QF Status Credits vs Travel and Transit times

[Sdtravel]

Im trying to plan a trip next year and want some advise if im really making a bad judgement call or not for a trip planned for August 2016

Current plan
QF1 Syd to LHR in business continuing onto BA578 LHR to VCE in economy with 1h 40 layover in DXB & 2h layover in LHR.
Make own may to Paris
AA45 CDG to JFK in business
QF12 JFK to SYD in Business
All up that would put me at 700 SC's. Sliding into Gold with no other trips planned.

However there is an alternative for the first legs
QF8419 (on emirates metal) SYD to DXB via Bangkok in business. There is no QF codeshare on that route. Then continue to EK135 DXB to VCE in business.
It would be 1h 30 layover in Bangkok & 4h in DXB. I would leave 3 hours later in SYD with these flights and arrive 2 hours later in VCE
Everything else would be the same.
That would bring it to 600 SC's. Obviously falling short of Gold.

I know the EK business is rated higher than QF business on A380's. However EK135 would be on a 777-300ER dont know where that sits in rankings.

There is a price difference as well with taking the later EK flights with less points being cheaper by about $400.
To put things in perspective if all in Economy the SCs are 360 vs 245 with a price difference about $1000

I generally travel domestically SYD to BNE for personal trips maybe 3 or so times a year. I might do 1 maybe 2 international trips a year. Nothing as big as the above. Maybe to the US and HKG all economy. Generally i try to preference QF on those and again are cheap as possible tickets.
Being so far in advance i have no idea how much i would fly after those flights or where i might go other than generally the above. I certainly wouldnt fly enough to requalify if i do make gold.

Am i holding QF status too high and is silly to chase after gold and being a fanboy to much? Should i just forgo the $100 SC's
If it was all economy would it all be simpler and clear cut?
Are the transit better on the first or the second? 28h with the first set, 27h with the second
What are peoples thoughts

 

[defurax]

J on EK777 is inferior to MKII seat on QF in my opinion. Though with the MKII "drooping" problem it's sometimes more a 185 degree than 180 degree flat bed!:shock:

 

[Flying mermaid]

hmm - difficult one. I would prefer the first route, as it seems less transit time. On the other hand 2 hours in LHR could be really tight if QF1 is delayed and then you would have to go to Gatwick to get the next one to VCE which is a bit painful. (I did it in April and Qantas provided a car to get to Gatwick, but I don't know if that is standard). I wouldn't stress too much about whether you should get the status credits - only you can decide whether it is of value to you or not and if I interpret your post correctly you are paying $400 for 100 SC which seems quite cheap. However I would look at it based on which route you would enjoy the most and which has potential for problems.

 

[Mattg]

I would definitely stick with your original plan!

I don't know many that would prefer J on the EK 777 over a QF A380. And as you say, there'll be more SCs with the first option.

 

[coriander]

I'm also looking at a business trip to Europe next year in J.

I noted MEL-LHR on QF1 earns 280SC.

But, following the AFF mantra "why fly direct...." I see on the QFF booking page MEL-SIN-DXB-LHR (QF35-QF8355-QF1 A330/A380/A380) which works out to 320 SC, I think, if you get full SC on a QF flight number on EK metal and was similar price as QF1.

Follow-up question for the wise ones here: if I booked the second option, can I still throw 60,000 points at QF for a J->F upgrade and would I get an upgrade on the SIN-DXB flight (QF flight number on EK metal)?

 

[Steady]

would I get an upgrade on the SIN-DXB flight (QF flight number on EK metal)?

No unfortunately - point upgrades are only available on QF flight number and QF metal

 

[coriander]

No unfortunately - point upgrades are only available on QF flight number and QF metal

Thanks for quick reply, Steady.... might be a waste of points given that MEL - SIN has no P, and SIN - DXB isn't upgradeable.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for quick reply, Steady.... might be a waste of points given that MEL - SIN has no P, and SIN - DXB isn't upgradeable.

You could still request an upgrade on DXB-LHR on QF. So not entirely a waste.

 

[coriander]

You could still request an upgrade on DXB-LHR on QF. So not entirely a waste.

Aaargh, dumb me! I just realised / noticed that I can earn the same 320SC by going MEL-SYD-LHR (QFd / QF1) all on QF metal and A380 with possible points upgrade to F (instead of 320SC on MEL-SIN-DXB-LHR, with SIN-DXB on EK metal). I still have os much to learn !