The Feedback function is somewhat limited - although question 3 asks if there is anything you would like to see more of, "even remotely reasonably priced Any Seat Awards" does not present as one of the choices....
Personally, this latest round of enhancement doesn't excite me one way or the other. I've a large points balance (~850K), and will likely requalify for WP just on domestic flights or flights to and from NZ.
(Yes, there is a method to my madness. I'll be redeeming them for a couple of RTW J or even F (haven't really looked into it) for my Dad and his partner as retirement presents. If I've enough (I've another 800K Amex points), maybe similar for my sister and my BiL-to-be as a wedding present. I digress...)
If you want flexibility or a ticket in short notice, you pay more - just like buying a ticket now with money. Yes, in some cases, a LOT more in points, but this round of enhancement isn't about redeeming flights.
This round of enhancement is about repositioning QFF as a loyalty programme like Fly Buys. The whole point (pun not intended) of the game makes the 'FF' in QFF a lot less relevant.
Rather than comparing how much a point is worth, I wonder if there's an objective measure comparing the burn rate of 1 QFF point versus 1 Fly Buys point, for instance.
Having said that, I'm glad the SC side of things was left untouched. I just wonder if QF(F) will now quietly slip in changes for the SC side of things now...
(Yes, there is a method to my madness. I'll be redeeming them for a couple of RTW J or even F (haven't really looked into it) for my Dad and his partner as retirement presents.
A 5 stop RTW in J is 285,000 points. +50% for F. So you have enough.
Even if you want more stops, they (usually) don't add significantly to the points required (I booked SYD-HKG-BKK-LHR-CDG/BRU-HEL-LHR-JFK/YUV-ORD-SEA/LAX-SYD for 410k). Finding seats on the other hand is another issue :-)
Programs: QF WP (LT Gold), LH SEN, OZ Diamond, CO Nothing, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Avis PC
Posts: 6,847
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leumas
Rather than comparing how much a point is worth, I wonder if there's an objective measure comparing the burn rate of 1 QFF point versus 1 Fly Buys point, for instance.
Or compare them to the burn rate of my Lufthansa Miles (= a lot better) or my OZ miles (= better) or my Continental miles (= better) or my Amex points (= better) or my SPG points (= better) or my....
Programs: QC Bronze (ex Plat), UA*1K, SQ MM, SixT Plat
Posts: 59
observations
- AnySeat awards seem based on published fare classes & ticket prices
- Return appears to be cheaper than 2 x One Way tickets
e.g. MEL-FRA in J, travel 03.07.08,
AnySeat 961,033 points for MEL-FRA one-way
AnySeat 568,211 points for MEL-FRA sector when booking as return ticket
- The new 'program' is simply a means of converting points into ~1 cent each for buying QF tickets or QFF store merchandise
- Rather than transferring points from Amex/etc to QFF, it may be better to redeem as cashback or travel vouchers (direct from the CC Program) and use those to book real flights.
E.g. on Westpac Altitude, ~16000 points buys either 8000 QFF points, or a $100 gift/travel voucher. You do the math. And hey, you get to earn SC's and QFF points as well.
- I'm sitting on a truckload of points across various card programs but you won't find me redeeming QF Any Seat awards )
One thought I have had in relation the new paras in the T&C's of what was previously undocumented:
Quote:
20.6 Classic Award seat allocation
20.6.1 Qantas may at its discretion make available to Platinum and Gold Members additional allocations of Classic Award seats.
This would allow QFF at their discretion to have what would effectively be separate Award programs by making significantly more "Classic" award seating available to elites than other members.
i.e. The program could have two main parts:
One for Elite Frequent Flyers -
Those who earn a significant proportion of their frequent flyer points by BIS flying would generally have award seating available for less FF points than others.
A second category for frequent spenders -
Those who generate the far majority of their QFF points by CC spend would basically need to pay far more for their seats.
By including this paragraph in the T&C, QFF are (indirectly) publishing that facet.
Programs: Hilton Silver VIP, QF Club Silver (OW Ruby), back to UA nothing :(
Posts: 4,915
They seem to have plugged the hole somewhat, though I now found a different sort of fun one...
Going out, yes OK Business Saver is 333k miles, F saver 398k miles.. fine, going back (SIN-MEL), business saver is a relative bargain at 77k and F saver at 99k.. could that be the "classic" awards?
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RichardMEL A Star Alliance Member
Programs: Hilton Silver VIP, QF Club Silver (OW Ruby), back to UA nothing :(
Posts: 4,915
OK so I think I worked it out. The one way classic award MEL-SIN in F is 90k miles, so that 99-100k "price" seems about right. So I bet what I saw on the website the other day was that "saver J" wasn't available as a classic award, so it was quoting the anyseat price, but the saver F classic award was, that's why it was cheaper. That's kind of a neat system really... it's just not terribly clear.
I think they should mark those as classic award levels or something.
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RichardMEL A Star Alliance Member
Yep, that's what I noticed when looking at the japan flights as it explained the jump from 72,000 to just over 500,000. Doesn't explain how they expect to get 1,000,000+ points for a SYD-NRT return booking 6 months out in low season when there's usually pretty decent availability anyway though.
Programs: QF Plat./OW Emerald + Life Silver, IC Plat. Royal Ambassador, etc.
Posts: 2,595
Quote:
Originally Posted by anat0l
Classic Awards
Same as before with prices, conditions of "sale".
Less availability on flights; some flights no such seats available.
I'm glad to advise that a senior QF FF employee has given me a written, formal guarantee that with the introduction of Any Seat they have left the old system as it was, and that an identical amount/proportion of seats will be available - and will for the "foreseeable future", in number and as a proportion of total seats - in 'Classic' as in the pre-July 1 system.
This should thus mean that the ability to book award seats as per the old system is unchanged, and so at least Golds and Platinums should thus have limited need to actually have to pay the ridiculous redemption levels in Any Seat.
A little bit of silver lining to the post-July 1 dark cloud (if only a little).
I think QF have been planning for this day for some time.
From what I have read here and my own experience in having to cancel and lose points when a return flight could not be found I believe there has been a gradual reduction in available award seats over the past year or so on QF metal.
So now they can claim that Classic Awards will not change because they have already degenerated it to a very limited selection.
)
