Yet another cost saving measure - new FF cards

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munitalP

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My NOV replacement WP card has just arrived in the mail - tacky, not embossed, just printed info on the card - shame on you QFF - this card is for members who spend $$$ on flying - you give me a card I could have printed with a $300 printer from officeworks...

It also has a bar code on the back - is this goining to be for paperless boarding cards for the sacnner at the gate to read?

Come on QFF - I hope you spys are reading this post and you realise you have pissed of a member again, even if it is just a card.... hmmm - $95K travel budget last year - I am sure I could spend that elsewhere....

Mr!

:evil:
 
Hmm - I like the idea of paperless boarding cards using a bar code on the card. I dont get my new card until 2010 but if they do have a plan for paperless then I will "lose" my existing card and request a new one.
 
Received my new one yesterday as well.

No embossing and white printing. It is easer to read but certainly not as classy.

I did not have a lot of time to look at it and I have put it away until needed November.

Interesting about the barcode; is there still the magnetic strip on the back?
 
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Yep, still has the mag strip, the secret WP phone number and the barcode.

Mr!
 
*checks WP card*

Wow, it'd look really ordinary without the embossed name and number. Though, if they're going to use the cards as BP replacements - that's kinda cool.
 
Scan/photos people?

Obviously obfuscate your names and numbers out....but....

FWIW the current WP card is a bit difficult to read.

My NZ GE card actually looks quite thin and not very shiny but the intricate designs that NZ have made on the card more than make up for it. I like it.
 
Damn - expecting Mrs Djf's first WP card in the mail any day now, disappointing to hear that it's going to be as plain as my AA PLT card. Her SG card still looks pretty neat, shame we didn't go for WP earlier!
 
Got my new gold card not too long ago. It looks very ordinary indeed with black printing and the barcode in the back.
 
That sucks. I'll be WP for the first time in a few weeks. Fortunately, got SG a few months ago so have the old one of them for now. Shame on you QF. Cutting corners for your elites! What's wrong with a decent card for the people who you know, actually use 'em?
 
My view is that card embossing is probably dying out with virtually no requirement to imprint a card in the first & second worlds these days - unless all else fails - as in fuel cards in remote QLD.

Thankfully I don't need to do a DYKWIA but unless the CIC is vision deprived and reliant on braille (no offence), your name and expiry date is all they need - it's only an ID card after all. Don't even think of photo ID on your QP card to gain access please.
 
Yes, I'd be interested to see the new versions as well, so I can understand why everyone is ranting about the new card format.

I won't get a new card until after 28 February 2010 ;)
 
I save them lots of money being a life newbie.Though I still like to carry my old blue card around.I like it when someone says thats expired.No I'm still alive :cool:
 
I dont see this as an issue at all. Better this than removing points on red-e-deals (I am on one to BNE next week) ;)

If this is a new BP enhancement then I think they should have waited until both things could be issued so instead of getting a coughpy new card - you get a nice new card with real functionality. No any public image benefit from the new card functions is lost.. A spoonful of sugar and all that...
 
I don't really care what it looks like. As long as at still gets me into a lounge when I need/want to I'm fine with whatever it looks like. It's the benefits that come with the card that I'm more worried that will be "enhanced" by a cost saving measure.
 
In my experience, printed cards tend to have the text on them wear out far more easily than embossed. I have various cards I use with about the same frequency as my QFF card and the printing on them is visibly faded/worn. Whilst these cards (PS/SG/WP) will be replaced on a regular basis, the NB won't be. They'll have their printing rubbed off within 12-18 months even if it's just movement in a wallet. Embossed isn't just for the old click-clack merchant machines, it's for longevity as well.

Be interesting to see where they're going with the bar code.
 
I doubt QF will be sending me a new card, so I get to keep using the old embossed one for a while (a long while, I hope ;)).
 
FWIW my NZ GE card doesn't have embossed print on it. Neither does my HH card or PC card. In fact I have a swag of cards with no embossing.

All have survived so far.
 
FWIW my NZ GE card doesn't have embossed print on it. Neither does my HH card or PC card. In fact I have a swag of cards with no embossing.

All have survived so far.

Must just be me and my rough handling :)
 
I can't see a reason to be concerned about it; not needed that often and as long as it does the job, it's fine with me

I cannot see any need for embossing, there arnt any things that the card is used for that makes use of it being embossed

Dave
 
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