SC runs tips/help

[HansieSYD]

Hi Guys, this is my first post, so be gentle I did a bit of reading already but would value your help.

Im currently just a QF Bronze FF, but looking to move up. Since I love flying I thought I might as well try to get a bit more knowledge on SC/milage runs.

Current Situation:
* Additional Status credits required by 31 Dec 2009 to attain Silver: 235
* I have another 50 SC planned for the end of Dec, which leaves 185.

A) Is it worth persuing 185SC to attain Silver (and try to move up to gold in 2010) at all? Maybe better to put my efforts in for 2010 only and let these expire (which gives me more time to spread some runs over the whole of 2010).

B) What would typical good SC-runs be (from SYD). I've been looking at some already and get the feeling I should be looking at SYD-MEL-ADL-BNE-CBR combinations if I want to keep it domestic.

Interested to hear what you guys think.

 

[dede]

Wait for a sale and then make a weekend of it - you could potentially get about 100 points in a weekend for a few hundred dollars (roughly). I did that earlier this year.

 

[drewbles]

First off, Welcome to AFF

Secondly, I'd recommend waiting until 2010. This year is all but over, and if you can devote money/time/flying for next year, it'll be easier to attain gold. Silver is really not worth much, except the 25% bonus points and non-economy check-in.

If you're after best value for status credits, your best best is some SYD-AKL flights in J on LAN. There are sometimes also Jetstar specials in StarClass that aren't too bad. If you want the best bang-for-buck, you need to find your way to the US of A, where you can purchase cheaper fares that credit as First class status credits. Do some searching around the site and you'll find plenty of examples of these YUP/KUP fares (instant upgrade fares that upgrade from Y to P/F at time of booking for a fraction of the cost of a usual full fare, on some flights). Doing this will often be cheaper than just doing runs around AU for status credits (It's actually possible on a few routes to get status credits around $1.20US per SC, where in AU you're not going to be able to find much under $5-7 per SC).

 

[simongr]

The benefits of Silver are quite small:

- Business class queue
- Additional luggage
- slightly better chances of points upgrades

I am sure there are a few others but it isnt like you get lounge access.

Personally if you aren't flying enough to get Silver then you probably aren't flying enough to enjoy the benefits anyway.

My suggestion would be to join a corporate Qantas Club scheme and you get all the benefits of silver plus lounge accesss. Probably the same as it will cost you to get Silver.

When you said "move to gold in 2010" - you do know that you bascially need to requalify for silver TWICE in one year to get Gold...

 

[HansieSYD]

Simon, my thoughts exactly. I do a bit more flying but not on QF/oneworld. The only thing is that doing a SC-run is also part of the fun

 

[medhead]

I'd suggest waiting until next year.

In terms of status runs, one of the best is CBR-(xSYD)-ADL return. This route will get you 50 SC and when the sale is on will cost about $200 (sale prices for last 12 months ranging from $90 to $110). That is $4/SC. Usually the price via SYdney is $10 more than for the direct CBR-ADL. But availablility on weekend can be limited.

You can get low cost per SC in Oz, but it is boring flying.

CBR-xMEL-ADL return is an option but only earns 40SC for about the same price.

ADL-xMEL-BNE usually cost the same as ADL-BNE direct and earns 50SC, but on sale is about $270 return.

I believe the LAN flights SYD-AKL (that have been mentioned) are around $700 return earning 160SC (iirc) => $4.4 per SC.

The jetstar starclass flights, as mentioned, are the international flights between SYD and MEL on Fridays and Saturdays. That's 40SC for $326. But I think SYD-CBR in J is a better option - costs the same, same SC and shorter flight, but limited availabilty.

 

[HansieSYD]

I really like the LAN SYD-AKL idea, since it adds a new airport and a new airline to my list

am i correct this gives 160SC return?

 

[Evan]

I would never worry about even a SYD-MEL trip to make Silver unless i really wanted a weekend away.
I have simply not bothered to make silver on SQ *A under the same situation either, i just don't feel the benefit is there.

Better as somebody else suggested to put the money into a trip next year and try for gold where you get lounge access

 

[Skoogle]

Wait...

This thread has been open for 10 hours and no anat0l. He must be getting slow in his old age.

 

[notzac]

This thread has been open for 10 hours and no anat0l. He must be getting slow in his old age.

am i correct this gives 160SC return?

Yep, but per simongr's excellent post - doing so is of little value. For less $$, you could get a gold membership for AFF and then join the Qantas Pub using the corporate discount scheme - that way you get priority baggage / check-in / lounge access when flying QF right now.

You could then start racking up the SCs in earnest in the new year and hopefully attain QF SG before the year ends.

 

[Leumas]

I really like the LAN SYD-AKL idea, since it adds a new airport and a new airline to my list

am i correct this gives 160SC return?

SYD-AKL is OK, the timing of the return leg won't be fun... Not to mention, you'll incur additional expenses like accommodation (which based on the flight timing, makes it even more of a waste).

The LA flight also isn't that reliable.

I'd also concur with others that you should wait till next year. Forget this year.

 

[Joshua]

Obviously there's ADL-SYD/MEL-BNE and ADL-SYD-CBR. If you want to mix it up you can also do BNE-SYD-CBR along with CBR-SYD-ADL. I did this when they had ADL-CBR going for $75 - was booking BNE-ADL anyway so thought I'd visit CBR, hadn't been there for ages. Strange story, basically ended up in J lounge for 3 hours and more SCs.

You could mix & match them for fun. Otherwise one could easily do it return - 8 flights in a day, probably even more, depending on schedules. But genuinely, does anyone condone such Y torture?

 

[gjh98]

apologies if this has been answered elsewhere.... do you still earn SC if you don't actually fly?

 

[straitman]

apologies if this has been answered elsewhere.... do you still earn SC if you don't actually fly?

A simple but definitive answer.

NO.

 

[futaris]

No, unless somehow the airline registers you as boarding the flight. Some of the cheap LCCs don't offload correctly, if you've OLCI.

 

[gjh98]

A simple but definitive answer.

NO.

shame - you'd think that'd be qantas' ideal passenger

 

[samh004]

SYD-AKL is OK, the timing of the return leg won't be fun... Not to mention, you'll incur additional expenses like accommodation (which based on the flight timing, makes it even more of a waste).

Why would you pay for accommodation if you were flying in and out? I'd take hand luggage, arrive, see a few sights, have dinner and some drinks in a pub, maybe club, then head back to the airport.

Besides, I've heard good things about sleeping in AKL (airport)

 

[NM]

A simple but definitive answer.

NO.

And the not-so-simple answer is "don't mention the b*s" :shock:

 

[dede]

I travelled earlier this year to the US via Japan and back on a cheap fare but couldn't get a return flight when I needed it so I forfeited the leg home from Tokyo to Australia and got an award flight in *Class.

Imagine my surprise when SCs and miles were credited for both the *Class award flight and the "dead leg". Me no complain!

 

[gjh98]

And the not-so-simple answer is "don't mention the b*s" :shock:

sorry NM, you've lost me there