QFF Program reviewed: InsideFlyer Nov 2005
 

Randy Petersen's InsideFlyer's November 2005 edition has an expose of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program as it's "Inside Look" article.

An excellent summary at the beginning (puns intended :p ):

"Hopping mad - all is not necessarily well in the land of the Kangaroo and koala. In May, Qantas Airways instituted some major changes to its Frequent Flyer program that have members fuming"

whilst at the end of the article:

Plus Features

Frequent Flyer has anumber of benefits that are real plusses. The vast number of partners for earning and redemption is praiseworthy. The elite program is solid and not unduly excessive. On-line functionality is top-notch.

Minus Features

Qantas has every right to run it's program the way it chooses. Its recent changes were, according to the carrier, necessary to keep the airline and its program competitive.

Still, we wonder if such sweeping changes were necessary all at once. Raising award levels is understandable. Restricting upgrades, when the competition is so fierce, makes sense. But a 2,500 point "Assisted Award" Fee? We call foul...

It reviews (and rates out of 10) the following areas of the program:

1. Earning Ability: 7.0
2. Award Choices: 7.0
3. Partnerships: 9.0
4. Elite Level: 8.0
5. Rules and Conditions: 7.5
6. Online Services: 7.5
7. Service support: 8.0

Overall score: 7.71

Unfortunately, you have to be an online member to view the article on the Inside Flyer website, but I trust that this is required reading for Jenny Chamberlain and her team.

I think they got off lightly and wish Randy's team had contacted some of us here...we could have given them some more information that I think they missed in their review.

You can view the review for free on the www.webflyer.com website..IMHO it is pretty objective; remember that these people look at ALL the current FF schemes and have a much better sense of perspective than some of the critics to be heard hereabouts..

Inside Flyer did invite opinions/comments, and IIRC I posted this was coming a couple of months ago.

One thing which the review unfairly (IMHO) complains of: the slowness of the QF website. As far as I can tell, the problem lies in access any Australian website from outside Australia, and seems largely replicated when trying to access any non-Australian website from within Australia. On a good broadband connection inside Oz, the QF website is as fast as any airline website. From the UK, it's pants.

It might be pants from the UK - but it's fine from Taiwan!!

BD

KiwiFlyer, it was my first issue so I feel disappointed that I hadn't joined earlier.

:o Don't remember seeing that thread at all :eek: :(

Maybe the title wasnt descriptive or eye-catching enough.

Next time I'll use "Free HPs" or some such :p