Heads up about program changes

[Archphoto]

A more fair approach would be to give 50% less SCs for OW partners on routes that QFi do service and keep the same amount on routes they don't service.

Could not have said it better myself, boomy. I have thrown similar comments many times with QFs surveys, regarding their lack of routes that have to be filled by their OW partners, but they then penalise me for it, but obviously it falls on deaf ears. . . . .

 

[yohy?!]

im wondering how the lounge recharging works in OW for instance - everytime I fly if I visit every CX lounge in HK using my WP for entry will QF be charged multiple times or just once?

maybe a little revenge is in order for such shabby treatment by QF? more importantly the extra walking between lounges helps to burn more calories indulged...

 

[amaroo]

It has been suggested in another thread that AA don't necessarily enforce the 4 segment rule..

IME it's best to rely on the T&C being the guiding light.

 

[Archphoto]

It would be far batter if all loyalty programs would be more honest with their members and not trying to sell devaluations as being fairer, simpler, enhancement etc.

I hope Qantas survives this mess ? do not have a good feeling .

These various Qantas SC earning charts are far more complicated than the old distance based one. Wonder who came up with this ridiculous idea?

Someone who's *never* flown their entire life and was sorely lacking in their geography studies throughout their schooling?

 

[Archphoto]

Unlike Qantas, AA print the actual fare bucket on you boarding pass.

I'd also like to know what fare bucket i'm booking *before* I pay.

 

[Himeno]

Has anyone noticed this?

They all say "including". The routes mentioned are examples. They have not defined what a "Short", "Mid-range" or "Longer" international flight is. (or explained why there are apparently 2 classes of "mid range" flight.)

 

[straitman]

I don't know what co payment would be enough to make it profitable for QF. As I said before though, QF is in a position to know that, and has concluded the whole concept is just not economically viable. In other words, my guess is that the copayments people were paying weren't even close to being enough.



The issue is not the lounge access before your MASA flights, or even the flights themselves. The costs QF are worried about are the costs resulting from your MASA-enabled status over the next 1-2 years.

Three things.
1. You are assuming that status is only earnt because of the MASA flights. (maybe, maybe not the case)
2. It is only a cost if the individual then spends more money (or points) ie IF the individual is flying in that 1-2 years and is flying on cheap tickets.
3. It is Qantas that sets the cost of the MASAs so there is no reason for them ever to be loss making.
The real issue is getting the balance between individual customers without upsetting those that are valuable to QF and I do not for one second think they have done this with the MASA issue and the bulk of the other changes.

To a large degree I believed Qantas had a captive audience until a few years ago but with this and a few other changes have left the doors open and many in that audience have now seen the outside world.

 

[Jack_OC]

Those 4 AA flights would be a PITA - expensive, time consuming and restrictive to undertake every year! Flying QF over to wherever to sit on an AA bird would probably push you over the line. Add a few MEL-BNE/ADL/PER in the mix and you're over the line.

.

I totally agree, I wasn't suggesting everyone should jump ship to AA, it just occurred to me that for some people it might work - let's say you had an annual trip to the US (esp if not with QF) plus more or less weekly MEL-SYD travel. I think the eligible sector requirement will keep most people with QF though, regardless of their anger about these changes.

 

[Isochronous]

AFAIK AA does not enforce the sector requirement for status.

Your inbox is full!

 

[Robbi]

Has anyone noticed this?
View attachment 26726
They all say "including". The routes mentioned are examples. They have not defined what a "Short", "Mid-range" or "Longer" international flight is. (or explained why there are apparently 2 classes of "mid range" flight.)

Yes, I saw it. They should have included ALL the combinations of capital cities and larger hubs IMO. When they aren't explicit they are leaving room to exploit any misunderstanding their way.

 

[Robbi]

I'd also like to know what fare bucket i'm booking *before* I pay.

Extending on this, I'd like to see an accurate # of FFP and SC's before I pay as well as all the fare buckets.

 

[Robbi]

How long until Mileage Monkey etc catch up with this new paradigm?

 

[amaroo]

I totally agree, I wasn't suggesting everyone should jump ship to AA, it just occurred to me that for some people it might work - let's say you had an annual trip to the US (esp if not with QF) plus more or less weekly MEL-SYD travel. I think the eligible sector requirement will keep most people with QF though, regardless of their anger about these changes.

Agree with that. When QF start emailing DSC offers (dead-set certainty IMHO) most here will smile and book flights.

 

[Princess Fiona]

IME it's best to rely on the T&C being the guiding light.

I don't think they are. There's fairly extensive stuff on FT regarding the non-enforcement of the rule.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ber-aa-metal-segments-earn-keep-status-3.html
This may of course be subject to change with the US merger but I doubt it.

 

[Himeno]

Agree with that. When QF start emailing DSC offers (dead-set certainty IMHO) most here will smile and book flights.

And most likely, like every other time they've sent me one, I won't be able to travel during the period the offer is valid.

 

[Jack_OC]

Two things.
1. You are assuming that status is only earnt because of the MASA flights. (maybe, maybe not the case)

Yes. I specifically said I was assuming that.

Why else would someone book a MASA? That's a genuine question btw, if I've missed something please set me straight. The impression I got from this forum was that they were primarily, if not exclusively, a tool to get status.

T
2. It is only a cost if the individual then spends more money (or points) ie IF the individual is flying in that 1-2 years and is flying on cheap tickets.

Yeah, that was the thrust of my previous example. As I said, most of us have no way of knowing how many MASA enthusiasts fell into that category or not, but QF could/should know that.

The bottom line is, in the absence of an alternative explanation, I'm inclined to accept the explanation provided by QF, as it seems perfectly plausible.

 

[kimrschonfeld]

people are raising the point of what if Qantas disappears in the near future etc etc we all lose our points Ansett style.
however a lot of people gain points through wwEDR. not all EDR members have their account attached to QFF. they (and their edr pts) will be safe. my question is if QF does go belly up and as a result so does QFF what happens to all our points earned through EDR (that have been transferred automatically to QFF), will Woolworth step up and give us the EDR component of points back as a sign of goodwill, or will it be too hard, too bad so sad and 9 million + even further unhappy customers. meanwhile my mother is laughing because she still has all her EDR points (as it isn't attached to qff), and i'll be looking in my wallet saying flybuys aren't so bad after all.

 

[Buzzard]

At this stage because I don't do any international flying, this might be to my advantage (conditions apply).

Most of my/our flights are ADL - SYD - ADL. MASA cost is 48,000 + $295.00 more if we have to go via MEL because there are no direct flights available.

OK, so we give up chasing status and on the odd $89 special to MEL we just sit "up the back somewhere", as a QP member we still get lounge access (note there is no J lounge in ADL so we don't miss out on anything) but when we do fly J to SYD it will now only cost $109 + 48,000 even if we go via MEL both ways (dummy booking a few minutes ago). This still gives us J lounge where available, priority boarding, sit up the front, what do I really loose? Mind you, Qantas the idiots loose 2 x ~ $195 from Mrs B and I each time we fly.

When I /we do International I will either book QF or BFOD. Given I have Citi Signature I get 2 x free Priority lounge access and the money saved on a fare will more than pay for Mrs B to enter. Again, Qantas might just miss out on my $$$$. And with 2 HSBC Platinum Visa we get 4 x QP passes per year anyway. We might just be better off overall.

Edit to add: Oh yes, and I can book these on line without having to make any annoying little phone calls

 

[blackcat20]

I don't understand why MASAs are considered a short-cut, when its really no different to buying a jetstar fare and paying for a plus bundle. Don't want status? Buy a cheap JQ ticket or a classic award. Want status? Pay extra for the plus bundle or pay the extra to turn your classic into a MASA.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Yes. I specifically said I was assuming that.

Why else would someone book a MASA? That's a genuine question btw, if I've missed something please set me straight. The impression I got from this forum was that they were primarily, if not exclusively, a tool to get status.



Yeah, that was the thrust of my previous example. As I said, most of us have no way of knowing how many MASA enthusiasts fell into that category or not, but QF could/should know that.

The bottom line is, in the absence of an alternative explanation, I'm inclined to accept the explanation provided by QF, as it seems perfectly plausible.

I can't answer for everyone but I will answer from my point if view.
MASA's were an excellent use of points. I never needed any of them for status. I have flown approximately 8 flights over 3 years and have another return flight booked in June. I booked them as the company I was travelling for would only pay for Y and I preferred to travel in J at my own expense. The upside being that I had SC going to my lifetime tally and I travelled in comfort. Now that they are gone I will split my bookings between QF and VA and upgrade using points.

There are lots of impressions that one may take from reading the forum but the reality can be somewhat different.