A brave new world... an 'enhanced' PPS Club

[Keith009]

https://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/krisflyer/news/latestnews/news_03.jsp

Tough new qualification criteria - radically decreased benefits. Has SQ lost the plot?

Featuring the ironically termed 'PPS Value' which determines the amount of revenue contributed to SQ. SGD25 000 has been set as a figure to qualify for entry to the 'enhanced' PPS Club. If you're thinking of a UGS-esque status - think again. They're going to kick you out of the First Class lounge when flying business class (currently you're allowed to go 'one up' wrt lounge access). Another significant change is the removal of 'anytime lounge access', even for the top tier, Solitaire PPS status which must now be obtained by contributing not less than SGD250 000 in revenue within 5 consecutive years of PPS membership.

All these, amongst other 'enhancements' to the 'streamlined' PPS Club. In a statement to the (Singapore) media, a spokesperson (not Forshaw) was quoted as saying that members of the new PPS would receive 'God-like' treatment. I'm still failing to determine what these could be when the new scheme reads as little better than Krisflyer Gold or general *G.

This is the 2nd wave of enhancements to the airline's loyalty schemes within the space of 1 year, after it was revealed last year that miles in the Krisflyer scheme would be devalued by as much as 50%.

To describe this as a disgrace would be understating it. Especially when other airlines are upping their standards significantly, and offering comparable products and services these days. I will definitely vote with my wallet.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I will definitely vote with my wallet.

I already have. Last year of 5 trips to europe in first & business, 4 were on SQ. This year I have 4 trips booked. Of the 8 longhaul sectors only 2 will be on SQ. 2 of this year's trips are on other airlines in part due to SQ withdrawing F. The other 2 trips originally had more SQ flights but I have switched these to more convenient alternatives.

I'll still fly SQ but only when it is convenient to do so. I will no longer go out of my way to fly them.

 

[d15.in.oz]

Tough new qualification criteria - radically decreased benefits. Has SQ lost the plot?

Personally, I don’t think so.

Consistency and clarity are important terms in my vocabulary, and moving to a Financial Based Calculation to determine who their most valued flyers are, is an intelligent move. (It will also allow them to reduce the double whammy effect of rewarding large business customers with good corporate discounts AND then also having to reward their individual flyers with high level privileges.) This would seem particularly fair to those flyers who pay full first fare (and are obviously the most profitable seat fillers).

[Of course, I know that a forum like this one is (quite rightly) designed to help us get the most out of the airlines. And I have certainly used the various tips, tricks and quick notice of specials/errors to make informed purchase decisions.]

Additionally, global airline marketing strategies seem to be moving to a polarised position. That being - one set of brands aimed at the price sensitive, high volume markets, and the other towards the premium low volume, high profit per seat market. Singapore Airlines is not the only airline company with strategic ownership geared around this philosophy.

So those of us who fall in the middle are feeling the squeeze, either pay up more dollars for the special treatment we currently enjoy or pay the prices we like and get "less service". But there is another option - change airline loyalties; there are a few companies in our region who are making their stand in the middle ground*, perhaps international flights via Bangkok, Auckland or Kuala Lumpur may become increasingly attractive options? *Though for some of these companies it might be their last stand?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I don't have a problem with revenue based FFPs per se. However SQ is cutting out many of the benefits of PPS. So not only is PPS significantly harder to earn than just about any other status (possible exceptions HON and certain invitation statuses), but the benefits are no longer commensurate with the value of the customer to SQ or the effort to attain.

For those who have flexibility, why go for PPS when can more easily get a high status elsewhere with more benefits?

 

[NYCguy]

For those who have flexibility, why go for PPS when can more easily get a high status elsewhere with more benefits?

I imagine that they think their product alone will keep people coming back, despite the changes to the FFP. Certainly pax who fly around on full F fares won't be worried by these developments - after all, they will qualify for PPS easily, and they'll also have an F lounge that's free of all those pesky PPS-flyers in J, who clutter up the place and hog the showers and the sushi.

As d15.in.oz stated, those in the middle-ground are the ones disenfranchised by these developments. But how many will vote with their feet and abandon SQ for the competition, and how many will just grin and bear it?

And do you suppose that Lifetime PPS may be retained as an unpublished benefit as in UGS or QF CL?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

And do you suppose that Lifetime PPS may be retained as an unpublished benefit as in UGS or QF CL?

I doubt it. Those that already have lifetime status at 1 September will get to keep it. I would guess they may review those who are close (say above 990 sectors) and give some of those lifetime status. For everyone else, no chance.

 

[openseat]

I am very disappointed in this as well. I was about to make the switch for business travel over to SQ on the basis of PPS and double-dipping. But I have to revisit the bookings I have made.

Back to mama Oneworld!

 

[dajop]

Bit bizarre that one of the "benefits" now of PPS club membership is access to the Silver Kris Lounge and Business Class checkin when flying in Y or J. Given that you gotta fly a whole stack in J class to attain/retain PPS club status, I wouldn't have thought them to be hugely significant benefits, as they come with J travel anyway. And outside of SIN, is there that much difference between * Gold lounge access and PPS club lounge access?

 

[Keith009]

Bit bizarre that one of the "benefits" now of PPS club membership is access to the Silver Kris Lounge and Business Class checkin when flying in Y or J.

PPS members used to be able to access the F side of the SKL and utilise F check in counters when flying J, prior to this latest round of 'enhancements.' Also, Anytime Lounge Access has been removed entirely.

 

[Keith009]

My letter to 'Today' (singaporean newspaper) has been published!

TODAYonline

 

[markis10]

QF009 please report back on your experience flying SQ for the first time after your letter was published, or maybe given the lack of interest SQ is showing in its frequent pax you will have nothing to report

 

[Keith009]

QF009 please report back on your experience flying SQ for the first time after your letter was published, or maybe given the lack of interest SQ is showing in its frequent pax you will have nothing to report

Given that the next flight is a SIN-KUL in Y, and the ones after that a redemption booking (albeit in C).............

 

[Keith009]

Ooh got a call from a nice chap at SQ MEL today in response to my letter to Today - presumably the area manager for Victoria and Tasmania. First time I got to speak to a Singaporean at SQ MEL - for a while I thought they're all Aussie!

He spent the first 5 mins regurgitating everything their PR machine has put out so far.

I wasn't too confrontational as I could see he was trying to be nice. But I did challenge his assertion that culling benefits was completely in line with raising the qualification threshold. His response was that it will all cancel out by 'more exclusivity', 'nice new lounges' and 'luxury' on the A380. And that it was definitely not about cutting cost.

Hmmm, did someone mention 'sustainable'?

We then engaged in an informal chat, which ended with a 'hope to welcome you back onboard soon.'

They act fast. :shock:

Think of what their reaction might be if thousands of you QPPs and TPPs all start writing furious letters to the media.