3 airlines, 3 alliances, 4 airports, 4 countries in one day

[JohnK]

Someone tell me I am crazy. Am I dreaming? Is it worth the risk?

I have 3:30 hours with the first connection and 2 hours with the second connection....

 

[Bundy Bear]

Will need a bit more detail to consider if you are crazy.

I have done Jetstar connecting to Aeropelican connecting to Qantaslink with only 1hr 20 and 1 hr.

 

[Mal]

Asia somewhere?

Can't see that being possible ex-Australia.

It would be good fun, but a little risky. Would need more data about the airlines and cities involved to assess.

 

[coolumbla]

ok you're crazy
do it anyway

 

[JohnK]

Asia somewhere?

Can't see that being possible ex-Australia.

Yes it is SE Asia and all short haul flights.

It would be good fun, but a little risky. Would need more data about the airlines and cities involved to assess.

Can't give away too much information but the 3 carriers are very reputable. I can say that I have managed to find a status run outside of the US for ~AUD1.80/SC based on todays exchange rate and credit card commission. I could have done much better but I do not have that much time and need everything to fit into place. I think it has more to do with being in the right place at the right time rather than something that is readily available.

Will send you the details if I have the guts to book it in the next few days. Too good to be true and gives me the 400SCs I will need for Platinum at the same price as a LAN SYD-AKL return. I may just even book it today and worry about the risk later....

 

[NM]

As usual, the risk is that if a flight is late, do you have a contingency plan? Its quite common for reputable airlines to suffer delays of several hours due to all sort of circumstances beyond their immediate control.

One benefit you have is that the typhoon season is pretty much over in S.E. Asia now - though the Philippines was hit last Friday/Saturday delaying flights in the region. Doing such a run in S.E. Asia during typhoon season is always risky business.

 

[JohnK]

Should be OK with typhoons in SE Asia around New Year's.

As usual, the risk is that if a flight is late, do you have a contingency plan? Its quite common for reputable airlines to suffer delays of several hours due to all sort of circumstances beyond their immediate control.

The contingency plan is to dump the first status run (and hopefully continue with the second status run the next day) unless the airline offers me a seat on an another carrier.

If I go ahead with the booking it will be on 3 PNR's and I will let each of the airlines know the following flights and carriers. Does not guarantee anything but at least if they are aware I have a connection they may do a little more to help in case of delays....

 

[dajop]

Do it! Those who get ahead in this world don't sit back and play it safe. If you have the means to cope with issues from misconnects why not?

One proviso: trip report compulsory.

 

[MAX_1]

Brisbane drinks next Tuesday will be interesting to hear all about this first hand.
JohnK, you have almost tempted me to cancel my 5 days of golf in Melbourne next week to be at The Mill Hotel on Tuesday.

Btw, playing in Melbourne at Riversdale,Huntingdale,Sanctuary Lakes, Portsea,The Dunes and Riversdale(second time).
At night, heading to Crown Casino.
Mrs Max, tells me my golfing friends are a bad influence on me.(lol)

 

[munitalP]

...Sanctuary Lakes...

My home club... watch out on the 9th, don't try and drive the green, wedge on with a 58 with lots of spin!

Also, tiger snakes in abundance - watch out in the rough!!


Mr!

 

[MAX_1]

My home club... watch out on the 9th, don't try and drive the green, wedge on with a 58 with lots of spin!

Also, tiger snakes in abundance - watch out in the rough!!


Mr!

Thanks for the tip. Will be playing there on Thursday 12th.

 

[medhead]

This is an intriguing question.

Sounds like your planning to do the run on two consecutive days. Is the 400SC the total earnt for both days? Even still with 3 airlines and 3 alliances the most you could be flying within Oneworld is 2 flights over 2 days? 2 flights that earn 400 SC?

Looks like I got a long night ahead, trying to work this out. Thanks for the challenge

 

[JohnK]

Sounds like your planning to do the run on two consecutive days. Is the 400SC the total earnt for both days? Even still with 3 airlines and 3 alliances the most you could be flying within Oneworld is 2 flights over 2 days? 2 flights that earn 400 SC?

Here is some background information. With no paid overseas Oneworld travel this membership year I was going to be ~520 SCs short of Platinum. How do I do it? Do I even bother? Wait until April and if QF comp Platinum then OK otherwise decide then. I didn't want to spend too much money and I don't have the necessary leave to go to the USA for some YUPs/KUPs. Now I am going to Thailand on an SQ award December/January and I don't enjoy (way too much alcohol which almost hurt me badly last trip) being there during New Year's. Which is how this challenge started.

I have one status run booked already which will yield 240 SCs at a cost of ~AUD900. I booked this about 4 weeks ago before I found this little gem. By the way this little gem will yield 400 SCs and cost ~AUD740. If I had found this little gem earlier I would not have booked the original status run but booked 3 of these little gems. Overall the 640 SCs are going to cost ~AUD2090 including business class positioning flights on the 3rd Alliance although I have not factored in costs of ~AUD150 for 3 nights accommodation or costs for travel to/from airport. I will not need to purchase any food.

Looks like I got a long night ahead, trying to work this out. Thanks for the challenge

It is relatively simple. Apart from the status run already booked there are a total of 11 flights over 3 days. This thread covers the first day with the 3 airlines, 3 alliances, 4 countries and 4 airports. Overall there is one award flight on *Alliance, 2 positioning flights on Skyteam and 8 Oneworld flights yielding 400 SCs. I have also not counted the SYD-SIN award flight the day before.

The positioning flights could have been Air Asia economy for ~AUD250 or Skyteam economy for ~AUD250 or Skyteam business class for ~AUD450. The choice was simple taking into consideration I would have checked luggage, golf clubs and carry-on trying to avoid excess baggage on SQ award flight.

Am I giving away too much information? So I will be in SIN heading for BKK. That covers 1 flight and 2 countries/airports. All will be revealed, soon....

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have one status run booked already which will yield 240 SCs at a cost of ~AUD900. I booked this about 4 weeks ago before I found this little gem. By the way this little gem will yield 400 SCs and cost ~AUD740. If I had found this little gem earlier I would not have booked the original status run but booked 3 of these little gems. Overall the 640 SCs are going to cost ~AUD2090 including business class positioning flights on the 3rd Alliance although I have not factored in costs of ~AUD150 for 3 nights accommodation or costs for travel to/from airport. I will not need to purchase any food.

11 flights over 3 days. Overall there is one award flight on *Alliance, 2 positioning flights on Skyteam and 8 Oneworld flights yielding 400 SCs. I have also not counted the SYD-SIN award flight the day before.

The positioning flights could have been Air Asia economy for ~AUD250 or Skyteam economy for ~AUD250 or Skyteam business class for ~AUD450. The choice was simple taking into consideration I would have checked luggage, golf clubs and carry-on trying to avoid excess baggage on SQ award flight.

Am I giving away too much information? So I will be in SIN heading for BKK. That covers 1 flight and 2 countries/airports. All will be revealed, soon....

we all look forward to your next missive JohnK

cheers SPRUCE

 

[oz_mark]

Hmm, Interesting. With Air Asia involved could be Malaysia as one of the countries.

 

[Mal]

I've spent a few hours this morning trying to analyse possible routes -and have given up

Can't find anything anywhere near AUD1.80/SC in asia - the best I came up with is around the $4 mark.

Then again, I havn't assessed every city/airline combination/booking source , so there may be hidden fares that I havn't seen.

 

[JohnK]

I've spent a few hours this morning trying to analyse possible routes -and have given up

It only took me a couple of hours to find it and you are much better than me at finding these status runs.

Can't find anything anywhere near AUD1.80/SC in asia - the best I came up with is around the $4 mark.

Which was the shock I got when I found it. I was extremely happy with finding a status run for ~AUD3.75/SC in SE Asia again after the AY tag flights disappeared a few years ago. I am almost tempted not to reveal my find but I am too nice a bloke to keep it all to myself. Now where is serfty this weekend? I am sure he would have a good guess at what I found.

Then again, I havn't assessed every city/airline combination/booking source , so there may be hidden fares that I havn't seen.

I am getting PMs from people asking me for the details of the status run. Here are more clues.

So I am starting in SIN in the morning and going to BKK with SQ (*Alliance) on an award ticket. Then I am off on the positioning flight with a Skyteam airline and finally a Oneworld flight in the evening to begin the status run. I am not going anywhere near KUL. In fact the country of the next airport does not border Thailand.

This could be the find of the century, ala Finnair. Ahh those good old days. Am I mean for not sharing?

 

[mvjs]

So I am starting in SIN in the morning and going to BKK with SQ (*Alliance) on an award ticket. Then I am off on the positioning flight with a Skyteam airline and finally a Oneworld flight in the evening to begin the status run. I am not going anywhere near KUL. In fact the country of the next airport does not border Thailand.

This could be the find of the century, ala Finnair. Ahh those good old days. Am I mean for not sharing?

BKK-TPE on KLM (Skyteam).

Then taking advantage of Cathay J fares ex.TPE. Anywhere from A$350 return to CGK to over $550 to DPS. Each return flight nets 240 SCs.

If I didn't get it, this is an excellent opportunity too.

 

[drewbles]

This could be the find of the century, ala Finnair. Ahh those good old days. Am I mean for not sharing?

Yes, you are You could at least share with those of us who PM you

That said, with the price of flights to the USA at the moment, the YUP/KUP runs are still viable for me, but hey, if I can do requal runs closer to home I'd be up for it (and get to see different places too).

Cmon, share the love

 

[Bundy Bear]

Yes, you are You could at least share with those of us who PM you

That said, with the price of flights to the USA at the moment, the YUP/KUP runs are still viable for me, but hey, if I can do requal runs closer to home I'd be up for it (and get to see different places too).

Cmon, share the love

Ah so I wasn't the only one to send JohnK a PM.

No love shared my way either;

I will be able to get the answer on Wednesday night, unless it is posted earlier.