Article: Is Qantas or Velocity Status Harder to Earn?

[justinbrett]

Yeah when I refer to status run it’s choosing a slightly more expensive fare or adding transits to get to where I already need to go. I haven’t have to fly for no reason for status yet.

Yup. “Status Runner” is a misnomer - it’s basically anybody that knows how to game the system.

Only difference between a true status run and someone who can optimise SC earn on a normal trip is usually the time spent away. Status runs tend to run the flights together within minimal accomodation requirements.

You can spend months on a DONE4 and have an amazing trip.

 

[Aeryn]

The concept of a pure status runner is a misnomer, who would fly just to get status when they don't have other travel planned to benefit from that status?

 

[MooTime]

The concept of a pure status runner is a misnomer, who would fly just to get status when they don't have other travel planned to benefit from that status?

I flew 18 sectors on VA one year and failed to hit the required status credits.
Flying mel-syd for many weeks in y.
Just before my anniversary I flew a totally pointless, daily return pure status run to get me to WP. So it benefitted me for the following years many flights in EcoX.
I was having a break inbetween my weekly regular flights SCs would drop off soon.

Anyway blah blah there can be a place for a pure status run collect.

 

[DejaBrew]

I honestly didn't read the "Status Runner" persona as being a "legit" persona (for want of a better way of putting it). Rather, I saw it as a persona that (arguably) reflected the cheapest possible way of earning status. It's simply one of the extreme ends of the comparison spectrum.

Whilst I'm sure there are some people out there who travel purely to earn status and nothing else, I'd say these are in the minority. Most people who incorporate the odd status run - and I'd put myself in this category - will mix that in with other normal/planned travel, or have other specific goals in mind for which the status is of benefit.

 

[Flyerwin]

some people out there who travel purely to earn status and nothing else

Would be rare - the only reason to have status is to have status when you travel - and be definition, you would be travelling anyway for other reasons.

 

[Aeryn]

Anyway blah blah there can be a place for a pure status run collect.

As a top up when you know you will benefit going forward sure, but that wasn't what i was talking about, even you did most of your flying in that example for purposes other than just to earn status.

IMO the costs to earn status on QF in the article are very much over stated.

 

[DejaBrew]

Imo the costs to earn status on QF in the article are very much over stated.

I'm guessing the quoted costs are high level averages rather than an indication of costs for buying the lowest fare bucket on a sale fare for every single itinerary. Those more clued up will find a way of lowering the costs.

If we were to assume the cost was $3.5/SC for great bang for buck fares, then from a starting point of zero SC, WP can be had for $4900. But good luck scoring that in any average year. I would agree with your earlier comments of $5500 certainly being a fair estimate for a good target cost for hitting or retaining WP (factoring in better/worse value fares over a given year).

 

[Flyingwombat]

I flew 18 sectors on VA one year and failed to hit the required status credits.
Flying mel-syd for many weeks in y.
Just before my anniversary I flew a totally pointless, daily return pure status run to get me to WP. So it benefitted me for the following years many flights in EcoX.
I was having a break inbetween my weekly regular flights SCs would drop off soon.

Anyway blah blah there can be a place for a pure status run collect.

I agree - slightly off topic but I've done status stays for Accor. I was 2 nights off platinum so we did 2 staycations in Hobart at Movenpick and Mantra to get the 2 nights. We had fun and also benefited hugely from the platinum benefits this year - loads of free breakfasts, late checkouts and upgrades so I am very happy to have spent less than $350 to get all that.

I would definitely do a day trip somewhere if I was just short of QF SCs.

My only other status run a while ago was a HBA to SYD work trip when I needed extra eligible sectors so I went via MEL both ways... my boss did notice but I just said the timings were better........

 

[RooFlyer]

Article in the on-line Oz this arvo - not sure if this one is paywalled or not

Clever or crazy? How I cracked the airline status game with one flight
Anthony Keane

You may think I was stupid for doing this, but hear me out.

Recently I jumped on a plane at 8pm, flew more than two hours to Brisbane, hung around in the international arrivals hall there for five hours, then flew back – arriving home by 8am.

No, I don’t have a weird fetish for spending the very early hours of the morning on an airport chair surrounded by international travellers and their crying babies.

But I do have – perhaps disturbingly – a thirst for chasing airline rewards, including status credits.

...

So, back to this crazy Brisbane trip. After almost two decades of trying to reach coveted gold status I was tantalising close.

I would have been that close well before the annual deadline if not for a family emergency that meant flights booked earlier in the year had to be cancelled.

I couldn’t let the chance to hit gold escape me. My deadline was looming, so using some frequent flyer points and a few dollars, I booked the return Brisbane flight knowing I would never leave the airport.

 

[DejaBrew]

Article in the on-line Oz this arvo - not sure if this one is paywalled or not

Clever or crazy? How I cracked the airline status game with one flight
Anthony Keane

This will help some folk peer over the wall....

http://archive.today/idZQD

 

[RooFlyer]

This will help some folk peer over the wall....

http://archive.today/idZQD

If its worth it