Fairfax (SMH/Age) article on status runs

[DavidFlynn]

Status run is a simple concept and can be quite fun... Now I am married with a wonderful wife and daughter but don't plan on stopping my passion for flying. I can just imagine when my daughter is 3-4 years old and taking her on a SYD-MEL-LST day trip for father and daughter bonding. She'll love it.
DavidFlynn, I don't mind if you want to use some of my experiences for your article but I am not comfortable with my real name in print in public.

Thanks JohnK, I both appreciate and understand that... and how fantastic that you can share this part-time with your daughter and get her travelling from a young age, that's got to be the start of a wonderful set of life experience for her

 

[NZflygirl]

Frequent flyers going to extreme lengths to hang on to their air miles | Stuff.co.nz

Here's an article that came out in NZ. As you can tell by the comments I don't think it really went down too well with the general public but I suspect yours would be written better.

I remember when I first read about status runs I went out to my +1 in the kitchen laughing that people flew somewhere and turned around and came back without seeing the place - just for the points/sc!! Flabbergasted me!

Obviously as you read through a few more flying forums you realise it's fairly common place within this world and the reasons why.

I support what you are trying to do and think it would be a quirky piece of info for the general public to read about and may actually help some people. I would volunteer but I've never done a status run (to date) and also would not be comfortable about my real name being used in public despite the fact I don't even live in Australia! Digital footprints and all.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Frequent flyers going to extreme lengths to hang on to their air miles | Stuff.co.nz

Thanks, I recall that one when it came out and am taking a very different tack... too easy to do a "Look at what the status-obsessed nutters do!" piece, and there's no reader service in that.

My aim is not for people to engineer a massive week-long status run via CMB to catapult them from zero to Gold-plated hero, but rather to help them consider some strategies for topping up their account to retain current status when falling short, or bridging a gap from one tier to another (typically useless Silver to Gold, or Gold to Platinum).

Obviously as you read through a few more flying forums you realise it's fairly common place within this world and the reasons why.

Oh, I've been plugged into this scene for years now and definitely get it, many of my friends from a Facebook frequent flyer group (no, not that one, this is a closed group capped at 500 members and a nice little community it is too) plot out amazing status runs which sometimes seem more about the flying and lounging than the opportunity to visit another city/country... and I've done a few of my own runs from time to time, too.

 

[serfty]

It's even better when you have a TA (for the more difficult to book itineraries) who comprehends status runs (even undertaking their own).

 

[flychrisfly]

Happened to have a trip to Europe pending when Qantas's last double status credit offer came out. I took advantage of that and threw in a couple of Gold Coast J runs (one up, run to the beach, jump in the water, run back to the airport to come home; and one "proper" day trip) and secured Platinum for the first time.

Happy to be published

 

[Happy Dude]

...snip...
My aim is not for people to engineer a massive week-long status run via CMB to catapult them from zero to Gold-plated hero, but rather to help them consider some strategies for topping up their account to retain current status when falling short, or bridging a gap from one tier to another (typically useless Silver to Gold, or Gold to Platinum).
...snip...

Just add these words to yours:
"Information on how to accomplish this can be found at www.australianfrequentflyer.com".

Article written. You're welcome.

Also, don't forget that, in addition to status runs, SC's can be garnered by creative genealogy - or downright lying about it, depending on your moral compass - or overspending at relatively expensive supermarkets.

 

[DavidFlynn]

The article which I raised here is finally up – and the timing is ironic, just after Qantas ended its 2SC promo!

Thanks to the AFFers who shared their thoughts on status runs, both here and via PM/email; and hopefully those with concerns about this article will, having read it, feel a tad more at ease about the treatment and better understand what I originally set out to do.

It's status, not points, that drives the world's most frequent flyers [nb heading and pics not mine]

 

[QF WP]

DavidFlynn, I see an error in the text under one of the photos...where it states "One way to maintain your Gold or Platinum status is to book strategic trips that boost your points."

It should read "...boost your status credits"

after all, as the story alludes, it's status and not points that drives us

 

[DavidFlynn]

Yep, but not really fixable at this stage.

 

[samh004]

Not a bad write-up.

I'm sure I saw another one somewhere else that was about someone flying on a specific route.

 

[Hvr]

It doesn't need to be a flight purely for the sake of flying, although some people who love flying a bit too much – let's be charitable and call them 'wingnuts' – are happy to spend all weekend up in the air.

Read more: It's status, not points, that drives the world's most frequent flyers
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The highlighted word has previously been used as a derogatory racist term towards Asian people, usually Vietnamese especially in the late 1970's and 1980s.

 

[OzEire]

The highlighted word has previously been used as a derogatory racist term towards Asian people, usually Vietnamese especially in the late 1970's and 1980s.

I have not heard this previously, thanks for the tip.

 

[DavidFlynn]

I must have gone to the wrong school or hung around the wrong people, then – have never heard it used in reference to any Asian race.

 

[amaroo]

Definitely around in 70's & 80's in QLD .... although haven't heard it used like that for many years.

A google search gives it the thumbs up in today's context.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingnut

 

[Happy Trails]

I've only ever heard it used in relation to people with big, sticky-out ears.

 

[NZflygirl]

The highlighted word has previously been used as a derogatory racist term towards Asian people, usually Vietnamese especially in the late 1970's and 1980s.

I didn't know that. I have heard it I think in a "peanuts" cartoon with snoopy and that bird.

 

[oz_mark]

The highlighted word has previously been used as a derogatory racist term towards Asian people, usually Vietnamese especially in the late 1970's and 1980s.

Was this a fairly localised usage of the term? I have never heard it used in that way. Any references to support this?

(People with big ears, people with extreme views, but even then I don't recall it being derogatory)

 

[Hvr]

Was this a fairly localised usage of the term? I have never heard it used in that way. Any references to support this?

(People with big ears, people with extreme views, but even then I don't recall it being derogatory)

I first heard it at an inner suburban (Melbourne) workplace in 1979 with a large number of people of Vietnamese descent.

 

[Guvner]

I first heard it at an inner suburban (Melbourne) workplace in 1979 with a large number of people of Vietnamese descent.

+1. It was commonly used in the 70's in Melbourne.

 

[amaroo]

Was this a fairly localised usage of the term? I have never heard it used in that way. Any references to support this?

(People with big ears, people with extreme views, but even then I don't recall it being derogatory)

Here you go.... just one of many, many meanings. As posted above - certainly used throughout QLD.