How long before Qantas copies Singapore Airlines

[Beasley]

I read in Australian Business Traveller newsletter today that Singapore Airlines are increasing the amount of points for J award bookings. I wonder how soon the same will happen with the Qantas FF program? Here is the story below;

Singapore Airlines is increasing the number of KrisFlyer miles required to book a points-based trip in business class, first class and even premium economy as of Thursday 24 January 2019.

However, the rates for economy-class bookings remain unaffected, and the airline is also introducing a number of frequent flyer-friendly measures such as:

• direct upgrades from economy to business class, even if your flight features a premium economy cabin, compared to the current one-class-only upgrade policy (upgrade rates are also getting revamped as part of this change)
• a more generous 'seven-day view' for checking award availability online, covering three days before and three days after your intended travel date rather than the current single-day view (this will be active from 31 January 2019)
• waitlisted redemptions will now be confirmed no later than 14 days prior to departure, in order to provide more certainty for waitlisted passengers

 

[RichardMEL]

I'll bite.

QF won't change just because some other airline has, with the exception being VA as their main competition in their home marketplace IMHO. And even still, there have been rumours of QF working on changes over the past few months. Obviously there WILL be changes at some point - be it in the next 3 months or next 3 years. They certainly would be unlikely to react to the SQ changes specifically and make changes.. it's a process that involves analysis and number crunching and not something to be made overnight - as in even if next week they announced changes, it wouldn't be in reaction to SQ, but something they would have crunched for some time.

my two cents.

 

[burmans]

Personally I think you've got this the wrong way around. Qantas have been devaluing their FF program for years with "enhancements", as have many other FF programs, if anything SQ is a follower not a leader in this regards.

Do I think QF may further devalue their program at some stage, almost certainly, but it won't IMO be in any sort of response to SQ's actions.

 

[kermatu]

As soon as I saw the word ‘enhanced’ in the KrisFlyer email I knew I didn’t want to read further.

 

[oz_mark]

Qantas tend to play around with the Carrier Surcharges portion these days - a lever that SQ has done away with. I suspect that if Qantas make any changes it will be there in the first instance.

 

[33kft]

My plan to hedge any QFF enhancements announced in the short term might need to involve opening a toaster store on eBay...

 

[moa999]

And the QF scheme is already relatively expensive (compared to other airlines) so i don't think there is much room to move

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

It seems to me that Singapore put the points up some time ago by making Advantage fares available but no available Saver Fares.