Heads up about program changes

[amaroo]

Care to explain why or how?

See here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....out-program-changes-58914-12.html#post1016191 and here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....out-program-changes-58914-12.html#post1016195

 

[suparockin]

And it's hit the mainstream media -

Backlash on Twitter as Qantas amends its frequent flyer program | News.com.au

 

[JohnK]

SC earn flying on MH/CX to KUL/HKG in J used to earn 240 SC's now, this will be reduced to 120 SC's!So I need to fly these routes twice as often to retain my status? Unless the price has halved, this is highly unlikely to happen.

I know I will personally be reviewing my strategy and choices in flying now.

I have also taken advantage of partner airlines for many years now.

Nice little loophole. One thing I never understood is why one could earn the exact same SCs on a CX/MH/BA flight that one would earn on a QF flight and Qantas makes nothing out of it.

We have had it so good for too long. Qantas is finally playing catch up.

But I do agree with a couple of other points that have been raised

- Non-flying partners such as Everyday Rewards have resulted in the devaluation of the QFF point earned from flying
- Classic awards should now require less points but I know that is not going to happen

 

[Archphoto]

basically the Status credit earning rates are the same as Virgin Australia, but the qualification requirement is 40% higher and the requalification requirement is 50% higher than Virgin Australia.

For some reason I think they might be wrong about this little claim:

Originally Posted by Qantas
You'll be pleased to know that the number of Status credits^ you need to reach or keep Silver, Gold, Platinum or Platinum One status is not changing.

Thanks for making decisions easier Qantas.

The SCs remain the same, but you'll need to do a h*** of a lot more flying to retain - nice spin there QF.

 

[amaroo]

I'm a 100+ segment a year flyer, previously with QF. I'll be looking at heading to AA as a result of this.

IIRC you are very close to LTG.......sticking around?

 

[Newk]

Nothing that I've seen says that an ASA won't still earn points and SCs. But after whatever date they actually mean between March 26 and March 28, the points and SCs will accrue under the new peasant system.

yes, and if this is so a calculation will be needed to see if the extra dough is worth it (much as the calculation is now made)

 

[middlerowed]

I'm sure I can hear Erica cackling....

 

[grubbidok]

QF rewarding pax who stayed on QF metal instead of partner metal would make sense if QF actually still flew places in their own metal!

 

[ozdunker]

basically the Status credit earning rates are the same as Virgin Australia, but the qualification requirement is 40% higher and the requalification requirement is 50% higher than Virgin Australia.
.

Yes I was just looking at that since I am Platinum with both programs. 1200 to renew Qantas and 800 to renew Virgin. The family pooling and top level car rental and hotel programs status and 4 upgrade per year. Does make it simpler. VA has a simple table of the status credits earns, Qantas has a chart which requires an intensive weekend course just to understand. As well the Virgin booking system is quite useable whereas the Qantas booking system is still poorly designed and not very user friendly. I have loyalty to Qantas but starting to see more value in the VA program now.

 

[Kendall Roy]

If it ain't broke.....

 

[medhead]

I'm a 100+ segment a year flyer, previously with QF. I'll be looking at heading to AA as a result of this.

It certainly affects me. Devalues the earning by 30%, to match Virgin Australia, but requalification remains at 50% more than Virgin.

 

[medhead]

If it ain't broke.....

Change it until it is broke

 

[suparockin]

Change it until it is broke

Enhance and 'simplify' it until it's broke, or until Qantas is broke.

 

[StevePER]

So to make the frequent flyer program fairer, you now earn less for flying frequently but the same for shopping at Woolies. Makes perfect sense.

 

[amaroo]

So to make the frequent flyer program fairer, you now earn less for flying frequently but the same for shopping at Woolies. Makes perfect sense.

Won't be long before Woolies give them the heave-ho....

 

[RSD]

QF rewarding pax who stayed on QF metal instead of partner metal would make sense if QF actually still flew places in their own metal!

That unfortunately is the big problem for QFF's - the number of international routes that QF offers has probably halved in the last five years. For people that only fly domestic it's not so bad.

 

[WeeGraeme]

I have also taken advantage of partner airlines for many years now.

Nice little loophole. One thing I never understood is why one could earn the exact same SCs on a CX/MH/BA flight that one would earn on a QF flight and Qantas makes nothing out of it.

Maybe because Qantas hardly flies anywhere now. They surely don't make very much if you book QF and travel on Emirates metal either. If you take out the EK codeshares, they only fly to a handful of places.

Just a few short weeks ago, Alan Joyce was publicly bleating about people not flying Qantas. Now they devalue the frequent flyer program in a way that will probably make people feel even less loyal to Qantas

 

[medhead]

Maybe because Qantas hardly flies anywhere now. They surely don't make very much if you book QF and travel on Emirates metal either. If you take out the EK codeshares, they only fly to a handful of places.

Just a few short weeks ago, Alan Joyce was publicly bleating about people not flying Qantas. Now they devalue the frequent flyer program in a way that will probably make people feel even less loyal to Qantas

Exactly, Message received loud and clear: Keep flying Qantas and they give you the big shaft.

 

[JohnK]

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

Horses for courses. I have done 2 of these economy Oneworld awards and enjoyed them both. The second time with my father. I would not hesitate to do another or if I had the time to do another 8....

 

[JohnM]

Fortunately, I've never relied on JASAs or MASAs to gain or retain WP. I've used them solely for really enjoyable flights to get me overseas in economical comfort to do great things in the last couple of years (Galapagos, African safaris). Now I'll have to pay, but I will buy PE, as I have an inherent objection to paying full point-to-point J, and hope for the UPG for some icing.

I think the status-chase by people 'marginal' (excuse the pun) for SG or WP is where emotion is ruling on this thread.

I've just calculated the SC earn for a typical set of my annual SFSC straight-up paid-for travel and, unless I've screwed up badly using the monstrous array of tables, my SC earn is about the same under the new system as under the old. Some sectors are up slightly; others down slightly. In any event retaining WP is not a problem (phew!).

I've yet to calculate the likely difference in points earn - but the SC earn is the all-important parameter! I've become totally habituated to WP after 10+ years straight .