QFF Program Wishlist
May 23, 2010 | 7:34 am
#61
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689
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.
May 23, 2010 | 7:57 am
#62
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MEL
Programs: Plastic Fantastic! - QF, DJ, AF, NZ, DL etc..
Posts: 414
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....
May 23, 2010 | 11:54 am
#63
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: A3*G, EI Silver, BA Bronze, SK Gold, Mucci
Posts: 2,754
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!)
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!)
May 23, 2010 | 1:43 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NUE,MUC,INN,FDH
Programs: QF LTG, LH LT-SEN (HON till 02/26), AF-Plat, AB-G
Posts: 2,179
- 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!
May 23, 2010 | 3:16 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: MEL
Posts: 398
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.
May 23, 2010 | 5:03 pm
#66
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,152
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).
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).
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.
May 23, 2010 | 6:14 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
Posts: 22,336
Even if the reference is not made I board anyway.
May 23, 2010 | 6:32 pm
#68
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold)
Posts: 1,082
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.
May 23, 2010 | 10:42 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MEL
Programs: Plastic Fantastic! - QF, DJ, AF, NZ, DL etc..
Posts: 414
* Drop the ridiculous operator assisted fees / change fees (especially for top tier frequent fliers) when booking or changing flights through QF telephone sales, QF travel centres or QF airporst sales desks.
This is especially the case for complicated bookings.
This is especially the case for complicated bookings.
May 24, 2010 | 12:30 am
#70
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 549
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?
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?
May 24, 2010 | 12:58 am
#71
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,152
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?
But of course I wouldn't like something like that.
May 24, 2010 | 1:58 am
#72
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689
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.
But of course I wouldn't like something like that.
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.
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.
May 24, 2010 | 10:40 am
#73
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NUE,MUC,INN,FDH
Programs: QF LTG, LH LT-SEN (HON till 02/26), AF-Plat, AB-G
Posts: 2,179
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?
- Makes you continue to collect TPs
- Sets a goal to get
- Is not that dangerous for the airline!
May 24, 2010 | 6:25 pm
#74
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 1A
Programs: Elite Diamond Purple Gold Silver Titanium for life
Posts: 1,882
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.
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.