The Velocity Status Run Master thread

[Blinky]

The operator is incorrect - there are no status credits for reward flights booked before Jan 12.

This is clearly detailed in the press release for this promotion.

I can see this now. It looks like reward seats on Etihad are not eligible anyway. If they were I'd cancel the flights, pay the $60 penalty or whatever it is, and re-book now just to get the 1180 SCs.

Anyway, thanks again.

 

[smit0847]

The operator is incorrect - there are no status credits for reward flights booked before Jan 12.

This is clearly detailed in the press release for this promotion.

Me thinks VA is going to get a lot of complaints from ppl who didnt read this properly and think their reward bookings made last month are eligible for SCs!

 

[smit0847]

I hope someone can help me here, as I just rang the Virgin hotline, and they were not even aware that SCs were now available for Reward Seats (I had to quote the website to them).
My year expires on 31 March, and I will have 410 SCs by mid February to maintain SG. My wife (who shares SCs with me) and I will be flying Etihad Business Class to LHR via AUH purchased with points in early March (return in May). Now by my reading it looks like we will earn 160SCs each for the MEL-AUH sector and 120SCs each from AUH-LHR, adding up to 560, which added to my balance comes to 970. Meaning all I will need is a MEL-OOL status run (or similar) to get to Platinum.
Does this sound correct? It seems a bit too good to be true.

See if there is any availability on the VA operated SYD-AUH leg. If there is and you rebook you will get the SCs for MEL-SYD then SYD-AUH.

Even booking MEL-BNE(VA)-AUH(EY) will give you each 60 SCs for the MEL-BNE J leg.

 

[Blinky]

See if there is any availability on the VA operated SYD-AUH leg. If there is and you rebook you will get the SCs for MEL-SYD then SYD-AUH.

Even booking MEL-BNE(VA)-AUH(EY) will give you each 60 SCs for the MEL-BNE J leg.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'd rather the Etihad J cabin, and I might even look at upgrading.

As I said earlier, it looked too good to be true.

 

[AdMEL]

Checked MEL-NTL with Velcoity points this morning - only direct flights now available in J! Indirect flights showing as sold out for the random dates in Feb and Mar I checked. Indirect flights were available yesterday!

 

[marcoakis]

Guys,

Perhaps you can help me...

I'm going to do a status run for gold, I need 240SC and I currently have around 60k points to burn. I want to take advantage of the earn while you burn promo flying J.

I need the following flights:

MEL-ADL-MEL on the 15 or 16th February, coming back on the 17th. I thought about doing MEL-ADL-SYD then SYD-CBR-MEL, both for 27,600 points yielding 160SC and just pay an economy MEL-ADL for an additional 10SC = 170SC

I can't seem to find an ADL-SYD for 13800 points... they're all over 20k.

Any thoughts on how to achieve 240SC using the MEL-ADL return for those dates?

 

[AdMEL]

Guys,

Perhaps you can help me...

I'm going to do a status run for gold, I need 240SC and I currently have around 60k points to burn. I want to take advantage of the earn while you burn promo flying J.

I need the following flights:

MEL-ADL-MEL on the 15 or 16th February, coming back on the 17th. I thought about doing MEL-ADL-SYD then SYD-CBR-MEL, both for 27,600 points yielding 160SC and just pay an economy MEL-ADL for an additional 10SC = 170SC

I can't seem to find an ADL-SYD for 13800 points... they're all over 20k.

Any thoughts on how to achieve 240SC using the MEL-ADL return for those dates?

I see MEL-SYD via ADL for 13,800 pts + $17.54! Or via CBR for same points + $50 odd. Return slightly fewer $. Just search MEL -SYD and scroll down.

Edit: oops, misread your post! You already figured that out!

 

[smit0847]

Y reward ADL-SYD that routes you via MEL or CBR, then J reward SYD-MEL-OOL, then J reward OOL-MEL-SYD, then Y reward SYD-ADL via MEL or CBR.

That's 20 + 100 + 100 + 20 = 240 SCs for 49,400 points plus about $100. I don't know if it could be done in one day (it would be an incredibly long day - 8 flights)

Alternatively if you want to use less points but pay more $$, buy a rev Saver for ADL-SYD (via CBR or MEL) and/or the return.

Alternatively if you want to spend less time flying but pay even more $$ buy a direct Flex ADL-SYD and then SYD-ADL at the end.

 

[lobo76]

So what's the best Points-to-SC ratio everyone has found so far?
I'm guessing the best ratio is MEL-ADE-SYD or similar?

 

[AdMEL]

So what's the best Points-to-SC ratio everyone has found so far?
I'm guessing the best ratio is MEL-ADE-SYD or similar?

No, MEL-ADL-SYD is not the best. In J:

MEL-ADL-SYD = 80 SC's
SYD-MEL-OOL = 100 SC's
MEL-BNE-NTL = 100 SC's (this seems to be no longer available)

All cost for 13,800 + ~ $28.

 

[smit0847]

So what's the best Points-to-SC ratio everyone has found so far?
I'm guessing the best ratio is MEL-ADE-SYD or similar?

OOL-MEL-SYD
Business reward- 13,800 + 26.
With the rewards promo that's 100 SC!

This............

 

[marcoakis]

I came up with this full on status run for one day...

6:00am MEL - SYD 7:25am - J - 40SC - 13,800 points
8:00am SYD - MEL - OOL 11:25am - J - 100SC - 13,800 points
12:00pm OOL - MEL - SYD 5:25pm - J - 100SC - 13,800 points
6:10pm SYD - ADL 7:50pm - Y - 10SC - Paid $135

Yield of the day = 250SC, 41,400 points used. Less than $200 total spent.

The question is... would I be able to make it? any delay of any of the 6 flights would mess up the entire status run as there's no room for error.

I'm planning on doing this on Friday 15th Feb... thoughts?

 

[BrentH]

@marcoakis - that's a lot of flying!...

You're right about cutting it tight...

If I'm reading the terms right, if you miss a flight the best you'll be able to do is get a partial credit voucher [can anyone confirm this?] - and even then, only if you're not checked in...

With 35 minutes between flights means you'd need to check into your next flight on your mobile immediately (in the 5 minutes before check-in closed). If you were 5 minutes late, you'd be screwed.

If there was a delay, and you had already picked up your boarding passes or checked in online:

NO CREDITS ARE RECEIVED IF THE GUEST IS CHECKED IN BUT DOES NOT FLY.

Could you spread it out over a weekend, take your time and enjoy it, and do Syd-Mel-OOL 3x (for 300SC + connecting flights) instead of that using points on that Mel-Syd flight?

Do you have a family pooling partner you could bring, and fly less?

 

[dzinh]

I came up with this full on status run for one day...

6:00am MEL - SYD 7:25am - J - 40SC - 13,800 points
8:00am SYD - MEL - OOL 11:25am - J - 100SC - 13,800 points
12:00pm OOL - MEL - SYD 5:25pm - J - 100SC - 13,800 points
6:10pm SYD - ADL 7:50pm - Y - 10SC - Paid $135

Yield of the day = 250SC, 41,400 points used. Less than $200 total spent.

thats nifty! will reference that for future use! Thanks!

 

[dzinh]

is anyone getting taxes (another 2000 Points) added?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5j6zmsfd4ul46ov/Screen Shot 2013-01-16 at 1.38.48 AM.png

 

[Beta4Me]

I came up with this full on status run for one day...

6:00am MEL - SYD 7:25am - J - 40SC - 13,800 points
8:00am SYD - MEL - OOL 11:25am - J - 100SC - 13,800 points
12:00pm OOL - MEL - SYD 5:25pm - J - 100SC - 13,800 points
6:10pm SYD - ADL 7:50pm - Y - 10SC - Paid $135

Yield of the day = 250SC, 41,400 points used. Less than $200 total spent.

The question is... would I be able to make it? any delay of any of the 6 flights would mess up the entire status run as there's no room for error.

I'm planning on doing this on Friday 15th Feb... thoughts?

Seems a bit of a waste to spend 13,800 for 40SC vs 100SC; relatively of course. Or maybe I'm just greedy

 

[BrentH]

is anyone getting taxes (another 2000 Points) added?

Yes. That's the "+$$$" component.

E.g. 13,800 points plus $26

You can choose how many points, and how much cash, you want to pay for the taxes before processing CC. just use the slider

 

[QF WP]

I came up with this full on status run for one day...

6:00am MEL - SYD 7:25am - J - 40SC - 13,800 points
8:00am SYD - MEL - OOL 11:25am - J - 100SC - 13,800 points
12:00pm OOL - MEL - SYD 5:25pm - J - 100SC - 13,800 points
6:10pm SYD - ADL 7:50pm - Y - 10SC - Paid $135

Yield of the day = 250SC, 41,400 points used. Less than $200 total spent.

The question is... would I be able to make it? any delay of any of the 6 flights would mess up the entire status run as there's no room for error.

I'm planning on doing this on Friday 15th Feb... thoughts?

Why bother with the last sector to ADL? The biggest concern might be the first sector being delayed, as that puts the entire trip in jeopardy, as confirmed by others above.

 

[marcoakis]

Why bother with the last sector to ADL? The biggest concern might be the first sector being delayed, as that puts the entire trip in jeopardy, as confirmed by others above.

Hi Lindsay, the reason for the last sector is because I have family commitments in Adelaide that weekend, if I wasn't doing this status run for SC then I'd fly non-stop MEL-ADL.

I'm concerned about the times being too tight as well...

 

[marcoakis]

Seems a bit of a waste to spend 13,800 for 40SC vs 100SC; relatively of course. Or maybe I'm just greedy

The problem is that in order to achieve this itinerary in one day, I have to be there at 7:30am... that means I have to fly non-stop.

But you're right, not the best bang for points.