Changes to partner earns on QF

[defurax]

This is all pretty confusing, I would like it if Qantas built into their calculator the ability to see the old and new earn rates.
Can anyone please give me some feedback on flights from Australia to HKG on CX, are they unaffected?

Just change the date in the calculator to see pre- and post-changes earning.

 

[Christoo]

Just change the date in the calculator to see pre- and post-changes earning.

Thank you for that, looks like the SC is unchanged and the points are slightly less, that doesn't phase me.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Why have Qantas ignored their own terms and conditions? They've given about 1 and a half months' notice, and even then I would hardly describe the way in which they've informed their members of the changes as using "best efforts". Hiding a notice at the bottom of an unrelated email is not "best efforts".

It was the monthly newsletter - hardly an "unrelated email". People who complain that they didn't know something because they didn't read the newsletter that was sent to them are fools.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It would seem that Qantas actually updated the QFF terms and conditions yesterday.

https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/terms#jump2

However, there is still a clause saying they will give at least 3 months notice of any changes made by Qantas:



Why have Qantas ignored their own terms and conditions? They've given about 1 and a half months' notice, and even then I would hardly describe the way in which they've informed their members of the changes as using "best efforts". Hiding a notice at the bottom of an unrelated email is not "best efforts".

This question has been around since yesterday. Number of issues... why not follow the notice period? Why tack on changes at the bottom of the news latter? Today I get a full email, dedicated solely to booking a car through Qantas points. Yet they don't consider changes to points earning to warrant the same notification.

Unless qantas can give a good reason as to why the changes don't comply with the notice period, I'd argue the existing table could continue to apply to any flights already booked for the next 90 days. Granted you might have a bit of a struggle if you have some flights you want to take advantage of the higher earn rate... you probably can't have both!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It was the monthly newsletter - hardly an "unrelated email". People who complain that they didn't know something because they didn't read the newsletter that was sent to them are fools.

Have a look at the newsletter. There's lots of other information before you get right to the end about the points earn changes. A magazine subscription get higher billing. And a separate email today to book cars.

Qantas - like any major organisation - knows people are pressed for time. They know people skim emails and newsletters. They know people might assume important changes are highlighted and placed near the top, or in the headlines.

And if they don't know that, they should!

 

[Mattg]

It was the monthly newsletter - hardly an "unrelated email". People who complain that they didn't know something because they didn't read the newsletter that was sent to them are fools.

My comment was more about the prominence the announcement was given in the email, compared to other things. I bet that 90% of people missed it altogether, and I am sure that this was intentional on the part of Qantas.

 

[Alanslegal]

*brings out the popcorn*

Glad I haven't earnt any SCs for a few years now but love watching Qantas promising nothing but airy fairy pink dust (year after year) and many people continue to get sucked in and continue supporting them

 

[OATEK]

As mentioned up thread, still same SC as present. But I agree with Princess Fiona, that improving SC earn for Asia/Europe, where QF do not offer direct services, is a major improvement My SC earn will go from 80 to 120 for HKG-MAN next year.

This is all pretty confusing, I would like it if Qantas built into their calculator the ability to see the old and new earn rates.
Can anyone please give me some feedback on flights from Australia to HKG on CX, are they unaffected?

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have been hanging around in various airline forums on FT (much more input on non Qantas airlines there to help me weigh up alternates). Seems to me there has been a lot of revamping of FF programs by various airlines this year with most people not happy, so perhaps a function of all airlines tightening up on their programs as travel normalises.

Haven't looked at this in detail (mainly as I am not that interested in points/SC anymore, except for friends/kids), but reading the comments on this thread, there seems to be winners and losers, so not totally bad? The calculator is a thousand times better than what we used to have so that helps with messy tables?

 

[RooFlyer]

*brings out the popcorn*

Glad I haven't earnt any SCs for a few years now but love watching Qantas promising nothing but airy fairy pink dust (year after year) and many people continue to get sucked in and continue supporting them

Irecall making almost exactly the same type of comments about 2 years ago. I still fly them but maybe only 1/3 as much now.

theres no way for the apologists to deny it. These changes have been snuck in, likely breaking their own T&Cs. Just symptomatic of Qantas "loyalty" these days.

 

[JohnK]

*brings out the popcorn*

Glad I haven't earnt any SCs for a few years now but love watching Qantas promising nothing but airy fairy pink dust (year after year) and many people continue to get sucked in and continue supporting them

Lifetime Gold, wonderful economy product, cheaper airfares than a LCC. Is there more to say?

 

[RooFlyer]

It was the monthly newsletter - hardly an "unrelated email". People who complain that they didn't know something because they didn't read the newsletter that was sent to them are fools.

Well I'm a fool then. Sorry, but I have more to do in my life than reading every promo 'newsletters' from airlines, hotels, rental car agencies and the like down to the last footnote and asterisk. You don't actually do that, do you?

Oh.

For material changes to a points type program, I expect the changes to be properly flagged, not hidden down the bottom of a bunch of promos. But then I'm a fool of course. Don't know how I managed to get through life thus far.

 

[medhead]

It would seem that Qantas actually updated the QFF terms and conditions yesterday.

https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/terms#jump2

However, there is still a clause saying they will give at least 3 months notice of any changes made by Qantas:

Why have Qantas ignored their own terms and conditions? They've given about 1 and a half months' notice, and even then I would hardly describe the way in which they've informed their members of the changes as using "best efforts". Hiding a notice at the bottom of an unrelated email is not "best efforts".

Your maths skills need updating - October newsletter, December change. October, November, December - That's 3 months!

Qantas Maths[SUP]TM[/SUP] - It's like the work of Feynman, only different

Now if we can get someone at Qantas to work of the GUT - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Unified_Theory

 

[Princess Fiona]

Well I'm a fool then. Sorry, but I have more to do in my life than reading every promo 'newsletters' from airlines, hotels, rental car agencies and the like down to the last footnote and asterisk. You don't actually do that, do you?

Oh.

For material changes to a points type program, I expect the changes to be properly flagged, not hidden down the bottom of a bunch of promos. But then I'm a fool of course. Don't know how I managed to get through life thus far.

FWIW I spoke to three colleagues today all SG or WP and none of them noticed anything in the email about changes to earnings.

I do think we should have a received a "Letter from Lesley" about these changes. There are enough positive ones for the QF PR machine to have gone into gushing overdrive mode (and buried the MH/QR cuts in a footnote in Arial 8)

 

[RichardMEL]

I think that Red Roo will be busy at the AFF #9 dinner Saturday night.

I hope the folks don't "shoot the messenger" !!

 

[eminere]

Your maths skills need updating - October newsletter, December change. October, November, December - That's 3 months!

Not quite three months: the newsletter was sent on 15 October, the new earn rates take effect on 1 December. That's only 47 days's notice.

 

[andye]

Not quite three months: the newsletter was sent on 15 October, the new earn rates take effect on 1 December. That's only 47 days's notice.

Hence the smiley

 

[RichardMEL]

OK well I've read all this with interest and some dismay. I have 2 main comments to make - one on MH/QR and the other on my personal feelings. I'll put myself last

1. MH/QR. Here's a thought, which may be way off base, but remember that currently(and since MH joined OW) the earnings and stuff were already skewed and not "standard"(not that that means anything these days! )... and QR was not great. I wonder how much of this is QFF or things like QF/EK being "against" QR(per se), or rather trying to divert people to their metal(why not just give SC's on EK flights where no QF codeshare exists then?) but more a function of the agreements that QR and MH make with QF for earnings. Now, all of this has a cost. We fly on MH but credit to QF, then there's an agreement between the two for a payment for this. Just like if I use a MH lounge with my QF status, they will charge that back to QF (which is the main reason to swipe your card), just as if a MH elite uses a QF lounge, they will charge back to MH. I wonder if this is partially a function of the agreements brokered between those carriers and QF as much as QF "EMF&S" enhancements? I don't know, but I wonder.

2. How I feel (so feel free to ignore, cuz yeah nobody cares ) - Overall pretty disappointed. Yes, some plusses like AY to/in europe being a bit better and stuff, and some intra-USA, but really all this is hardly simpler. I absolutely agree needing to worry about booking classes and the rest... most pax don't know or give a cough what their booking class is... and why should they? Sure, we EF subscribing AFF member types care and get it, but most people... it's so complex I think most people either don't care or just throw their arms up about it. I think QFF counts on a lot of that. I bet 87% of QFF members won't even read the stuff and another 10% will think it prob has little effect on them. Sure, most of us have various vested interests in certain aspects that may affect us (eg: I was seriously thinking of doing ADL-DOH on the 350... but I mAAy reconsider or see if there is a better BArgain out there to credit to). Problem is, as someone above pointed out, most programs are doing this sort of thing.. and it makes sense from their point of view but is customer unfriendly(and confusing as this thread alone shows).

As a LTG I'm even more being encouraged to look elsewhere - be it to OW or maybe Star or maybe the "VA alliance" - I don't know, but there's not a lot to keep me with QF (as a P1) with all these changes. Of course as aluded to above, the grass may look greener, but may be brown or turn brown quickly elsewhere.. that's the gamble or the risk, but given no LTP or other goal to look to reach with QFF and these more changes, it's definitely pushing me away as a customer specially given the appAAling nature of certain other programs with reward structures, mileage buy promotions and other partiers (eg: EY) that may be very nice to redeem on. So QF I suspect you may lose some custom - not so much from me as I'm a nobody, but probably the sum of more loyal and higher spending customers may actually make a blip on the radar, though I suspect not.

time will tell.

bottom line is that it's just gotten way more complex and a bit crazy. the original point of alliances was to make it all seamless and no matter what partner you were on it should seem like your "home" carrier in all respects.. well I don't think ANY of them really do it that way anymore - but some are better than others.

 

[defurax]

FWIW I spoke to three colleagues today all SG or WP and none of them noticed anything in the email about changes to earnings.

I do think we should have a received a "Letter from Lesley" about these changes. There are enough positive ones for the QF PR machine to have gone into gushing overdrive mode (and buried the MH/QR cuts in a footnote in Arial 8)

But it's still a tough sell e.g "Dear QF FF today QF released 53 new earning tables and 74 geographical zones to make the program better for you...":mrgreen:

 

[medhead]

Have you done the Qantas Maths course. Days? Pfft. We're talking months not days.

I don't know. Some people!

Not quite three months: the newsletter was sent on 15 October, the new earn rates take effect on 1 December. That's only 47 days's notice.