There already is a hidden tier with extra benefits for high SC WPs. I'm not sure what the cut-off is (and it may not necessarily be fixed number of SCs either).

#1 would see me fly much more QF than I do currently, not only to qualify for it but to enjoy the fruits of my labour (based in NZ anytime lounge access is of very limited help).

#2 would see me consider JQ for domestic & trans-Tasman instead of flat ruling it out (except when travelling on BFOD rules where JQ has a suitable fare & schedule).

I'd be curious to learn more about this. It is certainly contrary to the information conveyed at the focus groups, apart from the odd bottle of Grange at Xmas.

News to me - I racked up over 3,000 SCs one year, got some wine and a nice letter - that's about the extent of "hidden tier" benefits. Other than "CIP" on the boarding passes for international flights and connections to/ from international flights.

The only thing I got during my 5000SC years was PG.

That's a lot of SC. If done in F, not too bad as you travel in comfort and bonus SC's, J, a fair bit of travel involved, FULL whY, probably not, discount whY, NO WAY.

I'd like to know what they are, because I've been treated increasingly worse by QF the more SCs I got. :eek:

The year it was revealed to me I had 7000 SCs. I have no idea of the threshold.

Why I thought the super WP's got "Air" as an additional benefit:p
Honestly I do not think you need that many new features, just open some up a bit more eg. JQ extends all benefits or even free food & beverage, lifetime WP.
If limo service etc. was added QF would definitely incur extra costs, for how much more revenue, which as an airline you would think they would want to avoid.

Some good thoughts, and a lot of us are thinking along the same lines it seems.
On a practical and not particularly costly level, the two things I think that would show appreciation of "Frequent Flyers" would be:
- A "Fast Track" line at security when things are busy (thinking of the "maze" queue in BNE for example)
- A priority boarding lane at the gate (a la "Priority AAccess") to allow "anytime boarding".

On another note, anyone venture a guess as to what "Next Generation Check-in" will hold? An RFID card as they where taking about perhaps?

Doesn't QF already have a priority boarding lane??? All the flights that I have ever boarded (domestic and int) have had a separate J boarding lane; what more do you want? I presume this is always available for status. As for fast track for security, maybe I've been lucky but have never taken more than 5 min to get through security at any airport in Australia, so maybe QF doesn't provide it because it would be beneficial so rarely. Int departure at SYD "sometimes" has it, strangely enough (not quite sure why it comes and goes). As for next-gen checkin, pretty clear that most companies are going the cell phone barcode route, instead of RFID (which has lots of problems, sadly).

International flights have different gate lines; but I should have qualified my comment to domestic boarding, where I don't believe I have seen a different line. There are usually two general boarding lines at the gate, in my experience. This is more noticeable when boarding a 767, where the lines are a bit more substantial.
They have already launched their cellphone barcode boarding pass; which is why I was wondering if there "teaser" re the "NGCI" was for something else new. http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...ports:TextLink

My opinion about status beyond Platinum, needs to be linked to QF status credits or $$ spent on QF (including JQ, any flights with a QF code regardless of operating carrier, and also BA flights that form part of the JSA). QF meet their obligations to the alliance through WP, and beyond that it is probably worthwhile for recognition to focus on generating revenue just for QF.

As for lifetime recognition, that's a difficult one, as you want to maintain custom once people are there - and LTG does that, as there is still the WP carrot. Maybe once you get to a requisite number of status credits (eg 28000) you automatically achieve "Platinum Plus" whenever you retain Platinum in a year, if you don't you just are LTG.

Whatever the case I think another tier of loyalty recognition needs to be a bit more "game proof" so that it can't be achieved by doing status runs on YUPs in the US (or even milking A class in the US on DONEx's), or on CX from certain ports in Asia).

That'd be pretty hard to do. It would have to be 1 dollar spent on QF travel = x status credits; but that would mean huge amounts would have to be spent ie probably regular point-point F tickets. Most people who fly that would have little need for additional status benefits (what comes that doesn't come with a first ticket and a platinum FF card?)

You can keep the current status credit model and just count QF coded flights for the purposes of this status.

- Anytime F lounge access regardless of airline and class of travel
- Automatic upgrades to next COS
- Use of F lounge as arrivals lounge
- PA pickup at many destinations
- pickup from aircraft by car and delivery to connecting flight including customs and quarantine processing during tight connections
- Guaranteed availability in D or A
- Guaranteed classic award seat availability
- complimentary valet parking, incl car wash

I could dream up a few more things but one only need to look at LH HON status for some inspiration.

^:D

Well obviously I don't think big enough!

Nice ideas!

United had a "1K Lite" for many years. Of course Star has no emerald level, so that was irrelevant to partners.

As for "too many" emeralds, that's awfully hard to believe, otherwise why would there be a thread about Platinums being granted extended tenure unilaterally? If there are "too many" emeralds, then, it's only because Qantas wishes it to be so.

QF's status scheme is no better or worse than many. It's clearly not welcoming to discount Coach flyers, and perhaps "too" generous to discount First flyers. One could make tweaks to the earning table, but this is not an area where the program is an outlier compared to others.

Freebie seat redemption is stingy but not advertised as anything but...

The upgrade program is seriously out of kilter compared to many others. UA, AA, and DL are all handing out SWU's, and UA even has been taking them interchangeably with LH. Star partners offer upgrade awards on each other--- only from the top fare classes, but at least it's there. Asiamiles somehow offers upgrades on AA and BA. QF barely offers them on itself. As a cozy duopoly carrier for a long time, it should have done nothing else; however those days are gone. Delta has (and presumably virgin too) deep pockets and will not rest until QF's margins are whittled considerably.

For own-upgrades (US, UA, CO, DL, AA, AS, BA), booking an upgrade is no different from any other award-- the inventory is either there or not, but if it's there you can book it. none of this we'll think about it til the day before flying, and perhaps choose even then to ignore you... and that's international. Domestically, top tier domestic upgrades are infinite and free on US, UA, CO, DL, AA---except for United on its few "p.s." transcons, where only miles for upgrades are accepted.

Lifetime status is something most carriers are wrestling with. UA and AA do not offer lifetime top tier, but CO and DL do.

The ultra-high tier is likewise a developing point. DL chose to do it with a diamond tier at 125k, but their previous top tier was at 75k not 100. CO announced a fourth tier, but will it remain on the merge with UA? stay tuned. AA doesn't seem to need a super-top tier, but they did offer extra rewards at the 125K level last year.

Which leaves the benefit list in general--- as others have pointed out, Partner Gold is awfully inflexible. Why not do a rewards menu, as AA has successfully done and DL has now institutionalized. At the top top level, AA's extra rewards choices were: 25K redeemable miles, nomination of a friend for Gold status, a year's club membership, or a pair of extra SWU's. Two choices from the menu were permitted (repeats allowed, other than the club).

The day QF does this is the day I would sell all my QF shares (that's if I had any!) . This approach (which is now an expectation in domestic market in US I gather) hardly helps airline profitability in the long term.

As DownUnderFlyer indicated one option is to tie it solely to QF status credits. The other option is just to track $ spend (quite independently of wher ones actual points/status goes to), SQ do it somehow (at least for business/first fares) for consideration of their PPS status.

Jetstar to be considered a OW affiliate.
At least for Star Class fares.

Star class offered on exPER international flights.

Dedicated FF elite / business boarding lines domestically

Fred

well, it certainly doesn't need to be unlimited, or "free". AA runs, and until this year UA ran, an instrument-based domestic upgrade system for elite members. the revenue involved is nontrivial. the instrument upgrade seats aren't released at time of booking, but only in the week before departure.

:td:
just look at the inferior rubbish on offer as soon as you fly any of these airlines outside of the US, where they are exposed to decent competitors....

Not having to qualify for the 4 flights on Qantas rule if you have genuine proof that you're currently residing in another country and have had Gold or higher status for several years running.

I've been Gold for 5 years, and I will definitely be dropping back to Silver this year as I won't be flying home for a visit until 2011. A shame (yet I fully understand why they do it, so I am not exactly .....ing about it!) :)

• Status Bonus on more/all Oneworld Airlines
• More Luggage Allowance on more airlines (at least BA and AA)
• No four-segment-rule for Frequent Flyers based in Europe
• Confirmed Upgrades for Elite Members on QF
• Upgrades on other Oneworld-Alliance Partners
• Fast Track Security Access for Elite Members
• Partner Awards (Discount for awards, when flying with a Partner9
• Credit Cards in other Countries
• More Milage/SC Promotions (as LH)
• Lifetime WP (Maybe with a minimum age of 60)

Be warned form the LH-HON experience:
If there will be an extra Tier above WP the "normal" WP will be devaluated!
So nice for a few guys, but the majority will experience quite a loss of features!

I would say that during 80% of my domestic flights i am at the gate when the announcement is made, and it is VERY rare that an announcement is made for pre boarding of elites of business class PAX. I cannot remember it happening in fact.

The problem with all of this is that you are quoting some of the worst airlines with the worst profitability as a positive example. So what DL, AA, UA etc are doing will not be considered as a good example by most other airline executives. Two of the three airlines with an investment grade credit rating are very stingy with upgrades because they want people to actually pay $8000 for a ticket if they want to fly business (and the third doesn't have anything to upgrade to).

BTW, the Star Alliance upgrade program allows upgrades from lower booking classes on some frequent flyer programs (M&M for example). And I think when people here talk about a top tear, they are not talking about 125k miles. More like 200k, 300k or something along those lines.

Domestically Pre-boarding is rare indeed, but I have quite often heard something like "Passengers in rows 15 to 29, our Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers and oneworld emerald and sapphire ...".

Even if the reference is not made I board anyway.

Interestingly, I encountered an attempt at this for the first time in as long as I can remember yesterday on QF419 SYD-MEL; the guy on the desk did indeed read a screed like this. Trouble was, people pretty well ignored him and there was a general stampede to board.

For SG or WP's;
Dropping the 2500 point fee/charge for phone assistance if you need to call the QF help desk because the flight doesn't exist on the QF website when doing an award booking.

I did a booking a few years ago and used x2 $100 QF credit vouchers. Because l called to make the booking as it could not be done through the web, l got slugged $50 assistance fee. So, my voucher was only worth $150.

More promos would be great! A once a year SC promo isn't anything to get excited about.

Tyrolean, if there was a LTP (LifeTimePlat), why would you put a minimum age on it? If enough SC's are earned, age should not be a factor. I fly more than my neighbour, but she is double my age. Which means that l bring in more money for QF's bottom line than she does, but if reaching the LTP threshold l would not be eligible for it?

Thats the LH way. And QF and LH work very similar. LH offers lifetime SEN status to people who had SEN for 10 consecutive years and more than 1MM lifetime miles when turning 60. This way they make sure that "lifetime" is more controllable.
But of course I wouldn't like something like that.

that seems not unreasonable. LTG at 14K when hit, and LTP to look forward to on hitting a threshold of points and age...

point taken, but who will QF be competing against in its USA-Australia markets (and in due time, other markets)? it's the likes of DL and UA, for better or for worse. Those "most other airline executives" are faced with finding an evolved profitability model that will continue working in the market as it changes. Even QF is down to charging base fare ca US$3900 in Business now LAX-SYD return (currently on 50 days' notice, but how long will that long a window last?), and the 21-day notice MEL-LAX return fare is down to US$6195. Even a fairly unrestricted roundtrip MEL-LAX is down to $12,997 (C fare). Wanting to charge $17,000+ for J all too quickly gets reduced to just that, wanting.

OK, I would prefer a lifetime status without any age restriction. I have problems with the LH approach (because I am 36!). But it makes it more controllable for the airline and they keep you as a customer after you retire. So the approach: If you have at least XX lifetime TP and you turn 60, you get Lifetime WP may be a compromise that:
- Makes you continue to collect TPs
- Sets a goal to get
- Is not that dangerous for the airline!

Another tier wouldn't be too hard considering it already exists...

Open up CL when you hit say 5,000 SC in a year, and make lifetime Plat when you hit a huge milestone like 50,000 SC.

That way current tiers don't get devalued and everyone remains happy.

Current CL's will know their 'free' CL is worth 5000 SC - hense putting a real value on it to appreciate.

Oh I forgot, a simple thing they could do is allow more than just one family transfer every 12 months.

This has been my experience too over the last 6 months flying 2-4 sectors per week. I have been avoiding the QP and hanging out at the gate (it's actually calmer than in the QP) so am there at first boarding. Never any mention of elites, and am informal line has already formed before any boarding has been announced. Once it has started boarding it would be a brave person to cut those queues.

The only time I consistently see a separate J/WP/SG line domestically is in PER, and sometimes for A330's in SYD.

I've ignored the queue a few times when at the gate when boarding commences, I've just waltzed to the front and handed my boarding pass, as if I had every right to do so (which I did). No dramas.

A few filthy looks from pax in the queue, but to hell with them.


YMMV.

And here is was thinking that "Business, Platinum and Gold Frequent Fliers may board at their leisure" still meant we had to join the queue?

Last time I saw staged booking was to Adelaide a couple of weeks ago, not that it made any difference. In fact I have never seen a person look at their boarding pass and exit the queue after one of those announcements.

I haven't heard it at PER, yet. But, l think it's a good idea to promote it.
Only on INT boarding do l hear the; F,J, Emeralds and Golds may board any time. Most of the time, they are still in the lounge, so not many WP/SG's do board.

d00t; great idea. 50,000SC for LTP and CL @5,000SC per calender year.

Asiana have a system like this. 1million BIS miles= lifetime Platinum (aka Star Alliance GOLD)
http://ea.flyasiana.com/Global/EA/en...?fid=CLUB13100 (Scroll half way down)

You get lifetime status on AF, KL, AA, UA, SA etc. nothing special. OZ is unique because you get *G without ever having to set foot on a OZ plane. But *G is a lower status than OWE IMHO and there is nobody in OW giving away top status. I wonder whether OW rules don't allow this.