QFF Program Wishlist
 

Reading a few threads recently on moving to other oneworld FFPs, was thinking it would be interesting to start a discussion on what you would do to make QFF a more compelling program.

On balance, I think it's a reasonable program, but I certainly wouldn't complain about a friendlier earn/burn ratio. Status bonuses help soften the high premium cabin burn rates, as long as you fly on a route where the status bonus kicks in.

Some things that would be nice:

• Friendlier earn/burn
• Return the upgrade credits (who prefers the loyalty bonus that replaced these?)
• Greater bonuses for premium cabin travel - whilst 125% for J is similar to many airlines, unlike the SCs you earn, it hardly reflects the fare differential.

Recently was talking to friends about Partner Gold - how many actually find it of genuine benefit after hitting 2100SCs, given partners often travel with the WP and can access better benefits from the WP!

Interested to hear what others think.

#1 on my wishlist for years was finally granted - separate domestic lounges for WPs. This is an excellent benefit and QF deserve to be applauded for finally getting us out of the overcrowded QF pubs, which are frequently busier than the concourse below. The earn/ burn ratios don't concern me too much these days, if I want to fly someplace for leisure on a certain date I'll likely just pay for it. My earning significantly outstrips my burning anyway.

I would add:

1. Lifetime Platinum Status - even at 21,000 or 28,000 LTSCs.

2. More WP benefits extended to JQ pax, particularly as QF have frequently dumped routes onto JQ leaving the consumer with no choice (eg: NTL-MEL). Separate to this, the best thing they could do to enhance JQ would be to open check-in MORE than 2 hours prior to departure.


3. Express domestic security screening @ SYD T3, BNE and MEL. At least at SYD T2 you can take the sneaky entry down near the Aeropelican/ REX gates.

Get rid of partner gold, or give WPs the option to nominate if they want PG ie - once reached WP status ability to transfer all SCs to nominated partner (on all tiers??) of QFF program;

Don't agree with lifetime platinum;

Express screening a la Priority AAccess / Priority boarding is a good idea but will unlikely happen in Australian ports;

Ability to confirm International Upgrades at time of request / time of booking. None of this 24hr B.S. Why does QF insist upon this policy, especially to top tier flyers? Surely if it is a yield / revenue managment issue then the beancounters can work out a better way to control it.

Greater bonuses for cabin travel - aren't the SC's earnt (4x for J against disc. Y) enough? Compare to other airlines where actual mileage (including cabin bonus) is required for accrual / status, QFFers get it VERY easy, IMHO.

Get rid of "Priority Economy Seat Purchase" (does anyone ever use this - highest bidder...) and have a seperate yield managment for WPs / SGs (easier said than done; alouth for award seats QF have been known to open 'any' seat in the past to WPs where possible?). Easier said than done.

Move the 100% points bonus to ALL OneWorld airlines, and while at it increase the SG bonus to 100% and WP 200%.

(Open Pandoras box) Get rid of paid QP membership@:-).

Can't see the point in extending WP benefits to JQ as this is a third rate off shoot of QF, increasing its presence on domestic routes, but if Alan has his way the whole QF brand will end up like it anyway....:eek::confused:

- David.

I would like to see a 'super tier' above platinum, with additional benefits for members with (say) >3500 SCs per annum. I think this is quite likely to be introduced in the next year or so.

I wouldnt remove paid QP membership, however given the number of people who take this route leave them in the QP and allow SG into the J lounges would be nice! If you look in most lounges most days (PER, DRW & ADL for example where there is no J lounge) I would reckon 80% of the pax are paid members based on boarding passes i have seen. GO to SYD, MEL & BNE, where the WP's are behind a different wall, and I reckon it would be nearer 90%. Then give the larger lounge in each location to the elites (BNE & MEL J lounges in particular can become more cramped than the PER QP in a blink of an eye)

Though I do like PER's move at the moment of sending QPNB & QPPS members downstairs to the shelter when the lounge is approaching capacity!

Upgrade certificates returning would be nice but not essential

Personality test lounge staff and replace all dragons with a freindlier alternative

Fully agree. Especially the lifetime Platinum which is the only thing which would keep me going in the future.

What makes this quite likely?

I am pretty on side with shillard here and agree with everything proposed as I too pay for my leisure and have really used points just for upgrades and been hit with the cr@pstar brand.
But I would like to see a more friendlier upgrade policy, eg like domesitc if redemption seats available then automatic otherwise a standby upgrade cleared 3 days beforehand.

- Ability move to an earlier flight during the day without penalty for elites. There's many a time I could have used this benefit.

- Same additional Jetstar privileges for elites would be nice. I was on a light earlier this week (from OOL) and muy flight was delayed by 3 hours. Despite there being another two flights that left (on time) before my late flight left, absolutely no chance of changing flights.

QF's many recent focus groups with very frequent flyers, seeking their input on such a new tier would seem a bizarre exercise otherwise.

This seems to have occurred to a large extent already. In which airport do you encounter "dragons"? I have found the desk staff to have improved immensely in the last two years or so.

MEL chap with the reading glasses afternoon shifts? on the front desk certainly passes my test. Warm friendly greeting EVERY time he's been on :D

I agree, very nice guy. He welcomes me by name every time I am there.

I prefer the loyalty bonus over the upgrade credits (even though it was a downgrade in plan benefits) as I never managed to actually use the upgrade credits before they expired.

Many FF plans have gone to a 4th higher earned tier, so QF having a CL equivalent that is earned is just matching the competition -- making it a sure thing, imho. For some airlines this ultra tier is set quite low, while for others it is the equivalent of 1 long-haul F flight per week (making it truly exclusive). I suspect QF will make it tough to earn, unlike WP.

And most probably limited to their own metal or just some selected partners but not all of OW.

PPS Solitaire springs to mind... Not sure QF will go this far though?
I also don't see C/L as the yardstick for next tier up from WP in relation to the QFF program; IMHO.
Yes it is exclusive but as has been eluded to QF invites members to be CL for (revenue or whatever) reasons - a CL member can fly ONE flight a year with QF if they bring in $$$$ through corporate accounts / govt. travel etc...
That being said, a higher (and another very high tier) would be nice :D