The Qantas Status Run Master Thread

[flyingfan]

I did this exact run in May. If you walk past the transit door (when its closed) and go to the end of the hallway there are bunch of couches/lounges you can wait/sleep on until it reopens at around 4.30am. So no need to clear immigration/customs and go landside

Good to know, my inclination had been to go landside if I couldn’t transit.
The overnighter is a bit of a killer (even in J both ways) but I didn’t want to do another DPS turnaround.

 

[Ade]

Very niche, but UL has a good deal on New Delhi - Kathmandu via Colombo in J for $318 OW - that's for 120 SC. Works out to be $2.65 SC/$ spent.

Of course, positioning et al. means it's not worth it from Aus, but if you're in the area already, it might be worth it. Days seem to be M, W, S & S.

Not a bad earn - will be in India in the next week ... #Tempting!

 

[MG1]

Generally, yes, DSC has been happening around Feb for the past few years. Of course, no one knows for sure what timetable QF will follow in the future.

With DSC, the lowest I have been able to get is $2.63/SC. However, that was a six segment itinerary to go somewhere I could have flown direct (see my message above for a hint where it started ). It includes my cost of positioning (low cost $ wise Virgin reward ticket), but I'm not including accommodation as this was a place I wanted to go to for a mini-vacation.

Sorry, I didn't answer your original question (excluding DSC what is a good $/SC value). I haven't actually ever considered that and really can't say. I wouldn't see myself doing a status run for more than $4 or $5/SC. But then, if I had to spend that much, it would be to somewhere I wanted to go to. So is it really a status run in the end?

Thanks for the advice @Isolar.

I'd say depends on what you are trying to achieve by doing the run - is it to go to the next level or retain current level? Or is it a trip that you'd have to take anyway and you'd like to hitch a few sectors before/after and make it a run? For instance, I have had work trips where I'd tag a sector or overnight the day before or after to get more SCs.

For the purposes of attaining/retaining - also depends how much you need? I'd consider these things before determining the $ value of an SC without DSC.


That is bit high IMO ... as @sudoer mentioned, $7 sounds alright ...


That is how it has been so far ... I'm fairly new to the DSC game, only started my first run in 2019.

Makes sense @Ade

 

[RSD]

If anyone has found some new status runs in the U.S. that they are willing to share then please post or PM me! In October I've got two days plus the overnight to get from LAX to MCO (Orlando) - Sunday morning until late afternoon Monday, and then for the MCO-LAX I've got from Friday evening until say 6pm Monday.

Not chasing a specific number of SC's - just want to rack them up to get closer to both making WP and LTG.

 

[RSD]

It seems like $4.75-$5 AUD is about the best that I can find for domestic runs in the U.S.

 

[ausfox]

A few years ago we flew from Miami to Aruba with a very good SC return. Aruba is within USA immigration. I don’t know how effective it is now.

 

[WilsonM]

If anyone has found some new status runs in the U.S. that they are willing to share then please post or PM me! In October I've got two days plus the overnight to get from LAX to MCO (Orlando) - Sunday morning until late afternoon Monday, and then for the MCO-LAX I've got from Friday evening until say 6pm Monday.

Not chasing a specific number of SC's - just want to rack them up to get closer to both making WP and LTG.

Best I've found for LAX-MCO in October is below (works out to be $3.57/SC for 180 SC)

I have no idea really as to how well you can recreate this for dates that work for you, but searching where you want to go and then just looking for multi-stop options can work!

As an aside, I saw Daytona Beach and Tampa also around the same price range.

 

[RSD]

Best I've found for LAX-MCO in October is below (works out to be $3.57/SC for 180 SC)

I have no idea really as to how well you can recreate this for dates that work for you, but searching where you want to go and then just looking for multi-stop options can work!

As an aside, I saw Daytona Beach and Tampa also around the same price range.

View attachment 402051

Many thanks - I will take a look at that one!

What we really need is an IT guru to write a plug-in for ITA Matrix that calculates the SC's for each line when it spits out all the options for A-B and calculates $$ per SC for that option! Surely in amongst all the members here we have such a person?

 

[Flashback]

Many thanks - I will take a look at that one!

What we really need is an IT guru to write a plug-in for ITA Matrix that calculates the SC's for each line when it spits out all the options for A-B and calculates $$ per SC for that option! Surely in amongst all the members here we have such a person?

Fortunately such a thing exists for a decent program, like BAEC

Speedbird Online: Executive Club - Calculator

Speedbird Online - All things British Airways: Aircraft, Airports, Routes, Flights, Fares, Tier Points, Avios

speedbird.online

 

[RSD]

Fortunately such a thing exists for a decent program, like BAEC

Speedbird Online: Executive Club - Calculator

Speedbird Online - All things British Airways: Aircraft, Airports, Routes, Flights, Fares, Tier Points, Avios

speedbird.online

Nice!

 

[SYD]

Many thanks - I will take a look at that one!

What we really need is an IT guru to write a plug-in for ITA Matrix that calculates the SC's for each line when it spits out all the options for A-B and calculates $$ per SC for that option! Surely in amongst all the members here we have such a person?

I have table of usual AA ports pairs and SC somewhere but I usually do a wide search (multiple city origin / destination) to see what’s cheap and then do the SC calc on the QF website (much easier than trying to work out every combo).

Also, don’t ignore AS! They’ve been half the price of AA post Covid and since you’re on the west coast, plenty of options. Consider SAN as well as LAX if you have time and want a short road trip.

 

[RSD]

I have table of usual AA ports pairs and SC somewhere but I usually do a wide search (multiple city origin / destination) to see what’s cheap and then do the SC calc on the QF website (much easier than trying to work out every combo).

Also, don’t ignore AS! They’ve been half the price of AA post Covid and since you’re on the west coast, plenty of options. Consider SAN as well as LAX if you have time and want a short road trip.

OK that has opened things up a bit - down to $4.20 AUD per SC now for 160 SC's and half way to MCO.

 

[SYD]

OK that has opened things up a bit - down to $4.20 AUD per SC now for 160 SC's and half way to MCO.

Does this help?

SAN-ORD-PDX one-way in I - $208 - FlyerTalk Forums

Premium Fare Deals - SAN-ORD-PDX one-way in I - $208 - An oldie-but-goodie returns...at prices even lower than before... Nov and Dec availabilities...likely other dates as well. Book direct $208 View deal $ (USD) per ticket, incl. taxes & fees 1 carry-on bag Additional baggage fees may apply...

www.flyertalk.com

 

[RSD]

Does this help?

SAN-ORD-PDX one-way in I - $208 - FlyerTalk Forums

Premium Fare Deals - SAN-ORD-PDX one-way in I - $208 - An oldie-but-goodie returns...at prices even lower than before... Nov and Dec availabilities...likely other dates as well. Book direct $208 View deal $ (USD) per ticket, incl. taxes & fees 1 carry-on bag Additional baggage fees may apply...

www.flyertalk.com

I will take a look - many thanks! Am currently in China so it might be a couple of days before I get a chance to take a look!

 

[SYD]

I will take a look - many thanks! Am currently in China so it might be a couple of days before I get a chance to take a look!

80+80 SCs one way at sub A$2.00 per SC (if I calculated that correctly).

There’s probably decent fares ex PDX onto to MCO. Or in reverse.

 

[RSD]

80+80 SCs one way at sub A$2.00 per SC (if I calculated that correctly).

There’s probably decent fares ex PDX onto to MCO. Or in reverse.

There does seem to be a lot of potential with AK - they don't fly direct from LAX-DFW so LAX-PDX-DFW gave 160 SC's for just over $4 AUD per SC which got me part way to MCO - but something sub A$2 per SC would be awesome! I probably won't look at it until I get back to Oz as the Shanghai heat and humidity is knocking me around a bit, and the internet where I am staying isn't going to set any speed records.

 

[Captain Halliday]

The Ibis Budget seems the best option at about $150. Still a lot of money considering.

I have a night there in a couple of weeks.

Reporting back as promised.

Given how popular the AKL status run is with AFFers, this seems like the logical thread.

We arrived just on midnight at around the same time as three other flights so there were plenty of people around.

Below is the route I took.

It is well lit but once I passed the car park with the purple P symbol, there were no other people around.

However, it’s the main road into the international terminal and there were plenty of cars.

I never felt unsafe.



The Ibis is as you’d expect and in good condition.

I’ve stayed in far worse for $120 per night.







Pros: full blackout blinds, no noise from outside, great water pressure even on the top floor, quiet aircon, red light on TV was the only light when the room was dark (no flashing smoke detectors etc.

Cons: no power/charging by the bed, so devices need to be left on the small table overnight, soft and saggy pillows (personal preference), it’s a tight space generally.

The hotel has a few other things going in its favour.

Not part of the hotel, but on the ground floor is a cafe.



And on the ground floor behind the hotel another cafe and a sushi train.



The Ibis is also directly opposite Woolworths.



This is handy if you want to self-cater because the ibis has a communal dining area next to reception.

There’s plates, cutlery, a microwave, toaster and coffee machine.





The hotel does not participate in Accor despite all the signs that would indicate otherwise.

Only downside after a late night was waking to the jackhammering in the lift which echoed up the lift shaft through the building.



Would I stay again?

Yes, especially because by delaying pick up of the hire car to the following morning saved more than the room cost.

 

[11sjw]

Great post @Captain Halliday, thanks. Stayed at the Pullman during my two trips (ALL Free night first time, AMEX Travel Credit the 2nd). Will keep that one in mind for any future trips when I need to actually fork out cash. Cheers

 

[Danger]

Reporting back as promised.

Given how popular the AKL status run is with AFFers, this seems like the logical thread.

We arrived just on midnight at around the same time as three other flights so there were plenty of people around.

Below is the route I took.

It is well lit but once I passed the car park with the purple P symbol, there were no other people around.

However, it’s the main road into the international terminal and there were plenty of cars.

I never felt unsafe.

Thanks for the report. Roughly how long did the walk from the terminal to the Ibis take?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Thanks for the report. Roughly how long did the walk from the terminal to the Ibis take?

No more than 15 mins… probably closer to 12.

There is also an airport operated shuttle bus: “The Yellow Bus”.

It runs every 15 mins and costs $8.

It does a loop of four hotels, if which the Ibis is one.