Heads up about program changes

[Lonely Flyer]

Alan Joyce must be on crutches after shooting himself in both feet with this move.

 

[suparockin]

Not so worried about the current changes. I haven't used the MASA's, haven't undertaken status runs on QF or OW and don't earn QFF points through cc earn.

What I would have liked to have seen (yes because it gives me something) was a LTP level set. Something that QFF could give their most loyal long term members. There is WP1 for the current loyal QFF earning lots of SC's at the moment, but nothing for the long term WP or SG after LTG.

209 viewers at present.

How about less points earned for WP when booking cheaper fares?

 

[markis10]

Well, the other way - giving stuff away without getting money for it - didn't seem to be working very well for QANTAS. Pay more - get more, at least aligns QF profit with benefits provided. Much as I don't like MASAs going away, at least this seems to be a more sensible commercial strategy, which gives a better change that QF might actually be around. No point having all these great WP benefits and MASAs if QF goes the way of Ansett.

I was looking at it from my point of view as a self funded traveller who has not taken a MASA in the last 18 months. For a corporate road warrior who gets flexis, they are going to be happier. Dropping the benefits to the sale fare travellers will only see them move to Air Asia and Scoot etc as the fare difference no longer makes sense.

 

[Danger]

And at the end of the day if this means Qantas survives then I am all for the change. The alternative(s) domestically is/are a joke.

I think the question needs to be asked: if Qantas feels it needs to keep making these decisions that seem to alienate so many in order to survive, what exactly will Qantas Airways be in two or three years time? A subsidiary of Emirates? A narrow-body carrier with two international sectors? An airline with lounges that resemble a Bangkok Airways 'hospitality station' at coughet airport?

I certainly take the point that Qantas needs to make changes to survive but, from this layman, they are chipping away at the very things that could actually help the airline survive.

 

[Robert K]

the changes will only upset the people on this forum. People not in the know aren't gonna know the difference.

Sad that a JRTW will not net a WP anymore.

But seriously, people get a grip, asking Red Roo to explain why they "lied" about MASAs at lunch. What could they possibly say to make you happy. -.-

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I wonder will the QFF award redemption ranges, be increased to align them with the new SC earn ranges?

They will 'enhance' these on a different 3-page table you need to perform an actuarial review on prior to booking to calculate the number of points required.

 

[RooFlyer]

Can I clarify that as someone who was at the lunch, it was "are here to stay for the foreseeable future"

Fair 'nuf; apologies RR. Hmmm .. or was it a comment made by Alan Joyce to Boss Reggie (or maybe one of the mods) on the Dubai trip? I shall do some hunting. the expression "ASAs are here to stay" is indelibly burnt on my mind. Did I imagine it?

 

[JohnK]

For some, prior to the change I would get for BNE-SIN return: WP earns 15256 points at present, after the changes 10400, thats almost $4000 of credit card spend difference on a 1:1 earn.

Let's see. You were purchasing ~$400 Expedia Brazil specials that included 1 night accommodation and you earned ~15,000 QFF points. Qantas were paying you to fly to SIN?

Now the Expedia Brazil specials are locked down and you will earn a few less points. If you still need to go to SIN you will go. If you were going just to earn SCs and QFF points then you will need to think about it a little harder now.

 

[rotor]

Flying QF has always been a fight, as company policy is BFOD. I have also educated others in how to try to fly Qantas.

I may not fly Business Class or First Class, but I am a frequent flyer. This change discourages me from being loyal to Qantas, to put it lightly.

For whom is this change fairer? I don't see it as in anyone's interest, including Qantas. Boy, am I glad the Liberals didn't give Qantas a debt guarantee. They don't deserve special treatment from taxpayers, myself included.

 

[Danger]

Fair 'nuf; apologies RR. Hmmm .. or was it a comment made by Alan Joyce to Boss Reggie (or maybe one of the mods) on the Dubai trip? I shall do some hunting. the expression "ASAs are here to stay" is indelibly burnt on my mind. Did I imagine it?

I think you might be onto something there. Search the Dubai/QF-Emirates soiree thread and I think you'll find something.

 

[markis10]

Let's see. You were purchasing ~$400 Expedia Brazil specials that included 1 night accommodation and you earned ~15,000 QFF points. Qantas were paying you to fly to SIN?

Now the Expedia Brazil specials are locked down and you will earn a few more points. If you still need to go to SIN you will go. If you were going just to earn SCs and QFF points then you will need to think about it a little harder now.

No, I was nesting and continue to nest the $500 return specials available ex Singapore for 12 of the 14 trips in the last 12 months. The accommodation was never included in my bookings not that it was something billed to QF, you might want to check your facts on that one.

Although your right on the rethink, $600 J each way is now more attractive given the drop in points earn. throw in the A330 factor and I am gone.

 

[lovestotravel]

I'm showing 196 users browsers now - wonder what the record is?

My 2 cents worth is that overall this is (mostly) a fair overhaul of the program by QF. The free ride to WP was good whilst it lasted (and I say that as a beneficiary!) but I think it makes more sense to reward those who provide more revenue.

PS Don't hate on me too much

Nothing to do with the "free ride to WP"

Only a tiny few on here seem to care about MASA's going away, this is more about a reduction of 20-40% for domestic flying in discount Economy, which, I assure you, is what most small companies will book for their staff.

While my current points "stash" is still worth the same, the number of points I earn will dramatically decrease.

Is it enough to make me fly Virgin, well not really just yet, but any large price difference on days/times when I have to fly and I will seriously consider it for domestic.

 

[medhead]

Brilliant nickel and dime your customers while perusing a loss making 65% line in the sand strategy. Hopefully the right people were included in those 28 sackings.

As for Short cuts to status. Are you people stupid? Three words DOUBLE STATUS CREDITS!!!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

No, I was nesting and continue to nest the $500 return specials available ex Singapore for 12 of the 14 trips in the last 12 months. The accommodation was never included in my bookings not that it was something billed to QF, you might want to check your facts on that one.

Please don't take this personally, but you seem like exactly the type of flyer that QF would like to punt to Scoot or Jetstar. You are, at best, marginal, and probably loss-making. They certainly wouldn't be bending over backwards to retain your custom. If they need to sell sale fares, they'd much rather they go to the casual traveller that has no status, and thus no extra benefits.

 

[JB expat]

I'm late to this - just clicked through an email from Qantas…that is certainly not simpler…makes me rethink the request I just sent to our corporate travel desk for a RT USA East Coast business class ticket. I'm tired of jumping through hoops to convince our travel booker that the higher Qantas fares are justified (so that I keep my status - given that I can't even figure out what I'd earn, rather than tax my tired head, I give up and will defect)…just not worth it. Will look into what Virgin can do for me tomorrow.

 

[RooFlyer]

OK, thanks to correction of my earlier post by markis10, I looked for the original quote "ASAs are here to stay".

Well, well ... here it is in in the AFF thread :

We are always looking at ways to improve the member experience. As recently as 2 weeks ago we hosted many of the AFF members at Rockpool where we got some great ideas. We can confirm that Any Seat Awards are here to stay and many members enjoy the flexibility of being able to purchase any fare using points.
When there is any news we will do our best to make sure that AFF are among the first to know.

(my bolding).

So, Red Roo ... I imagine you will be wanting to sincerely apologise to this forum? I know this may not be the same person as "you", and management have a nasty habit of double crossing everyone ... but "Red Roo' made this statement. So a simple, gracious apology would be nice.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Three words DOUBLE STATUS CREDITS!!!

Getting rid of those promos would have solved their issues with the numbers of high status pax in one fell swoop, without resorting to this hugely confusing 'simplification'.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I'm already planning my move away from Qantas. Totally stupid decision to gut the frequent flyer program at this point in time. WAY TO GO QANTAS!!! Earn less points - but still have to pay the ridiculous fuel fines. Hello AAdvantage!! Hello Virgin Australia! They will be most likely benefiting from this announcement.

(p.s. I don't even care about MASA's going - but the changes to the program are what I am mad about)

 

[markis10]

Please don't take this personally, but you seem like exactly the type of flyer that QF would like to punt to Scoot or Jetstar. You are, at best, marginal, and probably loss-making. They certainly wouldn't be bending over backwards to retain your custom. If they need to sell sale fares, they'd much rather they go to the casual traveller that has no status, and thus no extra benefits.

Not taken personally at all, of course 12 trips in discount Y overseas is not my entire flying nor has it been a major part of me hitting LTG or WP each year. My spend on flying last year was 25K FWIW.

 

[smithy]

Looks to me like the start of a program to dilute the product.