QF Top Up Points / Points Subscription survey (New)

[kallinch]

Hi all,

New QF survey out today exploring new paid options for top up points and subscription model. See table I’ve clipped from it here:

 

[jpp42]

I know this is only a proposal, but wow, there's a subscription model for everything these days...

 

[exceladdict]

I know this is only a proposal, but wow, there's a subscription model for everything these days...

Some places were doing subscription models before it was cool. I read an article the other day about BMW releasing cars with physical hardware that you could pay for later via subscription (heated steering wheels). Thought that was interesting.

On the qf example here; this is fascinating. If the price is right, this could work out very well for many of us...

 

[SYD]

UA have had a points booster program for years but I think it’s still just pay per trip.

Award Accelerator​

http://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/products/travel-options/mileage-products.html

Not sure I knew they had a Premier (status) accelerator option.

 

[Mattg]

Reminds me a little of something TAP Air Portugal offers.

https://www.flytap.com/en-pa/miles-and-go/club

There’s also LifeMiles subscriptions.

https://www.avianca.com/us/en/experience/lifemiles-program/products-lifemiles/

 

[Berlin]

Well- this would be something I'd definitely be interested in but only if the points are actually useful and that's what I'm not seeing at the moment. Qantas might be talking about additional award seats and blurb but internationally that's pretty much only in Economy from what I can see. I get the feeling it got much harder to score J class seats, potentially because everyone has kept so many points on the side over the pandemic (at least I did!).

So the only really good use of points in my mind at the moment is either round the world awards (good luck if you work full time and have work-related restrictions) or the otherwise overpriced Domestic business class tickets where you actually find J availability quite easily. But hw many of those does one need? I bet everyone is different and I'm generally addicted to my Qantas points- but toaster ovens and a second Weber grill ain't cutting it.

 

[Dr Ralph]

How about a subscription model which gets additional reward flight options opened up for you?

Do people really want more points when you it's extremely difficult to use them?

 

[Port Power]

With the TAP model, the subscription fee also earns status credits. For those flyers struggling to retain WP for instance, $800 for 400SC is cheaper than doing a status run. What if the fee is $1,000 and 200SC are included? Food for thought.

 

[logicallysynced]

It might be worth it if the subscription model gave you additional status credits or reduced the required amount of SC to reach a tier?

 

[andye]

Not sure what the pricing actually means (maybe QF don't either) . If it's 2c per extra point then the first 2 options would be way over my buying range. If it's 2c per boosted point I.e 1c per extra point that's OK.
Presumably the pricing of the subscription service would be offered at better value but a cap prevents massive hauls

 

[Mr H]

How about a subscription model which gets additional reward flight options opened up for you?

How about a subscription model that gives you access to Hobart...

 

[hornyhombre]

How about a subscription model which gets additional reward flight options opened up for you?

yep, or status options

 

[Berlin]

How about a subscription model which gets additional reward flight options opened up for you?

Ha! Now THAT is a great idea!

 

[jpp42]

Some places were doing subscription models before it was cool. I read an article the other day about BMW releasing cars with physical hardware that you could pay for later via subscription (heated steering wheels). Thought that was interesting.

Yes, Tesla has been doing this for a while, you can get a higher performance car by paying for the software features to be unlocked. Essentially the performance is deliberately hobbled unless you pay.

 

[Pusiek]

How about a subscription model which gets additional reward flight options opened up for you?

Do people really want more points when you it's extremely difficult to use them?

Exactly right, soon everyone will have millions of points, but won't be able to use them.just more cash for Qantas.

 

[mysteryone]

There must be hundreds like us who have had Platinum for decades but now looking at losing it because travel opportunities are limited and double SC status runs are non existent.
We are sad about having to give it up even though we are both (wife and I) both LG. Since I retired 20 years ago we have sometimes had to do a small status run to meet the required level. Faced with the status downgrade we will now be using cheaper one world partners for our annual European trip.
Could be solved with a one year extension! mysteryone

 

[Berlin]

Faced with the status downgrade we will now be using cheaper one world partners for our annual European trip.
Could be solved with a one year extension! mysteryone

No one can blame you for that. Qantas' pricing outside of Australia has always been mad but what they are peddling as "Special fares" into Europe and the US at the moment is just insane. I'm talking J class here- and the likes of JAL, QR and even FJ are even way better in quality.

I really used to like Qantas and domestically they're still the way to go for me (as I have a particular distaste for Virgin) but on our self-funded business class trips? I simply can't justify it. I will definitely give Project Sunrise a go, just to have done it, especially if/when Paris and/or Frankfurt become and option but that's more for the novelty. Other than that, I actually prefer traveling for a bit longer and take a stopover along the way!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

TAP subscription has nothing to do with subscription revenue and everything to do with circumventing Star Alliance rules.
TAP miles are almost entirely worthless.

Lifemiles, again, has different priorities specific to their local market.

There's probably a sweet spot for Qantas somewhere between an Emirates Skywards+ model, and a Lifemiles model.
Almost like a Qantas Club Minus.

 

[33kft]

Yes, Tesla has been doing this for a while, you can get a higher performance car by paying for the software features to be unlocked. Essentially the performance is deliberately hobbled unless you pay.

That's one take on it, but not a great one IMHO. The upgrade exists for one vehicle only (the LR or Long Range) and allows a boost to the acceleration on this particular model. The point is you could have always bought the Performance model but for this one model you can get the benefit of LR pricing with an acceleration boost to near Performance speed.

Given not everyone is prepared to pay for all of the associated inclusions of the Performance model (different wheels, suspension, etc) I just see it as choice personally. Nobody is forced to pay it to get Performance spec, you'd just buy the performance model (which is around $15-20K extra plus the LCT hit that post-purchase add ons like this avoid, much more than the $4K that it costs for the LR to boost).

A lot of people may say well the hardware is there, why should I pay and while I get that point, it's highly likely that all our cars can do faster than they do but are governed in various ways for certification, warranty, emissions etc reasons (not to mention non-cannibalization of premium sales which is 100% what I suspect this is about). The only way we'd know is if someone successfully tunes it to do otherwise.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

How about a subscription model which gets additional reward flight options opened up for you?

Qantas have this already. The subscription costs anywhere from $5,000 - $100,000 depending on how you pay for and utilize the package.
You'll earn something called "Platinum status", which gets you additional reward flight options