Heads up about program changes

[kpc]

Hi Red Roo, can you please offer some clarification on this:

If we were to book a "MASA" in June for travel in September (as an example) in U Class, would we still earn SC and Points?

Yes. You can book until 30 June for travel up to our system range.

I HOPE it's a typo in the "when do these changes take effect" because it's a direct contradiction to the "What if I've already booked" FAQ:
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.

Red Roo's reply that we can make MASA bookings up til 30 June is NOT consistent with the FAQs on the QF website which suggest a cutoff date of March 28 (today) to make MASA bookings for beyond 1 July, and still earn SCs and QF pts. Urgent clarification is really needed from Red Roo as otherwise we all need to make our MASA bookings TODAY!!

 

[Ansett]

Slightly OT but my understanding is that most of the IT enhancements are now done offshore. If this is the case is this an indication of what can be expected from the outsourced maintenance of aircraft!!!!

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I'm about as loyal a Qantas flyer as there can be, but even I'm pretty pissed off. I've read through the details and with these changes I'm going to earn a lot less points flying so they have effectively been devalued. And reduced SCs for flying with OW carriers? What a load of cough... If QF flew everywhere I might forgive them but the fact is that they currently fly to fewer places around the world than ever!

I have a feeling this will push a lot more people away from Qantas than it will get people to buy over-priced flexible fares.

As for the marketing fluff, most people will see right through it. These are NOT positive changes for customers.

Seriously, how are the complicated new tables "simpler" than the very simple system we have now??

I love your Straight talking!

Here's an example that i've just worked out:

I am a very inactive Red ( equivalent to QFF Bronze) member of Virgin Atlantic's (VS) Flying Club.

Occasionally earn points once a year so the points have not expired.

Being a platinum QFF, I will only earn marginally more points flying QF than on SQ (this will credit to VS flying club at a rate of 1 point per mile on literally all cash fare brackets in Economy on a SQ Ticket ) MEL > LHR. Whereas QFF will use the points-poor zonal system for awarding points.

If I was a bronze or silver QFF I am worse off for my points earnt on this sector than what I would be if I had flown on SQ & credited to a loyalty program such as VS flying club.

I really think QF need take a Good Hard look at the MEL/SYD > LHR earning table & revisit if they don't want leakage of loyal customer's to choose other airlines on this route!

Yes, i would miss out on Lounge Access if i chose the SQ option, but the points on VS flying club is only just lower than on QFF & despite no status in my situation on VS, I may be very tempted to start earning status on another scheme & therefore switch allegiances.

 

[mannej]

Slightly OT but my understanding is that most of the IT enhancements are now done offshore. If this is the case is this an indication of what can be expected from the outsourced maintenance of aircraft!!!!

Sorry but that is rubbish, apples and oranges...

 

[Himeno]

The DONE3 component of my last trip netted 1650SC. Under new earning tables, that same trip would get 1320.

From joining QFFF until 2009, I was getting 350-530 SC/year. Since 2010, I've been getting 2300-2500 SC/year. I'm 2885 SC off LTG.
It appears that my current travel patterns (since 2010) will earn about 30% fewer SC... :/

 

[The man with no name]

Might be a good time for Virgin to announce another status match to QFF customers. They may need to build bigger lounges

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Slightly OT but my understanding is that most of the IT enhancements are now done offshore. If this is the case is this an indication of what can be expected from the outsourced maintenance of aircraft!!!!

WTF?

So, outsourcing IT from somewhere like India/Asia, to some aircraft in Germany (A380 - Lufthansa Teknik)....apples and oranges mate.

 

[lovestotravel]

So I will earn less points
So I will earn a few less SC's on certain flights
So I have one less option now to redeem points and get something back SC/Points (MASAs)

Sounds like a win/win yeah.............

 

[drron]

Go to the QF T&C's page and click on airline earning table.At the bottom of the post 1/7/14 table is this statement-
* Qantas Segments booked in X, U, Z or P classes are eligible to earn Points and Status Credits only when booked as part of a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award.

So you can book a MASA up to June 30 and still get points and SCs.If flight after 1/7 then at new earning rate.

 

[kpc]

Hi Red Roo, can you please offer some clarification on this:

If we were to book a "MASA" in June for travel in September (as an example) in U Class, would we still earn SC and Points?

Yes. You can book until 30 June for travel up to our system range.

I HOPE it's a typo in the "when do these changes take effect" because it's a direct contradiction to the "What if I've already booked" FAQ:
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.

Red Roo's reply that we can make MASA bookings up til 30 June is NOT consistent with the FAQs on the QF website which suggest a cutoff date of March 28 (today) to make MASA bookings for beyond 1 July, and still earn SCs and QF pts. Urgent clarification is really needed from Red Roo as otherwise we all need to make our MASA bookings TODAY!!

Go to the QF T&C's page and click on airline earning table.At the bottom of the post 1/7/14 table is this statement-
* Qantas Segments booked in X, U, Z or P classes are eligible to earn Points and Status Credits only when booked as part of a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award.

So you can book a MASA up to June 30 and still get points and SCs.If flight after 1/7 then at new earning rate.

Well Red Roo is looking at this thread now, so hopefully can confirm either way given the contradiction from the FAQs!

 

[straitman]

Slightly OT but my understanding is that most of the IT enhancements are now done offshore. If this is the case is this an indication of what can be expected from the outsourced maintenance of aircraft!!!!

99% of aircraft maintenance is done outside of Oz and from a practical perspective most needs to be done that way. Offshore maintenance rhetoric is all just a load of .... :!:

Sorry but that is rubbish, apples and oranges...

Correct.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

So by reducing revenue they plan on improving profitability? fine thats an acceptable strategy. But you don't reduce your operational costs *much* by having emptier planes.

If a $100 fare is costing $200 to deliver, then "yes", reducing revenue will actually increase profits.

I'm not sure QF believes that they'll have significantly emptier planes - those that value status will pony up more money. Those that don't care enough (whether that be casual travellers, or those with status today) will continue to buy the cheap fares, but QF won't have the overhead of giving out the extra benefits for those pax. Same revenue - less costs.

Seems to be very straightforward to me.

 

[yohy?!]

Enhancements indeed..certainly validates my change in strategy to switch primary program to CX MPC - should make diamond this year after a status match which saved me earning the first 30k status miles.

Email [email protected] for status match requests (attach QFF statement) and head over to the MPC forum on AFF

 

[lovestotravel]

If a $100 fare is costing $200 to deliver, then "yes", reducing revenue will actually increase profits.

I'm not sure QF believes that they'll have significantly emptier planes - those that value status will pony up more money. Those that don't care enough (whether that be casual travellers, or those with status today) will continue to buy the cheap fares, but QF won't have the overhead of giving out the extra benefits for those pax. Same revenue - less costs.

Seems to be very straightforward to me.

Yep it's very easy indeed

Less people flying
Emptier planes
More routes and flights cut

 

[Gredgy69]

a) Does the post say anything about "Marginal ASAs"? I can't see anything to that effect. ASAs are still here, as far as I can tell
b) That post was a year ago. Do you think that a post in a forum like this commits QF to maintaining a particular offering for all eternity? Business circumstances change - it would be commercial suicide to stick to any commitment forever regardless of the consequences...

Aren't QF doing exactly that with their 65% line in the sand edict??

 

[drron]

When is QF going to post a new SC earning table for post 1/7.
All I come up with is the old table and various examples which are all over the place.
I would like it all in one place so I can work out just where we will stand.

As an aside I really feel vindicated joining Aadvantage in 2002 and then having it my main program in 2006.

 

[alexczarn]

Very very disappointed by this decision by QANTAS, paying the extra for a QF fare now but earning less points.

 

[Neeraj]

Just used the new calculator and noticed this...maybe the SG are being enhanced to CL!!

 

[markis10]

When is QF going to post a new SC earning table for post 1/7.
All I come up with is the old table and various examples which are all over the place.
I would like it all in one place so I can work out just where we will stand.

As an aside I really feel vindicated joining Aadvantage in 2002 and then having it my main program in 2006.

its posted

 

[eosphoros]

I recognise that I am in the minority but these changes will actually net me more points based on my flying patterns. Whilst the drop in SC earn for OW carriers is disappointing, I think that lower status accrual for partners is in line with most other FFPs. Nevertheless I will have to re-evaluate my choice of FFP and have a look into CX or AA.