Heads up about program changes

[medhead]

I've searched this thread but can't find the answer to this. Can anyone confirm if I'm reading the earn rate right on a J* flight with a plus bundle - will I earn points and SC at the "flexible economy" rate as the booking class is "B" rather than the discount economy rate as it currently is - thereby meaning there is a better earn rate for a plus bundle? Or am I reading that totally wrong? If so, it means there is a doubling of SC on Jetstar plus bundles.

Confirmed. Just did a dummy booking on a JQ sector (Starter w/ Plus bundle), and found this buried in the T&Cs:



It was mentioned earlier in another thread, but I wasn't sure whether to believe it. But the proof is there; you'll get double the points and double the status flying JQ compared to QF, all at a lower price :shock:

For the Max Bundles:

What an absolute Joke so lets discourage people from Flying QF and shove them on JQ. We make more money on JQ.

Seems the Deathstar nick name is well deserved.

No Pablo that is not correct. Jetstar with plus bundle is classed as economy not flexible economy. Max pack might be B fare class.

Economy does not earn double if you have a look at the earning table. As also mentioned elsewhere.

 

[SeatBackForward]

What an absolute Joke so lets discourage people from Flying QF and shove them on JQ. We make more money on JQ.

Seems the Deathstar nick name is well deserved.

As someone very wisely said on this board some time ago "if Jetstar is the answer, Qantas is asking the wrong question"

 

[Pablo]

Confirmed. Just did a dummy booking on a JQ sector (Starter w/ Plus bundle), and found this buried in the T&Cs:



It was mentioned earlier in another thread, but I wasn't sure whether to believe it. But the proof is there; you'll get double the points and double the status flying JQ compared to QF, all at a lower price :shock:

For the Max Bundles:

brilliant - thanks for confirming that. This is what I think is the most bizarre situation. I regularly choose QLink from NTL-BNE over J* but given I'll get double SC now when flying J* I'll fly them more. (Please note though, I'm not complaining about getting 20 SC on NTL-BNE when flying J* - this is awesome - but disappointed it devalues QF flights)

 

[medhead]

brilliant - thanks for confirming that. This is what I think is the most bizarre situation. I regularly choose QLink from NTL-BNE over J* but given I'll get double SC now when flying J* I'll fly them more. (Please note though, I'm not complaining about getting 20 SC on NTL-BNE when flying J* - this is awesome - but disappointed it devalues QF flights)

Sorry. But you will not get 20 SC. Both discount economy and economy earn 10 SC. As already mentioned Jetstar with plus bundle is economy not flexible economy.

 

[JohnK]

.... Of course discussion is irrelevant to QF status credit earn which has its own complexities, oops I mean simplicities, other than re-inforcing that oneworld sapphire status (and to a lesser extent emerald) when flying most oneworld airlines will be easier to achieve in BA's program than the simpler and fairer QF program (assuming of course one can access an address outside of AU/NZ to join up BA's program).

How would it be easier to achieve status in BA's program with 'E' class flights? Let's forget about that fact that you need to "lie" about where you live to become a member in the first place.

I know the Qantas changes are not simple and fair but for most people who were able to achieve Platinum status with normal flying it is not going to be that much harder after 01 July.

Of course if 1,000 SCs out of the 1,200 SCs were earned on AA YUPs then you are going to struggle. You were going to struggle anyway with recent AA changes limiting number of sectors you can book. Qantas couldn't care less about these type of "frequent" flyers and rightly so in my opinion.

 

[medhead]

How would it be easier to achieve status in BA's program with 'E' class flights? Let's forget about that fact that you need to "lie" about where you live to become a member in the first place.

I know the Qantas changes are not simple and fair but for most people who were able to achieve Platinum status with normal flying it is not going to be that much harder after 01 July.

Of course if 1,000 SCs out of the 1,200 SCs were earned on AA YUPs then you are going to struggle. You were going to struggle anyway with recent AA changes limiting number of sectors you can book. Qantas couldn't care less about these type of "frequent" flyers and rightly so in my opinion.

Not harder? Really? It'll be 33% harder for me.

 

[amaroo]

How would it be easier to achieve status in BA's program with 'E' class flights? Let's forget about that fact that you need to "lie" about where you live to become a member in the first place.

I know the Qantas changes are not simple and fair but for most people who were able to achieve Platinum status with normal flying it is not going to be that much harder after 01 July.

Of course if 1,000 SCs out of the 1,200 SCs were earned on AA YUPs then you are going to struggle. You were going to struggle anyway with recent AA changes limiting number of sectors you can book. Qantas couldn't care less about these type of "frequent" flyers and rightly so in my opinion.

:idea: The topic has moved on from "finding an easier way to secure status" to "Why would you even bother maintaining status with QF" :?:

 

[Princess Fiona]

I know the Qantas changes are not simple and fair but for most people who were able to achieve Platinum status with normal flying it is not going to be that much harder after 01 July.
n.

It's going to be twice as hard for those who need to fly to Europe who don't/won't /can't fly via DXB and wish to utilise QF's extensive network via One World to get there.

 

[dajop]

How would it be easier to achieve status in BA's program with 'E' class flights? Let's forget about that fact that you need to "lie" about where you live to become a member in the first place.

I suggested this when flying "most oneworld airlines", so anybody who has a few J fares (or for that matter Y fares) on CX, BA, AY or the like may well find it easier on BA exec club (if they can do 4 BA flights & have a foreign address). Of course if you are earning status predominantly via Qantas, it's highly likely that QFF will be the better program (and this is obviously the way they want it .... "you're with us or against us" approach), especially if travelling on the lowest available fares (E) that don't seem to earn anything in some partner programs.

 

[JohnK]

:idea: The topic has moved on from "finding an easier way to secure status" to "Why would you even bother maintaining status with QF" :?:

And you would spend more money to maintain Oneworld Emerald with another airline?

Doesn't make much sense if the majority of your time is spent on a Qantas aircraft.

And even less sense if the majority of your flights are Qantas domestic.

 

[serfty]

...

Doesn't make much sense if the majority of your time is spent on a Qantas aircraft.

And even less sense if the majority of your flights are Qantas domestic.

Yep - Just like our Kiwi siblings who are caught between a rock and a hard place - if any think QFF's devaluations are extreme, you would find that what Air New Zealand has done the AirPoints scheme is worse ... they really have no option other than JQ ...

 

[amaroo]

And you would spend more money to maintain Oneworld Emerald with another airline?

Doesn't make much sense if the majority of your time is spent on a Qantas aircraft.

And even less sense if the majority of your flights are Qantas domestic.

I'll be spending less and still fly QF DOM.

 

[codash1099]

And you would spend more money to maintain Oneworld Emerald with another airline?

Doesn't make much sense if the majority of your time is spent on a Qantas aircraft.

And even less sense if the majority of your flights are Qantas domestic.

It's not a matter of would I. With nearly all of my status from International flights, it's more "what choice do I have?". Sure from PER to Asia on CX earns at a good rate, what about anything from there on? Or do I have to fly to Sydney or Melbourne first to get a reasonable SC return?

 

[JohnK]

I'll be spending less and still fly QF DOM.

Finding ways to milk another FF scheme? That's fine as well. And then wait for that FF scheme to be enhanced soon like AA.

The internet is a funny place. I can't find any cheap CX business class airfares ex-BKK or ex-TPE. I wonder why!

 

[amaroo]

Finding ways to milk another FF scheme? That's fine as well. And then wait for that FF scheme to be enhanced soon like AA.

The internet is a funny place. I can't find any cheap CX business class airfares ex-BKK or ex-TPE. I wonder why!

How is joining a different OW FF scheme, booking a ticket and flying - milking

QF and QFF have many, many problems. Ranging from financial survival to a FF scheme that is OTT restrictive and expensive - add in the disaster of the Emirates "shot gun marriage", pulling of services, uncompetitive pricing and their destructive attitude to OW....it's time to move on.

 

[mrpooky]

I'll be spending less and still fly QF DOM.

Do you fly international as well, or (almost) exclusively domestic?

Without at least a few international trips to pick up the ~ flights for the various other FF programs, I can't see any alternative to QFF if I want to keep flying QF, unfortunately. Am I missing something?

mrpooky.

 

[amaroo]

Do you fly international as well, or (almost) exclusively domestic?

Without at least a few international trips to pick up the ~ flights for the various other FF programs, I can't see any alternative to QFF if I want to keep flying QF, unfortunately. Am I missing something?

mrpooky.

The four flights on BA can be achieved via SYD-SIN-SYD.....one member has posted here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ention-relation-your-58941-4.html#post1019787 that BNE-SYD-SIN-SYD-BNE would count as four BA flights

Have you taken a look at VA - if you've got partner/kids the family pooling option is a clear winner!

 

[JohnK]

It's going to be twice as hard for those who need to fly to Europe who don't/won't /can't fly via DXB and wish to utilise QF's extensive network via One World to get there.

Yes the Emirates partnership and transitting the desert.

Huge mistake from Qantas and probably the final straw for the inevitable.

In my opinion Oneworld without Qantas is a waste of time to get status. Very limited coverage in Australia.

And VA! What can you say? I would be depressed if I had to fly that airline every week.

 

[Awesom Andy]

With BAEC, if you're flying a lot of OW partner flights, you still need to do enough 2000+ miles flights to make it worthwhile. So for myself, roaming around Asia a bit, it's not as useful.

And just wondering, how sad would it be if Australia is left without ANY alliance coverage? :shock:

 

[aamslfc]

Sorry. But you will not get 20 SC. Both discount economy and economy earn 10 SC. As already mentioned Jetstar with plus bundle is economy not flexible economy.

Indeed - and apologies to Pablo in particular for the error; I'll blame fatigue for misreading that horrendous new table. The earn is greater the further you travel; for domestic travel, economy is the same as discount economy (WTF), and Max bundles will get you your 1.5/2x credits (although points vary by some random meaningless scale). The benefits are more pronounced for medium/long-haul international travel. I should have been more specific in my earlier post, so sorry for the mislead!

Doesn't prevent rorting those $29 fares to Avalon though. I don't necessarily have a problem with JQ, but I do have an issue with QF degrading their own Y & OW Partner earn rates whilst also bumping up points/status earn on some JQ routes. Financially it makes sense, but it still doesn't justify screwing customers on the basis that the competition is better.