MEL-LHR points earn in Y
Nov 26, 2008, 11:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Coast, UK
Programs: BA Gold, QF LTG
Posts: 679
MEL-LHR points earn in Y
I've done a search but to no avail, and whilst I suspect I already know the answer to this question, I'm hoping someone's personal experience can prove my suspicions wrong.
When flying in discount Y from MEL-LHR on either BA or QF via SIN or BKK, we earn points at a rate of 1:1. Now that BA have slapped their code on QF29/30 via HKG, does it fall into the JSA category and earn 1:1, or is it the miserly discount BA rate of 0.25:1
QFF T&Cs only mention SIN/BKK routings as 1:1 earning, which suggests that any other MEL-LHR routings on a BA code would earn 0.25:1.
However, the interesting thing is that you can only book BA7317/7318 as a through flight, not individual sectors between MEL-HKG-LHR, so I'm wondering if anyone on here has flown on the BA code, and whether they've earned the full rate or the pittance.
Thanks in advance (and fingers crossed).
When flying in discount Y from MEL-LHR on either BA or QF via SIN or BKK, we earn points at a rate of 1:1. Now that BA have slapped their code on QF29/30 via HKG, does it fall into the JSA category and earn 1:1, or is it the miserly discount BA rate of 0.25:1
QFF T&Cs only mention SIN/BKK routings as 1:1 earning, which suggests that any other MEL-LHR routings on a BA code would earn 0.25:1.
However, the interesting thing is that you can only book BA7317/7318 as a through flight, not individual sectors between MEL-HKG-LHR, so I'm wondering if anyone on here has flown on the BA code, and whether they've earned the full rate or the pittance.
Thanks in advance (and fingers crossed).
Nov 26, 2008, 3:47 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,995
Actually, I believe there is some good news for you if you fly between MEL and LHR via HKG on this flight.
Going by the highlighting I did, as long as you are booked MEL-LHR you'll be fine. If you are booked MEL-HKG-LHR then it's a ¼:1.
Code:
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
British Airways GKLMNOQRSV Discount Economy* 0.25 -
(BA) BHY Full Economy 1 -
TEW World Traveller Plus 1 10%
CDIRJ Business 1 25%
AF First 1 50%
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes.
*Exception: Travel in Discount Economy between:
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and London
or Frankfurt via Bangkok or Singapore
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and Bangkok
or Singapore
- London or Frankfurt and Bangkok or Singapore
will earn a Base Rate of 1.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Nov 26, 2008, 5:01 pm
#3
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
Actually, I believe there is some good news for you if you fly between MEL and LHR via HKG on this flight.
Going by the highlighting I did, as long as you are booked MEL-LHR you'll be fine. If you are booked MEL-HKG-LHR then it's a ¼:1.
Code:
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
British Airways GKLMNOQRSV Discount Economy* 0.25 -
(BA) BHY Full Economy 1 -
TEW World Traveller Plus 1 10%
CDIRJ Business 1 25%
AF First 1 50%
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes.
*Exception: Travel in Discount Economy between:
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and London
or Frankfurt via Bangkok or Singapore
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and Bangkok
or Singapore
- London or Frankfurt and Bangkok or Singapore
will earn a Base Rate of 1.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Nov 26, 2008, 5:17 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,995
One could interpret it that way, but would generally be incorrect. Standard Boolean logic dictate the order in which to resolve 'and' and 'or'. Using that to resolve the products and discount the non applicable locations sees the following rewrite of the relevant terms (parenthesis added for clarity):
I think it has more to do with the JSA contract specifying Oz-LHR without defining specific transit points.
*Exception: Travel in Discount Economy between (Melbourne and London) or (Melbourne and Frankfurt via Bangkok or Singapore)
Nov 26, 2008, 5:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
:
Nov 26, 2008, 6:12 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,995
It's in how it is to be read, I'll put some parenthesis into the original and then commence a breakdown:
Resolve the 'or's first and then the 'and's:
etc ... [This resolves to a further 18 combinations, I'm not going to list them all]
Furthermore:
London or Frankfurt and Bangkok or Singapore:
Exception: Travel in Discount Economy between (Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney) and (London or (Frankfurt via Bangkok or Singapore))
- (Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney) and (London or (Frankfurt via Bangkok))
- (Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney) and (London or (Frankfurt via Singapore))
- (Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney) and London
- (Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney) and Frankfurt via Bangkok
- (Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney) and Frankfurt via Singapore
Furthermore:
London or Frankfurt and Bangkok or Singapore:
- London and Singapore
- London and Bangkok
- Frankfurt and Singapore
- Frankfurt and Bangkok
Last edited by serfty; Nov 26, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Nov 26, 2008, 11:49 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
From the quoted terms and conditions it is clear that travel can only be via Bangkok or Singapore.
The interpretation is clearly:
(Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney)
and
(London or Frankfurt)
via
(Bangkok or Singapore)
If you take the approach outlined by another poster above, you would be unable to earn full points flying from Australia to Frankfurt via London!
If a flight via Hong Kong also turns out to earn the full 1 point per mile (maybe someone can attest to this from their ff statement?), then it is an unwritten benefit as it is not covered by the terms and conditions.
Regards
lme ff
The interpretation is clearly:
(Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney)
and
(London or Frankfurt)
via
(Bangkok or Singapore)
If you take the approach outlined by another poster above, you would be unable to earn full points flying from Australia to Frankfurt via London!
If a flight via Hong Kong also turns out to earn the full 1 point per mile (maybe someone can attest to this from their ff statement?), then it is an unwritten benefit as it is not covered by the terms and conditions.
Regards
lme ff
Last edited by LHR/MEL/Europe FF; Nov 26, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Nov 27, 2008, 12:22 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,604
If booking flights on BA via HKG, I would recommend trying to get a definitive answer from QFF before relying on interpretations of the rules
I would read it to be intended as LME would use it and not trying to apply boolean logic especially giving the number of 'or's in the sentence which would end up making no sense
between
Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and London or Frankfurt via Bangkok or Singapore
If the 'and' was applied first, then the 'and' between 'Sydney and London' would be applied first and then the 'or's taken in order and not as put forward by Serfty where parentheses have been invented
I would read it to be as being between any of the listed points in Australia and London with travel via either of Bangkok or Singapore and I would suggest that that is what Qantas means
If they mean it to include going via HKG, then I would expect them to add HKG to the valid list
Dave
I would read it to be intended as LME would use it and not trying to apply boolean logic especially giving the number of 'or's in the sentence which would end up making no sense
between
Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and London or Frankfurt via Bangkok or Singapore
If the 'and' was applied first, then the 'and' between 'Sydney and London' would be applied first and then the 'or's taken in order and not as put forward by Serfty where parentheses have been invented
I would read it to be as being between any of the listed points in Australia and London with travel via either of Bangkok or Singapore and I would suggest that that is what Qantas means
If they mean it to include going via HKG, then I would expect them to add HKG to the valid list
Dave
Nov 27, 2008, 3:15 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,995
Forgetting any 'boolean' logic, rather common sense, I believe it's no accident that the BA7317/7318 can only be booked between Oz/UK with no reference to HKG.
Nov 27, 2008, 4:38 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Coast, UK
Programs: BA Gold, QF LTG
Posts: 679
An update... and good news
Thanks to all for your responses on this.
I've now spoken to the Frequent Flyer Service Centre and have been assured by the consultant I spoke to that Qantas Frequent Flyers would earn 100% mileage when flying on BA7317/7318 between MEL and LHR.
She had to put me on hold twice to speak with a supervisor, but the final word was that as it's a through flight and only bookable as a through flight to and from MEL and LHR, then it will earn the same as a through flight which routes via SIN or BKK.
Good to know. I wonder if QFF will update the T&Cs to reflect this.
I've now spoken to the Frequent Flyer Service Centre and have been assured by the consultant I spoke to that Qantas Frequent Flyers would earn 100% mileage when flying on BA7317/7318 between MEL and LHR.
She had to put me on hold twice to speak with a supervisor, but the final word was that as it's a through flight and only bookable as a through flight to and from MEL and LHR, then it will earn the same as a through flight which routes via SIN or BKK.
Good to know. I wonder if QFF will update the T&Cs to reflect this.
Nov 27, 2008, 4:46 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,604
To me it does pose the question of why take the risk when wanting to earn QFF miles; why not just book the QF flight number?
Hope it works out, but I cannot see any comeback that you may have should it post at 25% unless you make sure to get it in writing from QFF
Dave
Hope it works out, but I cannot see any comeback that you may have should it post at 25% unless you make sure to get it in writing from QFF
Dave
Nov 27, 2008, 4:57 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,995
Nov 27, 2008, 5:05 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Coast, UK
Programs: BA Gold, QF LTG
Posts: 679
To me it does pose the question of why take the risk when wanting to earn QFF miles; why not just book the QF flight number?
Hope it works out, but I cannot see any comeback that you may have should it post at 25% unless you make sure to get it in writing from QFF
Dave
Hope it works out, but I cannot see any comeback that you may have should it post at 25% unless you make sure to get it in writing from QFF
Dave
Two reasons why I was curious. Firstly, it's the principle of the thing – I saw no 'logical' reason for the earn rate to be different – but then again, when did logic ever enter into the equation with loyalty programs?
And secondly, on some random dates I was looking to travel, the BA flights were coming out marginally cheaper than QF. I checked this on a number of sites, for a different dates over a period of two months, and every time the same flights on the BA code were being offered for less.
I was interested to hear if anyone had tried this experiment and succeeded, but now I'm prepared to throw caution to the wind and give it a red hot go.