20% Reduction in Platinum/Platinum One Retention Thresholds (July/Aug/Sept Membership Year Ends)

[Pushka]

I wonder if cruising is a bit different?
My experience is similar to @justinbrett
I have flown a few RTW trips in the past 6 months and not had to wear a mask at all unless I chose to do so.
Even the USA has ditched the vaccine requirement.

Yes cruising is different. however even in Australia the mask mandate mostly remains and RAT testing still currently required in Australia.

However there remain as recently as 2023, several countries where testing regimes is off putting. India for instance, as recently as April was random testing international travellers and if positive were put into isolation. This was at their airports, not from cruises. This was reintroduced in 2023 after relative freedom, so there was wariness as to whether other Countries could implement a sudden change to protocols even mid flight. Up until we left in April we were mindful our travel plans could come to an extremely expensive and unpleasant halt in India. It was very much a risk to travel in 2023.

We were required to wear a mask in Salalah Oman in May and had to prove vaccination status in several countries. In KL mask wearing where we travelled was significant.

Post automatically merged: Jul 17, 2023

Malaysia is a special case - and QF doesn't fly to it.

Yeah and QFI doesn't fly Into Adelaide either.

I agree with you this has to stop. It won't impact us. The reason I think this announcement is pathetic is the timing. It's a gesture only that will anger pretty much everyone but not all.

 

[AIRwin]

And my year finishes end Oct.

10% for us?

 

[dairyfloss]

Well, we were required to wear a mask just in May this year overseas and had to have Covid vaccination and tests checked. In KL mask wearing was significant. So my experience was different. And recent.

Malaysia is a special case - and QF doesn't fly to it.

Should be a little easier as of this month. Malaysia's Health Ministry eased the Covid-19 guidelines effective July 5th, and that included the end of mandatory mask wearing when riding public transportation and in hospitals. Face masks are still mandatory for those who are Covid-19 positive, and health workers in health facilities. Masks may still be required on planes? (Edit: nope, just checked and MH removed that some time ago)

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Cossie]

I have a trip booked to Christchurch in August to make sure I retain WP, won’t need it now, but will probably still go depending on the bosses leg issues. I need to visit my favourite Burmese restaurant again. (RANGOON RUBY, Christchurch - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor)
Meanwhile, her DSC’s haven’t been credited from our Cairns trip, so this is not so important now.

 

[AIRwin]

I have a trip booked to Christchurch in August to make sure I retain WP, won’t need it now

Hopefully there'll be a schedule change

 

[Himeno]

lol. I just got the email about this, reducing required plat retain to 960SC, which I already have and was on track to get the 1200 needed over the next 2 weeks.

I wonder if this is why I was having problems accessing membership and point/SC earn data this afternoon.

 

[Vic]

Well, we were required to wear a mask just in May this year overseas and had to have Covid vaccination and tests checked. In KL mask wearing was significant. So my experience was different. And recent.

Anyway, we will both requalify this year using Paid flights. Not in Qantas so much though. Agree that it needs to stop, but making this announcement right now is ridiculous for those impacted. No help at all for July people and a slap for those who paid the money to requalify anyway.

It would seem some people don't travel enough.

The european vaccination proof rolled off just after I went to Germany, Austria and Hungary late May last year. But I had to show proof of vaccination to fly into Europe. I would have needed proof to fly to Austria or Hungary from Germany as well. Fortunately I took the train and vaccination proof not required when crossing from a neighbouring country.

Had an interesting discussion with a train conductor in Bavaria about mask wearing - 'If I have to wear an N95 why are you wearing a cloth mask?'

Masks preferred but maybe not enforced February this year, MH/SQ going to India. People at that meeting from Japan, and also who transited via Singapore, required vaccination proof and negative PCR result to enter India. Thankfully, I flew with MH, via KL, so did not need testing. Masks/Vaccine not needed for UK/Europe May/June this year.

Malaysia is a special case - and QF doesn't fly to it.

Qantas group does fly there, don't they?

 

[nancypants]

The email was *chef’s kiss* for Qantas- “congratulations on meeting the requirements already ie you get nothing

 

[CaptJCool]

Would have preferred 20% SC rollover for the lifetime SC's. I'm likely to comfortably hit the retain goal for my next membership year.

Unfortunately

The status rollovers of last Financial year
DO NOT COUNT towards LTG

This headstart is useful until you hit the headwinds of expensive fares

600 SC in each of the next 2 FYs and I’ll topple into LTG

Not really that hassled cause after then that’s lifetime lounge access plus the chance to ESCAPE the golden handcuffs

By my assessment
QF long haul Perth-Europe (London Rome)
Auckland - New York is not worth the 120% price of the past years

Project Sunrise tickets will see a 20% premium

Speaking at a media roundtable at the International Air Transport Association’s annual general meeting in Istanbul, incoming Qantas CEO and current CFO Vanessa Hudson said premiums on Project Sunrise would at least be similar to those on the current Perth to London route.

australianaviation.com.au

This from June 5 2023
World’s longest direct flights to cost 20% more than stopover fares

Self funded means no tax deductions means stopover
Best fare of the Day is not QF

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Colour me skeptical but I see this announcement as really a devaluation to the Platinum (and Platinum One) programs. For instance, consider Platinum status with one of the published benefits being earning lifetime Gold status after just a dozen years qualifying (and re-qualifying) for. Well between status extensions, roll over credits and now a reduction in status credits required to retain Platinum, it means punters are going to have to spend a few more years retaining Platinum to earn that coveted Lifetime Gold status.

 

[oz_mark]

Colour me skeptical but I see this announcement as really a devaluation to the Platinum (and Platinum One) programs. For instance, consider Platinum status with one of the published benefits being earning lifetime Gold status after just a dozen years qualifying (and re-qualifying) for. Well between status extensions, roll over credits and now a reduction in status credits required to retain Platinum, it means punters are going to have to spend a few more years retaining Platinum to earn that coveted Lifetime Gold status.

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. LTG is tied to lifetime status earn, not to how many years you've had platinum.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. LTG is tied to lifetime status earn, not to how many years you've had platinum.

That's true, but one easy way to earn LTG is to simply hold Platinum status for a couple of years.

 

[Peasant]

I'm annoyed they are offering it at all. International travel has been well and truly back since 01 Jul 22. If you haven't maintained status that's your own fault.

It probably just suggests QF's data is indicating a sharper drop off in P1/P members than originally forecast, so they're responding to it as any sensible business would, mindful of the LTV of many in the cohort.

Nearly all major full-service airlines have indicated business travel is still only back to about 80% of 2019 levels, so even though premium cabins are full and yields are through the roof, it's not unreasonable to expect many of the road warriors are not travelling as they were. Perhaps they're generating more Silvers and Golds than previously.

This may also be a smarter, more targeted retention strategy than rolling out a blanket DSC offer.

 

[oz_mark]

It probably just suggests QF's data is indicating a sharper drop off in P1/P members than originally forecast, so they're responding to it as any sensible business would, mindful of the LTV of many in the cohort.

Nearly all major full-service airlines have indicated business travel is still only back to about 80% of 2019 levels, so even though premium cabins are full and yields are through the roof, it's not unreasonable to expect many of the road warriors are not travelling as they were. Perhaps they're generating more Silvers and Golds than previously.

This may also be a smarter, more targeted retention strategy than rolling out a blanket DSC offer.

Have to agree - Qantas are the ones that can see the numbers, and how everyone is travelling towards renewal.

 

[muppet]

I think its worth keeping in mind that with status credit rollover offers (which were available for members up to June 2023) a WP member could earn as few as 360 SCs to qualify for WP in 2023.… how it this sustainable?

 

[jakeseven7]

Oh thanks Qantas - surprising, but not really needed from my perspective things are 110% back to normal!

 

[jrfsp]

Have to agree - Qantas are the ones that can see the numbers, and how everyone is travelling towards renewal.

I wonder if members are not being as loyal as in previous years in retaining status

 

[justinbrett]

I think its worth keeping in mind that with status credit rollover offers (which were available for members up to June 2023) a WP member could earn as few as 360 SCs to qualify for WP in 2023.… how it this sustainable?

That's a good point actually. Jan-Jun members had to earn the full amount, however received a rollover into the 23/24 year (as well as 22/23).

Jul-Sep members did not have the rollover into the 23/24 year, but are getting 20% off the amount required for the 22/23 year, which they also received a rollover into.

That makes no sense. Why does the second group need extra help for the 22/23 year, when the first group's period was earlier in the covid recovery?

 

[exceladdict]

That's a good point actually. Jan-Jun members had to earn the full amount, however received a rollover into the 23/24 year (as well as 22/23).

Jul-Sep members did not have the rollover into the 23/24 year, but are getting 20% off the amount required for the 22/23 year, which they also received a rollover into.

That makes no sense. Why does the second group need extra help for the 22/23 year, when the first group's period was earlier in the covid recovery period?

Agree, while the comping needs to stop at some point, the lack of rollover into the year-ending-in-2024 is the main disparity, imo.

 

[eminere]

That's true, but one easy way to earn LTG is to simply hold Platinum status for a couple of years.

That doesn't make any sense. You hit LTG when you earn the required number of SCs, not by how long you've held Platinum status for.