A sign of things to come? Points + Pay your way to UK and Europe

[serfty]

I had a very close look at this on Friday and cannot find any reference to whether it would be points earning or not!

Use a combination of points and money to purchase an earlybird special.

The implication of the advertising that one would be using points to "get in on" an earlybird special and that these would book into a revenue class.

The "EarlyBird Fares" must book into N/O/Q class as "... Flight Upgrade Awards are not eligible on this fare. ...".

Note the +++ of a 128K QFF point award booking (MEL-LHR-MEL) is $568.

 

[josko]

if people do not like them, then they will not redeem for them but I dont see a reason for insulting people who do use it or those that instigated the award

Hmmm, I dont seem to be able to find any written insults about people who may utilise this wonderful Q offer.

But I do think that the clever Q executive who dreamed up this scam deserves a "spray' or two.

That is allowed....isn't it Dave? :?:

 

[Dave Noble]

Hmmm, I dont seem to be able to find any written insults about people who may utilise this wonderful Q offer.

But I do think that the clever Q executive who dreamed up this scam deserves a "spray' or two.

Comments such as "There's a sucker born every minute ..." and "Does Qantas really think we are all idiots?" are insulting those that do decide that they will use them. If some feel that the award serves their purpose, then they are not idiots for using it

Dave

 

[serfty]

Comments such as "There's a sucker born every minute ..." ...

Dave

I disagree; the use of that term in this context is mere hyperbowl.

i.e. It's an obvious and intentional exaggeration not intended to be taken literally.

As far as this promotion goes, show me someone about to book an early bird fare to Europe with $300 ground credit for 100K points and $1400 and I should very easily be able to convince them to hang onto their 100K points, spend an additional $500 and be probably 120,000 QFF points better off once travel is complete.

Although I value them more than this, the minimum obvious value of a QFF point is ~1¢. (e.g. SYD-BNE is $120 for a red e-deal OR 8k points and $40.)

This promotion values a point at almost exactly ½¢!*

* (Excluding the $300 of Qantas Holidays land credit - been there done that and IMO there is often better value elsewhere)

 

[simongr]

To a more sophisticated QFFer you are right serfty - but the points are only as useful as the use to which someone wishes to put them to. For me business class domestic awards are a good use but for others not. ANother example - I ordered a $360 Wii today for 59K amex points - it had been pointed out to me that was not a great return - but for me having just spent $x,xx_ on a new TV justifying the $360 for the Wii is not possible - but given I scammed the points (half of them at least) these were not hard earned points (i.e. not 60K of spend - just 7K) the return was justified. If someone is planning a trip and doing this makes it possible to take grandma along as well in the context of the entire budget then that is good - for them.

However I do find that this deal is either a real testatment to how QF understands its members, believing that they will analyse all promotions and consider all possible options and combinations OR it is a cynical ploy to trick people out of points without the public outcry of a devaluation...

 

[Dave Noble]

I disagree; the use of that term in this context is mere hyperbowl.

i.e. It's an obvious and intentional exaggeration not intended to be taken literally.

As far as this promotion goes, show me someone about to book an early bird fare to Europe with $300 ground credit for 100K points and $1400 and I should very easily be able to convince them to hang onto their 100K points, spend an additional $500 and be probably 120,000 QFF points better off once travel is complete.

Although I value them more than this, the minimum obvious value of a QFF point is ~1¢. (e.g. SYD-BNE is $120 for a red e-deal OR 8k points and $40.)

This promotion values a point at almost exactly ½¢!

Regardless of whether you would think it worth using that doesn't mean that anyone using them is an idiot or a sucker. Regardless of whether you class it as exageration, to me, it reads that people using these awards are being classed as dumb

There are a lot of things that I would think of as stupid ( such as spending money for flights solely for the point of getting status ) , but some wouldn't. There may be people for whom this will work especially if in a booking class easier to obtain than X. 128,000 points plus taxes and fines for an award flight on its own isn't better value if there is no availability for free tickets

Dave

 

[serfty]

Regardless of whether you would think it worth using that doesn't mean that anyone using them is an idiot or a sucker. Regardless of whether you class it as exageration, to me, it reads that people using these awards are being classed as dumb ...

Dave, I have stated my intended meaning and certainly had no intention of denigrating any particular member or members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. You are welcome to interpret as you wish.

None of this will change the fact that I would advise any Qantas Frequent Flyer against taking up this offer.

 

[NM]

None of this will change the fact that I would advise any Qantas Frequent Flyer against taking up this offer.

What about a FF member who has lots of points (perhaps millions) earned through Frequent Debting Programs, and want to travel on a particular date when there are no FF awards available and want to minimise the actual cash expenditure. This may give them them an option to consider.

 

[serfty]

... This may give them them an option to consider.

Certainly does give them an option to consider.

I had thought about that and in reality, if one is able to accumulate such a vast number of points via CC spend or other non flying activity, then it is likely they would be able to afford the addition $500 rather than divest themselves of 100K QFF points.

More than that; the offer is only valid for travel 4 October - 11 November 2008 - at this stage there are plenty of award seats in WHY betwixt Oz/Europe during that period. So a 128K QFF award with the +++ of ~$560 is quite an easy option to book - and, IMHO, far better than the ~$1400 and 100K QFF points this thread relates to.

 

[turtlemichael]

Certainly does give them an option to consider.

I had thought about that and in reality, if one is able to accumulate such a vast number of points via CC spend or other non flying activity, then it is likely they would be able to afford the addition $500 rather than divest themselves of 100K QFF points.

The more informed amongst them could also investigate and consider the option of not flying QF at all. :shock: One alternative would be VS if those zillions of credit card points have not been transferred to QFF already. While I have no idea of availability, SYD-LHR-SYD will cost 105,000 Amex MR points (transferred to Flying Club at 1:1) plus fines around $460 or so. That's directly comparable with the QF special offer and $900+ per person cheaper. Additionally, that applies all year not just for 5 weeks in Oct-Nov 2008.

 

[josko]

Dave, I have stated my intended meaning and certainly had no intention of denigrating any particular member or members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. You are welcome to interpret as you wish.

None of this will change the fact that I would advise any Qantas Frequent Flyer against taking up this offer.

Hear Hear Serfty....well said!

Dave............. I think you need to let your hair down a bit and relax!
This "political correctness" is getting a bit over the top.

 

[QF WP]

The joy of this board is that we are all welcome to our own opinions and sharing them to form a community of thought.

I may disagree with some members views, but I respect their right for saying what they do, so long as it's not offensive to the original poster. Then I'll be less than salutory .

I see little difference betwen Terry McCran's story (and well researched information) and most posts views here. We all agree to us it's bad value for the use of points. Now to some (albeit a minority) either because of lack of knowledge or lack of points, they may consider it a good deal (depending on how much value they put in their FF points). We on this board (as better informed FF's) tend to value points at the higher end of the scale (where used for upgrades, Business or First Class seats).

Terry is simply telling the masses who read the paper what we are all saying - avoid using this deal with a barge pole. I'm sure that people at QF Holidays and QF FF would not have wanted to see such a public dissection of the deal, as it shows the lack of value for the use of so many points.

 

[dajop]

I'm sure that people at QF Holidays and QF FF would not have wanted to see such a public dissection of the deal.

Lindsay agree completely with your post - except perhaps this last point. Maybe they were testing the concept out, and wanting to see what happens. As to another poster's earlier comments that the person who came up with the idea was an idiot or moron perhaps not, maybe I'm reading too much into it - but I think it was strategic move to test reactions. Who knows, if despite Terry McCrann's story the uptake targets are met for this deal - it may give them courage to do similar things more often, and ultimately permanantly (but let's all hope NOT!!)

 

[QF WP]

Surely a much cheaper way of doing sample testing would be to ask a sample of QFF's what they throught of the deal and would they use it, before they bring it to the market and spend a lot of money marketing it to find that it has been exposed as a poor deal (I thought that was Marketing 101 ).

QFF (moreso) and QF Holidays (less so) now appear, to anybody who has read and understood Terry's article, to be short-changing those who might use that points deal. That's potential brand damage (perhaps only short-term) for some sections or their market, but to me, it smacks of contempt. Needless to say, I wouldn't ever be using it and would similarly (to serfty) counsel anybody against using it as well.

 

[thadocta]

Actually, I beg to differ. Whilst at face value it is a bad deal, for SOME people it may be worthwhile.

I fly enough to get to Silver (almost to Gold, but not quite) but I get well over a million points a year by way of CC spend. So I am a semi-frequent flyer, but also a frequent-spender.

For me, if I can get seats which would otherwise be unobtainable by spending some points, it *might* be worthwhile.

For seats in WHY though, I don't think so. I don't think that I would spend this number of points to save this number of dollars for WHY travel. Others may differ, YMMV.

I agree thought that QF is possibly testing the waters, and will be seeing what happens.

If enough people take them up on this offer, then we might see more of them. If enough read Terry McCrann, then perhaps they might rethink it.

Dave

 

[serfty]

... For me, if I can get seats which would otherwise be unobtainable by spending some points, it *might* be worthwhile. ...

That's the point; award seats for the travel period of this sale are generally readily available at the moment:

... More than that; the offer is only valid for travel 4 October - 11 November 2008 - at this stage there are plenty of award seats in WHY betwixt Oz/Europe during that period. So a 128K QFF award with the +++ of ~$560 is quite an easy option to book - and, IMHO, far better than the ~$1400 and 100K QFF points [less the dubious value of $300 land credit] this offer relates to.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Comments such as "There's a sucker born every minute ..." and "Does Qantas really think we are all idiots?" are insulting those that do decide that they will use them. If some feel that the award serves their purpose, then they are not idiots for using it

Dave

Did not know you were a social worker Dave

 

[pauly7]

Hear Hear Serfty....well said!

Dave............. I think you need to let your hair down a bit and relax!
This "political correctness" is getting a bit over the top.

I agree, this thread has gotten a little weird...

Interesting to begin with though, so thanks to the contributors.