Heads up about program changes

[Mongo]

I heard my Manager complaining about the changes when he came in this morning, he is by no means an AFFer, status chaser,etc. just a normal person with a QFF account.
However he does a couple of QF domestic Economy flights a month through work bookings, which doesn't earn enough to keep gold but he supplements the remaining SC's by a yearly O/S trip, and a few domestic leisure flights.

He is now saying "why would I fly QF now for my personal travel/holidays? only reason I fly with them is because I can access a lounge and get priority check-in, I am not willing to spend extra $, fly unnecessary flights to maintain it. I'll just choose whichever airline is cheaper from now on" were his exact words.

This describes my circumstances to a tee. I did just enough business travel that access to the showers, the newspaper, priority luggage handling and the occaissional empty seat next to me made the journeys that wee bit less stressful (I don't drink so free drinks don't matter to me, and up until yesterdays announcement I had never used points for free travel). I too had to supplement my SC's with (paid for) personal travel, typically in the form of family holidays. We flew Jetstar for our last holiday to Asia for this very reason as the SC's from my ticket were just enough to tip me into WG again (QF didn't service the route so that was not an option). The upshot is that the loyalty program encouraged me to purchase 5 Jetstar "no frills" airfares despite being able to purchase cheaper airfares on a foreign full service airline at the time.

Now though I have buckleys chance of achieving Gold status in any given year, so future travel decisions will come down to price and service. As a loyalty program to encourage punters to use your product, this is a pretty spectacular failure.

 

[Brettmcg]

I guess since you don't read my posts you haven't come across it. How about the whole short haul domestic table being exactly the same as the medium haul table? Amateurish and wrong, does not even reflect the content of the changes.

Yes, and the fact that I don't have time to read through all 740 posts.

 

[littlemonster]

Sadly I feel I must say goodbye to Qantas soon. Im finding it harder to enjoy the benefits of my status here in the UK. Sorry what is a MASA?
And can anyone please let me know if other alliances allow status match exchange? I'd like to transfer my Qantas Gold if possible. Thanks

 

[Robert K]

- The fixed costs of providing status benefits are huge (lounges, etc)
- The incremental costs of providing status are minimal (actual consumption in the lounges, status earning.. many of the benefits actually cost them NOTHING to provide (seat selection, priority boarding, upgrade preferences, etc)
- People with status have a better flying experience so are likely to fly more often.

I'd love to know where i can get champagne for minimal cost

 

[medhead]

Yes, and the fact that I don't have time to read through all 740 posts.

It was one of the main bits of information that Qantas put up on their website. Even I found it.
How many of these routes are under 750 miles? If any are <750 miles why are they also classified as 750-1500 miles?

View attachment 26674

 

[Robert K]

Although we are not regular ff my wife and I have accumulated quite a number of points and were looking at booking a J class flight later this year with our points. I gather now we will need to do it before 30 June.

We have been loyal to Qantas for over 40 years and consistently booked domestic and our rare international flights with them during this time. I think with this latest enhancement by Qantas will see us switch our loyalty to VA.

You can still book your tickets as classic awards, just not MASAs. Do you have any status with QF? If not, then the changes shouldn't really affect you.

 

[medhead]

I'd love to know where i can get champagne for minimal cost

Dan murphys with starthere and 5% discount wish cards.

 

[tofe]

It's just one thing after another for us Adelaide folk. Surely it's only a matter of time until Qantas pulls out of Adelaide all together.

I for one am off to VA, but unfortunately agree with the sentiments others have shared. Qantas management won't care less, they'll just be playing the blame game and shifting blame to unions, governments etc. etc.

 

[gwynne]

I've just booked a JASA Sydney-Canberra for Sunday in order to help retain gold (account reset in July).

In the next 6 weeks I'm planning on booking about 9 flights for 2014/15. All will be on Qantas/AA still.

Flying to Cairns return in July for a wedding.

Then flying 3 separate trips in April 2015.

Sydney-Honolulu-Lihue-Los Angeles (economy through Qantas)
LA-SF-MIA-Cozumel-Vegas-LA (economy through AA)
LA-SYD JASA (perhaps via Brisbane if necessary).

After these trips I'll be very close to gold again, albeit with some domestic work trips needed to get me over the line.

I will re-evaluate my choice of airline next time gold runs out I guess (mid-2016).

 

[Amberlower]

What is MASA??
I book Qantas all the time online and am confused. What are they removing?

I can't understand when an airline is suffering from higher fares, why it would make them even more ''costly'' in a roundabout way.

 

[Brettmcg]

It was one of the main bits of information that Qantas put up on their website. Even I found it.
How many of these routes are under 750 miles?

Fair enough, that seems incorrect, however as I fly none of these routes regularly I couldn't care less.

 

[Alanslegal]

I am mass producing coffee mugs with the slogan "Keep Calm and Leave Qantas" who wants one?

 

[medhead]

Fair enough, that seems incorrect, however as I fly none of these routes regularly I couldn't care less.

Like you said, it is not about the content but the implementation. Wrong information, and I also have a couple of things that a misleading in the email. Implementation not content!

 

[cmon0005]

I am mass producing coffee mugs with the slogan "Keep Calm and Leave Qantas" who wants one?

Let me guess, it will only be half a mug, because the top half has been cut off to save money, despite the fact it can no longer function as a mug...

Sounds familiar doesn't it!!

 

[Aeolus]

Red Roo - can you please confirm if U fare ticket booked on ASA continues to earn points and SCs from July 1?

 

[Robert K]

Well, this has been a real win, eh QANTAS?

Oh, btw, I'm STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER TO MY EMAIL - the one I sent TWO DAYS AGO. That was the one where I forwarded an email I sent to your CEO "Loyalty" TWO WEEKS AGO.

As one who has had his head well in the trough as a WP for 10 years, to those of you who aspire to the lofty heights, let me tell you - IT IS NOT WORTH IT.

Look at the way I am treated - WP 10 years straight, lifetime gold, wife WP.

AND THE coughS CAN'T BE BOTHERED ANSWERING MY EMAILS!

when has Qantas ever replied to an email before 14 days. They're probably not bothering because you called them coughs.

 

[scheps]

Red Roo - can you please confirm if U fare ticket booked on ASA continues to earn points and SCs from July 1?

+1, very very important question. I would like to know as well.

 

[a330j]

snip: What is MASA??



This might help explain 'Marginal' Any Seat Award

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....essful-asa-bookings-booked-classic-53677.html

 

[scheps]

Can we still do polls? if so can we poll who is leaving qantas? and if able to be stratified by QF status would be even more informative?

 

[legroom]

+1, very very important question. I would like to know as well.

See post #134

Since then, Red Roo had disappeared.

Note there is conflicting info from Red Roo and the website on this point.