QF SG or Upgrade?

[Craigie]

Hey all,
I have spent many an hour on this wonderful fountain of resources that is the AFF community and have put some ideas together for what will probably be my only shot at attaining QF Gold.

Here's how it started.
I found the QFF program when i first visited the US 4 years ago and since then i got a linked credit card and put everything i could on the card to rack the points up. Not things i didn't need, but just everything that i could including other peoples bills/flights/etc that they didn't mind me paying for. Then i've lived in a house where the rent was paid for by my credit card. As a result of all this, i've accumulated some points.

My dream was always to fly QF business long haul, that may not sound like a big deal to some on here, but for the average punter(me) its pretty big on my list of things to do. So with my knowledge of the QFF program thanks to AFF i booked a JASA from SYD-FRA in May. I was chuffed, because that will knock me over to silver as a consequence. But as most here would attest to, the next status level is always a goal. So it comes to my idea

Here's what i have to do. Get 380SC's to get SG. Get to Bali on Sat 30th and return to sydney by May 10th for my flight to Germany.

My idea:
YASA - SYD-BNE-TSV Friday 29th April (35SC) ($108.35) (12,000 points)
JASA - TSV-BNE-DRW 30th April (140SC) ($93.35) (24,000 points)
Jetstar - DRW-DPS 30th April ($219)
Jetstar - DPS-DRW 7th May ($158)
JASA - DRW-BNE-TSV 8th May (140SC) ($93.35) (24,000 points)
JASA - TSV-BNE 9th May (60SC) ($73.63) (24,000 points)
YASA - BNE-SYD 9th May (10SC) ($38.14) (8,000 points)

It would cost me $783.82 and 92,000 points to do it that way and get 385SC. What i haven't added is the cost of staying in Darwin for a nite and townsville for 2.. that'll add a couple of hundred unless people know of cheapies?

It would cost me $807 just to go direct SYD-DPS return.

I've got about 100K worth of points to play with.

I'm flying LHR-SYD to get home from europe on an upgradable Disc Y ticket on the A380. So its either all of the above SC run or its an upgrade request to try get a J or PE seat on the 380 from london as soon as the upgrade requests open..

Thoughts, feedback, talk of how crazy i am is welcome


tl;dr - Lots of points. QF Gold or upgrade request to J on A380.

 

[ozmille]

I have tried the Upgrade Lottery numerous times and have never been lucky so personally I don't try anymore and hope for an Op-Up.
As a SG you get access to the J Class lounge when travelling intrenational on QF or OW and the Q-pub when travelling QF domestically so I (personally) would go for the SG. It has been my trusted travel companion for years now

 

[markis10]

Here's what i have to do. Get 380SC's to get SG. Get to Bali on Sat 30th and return to sydney by May 10th for my flight to Germany.

My idea:
YASA - SYD-BNE-TSV Friday 29th April (35SC) ($108.35) (12,000 points)
JASA - TSV-BNE-DRW 30th April (140SC) ($93.35) (24,000 points)
Jetstar - DRW-DPS 30th April ($219)
Jetstar - DPS-DRW 7th May ($158)
JASA - DRW-BNE-TSV 8th May (140SC) ($93.35) (24,000 points)
JASA - TSV-BNE 9th May (60SC) ($73.63) (24,000 points)
YASA - BNE-SYD 9th May (10SC) ($38.14) (8,000 points)
.

Would recommend looking at TSV-BNE_ADL as a JASA coming home for 24K + cash, for the positioning flights I would keep any eye out for a sale fare saving the points on SYD-TSV and ADL-SYD, that way you will get 50 more SCs for 20K less points + a little bit more cash.

 

[NM]

Have you also taken into account the additional points you will be earning on xASA awards? And the loyalty bonus points earned along the way?

Seems like reasonable value given you are going to Bali anyway and would otherwise be spending over $800 for that trip.

If the pre-Germany flights push you over Silver before your SYD-FRA JASA, you will be earning 25% status bonus on that trip too, so that may an additional 5000 points earned take that into account.

 

[medhead]

Yep the JASA TSV-BNE is a bit of a waste when a JASA TSV-BNE-SYD is the same point cost.

You'll be flat out getting a sale fare going to TSV as it is school holidays. So far the sale fares periods have been from 3 May onwards so a sale fare on getting back to sydney may be possible, if you go to ADL.

Also SYD-BNE-TSV only earns 25 SC in economy - 10 and 15 for each leg. JASA on this route will get 100 SC and the same going to ADL.

 

[markis10]

You'll be flat out getting a sale fare going to TSV as it is school holidays. So far the sale fares periods have been from 3 May onwards so a sale fare on getting back to sydney may be possible, if you go to ADL.

Also SYD-BNE-TSV only earns 25 SC in economy - 10 and 15 for each leg. JASA on this route will get 100 SC and the same going to ADL.

No TSV-BNE-SYD is not the same as ADL, the OP will earn 120 for the same points cost. Given its school holidays then I would go the YASA, but take the one via CNS for the same cost, 30SC.

 

[medhead]

No TSV-BNE-SYD is not the same as ADL, the OP will earn 120 for the same points cost. Given its school holidays then I would go the YASA, but take the one via CNS for the same cost, 30SC.

Oh yeah, oops. Bit limited when posting on the phone. Sorry.

Not that it really matters because the point is it will be better to extent the return JASA beyond BNE. Also even with the minus 10SC on the outward YASA they still get enough SC if they do the return JASA to SYD.

I assume that the YASA comment refers to the leg SYD to TSV?

 

[markis10]

Oh yeah, oops. Bit limited when posting on the phone. Sorry.

Not that it really matters because the point is it will be better to extent the return JASA beyond BNE. Also even with the minus 10SC on the outward YASA they still get enough SC if they do the return JASA to SYD.

I assume that the YASA comment refers to the leg SYD to TSV?

Dont know about you but I hate wasting points on JASAs that are not maximised, and the YASA comment is for the first leg.

 

[Craigie]

Given its school holidays then I would go the YASA, but take the one via CNS for the same cost, 30SC.

Sorry, just trying to keep up.. You're suggesting getting YASA to TSV via CNS to get there and flying home by JASA TSV-BNE-ADL, then get a cheap ADL-SYD home?

 

[markis10]

Sorry, just trying to keep up.. You're suggesting getting YASA to TSV via CNS to get there and flying home by JASA TSV-BNE-ADL, then get a cheap ADL-SYD home?

Yes, looking at the dates it made sense, I think the CNS option is a 10AM departure for 23K?

 

[docjames]

What time does DPS-DRW arrive into DRW? Would it make the connection to the SYD flight 9which leaves later iirc) absolving the need for a hotel room in DRW? And route DRW-SYD-BNE-TSV?

 

[Craigie]

What time does DPS-DRW arrive into DRW? Would it make the connection to the SYD flight 9which leaves later iirc) absolving the need for a hotel room in DRW? And route DRW-SYD-BNE-TSV?

It gets in at 22:35, so pretty late, altho i know darwin does have a few early morning flights. I just don't think there's a need or a good value way of routing DRW-SYD-BNE-TSV when my destination is SYD.. unless i'm missing something.....

 

[markis10]

It gets in at 22:35, so pretty late, altho i know darwin does have a few early morning flights. I just don't think there's a need or a good value way of routing DRW-SYD-BNE-TSV when my destination is SYD.. unless i'm missing something.....

Save yourself another $100+ dollars and get Jetstar to price beat air asia:

Jetstar's Price Beat Guarantee - Travel Services - Travel Information - Jetstar Airways

 

[Craigie]

Save yourself another $100+ dollars and get Jetstar to price beat air asia:

Jetstar's Price Beat Guarantee - Travel Services - Travel Information - Jetstar Airways

Wow thats awesome, thanks markis

 

[medhead]

Dont know about you but I hate wasting points on JASAs that are not maximised, and the YASA comment is for the first leg.

In general, I agree but in practice I would balance that against the SC required. JASA TSV-BNE-SYD gets the required SC and removes the need to buy a flight ADL-SYD hence it might be cheaper. Just a question of balance.

Of course there is always LTSC.....

 

[Craigie]

Ok so..

YASA - SYD-CNS-TSV Friday 29th April (30SC) ($108.35) (12,000 points)
JASA - TSV-BNE-DRW 30th April (140SC) ($93.35) (24,000 points)
Jetstar - DRW-DPS 30th April ($115)
Jetstar - DPS-DRW 7th May ($115)
JASA - DRW-BNE-TSV 8th May (140SC) ($93.35) (24,000 points)
JASA - TSV-BNE-SYD 9th May (100SC) ($81.95) (24,000 points)

Thats $607 84,000 and gets 410SC. Add $388 accomo and all up comes to $995. Excellent!

The final JASA is not the best value JASA but nevertheless more out of convinience than anything else.

 

[Alanslegal]

I sit on the side of the fence that does not have alot of points (~320K) and if this was me, I'd forgo the the chase to SG and just hope for an upgrade. Yes it would be pretty remote of getting a points upgrade to come through, esp LHR-SYD, but to spend 84K points is alot <well to me anyway>. I would save them for a day I need to fly premium eg. 96K to LAX on a 388.

 

[markis10]

In general, I agree but in practice I would balance that against the SC required. JASA TSV-BNE-SYD gets the required SC and removes the need to buy a flight ADL-SYD hence it might be cheaper. Just a question of balance.

Of course there is always LTSC.....

And as we speak up pops a sale with ADL-SYD for $116 for the date required with every flight on sale at this stage for that date .

35 SC for $115 sounds like good value to me.

The OP can also save some money by using the Intercontinental Friends and Family Rate in TSV at the HI, should be around $80 for a room.

 

[medhead]

And as we speak up pops a sale with ADL-SYD for $116 for the date required with every flight on sale at this stage for that date .

35 SC for $115 sounds like good value to me.

Even the 6am flight? Might have to do some booking. (edit: nope not qf730 on Mondays, looks like it is DJ for me)

Plus a little bit extra on the JASA.

 

[Craigie]

And as we speak up pops a sale with ADL-SYD for $116 for the date required with every flight on sale at this stage for that date .

35 SC for $115 sounds like good value to me.

The OP can also save some money by using the Intercontinental Friends and Family Rate in TSV at the HI, should be around $80 for a room.

Qantas heard my need for sale fares!!

Markis, whats this Intercontinental friends and family rate? You're currently saving me $00's, really appreciate it!