Maximising Status Credits on Asia Trip

[Sharpy077]

Just wondering what the best way to maximise status credits on the QFF going from MEL to PVG to HKG over December / January period.

 

[crum]

Just wondering what the best way to maximise status credits on the QFF going from MEL to PVG to HKG over December / January period.

Buying First Class tickets?

 

[moa999]

And flying QF not CX, thanks to SimplerFairer

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Didn't think QF provides F class to HKG/PEK/PVG.
J is the highest class offered.

 

[Sharpy077]

Didn't think QF provides F class to HKG/PEK/PVG.
J is the highest class offered.

That's true on those routes with QF there is only business.

Is there any particular way you would go when travelling these routes to get those extra status credits? For example MEL > SYD > SIN > HKG > PVG? (Just guessing)

 

[Shan Man]

May I suggest you position to TPE or BKK first and grab CX out of there? J is quite attractive or even whY if you're on a budget.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Trouble with, maybe not so much trouble as such, but a hindrance, is that the flight from MEL to SYD will be QFdom, meaning you have to transfer from the SYD QFdom to QF SYDint terminal.
With QF its very good at this, that they use their own bus to take you to the int terminal, via the airport's private road, but still, just to earn extra 40 SC, personally, I don't think its worth it.
If you want, pick EK metal, QF flight number MEL - SIN in J, now that would earn quite a good rate, leaves MEL 19.00 and gets to SIN about midnight, then you can get CX from there up (early that am/spend a few a day or two in SIN), then towards HKG/PEK/PVG or TPE.
While EK does not sell F on its codeshare with QF, but for J, it does sell that, you can book online too. Due to the fact that the EK flight carries a QF flight number, you will earn full QF J rate SC, even though its an EK plane!
Any flights nowadays, that you take, that does not have a QF flight number, will earn you a lot less SC, even if the flights are with OW airlines.
I will probably get another infraction for this.
Getting the EK flight to SIN in J also gives you the chance to see the EK J lounge at MELint airport.
***
MEL-SIN J earns 120 QF SC one way, flying QF/EK with a QF flight number.
SIN-HKG J earns 80 QF SC flying CX, one way.
***Thats 200 SC one way, double that, you get 400 SC. Thats PS and about half way towards attaining SG. Plus CX flights in the CH region, you balance will rise.
$$$ I know.
CX will not carry a QF flight number, so the earn is not much.
Sorry, if you don't want J, you can of course go Y class.

 

[trixydoza]

EK does not sell F on its codeshare with QF

I can't find an obvious way to book MEL-SIN in F codeshare on the Qantas website either, even though it's possible elsewhere.

 

[Shan Man]

Any flights nowadays, that you take, that does not have a QF flight number, will earn you a lot less SC, even if the flights are with OW airlines.

That is not the case. It is only on routes where QF offer a service that SC's and points are reduced. There are still a lot more flights with *O that haven't had their SC earn impacted.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I guess if the OP wanted to phone QF telephone sales up to make a booking, they could do it for him or her.
Probably not doable online, but with the "help" of a customer services assistant, it could be possible.
One more way, if you (OP) wants, to do it in whY, MEL-SIN-HKG(do your thing there), then HKG-AKL with CX and then QF AKL-MEL.
Travel agent most likely could do the split, if you or I did a QF Au to Asia one way in any class, without a return, it will be an exorbitant fare charged.
Coming back via NZ is just an option.
Good point Shan_Man, I travel to NZ all my getaways, my old buddy LA has now gotten their SC so low in Y.
Thought I knew it all, can't work out what *O stands for.

 

[kermatu]

I've never booked it, but have been able to get MEL-SIN on Emirates with QF code in F when I've done a dummy F multi-sector itinerary. That may be one way to get it? Expensive though.

 

[JessicaTam]

<snip>
Thought I knew it all, can't work out what *O stands for.

*O = One World
*A = Star Alliance

 

[Sharpy077]

Trouble with, maybe not so much trouble as such, but a hindrance, is that the flight from MEL to SYD will be QFdom, meaning you have to transfer from the SYD QFdom to QF SYDint terminal.
With QF its very good at this, that they use their own bus to take you to the int terminal, via the airport's private road, but still, just to earn extra 40 SC, personally, I don't think its worth it.
If you want, pick EK metal, QF flight number MEL - SIN in J, now that would earn quite a good rate, leaves MEL 19.00 and gets to SIN about midnight, then you can get CX from there up (early that am/spend a few a day or two in SIN), then towards HKG/PEK/PVG or TPE.
While EK does not sell F on its codeshare with QF, but for J, it does sell that, you can book online too. Due to the fact that the EK flight carries a QF flight number, you will earn full QF J rate SC, even though its an EK plane!
Any flights nowadays, that you take, that does not have a QF flight number, will earn you a lot less SC, even if the flights are with OW airlines.
I will probably get another infraction for this.
Getting the EK flight to SIN in J also gives you the chance to see the EK J lounge at MELint airport.
***
MEL-SIN J earns 120 QF SC one way, flying QF/EK with a QF flight number.
SIN-HKG J earns 80 QF SC flying CX, one way.
***Thats 200 SC one way, double that, you get 400 SC. Thats PS and about half way towards attaining SG. Plus CX flights in the CH region, you balance will rise.
$$$ I know.
CX will not carry a QF flight number, so the earn is not much.
Sorry, if you don't want J, you can of course go Y class.

What are you using to look at this and the amount of SC? I'm using the Qantas Website at the moment, but it's giving me the *&^@!

Otherwise, thank you for that mass insight, that's exactly the kind of information and "advice" I was looking for. Initially I was looking at direct from MEL TO PVG in J, and that alone was going to cost $4,4xx for a return of 360 SC.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

QF has an SC calculator on its website.
SIN - HKG in J with CX will give more than BKK - HKG with CX.
Its 120 QF SC basic J Au to SIN and BKK.
Google QF status calculator, takes a while to load though.
Not a perfect system better than the VA SC reference system though.
And ta Jessicatam.
Kermatu, did you start the test booking in AKL?

 

[kermatu]

Kermatu, did you start the test booking in AKL?

No mate - it was from Melbourne or maybe Canberra.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What are you using to look at this and the amount of SC? I'm using the Qantas Website at the moment, but it's giving me the *&^@!

Otherwise, thank you for that mass insight, that's exactly the kind of information and "advice" I was looking for. Initially I was looking at direct from MEL TO PVG in J, and that alone was going to cost $4,4xx for a return of 360 SC.

Are you going to make gold?

Otherwise as a QF silver - I'd ditch flying OneWorld outright and book Air China - save $1000+ on the fare (depending on the dates - the sample I tried gave Air China for $3128), arrive non-stop without delays, and with good seating (very comfortable full-flat beds).

 

[Sharpy077]

Are you going to make gold?

Otherwise as a QF silver - I'd ditch flying OneWorld outright and book Air China - save $1000+ on the fare (depending on the dates - the sample I tried gave Air China for $3128), arrive non-stop without delays, and with good seating (very comfortable full-flat beds).

Yes I would make gold with that trip as it currently stands, if I do many more work trips between now and April it may get as far as platinum.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes I would make gold with that trip as it currently stands, if I do many more work trips between now and April it may get as far as platinum.

If you are doing multiple trips to China, non-stop is the way to go... either the QF129/130, China Eastern, or Air China. Transferring via HKG is getting increasingly difficult with severe delays - this and last year have been particularly bad. Frequent cancellations and delays of up to 8 hours on the HKG-PVG and vv corridor are unfortunately not uncommon (surpassing the usual 1-2 hour delays).

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Just wondering what the best way to maximise status credits on the QFF going from MEL to PVG to HKG over December / January period.

In my opinion you either fully commit to the process of SC chasing or not at all. A half baked effort may just turn into a giant waste of time and money.
Something like this may work to fully maximize the heck out of it:
SYD-AKL / AKL-MEL-SYD-BKK / BKK-HKG-PVG & return on 3 separate tickets.

A half baked effort would be CBR-SYD-PVG & vv.

The cost to you would be only the extra cash you're willing to burn above and beyond a direct SYD-PVG-SYD so you're essentially burning the cash for extra Status Credits and thus buying your way into Gold/Plat.

If you are doing multiple trips to China, non-stop is the way to go... either the QF129/130, China Eastern, or Air China. Transferring via HKG is getting increasingly difficult with severe delays - this and last year have been particularly bad. Frequent cancellations and delays of up to 8 hours on the HKG-PVG and vv corridor are unfortunately not uncommon (surpassing the usual 1-2 hour delays).

However I 100% agree with Mel_Traveller. If you're doing this regularly - go direct and don't mess around. Tack on a pre or post trip in Syd to beef up the SC if this is the direction you want to go.

But you do need a clear strategy on what kind of cash you're willing to blow before embarking on a 'how do i maximize qantas status credits' question.