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

 

[Aussie_flyer]

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

Zeroed out might mean its fully booked.

 

[defurax]

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

Was looking for a good status run out of HKG (as I won't be able to do one out of BKK) and managed to find a decent HKG-KUL-CMB-KUL-HKG on CX/UL in J which nets 320SC's at just under NZD$1200 which is NZD$3.75/SC. Pretty good value out of HKG. Even better in AUD.

Thanks for posting! I just booked one of these for April 2017.
If others are interested, the Fare Rules are ISP3MHK6, refundable (HKD900 cancellation fee) and must be issued in Hong Kong SAR on UL stock. I booked through expedia.hk

 

[keybo]

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

Recently finished 2 back-to-back ex-YVR runs. 16 flights all up. Service was surprisingly ok for the most part, and on my last 3 segments they were downright incredible. Had one particular FA on a CLT-DFW flight and she would have to be the greatest FA I've ever come across, made sure to put in a good note for her. But yes, some very indifferent service as well, think I counted four flights in particular where I didn't see them at all beyond meal/snack service. PDBs on 10/16 flights, not too bad I guess. Priority boarding always worked well without exception (Qantas could learn from them). Hard product is slightly depressing, though on 3 flights got the refurbed aircraft with BSI interiors and IFE and they were much more bearable.

Naively thought weather-related delays wouldn't be an issue in summer, but two particular chokepoints were PHX ("too hot") and MIA (thunderstorms). Couple of very close calls, but ended up not missing any flights due to them. At PHX they had to deplane all pax and ask for volunteers for the next flight to free up weight (something about weight/heat not satisfying safe performance numbers), US$300 voucher if you took up on it, I couldn't as I needed to get to YVR for my second run in time. The one pickle I did end up in was at MIA, had an I-D connection so had to pass immigration. Had just under 1.5hrs so figured it'll be a breeze and I would even have time for a shower at the AC. Ended up getting a big X on my APC receipt so had to join the overflowing immigration line, looks like there are a number of carribean/central american flights all arriving in the late morning and ended up taking exactly 1.5hrs to get though, comfortably missing my flight. There's a rebooking area right after the immigration section, but before the x-rays (I'm guessing this happens often?), though unfortunately no F seats on one segment so ended up rerouting instead of getting back to YVR 24 hours later than originally planned. Meant losing 40 SCs, but had enough of a buffer for that not to be an issue.

Panama is a nice enough city, I also decided to visit Columbia and Costa Rica while at it (on Copa) so it wasn't a pure SC run. Overall a fun 2 weeks, I would do it again if I was low on SCs in the future.

 

[JessicaTam]

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

Recently finished 2 back-to-back ex-YVR runs. 16 flights all up. Service was surprisingly ok for the most part, and on my last 3 segments they were downright incredible. Had one particular FA on a CLT-DFW flight and she would have to be the greatest FA I've ever come across, made sure to put in a good note for her. But yes, some very indifferent service as well, think I counted four flights in particular where I didn't see them at all beyond meal/snack service. PDBs on 10/16 flights, not too bad I guess. Priority boarding always worked well without exception (Qantas could learn from them). Hard product is slightly depressing, though on 3 flights got the refurbed aircraft with BSI interiors and IFE and they were much more bearable.

Naively thought weather-related delays wouldn't be an issue in summer, but two particular chokepoints were PHX ("too hot") and MIA (thunderstorms). Couple of very close calls, but ended up not missing any flights due to them. At PHX they had to deplane all pax and ask for volunteers for the next flight to free up weight (something about weight/heat not satisfying safe performance numbers), US$300 voucher if you took up on it, I couldn't as I needed to get to YVR for my second run in time. The one pickle I did end up in was at MIA, had an I-D connection so had to pass immigration. Had just under 1.5hrs so figured it'll be a breeze and I would even have time for a shower at the AC. Ended up getting a big X on my APC receipt so had to join the overflowing immigration line, looks like there are a number of carribean/central american flights all arriving in the late morning and ended up taking exactly 1.5hrs to get though, comfortably missing my flight. There's a rebooking area right after the immigration section, but before the x-rays (I'm guessing this happens often?), though unfortunately no F seats on one segment so ended up rerouting instead of getting back to YVR 24 hours later than originally planned. Meant losing 40 SCs, but had enough of a buffer for that not to be an issue.

Panama is a nice enough city, I also decided to visit Columbia and Costa Rica while at it (on Copa) so it wasn't a pure SC run. Overall a fun 2 weeks, I would do it again if I was low on SCs in the future.

If you have a copy of your BPs you can put in a request for ORC (original routing credits) with QF. I missed the MIA-PHL leg of my MIA-PHL-BOS flights and was put on a MIA-BOS flight. QF credited me the difference.

Oh, in MIA, instead of going to the (busy) rebooking counter just before transit security, head out landside and go to the AA J/F checkin counter. Much quicker, and then go through the priority security screening.

 

[Flashback]

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

If you have a copy of your BPs you can put in a request for ORC (original routing credits) with QF. I missed the MIA-PHL leg of my MIA-PHL-BOS flights and was put on a MIA-BOS flight. QF credited me the difference.

Oh, in MIA, instead of going to the (busy) rebooking counter just before transit security, head out landside and go to the AA J/F checkin counter. Much quicker, and then go through the priority security screening.

QF is much better than BA in this regard - with BA, if it's on AA stock more often than not you won't be able to get ORC. If it's on BA stock then you have a better chance.

 

[njba]

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

The worst day in the entire year: when the SCs reset back to zero...so back to watching this thread with an eagle eye.

 

[Moindardt]

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

QF is much better than BA in this regard - with BA, if it's on AA stock more often than not you won't be able to get ORC. If it's on BA stock then you have a better chance.

Had it happen twice for me, once for daughter and helped a couple of other people out with them. Never been a problem if you follow the right procedures (eg Always keep a copy of your boarding passes).

AA, like any carrier, has some good and bad FA's. As for breakfast, I don't think I have ever liked breakfast except on EY Apartments.

We have had a lot of cancelled flights in the last 18 months and AA have been excellent. Try finding a flight with 6J seats when all flights keep getting cancelled due to snow storm. We had a cancelled flight JFK-LHR in January was just before the storms closed NYC and the board was full of red. They first moved us to a BA 747 because they could rearrange all the seats so we could sit together (this occurred while we were flying SFO-JFK and found out when we landed). I asked for a 777 as we were already doing a 747 on the way back and it didn't matter if we were spread out. So she cancelled a few people J upgrades (sorry people).

I have only been downgraded once and that was because there was only 1 flight that could get us there that night but they still moved people around to get us 2 seats together.

Given I can fly 10x further on AA F with 10x SC than I can with QF for the same $$$, I think they are pretty good.

 

[marks]

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

Hi All,

I'm going to do a run from BKK. The issue is the QF flight from Sydney gets in at 16:40 and the MH flight for the run is at 18:40. Do I have enough time to transit? I was hoping to leave a bag in storage for the trip then get on the MH flight. How much time do you think I need to do this transfer?

Thanks.

 

[Flashback]

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

Hi All,

I'm going to do a run from BKK. The issue is the QF flight from Sydney gets in at 16:40 and the MH flight for the run is at 18:40. Do I have enough time to transit? I was hoping to leave a bag in storage for the trip then get on the MH flight. How much time do you think I need to do this transfer?

Thanks.

Are you going HLO then leaving the bag in storage on arrival, or checking a bag to BKK, collecting and then taking to storage? If so, 2 hours will be tight as BKK can be cruel at times even with a fast track immigration pass.

 

[marks]

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

I'm trying to do this run as part of a longer trip. So HLO for the status run but I will need to collect my bag and get store it (not check it in). these flights are on separate tickets.

 

[risky]

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

Hi there,

It looks like I will be 55 SC short of attaining gold after my current flights are done (mid-Aug). My year ends 31-Oct. It seems a shame to be so close and not make an effort to get over the line, so any suggestions please? (Based in Sydney, day trips preferred, a weekend at a pinch).

I have not had a lot of luck trying to work out the best SC/$ options - even copying some of the itineraries in this list seems to require a fair bit of luck to find a good price. Jetstar would be OK, but then you add on the max bundle and it doesn't look so good...

 

[Dravid74]

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

A while ago (May) i had a trip to Cairns and because the double SC promo was ongoing at the time of booking I went for a slightly more expensive option to fly MEL-BNE-CNS, rather than MEL-CNS direct. Fine on the way out but on the return leg the flight got cancelled for some technical issue (can't remember what) and I was put on a later direct flight from CNS-MEL direct

Just realised that I ended up being credited double credits for a direct CNS-MEL rather than my original route and this is somewhat frustrating as i purposely booked a more expensive/inconvenient route purely because of the promo.

Apologies if this has been answered before but is there anyway to get this amended or am i stuck with this? its not a huge amount of missing credits but every little helps

 

[Jacques Vert]

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

Jetstar would be OK, but then you add on the max bundle and it doesn't look so good...

You only need to add a plus bundle to get the points/SC's (but at half the rate of SCs, of course).

 

[JohnK]

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

I'm going to do a run from BKK. The issue is the QF flight from Sydney gets in at 16:40 and the MH flight for the run is at 18:40. Do I have enough time to transit? I was hoping to leave a bag in storage for the trip then get on the MH flight. How much time do you think I need to do this transfer?

That is a little too tight unless everything is perfect.

At that time of day you could have 5-10 minute wait at immigration and at times I have waited 15-20 minutes for bags at carousel. Any delay on the inbound QF flight and you are in trouble.

Only you can decide if worth the risk.

 

[gizzard]

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

It looks like I will be 55 SC short of attaining gold ...

I haven't checked prices but you should check such routes as:

SYD-BNE-MKY in Y with a comfort seat one way (60 SC)
SYD-MEL/BNE-CNS Flex Y (50), return as you like for the extra 5 you need
SYD-MEL-LST Flex Y (40) + return

 

[mviy]

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

A while ago (May) i had a trip to Cairns and because the double SC promo was ongoing at the time of booking I went for a slightly more expensive option to fly MEL-BNE-CNS, rather than MEL-CNS direct.

I did that run a while back under the DSC promo as well. Very good value. Even without the DSC you'd still get a lot more SCs than flying direct for only a little more than going direct. I now have WP status for the first time.

Just realised that I ended up being credited double credits for a direct CNS-MEL rather than my original route and this is somewhat frustrating as i purposely booked a more expensive/inconvenient route purely because of the promo.

Apologies if this has been answered before but is there anyway to get this amended or am i stuck with this? its not a huge amount of missing credits but every little helps

Not sure how long is allowed for this, but you should ask QANTAS for Original Routing Credit. As the change was involuntary they should credit you the points and SCs you would have got if you flew the flights booked. Do you still have the boarding passes for both the original flights booked and the flight you ended up flying?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

That is a little too tight unless everything is perfect.

At that time of day you could have 5-10 minute wait at immigration and at times I have waited 15-20 minutes for bags at carousel. Any delay on the inbound QF flight and you are in trouble.

Only you can decide if worth the risk.

Agree. Also factor in time to look for the baggage storage facility and could be a real problem.

 

[hossein_au]

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

A while ago (May) i had a trip to Cairns and because the double SC promo was ongoing at the time of booking I went for a slightly more expensive option to fly MEL-BNE-CNS, rather than MEL-CNS direct. Fine on the way out but on the return leg the flight got cancelled for some technical issue (can't remember what) and I was put on a later direct flight from CNS-MEL direct

Just realised that I ended up being credited double credits for a direct CNS-MEL rather than my original route and this is somewhat frustrating as i purposely booked a more expensive/inconvenient route purely because of the promo.

Apologies if this has been answered before but is there anyway to get this amended or am i stuck with this? its not a huge amount of missing credits but every little helps

Why don't you contact Qantas and put in an "Original Routing Claim" to get the SCs for, you guessed it, the original routing you had booked.

 

[Dravid74]

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

I did that run a while back under the DSC promo as well. Very good value. Even without the DSC you'd still get a lot more SCs than flying direct for only a little more than going direct. I now have WP status for the first time.

Not sure how long is allowed for this, but you should ask QANTAS for Original Routing Credit. As the change was involuntary they should credit you the points and SCs you would have got if you flew the flights booked. Do you still have the boarding passes for both the original flights booked and the flight you ended up flying?

Thanks for the advice mviy and others.
Just called the frequent flyer team today and they appeared happy to sort it out no problems so fingers crossed it works

 

[localknowledge]

Re: Best Status Run Options - A quick overview! [not the discussion thread]

Have tinkered a little more and think I am about to book this for November:

YVR-PHX-SFO-LAX-CLT-MCO-MIA-PTY / PTY-MIA-CLT-MSP-DFW-YVR

Yes Princess all AA metal and no American Eagle. No lie flats though. 1 night turnaround in PTY
Connections are 2:36 in PHX, 4:00 in SFO, 2:18 in LAX, 5:17 in CLT, 1:23 in MCO, 1:27 in MIA, then 1:58 in MIA, 0:58 in CLT, 5:25 in MSP, and 1:02 in DFW. Best balance I can find, but can always claim original routing credit if delays.
760 SC's, prices at a little more - $886 Aud via AA.com.

Toyed around with CLT-DFW via PWM and PHL increases it to 800 SC for about Aud 900, but requires overnight in PWM.

Looks like a good run... was planning to do my 1st ever status run in Dec as I need to be in the US. I tried plugging your itinerary (and variations) into matrix ITA and only accepts six flight segments. Also YVR-PHX was in Y with stop over at SEA with the rest in F. Adding YVR-SEA as a sector allowed travel in F

So need to ask some novice questions... do you book such a solid status run in certain sectors or use other sites (AA seems limited to six segments also). Perhaps there is some guidance on this thread a couple of hundreds pages back that I could not find. I can find short sectors in Dec like MCO-DFW-ORD for $293 which sounds good to me but the ppl in the know on this site would probably know many better.

Good luck with this run and I hope to piece together a mighty run in Dec from effectively <100 SC to WP.. going to be some tough days!

Thanks.