Hotel points reducing to 3 (from 5) from 1 Sept 2002

[Paco]

I don't recall seeing much discussion in this forum on the announcement by Qantas that as from Sept 1 2002 points earned at Aust Hotels will reduce to 3 points per dollar spent. It was announced on the bottom of page 4 of the March-April Frequent Flyer Magazine that Qantas mails out. Did anyone notice it ? (it didn't particularly standout in bold letters so it would have been easy to miss).

The number of points awarded for hotel stays outside Australia also reduces.

 

[Paco]

Car Partner points also reducing to 3 (from Sept 2003)

Also although it doesn't mention it in the mail-out, car rental points will also be reducing to 3 (from 5) as from Sept 2003 (this change is shown at the Qantas Frequent Flyer website).

 

[shillard]

I don't recall seeing much discussion in this forum on the announcement by Qantas that as from Sept 1 2002 points earned at Aust Hotels will reduce to 3 points per dollar spent..

Won't make a great deal of difference to most frequent travellers. Hotel points are awfully slow to get posted, and if you're staying on some of the discount/ voucher rates you don't qualify for FF points anyway.

You're better off to register with programmes like Starwood & Priority Club to have the points credited directly to those accounts, and then transfer them to your QFF account as needed.

 

[dajop]

95% of my hotel points come from faxing the receipts to Qantas, even though I've given the hotel my FF number. Hilton seem to be the only ones that regularly come through without prompting (and I guess that's because I'm a Hilton Hhonors member). Depending on the type of hotels you stay in, I agree with above re joining hotel programs. Even if you only stay in moderate priced facilities, Best Western's program of $25US voucher for every $900 spent looks OK against the FlagChoice's 3 QF points per $.

 

[shillard]

95% of my hotel points come from faxing the receipts to Qantas, even though I've given the hotel my FF number. Hilton seem to be the only ones that regularly come through without prompting (and I guess that's because I'm a Hilton Hhonors member). Depending on the type of hotels you stay in, I agree with above re joining hotel programs. Even if you only stay in moderate priced facilities, Best Western's program of $25US voucher for every $900 spent looks OK against the FlagChoice's 3 QF points per $.

I've found that Starwood & Priority Club always post points pretty quickly to their respective accounts, although Holiday Inns/ Crown Plazas in Australia & New Zealand usually post direct to WF within 30 days. Otherwise it's a nightmare, I don't normally bother chasing up the points as it's just not worth the effort.

The best Western programme sounds interesting, particularly for when travelling off the beaten track.

 

[QF WP]

QFF Hotel Partner problems

Without doubt there are some Hotel programs that are very slow - I agree with Shillard and Dajop, HHonors and Starwood are timely (same with Marriott - haven't stayed at a Hyatt recently to check them).

After having the same problems as both posters above, I have found that being proactive is better than being reactive. Upon return from a trip I now simply scan the Bills and email directly to QFF and the Hotel Partner programs. I haven't got the time to wait and check 30-60 days later. The programs will send back a confirmatory email saying they are checking into it and the points are generally up in 7-10 days.

 

[sven]

Holiday Inn

I've had several stays at Holiday Inn, and never seen any points from them. They keep telling me that they will credit them, but they never do. I was about to send the receipts off to Qantas when I saw the reduction from 5 to 3 points. I'm assuming that I'll still get the 5 points per dollar since they're all from May and June.

I wanted to avoid going through Priority Club because they give 500 points per night rather than 5 points per dollar, which works out less for me. Looks like I might be better off using Priority Club in the future though.

I'm staying at Rydges next month - does anyone have any experience getting points off them?

 

[icemann]

Stamford

I've been told by the people on the front desk at Stamford Grand Adelaide that my room didn't qualify for QFF points, when I booked it under a package that it DID qualify for ! :O ahahahaha - sorry, but it did.

I completely ignored them, even after trying to argue the case that 'that's what my QC number is on there for' and faxed the receipts to Qantas, no worries, I got the points.

Moral of the story - if anyone tells you at the hotel that 'you don't qualify', let the airline tell you that instead. Let THEM make the decision, not a (sometimes) ill informed desk clerk (no offence to hotel staff intended).

Moral #2 - keep all 'proof' of the offers with you when you go to the hotel - like the article in the frequent flyer news that says 'double points' or whatever, so that you can show these when the time is needed. The same goes for any other 'partner service', e.g. money exchange, car rentals, hotels.

 

[sven]

I got my points eventually

I sent the Holiday Inn receipts off to Qantas and got 5 points per dollar for them. Rydges told me that my stay didn't qualify, but I sent them off to Qantas and got the points anyway. I also stayed at the Perth Parmelia Hilton in December but I'm still waiting for those... IIRC Hilton gives points slightly differently. And my ANZ Qantas Visa points are coming through properly now. Finally it all seems to be working.

 

[dajop]

Re: Car Partner points also reducing to 3 (from Sept 2003)

Also although it doesn't mention it in the mail-out, car rental points will also be reducing to 3 (from 5) as from Sept 2003 (this change is shown at the Qantas Frequent Flyer website).

Wrong. Don't know when they changed, but they have already reduced to 3 points per dollar.

 

[oz_mark]

Twas Sept 2002.