is required.

Should have made that a bit clearer

As for the tickets you could always do CBR-MEL and SYD-CBR seperate tickets then do MEL-HBA-SYD as a multicity domestic.


Josh

 

[markis10]

As for the tickets you could always do CBR-MEL and SYD-CBR seperate tickets then do MEL-HBA-SYD as a multicity domestic.


Josh

Josh,

We are talking about a JASA, your suggestions will be an expensive one with a cost of 100k minimum of points versus 32K minimum ex CBR as two tickets, its a good example of the value differences in the way you book tickets.

I am travelling to DRW shortly, flying to Townsville then starting a JASA there because its less points than a BNE-DRW redemption, yet I catch the same flight!

 

[Joshua]

Ok please bear with me on this, still getting used to the acronyms being tossed around here J is short for business class right? What is LAN?

Also, I'm assuming that when you guys do SC runs, they're always done in business class for more SC credits earned?
...
I do have a general question. What do you guys use to calculate SC earned? I tried using the "Earning Points Calculator" on the Qantas website, and it seems to work for some combinations but not for others. eg. MEL-NAN-(xSYD)-MEL was suggested as a possible route. When I plugged this in, it said stuff like "there are no direct flights between Sydney and Nadi".. Actually, I'm not even sure what NAN stands for. I assumed it was Nadi airport in Fiji. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You're pretty much figured it out. J is a full/flexi business basis so is used as short hand for business class. In other circles they will call it C.

LAN is a Chilean based airline, member of oneworld/qf partner. They operate a flight SYD-AKL-SCL. Most people here don't need to do SC runs but when it's discussed it's generally business class because QF skew a disproportionate about of status to premium cabin pax. In other parts of the world people may take milage runs to gain maximum flight distance through complex routing on cheap fares (ie. economy).

SC's can be calculated on MileageMonkey 0.95022 using the Oneworld Explorer Validator section and clicking ignore errors. Finally someone will eventually point you to: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/abbreviations-and-explanations-5056.html which explains all the jargon and acronyms.

I am travelling to DRW shortly, flying to Townsville then starting a JASA there because its less points than a BNE-DRW redemption, yet I catch the same flight!

Indeed, TSV can be quite useful. I had to book BNE-ADL in peak school holidays now wo/ indirect routing rules (thx qf). Worked out cheaper to fly Y to TSV then JASA TSV-ADL-BNE by quite a bit. Extra 100 SC doesn't go astray either. While I'm at it the TSV QP is small but lovely, staff are excellent. Last time I was there I saw a tray full of hot food just sitting there... take that scavengers at MEL & SYD

 

[Ghostdunks]

Indeed, this is the cheapest option. Works out approximately 100SC each way for ~12000 points and $67 (once you earn the points back).

If you're happy to burn more points and don't want to waste money on repositioning / hotel overnight then heading to AKL could work, can go via SYD. As alluded to, exiting the country gets some duty free or cash back through the tourist refund scheme.

Honestly, why not make a weekend holiday out of it, go somewhere you'd like to go. Townsville or Cairns via BNE work great, 240SC return in J. Plenty of availability too. It's a bit of a balance between cost of air fares and potential accommodation.

Plenty of options, basically it's a question of where would you like to fly in business class?

Just trying to work out the whole 100SC each way for ~12000 points and $67, and I think I've almost figured it out... Can you check what I'm doing and see if I'm doing it right?

1) Find an JASA flying from Canberra to Hobart, which requires to rout via Sydney. I've found a CAN-SYD-HBA which costs around 22k for a business ASA.
2) Pick the flight and go to next step, which allows me to pay partly by credit card a portion of the flight with cash. Now flight will cost 16k points, and $67 in cash
3) Now I use the Earning Points Calculator and set it to fly from Canberra to Sydney then to Hobart. I come up with 100 SCs and 2500 points for the flight. This means that the flight will end up costing me 13500 points(16k-2.5k) and $67.
4) Have I missed something obvious? You worked it out to be ~12000 points and $67. I'm not sure where the extra 1500 points came from.



I think I've got the hang of the principle of the whole thing now. Basically find flights that route via other cities, ie. don't fly direct and Qantas will credit the points for all the separate legs of the flight. Does that sum it up?