I am just about to do that.

For one thing, I never let an airline to teach me about their own FF program, I always teach myself from their materials. Airlines would always want to present their marketing products in a way that sounds as a good deal to you.

For example, the Qantas representative on this board said that they got rid of the 5 free stopovers within Australia because it is unfair that some customers can book up to 40 segments on one award, which resulted in abuse and less seats for other members. For one, I have real difficulty figuring out how to squeeze 40 segments in 11,000KM let alone only allowed 5 stops plus not being able to connect via the same city more than twice. Therefore, I think the 40 segments is not impossible but is highly unlikely to be the norm for most QF flyers. Who would that, flying for fun!? So Qantas used that as a pretext to justify their change which in my mind is a very juicy way of saying: "We aretaking away your FF benefit." Qantas is not the only one, all airlines would always present themselves in this fashion - to conceal their disadvantages or weaknesses with fluffy words or supposedly increased benefits elsewhere. But, in my opinion, to able to find such ungracious propaganda using all possible psychological tactics to misguide its members, the new Qantas FF is a first to me.

I'll give few more examples: Earn 1 point per mile flown instead of earning 0.7 point per dis.KM which in reality is 0.625 point per KM for everybody from dis.economy to First! Now, the new member tiers would be Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum as opposed to White, Blue, Silver and Gold. This essentially gives people a false imporession that "I am now a higher tier than before." We all know that the new Gold is in fact the old Silver tier, but even though we consciously know this fact, unconsciously, we still in some way think: "I was Silver but now I am Gold." Consequently, this may induce a feeling to people that they are better off. This is not myth, this is pure psychological tactics.

[b]Next a quote from the new guide: "We are increasing the distance allowed on one itinerary for a domestic Award flight redemption from 11,000 to 41,800KM." Instead of saying they have reduced the maximum distance of per award by almost 50% (what a huge number!) they want to make you feel you gain something by saying they increase the distance per domestic award to 41,800KM. Smart isn't it, but not so fast. How do you fly within Australia for 41,800 in maximum of 5 stopovers where turnaround points count as stopovers in one award + you can't connect int the same city more than twice? It can't be done, so the statement though is theoretically possible, is practicaly unfeasible. According to my estimation, the new award chart which says Zone 5 is 16,001~26,000 miles can never be redeemed solely within Australia, not without violating other program's terms and conditions. In other words, the Qantas publicity which claims that the maximum distance per domestic award is now 41,800KM can be considered as false publicity as it is unfeasible within its own program. Did they also tell you that to do so you need to spend 220,000 points for Business class within Australia + 50,000 for the stops for a great total of 270,000 points wholly within Australia. I bet they wouldn't dare to tell you that, it would have scared you away. Voila the truths behind a fancy slogan used in the Qantas FF membership guide as I repeat here again: "We are increasing the distance allowed on one itinerary for a domestic Award flight redemption from 11,000 to 41,800KM." Now that you know the truths behind this slogan, I am sure you would have a different sensation when you read it now compared to when you first read it.

Stay tune, we'll examine(dissect) the new award charts just shortly and you'll see the awards are really cheaper or more expensive.

The old Qantas award charts were unique of itw own. Its distincitveness was very attractive to me as a mutli-FF member. For example, the 11,000KM in Business within Australia can only be done using QF points unless you pay twice or three times the points required using Oneworld RTW. Internationally, for the record I don't travel in economy, not using points anyway. I could spend as little as 35,000 points in AA which would have got me from North America down to Australia/New Zealand with CX in economy but I wouldn't do that. Qantas's old award chart allowed up to 70,000KM which is enough for me to go from JFK-SYD then to JNB and back to NYC or I could leave Europe, say LHR-SYD-JNB, then JNB-SYD-MEL, then MEL-AKL-MEL-LHR all in First Class. All that for only 300,000 KM which is 187,500 miles in my count. This is a saving of 43% VS. Oneworld RTW ticket.

Finally, while I earn miles on Air Canada (former Canadian Airlines), American Airlines and British Airways, I have found a way to earn miles fast on Qantas without flying them or cumulating miles in my QF account - through hotel stays at 1,500 point per stay (night) or more often 3,000 point per night (stay). The 5 year limit wasn't a problem as the time allowed is sufficient for lots of cumulation. I have 'secret weapons' such as Starwood to help me in case I end up needing to add some points to my QF account to do what I want to do. After all, it is more efficient for me to use Qantas as a hotel mileage deposit than other airlines, because they offer only 500 miles for others. Qantas is a much better deal in that sense.

[This message has been edited by Guava (edited 07-27-2001).]