Heads up about program changes

[MEL_Traveller]

I will credit everything to my existing AA Emerald membership. However, I'll do my best to access lounges based on my QF membership.

you'd need to swap out your AA membership after check in and before lounge access. And then swap back on leaving the lounge before boarding...

 

[Flashback]

It might sound petty but I'm with you. I have a oneworld Explorer later this year where, thanks to the decision to penalise me for changing an existing booking made well in advance of March 27/28/29 (date and time changes to a booking reference that stays the same but creates a new ticket number, thereby apparently subjecting me to the new rules) I will credit everything to my existing AA Emerald membership. However, I'll do my best to access lounges based on my QF membership.

Qantas seems intent in penalising us even when we fly Qantas, with the latest ticket surcharges for certain days of the week a case in point. Well, I'm goign to penalise Qantas even when I don't fly them. Seems fair to me.

Qantas continues to penalise me for my loyalty; I see no reason to pat them on the back.

I left QFF a long time ago, so I'm doing it just for fun :mrgreen: Have to get some value out of my Lifetime QP

 

[RooFlyer]

They are talking about cabin bonus, aren't they? Not status bonus, which up the top they say remains unchanged?

No in a simpler and fairer manner what they have done is changed the figure used to calculate Status Bonus Points for example the bonus points earned when flying first was calculated on the First class earn so to keep it simple and fairer lets say that was 1000 base points. silver would earn an extra 500 points Gold 750 and Plat 1000 where as now the bonus rate is based on a different number ie if first class 1000 points however if flying economy on same flight you would earn lets say 500 points and silver an extra 250 Golds 375 and plats 500.

Now if flying first you would earn 1000 base points plus as a plat an extra 500 points based on the Economy rate

so before flying F would earn you

Base Points 1000

Staus Bonus Plat 1000 Total 2000 points
Gold 750 Total 1750 points
Silver 500 Total 1500 points

New Earn on same flight would be

Status Bonus Plat 500 Total 1500 Points
Gold 375 Total 1375 points
Silver 250 total 1250 points


Seems simpler and fairer to me

Sorry. WT-bloody-F :evil:?

In the table I showed above, what does it mean under "Qantas Frequent Flyer Category" ? Discount economy, economy, Flexible economy etc. Have these categories replaced Bronze, Silver, Gold, Plat, Plat1?

 

[mannej]

Sorry. WT-bloody-F :evil:?

In the table I showed above, what does it mean under "Qantas Frequent Flyer Category" ? Discount economy, economy, Flexible economy etc. Have these categories replaced Bronze, Silver, Gold, Plat, Plat1?

No - they are capping the status bonus. You are not getting the status bonus on your total point earn, but a predetermined level for that route. This change has always been part of the fairer system.

 

[dajop]

No - they are capping the status bonus. You are not getting the status bonus on your total point earn, but a predetermined level for that route. This change has always been part of the fairer system.

Actually status bonus was never calculated based on total point earn, it was always on miles flown (AKA base economy rate) irrespective of cabin flown in, Now it will also be dependent on points earnt /fare paid, with those in prem economy and above earning status bonus based on flexible economy earn rates (which for people on these fares may see a modest increase in status bonus on many routes). Fairer? Maybe for those on more expensive fares. Simpler? Haha.

 

[mannej]

Actually status bonus was never calculated based on total point earn, it was always on miles flown (AKA base economy rate) irrespective of cabin flown in, Now it will also be dependent on points earnt /fare paid, with those in prem economy and above earning status bonus based on flexible economy earn rates (which for people on these fares may see a modest increase in status bonus on many routes). Fairer? Maybe for those on more expensive fares. Simpler? Haha.

I should have clarified that but yes that is correct. Much simpler isn't it.

 

[puppysparkes]

The loyalty program must be running at a healthy PE ratio resulting in the recent changes. They understand there will be a loss of participants who transition to other program's. It's all factored in to any change through a swot. Most AFF members are aware of the devaluation. The QFF target market are not AFF core users. However, they use AFF to gauge sentiment and develop policy such as the new program changes.

 

[legroom]

you'd need to swap out your AA membership after check in and before lounge access. And then swap back on leaving the lounge before boarding...

I was specifically advised at SYD F lounge that this is not necessary.

'Just show us your card, Sir' was the exact advice.

I used to do what you advised.

They don't want to spend time changing FF apparently.

 

[RooFlyer]

No - they are capping the status bonus. You are not getting the status bonus on your total point earn, but a predetermined level for that route. This change has always been part of the fairer system.

Actually status bonus was never calculated based on total point earn, it was always on miles flown (AKA base economy rate) irrespective of cabin flown in, Now it will also be dependent on points earnt /fare paid, with those in prem economy and above earning status bonus based on flexible economy earn rates (which for people on these fares may see a modest increase in status bonus on many routes). Fairer? Maybe for those on more expensive fares. Simpler? Haha.

Thanks both. So as a Plat J flyer it appears I will be a be a bit better off wrt SCs. Do I have warm and fuzzy feelings towards QF for that?

No, I do not.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was specifically advised at SYD F lounge that this is not necessary.

'Just show us your card, Sir' was the exact advice.

I used to do what you advised.

They don't want to spend time changing FF apparently.

hmmm - i guess it depends on how they process the lounge entry? If they scan the boarding pass that will not charge AA?

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

New SC table appears to have disappeared from the launch website, replaced by any even more bizarre points table.

Frequent Flyer - Fairer Flying

Down the bottom there are 6 categories of mid-range/international/longer/ultra-long but with no actual distance requirements listed.

I always learn so much from this site. Just learned the above, and recently learned that I can use the Finnair site to change my frequent flyer number to AA on upcoming BA flights.

To use TV show parlance, there is no doubt now that QFF has jumped the shark.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

I always learn so much from this site. Just learned the above, and recently learned that I can use the Finnair site to change my frequent flyer number to AA on upcoming BA flights.

To use TV show parlance, there is no doubt now that QFF has jumped the shark.

I don't think I'm a dill but this is all just getting too hard !!
Whatever happened to the good olde KISS principle of doing things ?

 

[JohnK]

Admittedly, I never really tried to defend it, but simply made use of the parts that worked out extremely well for me. These days, I'm asking myself - why bother? My year starts in April, and I'll get to 820 SCs by the end of June. With currently planned flights, I should get to 1100 by Nov so retaining WP is no issue at all. However, it feels like I'm simply delaying the inevitable...

Unfortunately some of us are stuck with very little choice.

Forget the abortion that is JQ and TT. I don't need the torture. And Virgin have a lot of issues not knowing whether they are a LCC or trying to be a New World Carrier. They are actually a LCC but have managed to snag a few people with their fickle offering.

So where does one go purchasing cheap Qantas airfares?

 

[ChrisDPom]

Unfortunately some of us are stuck with very little choice.

Forget the abortion that is JQ and TT. I don't need the torture. And Virgin have a lot of issues not knowing whether they are a LCC or trying to be a New World Carrier. They are actually a LCC but have managed to snag a few people with their fickle offering.

So where does one go purchasing cheap Qantas airfares?

Do like I do John and just wait on the specials email and book about 6 months in advance. Also subscribe to the QF UK emails where you pay about 25% less anyway.

4 of my last LHR trips have been UK "start" for a return eg my current flight on Tuesday is the return leg of my 19/12/13 flight from LHR.

Only issue is knowing dates for at least 2 trips but saves heaps

 

[Awesom Andy]

Having a play around with the numbers tonight, and it seems that the table, assuming they are for points, is possibly incorrect as well - unless they plan on giving out exactly the same number of points on partner flights as QF flights. The tables are exactly the same, except for the removal of the SC section, and the symbol for the minimum points guarantee (which I'm sure won't apply to partner flights). Why did I even bother...

 

[medhead]

Can anyone dispute that this is simply gross incompetence? Its simple - we-hire-people-who-are-just-plain-nincompoops & and-the-supervisors-and-management-are-no-better type stuff.

Putting a points table in rather than SCs and not noticing?


View attachment 28389

Anyway, what Partner First routes are there servicing Australian short, medium or long domestic?


So how was that lunch with Leslie, where she pointedly defended the 'simpler, fairer' slogan? Any respect left for her?

In fairness, it wasn't Leslie defending the simpler slogan.

 

[Isochronous]

Having a play around with the numbers tonight, and it seems that the table, assuming they are for points, is possibly incorrect as well - unless they plan on giving out exactly the same number of points on partner flights as QF flights. The tables are exactly the same, except for the removal of the SC section, and the symbol for the minimum points guarantee (which I'm sure won't apply to partner flights). Why did I even bother...

Maybe they will surprise us and take a more reasonable approach to partner earn (e.g. acknowledging that QF doesn't fly Asia-Nth America or Asia-Europe or Asia-Africa or Asia-ME, and restores standard earn accordingly)

 

[SeatBackForward]

Maybe they will surprise us and take a more reasonable approach to partner earn (e.g. acknowledging that QF doesn't fly Asia-Nth America or Asia-Europe or Asia-Africa or Asia-ME, and restores standard earn accordingly)

Not to defend Qantas, but there has been discussion around how the new partner earn rates are now more in line with other carriers. I suppose that's the "fairer" element?

Either way, it's not a customer attracting move.

 

[RooFlyer]

In fairness, it wasn't Leslie defending the simpler slogan.

Hmmm... OK, thanks. I thought there was a specific question on it and she (not surprisingly) supported the slogan.

 

[medhead]

Hmmm... OK, thanks. I thought there was a specific question on it and she (not surprisingly) supported the slogan.

I'm sure she defends the slogan. But Justin gave the impassioned defence of simpler. The basis being that under the old system the earning table was as long as Justin is tall. This is technically true if all possible earning routes are listed separately. Of course it missing the point that the human brain is complex. This means the brain perfectly able to handle the concept of looking up one bit of information (route mileage) and using that information to look up an answer in a second table.

I'm not sure if my comment along these lines was rejected or not understood. If the later perhaps that demonstrates an underlying failure of my view.