I'm looking to book return biz Melbourne to Gold Coast on VA, and it turns out the price is the same if I go direct as it is if I go via Sydney.

I'm looking to book return biz Melbourne to Gold Coast on VA, and it turns out the price is the same if I go direct as it is if I go via Sydney. I'm curious to know if I do the booking via Sydney, will I earn 40 status credits per segment, meaning a total of 160 status credits for the return trip as opposed to 60 per segment for direct flights meaning 120 in total? I'd be tempted to go via Sydney for an additional 40 status credits!

Yes, you get SC per sector. We often fly MEL-NTL via BNE just for that reason.

Returned yesterday from Perth to Singapore via Sydney return for just that reason (Also the same price as flying direct, and I got to try an A380). Got the international (on SQ) points and SCs already. I'll let you know if the domestic ones show up as well. Everyone says I'm mad, but it's worth it for the 400 SC for one trip.

Depends how much your time is worth? I fly OOL-MEL direct weekly and wouldnt even think about it for a few extra status credits, that said I'm not struggling for them.

John Lennon once said "Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted". If you enjoy flying as much as I do but only fly about 2 or 3 times a year, then taking 15 hours to get from Perth to Singapore (including lounge time) can be considered all part of the holiday. If you fly every week, then having to change flights could become very tedious very quickly. 

I now have all the points and SCs as expected. 120 each way for the international sectors and 80 each way for the domestic. So I can confirm from experience earlier this week that it does work that way. Happy flighting!

Thanks everyone :)