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.

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
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.

^

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