Award tickets further devalued with a new peak surcharge for tickets

[MEL_Traveller]

They would rather you not claim a awards flight anyway. They would rather you use points plus pay. That way the points you pay are relative to the price of the ticket.

Again this issue only effects such a small number of people, that statements like "this is end for Qantas" is over inflated. People love to scream about the end of things prematurely.

Does Qantas really think a family of four is going to pay an extra $800 for a peak day of travel to Europe? That could represent as much as 8-16 days of budget accommodation.

The ordinary traveller has achieved little out of all the recent program changes. Those flying in premium cabins have scored benefits, but the ordinary people are starting to lose out. big time.

it's the beginning of the end of QF as a full service carrier i think.

I fear it's only a matter of time before they start charging for checked-in bags, and start to charge for alcohol on international services. Flying economy but wanting to use the F lounge for $50-100 of benefits and services? how long will that last?

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

They would rather you not claim a awards flight anyway. They would rather you use points plus pay. That way the points you pay are relative to the price of the ticket.

Which brings the value of a QFF Point down to about 0.8 cents. Which means it doesn't become worth members chasing extra points, which results in lower revenue for QFF. Other than flights on OW airlines (in my slow creep to LTG) and an EDR swipe every now and then at Woolworths, I don't credit anything to QFF any more.

 

[amaroo]

<snip>

I guess that might be another reason, but grabbing the additional rev from OW and Award seats would be icing on the cake.

Indeed. No doubt more of these "fine-tuning" manipulations will occur as they move closer to cashing in some QFF chips. A FF version of the "Pump and dump" theory....

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Again this issue only effects such a small number of people, that statements like "this is end for Qantas" is over inflated. People love to scream about the end of things prematurely.

Doesn't this affect every single person that books a revenue or award or OW ticket and flies during a peak period? Awards are being devalued - true, but the cost of every other seat is also going up. In some cases, by $200/pax (or $225/pax if it's a Fri/Sat)

 

[Princess Fiona]

Doesn't this affect every single person that books a revenue or award or OW ticket and flies during a peak period? Awards are being devalued - true, but the cost of every other seat is also going up. In some cases, by $200/pax (or $225/pax if it's a Fri/Sat)

Yes it does in the vast majority of cases there will be an increase of $25.
The OP in the thread was highlighting the devaluation of Award Tickets.

 

[eastwest101]

[sarcasm on]Due to the low fares and yields, QFi will be announcing an Off Peak Surcharge (YO) on flights that fall outside school holidays or on flights departing Sun-Thu [sarcasm off]

I havent had a chance to check yet but are those new surcharges for QFi only and not QFd or JQi or JQd flights or codeshares?

 

[Powerballsam]

How many award tickets are actually getting claimed during peak times as compared with off peak. If you are not going to book a J flight cause the surcharge is an extra $25 then there is something wrong.

Just because this issue effects you does not mean it effects a large amount of people.

Again my issue is not the surcharge it is the doomsayers. People scream about leaving the QFF. Online where it is annonymous, but the reality is that they stay. People love to talk tough and rough scream about how they are leaving but never do.

Whatever people want to scream and carry on good luck to them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How many award tickets are actually getting claimed during peak times as compared with off peak. If you are not going to book a J flight cause the surcharge is an extra $25 then there is something wrong.

Just because this issue effects you does not mean it effects a large amount of people.

Again my issue is not the surcharge it is the doomsayers. People scream about leaving the QFF. Online where it is annonymous, but the reality is that they stay. People love to talk tough and rough scream about how they are leaving but never do.

Whatever people want to scream and carry on good luck to them.

it may be the case with some, but others (including me) have already voted with their wallets.

that doesn't mean we are precluded from commenting on here. the two are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Powerballsam]

Comment all you like but saying highly emotional statements about the end of Qantas in my opinion is useless. Waste of time as all it does is spread the "I am Sparticus" mentality.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Comment all you like but saying highly emotional statements about the end of Qantas in my opinion is useless. Waste of time as all it does is spread the "I am Sparticus" mentality.

I think it is being pragmatic: recognising QF may penny pinch wherever and whenever it thinks it can. If you are saving for an award you should be prepared that the $200 surcharge becomes $400. you should be prepared that QF may cut free alcohol and free baggage by the time you come to claim your award.

For many - including the 'jetstar idiots' - those extra fees and charges could make a big difference. Or save them a lot of money by shopping/accruing points elsewhere.

 

[RooFlyer]

How many award tickets are actually getting claimed during peak times as compared with off peak. If you are not going to book a J flight cause the surcharge is an extra $25 then there is something wrong.

Just because this issue effects you does not mean it effects a large amount of people.

Again my issue is not the surcharge it is the doomsayers. People scream about leaving the QFF. Online where it is annonymous, but the reality is that they stay. People love to talk tough and rough scream about how they are leaving but never do.

Whatever people want to scream and carry on good luck to them.

I don't think you have understood the changes, and you seem to be fixated on the 'Awards tickets' side. The $25 surcharge applies to ALL tickets, paid and 'Award', for flying out, whether in Economy, Business or First, on ALL Fridays and Saturdays (except for a couple of Asian destinations); $200 for ALL economy tickets to USA during the many weeks specified. So, how many seats do QF have departing Australia on Fridays and Saturdays? Multiply by load factor and that's the number of people affected.

If you really think that people aren't already voting with their feet, then I suggest you are fooling yourself. If you re-read the changes, and realize their breadth, coupled with all the other chipping away we've seen the past month and indeed the past year, you'll understand why so many of us are migrating elsewhere - not just for FF scheme, but paid metal fares. Oh, I'll still take Qantas when it suits - but instead of automatically being my choice for 4 to 6 J fares to Nth America a year, it may be just the one. CX J is so much better than QF's anyway! AC - direct to Vancouver ... happy days!

 

[Isochronous]

QFF already had the highest surcharges in the world yet the company is losing money - so they decide to raise surchages even more?

Perhaps they should look at their cost base and ask why their hard product is not attracting customer interest.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

People scream about leaving the QFF. Online where it is annonymous, but the reality is that they stay. People love to talk tough and rough scream about how they are leaving but never do.

Whatever people want to scream and carry on good luck to them.

Some people may scream, but others are more measured. I actually value what QFF status gives me and will continue to credit my OW flights there as I inch towards LTG. But QFF is removing the incentive to go through hoops to earn extra points. The best example I can think of is warehousing credit card spend in Amex MR or SPG with the flexibility to transfer them to a range of programs. It makes more sense than 'direct earning' limited to one program which 'enhances' its rules to make them 'simpler and fairer' about once a month.

 

[JohnK]

Each move it seems creates more and more cynicism towards the QF brand.
They are either helpless or deliberately don't want to stop the cynicism growing.

It is almost as if they are encouraging the growing of the Qantas bashing sport.

Seems to me as if someone is setting up Qantas to be sold and hoping that executives will walk away with huge bonuses. Joyce? The board? Both?

 

[drron]

How many award tickets are actually getting claimed during peak times as compared with off peak. If you are not going to book a J flight cause the surcharge is an extra $25 then there is something wrong.

Just because this issue effects you does not mean it effects a large amount of people.

Again my issue is not the surcharge it is the doomsayers. People scream about leaving the QFF. Online where it is annonymous, but the reality is that they stay. People love to talk tough and rough scream about how they are leaving but never do.

Whatever people want to scream and carry on good luck to them.

Well I left QFF in 2007 and went to Aadvantage.One of my better decisions.

 

[Ansett]

Seems to me as if someone is setting up Qantas to be sold and hoping that executives will walk away with huge bonuses. Joyce? The board? Both?

The main money is likely to be made by the Orange 5 who buy it at rock bottom price and then rebuild over 2 or 3 years and re establish the share price to the highs of the failed take over then sell it again at a huge profit. That job is being made so much easier now with the review of the Qantas Sale Act likely to lead to a big easing in the ownership rules.

I do not see Qantas going under however I do see a lot of pain for customers and members of the frequent flyer programme.

Once Qantas is sold to the Orange 5 you will see 787-9s or A350s in QF colours and new destinations added with the use of low cost staff from out side of Australia, more flights and connections to Asia and old routes re opened such as Perth to Singapore.

Sit back and watch them tell us all how good they are and how Qantas is trying to support Australia and how Australia should now support Qantas even more....

 

[amaroo]

For many - including the 'jetstar idiots' -

The airline or just the bogans that fly with them

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The airline or just the bogans that fly with them

neither. the reference was in respect of a post on AFF last year which began by describing some jetstar passengers as idiots for expecting too much from the frequent flyer program. the post wouldn't have been an issue except it was initially 'liked' by qantas.

'is that how qantas feels about me?' I wondered.

(the endorsement was later removed)

 

[Mr_Orange]

The main money is likely to be made by the Orange 5 who buy it at rock bottom price and then rebuild over 2 or 3 years and re establish the share price to the highs of the failed take over then sell it again at a huge profit.

Suspect that I am being slow (highly likely given the day I am having), but who the Orange 5?

 

[JohnK]

Well I left QFF in 2007 and went to Aadvantage.One of my better decisions.

Great if you can do it.