Heads up about program changes

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

What does concern me greatly is the haphazard way in which the details have been released. The tables are terribly difficult to understand and certainly not any simpler than the old ones. There was detail missing, links were broken and no calculator was available and when it did become available it doesn't work. Furthermore, I've just received a news release from QF corporate sales which reads terribly (using various, non-matching personal pronouns but not ascribing an author's name/signature to the email). A small issue, I know, but it smacks of haste and a lack of forethought.

<snip>.

To me it smacks of a dead typical QF communication effort. Typos, broken links ... all in a days work. Plenty of threads and comments about this before after other 'enhancements'.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

But that would put troppo into the 'polite' category wouldn't it?

Qantas has replied to my e-mails anywhere between same day and 2 weeks. Mostly within a day or so.

 

[cmon0005]

I think no matter how highly trained QF's social media and PR specialists are they won't be able to handle the fallout from this "change".. Just having a look at the QF twitter now, and almost every tweet is complaining about QFF changes. The QFF responses are poor, but I guess how can you phrase "Yes we know our management make poor decisions, but what can we do. sorry."

 

[Mr_Orange]

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!!

Technically that would still function as a mug, just a small one. Qantas would cut off the bottom half to save money.......:mrgreen:

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

I called BA today to change the FF number on a few upcoming bookings from QFF to AA. The phone rep pointed out that the seat selection I'll get 7 days out as QFF Silver won't apply with my AA number. I told her that was not an issue and to change the number anyway. She chuckled and said "I've had a couple of calls like that today"...

 

[beaglex]

If you are not chasing status and it appears that you aren't, then none of this really changes anything for you. Assuming most of your earn is from credit cards, woolies etc, it would not be wise to change in my opinion

No not chasing status but by booking a classic award seat are the available seats are lot less than bookung masa?

 

[blackcat20]

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).

In the same boat with a June 30 reset. Luckily I'll be in the US in October so I've got a chance of requal for next year, but after that, who knows.

 

[Orca]

A lot of hate going on here... Don't worry Qantas - I still love you (and Red Roo!!!)

 

[cmon0005]

I'm pretty sure that once the next set of Financial results come out the real impact of these changes will show, Management will blame it on "Market forces and competitive pressure" not that the management themselves "made the worst decisions that affected the airline, QFF and its profit margin".

 

[serfty]

This seems a tad contradictory to me:

Q: When do these changes take effect?
A: The changes are effective for travel on and from 1 July 2014. This means if you book on/before 28 March 2014, for travel on or after 1 July 2014 you will earn Qantas Points and Status credits in line with these new Airline Earning Tables.
Q: What if I've already booked?
A: If you have flights already booked (booked and ticketed on or before Fri 28 Mar 14) for travel on/after 1 July 2014, you will earn the Qantas Points and Status credits that applied at the time you made your booking. The applicable Qantas Points will be credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer Account approximately four weeks after the dates of the flight(s) taken.

That has been changed -and in a BIG way. (Frequent Flyer - Program - Fairer Flying FAQs)

Q: When do these changes take effect?
A: The changes are effective for travel on and from 1 July 2014. This means if you book on/after 28 March 2014, for travel on or after 1 July 2014 you will earn Qantas Points and Status credits in line with these new Airline Earning Tables.

Q: What if I've already booked?
A: If you have flights already booked (booked and ticketed prior to 28 Mar 14 ) for travel on/after 1 July 2014, you will earn the Qantas Points and Status credits that applied at the time you made your booking. The applicable Qantas Points will be credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer Account approximately four weeks after the dates of the flight(s) taken.

 

[Thunder Down Under]

I have been reading 'cruise critic' a lot over the last few days and have started booking more cruises.

Maybe that is my way forward.

Only way to 'fly' Straitman. Pity the Athena is no longer with us.

TDU

 

[Robert K]

No not chasing status but by booking a classic award seat are the available seats are lot less than bookung masa?

MASAs were booked on classic awards seats. So taking away MASA should = more seats for you.

 

[Himeno]

Did Qantas talk to their partners about this before hand? I wonder if other oneworld airlines will now be lowering the earn rates they give when flying QF.

I've tended to book AA codes in order to get the Status bonus AA sectors earn (eg, HKG-US AA coded CX) and had been planning on booking AA codes for planned QR sectors (US-DOH-CDG) for a DONE3 later this year. If AA and QR will now have the same earn rates, then there is no longer any point looking for codeshares.

Every time I've tried to book a partner airline under a QF code (eg, JL36/QF4025) for the last 2 or 3 years, I haven't been able to.

Qantas wants us to book under their code, then makes it almost impossible to do so.

 

[scheps]

See post #134
Since then, Red Roo had disappeared.

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

Thanks mate, his answer there was quite ambiguous to me. It sounded he/she was answering more along the lines of is it bookable rather than will it definitely SC, so the search continues, or till a reply comes from RR

 

[mannej]

Did Qantas talk to their partners about this before hand? I wonder if other oneworld airlines will now be lowering the earn rates they give when flying QF.

I've tended to book AA codes in order to get the Status bonus AA sectors earn (eg, HKG-US AA coded CX) and had been planning on booking AA codes for planned QR sectors (US-DOH-CDG) for a DONE3 later this year. If AA and QR will now have the same earn rates, then there is no longer any point looking for codeshares.

Every time I've tried to book a partner airline under a QF code (eg, JL36/QF4025) for the last 2 or 3 years, I haven't been able to.

Qantas wants us to book under their code, then makes it almost impossible to do so.

In most cases you are not able to book the QF code unless it is tagging onto a QF service.

 

[legroom]

Q: What if I've already booked?
A: If you have flights already booked (booked and ticketed prior to 28 Mar 14) for travel on/after 1 July 2014, you will earn the Qantas Points and Status credits that applied at the time you made your booking. The applicable Qantas Points will be credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer Account approximately four weeks after the dates of the flight(s) taken.

I am still unclear if existing bookings apply to partner airlines (AA, CX, BA etc...)

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

A lot of hate going on here... Don't worry Qantas - I still love you (and Red Roo!!!)

Very few, if any, people in this thread have a problem with Red Roo who we know is merely the messenger bearing bad news.

Any slow responses by Red Roo can be attributed by the need to read, digest, seek clarification for questions, and likely summarise for management the thousand-odd posts (in this and related threads) the news has generated.

 

[serfty]

...
I am still unclear if existing bookings apply to partner airlines (AA, CX, BA etc...)

Ticket now for AA in the 27th - you have 30 minutes - eastern summer time ...

 

[beaglex]

MASAs were booked on classic awards seats. So taking away MASA should = more seats for you.

Ok thanks much appreciate your advice to a mere ff novice.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Very few, if any, people in this thread have a problem with Red Roo who we know is merely the messenger bearing bad news.

Any slow responses by Red Roo can be attributed by the need to read, digest, seek clarification for questions, and likely summarise for management the thousand-odd posts (in this and related threads) the news has generated.

Assuming they care any iota.