Heads up about program changes

[medhead]

And from July 1 the JQ SCs will double!

I don't think they do, even if the cheapest JQ fare with plus bundle is classified as "economy" versus a more expensive red-e-deal being classified as "discount economy".

 

[mannej]

I've discovered something that no one here is likely to consider.

My idea is to have a bundle for classic awards. Just as it works for Jetstar it is entirely logical, it allows Qantas to set the price they want and it can also include things like the ability to upgrade. The last being another important difference between MASA and classic awards.

When you raised it at the lunch, it seemed that Justin (Hyams) etc hadn't thought of this previously.

At the minimum, I think that the Classics should gain a ~, but I do like the idea you presented.

If QF did bring such a product in, it would be nice for them to give credit where credit is due.

 

[medhead]

You know what I meant.

Not really as it didn't make sense. Not only can't a bundle be added to a price match, but the bundle has nothing to do with first lounge access. Your example is only relevant to people flying between SYD and mel earning 10SC, fly that 140 times and they get their first lounge access.

 

[medhead]

When you raised it at the lunch, it seemed that Justin (Hyams) etc hadn't thought of this previously.

At the minimum, I think that the Classics should gain a ~, but I do like the idea you presented.

If QF did bring such a product in, it would be nice for them to give credit where credit is due.

Yes, the reaction was strange given I raised the same idea at the Qantas cash lunch in 2013.

 

[basso]

My idea is to have a bundle for classic awards. Just as it works for Jetstar it is entirely logical, it allows Qantas to set the price they want and it can also include things like the ability to upgrade. The last being another important difference between MASA and classic awards.

I guess the issue I have, is that given they say the issue is about revenue, the price of that bundle would be quite significant. Consider what happens to the price of a Business Max Bundle when Jetstar have a Business sale. It goes through the roof. I guess what I suspect would happen is that the price of the bundle would be such that there would be little benefit in the bundle versus a revenue fare.

 

[froggerADL]

I don't think they do, even if the cheapest JQ fare with plus bundle is classified as "economy" versus a more expensive red-e-deal being classified as "discount economy".

Oh. It looks like I got that wrong then.

 

[medhead]

I guess the issue I have, is that given they say the issue is about revenue, the price of that bundle would be quite significant. Consider what happens to the price of a Business Max Bundle when Jetstar have a Business sale. It goes through the roof. I guess what I suspect would happen is that the price of the bundle would be such that there would be little benefit in the bundle versus a revenue fare.

The issue mentioned is revenue for cheap status, which is subtly different to outright revenue in total. I'll also bring you back to my suggestion: a bundle on classic awards. The price of classic awards does not vary in the same way a jetstar business fare varies. In fact, the price of a classic award is fixed, invariant. It is hard to see how a classic award bundle will change in that case.

Oh. It looks like I got that wrong then.

Half wrong, as the cheap jetstar flight is still called economy and not discount economy. The airline earning table might have those earning the same at the moment. But there is nothing to say Qantas won't change the earning in the future so that economy, including jetstar bundles, earns more that a seat on a Qantas aircraft. In fact, given the way Qantas seem to push Jetstar onto the market I'm willing to take bets such a change will happen in the next 2 to 3 years.

Interesting little discussion today about Jetstar will some of my colleagues from around the Asian region. Strangely they ain't keen to fly with Jetstar to Australia.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Interesting little discussion today about Jetstar will some of my colleagues from around the Asian region. Strangely they ain't keen to fly with Jetstar to Australia.

Same with my SIN based colleagues, although they are completely fine with flying Jetstar around Asia.

 

[Cynicor]

Same with my SIN based colleagues, although they are completely fine with flying Jetstar around Asia.

Surely that's the shorter trip distance at play?

I'm happy to fly 3K for up to 2 hours or so, especially if the flight only costs, say, $50 from SIN-BKK or HKT and I can get some FFPs and SCs too. But when flying the minimum 5 hours for me to get home to PER (and it's a late evening flight), suddenly I want to be comfortable too!

 

[Awesom Andy]

Surely that's the shorter trip distance at play?

I'm happy to fly 3K for up to 2 hours or so, especially if the flight only costs, say, $50 from SIN-BKK or HKT and I can get some FFPs and SCs too. But when flying the minimum 5 hours for me to get home to PER (and it's a late evening flight), suddenly I want to be comfortable too!

SIN-TPE is already 2000 miles, and quite a few are happy with the one-stop to KIX. But I guess not everyone here understands how close and also how far Australia is, depending on your actual destination.

For me, the limit is about 4 hours. I also happen going to be on the 3K flights to HKG this weekend. No complaints for $150 SGD return, although the bundles set me back for another $64 but I get 6,400 miles and 40 SCs out of it. Seems reasonable enough.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

no!! shock horror!! $64 for 6400 points and 40SCs. that almost corresponds dollar-for-dollar to the price I paid to get miles and SCs for one of my mFASAs

that's too cheap a way to accrue miles and status. it must be stopped!!!!

seriously... it seems to add weight to the argument that mASAs are really no different to a JQ bundle.

 

[Newk]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

no!! shock horror!! $64 for 6400 points and 40SCs. that almost corresponds dollar-for-dollar to the price I paid to get miles and SCs for one of my mFASAs

that's too cheap a way to accrue miles and status. it must be stopped!!!!

seriously... it seems to add weight to the argument that mASAs are really no different to a JQ bundle.

Indeed. And possibly an indication that their initial disappearance was an unintended side effect of web site changes. Rather than a deliberate removal. I guess we are unlikely to ever know.

 

[JohnK]

When you raised it at the lunch, it seemed that Justin (Hyams) etc hadn't thought of this previously.

At the minimum, I think that the Classics should gain a ~, but I do like the idea you presented.

If QF did bring such a product in, it would be nice for them to give credit where credit is due.

And the point I jokingly raised at the same time is also relevant.

You can't (Qantas that is) give someone the opportunity to earn ~28,000 QFF points and ~400 SCs for ~$22 like the JQ bundle.

The pricing has to be at a level where people need to seriously consider if adding the bundle is worth it? We dont need another loophole for cheap QFF points and SCs. More than enough of these around already.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And the point I jokingly raised at the same time is also relevant.

You can't (Qantas that is) give someone the opportunity to earn ~28,000 QFF points and ~400 SCs for ~$22 like the JQ bundle.

except that for an mASA the bundle had been many hundreds of dollars extra (that is, over and above the normal fuel surcharges and carrier charges for a classic)... at least in my cases of international ones.

 

[serfty]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

Indeed. And possibly an indication that their initial disappearance was an unintended side effect of web site changes. Rather than a deliberate removal. I guess we are unlikely to ever know.

My personal belief the initial disappearance was a side effect of the 'streamlining' of the web site last year ...

...

Online MASA's went the way of the dodo with the implementation of the new you beaut one size fits all online booking engine.

Previously, the system had at least five separate engines- revenue one-way and return, revenue multi-segment, classic award, classic multi segment and any-seat.

I believe firmly that the facet MASA's could be used to garner status credit relatively cheaply was a lucky accident of the "law of unintended consequences" when they decide to encourage use of any-seat by allowing points/SC' earning.

Anyway, back in 2012 or earlier Qantas decided to have the one single basic booking engines and redefine what they meant by an ASA by revising points plus pay and calling it "any seat".

That is the demise of the online mASA would have happened in any case.

 

[JohnK]

except that for an mASA the bundle had been many hundreds of dollars extra (that is, over and above the normal fuel surcharges and carrier charges for a classic)... at least in my cases of international ones.

I am really sorry I don't see things your way.

People were earning QFF points and SCs for a very small premium on Any Seat awards. They are now gone.

Oh, and no other airline in the world allows earning on awards. Do they? Why should Qantas?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am really sorry I don't see things your way.

People were earning QFF points and SCs for a very small premium on Any Seat awards. They are now gone.

Oh, and no other airline in the world allows earning on awards. Do they? Why should Qantas?

we just saw above a payment of $64 received 6400 points and 40 SCs

i paid $300 more on my mFASA. so that should get me at least 4x 6400 miles and at least 160SCs right?

and that's pretty much exactly what I got.

 

[JohnK]

SIN-TPE is already 2000 miles, and quite a few are happy with the one-stop to KIX. But I guess not everyone here understands how close and also how far Australia is, depending on your actual destination.

For me, the limit is about 4 hours. I also happen going to be on the 3K flights to HKG this weekend. No complaints for $150 SGD return, although the bundles set me back for another $64 but I get 6,400 miles and 40 SCs out of it. Seems reasonable enough.

The less said about this the better. Qantas is paying you to fly 3K.

Any chance I can get a bundle like that on my Qantas SYD-BNE flights?

I can see why Qantas is in huge trouble.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

isn't QFFF a separate business entity? So the points and SCs are separate form the airfare? So if QFFF wants to sell bundles, or buy award seats off QF to sell to members for a certain price, you have to assume QF is not so silly that they are selling those seats at a loss to QFFF??

or are they?

and is that deliberate?

 

[JohnK]

and is that deliberate?

Now you are getting close to the real answer....