I wonder had JASA's continued ...

[TomVexille]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

I think we may be posting at cross purposes, I was responding to: (my bolding)



For the record I applaud anyone and everyone that uses a frequent flyer scheme to maximise their benefit. I take my hat off to those that have maximised DSC's, mASA's and any other promotion to achieve their desired status.

I'm blaming the app for the fact I can't see any bolding

 

[basso]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

An airline that was in the red (massively) encouraged me to take my cash elsewhere. They might have known what they were doing but I'm not so sure it was a great idea. Their being back in the black has nothing to do with MASAs and everything to do with massive cuts.

I never said it had anything to do with them getting into the black. Here's a question - why were MASAs so important to you? If they were a cheap way of getting into premium cabins, there are cheap ways still available.....If it was cheap way of getting to status, why is status so important, and what is wrong with the airline making it more expensive. And as an individual, do you think you are that important to the Qantas bottom line?

 

[straitman]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

Here's a question - why were MASAs so important to you? If they were a cheap way of getting into premium cabins, there are cheap ways still available.....If it was cheap way of getting to status, why is status so important, and what is wrong with the airline making it more expensive. And as an individual, do you think you are that important to the Qantas bottom line?

Interesting question that can be answered on several levels.

One answer is that we all 'normally' shop to get the best value we can with anything we buy so why should airline tickets be any different? Another answer, ultimately not so different is that for many people who frequent these forums is that it's all part of a game to get the best of the airlines and enhance their travel experience. They are going to travel anyway so why not do it in a high level of comfort if the options are there to do so?

 

[JohnK]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

...and I suspect that is why some feel that DSC's with mASA's was perhaps, what is the word I am looking for, argh yes, insane from QF's perspective.

LOL. Insane is the right word. And now they have seen the light....

 

[basso]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

One answer is that we all 'normally' shop to get the best value we can with anything we buy so why should airline tickets be any different? Another answer, ultimately not so different is that for many people who frequent these forums is that it's all part of a game to get the best of the airlines and enhance their travel experience. They are going to travel anyway so why not do it in a high level of comfort if the options are there to do so?

I get that, but the options to travel in premium cabins are still there - just as a Classic Award. So that part of the travel equation hasn't changed.

 

[Ansett]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

I for one am slightly glad that MASA are gone as I am now saving heaps of money no longer spending to maintain or achieve status and utilising BFOD. Sadly BFOD means that QF misses out the majority of the time.

I have gone from over 3800 s/c earn to 80 s/c year to date with December being the end of my year so no chance of even maintaining WP.

On the other side of the equation is the business that QF may have lost as a result of no longer promoting and recommending QF blindly. For example between family, friends and colleagues I would assist in finding airfares for both pleasure and work, domestic and international in Y and J for on average 100 trips per year. I had found myself searching and either booking or recommending others booking blindly on the QF Website and ensuring that they were all members of QFF. To date I have put less than 10 people to QF and then only because they were the only real option on that route, and on 3 occasions because they wanted to try and use the small amount of points they had to upgrade.

Since the advent of Simpler and Fairer I no longer see the value in collecting frequent Flyer points in the QF scheme as the value earn to burn for the majority of people I know is no longer there. I now find ,myself recommending alternatives to QF based on Cost and convenience and the ability to redeem points.

I have enrolled a large amount of people into the VA program due to family pooling and generally better value for money. Also liked the ability to convert Virgin Points into Singapore points and thus obtain the opportunity to upgrade on Singapore Air on that once a year or lifetime overseas trip, something that QF does not allow with its Partner EK or other OW airlines.

Would I be happy to see them Back YES of course. Would I pay more for status credits on a Classic Award with no points earned perhaps, yes I would. Will QF ever listen and instigate some thing like this NOT a cat in hell's chance.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

LOL. Insane is the right word. And now they have seen the light....

...but equally it could be said that allowing members to attain status through Red-e-Deals is insane. (I noticed that BA has reduced the earn rate from 10 to 5 TP's on similar fares and indeed when flying on partner airlines' cheap fares.)

I am saddened by the decline of the mASA, as I would be saddened if QF reduced SC earn on cheap flights or even worse linked status directly to spend on flights which it seems is where the US airlines are heading, or at least some of them. It doesn't impact me at all now because I no longer credit to QF, but it does impact a lot of people here and on other sites dedicated to frequent flying.

 

[RichardMEL]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

I wonder what folks will do if/when VA/AA (etc) all do their own "Simpler and Fairer"?

it continues to be a variation of BFOD really - BFFPOY (you can figure it out ) as the landscape changes (just ask DL loyalists!)

 

[JohnK]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

...but equally it could be said that allowing members to attain status through Red-e-Deals is insane. (I noticed that BA has reduced the earn rate from 10 to 5 TP's on similar fares and indeed when flying on partner airlines' cheap fares.)

I am saddened by the decline of the mASA, as I would be saddened if QF reduced SC earn on cheap flights or even worse linked status directly to spend on flights which it seems is where the US airlines are heading, or at least some of them. It doesn't impact me at all now because I no longer credit to QF, but it does impact a lot of people here and on other sites dedicated to frequent flying.

I don't disagree with you.

If red e-deals stop becoming eligible to earn SCs I will be upset but I will move on and find new ways to earn status. I will occasionally reminisce about the good old days and may even get into an odd argument here and there.

Clearly some people have not moved on from the removal of any seat awards. Almost similar to the removal of any time lounge access and complimentary exit rows but then these same people said suck it up and move on.

 

[blackcat20]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

I never said it had anything to do with them getting into the black. Here's a question - why were MASAs so important to you? If they were a cheap way of getting into premium cabins, there are cheap ways still available.....If it was cheap way of getting to status, why is status so important, and what is wrong with the airline making it more expensive. And as an individual, do you think you are that important to the Qantas bottom line?

I only ever did two trips using MASAs, so they arent particularly important to me. They are welcome to make it more expensive, but they didnt, they got rid of them completely. That means a lot of people have taken their spend elsewhere as evidenced in this thread. While individually I am not important, a change in spending from a larger group of people might be.

 

[greenfish]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

I liked MASAs - when my regular commute to Canberra stopped, I was able to (somewhat pointlessly) maintain status; all for about 1 or 2 F lounge visits a year and sitting a little closer to the front of the plane on my personal travel.

The demise of MASAs does have an upside; I've shifted my family spend to VA/SQ/NZ, and will maintain status without the joys of status runs, never again to sample the delights of a quick turnaround in KTA

I will miss the F lounge though.

 

[amaroo]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

But you would have to pay for it.

Do you think someone paying 1cent payments on 4 Bankwest accounts earning ~30,000 points/month should be able to earn status that easily? They are already draining classic award availability why hand them status as well?

And no I am not missing the point. I got it.

Sure, but the topic was how many flights it took - the only reason we booked that FASA to LHR was because we secured ballot tickets for ANZAC day ... I'd never blow 800,000 QFFP for status It was just a perfect alignment of usage/timing/need.

Doesn't bother me that MASA are dead and buried. I'm far more concerned with the long term future of ATO earn. I'm happy to burn points on any OW airline as QF isn't the best for long haul, multi tickets in premium class. In fact MASA demise has made bookings easier - no longer need to try and conjure up four tickets on a QF bird ... it took me seconds to book 4 x CX in J & F to Italy and back for later this year. Try doing that with QF!

 

[moa999]

MASAs kept me more loyal in one year where business travel was down substantially - which was topped up by a combination of paid travel and MASAs

That said the extra $ cost over a classic I expect was loss making to QF one you consider
- base points
- status bonus points
- bonus points from SCs
- allocation of lounge cost from people making SG/WP

 

[trixydoza]

That said the extra $ cost over a classic I expect was loss making to QF

Very possibly. But it didn't need to be if they priced it "right".

 

[basso]

Very possibly. But it didn't need to be if they priced it "right".

The concept of 'right' in this context is quite nebulous. I put it to you that what Qantas would regard as 'right' would be poles apart from what you consider to be 'right'. In fact, I'll go one step further, and put it to you that the Qantas concept of 'right' would involve the cash component approaching a standard cash fare.

 

[trixydoza]

I put it to you that what Qantas would regard as 'right' would be poles apart from what you consider to be 'right'.

Obviously. Which is why I don't buy what they've been "replaced" with.

MASAs were too cheap and the current ASAs are way too expensive. I just thought there might be some sensible middle ground.

 

[blackcat20]

MASAs were too cheap and the current ASAs are way too expensive. I just thought there might be some sensible middle ground.

That would be nice. In the meantime I'm spreading my travel dollars and points around...

 

[JohnK]

The concept of 'right' in this context is quite nebulous. I put it to you that what Qantas would regard as 'right' would be poles apart from what you consider to be 'right'. In fact, I'll go one step further, and put it to you that the Qantas concept of 'right' would involve the cash component approaching a standard cash fare.

That's the part the hurts. It's not a fun game if you have to pay full fare for premium travel.

 

[straitman]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

I get that, but the options to travel in premium cabins are still there - just as a Classic Award. So that part of the travel equation hasn't changed.

The equation may not have changed but the value of the equation has changed.

Like anything else, if the price is too cheap too many people, if the price is right you attract the right number and if it's too expensive you don't attract enough. i.e. raise the price to something acceptable to both the supplier and the customer and everyone can be happy.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: I've felt the sting of the QFF Loyalty Middle Finger

I'm still wondering how someone can get 1200 SCs in a single run...

It's definitely doable. A JASA to the US combined with a paid AA status run could net 1200. I'm pretty sure there are threads on here from the old days of people netting WP with paid fares to HNL/LAS and massive KUPPs. It's harder now but it's still there even without the JASA's.