Discussion/Q&A on Best QF Status Run Options

[markis10]

Click HERE to view an article on this topic collaboratively compiled by our members using the (now retired) Wiki.

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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.

 

[themaiz]

A bit difficult to do a status run when even a cannonball run from NSW to QLD is off the table. "Please don't move along sir, nothing to not see here".

 

[Daver6]

These day just being able to get on a flight is considered a status run

 

[Seat0B]

These day just being able to get on a flight is considered a status run

Yep! I was thinking that there would be no issue making my 1 flight to retain WP by 31 March, but now I’m not so sure...

 

[themaiz]

Is that one flight for the full year, or are you truly one flight away from WP again?

 

[Seat0B]

Is that one flight for the full year, or are you truly one flight away from WP again?

That’s the current general special offer from Qantas to retain status (depending on your year end date) - so I literally need to just take a single flight by end of membership year on 31 March to retain. I though it was super easy when it was announced back in late Nov/early Dec, but the way borders are slamming shut, I’m not so sure now.

 

[Seat0B]

Here’s the link Program news | Qantas Frequent Flyer - it was announced on 23 November.

 

[Jacques Vert]

That’s the current general special offer from Qantas to retain status (depending on your year end date) - so I literally need to just take a single flight by end of membership year on 31 March to retain.

Wasn't that "book" a flight before the end of your status year and fly by end of December?

'eligible members facing expiry in 2021 simply need to book a Qantas-operated flight between now and their current tier expiry date, for travel until the end of 2021.'

 

[themaiz]

Here’s the link Program news | Qantas Frequent Flyer - it was announced on 23 November.

I remember why I passed that over. The key phrase is

have a status end date between 31 March 2021 and 31 December 2021 (inclusive);

and my status end date is 28 Feb. Apparently my status year perfectly overlaps an inability to travel, but isn't included. However I flew twice in December. So... call to the helpline tomorrow?

 

[oz_mark]

I remember why I passed that over. The key phrase is

and my status end date is 28 Feb. Apparently my status year perfectly overlaps an inability to travel, but isn't included. However I flew twice in December. So... call to the helpline tomorrow?

ANyone with a status end date of 28 Feb 21, will have their status extended to 28 Feb 22. This was part of the very first announcement. Should already show in some places, such as the card in the app.

Scroll down to Status Extension. Status Support | Qantas Frequent Flyer

 

[Port Power]

These day just being able to get on a flight is considered a status run

Yep! I was thinking that there would be no issue making my 1 flight to retain WP by 31 March, but now I’m not so sure...

Last month’s PER-MEL-LST, HBA-MEL was booked using my credit voucher from a cancelled DSC booking. And yes, I did receive double SC on all those legs. (The last flight home was a classic reward.) From March 1st I might be chasing a good status run if proposed overseas trips are once more cancelled. To think that not long ago 500SC would have been so easy to earn! I don’t want to give up WP yet.

 

[Seat0B]

Wasn't that "book" a flight before the end of your status year and fly by end of December?

'eligible members facing expiry in 2021 simply need to book a Qantas-operated flight between now and their current tier expiry date, for travel until the end of 2021.'

thanks @Jacques Vert - so many changes I am finding it hard to keep them all straight in my head. i think I was focused on the ability to transfer a portion of the SC from the booking to next membership year if it was flown before membership end on 31 march. Or maybe I am just losing the plot totally

 

[themaiz]

ANyone with a status end date of 28 Feb 21, will have their status extended to 28 Feb 22. This was part of the very first announcement. Should already show in some places, such as the card in the app.

Scroll down to Status Extension. Status Support | Qantas Frequent Flyer

And there it is in the app! Thanks for that. Feeling much more like a WP now.

Interestingly, Mrs TheMaiz, after giving me a lot of stick for using household money to status run and revenue-upgrade myself across the line into LTG and WP in 2019, has been highly praiseworthy of the benefits and attention this year. So a good investment. Now I just need a WP-worthy status run in 2021, but I suspect I'm - what's a good technical term? - stuffed.

 

[Hoatzin]

And there it is in the app! Thanks for that. Feeling much more like a WP now.

Interestingly, Mrs TheMaiz, after giving me a lot of stick for using household money to status run and revenue-upgrade myself across the line into LTG and WP in 2019, has been highly praiseworthy of the benefits and attention this year. So a good investment. Now I just need a WP-worthy status run in 2021, but I suspect I'm - what's a good technical term? - stuffed.

Well you're already half way there with the 600SC bonus. Also it's not been relatively easy to accumulate an extra 100 through spend this year, more with some difficulty. That leaves 500. You'll get there

 

[themaiz]

Well you're already half way there with the 600SC bonus.

Another interesting point. I haven't seen that. Was wondering if it was going to happen, or if I'm just extended.

 

[ausfox]

I had sufficient bookings to return to WP but have dropped to SG instead as all were cancelled.

 

[sudoer]

Malaysia Airlines Appears To Survive (Yet Again)

Malaysia Airlines, the flag carrier of the country, appears to survive yet another restructuring.

loyaltylobby.com

The old DPS-LGK run may live to see another day? Could definitely go for some Nasi Lemak in the MH F lounge right about now

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Made a pleasant discovery when planning a BNE-TSV trip as part of my race to 100 (and as a Points Club member, where I can earn status on reward flights).

BNE-TSV is a bit longer than 600 miles, so you need a higher number of points to book it versus a short flight (making it the same cost as BNE-MEL rather than the lower points cost of BNE-SYD etc). However, on the earning front, it's less than 750 miles and so any status you'd earn would mirror the shortest flights.

However, for the same number of points as BNE-TSV, you can instead book BNE-CNS-TSV. Not only is there a second flight on which to earn extra status credits (7 in economy only, on CNS-TSV), but BNE-CNS is marginally longer than BNE-TSV, so earns status credits at the next level up, all without costing any more points.

TLDR: BNE-CNS-TSV costs the same number of points to book as BNE-TSV direct, but if you book business (which ends up being BNE-CNS J, CNS-TSV Y), you wind up with twice as many status credits as a Points Club member.

 

[sudoer]

Made a pleasant discovery when planning a BNE-TSV trip as part of my race to 100 (and as a Points Club member, where I can earn status on reward flights).

BNE-TSV is a bit longer than 600 miles, so you need a higher number of points to book it versus a short flight (making it the same cost as BNE-MEL rather than the lower points cost of BNE-SYD etc). However, on the earning front, it's less than 750 miles and so any status you'd earn would mirror the shortest flights.

There are definitely some sweeter spots for award SC earning because of the misaligned award pricing tables vs status earn tables. This table might be of use:



As you've discovered a multi-city itinerary is the best way to reduce your points per SC cost, because the pricing is based on total miles, but the SC are credited per leg.

The multi-city booking tool hasn't worked for me for many months, but I'd love to try stringing together 4 or 5 flights in the 0-600 or 751-1200 ranges to verify this can actually be done and potentially bring down the cost to below 400 points per SC.

 

[aikman]

I had thought about the possibility of earning lots of SCs this way but there were too many restrictions in the end.
1. Taxes per flight sector are not insignificant.
2. A domestic 'one-way' itinerary is limited to departures within 1 calendar day.
3. The website will only let you search for 2 'flights' per calendar day. Assuming you can get a connection to show up for each of the 2 'flights' then that's only a maximum of 4 sectors.

 

[Hoatzin]

There are definitely some sweeter spots for award SC earning because of the misaligned award pricing tables vs status earn tables. This table might be of use:

View attachment 239111

As you've discovered a multi-city itinerary is the best way to reduce your points per SC cost, because the pricing is based on total miles, but the SC are credited per leg.

The multi-city booking tool hasn't worked for me for many months, but I'd love to try stringing together 4 or 5 flights in the 0-600 or 751-1200 ranges to verify this can actually be done and potentially bring down the cost to below 400 points per SC.

Nice Graph Sudoer! I only wish we were in a position to enjoy an MH sale fare version

LST-MEL-CBR-SYD-LST GETS 383.33 @ 1156mi

Getting a tight CBR-SYD connection can be problematic as current schedules dont have many 717s on that route after the earliest possible flight from MEL arrives but it is doable on some days.