Article: Latest Changes May Not Fix Qantas’ Reward Availability Problem

[WilsonM]

But these anecdotes aren't supported by data. The number of points redeemed annually has increased by 10% in the last year and 27% since 2019. The number of members has increased similarly.

Is this points redeemed on flights, or simply points redeemed? I note in your analysis you've pointed out that points redeemed per member has remained pretty stable since 2019, which makes perfect sense - your stats are right.

But if members are not able to redeem for Classic Rewards, they'll end up spending their points on other products (points+pay, C+, or non-flight products). From this, I don't get how the statistic of "points redeemed per member is similar" can be used refute the premise that there isn't enough Classic Reward availability. The fact that there are more points redeemed in the program overall also doesn't really refute that, for the same reasons. I'm sure there's many people who have points sitting in the account, who want to use them for flights - but they couldn't find availability, so they burned them on a non-Classic Reward redemption. It wouldn't change any of the stats you mention, but it still doesn't mean they found Classic Reward availability.

I just don't think there is enough conclusive evidence, number based or otherwise, to go beyond the anecdotal. Mainly because Qantas won't ever release a proper breakdown. As someone who stares at the Qantas website for multiple hours at least three days a week, I'd personally say I'm seeing less availability than before. Of course, this is purely anecdotal and not backed up by statistics.

Is it impossible to find availability? Definitely not, and I make the program work for me. But I'm also definitely not representative of the average traveller and it would be ridiculous for me to say that it works for everyone as a result.

 

[big_RED]

I've just realised how outrageously different the new CR+ forced upon program will be for my scenario and how I use my QFF points.

Before with CR: SYD to DFW return Business was 253,000 + $800 in taxes. 506k and $1,600 for my wife and I total.

New age: CR+ is 2,500,00 total for two passangers and $2,800 in taxes. Literally 5x more expensive now.

Even premium economy in CR+ is ~950,000 points! So double, for a lower class.

Quite unbelievable.

 

[SYD]

I've just realised how outrageously different the new CR+ forced upon program will be for my scenario and how I use my QFF points.

Before with CR: SYD to DFW return Business was 253,000 + $800 in taxes. 506k and $1,600 for my wife and I total.

New age: CR+ is 2,500,00 total for two passangers and $2,800 in taxes. Literally 5x more expensive now.

Even premium economy in CR+ is ~950,000 points! So double, for a lower class.

Quite unbelievable.

Except CR+ will vary with the cash price at the time. In some scenarios, the CR+ points are less than a CR during a Sale.

BUT AFAIK, no such situation has manifested for flights to the US. So far, only sale fares to NZ (probably because TT CRs in J are disproportionately expensive)….

 

[marki]

Article From AFR: Three ways to win with Qantas’ frequent flyer overhaul.
Qantas frequent flyers will need to spend more points to travel than they used to – the main takeaway from the airline’s overhaul of its loyalty program, announced last week.

Of course, any program built on loyalty does well to offset the sour with the sweet. And this latest shake-up comes with a few wins to make the losses more palatable.

One could see this in the rearview mirror miles away, but I am still surprised. Points are just a little more worthless.

1 No More Tier caps: a Platinum member flying in a business class seat from Sydney to Los Angeles will now earn 25,594 points in the sky, up from 21,375.
2. Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia will expand to offer premium economy reward tickets for the first time. Members will also say aloha to Classic Reward seats on the Hawaiian airline.
3. Classic Reward seats are released 353 days in advance to Gold frequent flyer members, 323 days out to Silver members and 297 days ahead to Bronze members at midnight GMT (11 am AEDT). - best for those in Gold.