The Velocity Status Run Master thread

[SimonD]

Ah, sorry...I missed that part of your post. There are the $90 ones before then though! Good idea with family pooling.....though I'm trying to work out SO......some other? seductive other? seductive and outstanding?......but yes, family pooling can ingratiate oneself whilst earning said SCs (I look at that as a win-win situation)!......but alas, you must pool before she earns the SCs.

Significant Other

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Significant Other

Really? I think if called my + 1 that, I'd be punched.......but then again, it's quite probably far better than "+1" :shock:

 

[QF WP]

Hi everyone. New guy here. I should have found this forum earlier!

I have made many rookie mistakes booking work travel (20 sectors so far) and now need to do a SC run before Dec 15th to reach Gold. Don't know if work will send me out on travel again before then.

I'm based out of MEL,. I'm at 460 SC. What's the cheapest run I can do from MEL to obtain the missing 40? Thanks!

You might also want to check out the promo codes to see if you can save $ at the same time as doing the status run - making Flexis not much more than the non-discounted Saver fares...http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ty/virgin-australia-x-off-bookable-54931.html

 

[neljelpoo]

hi all! i'll be 30SC away from platinum and am looking for a cheap way to get these! i miscalculated my points and thought i'd be well into platinum but it seems like now i need to make a SC run to reach there before another 30 points expires in february...

i'll be based in melbourne between 22/12/15 - 02/01/16 then will be based in brisbane from 03/01/16 - 10/01/16.

seems like everything is quite expensive during this period even with GPR23 can anyone shed some light?

thanks

 

[davidsilver]

You have to work out how much platinum is really worth to you? MEL-HBA on flexi will get you there, MEL-BNE on saver will get you there also. Honestly there isn't a huge amount of difference between WP and SG (in my experience)

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I am heading off to Europe and will end up somewhere in Asia (perhaps Thailand) in early January.
My flights that far are booked in a way which does not attract status credits.
I need to earn a couple of hundred more status credits by 16 February to maintain Platinum.
Does anyone have any suggestions for the best status run from SE Asia back to Perth in J?
I looked at flying SQ via SIN but the earn per dollar is pretty bad compared to just flying VA direct from HKT.
Although I am not overjoyed at the prospect of a 7 hour flight on a 737.
Any other ideas?
After that any ideas on good value weekend status runs ex PER would be welcome.

 

[davidsilver]

You have to work out how much Platinum means to you. To be honest I haven't noticed a great deal of difference since reaching Platinum.

Just looking at a random date in Jan VA in J HKT-PER is around $1150 and would get you 120 SC. Where as SQ is around $2000 and would get you 120SC also

I also just looked at a random weekend in Jan and can get PER-DPS-PER for $1,433 in J and that would get you 160SC and can be done in one day, although it's on 738. This seems to be best bang for buck from PER as coming to east coast in J you would be looking at around double the price for same amount of SC.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

You could do what I recently booked (I just checked Feb 2nd, return Feb 5th to test if the prices were the same), and go PER-NAN in business for just over ~$1000 each way. I think a return trip would net 320SC, and you'd have the option of 'The Business' on the PER-east route if choosing an A330 flight. I booked during the triple-points promo too, but I think that's over now.

 

[davidsilver]

Yep that would get you 320SC but you would still end up with 4+ hours on 738. Also not sure if it's a factor but there is no lounge access for VA J in NAN

 

[Moopere]

Just looking at a random date in Jan VA in J HKT-PER is around $1150 and would get you 120 SC. Where as SQ is around $2000 and would get you 120SC also

I think this is one-way right? I just had a look as well and can't find anything in J below about AU$1000 one-way. Also, GCMap.com reports this trip as 2991 miles ... I often see Virgin calculating slightly higher than GC reports, so you might sneak over the 3001mile requirement to gain 120SC instead of 80 but I'd check first. I've done this flight, in J, but can't remember what the SC earn was. As I recall, it was cheaper for me to book two one-ways for my PER-HKT-PER. The HKT-PER leg, in Baht was around 21K if memory serves (circa $750).

Its a bit of a hellish flight in J this one as its a 737 and, from memory, takes something like 6-6.5 hours. Not nice in a narrow body.

I also just looked at a random weekend in Jan and can get PER-DPS-PER for $1,433 in J and that would get you 160SC and can be done in one day, although it's on 738. This seems to be best bang for buck from PER as coming to east coast in J you would be looking at around double the price for same amount of SC.

I'm going to be doing this in Dec. Shouldn't be a bad flight as its only about 3.5-4 hours. Similar to PER-MEL SC earn is not bad as PER-MEL-PER is about the same price, same SC and 1899x2=$3798 Full J price normally.

 

[davidsilver]

Yes that was one way as the op was returning from HKT and was also based on 3004 miles as per VA mileage calculator, but have not done this trip so can't confirm if 120SC will post.

PER-SYD-AKL return in J for $2.800, you would get "the business" PER-SYD legs and 763 on the SYD-AKL legs.

Again it all comes down to what value you put on status

 

[Moopere]

Honestly there isn't a huge amount of difference between WP and SG (in my experience)

Yes, indeed. Guesting in more than 1 to the lounge would have its uses, but I'd probably only use this once, maybe twice a year. The benefit for me is the 4x comped legs of Y->J, as I am normally doing PER-MEL or PER-SYD thats worth exactly 4x9900points (each leg Flex to J is 9900points) = 39,600 VA FF which under my calcs is worth $1188 - so thats pretty much the value of Plat over Gold for mine. As a result, I've not strived for it.

Mind you, by Australia day this (edit: coming 2016) year I'll be 160SC off Plat for the first time and I'm pretty tempted to make the effort. Plat in Jan would reset my date to Jan2017 and give me access to Hilton Diamond till 2018 if I choose the option carefully with respect to dates... as my current comped HH gold runs out MAR 2017 that might work out well and could be worth squeezing an extra J flight for.

I love this game

 

[davidsilver]

If you are in PER then I can see the benefit of those 4 upgrades. Is really no difference for me as most of my travel is MEL-HBA and MEL to asia, I'm considering switching my eaning to SQ to maintain *A gold.

Do you use HH much?

 

[NZflygirl]

Yes that was one way as the op was returning from HKT and was also based on 3004 miles as per VA mileage calculator, but have not done this trip so can't confirm if 120SC will post.

PER-SYD-AKL return in J for $2.800, you would get "the business" PER-SYD legs and 763 on the SYD-AKL legs.

Again it all comes down to what value you put on status

akl-MEL-per (and presumably return?) you could get 160sc each way and fly J both a330 and nz777. Routing via syd / BNE makes the east coast leg too short so you fall down a category. MEL puts it in the next mileage bracket up. Good connection around 2hrs or so. Doing this in Jan. I didn't look at PER departure.

 

[davidsilver]

When I looked at random dates the NZ flights were a 763

PER-SYD would earn 80SC and SYD-AKL is 60SC but yes MEL-AKL will push you into the next range and get 80SC

The sames dates I looked at in Jan going PER-MEL-AKL is still around the $2,800 mark using the current promo code

 

[NZflygirl]

When I looked at random dates the NZ flights were a 763

PER-SYD would earn 80SC and SYD-AKL is 60SC but yes MEL-AKL will push you into the next range and get 80SC

The sames dates I looked at in Jan going PER-MEL-AKL is still around the $2,800 mark using the current promo code

syd quite often gets the 763, another reason to go MEL and better transit airport. MEL and BNE I haven't seen the 763 but I don't look all the time, only seen the 772 subbed for the 773. Usually one big flight a day, then smaller ones or they'll add a 789 or something if there's demand. But good chance of the 777 to MEL. I didn't use any promo code but got it for $1400 something one way, 777 and a330 (so far!).

 

[Teal747]

Does HH have a soft fall from Diamond ?

 

[davidsilver]

Does HH have a soft fall from Diamond ?

Better off asking this question in the HH part

 

[AviatorPJ]

Yes that was one way as the op was returning from HKT and was also based on 3004 miles as per VA mileage calculator, but have not done this trip so can't confirm if 120SC will post.

I can confirm that 120 SC do post for this HKT-PER sector in J. Was a good earner for the double SC promo back in 2013. The O'night is from HKT to PER. Bring a day-pack or small rolla-board to use as a foot rest in J cabin. I agree though, it remains a comfort challenge o'night for 6.5 hours on narrow body. Cheers, PJ

 

[Muppet501st]

Does HH have a soft fall from Diamond ?

No, straight back to the bottom, or whatever status you would've had for the number of nights you've stayed there.