Originally Posted by
harryhv
QFF is among the world's worst programs for awards and upgrades. No-one in their right mind would join Qantas Frequent Flyer unless they were forced to, as part of QF's captive market in Australia.
Just as a reminder to those unfamiliar with the QFF program
- premium class redemptions cost about double, in QF points, compared with AA miles for the exact same seat.
- international upgrades on Qantas are standby-only, a lottery on the day, but that doesn't stop QF charging like a wounded bull for the upgrade - often an AA award for that same seat would be fewer AA miles than the points for the QF upgrade.
I fully agree that Qantas has to be one of the worst value frequent flyer programmes around and that the redemption costs in premium cabins are dire compared to AA but for 1st class redemptions often worse than twice the cost; e.g. Australia - east cost USA, would cost 145k AA points vs 384k Qantas points ( 2.6 times the cost in points ) PLUS the qantas co-payment scam disguised as a fuel surcharge of $530 to pay too
going to Europe using CX 1st becomes a difference of 160k vs 405k ( over 2.5 times ) plus $610 of delicious cash payment to pay
Originally Posted by
harryhv
But over here we are constrained into the QF program by some nasty collusive practices which would be illegal in many places (Australians are forbidden to join BA "EC", for example, and you won't find any creditcards offering AA miles over here, while QF ensures its normal Y fares earn nothing on AA).
There are not many places where an organisation in one country cannot choose to not deal with countries that they do not want to
As far as getting AA miles, it is possible to get Diners Club and American Express points across to AA via SPG giving a rate of up to 0.41 AA points per Amex point or 0.625 AA points per Diners Club point
Given the relative value of AA awards to Qantas awards, the use of points to top up an account works out pretty evenly vs the 1 for 1 transfer available for Amex-Qantas
Originally Posted by harryhv
As regards status and the "good" earnings for paid premium classes, this needs to be balanced against the laughable cost of premium seats on QF. Particularly in the protected domestic market where - thanks to "competition" from DJ - the price of a J seat has fallen from about 7 (seven) times the normal Y fare to about six times. International J fares are also out of whack, as many threads attest.
Well, for international travel, while people are prepared to pay out the fares that Qantas wants to charge, they will continue to do so; for domestic travel, it is good to see competition in the premium cabin