Upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes
May 17, 2011, 3:05 am
#46
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sydney
Posts: 131
For me, the changes are generally positive. The one part that I dont like however is the changes to the loyalty bonus. There should be more rewards for those of us at the bottom end of the scale. Who dont fly often enough to get status, but dont fly anyone else.
We need to fly more, with our money to get less benefits. Who's to say we are less loyal than the Whinging Platinums who complain they cant use the QF lounges when flying SQ?
We need to fly more, with our money to get less benefits. Who's to say we are less loyal than the Whinging Platinums who complain they cant use the QF lounges when flying SQ?
May 17, 2011, 3:09 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,991
Additional Status credits required to obtain next Loyalty bonus: 230
QFF are going reap a huge windfall through the forced "Breakage" of this benefit.
NB: It's obvious Qantas know this particular change is an overall material degradation to the Program for members - that's why they are giving the six months notice as per their T&C's.
May 17, 2011, 3:11 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Qantas, Hilton, IHG
Posts: 1,762
NB: It's obvious Qantas know this particular change is an overall material degradation to the Program for members - that's why they are giving the six months notice as per their T&C's.
May 17, 2011, 3:17 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
Dave Noble - yes point taken - I guess it is only a few extra miles - but i have some upcoming flights to the states where those few miles will add up.
Maybe only an addition 10,000 miles or so, but... those miles off set the increased phone assistance fees and the slightly higher fees for redeeming intra-asia awards on CX (which attract an additional 2000 miles upwards per sector over QF awards for the same distance).
Those additional fees had removed the benefit for me in using FF points for those trips (cheaper just to buy a regular economy fare).
This small increase in miles earning will make those flights beneficial again.
Maybe only an addition 10,000 miles or so, but... those miles off set the increased phone assistance fees and the slightly higher fees for redeeming intra-asia awards on CX (which attract an additional 2000 miles upwards per sector over QF awards for the same distance).
Those additional fees had removed the benefit for me in using FF points for those trips (cheaper just to buy a regular economy fare).
This small increase in miles earning will make those flights beneficial again.
May 17, 2011, 3:23 am
#50
Company Representative - Qantas Airways
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: Qantas Airways
Posts: 72
FWIW, there are other FFPs which have different earn rates between the home carrier relative to partner carriers.
May 17, 2011, 3:26 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Perth
Programs: QFF WP
Posts: 560
May 17, 2011, 3:31 am
#52
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Perth
Programs: QFF WP
Posts: 560
it is equally worth noting that any time you make a change that negatively impacts the earning capacity of a member, or degrades their benefits in relation to another tier, you will disappoint that member and reduce their sense of engagement in the program, which is what you have done here, particularly in the absence of any firm details relating to the mystical "Platinum Plus" program
May 17, 2011, 3:53 am
#54
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF Lifetime SG, LH HON, OZ Lifetime Diamond +, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 14,367
The indication of dedicated travel reps to me indicates something similar to Starwood Ambassador or Hyatt Gold Passport's Private Line Agent, i.e. you have a dedicated contact at Qantas. Unlike hotel programs, where the dedicated rep can handle special requests, I don't see this program would apply to airline travel.
Agree, the increase to 8000 points sounds great but in reality it will be a degradation for most customers.
May 17, 2011, 4:16 am
#57
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,156
Overall I have to state I am still pretty disappointed.
Regardless of some of the fluff announced, QF's programme is still probably the most miserly out of the big carriers out there. Even with the increased bonuses, you are still paying out more to get less. Factor in the huge fuel fines and the programme is even poorer value.
The other concern is that Platinum is obviously no longer the sweet spot of the programme - that honour has definitely moved down to gold tier.
Whilst the new platinum tier could be of interest, I'm unlikely to hit the number required to join it (I probably could if I moved my *A business to OW though), however as I need not too many more SCs to completely my run to LTG, I'm still very much planning on cashing out of the programme shortly.
QF is a decent carrier, but certainly no longer top of the pack. It does however charge top prices and rewards less than it's peers and these recent changes won't really paper over this. Glad to see VA/DJ is putting the fear of god into QF - I don't believe that these announced changes will fundamentally change anything.
Regardless of some of the fluff announced, QF's programme is still probably the most miserly out of the big carriers out there. Even with the increased bonuses, you are still paying out more to get less. Factor in the huge fuel fines and the programme is even poorer value.
The other concern is that Platinum is obviously no longer the sweet spot of the programme - that honour has definitely moved down to gold tier.
Whilst the new platinum tier could be of interest, I'm unlikely to hit the number required to join it (I probably could if I moved my *A business to OW though), however as I need not too many more SCs to completely my run to LTG, I'm still very much planning on cashing out of the programme shortly.
QF is a decent carrier, but certainly no longer top of the pack. It does however charge top prices and rewards less than it's peers and these recent changes won't really paper over this. Glad to see VA/DJ is putting the fear of god into QF - I don't believe that these announced changes will fundamentally change anything.
May 17, 2011, 4:46 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 949
In relation to the status and cabin bonus changes only applying to Qantas and Jetstar, rather than other partner carriers, it is worth noting that any changes to the earn proposition for other carriers is subject to negotiation.
FWIW, there are other FFPs which have different earn rates between the home carrier relative to partner carriers.
FWIW, there are other FFPs which have different earn rates between the home carrier relative to partner carriers.
May 17, 2011, 4:49 am
#59
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Coast, UK
Programs: BA Gold, QF LTG
Posts: 679
Interesting 'enhancements' to the scheme, and it's an interestingly ploy that they are overtly shifting the emphasis to reward those who fly QF specifically. As they are in the business of bums on seats, this makes sense.
As a WP based in the UK, there is no significant change in terms of benefits for me on a personal level, but what I am particularly disappointed by is the change to the Status Bonus.
It's a perfect example of giving with one hand and taking with the other. 8,000 points per 500 SCs appears to be quite generous compared to 5,000 per 450, but limiting it to your membership year seems somewhat mean spirited to me. I'd be curious to understand the rationale from QF for this, but I doubt that kind of information is able to be shared.
As a WP based in the UK, there is no significant change in terms of benefits for me on a personal level, but what I am particularly disappointed by is the change to the Status Bonus.
It's a perfect example of giving with one hand and taking with the other. 8,000 points per 500 SCs appears to be quite generous compared to 5,000 per 450, but limiting it to your membership year seems somewhat mean spirited to me. I'd be curious to understand the rationale from QF for this, but I doubt that kind of information is able to be shared.
Last edited by inasmuchas; May 17, 2011 at 4:55 am
May 17, 2011, 4:50 am
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
Then again... The sky is falling in! The sky is falling in !