10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[pomjim]

Why the hang up about qantas? Not all of us fly with that particular airline, the main reason I joined Amex is because I can transfer 1 = 1 point to SIA, a (in my opinion) far superior airline.

 

[oz_mark]

Why the hang up about qantas? Not all of us fly with that particular airline, the main reason I joined Amex is because I can transfer 1 = 1 point to SIA, a (in my opinion) far superior airline.

I guess at this point in time, that is where most people direct their points. Obviously, going forward, that is not an option, and I will be sending my points elsewhere

 

[simongr]

Fortunately, FFers of status have access to more award seats than non-status people with large point balances.

Only in economy though...

 

[skeltonl]

At this point, I don't think that it is fair to say you have been duped. There is no official word from Amex that anything has changed.

Ok I guess that depends on your version of "official" a number of us have posted that we have been told by AMEX Customer Service representatives when calling them that it is being capped to 40,000 points. For me that's official enough - for others maybe they want to see to in writing. Don't get me wrong me wrong I would be happy to see AMEX backflip - just don't see it happening.

In the meantime there are people happily paying surcharges or forsaking the use of other cards which have better points return who are being disadvantaged.

Of course some of the large number of "guests" lurking on this thread could be AMEX reps as well who can see how unhappy people would be with this plan to limit the points to such a small (relative to peoples expectations) amount.

 

[lovestotravel]

You do understand that if there are more people with massive points balances then more people are competing for that fixed number of seats which means fewer of the actual frequent fliers can get seats due to CC spenders?

Yes of course, my point being this promo doesn't cost Qantas any more money than normal. As for competition yes that could be a problem, but I have never had a problem booking seats in Business class if I am slightly flexible with dates

In fact I am sure Qantas is happy that from next year lots of AMEX customers cannot transfer points to Qantas

 

[lovestotravel]

I don't think customer service reps would be talking about lettings in the mail and a cap of 40,000 points for no reason.

They would not be making that up

As for a few people today who said they have joined and were told no cap etc etc, it's more likely these CSR didn't read their emails and are giving out the old information.

Sometime this week, we are very likely to see the letter posted on this site

 

[anat0l]

In fact I am sure Qantas is happy that from next year lots of AMEX customers cannot transfer points to Qantas

I guess you could try to indirectly sweep AMEX points into Qantas - how economical this ends up being I have no idea. If it's at least break even, I wouldn't mind continuing to use AMEX if I can't have direct sweep.

If not, might be time to consider another carrier program (either ow or *A).

 

[skeltonl]

I don't think customer service reps would be talking about lettings in the mail and a cap of 40,000 points for no reason.

They would not be making that up

Which is my point. Of course if they wanted to back down from that decision I would be spinning it as

"oh no we meant that you could earn on the same amount of transactions as your last 3 months plus the extra 40 transactions to make your cap."

Which covers them for people making the same number of transactions they previously did AND for what they would be able to argue is a reasonable increase in spending.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

As far as I am concerned Luisa in this thread via Admin invited me to go out and spend with the thousands of businesses.

This I did.

The only thing she caustioned about was not "abusing the system" as per examles earlier (ie I assume as per the guy paying his rates bill in $10 increments that posted prior to Luisa's announcement).

So this I have not done.


So following Luisa' kind invitation (offer) I have been out searching for businesses where I can use my Amex and I have made a purchase with them now a number of them.

I believe this is a binding contract..and so I therefore expect Amex to deliver on their part of the deal, as I have performed mine. That is to make purchases in "non-abusive" ways.

I have acted in good faith. I excpect Amex to act in good faith.

Furthermore Luisa's and Amex's offer has led to me altering my purchasing patterns.
For example I spied some Chickrn Kiev's ina Poultry shop. I asked if they had Amex...on hearing no I bought the ingredients for dinner elswhere. Normally I would have just whipped out my Visa or used cash.

Feeling in need of a coffee....the first place no Amex. The second place had Amex = two coffees bought.

So I am performing my art of the contract. Amex need to do theirs.

Without the offer I would have saved my time and feet from the extra effort.

 

[aus_flyer]

Only in economy though...

Not true! .

 

[oz_mark]

Ok I guess that depends on your version of "official" a number of us have posted that we have been told by AMEX Customer Service representatives when calling them that it is being capped to 40,000 points. For me that's official enough - for others maybe they want to see to in writing. Don't get me wrong me wrong I would be happy to see AMEX backflip - just don't see it happening.

My official version is the version that I got on my postcard - 5,000 points for every ten transactions (ok, not the best, but seems to be the one I have to go with now, and no amount of refreshing the screen threw up the offer others got).

I am aware that some people have been informed by CSR's that they are limited to 40,000 points. This limitation has not been communicted to me by Amex, so it, for me, is not official.

I will be sticking with, what I believe to be, the spirit of the promotion.

 

[oz_mark]

Only in economy though...

Pretty sure there was a thread on FT when somone had demostrated that it did apply to other classes as well. I'll try to find it.

 

[simongr]

Pretty sure there was a thread on FT when somone had demostrated that it did apply to other classes as well. I'll try to find it.

It is probably only a marginally less controversial topic than this

 

[lovestotravel]

Pretty sure there was a thread on FT when somone had demostrated that it did apply to other classes as well. I'll try to find it.

I do notice a difference when looking for FF seats in all classes when signing in under my Gold membership versus my partners Bronze.

Not always a difference but there is a difference!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Re: Contract?

Qantas takes seriously their FF program... Money is not an issue... Qantas may get some Money for those FF seat ... for sure that money is not even near the full cost of a ticket... The FF program is for more than a way to sell unsold seats on a plain.... It make a loyalty group and create a way for other Business to atract customers by offering some sort of POINTS reward...

Think about all the other Banks, lenders, Car rentals that offer Points to atract Customers.... Qantas cant aford to loose all of them just to please Amex.. and Dont tell me AMEX is the Bigest player here COS... Amex is not silly... something like this could cost them Millions of dollars in just 4 Months.....

Huh? What on earth are you talking about?

This promotion is for American Express membership rewards points - not QANTAS FF points.

The contractual relationship between Amex and QANTAS is unknown at this point. But certainly Amex *pays* QANTAS for each FF point. QANTAS has no obligation whatsoever to provide any extra FF seats. So effectively it's just more money in the bank for QANTAS, and Amex that is out of pocket.

The rest of the partners - why would they care?

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Not true! .

There are no additional seats for any other status FF (there is an extra booking class for WP in economy).

At best you can *request* that yield management open a seat. But it's still entirely up to yield management to deny you that seat.

 

[oz_mark]

There are no additional seats for any other status FF (there is an extra booking class for WP in economy).

There use to be an extra booking class for economy (T), in addition to (X), but when PE came in, and T was used for that, it all became X (with elites getting some subset of that). However, Qantas arranged that to work seems to have been extended to other classes.

 

[skeltonl]

My official version is the version that I got on my postcard - 5,000 points for every ten transactions (ok, not the best, but seems to be the one I have to go with now, and no amount of refreshing the screen threw up the offer others got).

I am aware that some people have been informed by CSR's that they are limited to 40,000 points. This limitation has not been communicted to me by Amex, so it, for me, is not official.

I will be sticking with, what I believe to be, the spirit of the promotion.

I respect your perspective on this.

 

[oz_mark]

I respect your perspective on this.

...and if I do get a mailout this week, well I will deal with it then!

 

[lovestotravel]

Unfortunately I don't think it will be an "IF" :evil::evil:

My glass is 1/2 empty where yours is still 1/2 full