The Qantas Status Run Master Thread

[ithongy]

USD$629 for 320SC credited to QF FF Program. MEX-DFW-LAX all booked in I class.

 

[davem]

Technically a repost, but just noting it's back - EDI-PMI via LHR and MAD for $546 RT in J. Most dates are around Feb/Mar next year.
This gets you 280SC for a lovely $1.95 per SC. Obviously it's not super useful for many, but it's some pretty cheap SC's.

View attachment 507826

Random find ? Or you have some search for these? I never seem to stumble upon these nice BA/IB runs when i try find one.

 

[HMcM]

Did my first status run over the weekend and thought I'd post here.

MEL-SYD-CHC-SYD-AKL-BNE-MEL
Booked as 2 tickets.
Ended up coming out to about $3.41 / SC which is more than I would have liked but during the DSC was quite hard to find sale fares. May need to rethink in future and learn some of the movie screening magic I'm not fully aware of yet. Main issue was the getting over to NZ part of the run which Was $4.64 / SC, the way back was <$3/SC at $2.90/SC.

MEL->SYD
Got out to the airport nice and early to enjoy the Mel Business class lounge. Had a couple of drinks and lunch before the flight up to Sydney. My one flight on the run where I wasn't in 1A unfortunately by the time they got around to me it was just the cheeseboard that they had left. Overall a quick and easy flight though.

SYD Layover:
After taking the bus to transit from DOM-INT I had a couple of hours layover so decided that I would explore some of the lounges.
QANTAS Sydney International Lounge (Temporary): This lounge was very bleak and boring. Hopefully the new lounge they are building is good because this one was pretty cramped and overall the reason I went on a lounge run.
Plaza Premium Lounge: Very very small lounge, but when I was there was not too busy. Got in through my Amex Platinum. Felt really cheap that they were charging for some pretty basic spirits. Always feels cheap when a lounge that to many charges entry then tries to charge you extra to get a single of Wild Turkey. The food offering was basic but fine. The Marry Me Chicken was actually pretty tasty.
Amex Centurion Lounge: This lounge is much better than the one in Melbourne. Bigger, better food and nice sized bar. The offering is still paltry when compared to the US lounges, but was where I ended up staying until my flight.

SYD->CHC
Over the weekend with a tailwind the flight was very quick. Ended up leaving 18 minutes late but got in 18 minutes early. Just shy of 2.5h for the hop over the CHC. Nothing too notable about the flight over. Sat next to who I get the feeling was a former QANTAS pilot who was definitely getting the royal treatment.

CHC Layover:
Got in at about midnight and quickly got through the airport. Walked to the Lylo Christchurch Airport and it was what it said on the tin. Cheap and okay. Nobody there on the counter to check me in at 12:30 (I had told them I would be in late), but was able to check myself in. I was in a "Single Ensuite Room" and it was fine for my purpose of having a shower, getting a couple of hours rest and then getting out. When I did check out around 4am there was still nobody on the desk but was able to check myself out.
Passport Control Issue: Now the hang-up with my interesting routing happened when I went to leave New Zealand. I had all of my boarding passes on my phone but when going through passport control I could not go through the gate (Aussie Passport), got pulled to the side and it seems like because I was leaving NZ again later in the day from AKL that their system got confused. Had to explain to the immigration lady what a status run was and after getting her manager I was able to proceed.
Manaia Lounge: Still had a bit of time before my flight so went to the Manaia Lounge to relax before my flight. Not a bad lounge but nothing too remarkable. They did have Laphroaig in their self serve bar (I love my Islay Scotched) but 4:15 in the morning is a bit early for that.

CHC-SYD-AKL
Combined as there was nothing too notable. On CHC-SYD 80% of the business class cabin was repositioning QANTAS staff. Again got delayed out of SYD (0855 planned, 0922 actual) but managed to get in 4 minutes early.

AKL Layover:
Pretty long line through international transit which was a bit annoying but got to spend a bit of time at the new QANTAS Business Class Lounge Auckland. I have been here once before and the upgrade was been good for the lounge. Nicest lounge food I had on the trip (delicious ragu) and an ice cream bar was lovely. Wished that I was able to enjoy the WP area but this was the trip that got me to WP.

AKL-BNE
Nothing too notable on this flight, but to be honest after running on a few hours sleep and having gotten up early to watch the World Cup on Saturday morning I was pretty dead at this point.

BNE Layover:
Quickly got through Immigration and onto the bus to domestic, did not realise how far away from each other the terminals were. Got through security quickly and easily and went straight to the business class lounge. Lovely lounge, got to get a bit of work done prepping for the week ahead. But now comes the annoying part. My flight was schedules for 20:45 to leave Brisbane. No changes to the estimated time of departure at this point. I was relaxing in the lounge and my flight called boarding. They stated this meant that everybody would have to leave the lounge (I believe last flight out). When we get to the gate we pretty quickly realise that the flight is not at all boarding and that jet was not going anywhere. We then get informed that it would be 21:45, so we went back to the lounge but were told that it was now closed. As was just about everything else in the terminal at this time. We then get told that the flight is further delayed to 22:55 before 23:10, before actually leaving at 23:14. Piss poor effort in my opinion by QANTAS on this one. Seems they called boarding to clear the lounge when there was no chance that original jet was boarding.

BNE-MEL
The flight back was honestly fine. My first flight on an A220 which was interesting. My god the forward lav on the A220 is so much nicer than on the 737, so much more room. Was seated next to a minor Aussie celebrity that looked familiar but I couldn't quite figure out who he was for most of the flight until having a bit of a chat with him before landing.

So yeah, if you're trying to do a very convoluted status run with 4 trans-Tasman hops in a weekend it's definitely possible, but it's a long slog.

 

[DejaBrew]

Nice write-up @HMcM and congrats on hitting WP. You'll definitely find "Fight Club" screenings to be more beneficial for your purposes in the future, but $3.41/SC isn't a bad effort.

Re: the shenannigans in BNE.... I thought that lounge was open until 11:30pm? At least that's what the Qantas website indicates. That being said, if I'm not mistaken, there are some works being done in that lounge meaning that entry is before passing through security and passport control so perhaps that's why they weren't letting you back in? I've never been into that lounge though, so certainly can't speak from current or prior experience.

 

[HMcM]

Nice write-up @HMcM and congrats on hitting WP. You'll definitely find "Fight Club" screenings to be more beneficial for your purposes in the future, but $3.41/SC isn't a bad effort.

I may need someone to initiate me into the club at one stage to fully understand it. I think I've picked up some ideas here and there but not 100% on it.

Re: the shenannigans in BNE.... I thought that lounge was open until 11:30pm? At least that's what the Qantas website indicates. That being said, if I'm not mistaken, there are some works being done in that lounge meaning that entry is before passing through security and passport control so perhaps that's why they weren't letting you back in? I've never been into that lounge though, so certainly can't speak from current or prior experience.

This was domestic (BNE-MEL) not international, so was in the lounge hub past security.

 

[Mattg]

This was domestic (BNE-MEL) not international, so was in the lounge hub past security.

Please send feedback to Qantas about the lounge closing before your flight boarded in BNE. They will probably give you some points as compensation.

 

[DejaBrew]

This was domestic (BNE-MEL) not international, so was in the lounge hub past security.

Ah yes, good point!

Please send feedback to Qantas about the lounge closing before your flight boarded in BNE. They will probably give you some points as compensation.

Completely agree. @HMcM - the Qantas website explicitly states the lounge is open "....until last Qantas departure" but it would not be unusual to extend the lounge hours due to delayed departures.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thanks @HMcM
We are doing the AKL-BNE-MEL leg on DSC to get us closer to retaining WP.
Aready they have subbed the 787 for A330 to BNE (at least not 737 ) and slightly changed the departure time by a few minutes.
Interested to know what response you get from sharing your feedback about the lounge closure time.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For HMcM...
So your getting into AKL, after doing CHC > SYD > AKL in close succession, no problems? Esp at AKL airport arrivals? They would have your flight movement records on Immi NZ for sure.
Ah, just int -> int transit screening at AKL, aha, gotcha, no immi there.
I know I have had it easier when I do my Aus > NZ jaunts with an Aus passport, than if I was doing it with an overseas passport, or goine and done this to and from Asia in quick succession, I would have been pinged.
Once I was in a rush off the plane, at WLG, and the Customs lady said, (you seem to be in a rush) so I have had to stop you), she did the swab, ... I was worried I would miss my Supershuttle.
---
For Flyfrequently, dont hold your breath, they might still swap it to a 737 workhorse.
(((Already they have subbed the 787 for A330 to BNE (at least not 737.)))

 

[HMcM]

Please send feedback to Qantas about the lounge closing before your flight boarded in BNE. They will probably give you some points as compensation.

They did give us out VISA gift cards at the gate which was a nice act of compensation (2x$15 each) but that was across the board not just to those of us that should have had lounge access. Thankfully they were VISA cards and not vouchers as just about everything was shut at that time of day in the airport. So may still submit feedback.

Ah yes, good point!


Completely agree. @HMcM - the Qantas website explicitly states the lounge is open "....until last Qantas departure" but it would not be unusual to extend the lounge hours due to delayed departures.

Which is why I have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth about them calling boarding on the flight that nobody could have thought was flying out on time.

Thanks @HMcM
We are doing the AKL-BNE-MEL leg on DSC to get us closer to retaining WP.
Aready they have subbed the 787 for A330 to BNE (at least not 737 ) and slightly changed the departure time by a few minutes.
Interested to know what response you get from sharing your feedback about the lounge closure time.

I had a hardware downgrade happen on this run. My AKL-SYD Flight was booked on a 787-9 which would have been lovely, ended up being a 737-8.

So your getting into AKL, after doing CHC > SYD > AKL in close succession, no problems? Esp at AKL airport arrivals? They would have your flight movement records on Immi NZ for sure.
I know I have had it easier when I do my Aus > NZ jaunts with an Aus passport, than if I was doing it with an overseas passport, or goine and done this to and from Asia in quick succession, I would have been pinged.
Once I was in a rush off the plane, at WLG, and the Custos lady said, you seem to be in a rush, so I have had to stop you, she did the swab, ...

Only issue I had the whole time was the CHC outbound passport control because that's the only time I actually entered / exited New Zealand. Everything else was international transfer. If I had actually been entering NZ again in such quick succession I wouldn't be surprised if I had issues.

 

[DejaBrew]

If I had actually been entering NZ again in such quick succession I wouldn't be surprised if I had issues.

Speaking from personal experience of officially entering and exiting NZ (i.e. formally passing through passport control rather than using the AKL transit lounge) 3 times in 3 days (with my ex-AKL flights always occurring within about 6hrs of my arrival flights into AKL), my impression is that NZ border control don't actually care. Australian Border Force on the other hand? Well, they took a keen interest in me after my second arrival into Australia.

 

[HMcM]

Speaking from personal experience of officially entering and exiting NZ (i.e. formally passing through passport control rather than using the AKL transit lounge) 3 times in 3 days (with my ex-AKL flights always occurring within about 6hrs of my arrival flights into AKL), my impression is that NZ border control don't actually care. Australian Border Force on the other hand? Well, they took a keen interest in me after my second arrival into Australia.

Was that 2x actual entries into Aus not transiting as well? I had 2 trips to Aus (CHC-SYD & AKL-BNE) and I guess because I didn't enter after the CHC-SYD, only transit, I didn't hear anything on arrival.

 

[DejaBrew]

Was that 2x actual entries into Aus not transiting as well? I had 2 trips to Aus (CHC-SYD & AKL-BNE) and I guess because I didn't enter after the CHC-SYD, only transit, I didn't hear anything on arrival.

I essentially did OOL>AKL return (via either MEL or SYD) on 3 separate itineraries (spanning 4 days in total) as follows -:

1. OOL>MEL>AKL>MEL>OOL
2. OOL>MEL>AKL>SYD>OOL
3. OOL>MEL>AKL>SYD>OOL

So every arrival into AKL saw me go through passport control and formally enter NZ (as I had booked 3 nights at the Pullman just outside the international terminal there). I then departed NZ within around 6 hours of arriving and formally re-entered Australia as I arrived into MEL/SYD (as I was transiting to a domestic connection back to OOL).

 

[HMcM]

I essentially did OOL>AKL return (via either MEL or SYD) on 3 separate itineraries (spanning 4 days in total) as follows -:

1. OOL>MEL>AKL>MEL>OOL
2. OOL>MEL>AKL>SYD>OOL
3. OOL>MEL>AKL>SYD>OOL

So every arrival into AKL saw me go through passport control and formally enter NZ (as I had booked 3 nights at the Pullman just outside the international terminal there). I then departed NZ within around 6 hours of arriving and formally re-entered Australia as I arrived into MEL/SYD (as I was transiting to a domestic connection back to OOL).

Yeah, I can see why you raised a couple of alarm bells with that one. But love the hustle.

 

[DejaBrew]

Yeah, I can see why you raised a couple of alarm bells with that one. But love the hustle.

All DSC itineraries, of course

 

[GrahamBRI]

I essentially did OOL>AKL return (via either MEL or SYD) on 3 separate itineraries (spanning 4 days in total) as follows -:

1. OOL>MEL>AKL>MEL>OOL
2. OOL>MEL>AKL>SYD>OOL
3. OOL>MEL>AKL>SYD>OOL

So every arrival into AKL saw me go through passport control and formally enter NZ (as I had booked 3 nights at the Pullman just outside the international terminal there). I then departed NZ within around 6 hours of arriving and formally re-entered Australia as I arrived into MEL/SYD (as I was transiting to a domestic connection back to OOL).

Awesome status run. Did you maximise your duty fee allowance (x3).

 

[DejaBrew]

Awesome status run. Did you maximise your duty fee allowance (x3).

Not for that particular status run, no. I was intentionally travelling light and made use of both the hotel room in AKL along with my car (parked in the SYD Dom car park) to offload any any unnecessary travel weight between flights. That being said, I certainly have leveraged my duty free allowance on prior back-to-back NZ runs.

 

[GrahamBRI]

Not for that particular status run, no. I was intentionally travelling light and made use of both the hotel room in AKL along with my car (parked in the SYD Dom car park) to offload any any unnecessary travel weight between flights. That being said, I certainly have leveraged my duty free allowance on prior back-to-back NZ runs.

Sounds like we need to add this scenario to the table in the Lounge Meetups thread - On Status run, Travelling Light, Have Spare Duty Free Allowance, Will be in xyz lounge for one hour, Can guest one person and provide access to my duty free allowance ……. I would be up for a lounge crawl if there was influx of light travelling, status runs occurring at the same time