The most cost effective way of obtaining 15 Qantas status

[gotheroosters]

Hi All,

Looking for some advice on how to obtain 15 Qantas status credits by March 31st for my wife to reach Silver from Bronze.

She is looking at doing another 2 international trips later this year so we thought Silver status may be useful, though there's no guarantee she will fly Qantas as we usually shop around for the cheapest deal.

We live in Sydney and we have some friends in Canberra who regularly drive to Sydney on weekends, so was thinking of doing a 1 way flight to Canberra and getting a lift back.

Ideally want to use my points (90k pts in the bank) rather than to pay any cash.

Appreciate any recommendations or advice.


R

 

[markis10]

Going to Canberra one way would need to be in expensive fare bucket to make more than 10 one way, I suspect the cheapest option would be to grab a Jetstar flight return somewhere adding the plus pack, somewhere like the Gold Coast for under $200 would do. Using points for a short run is not going to be cheap, although it would have been ideal when the Christmas double credits promo was on or classics earned SCs promo.

 

[JohnK]

Wait for the next domestic sale (come to think of it where is the sale as we are nearing Australia Day) and book a SYD-MEL/BNE return for <$200 and earn 20 SCs. Purchase a gift voucher for $50 to avoid the credit card surcharge.

 

[drewbles]

Wait for the next domestic sale (come to think of it where is the sale as we are nearing Australia Day) and book a SYD-MEL/BNE return for <$200 and earn 20 SCs. Purchase a gift voucher for $50 to avoid the credit card surcharge.

Or SYD-MEL return. Have seen that for around $86 each way during sales. 20SC's for that one as well of course. Both SYD-BNE and SYD-MEL can be done in a few hours

 

[JohnK]

Or SYD-MEL return.

Isn't that what I posted?

 

[drewbles]

Isn't that what I posted?

OK must be my head. I only saw syd-bne. My bad.

Yes, you were right. Sorry ignore me

 

[markis10]

Wait for the next domestic sale (come to think of it where is the sale as we are nearing Australia Day) and book a SYD-MEL/BNE return for <$200 and earn 20 SCs. Purchase a gift voucher for $50 to avoid the credit card surcharge.

Not sure the next domestic sale will be valid for dates in March, although a late Easter helps.

 

[gotheroosters]

Thanks for the tips guys, never knew you could get SYD-MEL or SYD-BNE for that cheap. You learn something new every day

 

[JohnK]

Hope you are able to make a booking on the $95 SYD-BNE flights for March.

Airfares are a little more expensive now. A couple of years ago most of my sale flights SYD-BNE were $65 and $69. Now for July/September they are $85 which is still good. Thinking of locking in that airfare and not waiting for another $79 sale.

And I try to avoid purchasing the $139 airfares during periods that are not included in sales.

 

[fersea]

You could do SyD - OOL on Jetstar for $131 return including the plus bundle.

 

[Robbi]

And I try to avoid purchasing the $139 airfares during periods that are not included in sales.

Why avoid them outside sales periods?

 

[JohnK]

Why avoid them outside sales periods?

In my opinion $139 for a one-way airfare SYD-BNE is highway robbery.

I would rather fly SYD-OOL on VA for ~$75 or even less and pocket the difference. The bus-train journey is ~2 hours but is free as I have done 9 trips for the week.

 

[astrosly]

In my opinion $139 for a one-way airfare SYD-BNE is highway robbery.

Hahahaaa <wipes tear from eyes>
No John, that's not highway robbery. This is highway robbery:

And $215/270 is the fully restricted red-e deals! If I ever see $139 on this route than that's a real bargain. Do get 20 SCs though.

 

[JohnK]

That is Anzac Day and a few days after Easter and during school holidays so in effect a triple whammy.

Isn't SYD-ARM during sales a lot cheaper? I know QF would not have that period on sale now but ~3 months ago this period was included in the sales so I purchased my SYD-BNE flights cheaply.

 

[astrosly]

That is Anzac Day and a few days after Easter and during school holidays so in effect a triple whammy.

Isn't SYD-ARM during sales a lot cheaper? I know QF would not have that period on sale now but ~3 months ago this period was included in the sales so I purchased my SYD-BNE flights cheaply.

Anzac day is 1 day, and yes Easter was the earlier weekend but this still doesn't excuse the blatant rip off for ARM customers. Compare to Coffs Harbour same weekend with triple whammy as you say:

I'm sure that Coffs also has easter + anzac + school holidays, yet the fares are about $100 cheaper each way. What it also has which Armidale doesn't is competition. I am a tad peeved that places like Armidale subsidise the cheap fares you and others enjoy and then complain about it

And no not necessarily is this route cheaper during sales as not many sale seats are released and they go very quickly as you could imagine. The last sale (the Valentine sale two weeks ago) I booked an overnight to visit friends and every date including midweek they selected in mid-Feb to end March had only $160-270 seats available, not the $75 sale seats (eventually found a combo on 28/1 Mar).

I have to be in Sydney on 26-Apr for a study session and have been looking for a couple of months now and even with the last few sales they didn't make much dent on many flights from ARM. I've half a mind to drive the 2hrs to Coffs and then fly from there just to get a fair fare but if I'm forced to do that to get a decent value on airfares than I'll drive Coffs and fly Virgin to Sydney!

 

[JohnK]

I'm sure that Coffs also has easter + anzac + school holidays, yet the fares are about $100 cheaper each way. What it also has which Armidale doesn't is competition. I am a tad peeved that places like Armidale subsidise the cheap fares you and others enjoy and then complain about it

I guess it is all about supply and demand.

SYD-ARM is 4 flights a day with ~72 seat aircraft while SYD-BNE is 20+ flights a day with minimum 166+ seats/aircraft. If I had to leave my February/March bookings this late then I will also struggle finding the $95 sale airfares.

 

[Maca44]

On 30 December had to fly Sydney-Broken Hill with REX with their BIX REX fare, and then back on the last flight that same day. It cost me $1,146.00 in total return, and could have flown to the US for that. It's evident they have got us by the short and curlies.

 

[astrosly]

I guess it is all about supply and demand.

SYD-ARM is 4 flights a day with ~72 seat aircraft while SYD-BNE is 20+ flights a day with minimum 166+ seats/aircraft. If I had to leave my February/March bookings this late then I will also struggle finding the $95 sale airfares.

Agree with you that you often have to be early or diligent to grab the best fares and I'm pleased I persevered and got the $75 fares so I can get 20 SCs and therefore silver by end March like the OP. I've been following this thread to see what options people are finding and I see none offered are for the regional hops I just wish there wasn't such a huge difference between the sale and regular red-e fares ex-ARM as there is ex-CFS or SYD/BNE, otherwise I'd fly more often and I'm sure I'm not the only one in Armidale who would (listening QF?).

 

[markis10]

Agree with you that you often have to be early or diligent to grab the best fares and I'm pleased I persevered and got the $75 fares so I can get 20 SCs and therefore silver by end March like the OP. I've been following this thread to see what options people are finding and I see none offered are for the regional hops I just wish there wasn't such a huge difference between the sale and regular red-e fares ex-ARM as there is ex-CNS or SYD/BNE, otherwise I'd fly more often and I'm sure I'm not the only one in Armidale who would (listening QF?).

Get some competition and things change as the folks of GLT found out, with 100000 passengers a year that's 2000 a week or three hundred a day, the economics of an ATR on the route stack up, once VA sought out their expansion issues with Skywest I would not be surprised if they go to Armidale.

 

[JohnK]

I just wish there wasn't such a huge difference between the sale and regular red-e fares ex-ARM as there is ex-CFS or SYD/BNE, otherwise I'd fly more often and I'm sure I'm not the only one in Armidale who would (listening QF?).

Agree with you there. Is TMW gone as a destination?