Value Status Runs

[Kiwi Flyer]

Because loopholes get closed if they are disclosed. Even great deals that arent loopholes can get shut down if too many people use them.

 

[straitman]

Because loopholes get closed if they are disclosed. Even great deals that arent loopholes can get shut down if too many people use them.

Kiwi Flyer,

I said I do understand :!:

..........and please slow down as your posts are coming faster than I'm able to read them :!:

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Oops now I misread

 

[straitman]

Oops now I misread

Consider yourself admonished and forgiven. :wink:

 

[oz_mark]

Because loopholes get closed if they are disclosed. Even great deals that arent loopholes can get shut down if too many people use them.

Kiwi Flyer,

I said I do understand :!:

..........and please slow down as your posts are coming faster than I'm able to read them :!:

Glad I'm not the only one who is struggling to keep up with Kiwi Flyer. I'm out studying for loopholes now, see if I can locate said loophole (if it really is a loophole)

 

[gaia]

BKK-HKG-BKK business flex (D class) airfare on Finnair. Airfare is ~A$446(13,390 baht) earning 120 SC's at A$3.72/SC. Finnair flies BKK-HKG-BKK on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Times vary depending on season. In April depart BKK 14:40 arrive HKG 18:30 and returning depart HKG 21:25 arrive BKK 23:10. This flight then continues on to HEL non stop.

Presently sitting in CX HKG first class lounge having just arrived on AY91 from BKK.

Sat in row 1 which has plenty of space.

Great service and selection of wines.

Seat similar to Skybed. Advertised as lie flat in the plane's inflight brochures but even the photo clearly shows it on a slope.

Doing the BKK-SIN run tomorrow.

Now in the QF first class lounge in SIN after arriving on AY97 from BKK. Second best lounge I've been in after CX HKG.

Once again in row 1 but this flight didn't feel as spacious as it had the old seats and it appeared a bit tired compared to yesterday's HKG flight. Plane also noticeably fuller.

Great value for money status run.

 

[JohnK]

SCRUNs have been ruined by the Fuel surcharges. Most of the time domestic flights are around $10/Sc. Absolutely pathetic.

Agree. Even most of the sale fares provide poor value SC run, unless you already needed to fly.

I haven't given up on my project for a status run guide. Just haven't had too much time to work on it although recently I have been updating it with the latest airfares.

There are a lot of choices there for status runs at $9/SC, $8/SC, $7/SC or even some at $6/SC. Some require a little planning as you can't secure the cheaper airfares at a day's notice.

If anyone wants a copy of the excel spreadsheet just send me a PM and I will email it to you. It is not the end all and be all of Status runs but useful as a starting point.

 

[JohnK]

Pretty much the same as I had figured - there's just not much value available on the domestic sectors. Not sure what Mal's little plan is, I might have to try figure it out

Agree it is harder if you are in Perth and you are working but there are some good deals available if you have the time during the week and you are prepared to overnight somewhere.

I just picked a random date departing Tue 21 Feb and returning Wed 22 Feb. PER-ADL-SYD-NTL costs $374 for 45 SC's at $8.31/SC and returning NTL-SYD-MEL-PER next day after costs $346 returning 40 SC's at $8.65/SC giving a total of $720 for 85 SC's at $8.47/SC. I know it is not great but it is reasonable. There are others that could return the same maybe a little better return.

If you are in Adelaide there is a great deal happening right now going to Kangaroo Island (KGC) and Port Lincoln (PLO). The KGC deal is all year round and the PLO deal ends Feb 15. On Tue 14 Feb you can do ADL-KGC-ADL-PLO-ADL-PLO-ADL starting at 9:25 and finishing at 17:40 costing $398 for 60SC's at $6.63/SC which I think is a great deal for domestic flying.

You just need to look a little harder and be prepared to fly at unsuitable times.

 

[JohnK]

Great value for money status run.

I think I will be doing one of each BKK-HKG-BKK and BKK-SIN-BKK when I am there again in April.

They are good value status runs.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Dont forget if spending money to stay somewhere overnight that wouldnt otherwise be, that is an extra cost and so brings down the value of the SC run.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

If anyone wants a copy of the excel spreadsheet just send me a PM and I will email it to you. It is not the end all and be all of Status runs but useful as a starting point.

I certainly will be interested later in the year if it looks like I may need it to requalify. If fine right now though.

 

[JohnK]

Dont forget if spending money to stay somewhere overnight that wouldnt otherwise be, that is an extra cost and so brings down the value of the SC run.

Understand, although that is up to the individual doing the status run to determine whether the cost is worth the effort.

 

[oz_mark]

Dont forget if spending money to stay somewhere overnight that wouldnt otherwise be, that is an extra cost and so brings down the value of the SC run.

And if ones other half says, I'm coming with you, it can certainly blow the whole idea out of the water.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Or it may add a whole lot more value in other ways :wink:

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Dont forget if spending money to stay somewhere overnight that wouldnt otherwise be, that is an extra cost and so brings down the value of the SC run.

Understand, although that is up to the individual doing the status run to determine whether the cost is worth the effort.

Of course. We all have our own cost-benefit values.

 

[serfty]

Dont forget if spending money to stay somewhere overnight that wouldnt otherwise be, that is an extra cost and so brings down the value of the SC run.

Understand, although that is up to the individual doing the status run to determine whether the cost is worth the effort.

That's the difference between Gross & Nett costs.

For example, my current DONE4 was purchased in August from Columbo for SLR599,250 (Sri Lankan Rupees) which was right on AUD8000 for the ticket inclusive of all taxes etc. It will earn 2,360 SC's so that gives a Gross rate of $3.38 per SC.

As far as calculating a Nett rate, that is a lot more complicated. I used an award flight costing 50,000pts and AUD130 to get to CMB to pick up the ticket and start my journey. I have booked two award flights LAX-MEL & MEL-LAX to break my journey in March and resume in June. These cost USD45 & AUD158; 48,000 points each.

The trip itself will garner narly 160,000 points (including 'loyalty bonus') so that offsets the point expenditure.

I am budgeting $2K additional costs for accommodation etc, so at $10k total, that's an Nett rate of $4.21.

Of couse what value can you factor in when you relaise that it has basically gained me WP status for at least two years? :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Good points serfty

I know your DONE4 is purely for status, but if it was for points as well then similar logic is needed to net off the points used up to make it work.

 

[JohnK]

Dont forget if spending money to stay somewhere overnight that wouldnt otherwise be, that is an extra cost and so brings down the value of the SC run.

Understand, although that is up to the individual doing the status run to determine whether the cost is worth the effort.

That's the difference between Gross & Nett costs....

Your examples are very good.

I decided to do a so called "status run" SYD-ADL and SYD-PER for status credits that will come in handy soon. I have never been to ADL or PER so I thought while I am spending money on the airfare why not stay and play some golf and have a look around.

For me the cost of the "status run" is the cost of the airfare. I do not include the cost of accommodation, car hire, golf fees as they are for my enjoyment.

 

[JohnK]

A question for the some of the travelling buffs out there.

How long can you be classed as "in-transit" in a country or airport? Are the rules different in each country or airport? The reason I ask is the ability to do single day status runs from the one country.

e.g In April when I am in Thailand I will be flying BKK-SIN-BKK return on Wednesday. I need to pay 500 baht departure tax. On Thursday I will be flying BKK-HKG-BKK return and then Friday leaving Thailand to return to Australia BKK-SIN-MEL-SYD. I will be clearing immigration and customs on both Wednesday and Thursday as I will have accommodation near the airport. Am I classed as "in-transit" on the Thursday and Friday flights as my next forward journey is <24 hours from previous, thereby avoiding the departure tax again.

In Australia I think it works differently as departure tax is embedded into the airfare. Is it correct if I decide to fly SYD-AKL-SYD 3,4,5+ days in a row I pay departure tax for every flight. Technically am I not "in-transit" if my next international journey is <24 hours in future? I think you also departure tax from AKL as well? Would this be avoided for the above situation?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

In Thailand the departure tax is charged every time you want to go through immigration. So even going landside just to check in and return immediately to airside gets charged - you can avoid this by using airside transfer desk. Unfortunately the BKK transfer desk refuse (in my experience) to check in for flights on future day - even if it is well within 24 hours. You could try getting checked in elsewhere - more likely to be doable within 24 hours and on same ticket, less likely if more than 24 hours and separate tickets.

If your arriving flight is late night and departing early next morning, consider staying airside either at transit hotel (warning this is relatively expensive) or within terminal. Lots of people do this and I have too a few times.

Some places departure taxes are waived if same day exit, others if exit within 24 hours (eg NZ).

To add to the confusion, at some places the rules for taxes are at odds to the transit visa rules.