Heads up about program changes

[woodborer]

I have the same query as Genghicat about how connecting flights will be calculated after 1 July. I have seen that some around here think it will be by separate flight numbers counting as separate flights like they do now but I haven't seen QF confirm that anywhere. It would not surprise me in the least if they change to counting by "starting point and ending point distance" rather than "x to y" plus "y to z" distance. But I hope they don't.

They aren't changing the definitions of flights or sectors or anything, just the earning rates on the sectors. So, sectors will still count as now.

 

[codash1099]

Good read. Lots of quotable phrases.

The point about consistency really strikes a chord with me. The inconsistency of QANTAS's primary product has done some real damage lately.

Love this quote:

"You can’t buy or sell it. Loyalty has to be earned by businesses providing unique, meaningful and consistent experiences that consistently surpass customer expectations."

Nuff said.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think it is getting close to the point where some airlines can't rightfully describe their offering as 'award' flights. That is beginning to become increasingly misleading.

They should be referred to as 'co-pay reductions'.

There is something about advertising award flights that makes them sound as if they are free. When they are anything but.

 

[Ansett]

Love this quote:

"You can’t buy or sell it. Loyalty has to be earned by businesses providing unique, meaningful and consistent experiences that consistently surpass customer expectations."

Nuff said.

Thinking we should all send this through to Lesley Grant lol

 

[Awesom Andy]

Love this quote:

"You can’t buy or sell it. Loyalty has to be earned by businesses providing unique, meaningful and consistent experiences that consistently surpass customer expectations."

Nuff said.

In that sense, even McDonald's have a more loyal customer base. They know they can turn up to any restaurant, order a Big Mac, and it will be pretty much the same as the one they had last time.

At the moment, I don't even know if I'll get a horizontal flat bed in 2 months time, let alone how I'll be treated on the flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In that sense, even McDonald's have a more loyal customer base. They know they can turn up to any restaurant, order a Big Mac, and it will be pretty much the same as the one they had last time.

At the moment, I don't even know if I'll get a horizontal flat bed in 2 months time, let alone how I'll be treated on the flight.

This has been a problem now for several years. But perhaps many were prepared to overlook that because of the value of the FF program, or even golden handcuffs?

have these recent changes, combined with an unwillingness for the airline to address a raft of issues here on AFF, gone a step too far in terms of pax loyalty?

 

[Awesom Andy]

This has been a problem now for several years. But perhaps many were prepared to overlook that because of the value of the FF program, or even golden handcuffs?

have these recent changes, combined with an unwillingness for the airline to address a raft of issues here on AFF, gone a step too far in terms of pax loyalty?

It has been 221 days (and counting) since my last QF metal flight. I'll hang around for this year's WP re-qualification but it's anyone guess where I'll be after that, despite the program is still rather strangely being the best fit for my travel patterns.

 

[JohnK]

I think it is getting close to the point where some airlines can't rightfully describe their offering as 'award' flights. That is beginning to become increasingly misleading.

They should be referred to as 'co-pay reductions'.

There is something about advertising award flights that makes them sound as if they are free. When they are anything but.

It is quite sad.

I am still not sure how any airline is able to get away with fuel surcharges.

Include it in the base airfare and it should not be levied on award flights as that person has earned it. Unfortunately though credit cards have ruined airline loyalty programs....

 

[basso]

In that sense, even McDonald's have a more loyal customer base. They know they can turn up to any restaurant, order a Big Mac, and it will be pretty much the same as the one they had last time.

On the other hand, it must be said that a Big Mac has hardly evoloved over the last 10, 15, 20 years. Maybe there has been some tinkering here and there (I don;t know, but if there has, I can harldy perceive it). On the other hand, the product that airlines offer in their premium cabins has evolved quite significantly. The problem is, given the capital intensive nature of the airline industry, it takes time for the various product improvements to shuffle through - the result being that we end up with a product that covers a number of iterations over a number of years. I am not sure what can be done about this, but it is something that plagues every airline that is refining their onboard product.

 

[ketsuzei]

Unfortunately though credit cards have ruined airline loyalty programs....

Not for the airlines.

 

[hossein_au]

I am still not sure how any airline is able to get away with fuel surcharges.

Include it in the base airfare and it should not be levied on award flights as that person has earned it. Unfortunately though credit cards have ruined airline loyalty programs....

Couldn't agree more with you on fuel surcharges. But I don't really follow how selling points to CC companies (instead of giving them away as part of selling flights) could have ruined airline loyalty programs. I think greed interwoven with terrible management has done more damage to airline loyalty programs than CCs could have ever done.

 

[JohnK]

Couldn't agree more with you on fuel surcharges. But I don't really follow how selling points to CC companies (instead of giving them away as part of selling flights) could have ruined airline loyalty programs. I think greed interwoven with terrible management has done more damage to airline loyalty programs than CCs could have ever done.

Perhaps it is greed. The focus has gone away from being a frequent flyer program to mainly being a frequent spender program. The customer or user of the program is not so important. Selling points to credit card companies and partners is more important.

 

[RooFlyer]

Love this quote:

"You can’t buy or sell it. Loyalty has to be earned by businesses providing unique, meaningful and consistent experiences that consistently surpass customer expectations."

Nuff said.

Thinking we should all send this through to Lesley Grant lol

... except Lesley Grant would just smile, I suspect, and look to how much money she is making for Qantas by selling to the other half of the "Loyalty equation" - Woolies, hotels etc - and perhaps wonder how many more pesky, complaining Lounge Lizards she can nudge away.

Sell points commercially; make it unattractive as possible for the points to be used on flights. Bliss!

 

[whatmeworry]

Ok - I know I'm coming late to the party here... but I was just playing around with the QF website to have a look at points earning after 1 July.

A MEL-PVG flight as a gold would have previously earned 9560 points. After 1 july it earns 5350!!

That's almost half!!!!

Plus fees to redeem an award are in the region of $500.

That is an outrageous devaluation!!!

That basically kills me ever recommending QFFF to anyone.

And reinforces to me that we must be thought of in the same light as the 'jetstar idiots' who expect to do a couple of flights and get a free one.

Yep I can't recommend the QFF program to anybody.

We should contact their point partners to inform how bad the program is now and why partnering has been devalued.

In that sense, even McDonald's have a more loyal customer base. They know they can turn up to any restaurant, order a Big Mac, and it will be pretty much the same as the one they had last time.

At the moment, I don't even know if I'll get a horizontal flat bed in 2 months time, let alone how I'll be treated on the flight.

To be fair the Big Mac has been enhanced! Much smaller then previously. Bring back the McFeast!

... except Lesley Grant would just smile, I suspect, and look to how much money she is making for Qantas by selling to the other half of the "Loyalty equation" - Woolies, hotels etc - and perhaps wonder how many more pesky, complaining Lounge Lizards she can nudge away.

Sell points commercially; make it unattractive as possible for the points to be used on flights. Bliss!

Then claim a big bonus and sell off QFF.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thinking about this this morning... I can see now how Qantas has made this simpler and fairer! They have aligned their program with others such as CX and SQ where certain discount economy fares earn almost nothing, or 50% of miles.

But rather than just come out and say 'discount economy earns 50%' they have gone for this complicated 'zone' chart... to perhaps give some illusion that the program is more generous than it is?

 

[Pleb Status]

My last QF flight today under the existing system. My next QF flight in early July, on the exact same sector, will earn only 65% of the points. The fare paid for the two flights was exactly the same however.

Under the new system, even if I was to fly in full Y class, I would still earn less points that I do today. That's 'fairer and simpler' for you.

 

[Flashback]

I wish people would stop whinging and complaining about. If you're so upset, then just leave. It's really not hard. Yes Ansett, I'm talking to you. You complain that the sky is falling in yet still you sit there and fap on Qantas.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wish people would stop whinging and complaining about. If you're so upset, then just leave. It's really not hard. Yes Ansett, I'm talking to you. You complain that the sky is falling in yet still you sit there and fap on Qantas.

People have invested in the program as it stands. There must be hundreds of thousands of FF members who are saving towards a particular award for example. And it might take them years to get there.

Program changes kinda rip the rug out from under them.

People have a right to complain when something like this happens.

 

[Pleb Status]

I wish people would stop whinging and complaining about. If you're so upset, then just leave. It's really not hard. Yes Ansett, I'm talking to you. You complain that the sky is falling in yet still you sit there and fap on Qantas.

It is harder for some to change than others. Those of us who have QF LTG, requalified P1/WP status for the 2015 year and have almost a million FFP in the bank (all acquired before any notification of the changes) could just swap to VA full time, but it would not make much sense to write off the large accured value in the QF scheme.

For those who do not have QF LTS/LTG, the change is easier. Those who do not have any (or low) yearly status, it is even easier again. Everything is relative. The sky is not falling, but that does not mean I am happy either. My main issue is about how the changes have been 'marketed' more than the changes themselves. They are not 'fairer and simpler' and it is as 'simple' as that.

 

[Brettmcg]

People have invested in the program as it stands. There must be hundreds of thousands of FF members who are saving towards a particular award for example. And it might take them years to get there.

Program changes kinda rip the rug out from under them.

People have a right to complain when something like this happens.

Not really. As per the T&Cs agreed to by each member upon signing up there is no ongoing guarantee that the FF program will be maintained. It could be completely shut down with just 6 months notice, or immediately if QF were to cease operations.

Furthermore, there is no fixed or agreed value assigned to points. Anyone who is stockpiling them away ''for a rainy day'' could have their value ripped away from them at any time. Sure you can complain, but for mine looking at it as an ''investment'' is a really silly thing to do.