Article: Airline Status Officially Makes People Spend More

[AFF Editor]

It’s Official: Airline Status Makes People Spend More is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

It’s Official: Airline Status Makes People Spend More

On one hand, it’s irrational to spend more money on less desirable flights. But this doesn't account for the value of airline status.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[siri]

This does not apply to life members or flying business class..

 

[SYD]

So the system works. Who knew…

It’s especially seductive for OWEs wanting to keep the extra perks regardless of class of travel.

 

[levelnine]

What this article suggests is that Qantas really missed the boat on lifetime platinum. Putting the attainment threshold so high is likely to disincentivise people from going for it once they hit lifetime gold. That means, if a LTG member thinks they cannot hit platinum in a particular year, there is literally no reason to direct a marginal dollar of spend to Qantas.

 

[radamspse]

once you reach platinum trying to get to the P1 stage is a bridge too far and I regularly fly the cheapest unless I really need the first-class lounge facilities

 

[SYD]

What this article suggests is that Qantas really missed the boat on lifetime platinum. Putting the attainment threshold so high is likely to disincentivise people from going for it once they hit lifetime gold. That means, if a LTG member thinks they cannot hit platinum in a particular year, there is literally no reason to direct a marginal dollar of spend to Qantas.

Some would argue the opposite. Plenty of LTGs here (myself included) who still like WP status perks but know that LTP ain’t happening. I have no issue spending money with QF but will go elsewhere if I can get better SCs / $.

 

[aikman]

I have wasted so much cash pursuing LTG. The closer I get the more I want it. I wish there was a way to cure this addiction.

 

[levelnine]

Plenty of LTGs here (myself included) who still like WP status perks but know that LTP ain’t happening. I have no issue spending money with QF but will go elsewhere if I can get better SCs / $.

You misread my comment.

If you are LTG and LTP ain't happening and you don't think you will attain WP in a particular year, there is absolutely no incentive to spend a single additional dollar on QF.

Eg if you are LTG and think you'll earn about 600 SCs through regular flying in a year, there is no incentive to spend more to earn more SCs (eg by buying flex fares to attain 800 or 1000SCs that year) because they don't count towards anything. Best to scrimp and save every dollar when purchasing oneworld fares in that scenario. Indeed, it has the perverse effect of encouraging you to spend as little as possible!

 

[Hampton Mike]

I’ll get to LTG in the next year or so, and I’m currently contemplating what to do after that. The article is useful, as will be the comments.

In my pursuit of LTG I’ve been happily cruising along since mid last year as P1 and this will continue for another year thx to the 1800 status rollover this year. But I can’t possibly sustain it once I have to accumulate 3600 SCs using my own money (and I mean my own money as I’m retired). The question for me is whether to spend enough to maintain platinum.

So I have a question - are the benefits provided by the VIP team in relation to release of revenue seats as Classic Reward seats (which I have made heavy use of as P1) the same for P and P1?

 

[levelnine]

are the benefits provided by the VIP team in relation to release of revenue seats as Classic Reward seats (which I have made heavy use of as P1) the same for P and P1?

No. P1 has access to release in more scenarios (see here) and is able to access manual review of release decisions. Whether that's worth the additional spend on QF is a question only you can answer. The P1 thread has plenty of thoughts on that.

 

[Hampton Mike]

Thx - very informative and the links

 

[BCons]

What this article suggests is that Qantas really missed the boat on lifetime platinum. Putting the attainment threshold so high is likely to disincentivise people from going for it once they hit lifetime gold. That means, if a LTG member thinks they cannot hit platinum in a particular year, there is literally no reason to direct a marginal dollar of spend to Qantas.

Absolutely the case in another recent thread about LTG - plenty of us said that now with lifetime gold achieved, with work travel reduced or no longer as necessary, keeping Plat annually isnt worth the chase, partic with an airline that is so much reduced post-Covid. And - given the years and application taken to get to LTG - why even think of chasing 5.3 times the number of SC's you earned for Gold to achieve permanent platinum nirvana.

 

[Pushka]

Bringing my psychology training to the fore, it's a conditioned behaviour that the closer you get to the target or reward, the harder and faster you run.

 

[exceladdict]

Really interesting article! Thanks for drawing our attention to it @AFF Editor

Bringing my psychology training to the fore, it's a conditioned behaviour that the closer you get to the target or reward, the harder and faster you run.

I haven’t read the paper yet but I find the psychology around rewards so fascinating too. In particular, an unexpected reward being more motivating than something that becomes expected (I think I read an article or paper about that vs op-ups in the US, where the expectation of upgrades makes them less valuable).

One would think an airline would try to tease people on the threshold of making a run for that higher status with an unexpected bonus. Even just a personal welcome or minor gift on the flight, thank you for your recent (increased?) travel with us, here’s an extra chocolate. With the smarts in CRMs these days, it would be easy to identify someone with increased travel patterns, predict if they’re seeming sustained, and try to influence that behaviour.

I mean, with all the things my QFF number are connected to, Qantas probably know more about me than I do.

 

[clifford]

I'm a lifetime Platinum (*G) with UA Mileage Plus, and since attaining that level (many years ago) I haven't bought one revenue ticket from UA.

I have spent money with them on award tickets (taxes, etc), but nothing else.

It's been very useful in helping me to save money while enjoying the benefits of *G.

 

[tdimdad]

So the system works. Who knew…
It’s especially seductive for OWEs wanting to keep the extra perks regardless of class of travel.

And seductive if you want to see how much greener the grass is on the other side of the fence. I've spent extra to attain OWS. Later this year am likely to again spend extra to climb to OWE so that I can sample it for a couple of years (and likely get hooked ). And did the same with VA, as well, to see what life is like with a status with them. Guilty as charged...

 

[dairyfloss]

So the system works. Who knew…

It’s especially seductive for OWEs wanting to keep the extra perks regardless of class of travel.

Guilty, as charged
I promise I'll stop once I can afford to fly revenue F!

 

[CaptJCool]

Guilty, as charged
I promise I'll stop once I can afford to fly revenue F!

Sadly, by the time you can afford, it'll be scrapped or re-badged

Airlines are scrapping first class, but it’s not dead just yet

Next year, the only US airline to still offer first class on its international flights will scrap them. But some airlines still view first class as a part of their prestige.

www.smh.com.au

 

[dairyfloss]

Sadly, by the time you can afford, it'll be scrapped or re-badged

Airlines are scrapping first class, but it’s not dead just yet

Next year, the only US airline to still offer first class on its international flights will scrap them. But some airlines still view first class as a part of their prestige.

www.smh.com.au

I’m sure there’ll still be a few about

 

[JohnK]

End of this month I will have QF Platinum for another 12 months.

I have 20 SCs worth of planned travel for next year and already thinking how cheaply I can get 1180 SCs to maintain Platinum. Why? Warped thinking or some magic spell. I have Lifetime Gold and no need to maintain Platinum other than to say "I'm Platinum"....