Early Bird Sale: Double Points?

[eminere]

That's the issue I have. The early bird sale to 4 continents with double points, with a number of European cities included in the sale, eg Paris, Rome, Barcelona. Does not actually provide double points if you fly using qantas partners to those cities. Not even double points just for the QF metal flight to dxb.

Keep in mind that when I open up the qantas website it shows me Earlybird sale. 4 continents. Double points. And then lists ADL-Paris and ADL-Rome. I bet if I search either of those routes it will show me ADL-DXB-destination. Meaning no double points.

To me I think it's quite clear this promotion has two "prongs".

1. The Early Bird Sale - these are sale fares to "hundreds of destinations in North America, South America, South Africa, and UK/Europe" and "are available on all eligible Qantas flights as well as flights with our partners as long as you book on a QF flight number".
2. Over and above the sale fares, selected flights to selected destinations will also earn you double points. It is only on these selected flights that you will earn the double points; on all other flights you may enjoy a sale fare but you earn points at the regular rate.

ADL-DXB would not be eligible for the double points as it is neither on the specified list of flights nor destinations. However there may be a sale fare available on this flight.
ADL-DXB-LHR (as an example) would also not be eligible as it is not travel between Australia and an eligible city (LHR) on a specified flight.
An eligible routing could be
ADL-SYD (domestic connecting flight earning at regular rate, no double points)
SYD-DXB-LHR (on QF1, earning double points)

Someone correct my understanding if it is wrong.

 

[swilk]

T

Someone correct my understanding if it is wrong.

I think you are correct. I did the search for PER to LHR - all flights go via Dubai.

Looks like Perth and Adelaide FFs miss out again unless they want to backtrack to SYD or MEL which will cost more thus negating any "savings"

Red Roo - can you confirm?

 

[Kefci2000]

T's & C's would appear to suggest that flights booked for a DONE4 would not qualify???

 

[eminere]

Looks like Perth and Adelaide FFs miss out again unless they want to backtrack to SYD or MEL which will cost more thus negating any "savings"

Yes, it would appear you would need to position to SYD, MEL or BNE to take those specified flights, if you want the double points. So it then becomes a question of which has more value to you: less cash spent vs more points earned.

 

[Captain Halliday]

With the +50% SC offer, I calculate SYD-JFK in J at $8.33/SC or 7.61 in Y. Not bad considering we are looking at a NY trip anyway.

SYD-AKL and SYD-CHC in J at $5.82/SC may appeal to those looking to retain or jump a level.

I haven't even looked at whether these would qualify for double points.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Question... if a travel agent has made a booking but not ticketed it yet, is the date of ticketing or the original date of reservation the important one?

 

[eminere]

With the +50% SC offer, I calculate SYD-JFK in J at $8.33/SC or 7.61 in Y. Not bad considering we are looking at a NY trip anyway.

SYD-AKL and SYD-CHC in J at $5.82/SC may appeal to those looking to retain or jump a level.

I haven't even looked at whether these would qualify for double points.

SYD-AKL no double points
SYD-CHC no double points
SYD-JFK double points if travelling on QF107 - however you would need to register and make a new booking between 12.01am (AEST) 23 September 2014 and 11.59pm (AEST) 13 October 2014 for travel between 1 February and 31 October 2015

 

[eminere]

Question... if a travel agent has made a booking but not ticketed it yet, is the date of ticketing or the original date of reservation the important one?

Can you release the existing booking and have the travel agent make a new one, after you have registered for the double points?

 

[medhead]

To me I think it's quite clear this promotion has two "prongs".

1. The Early Bird Sale - these are sale fares to "hundreds of destinations in North America, South America, South Africa, and UK/Europe" and "are available on all eligible Qantas flights as well as flights with our partners as long as you book on a QF flight number".
2. Over and above the sale fares, selected flights to selected destinations will also earn you double points. It is only on these selected flights that you will earn the double points; on all other flights you may enjoy a sale fare but you earn points at the regular rate.

ADL-DXB would not be eligible for the double points as it is neither on the specified list of flights nor destinations. However there may be a sale fare available on this flight.
ADL-DXB-LHR (as an example) would also not be eligible as it is not travel between Australia and an eligible city (LHR) on a specified flight.
An eligible routing could be
ADL-SYD (domestic connecting flight earning at regular rate, no double points)
SYD-DXB-LHR (on QF1, earning double points)

Someone correct my understanding if it is wrong.

Yes, you can read Terms and Conditions just as well as I can. The issue I have is not about the terms and conditions it is about something much bigger than just the terms and conditions. It is about the vibe of the thing. The terms and conditions do not match the advertising.

BTW there are 3 prongs "Earlybird Sale. 4 Continents. Double Points." Don't miss the full stops in the advertising. Even then there are not "hundreds" of destinations in the early bird sale. Earlier today there were about a dozen destinations listed as being part of the early bird sale on the flight special page here. Cheap Flights from Sydney | Flights from Sydney | Qantas Not that I can check that again now, as the link to international flight specials just takes me to a flight search engine.

 

[medhead]

Yes, it would appear you would need to position to SYD, MEL or BNE to take those specified flights, if you want the double points. So it then becomes a question of which has more value to you: less cash spent vs more points earned.

Actually you can both spend less cash and get double points, if going via the real east coast. Oh and I don't believe BNE is included for europe double points.

 

[eminere]

Yes, you can read Terms and Conditions just as well as I can. The issue I have is not about the terms and conditions it is about something much bigger than just the terms and conditions. It is about the vibe of the thing. The terms and conditions do not match the advertising.

BTW there are 3 prongs "Earlybird Sale. 4 Continents. Double Points." Don't miss the full stops in the advertising. Even then there are not "hundreds" of destinations in the early bird sale. Earlier today there were about a dozen destinations listed as being part of the early bird sale on the flight special page here. Cheap Flights from Sydney | Flights from Sydney | Qantas Not that I can check that again now, as the link to international flight specials just takes me to a flight search engine.

The four continents are simply the continents where the cities which qualify for the double points are in: North America (LAX, JFK and DFW + HNL), South America (SCL), Africa (JNB), and Europe (LHR). I don't see it as a separate prong of the promotion.

I do agree with you it is not immediately obvious where the "hundreds" of sale destinations can be found, nor is the overall promotion well worded.

 

[eminere]

Actually you can both spend less cash and get double points, if going via the real east coast. Oh and I don't believe BNE is included for europe double points.

It's not. The double points are earned on the specified city pairs, when travelling on the specified flight numbers between those pairs.

 

[Captain Halliday]

SYD-JFK double points if travelling on QF107 - however you would need to register and make a new booking between 12.01am (AEST) 23 September 2014 and 11.59pm (AEST) 13 October 2014 for travel between 1 February and 31 October 2015

I'm technology challenged, but when I enter SYD-JFK-SYD (4 May/1 June for example) QF107 doesn't even display as an option. Am I missing something here

 

[eminere]

I'm technology challenged, but when I enter SYD-JFK-SYD (4 May/1 June for example) QF107 doesn't even display as an option. Am I missing something here

Geez QF sure doesn't make things easy, does it...

 

[Captain Halliday]

Geez QF sure doesn't make things easy, does it...

At least it's not me. QF107 isn't operating at all in May/June according to the QF timetable page.

In better news, I'm not totally incompetent.

 

[JohnK]

Also is it double points including any applicable 'Status bonus'? or just double base points?

Looks like this promotion is double points on base points only.

Not as attractive as the previous promotion which included all destinations and double points including status bonus.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I'm technology challenged, but when I enter SYD-JFK-SYD (4 May/1 June for example) QF107 doesn't even display as an option. Am I missing something here

That's because QF 107 is not going to JFK (or anywhere else) from early next year. That flight number ceases to exist from 1 February. It will be QF 15 (ex BNE) that continues to JFK.

Ex SYD to LAX, QF 11 is being retimed to depart in the morning and a new QF 17 is appearing for later in the day.

Qantas boosts flights to Los Angeles, Santiago, changes New York - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[eminere]

That's because QF 107 is not going to JFK (or anywhere else) from early next year. That flight number ceases to exist from 1 February. It will be QF 15 (ex BNE) that continues to JFK.

Ex SYD to LAX, QF 11 is being retimed to depart in the morning and a new QF 17 is appearing for later in the day.

Qantas boosts flights to Los Angeles, Santiago, changes New York - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Interesting. Since the flight number change takes effect from 1 February, the same day the qualifying travel period for double points starts, how does QF expect us to take advantage of the promotion when QF107 ceases to exist? This is so stupid.

Red Roo, surely this hasn't been thought out properly??

 

[Ansett]

Red Roo, surely this hasn't been thought out properly??

Has anything been thought out and initiated properly of late at Qantas?

 

[medhead]

The four continents are simply the continents where the cities which qualify for the double points are in: North America (LAX, JFK and DFW + HNL), South America (SCL), Africa (JNB), and Europe (LHR). I don't see it as a separate prong of the promotion.

I do agree with you it is not immediately obvious where the "hundreds" of sale destinations can be found, nor is the overall promotion well worded.

I'm just making an interpretation of how this is presented on the website. Three items separated by full stops. If that makes double points a separate prong, then all 3 items should be considered separate, unrelated prongs.


Reading the fine print it seems the double points is not a separate offer but an integral part of the Earlybird sale based on:

Double points on flights offer is available on Earlybird fares on the following flight numbers.....

So if you don't buy an Earlybird fare but instead decide on a full flexible fare on an eligible flight then no double points for you.

I still think it is pretty poor that supporting the Emirates partnership, that is supposed to be great for qantas and great for the customer means being penalised by not getting double points on qf1/2/9/10 between Australia and one of the 4 continents (either Africa or Europe if using Oneworld definitions)