Suggestions for quick and cheap 520 SC's?

[GCC]

I was status matched VA platinum last year, and while I'm doing some flying on VA, I had planned to let my Velocity status drop to Gold and focus on retaining QF WP.

However I received the VA double SC Offer, and if there is a cheap and straightforward way of getting the 520 SC's I need to retain VA plat I might give it a try.

The timing is not ideal as I have already have most travel locked in until the offer finishes at end of June. I do usually fly SYD - AKL return in late June so that may be an opportunity, and will need to head to both MEL and ADL in the same period.

Any suggestions very gratefully accepted - thanks in advance.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Define 'cheap'??

 

[GCC]

Define 'cheap'??

Fair question, but to be honest I have no idea. I've never done a "status run" before, and my only foray into this territory is booking a JASA instead of Y on two occasions when my QFF SC's were a bit low for re-qualifying.

Let's say < $500.

 

[MarkD]

I think that this is going to happen a lot shortly, all the SM Platinums etc that havnt flown Virgin will drop off. Expect more SM to come??? No offence, but if you still need 520SC to retain, why even bother, you obviously cant / dont want to fly Virgin, and if you can find SC earn at under $1 / SC, please share, because we would all love to utilise that option

 

[Fruitcake]

The best I've ever seen posted on here was MEL-OOL return at the old Y+ fare level ($3.20/SC during double SCs). That particular fare obviously isn't an option any more. Your only luck at anything sub $1 per SC would be some bizarre DL status run in the US.

I agree with MarkD - if you're keen to maintain a status you'll never use, take the cheap option and try something easier like taking up Etihad's Guest Gold match that's currently running.

 

[GCC]

No offense taken, but my velocity account resets in late September. I've earned just under 300 VA SC's in 6 months, and to retain status is 800 SC's in 12 months. So its a bit hard to see your argument that "I haven't flown VA".

FWIW I'm flying VA this weekend, flew VA with my family the weekend before last, and will no doubt will fly with them some more before September, even if I dont choose to pursue VA platinum status.

The point of my post is that I'm considering flying VA more than I planned to in order to retain status, (driven by the double SC offer) which would no doubt mean I keep flying them more.

 

[Fruitcake]

The point of my post is that I'm considering flying VA more than I planned to in order to retain status, (driven by the double SC offer) which would no doubt mean I keep flying them more.

Ah, if you're doing most of your VA flying with family, then it makes sense. If you're not aware of family pooling, and your kids (if applicable) are young enough to take maximum advantage of it, then a few trips with your family can build up the SCs extremely quickly (not necessarily cost effectively on a $/SC basis, but on a SCs per trip basis it certainly helps). Consider that a zone 2 return saver trip for four would earn you 120 SCs - and if you added a couple of flexis to the mix you'd bump that up a bit more (for commensurate extra cost).

Still not going to get you the status for anything near the price point you're chasing, but hopefully it's still of some help.

 

[LuisT]

The best I've ever seen posted on here was MEL-OOL return at the old Y+ fare level ($3.20/SC during double SCs). That particular fare obviously isn't an option any more. Your only luck at anything sub $1 per SC would be some bizarre DL status run in the US.

I agree with MarkD - if you're keen to maintain a status you'll never use, take the cheap option and try something easier like taking up Etihad's Guest Gold match that's currently running.

Best I've found at the moment is MEL-PER taking account the special fares that you can apparently combine with the Amex 25% discount.

That works out to be around the $2.60/SC mark.

 

[GCC]

Still not going to get you the status for anything near the price point you're chasing, but hopefully it's still of some help

Good thought - yes VA tends to be the family trip airline, and my daughter just turned 2 so can join Velocity and pool to me. The price point is pretty arbitrary, as I said the idea of spending money on SC's is new one for me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

as I said the idea of spending money on SC's is new one for me.

Have you defined in your own mind why you want to retain DJ plat over gold? Gold gives many of the plat benefits and if it's mainly for family travel that you want DJ status, gold allows you to guest into the lounge your better half as well as two kids under 12 and you'd still get priority luggage, boarding, check-in, screening etc. Would that suit equally as well? With family travel you may not want the 4 complementary upgrades per year because a two year old needs their own seat and may not appreciate J. Food for thought.

 

[GCC]

I think you may be right and DJ Gold is probably all we need for lounge access, priority luggage etc. 69 kg of luggage as a plat comes in handy though.

In hindsight what I should have been doing is family pooling all my SC's to Mrs GCC, who is currently DJ Silver. That way we would both have Gold for the next year and she can use the benefits if she travels with kids without me.

...a two year old needs their own seat and may not appreciate J.

My 2 year old definitely appreciates J!