QFF Ideas & Suggestions

[Red Roo]

Recently there has been a lot of discussion about QFF here, with a number of interesting suggestions raised. To follow on from this theme, I'd like to ask for your ideas.

How would you improve Qantas Frequent Flyer and how could the program encourage you to fly more with us?

This is a pretty diverse community, across all tiers, with a variety of domestic/international network flyers and airlines flown. There's no shortage of knowledge and creativity here, so look forward to an interesting discussion.

Thanks and have a good weekend.

 

[samh004]

And so the battle begins, between Virgin Blue and Qantas

I had to think about what would be most beneficial to me right now. I’m certainly not a Platinum level flyer, and if I did get there, I probably wouldn’t do so with the majority of flights on QF, so I look at a call for suggestions as how I would see benefit when flying Qantas at my current level.

There will be many suggestions here, and they’ll vary a great deal. So I’m going to focus on Jetstar, being fully aware they’re technically not Qantas, and their plans don’t have to match your plans, but they’re part of the group, and I sometimes have to fly them, and other times get much better deals on them.

I don’t know where the "JQ Club" is going to go with lounges and all that, but I’d like to see at least Gold and Platinum, and maybe Silver and Qantas Club members, get some sort of benefit when flying JQ. Others mentioned seating and what not, I’d just like to see a priority queue. Ultimately I’d love some SC earn or minimal point earn, but all that’s important immediately is that I can get to the lounge a little quicker and avoid lining up in a long queue, after all, I’m still flying your group of airlines, when I could be flying Virgin Blue.

I don’t think providing a priority queue for Jetstar would dramatically affect their bottom line, or yours, and it would engender me to choose them over say Virgin Blue, because I’m still at least perceived to be valuable to your group.

Perhaps there’s a long roadmap that needs to be followed and this will come eventually, but the way it is now makes me think switching where I spend my money is a better idea than keeping it all with you.

 

[djfuzz]

Great initiative Red Roo.

As far as flying more with Qantas goes, I fly for work frequently and for leisure often, and generally have directed those flights to Qantas as a matter of course and loyalty (we'll ignore the anytime access debacle for now!). Other than work picking up, there's no real reason we'd be flying more with Qantas other than for leisure - so I would think making us consider flying more with Qantas for leisure would depend on how attractive deals on redemptions or fares are at any time (which might swing a weekend or break from local to more far flung). Sales and promotions of flights / holidays on which frequent flyer points can be used are always fantastic but at the moment far too rare.

I'd probably reiterate my barista coffee request for the Qantas Club (or even just the Business Lounge) during its opening hours; more than anything else, this would be fantastic.

Looking forward to whatever new food offerings are being brought into the lounges following these enhancements, but as a general note would be nice to see some improvement in the offerings available in the international business lounges; at the very least to the standard set by the business lounge in Hong Kong, which is fantastic.

Also would be great if QFF promotions were rolled out consistently across tiers rather than randomly targeted as they have been previously - feels like such promos tend to devalue to earning capacities of members not targeted; AAdvantage manges to have some fantastic promos that are made available to all applicable tiered members.

Can't think of any other big ones, but there's a start for now.

 

[el_rooto]

Recently there has been a lot of discussion about QFF here, with a number of interesting suggestions raised. To follow on from this theme, I'd like to ask for your ideas.

How would you improve Qantas Frequent Flyer and how could the program encourage you to fly more with us?

This is a pretty diverse community, across all tiers, with a variety of domestic/international network flyers and airlines flown. There's no shortage of knowledge and creativity here, so look forward to an interesting discussion.

Thanks and have a good weekend.

Just a few ideas:

Integrated upgrading and award ticket system used across the One World alliance. Its always very frustrating not being able to book an award seat online and having to call up to get it booked, thus costing 2.5K points. Maybe your most loyal customers (Platinums) should have the phone booking fee waived as a sign of gratitude by QF. The fee should be waved in this case. Another improvement would be the ability to purchase or get standby upgrades (On points of course) on other OW airlines.

Arrivals lounge at SYD and MEL?

An improved int J lounge in SYD. Its cough in comparison to the sakura lounge in NRT and The Wing in HKG. The food and beverage offering when I was there last was completely substandard.

The ability to earn points and a reduced amount of sc's on jetstar flights, eg earning points and SC's and .5x std rate, this would be another way of retaining loyalty within the group whilst not overly competing with mainline. Also standby upgrades to *class.

The ability for WP and CL's to lock in upgrades ahead of T - 24.

The ability for upper tiers to apply for upgrades on heavily discounted fairs, even with an increased points cost or lower priority.

Eh, just some quick feedback, over all its a decent program.

 

[pauly7]

Hi again Red Roo

Thanks for the opportunity! I'm noting that your question relates to QFF specifically not QF the actual airline so that is how I've framed my suggestions although they do cross over a bit naturally! My ideas also beef up the value of Gold and Platinum...

1) Confirmed at time of request points upgrades for international domestic flights - (with the ability to also waitlist if unsuccessful at that point in time) for CL, Platinum and Gold members only (all others continue to waitlist until 5 hrs before departure).

2) Priority boarding gate lanes for CL, J class, Platinum and Gold members only. Suggest use the AA domestic solution it works really well!

3) Convince Jetstar to give out 0.5 points and pro-rata status credits per Jetsaver/Light fare mile instead of 0 as it currently stands.

4) Convince Jetstar to give CL, Platinum and Gold members access to 'upfront' and exit rows domestically free of charge.

4.1) Waive exit row charges for Platinum and Gold members flying Qantas internationally.

5) Add more restaurants to the QFF restaurant earn program! Love this part of the program, you need more signed up!

6) Remove award assisted booking fees for Platinum and Gold members - or fix the QFF website so ALL available seats and airlines are available.

7) Increase loyalty bonus to 10,000 - or tier it. EG Bronze/Silver = 5,000, Gold = 10,000 and Platinum = 15,000

8) QFF launch it's own Credit card with great QFF earn rates and Platinum and Gold members have access to it at no annual fee - others pay, or again tier it.



Hope this helps

 

[el_rooto]

4) Convince Jetstar to give CL, Platinum and Gold members access to 'upfront' and exit rows domestically free of charge.

And for QF flights....

 

[pauly7]

And for QF flights....

They already do for domestic... Anyone can request them.

Did you mean for QF international? That's a good idea I'll edit my post

 

[el_rooto]

They already do for domestic... Anyone can request them.

Did you mean for QF international? That's a good idea I'll edit my post

Yep

Most of the time I end up getting one at check in, however it'd be a good marketing thing to be able to display it loudly as a benefit.

 

[Ewing]

.

How would you improve Qantas Frequent Flyer and how could the program encourage you to fly more with us?

This isn't strictly frequent flyer, but it would encourage more travel on QF - especially in the J cabin.

My suggestion is to bring the business class in the convertible 734s up to scratch with the rest of the fleet. These are plaguing CBR right now with a noticeable reduction in 738 services recently, and possibly other parts of the network.

Myself, and a few other people I know here in CBR all say that we would switch airlines the moment someone else launches a real business class product. I'm watching DJ very closely right now.

We're all private sector, and have the freedom to choose which airline we use (we do not have a BFOD policy). 99% of my travel is domestic with only a handful of overseas trips a year, and most of the remainder is on your convertible 734s.

Of course I don't expect much to actually happen, given the other demographic that outnumber us private sector folk.

As I don't have any family in CBR, and as I did not grow up here - a good chunk of my yearly travel is also personal. I have 11 personal flights in November alone.

There is nothing more disappointing than booking a J/D fare for a trip that you've paid for yourself on a 738 and then turning up to find it has morphed into a 734. That does not encourage loyalty to QF (and I've now started booking Y when it's a 734 for both personal and business travel, because row 6 has just as much leg room as row 5).

End rant

-Shaun

 

[NM]

As someone who held top-tier status with Qantas since tier levels were established, until I changed my FF program to AAdvantage, I can provide some insight as to my reasons for my decision.

1. I perceive the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program has evolved into a Frequent Spender/Debtor program, with more emphasis selling points to any organisation willing to buy them (credit card companies, banks, supermarkets, restaurants etc) than on providing loyalty benefits to Frequent Flyers.

2. I can obtain far superior earn/burn rate for the points/miles earned from flying when crediting my travel to AAdvantage than when using Qantas FF. This is especially true for international premium cabin awards. I understand there are some cases where QFF award redemptions are better value, but these tend to be for flights for which I am not interested in redeeming awards.

3. The addition of Fuel Surcharges (or fuel fines as they often called here) on top of the high redemption rates for awards makes QFF international redemptions most unattractive to me, especially when compared with AAdvantage redemptions for the same flights.

4. In recognition of achieving Executive Platinum status with AAdvantage, I receive 8 system-wide upgrades that are valid for a minimum of 14 months. Each can be used to upgrade up to 3 flights in a journey and the upgrades can be confirmed at the time of booking/requesting - no need to play the waitlist lottery.

So when comparing these things, and based on my flying activity (fares types used, routes flown etc), Qantas FF program is considerably less attractive to me than the alternate programs available to me.

My Qantas Lifetime Gold status is a nice safety net for when my future travel plans change the playing field. But now that I am about 75% of the way to AAdvantage Lifetime Platinum and have about 800K miles in the AAdvantage bank, the current QF FF program comes in a distant second in my view.

So what could be improved? Hmm. Lets see:

1. Bring the focus back to being a Frequent Flyer program. The ability for people to earn millions of QFF points through credit card spending drives the need to have award redemption rates that put premium cabin awards out of reach of most true frequent flyers who earn their points through flying and normal family/home spending patterns.

2. Remove the crazy notion of fuel fines on award flight redemptions. The fuel prices have been pretty consistent for several years and certainly over the bank life of most people's points.

3. Provide the highest level status members the ability to confirm upgrades - at least a small number of confirmable upgrades each year.

4. Bring balance back to the redemption earn/burn ratios. The FF points earning rate difference between discount economy, full economy, business and first class is small (1:1.25:1.5), yet the award cost ratio for economy:business:first is 1:2:3.

 

[Red Roo]

Thanks everyone for the feedback so far.

Thanks for the opportunity! I'm noting that your question relates to QFF specifically not QF the actual airline so that is how I've framed my suggestions although they do cross over a bit naturally!

Appreciate the focus on QFF, but allow me just to respond on a non QFF issue.

Looking forward to whatever new food offerings are being brought into the lounges following these enhancements, but as a general note would be nice to see some improvement in the offerings available in the international business lounges; at the very least to the standard set by the business lounge in Hong Kong, which is fantastic.

Just to clarify (and to el_rooto as well), when was your last visit to the International Business Lounge? Just over 4 months ago we introduced Sofitel to the MEL/SYD International Business Lounges, with some food service improvements - there's actually been good comments on FT (I'd like to post a link, but need a few more posts under my belt - thread's called "Qantas Int. J Lounge - Changes Afoot").

 

[el_rooto]

Just to clarify (and to el_rooto as well), when was your last visit to the International Business Lounge? Just over 4 months ago we introduced Sofitel to the MEL/SYD International Business Lounges, with some food service improvements - there's actually been good comments on FT (I'd like to post a link, but need a few more posts under my belt - thread's called "Qantas Int. J Lounge - Changes Afoot").

Although the nice people from sofitel were there, the lounge's food offering was substandard in comparison to my experience at the wing, sakura and the HK QF J lounge.

Before my flight on the 9th of september, the beer offering was dull, spirit offering substandard, and food was very ordinary. I hope there are improvements on the way to put it in the same class as the other J lounges in asia.

 

[Red Roo]

Allow me to respond to one more OT post, but do appreciate the efforts to keep this FF related.

This isn't strictly frequent flyer, but it would encourage more travel on QF - especially in the J cabin.

My suggestion is to bring the business class in the convertible 734s up to scratch with the rest of the fleet. These are plaguing CBR right now with a noticeable reduction in 738 services recently, and possibly other parts of the network.

Understand your view. We do have quite a few 738's on order, which will help retire 734's from the fleet and you'll see some movements from next year. Whilst not directly CBR related, we also have another domestic A330 due in a month.

As another thought to ponder, don't shy from thinking outside the box. Appreciate the numerous comments relating to the Qantas Group, but if you have a creative idea or you've seen an intriguing loyalty concept, feel free to mention it.

 

[el_rooto]

As another thought to ponder, don't shy from thinking outside the box. Appreciate the numerous comments relating to the Qantas Group, but if you have a creative idea or you've seen an intriguing loyalty concept, feel free to mention it.

You could offer an equivalent to the AA Platinum Challenge.

One of the other main issues I see facing QF is the BFOD policy more companies are implementing. If a passenger had a particular preference for QF, couldn't you lobby companies to allow the employee to opt for QF over DJ, but pay the difference in fare? Could you offer frequent business travelers a discount when not checking baggage and doing a return flight to a city within a day?

 

[dfcatch]

I don’t think providing a priority queue for Jetstar would dramatically affect their bottom line, or yours, and it would engender me to choose them over say Virgin Blue, because I’m still at least perceived to be valuable to your group.

+ 1

As a WP (or any QF status), I want priority checkin on JQ. Otherwise I'll just continue to choose DJ by choice for my non QF flights as they give me priority checkin.

 

[Ewing]

Understand your view. We do have quite a few 738's on order, which will help retire 734's from the fleet and you'll see some movements from next year. Whilst not directly CBR related, we also have another domestic A330 due in a month.

That'll be great to see. Thanks for the response

Other than that, I'm looking forward to seeing the improved offerings in the domestic lounges.

I'll ponder on your request though and think of some things that could make the program a bit better and come back.

-Shaun

 

[el_rooto]

Another idea, offer an aairpass equivalent on cityflyer flights.

Welcome to AAirpass

 

[Lawlass]

OD points upgrades for international flights.

Though I'm pretty stoked with the way DJ has handled tier matching and I will probably be using them until they annoy me.

 

[djfuzz]

Just to clarify (and to el_rooto as well), when was your last visit to the International Business Lounge? Just over 4 months ago we introduced Sofitel to the MEL/SYD International Business Lounges, with some food service improvements - there's actually been good comments on FT (I'd like to post a link, but need a few more posts under my belt - thread's called "Qantas Int. J Lounge - Changes Afoot").

Thanks Red Roo. Last visited the SYD lounge a couple of times in July and the MEL lounge at the start of October, both after I received an email detailing the changes you refer to - however, other than the pancake machine we found at the latter, we didn't find any of the other enhancements that had been detailed earlier.

For the latter we were also there during barista coffee hours but no barista was available and the 'bar' area was unattended - would have made one myself if I could. This was particularly disappointing given we were supposed to have been in the First lounge for breakfast / coffee, but it had been closed due to the cancellation of another flight.

[Edit] It's entirely possible we were unlucky on these occasions (certainly were with the cancellation and resultant loss of First lounge visit!), so I continue to hope to find the opportunity to check out the offerings at the Business lounge.

Will try to keep further thoughts relevant to the FF program!

 

[Red Roo]

I'll ponder on your request though and think of some things that could make the program a bit better and come back.

Thanks, look forward to it.

Good start to the discussion, look forward to the mix of ideas (challenge AFFers to come up with an idea to wow the rest of the community ). Signing off for now.

RR.