Status run or not is the question.

[markir]

Hi all,
New to posting. Plan to fly in June to Europe MEL-AMS-BRIS or is MEL-LON-AMS-LON-BRIS better
Need 340SC to reach gold. Or use points for upgrade from FLEX to BUS. Offcourse travel in the pointy end is nice maybe I might get some sleep.
Or use pay plus points? Of what I've read so far you guys have a lot more experience than I have.
Is flying to Europe via USA another idea or stupid? Thanks, markir

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

MEL - DXB - LHR, can fly QF metal and QF flight number or EK metal QF flight number, both earn full QF FF points and QF SC.
Flying MH or CX will earn less. EK metal with QF flight number gives you on board showers in F.
EK LHR - AMS might not carry a QF flight number so for this sector maybe BA is better.
Avoid BA via SYD as you earn least QF FF points and QF SC.
Best to fly out of Au and back into same city.
One way international fares with QF can be more expensive than a return.
Need to fly with J at least 170 QF SC one way to get 340 for return, $$$.

 

[Quickstatus]

Pay + points (P+P) is never worth it. I think 100K points is worth about $600-$700 using that method.

Two advantages of transiting via USA to get to Europe:

1)Massive luggage allowance when USA is a transit point. J = essentially 100 kg (3 pieces of 33kg). Last time we transpac to LAX we had 2U, 1J, 2P and that meant 430kg checked luggage allowance (We had about 300kg, and WP get 4x 33kg)!!. We needed a Chevy Suburban.

2) Very cheap SC for domestic USA flights. 1 SC for about $1-10. Usually about $5. USA is a very good place to SR.

There is the other option of an One world Explorer Fare (RTW)

https://rtw.oneworld.com/rtw/
try MEL-SYD-LAX//LAX-DEN-JFK//JFK-LHR//LHR-AMS//AMS-HEL-HKG-MEL

// = stopover

U=business class award
J= business class paid
P=first class award

 

[mviy]

What are the benefits of Gold status that you intend to use till the end of your following membership year? You need to weigh up whether they are worth the cost of the status run to you.

So if you intend to have a holiday in Europe compare the cost of the route you would take if not caring about earning status against the cost of doing it with the status run and see if the difference is worth it to you.

 

[RichardMEL]

Hi all,
New to posting. Plan to fly in June to Europe MEL-AMS-BRIS or is MEL-LON-AMS-LON-BRIS better
Need 340SC to reach gold. Or use points for upgrade from FLEX to BUS. Offcourse travel in the pointy end is nice maybe I might get some sleep.
Or use pay plus points? Of what I've read so far you guys have a lot more experience than I have.
Is flying to Europe via USA another idea or stupid? Thanks, markir

My thoughts:

- as a QF Silver (since you say you need 340 to make Gold, which suggests you are on 360 currently, ie Silver) then chances to get an upgrade on QF metal from MEL/SYD to LHR (or even DXB) are not great, though you may get into Premium Economy possibly. It all depends on the particular flights.

It may be cheaper to look at something like an Finnair (AY) mixed or business class (if you can afford it) fare, offering a QF flight to say HKG/SIN/BKK then AY to/from Europe. If done in J, that can net you a load of Status Credits (SC's), but even a mixed class fare could get you close to 340. Last I looked they had a sale of sorts, and while maybe not the most direct option to someplace like AMS, it can work, and the A350 flying out of BKK and HKG (SIN later in the year) is a nice option. It could well be possible to earn ~600 SC's on a J ticket (I say this since I'm flying a one way out of europe next month and should, in theory, earn 300 SC for that flight alone - BUD-HEL-HKG-MEL(HKG-MEL QF flight number/metal). So if budget allows this may be an option.

As earlier pointed out, the benefits of Gold - is it something you intend to benefit from in your next membership year? Certainly worth it above Silver for the lounge access, priority, baggage extras and the like, but if one does not project much travel on QF or its partners, the effort may not be worth it - something to consider.

Good luck with your choices and enjoy your time in Europe!

 

[markir]

Thanks for all the advice. I haven't booked yet. But now with the double SC on offer means that MEL-DBX-AMS return 280 SC in FLEX cost over 3k would get me 560 SC? Plus I fly from LTS-MEL but always separate from the international trip.
And I intent to fly more often. That shiny gold got its attractions. A RTW is to expensive looking over 5k. I only need 310SC before Sep.

 

[mviy]

Double SC definitely changes the equation a bit. This good an offer rarely comes up.

 

[RichardMEL]

Thanks for all the advice. I haven't booked yet. But now with the double SC on offer means that MEL-DBX-AMS return 280 SC in FLEX cost over 3k would get me 560 SC? Plus I fly from LTS-MEL but always separate from the international trip.

I presume you mean DXB (Dubai) and LST (Launy) above?

please note that DXB-AMS on EK (even with a QF flight number will *NOT* earn DSC under the promo) and if your MEL-DXB is on EK and not QF9 metal, that flight too will not earn under the DSC promo - you need to take that into account with your calculations.

And I intent to fly more often. That shiny gold got its attractions. A RTW is to expensive looking over 5k. I only need 310SC before Sep.

If you intend to fly more often then Gold could be a real advantage as it is a huge step up from Silver in terms of benefits and it's probably worth chasing - you could get 310 SC fairly easily with the current DSC promo with, for example, a return MEL-OOL in J for around $1350, or there are cheaper but more convoluted but cheaper options out there and it may be worth looking at.

 

[markir]

I presume you mean DXB (Dubai) and LST (Launy) above?
YES

please note that DXB-AMS on EK (even with a QF flight number will *NOT* earn DSC under the promo) and if your MEL-DXB is on EK and not QF9 metal, that flight too will not earn under the DSC promo - you need to take that into account with your calculations.
If that is the case change to MEL-LON That is QF all the way and go by train one option or with BA.


If you intend to fly more often then Gold could be a real advantage as it is a huge step up from Silver in terms of benefits and it's probably worth chasing - you could get 310 SC fairly easily with the current DSC promo with, for example, a return MEL-OOL in J for around $1350, or there are cheaper but more convoluted but cheaper options out there and it may be worth looking at.

Where is OOL? I will have a look at it. Interesting.

 

[eminere]

Where is OOL? I will have a look at it. Interesting.

OOL = Gold Coast

 

[markir]

Thanks for the advice

 

[wandering_fred]

Pay + points (P+P) is never worth it. I think 100K points is worth about $600-$700 using that method.
...

That may be true with premium cabins but you need to consider the economy sale fares.
In my case SYD-AKL was 18K points plus $$ as a classic award. P&P was 15K points using the same $$

And you still get the SC and points when you fly.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[medhead]

Pay + points (P+P) is never worth it. I think 100K points is worth about $600-$700 using that method.

Never say never! One example below. Even better value to be had with other routing options on economy sale fares. And points plus pay earns.

That may be true with premium cabins but you need to consider the economy sale fares.
In my case SYD-AKL was 18K points plus $$ as a classic award. P&P was 15K points using the same $$

And you still get the SC and points when you fly.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[juddles]

..... note that DXB-AMS on EK (even with a QF flight number will *NOT* earn DSC under the promo).....

markir, please confirm you understood RichardMel's warning here? I think this condition for the double status points will trip a lot of people up, and it is not Qantas fault - they make it very clear

 

[markir]

Thanks l'm a were of DSC if I travel on a code share flight. I will not get the DSC