Changes to BA earn after March 31

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Exactly which clause of the T&Cs is being changed? I'll be surprised if you can find one clause that is being changed. Therefore, there is no requirement to provide notice.

How about this:

9.3.5 effective until 30 March 2013
Note: Clause 9.3.5 will be effective until 30 March 2013. Please see below for the new clause 9.3.5 that will be effective from 31 March 2013.
The Minimum Points Guarantee will be applied to all Eligible Flights that have a QF, JQ, 3K, VF, AA or BA flight number. The Minimum Points Guarantee is as follows:
(a) for Qantas (QF) and each Jetstar Airline (JQ, 3K and VF) - 1,000 Points for each Eligible Flight Segment travelled in Qantas Economy or Premium Economy class or on a Jetstar Starter Plus or Starter Max fare and 1,250 Points for each Eligible Flight Segment travelled in Qantas Business or First class, or Jetstar on a Business Max fare, as applicable;
(b) for American Airlines® (AA) - 500 Points for each Eligible Flight Segment travelled; and
(c) for British Airways (BA) - 500 Points for each Eligible Flight Segment travelled in full Economy, World Traveller Plus, Business or First class and 125 Points for each Eligible Flight Segment travelled in discount Economy class.
9.3.5 with effect from 31 March 2013
The Minimum Points Guarantee will be applied to all Eligible Flights that have a QF, JQ, 3K, VF or AA flight number. The Minimum Points Guarantee is as follows:
(a) for Qantas (QF) and each Jetstar Airline (JQ, 3K and VF) - 1,000 Points for each Eligible Flight Segment travelled in Qantas Economy or Premium Economy class or on a Jetstar Starter Plus or Starter Max fare and 1,250 Points for each Eligible Flight Segment travelled in Qantas Business or First class, or Jetstar on a Business Max fare, as applicable; and
(b) for American Airlines® (AA) - 500 Points for each Eligible Flight Segment travelled.
9.3.6 The Minimum Points Guarantee applies only if the number of Points earned after the application of any applicable Cabin Class Bonus, any promotional bonus and any Status Bonus, is less than the applicable Minimum Points Guarantee specified in clause 9.3.5.

And maybe this:

9.5.2 effective until 30 March 2013
Note: Clause 9.5.2 will be effective until 30 March 2013. Please see below for the new clause 9.5.2 that will be effective from 31 March 2013.
A Status bonus will be applied for Eligible Flights with a Qantas (QF), Jetstar Airlines (JQ, 3K and VF), American Airlines® (AA) or British Airways (BA) flight number. For travel on eligible Qantas (QF) and Jetstar (JQ) flights, the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 50% of the Base Rate, 75% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. For travel on eligible British Airways flights the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 25% of the Base Rate, 50% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. For travel on eligible American Airlines flights the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 25% of the Base Rate, 75% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. Status bonuses do not apply to Qantas & Partner Classic Awards.
9.5.2 with effect from 31 March 2013
A Status bonus will be applied for Eligible Flights with a Qantas (QF), Jetstar Airlines (JQ, 3K and VF) or American Airlines® (AA) flight number. For travel on eligible Qantas (QF) and Jetstar (JQ) flights, the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 50% of the Base Rate, 75% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. For travel on eligible American Airlines flights the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 25% of the Base Rate, 75% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. Status bonuses do not apply to Qantas & Partner Classic Awards.
9.5.3 All Cabin Class Bonuses and Status Bonuses will be added, when applicable, to the Base Rate for the flight undertaken. See Earning Points or the 'Earning Points' section in the Benefits Guidebook for worked examples.

Although it does say:

3.2 Qantas will use best efforts to advise Members of material changes to these Terms and Conditions and, where such changes will limit Benefits:
(a) where the Benefit is provided by Qantas, to give Members at least 6 months' notice;
(b) where the Benefit is provided by a third party, where possible give Members at least 30 days' notice.

As it says "where possible" I suppose they can get away with it, but it could be argued who provides the benefit, QFF or BA...

 

[medhead]

Maybe I'm strange but I see the 75% reduction on points earn as a bigger issue.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Maybe I'm strange but I see the 75% reduction on points earn as a bigger issue.

That sucks too, and one could consider a points earn table referred to in the T&Cs that it is incorporated by reference, but I'm no lawyer.

 

[docjames]

Yes, that is what I'm annoyed about.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Time to credit to AAnother AAirline (I have 2 BA flights this week, which are not going to QF).

What I should have been doing AAll AAlong... One return to LHR on BA would now be able to get you to AA Platinum with a Platinum Challenge (Challenge (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki)

 

[schmoots]

Goodbye QF Frequent Flyer and Hello AA. LTG with QF but AA Platinum Challenge next month and removed QF frequent flyer number from all of my bookings. Tired of being ripped off with fuel surcharge and the highest points redemption costs.

 

[amaroo]

Goodbye QF Frequent Flyer and Hello AA. LTG with QF but AA Platinum Challenge next month and removed QF frequent flyer number from all of my bookings. Tired of being ripped off with fuel surcharge and the highest points redemption costs.

Pretty much thinking - I'll be doing the same.......LTG will be in the bag this year. Since joining AFF I've learnt a few things & I've seen the light.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

And predicting this would happen is why I insisted TA book AA code (BA metal) on a BOS-LHR in August...

 

[tyrolean]

I saw this coming. But I am not amused that they change it with a bit more than two weeks. I have plenty of BA flights booked in April.

So I am punished in many ways:
- Codeshares removed
- No Accural of SCs for Loyalty Bonus
- No Status Bonus

They should honour it either for a transition period or for existing bookings.
Not Amused!

Still a few SCs until LTG.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I saw this coming. But I am not amused that they change it with a bit more than two weeks. I have plenty of BA flights booked in April.

So I am punished in many ways:
- Codeshares removed
- No Accural of SCs for Loyalty Bonus
- No Status Bonus

They should honour it either for a transition period or for existing bookings.
Not Amused!

Still a few SCs until LTG.

You will still accumulate Status Credits on all eligible booking classes for BA flights and therefore have no effect on your Loyalty Bonus.
It is only the points earn rate which is changing

 

[markis10]

You will still accumulate Status Credits on all eligible booking classes for BA flights and therefore have no effect on your Loyalty Bonus.
It is only the points earn rate which is changing

From July 1 no loyalty bonus for non QF SC earn .

 

[Princess Fiona]

From July 1 no loyalty bonus for non QF SC earn .

Missed that
So presume that SC's earnt prior to July 1 on BA or any other airline will still count towards the loyalty bonus ?

 

[markis10]

Missed that
So presume that SC's earnt prior to July 1 on BA or any other airline will still count towards the loyalty bonus ?

Yes, all good until July 1:

Loyalty Bonus of 8,000 points for every 500 Status credits earned on eligible Qantas or partner airline flights within a single membership year - up to a maximum of four Loyalty Bonuses per membership year. Please note that from 1 July 2013, only Status credits earned from flights with a QF flight number (including partner airline flights with a QF flight number) will contribute to the Status credits calculation for the Loyalty Bonus. Tier qualification and retention requirements will remain unchanged. At the end of your membership year, Status credit balances relating to the calculation of the Loyalty Bonus will be reset to zero.

 

[MarcB]

I had looked at these terms and conditions about a month ago for this very reason - I was going to book a BA flight and suspected changes would be coming. I am sure this clause was not there. The 9.5.2 version was, but there was no alternative from 31 March option. What is puzzling is that at the top of the T&Cs it still says effective 1 January 2013. That would suggest that this clause has been there since then. Does anyone have a version from between now and then? I've noticed a few changes that have occurred where the effective date has not changed. Mostly in the airline earning table - which I would argue, given it is specifically referenced in the T&Cs, is part of them!

 

[MarcB]

I just used the Wayback Machine (web archive). On 15 January this year this is what the clause looked like:

9.5 Cabin Class Bonus and Status Bonus9.5.1 A Cabin Class Bonus may apply for travel on an Eligible Flight in Premium Economy, Business or First class, Jetstar Business Max fares, and, in the case of British Airways, in World Traveller Plus, as specified in the Airline Earning Table. Any applicable Cabin Class Bonus will be credited according to the class booked for travel, not the cabin flown or any waitlisted class. Cabin Class Bonuses will not be credited for unpaid travel in, or unpaid upgrades to, a higher class. Members should check the Airline Earning Table for details. Cabin Class Bonuses do not apply to Qantas & Partner Classic Awards.
9.5.2 A Status bonus will be applied for Eligible Flights with a Qantas (QF), Jetstar Airlines (JQ, 3K and VF), American Airlines[SUP]®[/SUP] (AA) or British Airways (BA) flight number. For travel on eligible Qantas (QF) and Jetstar (JQ) flights, the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 50% of the Base Rate, 75% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. For travel on eligible British Airways flights the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 25% of the Base Rate, 50% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. For travel on eligible American Airlines flights the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 25% of the Base Rate, 75% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. Status bonuses do not apply to Qantas & Partner Classic Awards.
9.5.3 All Cabin Class Bonuses and Status Bonuses will be added, when applicable, to the Base Rate for the flight undertaken. See Earning Points or the 'Earning Points' section in the Benefits Guidebook for worked examples.​

Not sure if the link works but here it is:

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions (Archive Version)

Something is not right here in the way these changes have been communicated...

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

This has been done in a very dodgy way. The T&Cs clearly changed in the past few days yet the effective date has not, and they are not in line with the time frames stated for notice of changes.

Perhaps they think if they take a few QFF/AFF members out to lunch, nobody will notice them being swindled?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

This has been done in a very dodgy way. The T&Cs clearly changed in the past few days yet the effective date has not, and they are not in line with the time frames stated for notice of changes.

Perhaps they think if they take a few QFF/AFF members out to lunch, nobody will notice them being swindled?

With MH accrual rates (and hope same don't apply to Qatar and Sri Lankan when they join OW), loss of international routes, EK alliance, change in BA JSA, highly expensive taxes (and other fees/fuel charges) for award flights (etc etc, insert other reason why QFF looking less friendly day by day), looks like QF customers are not so much being taken to lunch as to the cleaners.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Perhaps we need a lawyer to draft an email template and we can all fire it off to the QFF service centre on the same day

 

[amaroo]

From July 1 no loyalty bonus for non QF SC earn .

That was one of my questions for yesterdays gig......no wonder I didn't get a plate setting

 

[Mwenenzi]

..Does anyone have a version from between now and then? I've noticed a few changes that have occurred where the effective date has not changed. Mostly in the airline earning table - which I would argue, given it is specifically referenced in the T&Cs, is part of them!

I pdf'ed much of the QF freg flyer web site, T&C's, earning, etc on Monday before this change.
Pity there is not 1 large pdf the all the conditions, etc in it. Years (decades) ago we were send a hard copy

With MH accrual rates....,highly expensive taxes for award flights...

For MH flights the QF point accrual rate is set by MH. QF freq flyer sells QF points to MH. MH then give(bribe) to the pax for using the MH service. Just the same as credit card companies buy QF points to give to you when the cc is used. If the credit card company wanted to give you 1 zillion points for buying coffee at Joe's Cafe they could

Taxes on award flights are the same for all. QF (and many others) charge other fees, surcharges, etc. These are NOT taxes