Could I please have opinions on what would be the best status runs domestically and or internationally including class of travel and bang for buck/points or mixture.

Could I please have opinions on what would be the best status runs domestically and or internationally including class of travel and bang for buck/points or mixture. I am gold and will maintain this level but is it worth pushing to Platy in one hit for a year of fun or keep gold chugging along (have a few hundred points to play with? A lot of detail I know please just reply with any thoughts you have on any or all aspects.

Can't beat a oneworld Round the World fare if you are QFF. Class and number of sectors depends on how many status credits you need. I once did a business RTW and went from Bronze to Platinum in the one trip.

F8 do you recall the sectors you travelled exit/return and did you pay by cash/points was this as an old ASA or standard booking. Thanks for the reply.

Hi Dazzaredroo,

It was a fully cash fare in 2011 under the old ASA. Routing was PER-BNE-SYD-MEL-LAX-DFW-SEA-ORD-CDG-LHR-TLS-LHR-SIN-HKG-CTS-HKG-PER. Status credits earned was 1460 and points 62,100. Travel on AA within USA was selected to be on flights with no Business, so First instead. As Platy said, the fare is quite expensive, but one trick is to split the trip into two. I redeemed back to PER from SIN and resumed the rest of the trip later in the year, thus getting two holiday fares for the price of the one RTW.

Agree with Platy that there isn't a lot of difference between Gold and Platinum, but did find that I got exceptional treatment on QF flights when Platinum on many occasions.

Hope this is some help.

Thanks again F8

Nice routing, F8.

Too many options, Dazzaredroo!

Here are a few ideas...

Round the World

Many have secured status through round the world fares, like F8 cited above. Yes you get up to 16 flights, however, with four-continent fares ("DONE4") now well in excess of $12,000 there are much cheaper ways to get to Platinum. Some used to start their journeys where the airfares were cheapest (leaving from Australia is about the most expensive iption)- read $7000 ex South Africa, except these differentials have been soaked up to large extent.

If interested, the one world web site has a round th world booking interactive map, etc. Hours of mindless fun playing with that!

Domestic Status Runs

Probably not even worth considering unless you have signed up for the double status points for domestic flights and can fly during the offer period. Or you are lucky enough to get a double status offer in your email from QF. The high return routes involve multi-sectors in business, think BNE-PER-BME, etc. These can return 200 credits each way, with the double thus netting 800 credits in a return trip. However, very pricey, unless you get an any seat award and watch the route to avoid excessive point spend (now that the QF webiste calculates the miles travelled not point to point).

International status runs

There are excellent runs in the USA on AA in/out of the Caribbean and Central America. Think HNL-ORD-MIA-BGI return for 760 status credits for around $2000 in first/business. Tie that up with a JQ business class return netting an additional 280 credits and you are well on your way.

Other ideas include NRT-JFK return on CX for around $3000 in business (restricted "I class") which routes via HKG. Also very cheap business class fares ex-MLE to the USA or even back and forth to Australia or AKL again on CX.

Obviously there is an opporutnity ost to factor (time away, hotels, etc).

Buy Status

Very risky. Buy US Airways status using straight cash. Bank on the US Airways and AA merger matching US Airways Chairman's status to AA Executive Platinum. Cost $4000 and high risk strategy. AA Exec Platinum gives similar benefits to QF being OneWorld Emerald.

Enjoy Gold

In reality there isn't that much difference between QF Gold and Platinum. Aim for the 800 credit renewal rather than the 1400 credit Platinum and be content to be in the "sweet spot". 

Also, please consider that the financial woes of QF could result in a major program devaluation and thus dilute the worth of Platinum.

It's probably going to cost you at least $6000 to earn the status credits to get to Platnum from scratch. That' a big price to pay for Platinum unless you already have purpose for your travel!

Obviously the maths changes in you already have some credits up your sleeve. To make up the difference between say 800 gold renewal and 1400 Platinum, the fastest and easiest is a domestic run in business if on double status credits - it's still going to cost round $4000-$5000.

Better ideas anyone?

Platy your comprehensive insight and first hand knowledge is very much appreciated and most certainly will give me much to ponder, but this I will enjoy. You are correct with regard to enjoying Gold though, row 4 (737) is enjoyable any day of the week and not hard to take when not flying in or upgrading to business which fortunately has been my experience to date. P.S sometime when we're both free should swap stories of the NT, my old stomping grounds were Ramingining, Timber Creek, Yarralin (near VRD) Katherine and some others.

Timber Creek. VRD. Cherished memories. Amazing people. The then elders part of the original land rights negotiations with Bob Hawke. I still have the "killer" boomerangs they made for me as a gift as a lost young Pommie in the outback. 

On FF issues, yeah, Row 3 = more leg room than business.

Enjoy Gold, cherish Platinum once there, but do the maths and be non attached on all of this frequent flyer stuff.

Let us know if you need more detail.

ooops row 4...

Use the routes talked about above but book on firstclass.com.au can not be beaten in service and very competitive and cheap pricing! Hope all goes well and you reach platinum or platinum one though Virgin beats quant as price and service wise!

sincerly, 

Max (VA Beats QF)

Cheers and thanks Max.

But the Roo will doooo. ;)

The roo is good, but be open to playing the special offers (double status credits, etc) from two players not one....may be in your interests...never know

Dear, PLATY I am also qantas lifetime gold so I will use that when cheaper and might move to that someday when they (hopefully) upgrade all planes to A330 style cabin with HUGE video screens and beautiful business clas suites. So basically what I am saying is that someday I may move over to my qantas lifetime gold!

 Nice strategy, Max. QF or VA, enjoy the ride. It's nice to have the LTG in the bag.