Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

[support]

This thread is for Questions and General discussion regarding the Best Status Run Options for QFF as per this thread:

Overview of Best Status Run Options [not the discussion thread]

Please keep your questions and queries to this thread and avoid posting in the other.

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You can also get some status run inspiration from this AFF article:

The Best Qantas Frequent Flyer Status Runs

Haven't earned enough status credits in your Qantas membership year? Here is a selection of the best Qantas Frequent Flyer status runs.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[JessicaTam]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

So, I've gone ahead and booked a PTY run to make the last hurdle to WP with one night in PTY.

For those seasoned PTY travellers, what should I be worried about when coming back into MIA? I understand some customs officers may think I'm a drug runner or similar due to the odd nature of the travel.

If asked, just say you are doing a 'mileage run'. If they don't understand, start explaining the benefits of flying multiple sectors to a destination over a single flight. Throw in terms like EQMs and SCs and their eyes will soon glaze over and you will be waved through.

 

[snabbu]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

So, I've gone ahead and booked a PTY run to make the last hurdle to WP with one night in PTY.

For those seasoned PTY travellers, what should I be worried about when coming back into MIA? I understand some customs officers may think I'm a drug runner or similar due to the odd nature of the travel.

The only thing to worry about is your connection time in MIA as it can be horrendous at certain times of day on some days.

My last turn was the first time I've been subjected to extra scrutiny by the CBP @ MIA or anywhere in LOTFAP. Upon arriving back into MIA I was asked why I went to PTY and explained the mileage run logic. Received a strange look from the officer and was sent to secondary screening. Took a walk off to the right and down the stairs into secondary and stood in line waiting to be searched. Called over to the next CBP agent, bags scanned, asked to sit them up on a bench. He started going through my stuff and asked me what I was doing in Panama. I gave him the same explanation as the previous agent, again trying to put mileage runs into perspective. He had no idea and clearly didn't believe me, the questions became more direct.

He then asked me how long I was there, in an increasingly stern voice. I replied I hadn't actually entered the country, I flew down and back on the same plane and spent a grand total of about an hour at the airport.

After that, he completely changed tact, stopped his search, told me to pack my stuff and be on my way.

 

[sostopher]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

The only thing to worry about is your connection time in MIA as it can be horrendous at certain times of day on some days.

My last turn was the first time I've been subjected to extra scrutiny by the CBP @ MIA or anywhere in LOTFAP. Upon arriving back into MIA I was asked why I went to PTY and explained the mileage run logic. Received a strange look from the officer and was sent to secondary screening. Took a walk off to the right and down the stairs into secondary and stood in line waiting to be searched. Called over to the next CBP agent, bags scanned, asked to sit them up on a bench. He started going through my stuff and asked me what I was doing in Panama. I gave him the same explanation as the previous agent, again trying to put mileage runs into perspective. He had no idea and clearly didn't believe me, the questions became more direct.

He then asked me how long I was there, in an increasingly stern voice. I replied I hadn't actually entered the country, I flew down and back on the same plane and spent a grand total of about an hour at the airport.

After that, he completely changed tact, stopped his search, told me to pack my stuff and be on my way.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

I have 2.5 hours in MIA, so I'm hoping that will allow enough time to get through it all.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Personally i use the apc kiosk and basically waved straight through. But i dont do turnarounds. PTY has plenty to offer for a couple of days relaxing in a nice hotel with some nice restaurants around.

 

[Elwood]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Hi
First time posting so please be gentle....
My anniversary is coming up 30 Sep.
I've gone from Platinum last year to Gold this year, and will be short a few SC's to maintain Gold after a few trips I've got coming up before Sep.

Flying to KL in August - can anyone suggest a route that will max my SC's - I've got 300k points to play with.

Also, Can anyone PLEASE tell me how to avoid the limit of 2 segments per day when booking on line? I'd like to do a SYD - PER return (with a few stops in between) but get foiled by the limit of 2 segments in a day. Sorry to be stupid and I know there is obviously a work around (do you just book the segments individually?) but dont know what it is.
Many thanks for any help.

 

[ajm]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Hi all,

I'm looking at doing a status run ex BKK on MH. I was hoping to book their Business Promo fares. Can anyone confirm whether these will be eligible for QF SC's and if so at what rate?

Thanks!

 

[wandering_fred]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Hi all,
I'm looking at doing a status run ex BKK on MH. I was hoping to book their Business Promo fares. Can anyone confirm whether these will be eligible for QF SC's and if so at what rate?
Thanks!

Yes the Z class MH fares credit to the QFF program, subject to the various crediting rules contained in the QFF earnings pages. Totally within SEAsia credit "normally".

Happy wandering

Fred

MH earning page
https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/flying/airline-earning#mh

 

[serfty]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Hi
First time posting so please be gentle....
My anniversary is coming up 30 Sep.
I've gone from Platinum last year to Gold this year, and will be short a few SC's to maintain Gold after a few trips I've got coming up before Sep.

Flying to KL in August - can anyone suggest a route that will max my SC's - I've got 300k points to play with.

Also, Can anyone PLEASE tell me how to avoid the limit of 2 segments per day when booking on line? I'd like to do a SYD - PER return (with a few stops in between) but get foiled by the limit of 2 segments in a day. Sorry to be stupid and I know there is obviously a work around (do you just book the segments individually?) but dont know what it is.
Many thanks for any help.

Welcome to AFF.

How many SC's will you be short? From KL, some Jetstar Plus packs can generate a few for not much extra - as well as Z class on MH intra Asia can help somewhat (but not as much as two years ago).

You may like to use ITA matrix (http://matrix.itasoftware.com/) to research multi segment routes, although you might not get the same fares for your PER queries as on QF.com.

Booking single segments may not be the best way to go either.

 

[Elwood]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Thanks for the quick reply serfty

Can I just check: does everyone have the same issues with the qantas site chucking you out and saying this route not available?

And if booking single segments is not the best way to go, can you give me a hint what is? I've been trying for ages tonight to book a status run on qantas website and it just won't let me book more than 2 segments in a day and throws me out when I try to do a one way eg. SYD - BNE - TSV
'I'm sure i'll get the hang of this but right now, it's pretty frustrating....
and I just want to keep my goooooolllldddd status.....

 

[CaviAck]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Thanks for the quick reply serfty

Can I just check: does everyone have the same issues with the qantas site chucking you out and saying this route not available?

And if booking single segments is not the best way to go, can you give me a hint what is? I've been trying for ages tonight to book a status run on qantas website and it just won't let me book more than 2 segments in a day and throws me out when I try to do a one way eg. SYD - BNE - TSV
'I'm sure i'll get the hang of this but right now, it's pretty frustrating....
and I just want to keep my goooooolllldddd status.....

The trick to getting around the 2 segments in a day is by inserting city pairs that will force a connection, so in your example to fly from SYD to TSV you only need to insert SYD and TSV as your city pairs and QF will automatically return SYD-BNE-TSV options as there are no direct SYD-TSV options on QF. The other option was to put the following segments as the day after, use the flexible day search option and then move the day back to the right one when given the date selection page. Although I'm not sure if this still works or not.

 

[snabbu]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Hi all,

I'm looking at doing a status run ex BKK on MH. I was hoping to book their Business Promo fares. Can anyone confirm whether these will be eligible for QF SC's and if so at what rate?

Thanks!

To work out what SC you will earn for a flight you can use the points and SC calculator found on the QF website.

https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/do/dyns/initialPointsEarned

 

[Elwood]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Thanks for that CaviAck. Much appreciated.

 

[RichardMEL]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

For those trans tasman premium cabin fans there's a current sale both ex-AU in J class for around $650 one way, and ex-NZ in both J (NZD$599) and F (NZD$899) (F on Ek codeshare) to east coast cities. Generous travel window ex-NZ of July 3-April 2017 and that sale ends June 24th, 2016. The ex-AU sale ends on June 20th.

So 200 QF SC's could be had for around $1450ish (J ex-AU, F ex-AKL). Let's say about $7.25/SC in nice cabins is reasonable value for this part of the world for those that enjoy a few hours of OTT pampering (but maybe not the Dom 2006 )

 

[cdinoz]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Need 60sc's to retain WP end June 2016.

Can do SYD-AKL-BNE-SYD for about $750 in whY ....maybe swap some points in there to drop the spend down a smidge.

Is that about the best cost / SC earn at the moment?

Any better ones anyone can find?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Take one comfort seat (I have done it, you do get your own SC and that of your "friend" too) from SYD - CHC, and then J back. See if you can finish work or other responsibilities on a Fri a bit earlier, to make it get the last JC flight from SYD - CHC, and then EK metal QF flight number in J on the Sun back to SYD.
While a lot on here do not agree with P+P (not a good use of points), its good to get the SC needed.
The Manaia Club at CHC while not as good as SYD F lounge isn't that bad.
Also the int and dom terminals are together so you could fly internal NZ with JQ to get a bit more SC.
Seeing that 30 Jun is not that far away, you do need to get it "moving" or book and fly ASAP.
I am aiming for EK metal QF flight number F SYD - CHC in Jul, coming back with JC, will be about 750, giving me the 600 to retain SG, and also to build towards my LTS.

 

[Awesom Andy]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Need 60sc's to retain WP end June 2016.

Can do SYD-AKL-BNE-SYD for about $750 in whY ....maybe swap some points in there to drop the spend down a smidge.

Is that about the best cost / SC earn at the moment?

Any better ones anyone can find?

Best bet in this case is to find a connecting flight somewhere, with one leg being red-e and the other being flex. e.g. SYD-xBNE-TSV $589 same-day return. Other destinations can work as well, but I'm currently in Malaysia with a dodgy internet connection.

 

[gizzard]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Need 60sc's to retain WP end June 2016.
Any better ones anyone can find?

Best bet in this case is to find a connecting flight somewhere, with one leg being red-e and the other being flex. e.g. SYD-xBNE-TSV $589 same-day return.

SYD-xMEL-LST return, one-way in Flex Y the other discount would get 60 SC for around $505.

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Has anyone had any luck finding a worthwhile stAAtus run from New York (or even another nearby port like PHL, BOS, DCA)? I can find some beauties out of the west coast in September this year when I need but I'm arriving into JFK and will be based around there. I've run dozens of combos from east coast ports but to no avail!

 

[serfty]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

NYC is a (relatively) expensive origin/destination.

Try ex PHL (via amtrak) or even some Florida destinations.

You need to really get your "ITA Matrix"/"Google Flights"-fu going on this one.

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

re: Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

Thanks Serfty - yes it is ITA matrix I've been using but without really knowing where to start it's been slow going trying combinations manually. Will soldier on!