Heads up about program changes

[kpc]

Before we all get too upset with the FF changes...just a sobering check on what is important: Qantas pilot and father Andrew Lawler took his own life after fearing for his future with the struggling airline | News.com.au

 

[openseat]

Can I clarify that as someone who was at the lunch, it was "are here to stay for the foreseeable future"

That was my recollection (unfortunately) at the Melbourne lunch.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Before we all get too upset with the FF changes...just a sobering check on what is important: Qantas pilot and father Andrew Lawler took his own life after fearing for his future with the struggling airline | News.com.au

Awful The subtext in the NoNews article gives the impression that his job was perhaps the least of his worries but I agree nonetheless that we shouldn't get too carried away by the things in life that don't really matter.

 

[amaroo]

Thinking about it I reckon there will be more people in the lounges. I don't think I will worry about Status in future and book JASA's I will just try and book Classic J fares and not worry about getting the SC's etc. The reality is my points will go further and I will get more trips, pity really that it has happened now as I have almost 2 million QFF points racked up I was going to use next year to keep my Status going but c'est la vie.

I have always travelled Qantas even when I pay in full, even when it costs me more but I reckon they have done me a back-handed favour and I will now travel on price first provided it is a reputable airline and worry about Frequent Flyer program second.

It was good while it lasted but nothing stays the same for ever and I guess we just need to get over it.

Classic are brilliant - in the QF scheme of things. ASA have never interested me......you can't fly CX on an ASA:!:

 

[JohnK]

Good luck with your plans .

You might like to consider the $3000+ that Qantas are likely to sting you in conjunction with the redeeming of those 280K points ...

That is OK. Much better than anything Virgin has to offer. And I could not possibly earn that many points on Virgin anyway.

I am hoping that will be someone's trip of a lifetime where I burn some of the QFF points I have been hoarding along with IHG and HHonors points. Now to only find the time to do it.

 

[FuzzyAUS]

I have just landed in Hong Kong to read this, I am about 140-160 posts into this thread and I understand where QF is coming from but am very disappointed, could someone confirm what the old vs new SYD-LAX in F is? I thought it was 360 now and its going to 270?

Ill put numbers down, I spend approx. 40-50k with QF for 2-3 USA trips per year, I have then used some MASA's domestically (as I cant justify 600+ for J domestically) and a couple of HK trips per year, my mind is now thinking the following (right or wrong)

- Will I make WP each year any more? I was expecting to make P1 this year (got a DSC so used it to make the last bit to LTG, there goes the Qantas Club life membership I have)
- Will it mean a lot more people will make status runs in the USA now?
- Loyalty is a 2 way street, and while my personal spend is there, I also own a company with 20+ staff that need to fly from time to time, BFOD may come into play now
- Yes QF needs to make money, but generally the crew are great, but I cant understand where management are going, and when you get talking with some crew they very much think the same, its getting quite sad..

Now to read the next 300-400 posts that have likely come in, just wasnt planning on this tonight while in the Langham Place Club before heading out to one of my favourite restaurants (little sushi joint nearby)

Fuzz....

 

[amaroo]

The one question I want answered is what point and SC earning will be for any xASA booked from tomorrow until July 1?

I read that as zero.

 

[Awesom Andy]

A few thoughts:

1. Signing up to another frequent flyer program right now is not a good idea. You have until your next OW flight to decide if this is for you. If it is, then you would want the full 12 months to earn the next status. If you don't need the 12 months to earn status in the new program, at least you'll be able to make use of it for longer in case you fly less in the future.

2. This change is probably some years too late - it might have actually worked when QF had a more extensive network.

2a. From above, as it's now impossible to fly some routes (most notably from PER and ADL), perhaps QF could consider expanding its codeshare agreements with specific partners, allowing the full QF earn rates for itineraries not possible on QF metal.

3. Intra USA short haul flights on partners - up to 750 miles - only 40 SC's in P. So 601 - 750 miles goes from 90 to 40. It's only funny because I'm not doing those runs.

 

[Newk]

Reckon the MASA and DSC types will just stop worrying about status and buy classic awards instead. They will still be cluttering up the J and F lounges. That's my plan anyway.

entirely correct. And they miss out on the extra dollars that came with their sale of the MASA to us.
(but it might put an end to some of the Jetstar runs?

 

[legroom]

I read that as zero.

See post #134 from Red Roo where the answer is YES to points & SC earning for MASA bookings up to 30th June.

 

[JohnM]

Can I clarify that as someone who was at the lunch, it was "are here to stay for the foreseeable future"

The phrase "foreseeable future" is an oxymoron. It is meaningless, so that's the QF out on all this.

 

[humphrey]

The only good thing is that there could be more spare seats next to the ones that continue to fly on QF Flights Now.....

To do this to your most loyal customers makes no sense. The person who changed the breakfasts to those boxes must have thought of this too, what is next?

VA now might be a good time to offer another Status Match!

 

[samh004]

Yes. You can book until 30 June for travel up to our system range.

I look forward to a future reply tomorrow backtracking from this statement... but if this is so, I think I may book one final JASA in June (for an extreme forward booking of March 2015) to at least give me some chance of keeping Gold, and adding to the lifetime tally. Or you know, you could just give me lifetime gold now and I'll stay loyal

I read that as zero.

From above I read it as whatever the old or new system is, but something in any case.

 

[RSD]

On a more positive note, I think it's great that RedRoo has taken the time to tell us early that we need to drop our pants and bend over...

Fixed!

Edit - OK well I thought it was but

• The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

But now hopefully...

 

[ketsuzei]

I read that as zero.

Care to explain why or how?

 

[zainman]

Close to $10k in Woolworths gift cards!!!

Which would be a better redemption than a 140K Y RTW award on QFF.

 

[JohnK]

I doubt DSC is going anywhere.

Perhaps not but Double SCs without the cheap convoluted routes is not so attractive. Or is it?

Lounges will be much busier when folks realise status with AA, BA and Malaysian is easier to obtain than crediting to QFF

I think we have already established that AA, BA, Malaysian, Cathay, Finair are harder to earn status than Qantas. I am not convinced this change is going to make those programs more attractive for earning status unless you were already earning status comfortably with Qantas.

 

[lovestotravel]

You have millions - why worry about it? Spending 50K pa is a decent number and should see you well past WP no worries.

Can never have enough points, yes I do easily now retain WP and came close to WP1 last year but didn't go out of my way to hit it...

 

[ketsuzei]

See post #134 from Red Roo where the answer is YES to points & SC earning for MASA bookings up to 30th June.

That's a bit of a stretch, too. Most likely outcome is bookings after March 28 (maybe... even that's unclear) will earn, but under the new system.

 

[serfty]

That is OK. Much better than anything Virgin has to offer. And I could not possibly earn that many points on Virgin anyway....

Depends how you do it ... I've already earned and burnt over 300K Velocity in the last two years. (While garnering 350K QFF points)

'tis about 94K and $135 for a reward MEL/SYD/BNE-LAX round trip in economy.