Status run from Melbourne to take advantage of double SC promo

[adamj]

Hi There,

first time poster but I have been reading posts for quite some time. I am currently a Gold and have been getting very close over the past couple of years to hitting WP but just miss out each time. My cycle period resets on Nov 30 each year and I generally take an even amount of flights all year long. I usually take 4 to 8 international flights per year and 40 to 60 domestics. My flights are generally booked as economy, with points used for intl Bus class upgrades or straight points flights. I currently have a decent balance of points and I accumulate them pretty quickly so i'm in a position to burn 100k+ with a minor dent to the account. To me the perks you get from FF levels are generally more important than the points themselves so I'm thinking the current promotion is a good way to ensure that I hit Platinum by the end of my current cycle. I am currently 800 short of Plat with 200sc worth of domestic flights in the next 3 weeks(inc dbl status). I am sure to have another 200+ domestic SC's prior to November 30 so im thinking in light of the current promotion I should be looking for something that's going to get me around 200SC's (400 after double status). I probably wont need all 400 but i'm happy to play it safe and achieve the WP earlier......

Sorry for the paragraph of background info but I thought if I put it out there now I could avoid people having to ask questions.

Any ideas about best way EX Mel to get these status points will be greatly appreciated.

cheers
Adam

 

[markis10]

Welcome, I take it you have researched this thread?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....gram/best-status-run-options-quick-35258.html

 

[adamj]

Hi Markis10, I have scrolled through several of the status run threads and they are certainly very informative. The problem I am having at the moment is trying to find specific flights during the time period of the promotion that would make good value JASA's. Advice on specific days, dates, times over the next month or so is what im looking for as opposed to just routing of the JASA's. I figured there would be several experts on here who know the system inside out and would be able to reccomend my best options. I have done several searches through the Qantas website but what I am finding does not seem to be good value at the moment. Again any specific advice or info on my best options would be great.

 

[DC3]

As markis10 says, including the CBR-SYD-HBA and HBA-SYD-CBR JASA run which is there somewhere.

First get yourself to CBR. Then do the JASA run from there, using your points. It nets 100SC each way, or 200SC with the double SC offer. Total 400SC using as little as 32,000 points + $137 (may be a few more $).



Edit: Some have done this same day. However, depending on flight availability, you may need to stay in Hobart overnight.

 

[markis10]

There are plenty of options available, what days are you free, how long do you want to be away as well, eg: 340 SC before the double

 

[ajca]

If you can stretch to 120,000 points then I would look for Business Class Any Seat Awards (also known as JASAs) on QF127/128 - the A380 flights from Sydney to Hong Kong and back.

You can book the JASA ex-Melbourne for the same number of points - 60,000 each way - and earn an extra 40 status credits each way (80 each way with double SC promo). Plus about $700 in taxes.

All up would net you 80 status credits for the MEL-SYD flights plus 240 status credits for the SYD-HKG flights, so 320 status credits in total. Or 640 status credits with the double SC promo.

For me this is far better value than the domestic JASAs because:
- Flying on the A380 is way more fun than flying on a coughpy old 737
- The A380 / international business class experience is about 1000x better than domestic
- You get to spend some time in a fascinating city like Hong Kong (but could also do Singapore)
- You don't end up in Townsville

The downside is that it can be hard to find JASA availability at classic award levels. But it is possible - I found one last week for late June without much trouble. PM me if you want any more info.

 

[Awesom Andy]

It depends on how crazy you want to go...
With some overnights, 3 different bookings, and a phone call or 2 to the Qantas call centre, it is possible to do MEL-SYD-ASP-SYD-BNE-TSV-BNE-DRW-BNE-TSV-BNE-SYD-MEL for 1,440 SCs during the DSC promotion at a cost of 144,000 points plus approx $750 in taxes/fuel fines (plus your choice of accommodation).

Or you could be dull and just do a same-day MEL-SYD-ASP return for 48,000 points and ~$250 in a day, gaining 480 SCs after the DSC.

 

[adamj]

Thanks for all your help guys. After punching many options into the Qantas website for the last hour and reading more in other threads I found that the Mel-Syd-Asp that Andy suggested worked well for me timing wise and seemed to be very economical. Just booked: JASA: MEL - SYD - ASP / ASP - SYD - MEL on 26th/27th May for 48,000 + $260. after the 8,000 earn and the loyalty bonus from the booking i figured I have ended up doing pretty well for 480 SC.

Now i just need to decide if I want to take the other half with me on this mission. I can get her an economy ASA on the same flights for 30,000 and $150.......

 

[Whitnass]

Hi everyone I actually posted this in another thread but it appears to be inactive

I'm new to the site and am wanting some advice on how to take advantage of the double SC promotion on Qantas. I have 450 SC and my year ends on 31 May. I have 80K points and want some advice on what routing to do on my status run to maximise my points, $ etc. It will be ex MEL. I have a USA trip booked for 25th May which will earn my 90SC to LAX but would ideally like to hit gold before then so I can use lounge etc. I'm looking at doing this all in 1 day either this weekend or next.Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

Thanks

 

[Ansett]

Hi Witnass

here is a run that will get you well over the line

Try Mel-Alice via SYd should net you 480 SC at a cost of arounf $375.00 and 48000 points and can be done in one day Check out Saturday 18 may but hurry

Good luck and enjoy

 

[Awesom Andy]

With a DSC, you only really need half of the MEL-xSYD-ASP run plus a QF/JQ cheapie positioning flight to get to your target of 700SC. So if you don't want to spend so much points, you can take a red-e MEL-ASP non-stop, and then do the JASA ASP-xSYD-MEL. Might be a bit easier on availability.

 

[Whitnass]

With a DSC, you only really need half of the MEL-xSYD-ASP run plus a QF/JQ cheapie positioning flight to get to your target of 700SC. So if you don't want to spend so much points, you can take a red-e MEL-ASP non-stop, and then do the JASA ASP-xSYD-MEL. Might be a bit easier on availability.

I just saw this now as I bookedMEL-ASP (Y) ASP-SYD-MEL (J) for this Sunday for 68,000 points, no $. I could've paid for some but I know I will accumulate about 100K in the next 3 months so chewing through the points doesn't really bother me. Will be having a glass of champage on the way home celebrating Gold!