Heads up about program changes

[pyffii]

Really confused by the inconsistency from the new earning tables...East Coast Australia to West Coast USA "Business " 180 SC's....East Coast Australia to East Coast USA 280 SC's...But West Coast USA to East Coast USA is only 80 SC's...The only way to get 280 SC's is to fly 108 from Sydney !!!!!!!....Otherwise you lose 20 SC's....Just plain dumb

 

[samh004]

Yes. If you book a MASA next week for a post 1 July travel, you will still earn, but it will be at the new rate.
If you book a MASA today, you will earn at the existing rate.
You will not be able to book a U class MASA from the 1st of July onwards.

I'm going to wait till next week then, as I'll be better off

Not all is bad

 

[hossein_au]

Yes. If you book a MASA next week for a post 1 July travel, you will still earn, but it will be at the new rate.
If you book a MASA today, you will earn at the existing rate.
You will not be able to book a U class MASA from the 1st of July onwards.

In other words, a booking made tomorrow into U fare bucket will earn at the new rate. Right? But the new rates do not have "U"???!!! Have I missed something?
https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/fairer-flying#changes-to-earn

 

[DC3]

What is a MASA? Something any seat award???

It seems to be a term used to differentiate it from an xASA, but you firstly need to know about xASA's. However, you don't really need to know about it for much longer.

 

[GaryBne]

I read that one way to torture a thirsty POW was to put water in front of him but just out of reach.

Years ago when I was platinum I tried to take a family group of 6 to Bali. I tried and tried again when school holidays came up – booking 12 months in advance but with zero success - until one day an agent let it slip that they never have that many FF seats on any flight. That was the days of classic awards only. It seems I was on a trip to nowhere. I was never, ever, going to get 6 seats. Torture?

QF has just done it to me again

Life is quieter now – Just silver level and income is much less. But QF had 100% of my loyalty. Every possible flight, ( for a non-profit so discount economy) Optus, Woolworths, Caltex Westpac -etc

So with next week’s trip to CBR I had just enough points (380k) to take the family of 3 to MNL for the first family Christmas in a decade Or so I thought.

With the sudden changes announced last night - the fares went up from $3200 to $4800. So the Grinch has stolen Christmas. More Torture.

Here’s the strange management decision:

1 FF is the most profitable segment of the business
2 FF is widening, ever widening its reach - the latest is Health Insurance
3 At the same time they are making the rewards harder (impossible) to get.

Talk about killing the goose that laid the golden egg!

heavy sigh

Gary

 

[Archphoto]

DSCs were a great - but methinks they rather underestimated the very savvy FF in that respect though - allowing you to use MASAs meant we got a double bite of the cherry (not complaining!!!) and they lost out on extra (full fare) revenue.

They could still offer it - just means under their new "Simplified System" we'd have to pay full fare, rather than points+$$$ for the privilege. It then falls on us, as individuals, to decide if it's worth the $$$ and effort without the use of our hard earned points.

Who knows what they're thinking - "Simplified" appears to be a brand new acronym for "confuse the cough* out of our customers!!!" And in that respect they've done a darn good job of meeting that benchmark. I'm more confused than ever right now. :mrgreen:

 

[leadman]

Great marketing by Virgin!! With all the angry posts and frustrating FF's, inserting their ads between the posts is pure marketing......

 

[raleyoz]

Yes, this is simple unlike the new non-simple simpler QFF programme.

Status absolutely makes the difference for me between flying being enjoyable or a chore. I directly changed my spending behaviour in favour of Qantas when I got in chasing distance of firstly Gold then Platinum. I have continued to very purposely make all purchasing decisions re. flights be aimed towards maintaining Platinum for a number of years now. Prior to earning status, my spending behaviour was price-driven & thus QF got much less revenue from me or my workplace.

The hugely insulting email from "The Qantas Frequent Flyer Team" (lack of personal signature speaks volumes) informing me I am not rich enough to matter to Qantas has served to create such a vile distaste that I have already made concrete steps away from them. I loved Qantas as an Australian icon & till now have recommended it as first/only choice to all my International work colleagues who visit here for training. I do sincerely hope someone of influence within QF can rescue it from the disastrous leadership in place at the moment.

Could not have said it any better

 

[glaw]

Really confused by the inconsistency from the new earning tables...East Coast Australia to West Coast USA "Business " 180 SC's....East Coast Australia to East Coast USA 280 SC's...But West Coast USA to East Coast USA is only 80 SC's...The only way to get 280 SC's is to fly 108 from Sydney !!!!!!!....Otherwise you lose 20 SC's....Just plain dumb

Totally agree. I was struggling with this same anomaly this morning. Will wait and see what the new points calculator says if/when it's working.

 

[ozkid]

But I dispute that I'm an expensive customer and that Qantas loses money on my business. In fact, I'd argue that I generate a disproportionately high profit for them.

But will I continue with this behaviour as a result of these latest changes that further devalue the loyalty scheme? No. I will go back to best economy fare of the day, which will rarely be Qantas.

I got the email late last night, jumped to AFF and saw the thread already at 40+ pages. Finally getting some time today to read, digest, double over in pain from the kick to the goolies. I'm finally at post 500-odd and this one (unfortunately for QFF) is so true.

 

[blewie]

Thanks Joyce and Qantas! You can't even put together an excel spreadsheet that your 'Loyal followers' can understand??? Thanks for the past; have booked next month's flights (4) on Virgin, saved money and will receive the correct amount of SC's for my business. Alan Joyce and cohorts, you are a complete joke! Goodbye!

 

[JohnK]

As a self-funded traveller who has used a handful of MASAs (especially when it's been cheaper than a paid Y ticket) ....

This is not aimed at you in any way but this is one of the biggest issues.

An Anyseat award is cheaper than an economy airfare? This is something seriously wrong if that is the case. And then coupled with a double SCs offer and you have instant status to use on those $9 JQ status match to Tiger to use the First Lounge for ~6-7 hours.

I kept saying that Qantas were gutless and could not make a decision to save the airline. This may not be the perfect solution but at least they are trying.

 

[Himeno]

It seems this will be airing on tonights 7 news shortly...


Just on. Was just a 2 min piece.
Comparing new/old earn rates using SYD-PER as an example. A number of quotes from Twitter, an interview with a 16 year member saying how shocked, upset and disappointed she was with the changes. Interview with a chamber of commerce rep saying they weren't surprised, no comment from QF though 7 noting that they were offering free QFF memberships via their mail list today. end with a comment that Qantas should hope people don't follow through on the comments all over the internet that people will now fly with other carriers.

 

[drron]

Thanks for the clarification of the MASAs Red Roo.
I must say that today is not a day I envy you your job.
hopefully you get the weekend off-you need it.

 

[JohnK]

Was aiming for 1000000 points as a personal target for no real reason and would have got there in a couple of months. Have now burned just under 900k on J (EK & CX) for the family to Europe and have no desire to fly QF after this. I'm off to VA and will most likely be getting very familiar with AUH instead of DXB.

Hey great minds think alike?

Or maybe not. I wanted to get to 1,000,000 QFF points as well just to say I have been there and done that. I achieved that goal but I am still hoarding and not likely to spend them as quick as you.

Good luck.

 

[Lisee]

It seems this will be airing on tonights 7 news shortly...

It's on The Project website today as well... hope that means they will be broadcasting a story on it tonight.

I wonder if an 'expert AFFer' has been interviewed?!?!

If anyone is starting up some sort of campaign then I'll be in it

 

[kimrschonfeld]

I've been ROOted by Qantas .....now I'm a Virgin

 

[Rizzer]

Really confused by the inconsistency from the new earning tables...East Coast Australia to West Coast USA "Business " 180 SC's....East Coast Australia to East Coast USA 280 SC's...But West Coast USA to East Coast USA is only 80 SC's...The only way to get 280 SC's is to fly 108 from Sydney !!!!!!!....Otherwise you lose 20 SC's....Just plain dumb

Yeah, that is funny. I imagine it's just a typo, they got their East and West mixed up when they typed it up.

 

[burmans]

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

Not sure what is meant by this, my credit cards earn already not going to Qantas ( aside from some sign on bonuses get better value crediting elsewhere)

 

[JohnK]

Any Seat Award at Marginal (Classic) rate.

An ASAM? :mrgreen: