Another one bites the dust.

[coyote25]

Can definitely see something for continued SC earn specially with no LTP. Maybe at 20k LT SC say throw some sort of bonus, 25k etc....

I agree it is a surprise there are no incentives other than aiming for WP each year.

Maybe if you requalify for annual SG (so it shows you are still a loyal flyer) you get a choice of either;
- 2 x F Lounge INT passes / J Lounge Dom passes or
- one Dom upgrade certificate or
- 20k points.

They wouldn't need something extra at WP level since you get WP benefits.

"Mr/Mrs QFF, in recognition of your strong commitment to QF as a lifetime Gold member and your continuing commitment by meeting the annual requalifying gold status QF is happy to offer you an extra reward, you have the choice of ..."

To further promote the loyal flyer that QF wants and keep down costs you could make it only for status earned on QF (if that is worth more to them).

It would promote reasons for the LTG member to still aim for Gold each year and book flights that earn QF good revenue while costing very little. Once you are LTG cheapest fare on OWE is fine (less revenue) but when aiming for status some people go for higher earning fares (flexible etc).

I'd also redesign the status display on tickets that makes it clearer someone is LTG when travelling on that status. Just a little thing so staff know you a longer term client (especially when fixing operational problems).

 

[opusman]

Why would you use the Int J QF lounge when you can use the EK one instead?

 

[eminere]

Why would you use the Int J QF lounge when you can use the EK one instead?

At airports other than DXB the EK lounge may not always be open at the same time as your QF-operated flight.

 

[pellbay]

Having just returned from a 10 week OS holiday and flying QF EK British Iberia AA Southwest Hawaiian and got help us, Jetstar, and I am considering every part of the flight from checkin, lounges, actual flight etc etc I would never fly with anyone else but Qantas if I could.

 

[zoomzoom]

Took the same decision a few years ago.....its liberating and there is lots of choice in the market. Pay for service, and get real service. EK, SQ, CX, QR are all great carrierswith much better product and at better value than QF. For domestic trips the QF network isstill the best but just buy what you want or need. Virgin deliver at the front end, certainly worth using.
QF just treat passengers as self loading cargo.....its all about them.

PS. Really pleased the Americans stopped the cosy little deal with AA on the Pacific.

 

[turtlemichael]

All airlines are businesses. Certainly those with shareholders have the sole aim of making the best profit they can. Everything else is incidental. It is good to make decisions based on what is good for me rather than for that business.

 

[grov]

I stopped chasing status some time ago, when I realised that I could still obtain good seats (e.g. "Emerald City" on the QF 380) if I paid for them, even when purchasing discounted J. And since I mostly fly J these days, I don't have to worry about obtaining lounge access anywhere. Another good result is that I'm free to fly with anybody and try different airlines that have far better J seats than QF for long-haul, and in most cases offer cheaper J prices. I still accumulate QFF points by running all financial transactions through a CC so I can still score award flights and J upgrades.

 

[wassee]

I'm only gold and self funded but would not bother with Qantas if it was not for Emirates.Good lounges and planes. Sometimes get upgraded. Never upgraded on Qantas

 

[Muzfly]

I've let my Platinum go as I simply don't need to travel as much as I used to. I still prefer to use Qantas whenever I can, within reason. I like the QF product and cannot understand why people here are so scathing of it at times. I've traveled SQ, EK & CX and reckon QF is equal to all. OK I travel in J so accept Y might be a different ball game. I guess my only gripe with QF is that BNE misses out on the A380 on the Pacific Route, but its not worth going via SYD to get it.

I don't miss lounge access although domestically J gets you entry anyway, but I rarely spend much time (if any) are I prefer to board early so I can stow my hand luggage somewhere near where I'm sitting. Which brings me to my one gripe with QF Domestic Crew, why do they stand by and watch Y pax stuff their carry on in J overhead bins.... No doubt there is a who thread on that......

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

. Thanks Qantas but I do feel that I have now got a fair bit of freedom.[/QUOTE]

I completely understand.

I am old enough to remember when frequent flyer programs were a reward for loyalty and points flights could earn status .

I think about the joy I felt when finding out about milage plus ( when years ago two paid trips to the USA could earn
enough points to gain a reward flight for the next - and elevate you to milage plus - a loophole but it lasted several years ).
Loyalty programs are now serious earning for airlines, they
are not about rewarding loyal passengers and status means very little.
Points are now a form of currency, they can bought and sold (or so I understand).
Borrow money from a bank and get enough points to go to
London twice. Bý petrol/groceries and get a free toaster etc.
There are so many points in the system that it is not possible for ailines to provide enough seats. Hence "enhancements" to FF programs and status. I cannot cope with booking a seat 12 months in advance and only finding
flights a week or two from my preferred dates - if at all !.
Over the years I have been a big collector of points and status and still play the game but not as seriously.
I enjoy lounges, extra baggage etc that comes with status
but as has been said all these things can be had with premium class tickets, lounge memberships, credit card
benefits and a lot more freedom.

 

[Altair]

Why would you use the Int J QF lounge when you can use the EK one instead?

They may not be open at the same time.
EK enforce the 1 guest rule with the definition being if you have a seat you are counted as a guest. This was important as even an infant with a seat booked under their name would count as a guest or a child under 18 would count but for the Qantas lounge they would not.
However I agree where an EK lounge is open I would use it over the ordinary Qantas International Business Lounge.

 

[siri]

I can see your pain re. the whole FF issue. In 80's and 90's we had good FF programs all over the world and Qanats was great those days. Only Airline I got upgraded with out asking was United and Cathay and I do not know it was due to my employer which is one of the biggest network companies in the world and I also had business in HK as well. ( HK systems are all linked and immigration knows your company and business).
Getting a lifetime Gold take most of the pain away and I would say Qantas Gold is not that bad compared to others.
Re. Lounges, Qantas Sydney 1st class lounge is very good and new Tokyo one as well. HK and Spore Qantas lounges are diabolical and in HK, Cathay 1st lounge is great.
I recently got two round the world Business class tickets with Qantas and is quite happy with the whole booking experience.
We are 6 weeks on this trip with staying at Grand Hyatt's in every city using my Hyatt points which got a great guest service with life points.(Syd-Spore-London-NY-HK-Tokyo-Sydney). I lived 3 yrs with Beijing Grand Hyatt.

 

[JohnK]

I fly mainly economy. I actually do enjoy flying economy. Cannot afford premium travel.

Hooked on Platinum. I'm convinced it makes the ride more comfortable. Don't want to let go as long as I can continue to maintain Platinum with reasonable spend

 

[ozmille]

I dropped to SG and miss WP a lot (most travel Int and Trans Tasman so the F lounge calls). The service extended well beyond just the lounges, better phone service, disruption management, getting to the lounge after a flight and having a new boarding pass for a different flight ready because your booked connection is running late is worth a lot to me. Maybe this membership year I'll get back up there

 

[BD1959]

In 80's and 90's we had good FF programs all over the world and Qanats was great those days.

1997: MEL-ADL-ASP-SYD-CNS-TSV-BNE-MEL Redemption: 32K in Y, 37.5K in J ... no brainer. All down-hill since then!

Regards,

BD

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I like the QF product and cannot understand why people here are so scathing of it at times. I've traveled SQ, EK & CX and reckon QF is equal to all.

No one disputes QF can be equal to all... but the problem is consistency. QF is not renowned for the consistency of its cabin crew.