Any chance of claiming expired QFF points?

[gismo]

Hi,

I'm a newbie so my apologies for signing up to immediately post a question.

I do intend staying around though

I'd like to know if anyone has been successful in claiming expired points.

I recently noticed my QFF balance was at 0, so made inquiries to why as I had a balance of nearly 20,000 prior. I was told they had expired as I had no activity over a 18 month period.

I called again to plead that I wasn't aware the points were expiring as if I were aware I would have taken actions to prevent it from happening. I didn't receive a letter in the post unlike other family members did when their points came up for expiration. And unfortunately we switched their points to my account to preserve them.

The operator put in a request to management to have the points returned but it was rejected. So are there any other avenues for me to take? Would writing a letter help?

Some extra background information:-

-I have not made any flights in the past 18 months, so there are no possible points I could claim. My last flight was 2009 April - on Jetstar.

-I'm living abroad and now a family of 4 (who are all QFF members too) so the amount of traveling we do has almost ceased completely (one income - now shared 4 ways).

-I didn't have a QFF credit card until very recently so no purchases on that appeared before the expiry of the points. I'm unlikely to use my card often as I'm living abroad and prefer to pay in local currency (to use my ffq credit card it'll incur a 3% exchange rate fee) but will/would have done so to preserve the points.

-I never received written notice or special email (other than the monthly news emails) that my points were about to expire.

-My parents and parents-in-law are also QFF members.


If it's not worth fighting, I'll just suck it up and put it down to a regrettable experience. Just I'm most annoyed at myself for not keeping an eye on the expiry date. Most of the points were from my in-laws so I feel rather embarrassed I've lost them.

Looking forward to what suggestions people have.

Thanks for reading.

 

[harvyk]

Whilst I can see the annoyance of losing points, 20,000 isn't really a great deal to lose (QF value's them at around the $800 mark, but you'd more likely get around $400 of value if you actually tried using them) depending on where you live, one trip back to AU flying QF would get them back), and the time spent getting them back would probably not be worth it, as they are well known for expiring points in unused accounts.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Ask someone in Australia to sign you up to Woolworths Everyday Rewards. And every now and then, ask them to use that when they go shopping for groceries. the 18months is activity with the QFF program, I don't believe it requires actual flights?

 

[brucelaidlaw]

Yesterday I had 401,343 points. Today I have none. All expired. I did receive an email warning me about expiring points, but reading the fine print didn't explain that I would lose them ALL! I was prepared to lose a few of my early issued points, but not this!

Any ideas, please?

 

[The Rok]

Yesterday I had 401,343 points. Today I have none. All expired. I did receive an email warning me about expiring points, but reading the fine print didn't explain that I would lose them ALL! I was prepared to lose a few of my early issued points, but not this!

Any ideas, please?

See a solicitor, quickly.

 

[straitman]

Contact Qantas loyalty quickly and see what they will do. They will reinstate when there is a good reason.

 

[Ausbt]

I'm curious as to how someone could accrue to that level but then just completely cease flying Q or contributing (Woolies, Optus, CCs) alltogether over the past 18 months. Have you been in the Army? Antarctica?

 

[brucelaidlaw]

I'm curious as to how someone could accrue to that level but then just completely cease flying Q or contributing (Woolies, Optus, CCs) alltogether over the past 18 months. Have you been in the Army? Antarctica?

I retired, so the occasional flight was a cheap one on Jetstar etc.

 

[AIRwin]

I retired, so the occasional flight was a cheap one on Jetstar etc.

You should just add a "Plus" bundle to your JQ Starter fare going forward, if QF does reinstate the points... Good luck!

 

[brucelaidlaw]

Contact Qantas loyalty quickly and see what they will do. They will reinstate when there is a good reason.

Alas, there is no reason good enough.

I talked to Qantas who explained the rules very carefully. My suggestions that the fine print wasn't clear, or that a Plain English email would have been understood, or even that I was approaching 70 (suggesting senility) were to no avail. It was my responsibility to keep track of my points, unfortunately.

 

[Inver]

Ouch that is very harsh Bruce you think they could've chased it up with another courtesy email or phone call.
I bet you won't be flying QF again.

 

[straitman]

Alas, there is no reason good enough.

I talked to Qantas who explained the rules very carefully. My suggestions that the fine print wasn't clear, or that a Plain English email would have been understood, or even that I was approaching 70 (suggesting senility) were to no avail. It was my responsibility to keep track of my points, unfortunately.

I was told, last night, by Lesley Grant (Chief Executive Qantas Loyalty) that they will look at lost point situations.
Having said that I didn't get to ask what type of situations.

 

[AIRwin]

Any QF flights planned in the near future (on a revenue ticket)?

 

[drewbles]

See a solicitor, quickly.

Why? So you can make them richer to tell you "Nope. Nothing we can do, it's on the T's and C's"?

Don't make lawyers richer, plead your case with QFF and have it escalated.

And, in future, shop at Woolworths

 

[markis10]

An investment in something like award wallet can be well worth the few dollars it costs in circumstances like this!

 

[serfty]

I retired, so the occasional flight was a cheap one on Jetstar etc.

Have you any other earnings such as hotel stays or car rentals in the last 6 months that could have been credited to QFF?

Even an Everyday rewards?

 

[brucelaidlaw]

Have you any other earnings such as hotel stays or car rentals in the last 6 months that could have been credited to QFF?

Even an Everyday rewards?

No, Qantas asked me all that already. I'm going to talk to Consumer Affairs, I think.

 

[brucelaidlaw]

I was told, last night, by Lesley Grant (Chief Executive Qantas Loyalty) that they will look at lost point situations.
Having said that I didn't get to ask what type of situations.

I've emailed Qantas about this, but by phoning them today I might already have an "Already dealt with!" comment on my file. Any other way to raise this with Lesley Grant? Thanks.

 

[brucelaidlaw]

Any QF flights planned in the near future (on a revenue ticket)?

Ha! I said to her, "I could book a flight today!" I also said, "Someone in Qantas would reverse this decision." She said, "They would only tell you the same thing." She offered a supervisor but I declined. Maybe I should have spoken to the supervisor! I could try again tomorrow. 400,000 points would take me round the world, right?

 

[cjd600]

Ha! I said to her, "I could book a flight today!" I also said, "Someone in Qantas would reverse this decision." She said, "They would only tell you the same thing." She offered a supervisor but I declined. Maybe I should have spoken to the supervisor! I could try again tomorrow. 400,000 points would take me round the world, right?

almost enough for rtw in 1st class!