Heads up about program changes

[TheEmu]

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Well they could abolish the QFF and only grant those "extra services" to those whos fares pay for it if it was that much of an issue.

Sounds a lot like Jet*

 

[Newk]

Which is where I'm going in my thinking. The earning in QFF that is due to the airlines should be attributed to the airline parts of the business. While that probably breaks all accounting rules I suspect it will give a very different picture as to the contribution that each operational area makes to Qantas group.

Every one wants to use their points on QFi, people collect points because of QFi. A weak or non-existant QFi reduces the attractiveness of collecting points, with the negative implications for QFF.

yes, that too is my (totally uninformed) opinion. Domestic redemptions aren't worth much more that a pinch of coughy s..t. Certainly to most of us here.
QFF would have a very different attraction without international redemption/upgrades. So I am hearing the point someone else is making about oneworld. And I say that today after just doing a CX ADL-LHR classic reward redemption for two

 

[amaroo]

Agreed about the value of OW. but Getting into the informed participant versus the non-statused I'm collecting my points for 20 years to make that one big trip to London in business class participant, with this post. Like the attributed number of points to various demographics it is hard to make up an answer, but I think there are a large number of QFF members who are collecting points because of QFi.

I also wonder if the value you place on OW partners is inversely proportional to the size of the QFi network.

Over the past 16 years I've redeemed around 50 long haul flights via QFF classic awards.....<10 of these have been on QF metal. Even when QF flew to more exotic places they never had decent availability in the premium classes.

The value I place with QFF is the ease to earn large sums of points from non-flying activities. Take away the ability to burn those points on OS holidays - I'll lose interest very quickly.

I value QF for Dom flights - OW operators for Int.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Which is where I'm going in my thinking. The earning in QFF that is due to the airlines should be attributed to the airline parts of the business. While that probably breaks all accounting rules I suspect it will give a very different picture as to the contribution that each operational area makes to Qantas group.

Every one wants to use their points on QFi, people collect points because of QFi. A weak or non-existant QFi reduces the attractiveness of collecting points, with the negative implications for QFF.

Nah, QFF points for toasters and kettles is the way to go. At least you're not encumbering QF by being a bum on a seat that way.

 

[dajop]

yes, that too is my (totally uninformed) opinion. Domestic redemptions aren't worth much more that a pinch of coughy s..t. Certainly to most of us here.

Ironically, if just talking about QF in the economy cabins, domestic redemptions are usually worth more than international redemptions these days on a cents per points basis, due to ridiculously huge fuel surcharges. Of course most want to redeem internationally in premium cabins, which has better value.

 

[Newk]

Ironically, if just talking about QF in the economy cabins, domestic redemptions are usually worth more than international redemptions these days on a cents per points basis, due to ridiculously huge fuel surcharges. Of course most want to redeem internationally in premium cabins, which has better value.

yep, you are correct. Thanks. Until I got to AFF I couldn't ever make FF points add up. It's the international premium redemptions that make it work

 

[amaroo]

Yes this would probably be true, right up to the point they want to redeem those points on QFi and can't. It's only then they start valuing oneworld :!:

Took me around 3 years to work this out.......that was 15 years ago!

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Regarding the debate over the cheap seats, how many status pax travel with checked baggage domestically, vs non-status pax doing the same? The last time I checked a bag domestically as a WP was 2010 I think, and it was the other half's bag anyway.
Considering fuel costs on payload, I've saved QF a bundle, not to mention an under-utilised WP priority baggage benefit (which a rarely delivered internationally when I actually use it, even in F as a WP).
As for lounge costs, if as QF appears to be signalling, they don't want my loyalty red-e-deal business for leisure travel, my domestic travel can switch to someone who does.
As a small business owner, all flights technically come from my pocket. I buy everything from red e deal dom cheapies to flex J/F internationally.
Sadly, it seems you can still fly QF for part of your trip and save a hunk of cash if you buy it from another airline. But where can I actually go on QF without setting foot on EK, who I really don't care for? 4-6 int'l destinations. Wow.
I used to "make my first destination Qantas.com" but no more. Any residual loyalty is being slowly eroded. If they're too blind to see this, or the value that loyal pax bring, then they get what they deserve quite frankly.

 

[medhead]

Regarding the debate over the cheap seats, how many status pax travel with checked baggage domestically, vs non-status pax doing the same? The last time I checked a bag domestically as a WP was 2010 I think, and it was the other half's bag anyway.
Considering fuel costs on payload, I've saved QF a bundle, not to mention an under-utilised WP priority baggage benefit (which a rarely delivered internationally when I actually use it, even in F as a WP).
As for lounge costs, if as QF appears to be signalling, they don't want my loyalty red-e-deal business for leisure travel, my domestic travel can switch to someone who does.
As a small business owner, all flights technically come from my pocket. I buy everything from red e deal dom cheapies to flex J/F internationally.
Sadly, it seems you can still fly QF for part of your trip and save a hunk of cash if you buy it from another airline. But where can I actually go on QF without setting foot on EK, who I really don't care for? 4-6 int'l destinations. Wow.
I used to "make my first destination Qantas.com" but no more. Any residual loyalty is being slowly eroded. If they're too blind to see this, or the value that loyal pax bring, then they get what they deserve quite frankly.

Indeed. The cost of unused checked luggage should easily cover the cost of 2 pancakes and a coffee, when sold as freight.

 

[Omarko_man]

I do nearly weekly trips Syd-Mel and always book red e-deal down and flexi saver back.

The reason why I book the flexi is because it allows me to have the option of getting on an earlier flight if my meetings finish early or vice versa. This happens all the time and the staff in the lounge were always very helpful in making changes.

Yesterday, I had a not so pleasant surprise when I was in the lounge and asked to get on an earlier flight. While there was one available, they said I had to pay 10k points to change it !!!! I seriously find this ridiculous as it means I have to complete 5 return flights if I want to do this.

I am really disappointed with this particular change and if anything, it certainly makes me rethink to either just buy red e-deals (not just me but another 15 or so colleagues in my company) which means less money to Qantas or go to another airline that offers more flexibility. I don’t see how QF are benefiting from this and if they are thinking they will get business travellers to start purchasing more expensive flexi fares, they are seriously wrong.

 

[JohnK]

Yesterday, I had a not so pleasant surprise when I was in the lounge and asked to get on an earlier flight. While there was one available, they said I had to pay 10k points to change it !!!! I seriously find this ridiculous as it means I have to complete 5 return flights if I want to do this.

I am really disappointed with this particular change....

Have there been changes? I am regularly offered earlier flights BNE-SYD on cheap red e-deals.

And while the flights to/from loyalty lunch were full economy I was able to change easily to earlier flight on BNE-SYD leg and the return SYD-BNE the check-in kiosk offered earlier flight.

 

[boomy]

I do nearly weekly trips Syd-Mel and always book red e-deal down and flexi saver back.

The reason why I book the flexi is because it allows me to have the option of getting on an earlier flight if my meetings finish early or vice versa. This happens all the time and the staff in the lounge were always very helpful in making changes.

Yesterday, I had a not so pleasant surprise when I was in the lounge and asked to get on an earlier flight. While there was one available, they said I had to pay 10k points to change it !!!! I seriously find this ridiculous as it means I have to complete 5 return flights if I want to do this.

I am really disappointed with this particular change and if anything, it certainly makes me rethink to either just buy red e-deals (not just me but another 15 or so colleagues in my company) which means less money to Qantas or go to another airline that offers more flexibility. I don’t see how QF are benefiting from this and if they are thinking they will get business travellers to start purchasing more expensive flexi fares, they are seriously wrong.

If it's indeed a permanent change, it's very disappointing. Most of the times I have no problems changing to an earlier flight when requesting it in the lounge, no matter what fare I'm traveling on.

 

[QF WP]

I'm concerned as well, as there is nothing here. I'm hoping the CSA was confused and thought Omarko_man was talking about an On Departure Upgrade, not a change of flight (really, they are nothing alike)

 

[Deleted member]

Over the past 16 years I've redeemed around 50 long haul flights via QFF classic awards.....<10 of these have been on QF metal. Even when QF flew to more exotic places they never had decent availability in the premium classes.

The value I place with QFF is the ease to earn large sums of points from non-flying activities. Take away the ability to burn those points on OS holidays - I'll lose interest very quickly.

I value QF for Dom flights - OW operators for Int.

A point I made in the survey I was sent this morning

 

[mannej]

I'm concerned as well, as there is nothing here. I'm hoping the CSA was confused and thought Omarko_man was talking about an On Departure Upgrade, not a change of flight (really, they are nothing alike)

There was something mentioned recently about fare differences applying, but 10k worth of points does seem strange.

 

[nlagalle]

Sounds more like a points upgrade..

FWIW, I was offered an earlier flight jus now in the SYD J lounge..

 

[Omarko_man]

I'm concerned as well, as there is nothing here. I'm hoping the CSA was confused and thought Omarko_man was talking about an On Departure Upgrade, not a change of flight (really, they are nothing alike)

I was definitely not asking for an upgrade and the CSA knew exactly what I wanted. I said I have flexible fare ticket, are there any earlier flights I can get onto and if yes, which one please? She said there are flights available but my flexi fare requires 10k points to CHANGE the flight, no upgrade. I have done this many many many times over the past many years I have been flying on this route.

Also, I upgraded to J quite a few times, its 5k points if you have flexi ticket and 8k from red e-deal. I really find it ridiculous that they asked for 10k when J is 5k. Just crazy.

There was no confusion at all.

Btw I gave the feedback to Qantas on their website and they rang back and said thank you, your feedback is dully noted and will be forwarded further Not sure if that will mean anything.

 

[TonyHancock]

FWIW, I was offered an earlier flight jus now in the SYD J lounge..

Always seems to happen to me too. I think they know I'm heading to the lounge though, I always feel like the front desk staff are keeping me talking whilst the staff in the lounge are hiding all the good booze. I'm, surprised by just how quickly the lounge staff get me on an earlier flight and out of the lounge. (I believe they see this as a cost saving exercise.)

hic

 

[nlagalle]

Also, I upgraded to J quite a few times, its 5k points if you have flexi ticket and 8k from red e-deal. I really find it ridiculous that they asked for 10k when J is 5k. Just crazy.

It's now 5k/10k after the recent increase in edeal upgrades.. Hence why some of us thought that may have been the case..

 

[QF WP]

I was definitely not asking for an upgrade and the CSA knew exactly what I wanted. I said I have flexible fare ticket, are there any earlier flights I can get onto and if yes, which one please? She said there are flights available but my flexi fare requires 10k points to CHANGE the flight, no upgrade. I have done this many many many times over the past many years I have been flying on this route.

Seems there was some definite confusion by her, as there is nothing that I can see (or have heard discussed in the new "Fairer" system) about points required for a change of flight number. Certainly not on a flexible fare - which should have been the first thing she researched.

Also, I upgraded to J quite a few times, its 5k points if you have flexi ticket and 8k from red e-deal. I really find it ridiculous that they asked for 10k when J is 5k. Just crazy. There was no confusion at all. Btw I gave the feedback to Qantas on their website and they rang back and said thank you, your feedback is dully noted and will be forwarded further Not sure if that will mean anything.

As nlagalle said, they used to be the amounts but changed from 14 January, see table here (scroll down to bottom, post 13 Jan table)