Double SC's on QF flights - Targeted bonus offer

[MelUser]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

I contacted Qantas to get to the bottom of this promotion.

I was told that the promotion is one targeted at those who might lose their status because their flying was down due to the economic crisis.

I asked the chap to check if I was targetted (said I delete emails from QFFSC without reading them) and he said no because of my flying patterns and future bookings I was not in danger of losing status for over 12 months.

If this is correct, then QF could make it fairer by not doubling the points for Lifetime Status qualification purposes.

Some airlines differentiate between normal miles and miles which qualify towards lifetime status.

Qantas perhaps needs to do the same as it is unfair that the person next to me in the plane might be earning double the status for same flight, class etc.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

Qantas perhaps needs to do the same as it is unfair that the person next to me in the plane might be earning double the status for same flight, class etc.

Is it unfair that someone sitting next to you may have paid less for the flight? etc etc

Many things are "unfair", but I suppose it's up to QANTAS how they want to run a loyalty program. If you don't like it, I suppose your recourse is to fly on some other airline where they will look after you (and hope that QANTAS tries to lure you back). QANTAS is still rewarding your loyalty with the regular FF miles and SCs.

 

[harvyk]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

Is it unfair that someone sitting next to you may have paid less for the flight? etc etc

But paying less for a flight is a choice which I actually had. But either chosing a cheaper seat, or by simply getting in earlier \ later I made the specific choice to take that seat at that fare.

What Qantas are doing is trying to encourage FF's to fly more, which is fair enough, but by excluding currently good FF's they are running the risk of currently good customers leaving them.

Your right, this one event may not be enough to make people switch carriers, but at a time where the air travel industry is doing all they can to stay afloat this is also not the time to take your current customers for granted and assume they can't be tempted by another airline.

Certainly they can chose who to send the email to, but by actively preventing certain QFF's from partaking in a promotion for no reason other than "we can take your business for granted" is treading on very dangerious ice.

To put where I'm coming from I run a company and it doesn't matter how many times your a repeat customer of mine, I'll never take your business for granted. Infact I'll go out of my way to make sure my repeat customers remain happy with my service.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

What Qantas are doing is trying to encourage FF's to fly more, which is fair enough, but by excluding currently good FF's they are running the risk of currently good customers leaving them.

Your right, this one event may not be enough to make people switch carriers, but at a time where the air travel industry is doing all they can to stay afloat this is also not the time to take your current customers for granted and assume they can't be tempted by another airline.

Certainly they can chose who to send the email to, but by actively preventing certain QFF's from partaking in a promotion for no reason other than "we can take your business for granted" is treading on very dangerious ice.

Don't get me wrong - I absolutely agree with you - QANTAS do run the risk of making people unhappy (I'm one of them).

But that's different to saying that this is, somehow, unfair. Many things in life are "unfair" (including promotions under many different loyalty schemes that include or exclude certain people), but for whatever reason it seems to make financial sense to the people who run these schemes to do it that way.

Offering double SCs to everyone probably isn't feasible - it would just lead to a massive increase in the number of people with status.

 

[DTM1]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

I think that what is really at issue here is the fact that some very regular and loyal travellers are abit annoyed that travellers who still, for the most part, benefit from all of the same perks (even though they may be about to lose them), are being rewarded over and above those frequent travellers.

2 issues I have with the promotion. If they really want to try and retain previous WP flyers, then only offer the double SCs up to requal for WP - don't extend it to PG.

This is what is erally annoying. Many repeat WPs may miss out on PG simply because they have been loyal, whereas someone who has stopped flying will move up to PG.

This is particularly unfair if QF has some internal distinction (as some have speculated) that places PG above WP for various things, such as upgrades etc.

The other issue I have, is that I think the benefit of being loyal after you achieve WP is limited (particularly once you hit LTG). For my part, the PG is neither here nor there - it's definitely not an incentive to fly QF, although the 100% points bonus still is.

I would have thought that if QF are offering recently loyal customers various incentives, they should offer something to currently loyal pax - eg a 15% discount on points required for FF upgrades or redemptions.

It important not to forget the current loyal fliers at the expense of the recently loyal fliers.

 

[Mal]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

It important not to forget the current loyal fliers at the expense of the recently loyal fliers.

A lot of companies havn't realised that there is no longer the concept of a secret targeted promotion.

Any targeted promotion is always disseminated through boards like this, and even sites like BuckScoop, twitter or myspace if the targets are right.

Would people be upset if they never knew the promotion existed?

Some marketers are smart and have a "fall through" promotion that is nowhere near as attractive as the main promotion, but is given to those who attempt to register for the other promotion. It helps deal with the huge issues that arise when these targeted promotions become public. Starwood is one company that does this quite well.

 

[Ewok]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

I got the email/letter and I have done more flying than ever this year. I had already reached partner gold and already had a Europe and USA trip booked. The only thing I can think of is I was about 400 credits short of lifetime gold, but I would have passed that this week with existing bookings anyway! Not complaining though, a couple of extra loyalty bonuses I guess.

 

[Grooba]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

Welcome Ewok!
Yes it's still not overly clear as to exactly why some recieved the email and some didn't.

I thought I would have no chance of PG this year but I may actually make it with the promotion, even with my anniversary coming up.

 

[Timba-Jet]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

I also got emailed this offer.

I'm a lowly PS, and at the time of the email, I only had 20 SCs since my renewal in Feb. Due to changing jobs in late 2008, I now only fly for leisure. I'm guessing QF noticed a large drop in my flying frequency and hence why I'm one of the lucky ones.

The double SC's will come in handy for my US trip in June, and will mean I will be able to keep my PS despite no business travel.

 

[munitalP]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

I contacted Qantas to get to the bottom of this promotion.

I was told that the promotion is one targeted at those who might lose their status because their flying was down due to the economic crisis.

I asked the chap to check if I was targetted (said I delete emails from QFFSC without reading them) and he said no because of my flying patterns and future bookings I was not in danger of losing status for over 12 months.

If this is correct, then QF could make it fairer by not doubling the points for Lifetime Status qualification purposes.

Some airlines differentiate between normal miles and miles which qualify towards lifetime status.

Qantas perhaps needs to do the same as it is unfair that the person next to me in the plane might be earning double the status for same flight, class etc.

I would like to know how the QF person came up with that story - personally I am flying slightly more frequently than previously and with little or no chance in a downturn. Also, with the need to save $$$, pre booking up to 2 months in advance is happening.

I think this may well be a QF call centre person coming up with a plausible explanation to the masses without really knowing what they are talking about. This would make sense for the PS member being offered the same promotion...

I can't make head nor tail of the criteria of the offer and again, only Qantas will know how the algorithms work to choose the lucky FF member to get the offer...

I can say though, the bonus SC's are great!


Mr!

 

[Shano]

re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?"

This time last year I had earned ~1,700 SC.

This membership year I am sitting on 680 - membership year ends May 31st.

I received the 50 bonus SC promo but not the double SC promo.

I also have not taken a flight since December. Perhaps if I had been flying more frequently at the moment QF may have offered the double SC, but this is purely my speculation.

I have just received the "please explain" email from QF regarding travel plans for next year and possibility of a one off extension of my WP status. I recall reading that the flights on the on-line form should be entered as one-way, not return. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[munitalP]

Bonus Status Credits - a question or 2

As I never got the original offer and joined later in the event, can someone let me know when the bonus (x2) status credit offer ends?

Just quietly, I am killing the SC's - 170 bonus SC's in the last few weeks and I'm hoping the offer applies to a couple of JetFlex fares - AVV to SYD Wed, and Newcastle to MEL tomorrow... That will be an additional 40

Mrs! PG is on the horizon again. If the offer carries on another month or two, I will get Mrs! PG then set my sights on DJ Gold I think

Mr!

 

[Mal]

Re: Bonus Status Credits - a question or 2

"As a valued Qantas Frequent Flyer, we're giving you the opportunity to earn double Status credits each time you travel on eligible flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number between 1 April and 30 June 2009*. "

(taken from post by littl_flier @ FT)

Also, apparently it is only on QF flight numbers.

 

[Grooba]

Re: Bonus Status Credits - a question or 2

Yep thats true, it's only on ticketed QF flights. I have flown a SYD-DRW on JQ Jetflex and happily accepted the 40 but didn't receive the bonus.

QF ticketed flights will get you double the normal SC's for the months of APR/MAY/JUN.

 

[opusman]

Re: Bonus Status Credits - a question or 2

As I never got the original offer and joined later in the event, can someone let me know when the bonus (x2) status credit offer ends?

How were you able to join if you weren't targeted for the offer?

 

[serfty]

Maybe munitialp missed the original email as it appeared.

In any case, I did receive the original email and registered.

It's for QF flight numbers from April 1 thru June 30 (see OP).

I have flown QFF 6 eligible flights since, 4 CX and 2 QF. Only received bonii for the QF flights. these posted one or two days after the standard SC's posted.

 

[munitalP]

Re: Bonus Status Credits - a question or 2

How were you able to join if you weren't targeted for the offer?

someone here (yawn done this already...) posted the link, I went in and joined up. Others followed and were unable to do the same...

I think I must have either deleted the original on my blackberry or it fell into my junk email - either way, I get the extra SC's

Mr!

:-|

 

[munitalP]

Re: [Double SC's on QF flights] "Like complimentary Gold membership for your partner?

Ok, feeling some love now...

I entered www.qantas.com/doublestatuscredit into my browser address bar. It redirected me to a login screen.

After logging in it directed me to my account screen.

I reentered www.qantas.com/doublestatuscredit into the address bar and presto - I was asked to register for the x2 status points!!

Mr!

Here we go - page 4

:!:

Mr!

:-|

 

[Evan]

I just got comped to WP with 340 SC short ! and i was on the double points promo.
Strange maybe... but then again they may also see my paid booked MEL-AKL-SYD in J and SYD-JFK in F and done it based on forward bookings... or maybe they are just nice

I would have made it anyway but atleast i will get my card early now i hope.

 

[SnowYeti]

I just got comped to WP with 340 SC short ! and i was on the double points promo.
Strange maybe... but then again they may also see my paid booked MEL-AKL-SYD in J and SYD-JFK in F and done it based on forward bookings... or maybe they are just nice

I would have made it anyway but atleast i will get my card early now i hope.

Don't know if they are nice, maybe they just know they need you and your business

I was comped PS again, saying I didn't meet the credits, but by end of assessment date, I was over! So I hope it's not on their record I didn't meet it :shock: