Originally Posted by Leumas
Have I mis-read something...?
E.g., currently WLG-AKL-WLG earns 20 SCs and 2000 miles (1000 minimum each journey). The flight is 699 miles each way.
Now, with the new earning scheme, this flight is zone 2, and earns 15 SC. Effectively, you're earning 2000 miles and 30 SCs for this return journey?
Yes, you have missed something. WLG-AKL is only 298 miles each way, so your points and SC earning on that route is unchanged.
Originally Posted by NM
Its a good thing I bought the Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish on the way out of Australia. It will definately help me digest the "enhancements".
I have not found too much to be "enhanced" about so far
Go to the BA board and see how they define "enhancements" over there, and I think you'll find that by that rationale QF has made many, many enhancements!
As others have said, these changes (with the exception of one way awards and mileage transfers) all suck, but let's not forget that with very few exceptions frequent flyer programmes are all getting less generous. I fear that the golden age for award travel is well behind us, so switching to another programme may only buy a small amount of time - by the time you've earned status with them, they'll be making similar changes themselves. Having said that, most North American carriers are too afraid to change much about their FFPs, since the average consumer there is more FF-savvy and their programmes are more easily comparable with each other.
Of the *A programmes, personally I think that UA and AC offer the best options, at least for a discount economy flyer like myself. I'm sure that UA would cheerfully comp QF SGs and WPs to at least Premier Exec (i.e. Star Alliance gold). Meanwhile, the AirNZ programme is not bad if you fly a lot in premium classes, and the new concept of 'buy any seat on any NZ flight using points' is a good one, but the long haul/premium awards are a bit expensive.