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

[levelnine]

Qantas is rolling out an exclusive status extension for its Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers whose status expires in July, August or September 2023.

The ‘status support’ measure will see the number of status credits those members need to kep their shiny card – and all the perks that come with it – reduced by 20% for the next 12 months.

• Qantas Platinum members whose status expires in July, August or September 2023 will need to earn only 960 status credits – down from the usual 1,200 – plus take the mandatory “four eligible Qantas group flights” on or before their membership year date
• Qantas Platinum One members whose status expires in July, August or September 2023 will need to earn only 2,880 Status Credits – down from usual 3,600 – with 2,160 (normally 2,700) of those from flying on Qantas marketed flights on or before their membership year date

Qantas status extension for Platinum frequent flyers

Many of the airline’s most frequent flyers will need 20% fewer status credits to keep their membership and perks to 2024.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[Pushka]

Qantas status extension for Platinum frequent flyers

Many of the airline’s most frequent flyers will need 20% fewer status credits to keep their membership and perks to 2024.

www.executivetraveller.com

It's a little too late for these people.

 

[levelnine]

It's a little too late for these people.

Agreed. I'd be particularly annoyed if I paid for an expensive status run to maintain WP/P1 at the regular thresholds.

 

[justinbrett]

Agreed. I'd be particularly annoyed if I paid for an expensive status run to maintain WP/P1 at the regular thresholds.

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.

 

[kpc]

And my year finishes end Oct.

 

[Pushka]

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 has been back and available to book but many were still (and reasonably so) reluctant to travel given all the mess associated with multiple cancelled flights, lost luggage, people being stranded at airports, many countries still in Covid protocol and requiring masks, vaccination, and testing on arrival, (we experienced that just recently) and still the risk of Covid. Viking cruises overseas still requires vaccination so many not bothering to travel os until that stops. It really only kicked in in 2023. And not properly at all yet.

 

[chrispy3276]

Status support page on the Qantas website has been updated to reflect this, including FAQs on why it's only Platinum/P1 - https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/status-support.html

 

[justinbrett]

It has been back and available to book but many were still (and reasonably so) reluctant to travel given all the mess associated with multiple cancelled flights, lost luggage, people being stranded at airports, many countries still in Covid protocol and requiring masks, vaccination, and testing on arrival, (we experienced that just recently) and still the risk of Covid. Viking cruises overseas still requires vaccination so many not bothering to travel os until that stops. It really only kicked in in 2023. And not properly at all yet.

I did a round the world trip in Sep 2022, didn't have to wear a single mask and no covid tests. Flights were absolutely chockers.

It's different if that support was announced last year, during the period the supposed difficulties existed (which I don't agree with).

 

[kpro]

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.

 

[Ade]

Wonder what's in store for Oct-Dec anniversary folks - already requal WP until Dec 2024. Still have 3x o/s trips this year, which will keep adding to my LTS tally.

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.

That would have been an amazing thing to do ... award the 20% SCs either as a booster for next year requal or add to LT tally ...

 

[levelnine]

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.

Maybe QF is being generous or maybe QF is worried...

One possibility is that QF have been caught off guard at how many former WP/P1s look to be stepping off the Qantas Loyalty escalator judging by forward bookings. This offer is, therefore, an attempt to re-attach the golden handcuffs.

Yes, flights have been rammed full to date, but it looks like the peak in travel is now past us with more capacity coming online & demand starting to ease.

Looking at data from the US, the peak in airline fares was roughly April 2022 to May 2023. Now airfares are in free fall — down an astonishing 19% in 12 months and, in seasonal terms, back to 2018 levels.

 

[justinbrett]

Maybe QF is being generous or maybe QF is worried...

One possibility is that QF have been caught off guard at how many former WP/P1s look to be stepping off the Qantas Loyalty escalator judging by forward bookings. This offer is, therefore, an attempt to re-attach the golden handcuffs.

I wish they weren't worried. AJ is on record for saying they have a glut of elites (something like 30% if IIRC). Time to thin out the pretenders!

 

[muppet]

And some wonder why the QF Business and First lounges are such zoos that QF needs to rope of a special area for P1 and First pax..…

If QF keeps handing out status like this, it needs to build more and bigger lounges.

No doubt, if I had only earned 960 SCs my views would be different.

 

[Keasm]

Agreed. I'd be particularly annoyed if I paid for an expensive status run to maintain WP/P1 at the regular thresholds.

Annoyed doesn't begin to cover it. I quite literally did this last weekend to fly to NZ and back to ensure I would have enough points to retain WP.

 

[dairyfloss]

Qantas status extension for Platinum frequent flyers

Many of the airline’s most frequent flyers will need 20% fewer status credits to keep their membership and perks to 2024.

www.executivetraveller.com

Unlucky for me (Aug 2023 member year ending), I booked a bunch of very expensive DSC flights in J, and will already surpass the full SC target that was advertised from the outset. Next year not looking as good with little/no work travel anymore, and would have loved a rollover for the 2023-24 membership year.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[exceladdict]

Maybe QF is being generous or maybe QF is worried...

One possibility is that QF have been caught off guard at how many former WP/P1s look to be stepping off the Qantas Loyalty escalator judging by forward bookings. This offer is, therefore, an attempt to re-attach the golden handcuffs.

Yes, flights have been rammed full to date, but it looks like the peak in travel is now past us with more capacity coming online & demand starting to ease.

Looking at data from the US, the peak in airline fares was roughly April 2022 to May 2023. Now airfares are in free fall — down an astonishing 19% in 12 months and, in seasonal terms, back to 2018 levels.

Agree. This feels odd, especially to be announced so late. As always, there must be a business reason.

IMO the biggest benefit that Jan-Jun people got is the SC rollover to the ending-in-2024 year. I had a marginal expectation something similar (instead of a full year comp or reduced target) would be offered to Jul-Dec members, probably in a tapered fashion.

It will be interesting to compare how VFR vs corporate travel compares to pre-covid now the initial bout of 'revenge spending' is almost done.

 

[Vic]

already on 1400 status towards requalification. Could've send that qatar business return to europe to VA...
Not too bothered since this was all required flying.
Now if there was 20% on Platinum one qualification, that would be an incentive to spend with Qantas over focussing on VA requalification.

 

[Pushka]

I did a round the world trip in Sep 2022, didn't have to wear a single mask and no covid tests. Flights were absolutely chockers.

It's different if that support was announced last year, during the period the supposed difficulties existed (which I don't agree with).

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.

 

[Princess Fiona]

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.

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.

 

[justinbrett]

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.