Best way to earn 200 SC before Nov 30?

[WillWillSee]

Hey folks -

I'm new here. Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I couldn't find an answer I could make sense of:

I'm currently sitting at 1,202 SC, meaning I've got 198 to go to hit Platinum. I've got 115,000 FF points, and a bunch of time to travel. I can go almost anywhere, with minimal date restrictions - but obviously would prefer to do it in a cost-smart way.
I couldn't figure out how to book JASA flights to go on a SC run, or if there are other ways? The famous JASA post seems outdated (( Now gone) "how do I book a J any seat award at classic award points level" thread.) or at least, I can't figure out how to find a good flight if I'm wide open to options.

Again, sorry if this is a pain or the wrong place - feel free to correct me if I'm doing this wrong!

Thanks in advance!
-W

 

[wandering_fred]

Where are you based? Are you happy with a weekend away with overnight or two, or just a there and back? Do Jetstar flights offend you?

SriLankan or Malaysian from SIN/KUL/ to CMB in J return is 160 SC. (BKK 120) .. Add an award to get these and paid Y back. Others have mentioned connecting OOL/CNS to HBA in various combinations.

Happy wandering
Fred

 

[WillWillSee]

Where are you based? Are you happy with a weekend away with overnight or two, or just a there and back? Do Jetstar flights offend you?

SriLankan or Malaysian from SIN/KUL/ to CMB in J return is 160 SC. (BKK 120) .. Add an award to get these and paid Y back. Others have mentioned connecting OOL/CNS to HBA in various combinations.

Happy wandering
Fred

Hi Fred - thanks for the reply!

Derp - of course I should've said where I'm based! I'm based in Melbourne, and yeah I'm happy with pretty much anything. My time is very flexible. I would prefer not to give Jetstar my money, but will if it gets me the SC.

What do you mean by 'add an award and paid Y back'? I'm new to really working the system so I apologise for not getting the lingo yet.

Thanks again - it's much appreciated!
-W

 

[mviy]

JASAs are long gone.

For getting it all in one day MEL-BNE-CNS return in J offers good value (it is a long day, but you do save by not needing to get any accommodation).

MEL-SYD-OOL return in J is a good option too, but only earns 160SC so you'd have to find 40SC from other flights.

Flying to NZ also offers good value. You could check to see if you can get good value on flying to a NZ city via SYD. QF flies to Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, I think.

If you could've planned ahead a bit more you could have used the Double Status Credits offer from March which would have made it a lot cheaper to do on QF (you would have only needed 99 standard credits then which is much easier to get again).

From mid-November QF will be renovating the domestic lounges, so you'll want WP if you want to be able to guest people in during peak hours of the day. If you needed any extra incentive than usual to go for WP, this should be it.

You'll be looking for routes flying indirect.

When you go to book e.g. MEL-CNS you'll see both direct and indirect options. Flying to CNS via BNE earns more than flying via SYD.

 

[WillWillSee]

Cheers mviy -

Yeah, I got this close thanks to the double status event. Maybe the next time I can take advantage again.

Thanks for the advice. I'd found CHC seems to be the cheapest of the airports in NZ, and Bali (DPS) not too bad either. But I was looking direct - I'll see what I can find indirect.

Thanks!
-W

JASAs are long gone.

For getting it all in one day MEL-BNE-CNS return in J offers good value (it is a long day, but you do save by not needing to get any accommodation).

MEL-SYD-OOL return in J is a good option too, but only earns 160SC so you'd have to find 40SC from other flights.

Flying to NZ also offers good value. You could check to see if you can get good value on flying to a NZ city via SYD. QF flies to Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, I think.

If you could've planned ahead a bit more you could have used the Double Status Credits offer from March which would have made it a lot cheaper to do on QF (you would have only needed 99 standard credits then which is much easier to get again).

From mid-November QF will be renovating the domestic lounges, so you'll want WP if you want to be able to guest people in during peak hours of the day. If you needed any extra incentive than usual to go for WP, this should be it.

You'll be looking for routes flying indirect.

When you go to book e.g. MEL-CNS you'll see both direct and indirect options. Flying to CNS via BNE earns more than flying via SYD.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

MEL - AKL (F with EK but ensure a QF flight number), 120.
AKL - BNE (J with EK but ensure a QF flight number), 80.
If you haven't tried the 787, you could use the LATAM AKL - SYD.
Wide windows and non herring bone seating in J, so great for views, and the turning angles/banking turns/veers, are great to see on 787.
BNE/SYD - MEL (whY/flexY/J with QF).
Have you tasted the EK lounge in MEL/F lounge in MEL?
Not cheap, but if you haven't tried the MEL EK/QFi F lounges, this is your chance.
AKL EK lounge is very good.
F is First class, J is business, and Y is economy.
EK is Emirates, and they don't fly SYD - AKL or vv anymore. But they still do SYD - CHC with a F class to boot!

 

[mviy]

If WillWillSee gets to WP, then WillWillSee will be able to access the Lounge every time flying QF, EK or OneWorld even in discount Y so long as WP status is retained.

Flying F to NZ can make sense sometimes, but this close to flying I don't think you'd get a sale fare price. Certainly you could compare the cost with other options.

 

[RichardMEL]

MEL - AKL (F with EK but ensure a QF flight number), 120.
AKL - BNE (J with EK but ensure a QF flight number), 80.
If you haven't tried the 787, you could use the LATAM AKL - SYD.
Wide windows and non herring bone seating in J, so great for views, and the turning angles/banking turns/veers, are great to see on 787.
BNE/SYD - MEL (whY/flexY/J with QF).
.....

Pooch how come it is you never seem to notice the part where they want to do it cost effectively?

If a sale came along I could see a MEL-SYD-AKL-MEL J type routing working (200SC) but the F's etc would be far more deal, even if it is fun.[/QUOTE]

 

[mviy]

It's a good idea to compare direct and indirect options. If the direct option suits you then great, but indirect options can be more cost effective.

 

[WillWillSee]

You guys are all awesome. Thanks heaps for the ideas!

I've been checking heaps of options, and it seems like my most cost effective is QF J on MEL-SYD-DPS ($909 sale, 160 SC) and returning Y (about $400, give or take.) All the NZ routes I've looked at cost about 100 less, but don't complete the 200 SC total I need anyway.

Probably look into it one more time tomoz, but I think this is the answer.

Thanks again, y'all. Massively appreciate your inputs.

 

[WillWillSee]

Dammit all to hell... I just remembered there's volcano issues in Bali atm. Hnnggg....

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

1 F and 1 J will compute to the required 200.
QFi SYD F lounge is very good, upper level so good views, you have to overnight in SYD though, to get that EK flight SYD - CHC.
Otherwise QFi MEL F lounge is quite good too, but the slight downside MEL - AKL in F is that because the windows of the 380 have more space between the outside glass or persplex and the innside one, harder to look out.
MEL - SYD flexY for 20, SYD - AKL with LATAM in J for 80, and then back again, for 80, then flexY back to MEL, will give you 200 too.
QFi SYD J lounge is ok, but no comparison to F lounges, or EK lounges.
My wow factor was the LATAM flight going from SYD - AKL, the turn over SYD suburbs was surperb, and then the turn before Manukau.
Must admit, all my suggestions are overseas to NZ, but I find less problematic entering NZ than Asia.
No visa needed as an Aussie, and also can use Smartgate for all exit and entry to both Au and NZ.
What ever you end up doing, book ASAP and do the trip ASAP.
Ok, will leave to the planning and the flying now.

 

[CaptJCool]

Here's a purely domestic option

Avalon to Adelaide JQ $39 each way. $78 repositioning so don't need to earn credits but looks like an extra $40 each way would( or could burn points ?)
Overnight Adel....

Adel via Melb to Gold Coast return (Business) 200 status credits. $1610 make sure you choose Mel as sydney is only 80....

The Denpasar option would be sweet too

Adel - Bris - NZ would get you past 200 too Hob Syd - NZ too but these are going to be over $2,000 return

 

[WillWillSee]

Just an update: I ended up going J to DPS (MEL-SYD-DPS) for 160 SC and flying back Y direct for 40. 200 SC and total cost was about $1250 - flying Nov 12-16.
Fingers crossed I don't have a volcano issue... but my other options were several hundred more, so I figured what the hell... we'll see what happens.

Thanks again for everyone who chimed in. Definitely gave me a lot to look at - your help was appreciated!