Status Runs? Why Do They Do It?

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  dcep on 14/05/2018 - 13:26

  +9

  wat ?

  • 

    ronnknee on 14/05/2018 - 16:06

    Tldr: bla bla bla.

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  [Deactivated] on 14/05/2018 - 13:32

  +1

  Some people are prepared to pay money for all these services but the only way to pay for status on most programs is to fly more often, thus the concept of status runs. They believe these comforts are worth paying for in order to make travelling more enjoyable. The art is to get the most status points for the least amount of money and time.

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  Randxyz123 on 14/05/2018 - 13:38

  +1

  for the amount of flying they do, I was expecting a free business/first class upgrade to be the highest tier

  They probably aren’t paying for the flights their company is so they’d be going business anyway. Airlines would hardly ever upgrade someone from economy to business for free. They might bump a platinum frequent flyer from premium economy to business, then a gold frequent flyer into premium economy.

  What you are missing is to maintain their status as say a platinum frequent flyer they have to gain a number of stays credits per year.

  Now this might mean they have to do the odd status run to maintain their platinum status. This gets them lounge access, priority boarding , priority at security lounges, extra points when they fly.

  How do you know they spent $1000?

  • 

    Samsungnote10 on 14/05/2018 - 14:18

    my understanding is that you have to do a certain amount of miles per year to maintain/upgrade your status,

    is status credits different?

    oh and my frend told me how much her flight was

    https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/Platinu…

    this is plat level, the lounge access and 100% points bonus is pretty good, but the rest of it was pretty insignificant to me, but I guess everyone values these things differently

    • 

      Randxyz123 on 14/05/2018 - 15:15

      +1

      Velocity might be different but for Qantas status credits are far more valuable than points.

      As others have said if they are a flight away and can get a good deal for probably a business class fare (where are they from?) and maintain or upgrade their status then it’s definitely worth it.

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  bobbified on 14/05/2018 - 14:03

  +5

  It's worth it if you're a flight or two out from maintaining your status.

  I've actually never heard it being called a "status run", but I've done it once and went to hong kong for the weekend.

  If you're going to be travelling a bit the following year and you appreciate lounge access and a business class upgrade, a single upgrade from economy to business class will be enough to recoup the costs of this "status run".

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 14/05/2018 - 15:51

    Free upgrades are rare to non-existent. I've had it once with VA from Melbourne to Sydney (Economy to Business), and once with Singapore Airlines Melbourne to Singapore (Economy to Premium Economy).

    These upgrades usually only happen when your class is overbooked, and a higher class has a free seat so they'll bump you up.
    If your class isn't overbooked, and a higher class has free seats, you will not get a free upgrade.

    VA gives you 4 upgrades on Domestic and NZ flights but you must buy the Freedom Economy fare which isn't cheap. Personally I've never used this in the years of being Platinum with Velocity, just not worth it tbh.

    • 

      bobbified on 14/05/2018 - 17:21

      I was honestly a little surprised at how often I was upgraded. It was literally every flight I went on. I was flying with Cathay about 5-6 times each year (which isn't a lot) and I was always booking using the economy seat guarantee (48 hours or so notice) that they offer as a benefit of the status. That seat guarantee is always booked via their contact centre and it was always booked at the cheapest economy fare they had that still earned points (It was a V class ticket). It's not even a class of fare that had the upgrade option! High or low season, the price was still the same.

      Also, the seat guarantee was advertised, but the fact that you can request a V class ticket wasn't. Not sure if many people knew about that.

      It's been a two or so years since I've had the gold status so I don't go out of my way to book the same airline anymore. I believe Cathay now allows passengers to bid for upgrades so I can't imagine there'll be that many free upgrades anymore.

      PS - I've never paid for a business class seat - I don't see the value in it and would rather spend the money on my holiday. Look at it backwards and it works out to be about $500/hour to sit in that seat! Different story when it's free! haha

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 14/05/2018 - 17:41

        I fly about 10-14 times a month, where are my upgrades?

        Probably doesn't help I usually travel in shorts, old shirts and flip flops. Just get bulkhead seats w/ Singapore and 3rd row w/ Virgin which is fine.

        Some of the last minute flights, Business Class is cheaper than Economy. Last month Manila to Singapore it was only like $20 extra for Business over Economy, no brainer.

        Year or two ago around the F1 time Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur was $1,200 for lie-flat while standard Economy was $1,400 on AirAsia.

      • 

        kyle on 15/05/2018 - 00:05

        +1

        @Drew22:

        Exactly how I would be dressed in business class.

      • 

        bobbified on 15/05/2018 - 00:23

        @Drew22:

        I fly about 10-14 times a month, where are my upgrades?

        Geebus! That's a lot of flights! Where do you fly to 10-14 times a month? Is that 5-7 return flights or 10-14 return flights?

        Probably doesn't help I usually travel in shorts, old shirts and flip flops

        That's pretty much me too!

        I don't know how the upgrade algorithm in the computer works, but it obviously worked for the way I was flying! I just know that I avoid the QFF program like the plague. There's way too much competition locally!

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        [Deactivated] on 15/05/2018 - 01:46

        @bobbified:

        All of these places https://imgur.com/a/tzlgwa6

        @kyle:
        Yup. Regardless of class, same stuff.

      • 

        bobbified on 15/05/2018 - 08:51

        @Drew22:

        All of these places

        That list looks quite hectic! Is it pretty much like that every month?? I'm my mind, I'm thinking you probably do pick up and drop-off of headphones all over the world! haha

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 15/05/2018 - 12:12

        +1

        @bobbified:

        Pretty much every month, a slow month is 6 flights.

        Although October, November and December last year I didn't fly at all.

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  MrHyde on 14/05/2018 - 14:11

  +4

  As mentioned above, it is well worth it if you are only a little bit off from maintaining it. A platinum level at Qantas costs 1200 to maintain; but 1400 to get if you drop down to Gold. If you are going to do some travelling the following year and want to keep platinum, a well timed status run can get you there for cheaps. As mentioned, the only way to get status is to fly - you cannot buy it.

  I would never do a status run to get silver; but may for Gold and would definately do it for Platinum if I am only 1 or 2 flights away from getting it. part of the fun of a status run is to see how many points to can get for the least amount of $$$ - so you look for business / first class fares between cities that are very cheap - far easier to do in the US, than here in Australia.

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  sw00p on 14/05/2018 - 14:57

  I'm currently Virgin Gold and I can't imagine ever going back down. The ability to skip straight past a massive check-in queue and go straight to priority check-in, and then the lounge, is incredible. For instance, I was just in London and there were delays due to bad weather. The queue for my flight was out the door, but I was checked in, upgraded to exit row, and on my way to the Singapore lounge within minutes.

  My status is reviewed in July, and I'm already guaranteed Gold until next July, but I'm actively planning how to ensure I'll maintain it after that. I've got some travel lined up in the next 12 months, but not enough to get there at this stage. I would absolutely consider making a status run in order to secure Gold, if I could find a way to pull it off.

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    [Deactivated] on 14/05/2018 - 15:54

    The priority boarding doesn't really help. Half the plane usually has Gold anyway, so you really end up waiting ages either way. Better to just sit in the lounge an extra 5 minutes.

    Lounge is meh, it helps and I wouldn't want to lose it. With Platinum on Domestic the best thing for me is the 3 guest allowance which is nice.

    • 

      sw00p on 14/05/2018 - 16:55

      I was talking about priority check in. Skipping a long queue for check in is golden.

      I agree priority boarding isn't crucial, although if you're on a domestic flight somewhere like the US you'll be grateful for the opportunity to store your luggage before all the overhead space gets taken up.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 14/05/2018 - 17:38

        Yeah priority check-in is great.
        Has saved me countless times when I was running late for international flights, more than a few times I got an escort to take me to the front of security, and immigration lines.

        Kerb side to being on the plane in just a couple of minutes.

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  theoracle30 on 14/05/2018 - 16:42

  I reached Virgin Australia Platinum in Nov 2017, quite unexpectedly I must say, as I had no status at the start of 2017 and no travel plans at all.

  This year, although not going out of my way to fly status runs, I've made an effort to keep my travel booked on Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia (which is pretty much the cheapest option each time anyway), and with Family Pooling, will comfortably retain Platinum for 2019.

  Coming from Perth, but now living in Tasmania, the 4x free upgrades on flexible economy fares is pretty good value for me as I get to fly their excellent Business product relatively cheaply while earning lots of status credits to retain for the year after.

  I also like the access to extra legroom seats for free + lounge access including Singapore Airlines and Etihad. Everything else is just a bonus (Priority check-in/luggage/boarding, all of which can be hit and miss sometimes).

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  katykat on 14/05/2018 - 19:40

  My mother did this. They make a game out of it and find discount or price error flight deals. Also, the standard lingo is actually a "mileage run",
  because it's all about getting the most mileage for the least $$$. At the highest tier and on certain routes, there was always a pretty good chance of getting a gate upgrade. I think it's a waste of money and ridiculous, but to each their own. If you're interested in reading what the hardcore one's are like, go to flyertalk.com. It's a message board dedicated to figuring out the best value routes and rewards programs.