A sense of Deja vu ....

[dajop]

Well here we go again. QF changes the FF program, people are up in arms. A few months later all will be forgotten and or forgiven and life will go on, and people will find a 1001 reasons why they still fly QF despite the changes they so vehemently disagreed with. This has happened more than once or twice in the last 10 years or so.

And in two years time, phase 2 will be implemented that re-aligns redemption tables with the changes made this week to increase earning in higher fare classes (too effectively neutralise those increases) and people will be up in arms again....

 

[Moody]

I think you are right in some respects - we all like to have a whinge, but often the threats to leave are subsequently found to be hollow.

But ....it is quite possible that these changes will see me come up short to retain Gold status (I've been on the cusp for a few years). If that happens then my "loyalty" to Qantas (which is really 90% self-interest), goes out the door and if Virgin or other alternatives are $10 cheaper then I will be taking them.

The last vestige of my 20-year special relationship with Qantas will entail the burn of the 600K in points I have accumulated. The fact that this is so challenging to do nowadays is another cause for divorce.

 

[serfty]

This is the only change to redemption ear/levels since may 2005.

I joined in late 1994 and there werre at least two major upheavals in that first ten years, 1998 with the introduction of Tier Credits and ~2001 with significant burn changes.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

I have not seen how the changes could affect KUPP/YUPP fare earnings. Now we need to establish a base at the best jumping off point in USA for such adventures.

 

[serfty]

I have not seen how the changes could affect KUPP/YUPP fare earnings. Now we need to establish a base at the best jumping off point in USA for such adventures.

This is off topic - but - the zones for SC earn have gone from 600, 1200, 2400, 3600 ... miles to 250, 750, 1500 ...

There's a table published on FT by Globaliser that explains much:

New Earning Table (esp Partner Airlines) - Page 5 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Melburnian1]

serfty (I have to be careful not to call you 'QWERTY'), notwithstanding your off topic comment about SCs, did you find that the 1998, 2001 and 2005 changes were all bad for you or was it a mixed bag for you with some good and some bad?

What is your perception of the latest changes? Will the increased 'earning' for higher fare passengers please or engender a neutral shrug of the shoulders or are you annoyed or upset?

Or are the changes too complex to quickly analyse?

 

[Himeno]

I joined in 2006. The only real change I've seen was the introduction of the any seat award and some tweaks to upgrades. The network changes since 2006 have had more impact on me then FF program changes.

 

[JohnK]

All FF programs evolve. I still remember the changes in 2005 and many benefits that been diluted since. Some people have reacted hastily without seeing how the changes are going to impact them.

In all seriousness though for me there is no domestic alternative. I cannot take Virgin seriously. They are too amateurish for my liking.

 

[Craigie]

I would actually like to see a comparison table of changes made over the last 20 years. Just out of interest. In fact does anyone know or anything like that?

 

[serfty]

Yeah I have some old documentation from ~1995.

I'll scan it in.

 

[Craigie]

That would be great! Might help me word some questions for this "lunch with qff" event

 

[Simo]

People have a memory of a few months.

Some people will hold a grudge and will not return or will do things differently.

 

[samh004]

When the changes happened, and they were only a few days ago, it was initially a shock to people and the information out there wasn't complete, it still might not be in fact. However as things have sunk in, clearer heads have prevailed and I think the majority will have realised it's not as bad as first thought... unless you're only flying discount -Y, like me but even I am not too fussed, I did the maths and will still earn the same SC on the majority of the routes I regularly fly.

 

[VHOEJ]

There are always winners and losers with ANY change to anything - but the losers are more vocal obviously.

To be honest I think the QFF program has been too generous compared to others for a while - they should have made the changes years ago

 

[serfty]

When the changes happened, and they were only a few days ago, it was initially a shock to people and the information out there wasn't complete, it still might not be in fact. However as things have sunk in, clearer heads have prevailed and I think the majority will have realised it's not as bad as first thought... unless you're only flying discount -Y, like me but even I am not too fussed, I did the maths and will still earn the same SC on the majority of the routes I regularly fly.

Yes ... but less points in general.

Referringto 'Deja Vu' I am reminded of what Airpoints has become ... in 2009 I would get 85 for a MEL-LAX trip in Y-, it's now 15 ... and likely less next week.

 

[samh004]

Yes ... but less points in general.

That's true. I lose out on points. In this world Qantas expects everyone to have a direct earn CC for points, and while I do use QCASH, I have no income to be able to apply for a CC, so am thus deemed not loyal enough

 

[serfty]

December 2005 ...

Here's the main part of a ready reckoner leaflet.

Calculation was done on GCM O/D distance - e.g. DRW-CNS would be costed at zone 2, even if travel was DRW-xBNE-CNS. The actual zone cost for points was calculated on the total O/D distance of the booking.

The Zone 6** was good for a round trip within Oz of up to 11000km - I booked several. One example was MEL-PER-BME-AYQ-ASP-CNS-BNE-MEL in bysiness for 37½K points.

No +++ was charged back then.

(Click image for enlargement)



First part of the table:

 

[zainman]

There are always winners and losers with ANY change to anything - but the losers are more vocal obviously.

To be honest I think the QFF program has been too generous compared to others for a while - they should have made the changes years ago

QFF is anything but generous. Compare the burn rates on AA/UA to QFF combined with the exorbitant fuel fines and poor availability, it's quite a poor program. MASA's however I thought were definitely generous. I was one of those that took the 'short-cut' to WP.

 

[boomy]

In all seriousness though for me there is no domestic alternative. I cannot take Virgin seriously. They are too amateurish for my liking.

QF are very lucky not to have any serious competition in the domestic market. This is their lifeline.

 

[serfty]

1995 Earning

IIRC, Discount economy was anything "Less" than the "Y" fare bucket.