ANy Seat Redemption

[NM]

My concern (as a WP with most points earnt through flying an not cc spend) is whether the better availability of inventory for higher tiers (either via T class for SG's & WP's or the unwritten request a seat policy for WP's) will be affected. I suspect it will, seats will be available on any flight anyway - at a huge cost (like the DJ & NZ models), and therefore current points will be devalued significantly. Aas Aa result it mAay be time to shift loyAalty to Aanother frequent flyer progrAame.

Don't be surprised if the "any seat" only applies to economy. How does NZ etc handle premium cabin seats on such policies?

 

[JohnK]

Hands up all those who think that the changes will result in a net benefit to Joe Average?

I can only predict changes that will benefit QF and not Joe Average!

I regard myself as Joe Average. Someone who earns FF points through flying but supplemented by car hire, hotel stays and credit card earning as well. I don't believe FF points earned solely through credit cards should have the same bearing as points earned through flying. But that is a difficult model to setup and maintain.

 

[aus_flyer]

Don't be surprised if the "any seat" only applies to economy. How does NZ etc handle premium cabin seats on such policies?

I have heard otherwise

 

[NM]

I can only predict changes that will benefit QF and not Joe Average!

Perhaps Joe Average is also a Qantas shareholder

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well at the end of the day Qantas is a business and not a charity, and while we may all desire a "free lunch" any service it offers must be paid for by the customer. Though having said that there are some loopholes that allow the informed to gain more for their spend.

The FF scheme exists not so much to "reward" customers but rather to induce customers to buy more of its many and varied services.

These services do no longer just include direct purchase of flights but many other aspects include CC spend.

I personally regard my CC spend as purchasing flights. I have the cards I do to purchase Qantas flights....that they are called flight redemption's or rewards to me is irrelevant.

In my mind it is a clear purchase decision.

Qantas now earns a growing income from its partners, including the CC companies, who effectively purchase flights from Qantas on my, and other CC users, behalf.

Qantas earning income from these new streams is just as valid as from flights themselves....and ceratainly euqlyy valid as any rental car or hotel partner.

Qantas is inducing me to buy flights via their partners.

Qantas also knows that for many that this combined earning of points influences people to fly Qantas as they seek to pool points.

I used to earn vast numbers of points as flying Ansett in past career and so was once a very frequent flyer.....and don't differentiate with the points gained by various means then or now.

As a former platinum Ansett Member I am also aware of the consequences of an airline not being run on a sound financial footing. Some of my colleagues lost millions of FF points.

Qantas is in the business of making money..as a Qantas Shareholder I endorse this.....and not in just flying people or even freight for the sake of flying.

That their business model has changed as to how and where they derive this income is a reality of life and proof once again that the only constant in life is change.

As a shareholder I am encouraged that they seek to increase profits.

But as an individual I like many also seek to maximise what I can buy with my dollar.


Am I Joe Average? Are those that read this forum Joe Average?

I think not because Joe Average goes through life largely uninformed whereas most who frequent here seek to inform themselves and to maximise their positions.

Life constantly changes...including the FF scheme....Carpe Diem.

 

[ANstar]

Don't be surprised if the "any seat" only applies to economy. How does NZ etc handle premium cabin seats on such policies?

The same as economy. Provided you have enough Air bucks you can buy any ticket that is currently on offer for sale, Y, Y+ or J

 

[codash1099]

I can only predict changes that will benefit QF and not Joe Average!

I regard myself as Joe Average.

So there's at least two of us!

 

[simongr]

So there's at least two of us!

Two does not an average make...

 

[codash1099]

Two does not an average make...

It does when you're as average as I am!

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Do you think the almost non existence of J awards from June to October 2008 for LAX-BNE or LAX-SYD is a symptom of these proposed new enhancements

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I suspect it will, seats will be available on any flight anyway - at a huge cost (like the DJ & NZ models), and therefore current points will be devalued significantly.

I imagine the points required for, say, an 7:30am flight from SYD to MEL will be, very large, given that QANTAS can sell every Y seat on that plane for around $300 or so.

 

[Hvr]

Try the first plane out of CBR to anywhere, it's like a bus station in the QP!