2 weeks to make gold status

[Drnrg]

I am currently 6383 points away from gold with my elite status about to expire on 30th of June. What's the quickest way or shortest/cheapest run to earn 6k points?
I was thinking about signing up-to the Westpac card and making a purchase which would net me 10k points in one hit, I don't know if that will get me the elite miles though.

Also, because I'm so close SQ has offered me an extra 50% points on SQ flights in B, E, H, K, L ,M, S, U, W, Y classes as well.

Do virgin australia flights accrue krisflyer miles as well?

 

[markis10]

Do virgin australia flights accrue krisflyer miles as well?

Yes, VA earn but it might be easier to go to SIN!

 

[joeymelb]

I was thinking about signing up-to the Westpac card and making a purchase which would net me 10k points in one hit, I don't know if that will get me the elite miles though.

No, points from CC do not count into Elite miles, hence no status.

Your option is to get a cheap SQ fare to SIN/BKK/HKG (Wherever is the cheapest in the correct booking class) for a short weekend getaway.

Edit: Don't discount fellow Star Alliance Partner like TG... if you can get last minute cheap Y or J (I think it is about $3.6K return at the moment).

 

[Jack_OC]

Yes, VA earn but it might be easier to go to SIN!

View attachment 16437

Not sure where the OP is based, but SYD-PER-SYD with VA, flying full fare business in one direction and discount business in the other would net the required number of KF miles. It would cost about $2.5k though. Also worth looking at discount J fares with VA from east coast to PER with a stopover, e.g. MEL-PER via SYD or BNE.

EDIT: I meant to add that if it was me, I'd seriously question whether a status run is even worth considering in this situation, as this is going to cost you a lot. Is KF Gold really worth this much to you? What do you get out of it? Presumably you don't even use it for VA lounge access, since you didn't know if VA flights accrued KF miles. But even if you did want VA lounge access, you could just pay for it - it would cost you much less than this status run.

 

[Drnrg]

I fly SQ a lot, it's more for priority baggage and to a lesser extent lounge access, however if I'm not going to make it this year then I might just switch programs (already silver on QF so might crank that up a notch), I'm based in Sydney but fly right throughout Asia quite a bit in economy class (usually once or more per month, typically to Singapore, India (various), Bangkok, sometimes HK/China), however for $2.5k I'd rather 'slum' it in Changi/other airports, the star alliance lounges I've been to are really not that nice anyway

thoughts? maybe i should just fly VA and pay for access until I make it!

 

[markis10]

Not sure where the OP is based, but SYD-PER-SYD with VA, flying full fare business in one direction and discount business in the other would net the required number of KF miles. It would cost about $2.5k though. Also worth looking at discount J fares with VA from east coast to PER with a stopover, e.g. MEL-PER via SYD or BNE.

EDIT: I meant to add that if it was me, I'd seriously question whether a status run is even worth considering in this situation, as this is going to cost you a lot. Is KF Gold really worth this much to you? What do you get out of it? Presumably you don't even use it for VA lounge access, since you didn't know if VA flights accrued KF miles. But even if you did want VA lounge access, you could just pay for it - it would cost you much less than this status run.

It will cost a lot using your suggestion, given the Op can achieve more miles for less cost gabbing a Y fare to SIN for a weekend away, a W class day flight tomorrow returning on a day flight Sunday is $1200. The OP might want to have a look at Agean as their Gold level is a lot easier to attain.

 

[Jack_OC]

It will cost a lot using your suggestion, given the Op can achieve more miles for less cost gabbing a Y fare to SIN for a weekend away, a W class day flight tomorrow returning on a day flight Sunday is $1200. The OP might want to have a look at Agean as their Gold level is a lot easier to attain.

Yeah I know the VA option costs more, and if the OP actually wants to/is able to go for a weekend away in SIN, that would probably be the best option. However, landing at 17.40 on Saturday evening and then having to be back at the airport for 5am on Sunday morning is really not a weekend away. In fact, spending 16 hours in Y in the space of 30 hours sounds like the weekend from hell to me! And when you factor in the cost of meals/hotel it's still going to cost $1400+. The VA option could at least be done in relative comfort, with no need to leave the airport in PER, hence no accommodation or meals expenses.

Seriously though, I wouldn't do either of these trips just for status. Each to their own though obviously.

I agree that if the OP just wants *A status, Aegean is the way to go. The downside is it will not get you any benefits when flying with VA, but sounds like that may not be too important in this case.

 

[markis10]

Yeah I know the VA option costs more, and if the OP actually wants to/is able to go for a weekend away in SIN, that would probably be the best option. However, landing at 17.40 on Saturday evening and then having to be back at the airport for 5am on Sunday morning is really not a weekend away. In fact, spending 16 hours in Y in the space of 30 hours sounds like the weekend from hell to me! And when you factor in the cost of meals/hotel it's still going to cost $1400+. The VA option could at least be done in relative comfort, with no need to leave the airport in PER, hence no accommodation or meals expenses.

Seriously though, I wouldn't do either of these trips just for status. Each to their own though obviously.

I agree that if the OP just wants *A status, Aegean is the way to go. The downside is it will not get you any benefits when flying with VA, but sounds like that may not be too important in this case.

The OP wants gold status, not a weekend away, and my suggestion would only cost $1280 in total using the transit hotel, offset by duty free savings. Given the OP would be Gold on landing, breakfast in the lounge is cheap and easy

 

[Jack_OC]

The OP wants gold status, not a weekend away, and my suggestion would only cost $1280 in total using the transit hotel, offset by duty free savings. Given the OP would be Gold on landing, breakfast in the lounge is cheap and easy

I was just responding to your comment that the OP could get "a weekend away" in SIN for this price.

Anyway, for future reference Drnrg, if you travel to Asia about once a month on SQ in Y, you may well be able to increase your KF earn rate without any additional travel and minimal expense. The cheapest "Super Deal" Y fare earns only 10% KF miles, while the "Sweet Deal" earns 50% and Flexi Saver earns 100%. On random dates next month from SYD-SIN, the difference in price is just $50 one way between each of those levels - in other words the cheapest fare gets you something like 390 miles one way, but for an extra $100 you can earn 3,900 miles.

I'm assuming you're currently not being booked into Flexi Saver fares, as if you were, you'd get enough miles for Gold within a few months based on the travel you described earlier. I realise your employer probably won't pay for the Flexi Saver fares, but could you pay the extra yourself? Upgrading from Super Deal to Flexi Saver on one SYD-SIN return would net you over 7,200 extra miles, for as little as $200 and no inconvenience. Or if you're being booked into Sweet Deal fares, upgrading to Flexi Saver on two SYD-SIN returns would earn 7,800 extra miles for the same price.

Too late for this year I know, but worth bearing in mind next year.

PS: I think, but I'm not sure (so don't take this as tax advice!), that if you contribute your own funds to the cost of work related travel, then whatever you pay is tax deductible.

 

[Drnrg]

thanks Jack3193 that's a very useful post, I don't actually get to book travel myself via sq website (we are forced to use a specific agent) I will ask them in future if it's possible to get flexi fares instead (and seems as though it would be worth the points alone even if i paid for it), already re-qualified for silver this year so if i don't get to fly again I may take another crack at it. I did manage to get enough KF points this year to get a taxes-only one way from paris-sydney which is pleasing