We’re launching a Qantas Status Run service + free giveaway

[Dmac59]

I’d be keen to try it but more interested in Velocity rather than Qantas. If I did make the request I’d love for it to be public and the response to be public to allow everyone to see the results.

Whilst I also would like to see requests and results, I doubt this would occur as other potential paying customers would be able to copy your paid SR at no expense.
Having said that, some members already post their own SR’s in the Master Status Run thread. Hopefully the paying customer is free to post.

 

[henrus]

Whilst I also would like to see requests and results, I doubt this would occur as other potential paying customers would be able to copy your paid SR at no expense.

I agree, that’s what I’m happy if selected for a trial to post it if allowed (obviously paying customers down the line would be dumb to do this as others could get in quick and snap up fare classes before allowed to book).

 

[RooFlyer]

Whilst I also would like to see requests and results, I doubt this would occur as other potential paying customers would be able to copy your paid SR at no expense.
Having said that, some members already post their own SR’s in the Master Status Run thread. Hopefully the paying customer is free to post.

I agree, that’s what I’m happy if selected for a trial to post it if allowed

But why would anyone even want to do that? To spite the AFF owners by torpedoing the attractiveness of the service when everyone spills paid results?

This is a commercial site that gives a lot of very valuable insights. Its saved me thousands over the years. The owners need to raise money to cover costs and perhaps make a profit. They currently do it by selling ads, selling subscriptions to avoid ads (that's me), offering 'advanced courses' via webinars if you don't have the higher packages, and the award flight assist service.

Torpedo this service by posting the good SC run results publicly and I guess they'll need to find revenue elsewhere. Like raising prices of the other stuff or making ads even more intrusive.

I hope they put a condition on the service that the results are not posted, at least for a while and quickly remove the posts that don't comply.

 

[levelnine]

I hope they put a condition on the service that the results are not posted, at least for a while and quickly remove the posts that don't comply.

Why do you think that's what they'll want to do?

When it comes to their award booking service, they send out weekly emails to non-paying members of the public with the exact itinerary (dates/flights/points price/how to book) they sold to a client. Presumably to drum up further business.

 

[Lynda2475]

I can see the value in paying an experienced TA $200-300 to help maximise status earn and minimize costs on a complex paid J itinerary. But I feel the SC earn and airfare savings would need to be higher to justify the proposed pricing for this offer.

Prices will start at around $199 for status runs of up to 250 status credits (or $299 if you need up to 500 status credits), and we may offer AFF member discounts.

A status run for 320SCs is easily done during the DSC on direct flight from SYD/MEL/BNE to AKL return in J when these fares are usually on sale and you can easily up to 580SC if you start/end in OOL or a regional airport for same costs. Takes maybe 15mins as the travel window is usually 11 months; few here would be earning $1200/hour (to receive value from the charge for a 15min time saving).

I can see why time poor would want the service but at a minimum during DSC window the pricing should be halved.

WRT sharing results, users of the service could at least share the ticket price (including the fee), SCs earn achieved (and maybe extra time needed over flying direct), they dont have to give away the exact routing BUT it would let other members see if there was any genuine value in the service.

 

[henrus]

But why would anyone even want to do that? To spite the AFF owners by torpedoing the attractiveness of the service when everyone spills paid results?

Aren’t the paid results person specific? Correct me if I’m wrong but I’d be saying something like I’m based in Brisbane, free any weekend in September and need 200SC. Then they’d provide either a specific route or options? Sharing an example of results publicly is not me being spiteful at all, I’m genuinely curious and want to know how detail their suggests are. Are they going to list specific fares, fare classes or just give a basic book BNE-SYD direct via QF to earn this amount?

 

[RooFlyer]

Why do you think that's what they'll want to do?

I didn't say that I think that's what they'll want to do [remove posts]. Its my hope, if people immediately turn around and start posting the great SC runs, thereby cruelling the business case.

When it comes to their award booking service, they send out weekly emails to non-paying members of the public with the exact itinerary (dates/flights/points price/how to book) they sold to a client. Presumably to drum up further business.

I wasn't aware of that. Never got one myself! But knowing how hard it is to find J award seats (and presuming the customer immediately books it) , advertising a particular find a week or so later probably isn't worth much. Just an example, which could be made up anyway. DSC offers last longer.

Aren’t the paid results person specific? Correct me if I’m wrong but I’d be saying something like I’m based in Brisbane, free any weekend in September and need 200SC. Then they’d provide either a specific route or options? Sharing an example of results publicly is not me being spiteful at all, I’m genuinely curious and want to know how detail their suggests are. Are they going to list specific fares, fare classes or just give a basic book BNE-SYD direct via QF to earn this amount?

Yes, but if there's a DSC on, and people start paying for the service, and posting the results, then it won't take long for all the good stuff to be exposed and the need to pay obviated. And we frequent flyers on AFF may say - great! Its . Just like happens now anyway.

But my view is that if this is a service that AFF is offering to raise income, then its inappropriate to lessen that value proposition for the site.

Now, I have no idea how the thing will go, nor if the site owners will care much if things are revealed . Maybe they'll say 'FFS, chill out Rooy!' But what it appears to be is a sale of IP from AFF to customers and in such a transaction you don't usually go out and spill the IP, therefore lessening its value.

Sharing an example of results publicly is not me being spiteful at all, I’m genuinely curious and want to know how detail their suggests are. Are they going to list specific fares, fare classes or just give a basic book BNE-SYD direct via QF to earn this amount?

Sure, and apologies - 'spite' was probably a bit harsh. But I dare say they will advertise exactly what they'll be offering, with examples hopefully. And if its just generic cough, I'm sure that won't take long to get around!

# This is not a paid placement on behalf of AFF. I'm just a bit of a fan-boy

 

[Daver6]

I think the real value of this service is more likely to be overseas SC runs. Eg, I'm in the US on a specific date and have a few couple of days. on a specific date. Even if that run is shared publicly, its probably not going to be overly useful to that many people.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Bit of googling....

Damien Waller and Edward Alder, owners of Australia's largest frequent flyer publisher, Point Hacks (not sure when this sale happened)

Points Hacks then bought AFF in 2022

They also own Pay.com.au - which is why you see promotion of it on PH/AFF

Damien previously founded iSelect - hence all the referral links and push for credit cards etc.

Nothing wrong with people making money & employees being paid - just think it's important forum users posting information be aware that AFF is owned by multi-multi millionaires now with a background in referrals/advertising etc etc.

Thanks for this.

This might explain why the AFF site now seems to have so many ads / cookies / trackers that it sends my laptop into fan overdrive if I spend more than a few minutes on it, unlike any other website I visit...

 

[Dmac59]

Thanks for this.

This might explain why the AFF site now seems to have so many ads / cookies / trackers that it sends my laptop into fan overdrive if I spend more than a few minutes on it, unlike any other website I visit...

My understanding was that the advertisements align with the Basic (Free) AFF Membership, whilst Supporter (paid) Memberships have no advertisements.

 

[oz_mark]

Bit of googling....

Damien Waller and Edward Alder, owners of Australia's largest frequent flyer publisher, Point Hacks (not sure when this sale happened)

Sale of Point Hacks was in 2019.

 

[Stusipad]

I'd be interested in trialing the service.

 

[RSD]

How to participate

If you would like to go in the running to get free Qantas Status Run assistance, please leave a comment in this thread by 11.59pm on Sunday, 11 August 2024. In your comment, please make it clear that you’d be interested in trialling the service.

We’ll then randomly select two AFF members who’ve commented in this thread to receive this service for free.

I would like to participate (i.e. be your flying guinea pig). I've got a trip to the U.S. coming up where I have a couple of days at the start to get from LAX to MCO, and then three more days at the end to get from MCO-LAX.

 

[tdimdad]

You'd think that if the service is equipped with efficient tools and the staff now their stuff, they'd quite easily figure out similar runs than many experienced individuals here. In other words, posting your own findings here shouldn't be much of news to them as they should have something similar already in the books. Of course, some here may be keen & skilled enough to discover routings which have superior value and that's where the results of the paid service would be tested.

 

[bussyboy]

I think I'm about 20 minutes late for this. Nice idea though I think I'd baulk at the RRP given I'd mostly book reward flights.

 

[levelnine]

In other words, posting your own findings here shouldn't be much of news to them as they should have something similar already in the books.

This is very true.

If you look at the reward flight itineraries they book for clients, they pretty much all follow an identical pattern. Eg for Velocity redemptions, they rely almost exclusively on Singapore redemptions for anything in Asia/Europe.

I imagine it'll be the same for the status run service. There will be nothing new for anyone familiar with the game. Which makes the protestations of some posters here about sharing all the more odd.

 

[DeKa]

I’m interested in trialling the status run service due to a bit of a gap this year.

 

[RooFlyer]

I imagine it'll be the same for the status run service. There will be nothing new for anyone familiar with the game. Which makes the protestations of some posters here about sharing all the more odd.

You may or may not be referring to me, but if there’s nothing new for those familiar with the game, there will be things to be gained by those not familiar with the game. As I said you are paying for a transfer of IP if you need it and it isn’t fair if you then go and immediately share the IP.

and in respect of the award search service. Yes SQ will be a fairly regular way to find award flights. The fact is they are finding them one way or another on the date wished for and usually not just one award flight but something like around the world with about six flights in J and also stitch them together. That’s very difficult without spending a huge amount of time unless you’re quite expert.. There is obviously some sort of demand for people to pay the concierge service to do this rather than them doing it themselves.

 

[levelnine]

You may or may not be referring to me, but if there’s nothing new for those familiar with the game, there will be things to be gained by those not familiar with the game. As I said you are paying for a transfer of IP if you need it and it isn’t fair if you then go and immediately share the IP.

and in respect of the award search service. Yes SQ will be a fairly regular way to find award flights. The fact is they are finding them one way or another on the date wished for and usually not just one award flight but something like around the world with about six flights in J and also stitch them together. That’s very difficult without spending a huge amount of time unless you’re quite expert.. There is obviously some sort of demand for people to pay the concierge service to do this rather than them doing it themselves.

IP is a category of property. Finding status runs and award seats do not belong to any of recognised category of IP — it is not a trademark, it is not copyright, it is not a trade secret, etc.

By your own admission, you have not looked at the example itineraries they are booking for people. I have. All the ones that have been shared are simple return trips.

You clearly think it is unfair to share something that has been found for you using a paid service. The irony of your position is that even the provider of the service does not think it is unfair given they freely share them with others.

 

[RooFlyer]

IP is a category of property. Finding status runs and award seats do not belong to any of recognised category of IP — it is not a trademark, it is not copyright, it is not a trade secret, etc.

I’m not talking about intellectual property Law. I’m saying that you’re paying for something to be found that isn’t readily apparent, that’s IP being exchanged. If it was freely available and obvious, there world be no market for it .

By your own admission, you have not looked at the example itineraries they are booking for people. I have. All the ones that have been shared are simple return trips.

I mentioned that I’ve used the service and several occasions. One was for a return trip to Europe in J at peak time and the other was a more complicated one. But it doesn’t matter whether it’s simple or complicated. It’s simply a matter of whether a person is prepared to pay for service to find award seats rather than doing it themselves .

You clearly think it is unfair to share something that has been found for you using a paid service. The irony of your position is that even the provider of the service does not think it is unfair given they freely share them with others.

I said I haven’t seen them sharing itineraries but if there is a time delay in providing a service and publishing it then you’d have to assume that award seats, being rare as they are, would not still be around.

I’ve simply opined that I don’t think people should share their results on AFF of an AFF service that they’ve paid for, when AFF thinks they can do something for a customer that the customer can’t do the for themselves.