The Velocity Status Run Master thread

[abefroman]

Delta runs East Coast >>>

FLL-JAX via ATL $130us 60SC (Comfort+)

 

[mandja]

Hoping you can help

I need 178 SC to maintain Gold by 9 Sep 2018
My plans currently include

1. OOL- MEL on Aug 26 with wife on discount economy
Can we upgrade to get extra SC?
If yes, what is cost and how many SC?
Obviously would need to Family Pool

and

2. I need to go to SYD on Sep 7 or 8 (return after review date) with wife so can book, say Business for max SC
Wife will insist that we fly direct regardless that indirect would mean more SC

I'm trying to avoid a purely status run flight/s in July as the alternative, but if needed could do so for MEL-SYD on own
Finally, if I fall short, any other option to retain Gold?

 

[Saab34]

OOL-MEL via SYD/CBR on KLM79 promo code can be done for $150/$160. This is in Elevate netting 15sc per leg netting 60sc for a return trip per pax. This is one of the best earner across the network currently.

It’s a similar earn rate for Freedom, $240 for 25sc leg netting 100sc return per pax

There is no OOL-SYD connection flights currently bookable, it’s all direct. Max earn would be flying Business but this is very expensive and very poor status/$ earn.

In terms of an existing booking being modified to another fare class, play around with the change booking function online, will probably slug you a change fee but it will give you the total.

 

[Saab34]

SYR-RDU via MSP $130usd 90sc (Comfort+)

BOS-BWI via CVG $119usd 75SC (Comfort+)

SYR-BOS via NYC $108usd 60SC (Comfort+)

BUF-BOS via NYC $130usd 80SC (First Class)

BUF-BOS via NYC $85usd 60SC (Comfort+)


And if you like going for a joyride for the day...
EWR-DTW-BUF-LGA-BOS-LGA-BUF-DTW-LGA 320usd for 240sc...LOL

Still chasing that $1/ SC flight nearly found one!

 

[Saab34]

LAX-PVG on Delta’s new A350 in ‘Premium Select’ (new PE cabin 2-4-2) can be done for $750us return across a lot of dates.

They credit it as G which means 320 status credits, and if your a Platinum over 50k in points

 

[dxwell]

I need help!
I have just come off a year of WP ending 12th July 2018 with 456 SC earned (which in practice gave me soft landing to SG July 2019)
However, post 12th July, I did BNE-LAX-MSY return to earn 420 SC plus 10 Flybuys SC, giving me SG to July 2020.
Hence, a total of 886 SC to date.
My wife ended a year of WP on 4th August 2018, but has no SC from that date (but she gets a soft landing to SG Aug 2019)

Can you please vote for the following:
A. As I have already earned SG to July 2020, I should now direct all SC to my wife to get her SG to Aug 2020.
B. I should get the extra 114 SC to get WP to Aug 2020. This will need to be done before 31Aug 2018 i.e. a status run. Which would then give me soft landing to SG for Aug 22.

I could normally sort this out but I have been afflicted with the BNE EKKA 2018 plague and my brain is operating at 50%.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I have been afflicted with the BNE EKKA 2018 plague and my brain is operating at 50%.

Ekka time. I'd forgotten. I've just bought a drone and been trying to learn to fly it, but each day the winds pick up. I should have known not to learn to fly during the Ekka, as that always means westerlies!

 

[ward_FF]

Hi all,

I have a review date of December 19 and calculate that I need 200 SC to reach platinum.... 2 questions

Is it worth doing a Status Run?

If so...

What is the cheapest options from Melbourne...?

Thanks

 

[serfty]

Q1 - Only you can answer that. One consideration can be how much flying will you do on VA/Partners before December 2019 and how much WP status could benefit you over SG?

Q2 - Domestically - look at OOL via SYD/CBR in Flex or Business.

 

[quick_dry]

What is the cheapest options from Melbourne...?

using KLM79 from Melbourne the easiest is MEL-syd-OOL return on Business where SYD is a stopover. Cheapest I can get is just over 1200, I haven't seen any Business Savers on that route, but that would make it cheaper and get you the 200SC - going full Business would be 220.

 

[ward_FF]

using KLM79 from Melbourne the easiest is MEL-syd-OOL return on Business where SYD is a stopover. Cheapest I can get is just over 1200, I haven't seen any Business Savers on that route, but that would make it cheaper and get you the 200SC - going full Business would be 220.

Thats great, an option I might just look at... Thanks for the response

 

[Cryptarcadian]

This year, I've somehow ended up with more than enough SCs to requalify for platinum, but am still 3 eligible sectors short -- too many SQ and NZ marketed flights, oops!

It looks like the options are limited given I'm based in SYD, but so far I've been looking at routes that can be done as a day trip:

• SYD-MEL-HBA-SYD ($350)
  
• SYD-MEL-LST-SYD ($370)
  
• SYD-TSV-BNE-SYD ($420)

The idea of spending the longest layover at small airports without a lounge isn't that appealing though... any other suggestions?

 

[QF WP]

I need help!
I have just come off a year of WP ending 12th July 2018 with 456 SC earned (which in practice gave me soft landing to SG July 2019)
However, post 12th July, I did BNE-LAX-MSY return to earn 420 SC plus 10 Flybuys SC, giving me SG to July 2020.
Hence, a total of 886 SC to date.
My wife ended a year of WP on 4th August 2018, but has no SC from that date (but she gets a soft landing to SG Aug 2019)

Can you please vote for the following:
A. As I have already earned SG to July 2020, I should now direct all SC to my wife to get her SG to Aug 2020.
B. I should get the extra 114 SC to get WP to Aug 2020. This will need to be done before 31Aug 2018 i.e. a status run. Which would then give me soft landing to SG for Aug 22.

I could normally sort this out but I have been afflicted with the BNE EKKA 2018 plague and my brain is operating at 50%.

Many thanks in advance.

@dxwell, hopefully now you can recover - Ekka is over. I'd do it in reverse order (ie. do number 2 first and as soon as you've completed, family pool to your wife to assist her to get Plat). What is her running 12 month SC total and what SC's drop off monthly, from September plus what are your expected SC's for the upcoming months?

 

[kevrosmith]

This year, I've somehow ended up with more than enough SCs to requalify for platinum, but am still 3 eligible sectors short -- too many SQ and NZ marketed flights, oops!

It looks like the options are limited given I'm based in SYD, but so far I've been looking at routes that can be done as a day trip:

• SYD-MEL-HBA-SYD ($350)
  
• SYD-MEL-LST-SYD ($370)
  
• SYD-TSV-BNE-SYD ($420)

The idea of spending the longest layover at small airports without a lounge isn't that appealing though... any other suggestions?

How does the price compare for SYD-CNS-BNE-SYD? Then you'd have a lounge available in each port.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

How does the price compare for SYD-CNS-BNE-SYD? Then you'd have a lounge available in each port.

Thanks! Best I can find for SYD-CNS-BNE-SYD on weekends is $518, which unfortunately doesn't seem worthwhile. Also remembered SYD-CBR-MEL-SYD, which is better at $457 (and CBR is quite nice!) but still questionable value.

I just did a quick count and realised I've flown 10 VA-operated sectors in the past year, before adding missed codeshare opportunities…

In case it helps remind others to avoid similar mistakes, here's how I got into this silly situation:

• Booked too many VA flights with points during the 30% off redemption sale earlier this year (what a false economy when it necessitates a status run!)
• Booked flights directly with SQ since I didn't want to deal with seat selection dramas on the VA codeshare (I really wish VA would fix this)
• Booked flights directly with NZ for the same reason + VA booking systems were simply down altogether (well, this won't be an issue after the divorce!)
• Timed a complimentary Amex flight redemption poorly (have since switched to cards offering travel credit only)

Damn it!

 

[Saab34]

Maybe of Interest.

NZ-LAX via Australia Business $5200aud~ 480SC
NZ-LAX via Australia Economy $730aud~ 120SC

Delta's new LAX A350 service to PVG is at record low again in the new PE which earns as Business.

LAX-PVG A350 Premium Select $745usd return. 320SC. 26k points base. 45k points for Gold, 52k points for Plat. Can be done $100 cheaper starting at the other end instead.

 

[Saab34]

Carrier: DL
Dates: 2018
Route: PEK-DTW-ATL-BOS, BOS-ATL-DTW-PEK
Cabin: Premium Select Long Haul, Comfort+ Domestic
Total Cost $A: $1192
Velocity SC Earn: 470

Notes: Flagship A350 to PEK Premium Select, Comfort+ for Domestic.

Velocity Point Earn P 60692
Velocity Point Earn G 53105
Velocity Point Earn S 45519
Velocity Point Earn R: 30346

 

[Saab34]

Carrier: DL
Dates: 2018
Route: MCO-ATL-DTW-PEK, PEK-DTW-ATL-MCO
Cabin: Premium Select Long Haul, Comfort+ Domestic
Total Cost $A: $1218
Velocity SC Earn: 440

Notes: Flagship A350 to PEK Premium Select, Comfort+ for Domestic.

Velocity Point Earn P 58220
Velocity Point Earn G 50942
Velocity Point Earn S 43665
Velocity Point Earn R: 29110

 

[Fyrd]

Carrier: DL
Dates: 2018
Route: PEK-DTW-ATL-BOS, BOS-ATL-DTW-PEK
Cabin: Premium Select Long Haul, Comfort+ Domestic
Total Cost $A: $1192
Velocity SC Earn: 470

Notes: Flagship A350 to PEK Premium Select, Comfort+ for Domestic.

Velocity Point Earn P 60692
Velocity Point Earn G 53105
Velocity Point Earn S 45519
Velocity Point Earn R: 30346

Hey mate, thanks a bunch for sharing this definitely interested in this trip. Do you (or anyone) have any suggestions for bolt ons once in BOS? I'm keen to combine this into a decent status run + holiday.

I've seen fairly cheap fares to Orlando via New York, keen to spend ~5 days in both NYC and Orlando. To do some shopping and go to the theme parks. This would leave me approximately a week free to travel around the USA just because and visit a few random cities while gaining SC and racking up miles.

Anything else you could suggest? It's a bit expensive for me to get to PEK but I was thinking of visiting family in Adelaide, Perth and taking VA to PEK which would give me a total of 6 sectors, plus some bonus points but at $1400 the value prop is horrible. Making the need to be lean and gain value on the US side a pretty high priority. Alternatively I could just fly direct to PEK for half the cost or to lax via NZ. Then some west coast rubs and then east coast runs

Thanks for any and all advice.

Trip is currently looking like this, without any deals or discount codes being used, I'm probably going to put the entire trip onto a Velocity Amex for 2.5x points:
MEL-ADL-PER -PEK, PEK- PER-ADL-MEL ($1457)
PEK-DTW-ATL-BOS, BOS-ATL-DTW-PEK ($1485)
BOS-LGA-ATL-MCO-LGA-BOS ($576) with a day in Atlanta

 

[dominicburton]

Hi, wondering if anyone has any suggestions for me - I am 66 SC short of platinum, review date 31/10 and I have one MEL-SYD work trip to do this month. Likely to be Elevate fare which would be 30 SC, leaving me 36 short.
I will have flexibility to pay the difference in fare if modifying this trip e.g. could possibly return via somewhere like SYD-CBR-MEL, but I'm wondering what my best options are.
I'll call Virgin and ask if I can get clemency if I reach 1 SC short so really looking for either:
most cost-effective way to net 65 SC MEL-SYD return OR
most cost-effective way to net 35 SC ex-MEL

Appreciate any advice
Thanks,
Dom