A very long run comes to an end...

[UP4014]

The old card is only useful for the membership number. It is completely useless for proving anything else.

Showing my VFF card would be just as useful...

I always use my old one (complete with activation sticker still on it, when ever checked by someone who wants to it comes up ok.

 

[jamesatfish]

It seems odd to resurrect this thread after such a long while, but I can finally report that my Lifetime Gold membership card has arrived. It only took a bit over 5 months for Qantas to send me a new card - and in the end that only happened because I tried to use the Qantas Cash part of my old WP card after 31 January when that part expired, and that seemed to trigger a new card to be issued.

I didn't get any of the usual stuff that comes with a QFF membership change (bag tags, letter outlining benefits etc), just a new card so I could keep spending money via Qantas Cash.

 

[TomB]

So tired of QANTAS & soon to burn off close to one million FF points and move on to more competitive, as in better prices & service, airlines.

One current trick of QANTAS that really bothers me, is the focus on the Business Rewards Plan, to the detriment of the FF plan. Previous incentives, such as double status points, are being offered to those flying on an ABN and not just FF number.

 

[cove]

Qantas business rewards do really add up and are transferable quite easily. The latest double status credits offer just did not work for us to go to London. For the two of us I used Kris Miles instead and saved the cash. It was a big saving.
I have our family loyalty split into 4 different plans as Qantas became too successful with their frequent flyer programme.

 

[RichardMEL]

So tired of QANTAS & soon to burn off close to one million FF points and move on to more competitive, as in better prices & service, airlines.

One current trick of QANTAS that really bothers me, is the focus on the Business Rewards Plan, to the detriment of the FF plan. Previous incentives, such as double status points, are being offered to those flying on an ABN and not just FF number.

And it's fine to vote with your feet

but remember QF just finished a DSC offer to FF members, and continues to send targeted offers out on a VERY regular basis. Yes, QBR is a great progream it seems (I am not a member, not having an ABN etc) and that's great.. the point is these thins are all designed to increase revenue and profit to QF.. I don't know why this is a surprise. They all do it to one extent or another.

I do think it's a bit unfair to suggest FF's get nothing given the just finished DSC promo as noted, various points promotions, rewards discount promos etc.

my 2 cents.

 

[drron]

But what does a DSC offer to LTGs?
Mrsdrron got one and was already going to book travel which would net 120 SCs.But she only needs 39 for LTG.
Cant make WP with the miserly SCs QF gives for flying on other OW airlines.

 

[mviy]

But what does a DSC offer to LTGs?
Mrsdrron got one and was already going to book travel which would net 120 SCs.But she only needs 39 for LTG.
Cant make WP with the miserly SCs QF gives for flying on other OW airlines.

If you have LTG and obtaining/retaining WP is not realistic then Double Points offers would be what you'd want to take advantage of not Double Status Credits.

 

[JBH]

Interesting posts from all - I share some very similar experiences to Pleb & other members, Having been QFF since '95 and about to tick over 30/K status credits with 12 consecutive years WP to date. I have been fly 95% on CX nowadays as I'm based in HK & SIN. I have been considering moving on from QF for for sometime as nothing left to earn really, Is anyone familiar with status matches with CX?

 

[Pleb Status]

A full year has now passed since I dropped down to QF LTG and started this thread. It has been an interesting year and sets the tone moving forward. I note that I am yet to use a single LTG benefit so it has been completely worthless to date...

With only one QF revenue flight (PER-BNE, upgraded to J) for the 2017/2018 qualification year, this was my lowest number of QF revenue flights in a year since 1992. Three QF J, one CX J and two EK F award flights round out the complete QF/EK/OW travel book for the qualifying year (all flown prior to 31/12/2017). No QF/EK/OW flights have been booked or flown in the 2018 calendar year to date and none are currently planned for the remainder of the 2018 calendar year. A long way short of my QF P1 period a few years ago.



The reduction in QF (and partner) revenue flying to a 26 year low is generally due to cost and the lower level of seat comfort provided (Y and J). These are quantifiable criteria which are generally independent of opinion or bias.

For every single revenue flight booked and/or flown in the last qualifying year, without exception or qualification, QF were significantly more expensive than competing airlines (including the one revenue flight I did fly on QF where the VA alternative was >$100 cheaper). I am reasonably flexible when I fly so deliberately looked for cheaper QF flights if they were available but even then QF were still more expensive than the opposition. Approximately $7,000 was saved by not flying QF in 2017/2018, bringing the total saved by not flying QF to just over $32,000 since the start of 2015.

As I have already retained VA WP for my VA 2018/2019 qualification year and any further VA SC earned are just wasted, I would be willing to give QF (and partners) some 'love'. However, I am not going to pay a cent more to fly QF and then sit for five hours or more in substantially less comfort than what VA (or others) can provide me for less. It just not make any sense. So I just continue to book further flights on VA, SQ, DL etc and are happy to write off the SC. Very happy to look elsewhere if it is value for money and I am looking at even giving TR a go up to SIN for a change...

To be honest, I cannot recall a time in the past year (or longer) where I have 'missed' flying QF in any way. The only time I 'missed' being a OWE was when I had to use the CX J lounges in HKG rather than the normal F lounges (but for that flight from HKG it was a actually bit odd not heading off to the SQ lounge in anyway).

I hope to undertake two RTW OW award J/F flights in the 2019 calendar year to drain some of my 1.3M+ QFF points. With the extortionate QF fuel fines on awards, I would like to minimise my QF exposure to just the minimum one QF sector required per ticket *. These two award sectors (and no revenue flights) will most likely be my only QF flights in 2019 if the status quo remains.

I wonder when I will get my first use of my LTG status... (possibly intra Europe on BA in 2019)


* from further discussion below, these QF sectors may not be required....

 

[serfty]

, I would like to minimise my QF exposure to just the minimum one QF sector required per ticket.

There is no requirement to fly any QF segments on a QFF oneworld award - you just need at least two segments on different non QF *O carriers.

e.g. JFK-(BA)-LHR-(AA)-JFK qualifies.

 

[Pleb Status]

There is no requirement to fly any QF segments on a QFF oneworld award - you just need at least two segments on different non QF *O carriers.

e.g. JFK-(BA)-LHR-(AA)-JFK qualifies.

A call to QF tonight was very unclear on what the carrier requirements actually are...

In the beginning, the CSR stated that you must include at least one QF sector on the ticket along with two other OW carriers. When pressed however, the CSR then stated that at least three different OW carriers would be acceptable without a QF sector (for example CX+AA+BA would be acceptable).

 

[bmcc]

A call to QF tonight was very unclear on what the carrier requirements actually are...

In the beginning, the CSR stated that you must include at least one QF sector on the ticket along with two other OW carriers. When pressed however, the CSR then stated that at least three different OW carriers would be acceptable without a QF sector (for example CX+AA+BA would be acceptable).

The CSR's latter formulation is the correct one. Three non-QF OW carries would be acceptable.

Hint: If you are planning a serious first or biz RTW trip on points, look into originating in a country which outlaws fuel surcharges, i.e. out of airports like MNL, TYO or HKG (for now). Alternatively, consider paying cash and routing out a country where the currency shifts etc play in your favour, airports like MPM, CAI and AMM come to mind. You'd be surprised how cheap a RTW can be!

 

[serfty]

The CSR's latter formulation is the correct one. Three non-QF OW carries would be acceptable.

The relevant rule states:

14.5.1 A oneworld Classic Flight Reward is a Classic Flight Reward Itinerary that includes travel on at least two oneworld Alliance Airlines other than Qantas and does not include any travel on any airline that is not a oneworld Alliance Airline.

(Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas)

Nowhere do these rules state a Qantas segment needs to be part of a Classic oneworld reward. (FWIW, "other than Qantas" does not mean nor imply "including at least one on Qantas".)

For more information, see this thread: Wiki - "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

For specific example, see here: Wiki - "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Finally, if looking to book an award online using multi segment, when the route qualifies for a oneworld classic award and the points would be lower than that for a series of oneways it automatically kicks in.

e.g. HKG-PVG,PVG-NRT,HND-xOSA-LAX,LAX-HKG (four trips a week apart) in economy on CX & JL comes out at 120K, rather than 134K (14K + 14K + 50K + 56K)

Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Flying with Qantas and Jetstar - Using Qantas Points

 

[RichardMEL]

A small question for Pleb Status...

you had the one revenue flight upgraded to J. Could that upgrade when granted be considered a benefit of LTG, as in the Gold status would have priority over other flyers? Obviously I don't know the circumstances etc of that upgrade, but you did claim you'd seen no LTG benefits it's possible that that might have been one. Maybe not of course.

And since you've been flying in premium cabins of course the Gold benefits don't apply since you get all that(and better in some cases eg EK F) through class of service.

just a thought

 

[mviy]

That would depend on whether an award seat was available at the time of booking (upgrades should be approved instantly for domestic if Business award seats are available) or not.

 

[Pleb Status]

A small question for Pleb Status...

you had the one revenue flight upgraded to J. Could that upgrade when granted be considered a benefit of LTG, as in the Gold status would have priority over other flyers? Obviously I don't know the circumstances etc of that upgrade, but you did claim you'd seen no LTG benefits it's possible that that might have been one. Maybe not of course.

And since you've been flying in premium cabins of course the Gold benefits don't apply since you get all that(and better in some cases eg EK F) through class of service.

just a thought

The J upgrade was on points as there was an award seat available at the time of booking. This availability was the only reason I booked the single QF revenue flight over the competing VA flight. So no LTG benefit there...

I note the LTG usage so others can get a real indication of how much LTG is really used once you leave the Qcult. I also note the additional cost that QF charge to use those 'free' LTG benefits.

It is all fun and games earning LTG by paying way too much when you are not actually paying the bills (for most your employer is). However, like booking award flights, QF gouge you when you look to redeem your LTG benefits.

I am sure that over the next 20-30 years I will get some value from LTG. This will most likely occur when I cannot retain VA SG and only travelling once or twice a year in total...

 

[RichardMEL]

The J upgrade was on points as there was an award seat available at the time of booking. This availability was the only reason I booked the single QF revenue flight over the competing VA flight. So no LTG benefit there...

Ah, you know I read PER-BNE as PER-BKK, and my tired brain did not even register this is not a QF route, but I was thinming an international flight. oops.

I note the LTG usage so others can get a real indication of how much LTG is really used once you leave the Qcult. I also note the additional cost that QF charge to use those 'free' LTG benefits.

yes, though I am sure tthey are not more expensive in ALL cases/routes. Plus, if you had flown on a Y tix, then LTG does have some benefit. I know, most of us here would never subject ourselves to Y if we can avoid it

I am sure that over the next 20-30 years I will get some value from LTG. This will most likely occur when I cannot retain VA SG and only travelling once or twice a year in total...

And honestly I think that's where most of us see the benefit if we use it at all. Absolutely valid points.

QF (and other airlines with similar products) know this of course so it's of little real cost to them over the course of years compared to the cost to attain it (and thus overall yield to them).. and you've proven by using points to obtain a J seat anyway that you wish to travel in that cabin anyway(and nothing wrong with that at all, as above ) and so again, it's no cost to them.

There is another potential use of benefit, depending on one's travel patterns, and that is with oneworld partners eg bag allowance when travelling in the US on AA or priority check in with BA and CX if on Y tickets. It could be handy for sure.

This is one reason I am close to and making an effort to attain LTG equivalent with UA so I have *G benefits. That's just me.