Heads up about program changes

[ketsuzei]

Do people feel that they had adequate "three months' notice"?

I understand that they've told us around three months before JASA will be terminated, and around three months before the new points/SCs will kick in for travel.

But I don't think that being given around a day's notice of adverse changes for bookings from July 1 onwards (that can be made now) is sufficient.

For example, I make a return trip to Adelaide in March of each year. From my perspective I only had a day's notice of changes that will adversely affect my SC earning, i.e. I basically had to book it immediately if I wanted to get in under the old system.

 

[Fantic125]

Where does the new zoning of cities put Adelaide on the SC/points table. Qantas deserted Adelaide a long time ago so I guess they have now made it official.

With the change in July, ADL-SYD will only earns 10 SC's instead of the current 15 SC's.

I currently fly weekly ADL-SYD return on QF discount economy fares. This usually gives me 30 SC's a week which means I can requalify for WP in 40 weeks.

With the changes from July it will take 60 weeks of flying to achieve the required 1200 SC's to retain WP. This means I am unable to requalify.

If I change my weekly flight to VA, I can qualify Platinum in 50 weeks, and re-qualify in 40 weeks.

My flight yesterday with QF re-qualified me for Gold. I have two more flights already booked with QF which takes me out to April 11.

My flights from April 14 are booked with Virgin.

 

[Archphoto]

But for overseas flyers, it's not so easy to get the 4 magic "~"

I'm in this boat and try to get back to AU at least once a year - the return flight garners those 4 magic "~".

I have flown Deathstar to SIN a couple of times, just to get them as well, although I'd much prefer to go CX.

I probably should be ditching QF for CX - but although I do rant about QF and some of its idiotic ideas/decisions (see ranting again), as others have said, it's a great feeling getting onto a the Red-Roo, especially when you've been away for such a long time.

In essence I'm (yet) again torn between changing FF families - and it is is becoming so darn complicated to compare (especially now!!!) I'm just sitting in the comfort zone, simply because I'm not sure which exit to take, or whether I should just keep on the same road.

AA, CX, QF - my head hurts just thinking about it all . . . . .

 

[Archphoto]

Thank you Newk....I don't think there is a simple answer. Anyway I think QF is dead in Adelaide, need to make sure I keep my VA Plat and another One World card. I fear QF will soon be using Qantas Link to service us domestically. At least we are getting good international service !

Funny you should say that - I have been looking at flights BKK-ADL this past week, and QLink have suddenly been thrown up as options. In the past 15 years of flying in and out of AU and being based in BKK for the past 6, this is the first time I've seen them offered on the QF site.

JJFlyer - do you have ESP???

 

[JJFlyer]

Thanks Frantic, what about on the international legs which Qantas doesn't service. It shows only East Coast and West. Not sure where Adel sits !

 

[TheEmu]

Time for a new avatar and another handle change :?:

Damn! There goes my laptop screen!!!

(Got any Gladwrap I can borrow, QF WP?)

 

[aikman]

Thanks Frantic, what about on the international legs which Qantas doesn't service. It shows only East Coast and West. Not sure where Adel sits !

Adelaide is classified as East Coast. Refer to this link.
https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/regions

 

[Melburnian1]

Is this close to a record for this website to have more than 1000 posts for a single topic in a couple of days?

It sure is generating a lot of interest. QF doubtless knew that there would be some negative comment: one wonders if QF anticipated so much despite some business flyers on more expensive tickets (who may account for a fair portion of the AFF viewership) arguably being better off.

 

[dairyfloss]

G'day Gang. I was initially shocked and disapointed at what QFF had done, almost immediately seeking out information on how long it would take me to amass quality status elsewhere (excl. generic *A Gold, which I have via TK already)... but after doing some detailed sums earlier today, I've realised that I am almost 1:1 in the old vs. new QFF earning worlds. Specifically... I would have earned 101.2% of the Qantas Points, and 95% of the SCs. Close enough to stay put, for now.

For reference, my travel profile would show:

- Much of my travel is international (75%), with a few domestic and trans-Tasman trips in the mix (25%).
- My mix of carriers for eligible flights has been 60% QF and 40% OW (I ignored a number of other non QF/OW segments).
- I fly a mix of Y for business, and Y/Y+ for leisure. J is rare, but some on MH, etc.
- I generally have a Red eDeal outbound and flexi-saver inbound on domestic travel.
- I generally have a Flexi-saver where connecting to/from an international flight (default?).
- My international is generally Red eDeal/Sale fares outbound (daytime), and Flexi-Saver inbound (o/night mostly), so I have the ability to upgrade, where possible.
- Fare buckets selected on other OW carriers depend on who/where I am buying from, and who is paying.

So... for my situation and behaviours, it's turned out to be a non-issue... however, that could quite easily change if I were challenged to reduce costs, and so flexibility (+SCs) on a number of segments. Of course, I'd still rather nothing had been done to the QFF program - it is now incredibly complex for something so 'simple'.

Cheers.

 

[serfty]

Is this close to a record for this website to have more than 1000 posts for a single topic in a couple of days?
...

is up there ... but ... no ...

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

do people feel that they had adequate "three months' notice"?

I understand that they've told us around three months before jasa will be terminated, and around three months before the new points/scs will kick in for travel.

But i don't think that being given around a day's notice of adverse changes for bookings from july 1 onwards (that can be made now) is sufficient.

For example, i make a return trip to adelaide in march of each year. From my perspective i only had a day's notice of changes that will adversely affect my sc earning, i.e. I basically had to book it immediately if i wanted to get in under the old system.

enhancement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ketsuzei]

As of March 26 I had the ability to earn 60 SCs for a SYD-ADL booking in J between July 1 and March 13 of next year.

As of today I no longer have that ability.

I don't believe that constitutes adequate notice of an adverse change.

 

[Flying mermaid]

incredible -I have finally got to the end of all the posts - been trying for days but it just kept growing.

My tuppence worth .....

MASAs - Booked a few domestic JASAs when they were online - did like them, as who can resist a bargain? However can anyone put their hand on their heart and say they didn't think they would vanish, after Qantas took them offline? Always sad to see a lurk vanish, but given the deviant genius of many on this site, I am sure more loopholes will be discovered.

Points and status credits - well now that I have come to grips with the tables and the calculator works, I think I am Ok with that - will lose some on domestic flights when I book cheapies, but not that much really.

One world partners - this is the biggest problem for me. we haven't done a stopover in Dubai, but will at some point. however talking to friends it doesn't seem the sort of place that is that attractive to stopover multiple times, whereas we really love Singapore and Hong Kong. I love having a few days in London, so am quite happy to go via there for Europe. was planning Qantas to Hong Kong and then BA or Cathay to London. Also we sometimes do an Aone4 - have one planned for April/May next year as part of a trip to Gallipoli (100 years). I won't change what I am doing but it does mean will earn a lot less status credits, which seems a bit unfair when I pretty much stick to Qantas and only fly other carriers where Qantas doesn't fly. I guess the status credits don't really matter as I am just aiming for LTG as a safetynet, but feel this one might bite Qantas long term.

Qantas does seem a bit muddled - handing out DSC very easily but then taking them away from you if you book a quite expensive RTW in F with them!

 

[Allegro Vivace]

You will be protected from thess changes as your tickets were booked prior to Mar 27.

Are you sure about this?
We are booked on CX J class to Milan in September.
Tickets booked and paid for in December 2013, will we still get full Qantas SCs ? This is important if WP status is to be retained

 

[boomy]

Tell me, what constitutes a "normal operational" incident? I've never heard of that category in my 32 years of piloting.

If you are indeed a former pilot then you may want to consider using your knowledge for some positive contributions on other threads.
This is not an anger management forum.

 

[scheps]

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.

Thank you for the clarification. Much appreciated. One question, (i may have missed) but what rate will the earn be for U ticket? given it is not on the new table. Is it a business or a flexi business? I assume business because flexi business is NEW.

 

[Himeno]

Now that oneworld airlines earn fewer points/SC, wouldn't that mean they are paying QF less?

Someone mentioned that the new earn rates are similar to EK Skywards. Perhaps they are setting things up for an easier EK takeover once the Qantas Sale Act is amended.

 

[ReLoad]

Question for those in the know.

Can you get gate attendants to change FF numbers prior to boarding? Or I'd it best done in lounges or even online?

 

[marki]

Go back and read my original post - there are many more than 2 incidents.

If you lot are mad enough to fly with DeathStar, by all means, go your hardest.

Mainline QANTAS are excellent operationally - for now. Because they have vastly experienced pilots, who are regularly checked and who operate in a proper safety culture.

If Joyce has his way, this will all change. He wants makey-learney pilots in the RH seat - who are cheap. He tried to get pilots operating QANTAS NZ to pay for their own training...and was sprung by the regulator.

Inexperience and stress were the prime cause of the Deathstar incident in Cairns, when the inexperienced FO dumped all the flaps when the aircraft was going round - something that pilots are taught never to do, from the start of their training.

QF32 didn't turn into a pile of smoking aluminium because of the skills of the extensively experienced flight crew. Of course, QANTAS don't want you to know that.

Troppo I just deciphered your online picture ..... I cried laughing for like two minutes thanks

 

[ketsuzei]

A WP would be earning 2,000 points instead of 1,250 for SYD-CBR in J.

The calculator is applying the 1,200 Minimum Points Guarantee to Economy at this stage.