Status chaser calculator
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Perth
Programs: DJ Silver, BA Silver, PC Gold, QF, SQ
Posts: 542
Status chaser calculator
As I mentioned briefly in this thread, I've been working on some software to find the cheapest way to get status credits. The prototype is now up and running - Steve's Status Chaser Calculator (s2c2). So what can you do with it?
Anyway, please give it a shot if you're interested and let me know what you think.
Steve
- Enter the same origin and destination with a required number of status credits, and it finds the cheapest "status run".
- Enter a different destination and it finds the cheapest way to get between two cities while earning your required status credits.
Anyway, please give it a shot if you're interested and let me know what you think.
Steve
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 1A
Programs: Elite Diamond Purple Dot Gold Silver Titanium for life
Posts: 1,818
Hey thats pretty neat Steve!
Does it actually search airfare prices or is it a set amount($) for each route?
I made a php script a few months ago now that grabs flight prices from qantas.com.au over and over until one matching the criteria (date,price,time) is found..then emails me the link...
maybe we can combine a few things?
Does it actually search airfare prices or is it a set amount($) for each route?
I made a php script a few months ago now that grabs flight prices from qantas.com.au over and over until one matching the criteria (date,price,time) is found..then emails me the link...
maybe we can combine a few things?

#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Perth
Programs: DJ Silver, BA Silver, PC Gold, QF, SQ
Posts: 542
Originally Posted by d00t
Does it actually search airfare prices or is it a set amount($) for each route?
I made a php script a few months ago now that grabs flight prices from qantas.com.au over and over until one matching the criteria (date,price,time) is found..then emails me the link...

Steve
#4
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,508
That's really cool. I'm very impressed, and would certainly be making use of that in the future.
One suggestion I have from testing a few origin/destination pairs is that you stop it (or include an option to stop it) from returning the same sector multiple times. Say, when I do a search from CBR-> CBR needing 60SCs, I get
CBR to SYD, costing $84 and earning 10 status credits.
SYD to BNE, costing $65 and earning 10 status credits.
BNE to SYD, costing $69 and earning 10 status credits.
SYD to BNE, costing $65 and earning 10 status credits.
BNE to SYD, costing $69 and earning 10 status credits.
SYD to CBR, costing $81 and earning 10 status credits.
This may be technically correct, but it wouldn't be a trip that i would consider!
One suggestion I have from testing a few origin/destination pairs is that you stop it (or include an option to stop it) from returning the same sector multiple times. Say, when I do a search from CBR-> CBR needing 60SCs, I get
CBR to SYD, costing $84 and earning 10 status credits.
SYD to BNE, costing $65 and earning 10 status credits.
BNE to SYD, costing $69 and earning 10 status credits.
SYD to BNE, costing $65 and earning 10 status credits.
BNE to SYD, costing $69 and earning 10 status credits.
SYD to CBR, costing $81 and earning 10 status credits.
This may be technically correct, but it wouldn't be a trip that i would consider!
#8
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Programs: QC, QF, Avis Preferred, BW Crown Club, Priority Club
Posts: 1,451
Originally Posted by deeruck
This may be technically correct, but it wouldn't be a trip that i would consider!
SYD-BNE-SYD-GFN
Ok so it's not as bad as the one above, but the QF staff in SYD gave me a double take, as did the security officers.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Perth
Programs: DJ Silver, BA Silver, PC Gold, QF, SQ
Posts: 542
Originally Posted by deeruck
One suggestion I have from testing a few origin/destination pairs is that you stop it (or include an option to stop it) from returning the same sector multiple times.
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
I dont suppose there is any chance of including NZ and trans-tasman too?
Steve
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 1A
Programs: Elite Diamond Purple Dot Gold Silver Titanium for life
Posts: 1,818
Originally Posted by StevePER
Sounds promising... does your script perform searches on the website to find the prices? If so we could probably use it to find prices for the other fare classes that I need. 
Steve

Steve
#11
Moderator, CoronaVirus and Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,263
Originally Posted by StevePER
Including it as an option should be possible. I'll look into it...
That should be fairly simple as well, and was already on my long list of plans. I'm thinking I'll probably strip out quite a few of the more remote destinations first (on the grounds that they're never cheap and they just slow down the search). Then I'll add NZ and hopefully indirect routings, K class, etc.
Steve
That should be fairly simple as well, and was already on my long list of plans. I'm thinking I'll probably strip out quite a few of the more remote destinations first (on the grounds that they're never cheap and they just slow down the search). Then I'll add NZ and hopefully indirect routings, K class, etc.
Steve


#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 18,730
SC Rtw
On the OW forum have a look at Oneworld Explorer Itinerary Validator
Cacluates QF SC's
Similar to StevePER's, but done for a different reason
Cacluates QF SC's
Similar to StevePER's, but done for a different reason
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Aug 30, 04 at 9:18 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Perth
Programs: DJ Silver, BA Silver, PC Gold, QF, SQ
Posts: 542
New version announcement
The first update to the Status Chaser Calculator is now available!
Changes in this version:
Now I'm off to watch the footy (go Eagles!).
Steve
Changes in this version:
- Inclusion of New Zealand domestic and trans-Tasman red-e-deals, as requested by Kiwi Flyer.
- Support for multiple currencies.
- Some Australian regional centres have been removed for performance reasons.
- Internal changes that pave the way for supporting different fare types.
Now I'm off to watch the footy (go Eagles!).

Steve
#15
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: qf wp
Posts: 113
Originally Posted by StevePER
Now I'm off to watch the footy (go Eagles!). 

A couple of suggested improvements... could you add a "cheapest SC from anywhere" option. ie not limited to a starting point. Useless for us over here in the West, but for frequent travellers knowing that the cheapest SC run in Aust starts in *** might be useful.
Also, maybe align it to the footy fixtures so you can work out how many points you can earn following your team all over the country!
