If 2016 is the year QF reclaims "Enhancement", what do they need to Enhance??

[wandering_fred]

...
PER>DXB route on a new A330.

Any well maintained QF A330?

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[hutch]

Allow every QF SG member flying QF internationally at least a once in a lifetime visit to the QF F lounge in SYD/MEL/BNE without having to pay for a F seat.
After all, a person who gives QF 600 SC is already putting a lot of flying QF's/its partners way.
And you can't (mostly can't) earn SC from non flying activities, haven't seen any credit cards that give out SC these days, though a lot of you colleagues have said you have seen that.

SG can already get access to First lounges... they can fly more to obtain WP!

In all seriousness, whilst the QF F lounge is lovely (so I can understand the attraction), access to these should be a reward for those doing serious business with QF/OW (ie enough to obtain WP).

The reward for obtaining SG is access to OW business lounges.

 

[Isochronous]

Marginal ASAs!

 

[kermatu]

Tasmanian whiskey in the F lounges and onboard.

 

[Ansett]

Marginal ASA
Proper scotch whisky in QFi Y not Irish as the only option
Reduced Redemptions in line with the simpler and fairer system
Ability to book a guaranteed upgrade on QFi even if only 1 or 2 per year.
Free exit row and extra leg room seats re instated for WP and above.
Reintroduction of chauffeur drive on USA routes.
Champagne versus sparkling in QFi J lounges.
PB that is enforced.
Life time platinum
CONSISTENCY

 

[JohnK]

Upgrade Credits.

Widen the gap between Platinum and Gold status to reflect the difficulty of attaining one over the other. One way would be to bring back anytime access to lounges for Platinum and above. Wishful thinking I know.

 

[love_the_life]

SG can already get access to First lounges... they can fly more to obtain WP!

In all seriousness, whilst the QF F lounge is lovely (so I can understand the attraction), access to these should be a reward for those doing serious business with QF/OW (ie enough to obtain WP).

The reward for obtaining SG is access to OW business lounges.

Although I do agree, Poochie I think meant that just one voucher, perhaps on attaining SG, for a single visit, not opening up the F lounge. PS get (or used to) a voucher to visit the QP - just a one off would be good. The QF IntJ lounges(especially Sydney) I have found have become pretty average in the past several times I have visited them. Perhaps a voucher to F would spur on the chase for WP status.
I wonder if F lounge access for WP flying in Y will be enhanced away at any time. I thought it had been mentioned in the past.

 

[serfty]

I like your suggestion. I might even suggest that to do so simpler and fairer

LOL Yes I might also suggest "Simpler and Fairer" never raises its ridiculous head again!!!

Would a singularity be created and the universe implode around it if the phrase "Simpler and Fairer Enhancement" was to ever be employed?

 

[NZ_Flyer]

Better upgrade options:
1. I think that the introduction of upgrade credits (ie: NZ's recognition upgrade system) is wishful thinking but would be an excellent benefit
2. In the absence of upgrade credits being introduced then changes to Classic Reward Upgrades to confirm upgrades earlier:
- P1 can have upgrades confirmed at time of booking if available inventory
- WP at T-7 days if available inventory
- SG at T-72 hours if available inventory
- PS at T-48 hours if available inventory
- NB at T-24 hours if available inventory
3. Allow Classic Upgrade Rewards for all fares (including sale) for PS and above

I think the 1 or 2 F lounge passes for SG is a good idea as you provide an added benefit to SG with very little incremental cost. It would be a nice addition to SG and push more people to either requalify for SG or qualify for WP.

Other than that:
- Remove any surcharges from award bookings and only charge taxes actually incurred
- Reduce amount of points required for awards across the board
- Allow Classic Upgrade Rewards to be applied to award points bookings (even if priority lower than upgrade requests on paid bookings)
- Change back to a standard partner SC and points earn based on a single zone system

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Reclaim "Enhancement" ?

 

[medhead]

Very easy. Bring back guest passes. I fly 100 times a year, I'm allowed to have 200 lounges guests, when I rarely have a guest. But twice a year when I travel overseers with family, there are more guests than my allowance. That then requires me to beg to let us in, or we don't use the lounge. So I say guest passes to recognise my contribution to use when I actually need them. The passes would be recorded electronically against the QFF account and can be used for direct family (siblings, wife, inlaws) to bring in up to, say, 3 guests. Cut the generic 1/2 guest rules. Guest passes would be something like:

Plat One 30/30+
Platinum 30
Gold 20
Silver 10 to 20.

Blocks of 5 guest passes could be issued per 20 SC beyond qualification.

Or something like that. The options are endless.

Review usage and adjust the above numbers accordingly.

SG have been doing much better than WP from "Enhancements". Around the time WP lost any time lounge access ( when I was first WP it was any time First lounge access) SG went from 50%-75% bonus points, WP no change in earning. SG recently got priority domestic boarding. Now WP can't select the front row domestically until T-80 when before they could anytime. WP got free exist rows internationally and Aus coast to coast but no longer. Business domestic lounges ( were availible) have been added but they are not that much better than QP in general to get excited.

I think WP need to get a "Enhancement" before SG.

Agreed. Gold hardly needs to have the gap with platinum closed further. 1200/1400 SC is vastly greater than 600/700 for gold. The current difference is slightly better seating, F lounge access and requesting award release.

Agreed, platinum to be enhanced away.

LTP; more likely that 2016 will be the year WP disappears for good

 

[blueythecat]

Since mASA's were removed, my flying spend has drifted away from Qantas and my credit cards points earn has drifted away from QFF. To get them back, it would be very simple:

- Return mASA's

Other true enhancements I'd like to see would include:

- Removal of surcharges from Classic Award bookings
- Reverse the partner status credit changes that were part of "Simpler and Fairer[SUP]TM[/SUP]"

 

[marki]

Must say I agree plus would add stuff like them to reverse changes to WP and stop demoting it to SG.

Since mASA's were removed, my flying spend has drifted away from Qantas and my credit cards points earn has drifted away from QFF. To get them back, it would be very simple:

- Return mASA's

Other true enhancements I'd like to see would include:

- Removal of surcharges from Classic Award bookings
- Reverse the partner status credit changes that were part of "Simpler and Fairer[SUP]TM[/SUP]"

 

[downgraded]

Guaranteed shadow. If QF go 9 abreast 787 in Y they need something to encourage people to fly them.

Off topic, but the refirb of 737 to squeeze in extra seats isn't generally required based on load factor alone - it seems it is only really required to make additional aisle and window seats available so the too narrow seating config can leave another middle seat empty...

 

[Mattg]

Guaranteed shadow. If QF go 9 abreast 787 in Y they need something to encourage people to fly them.

Off topic, but the refirb of 737 to squeeze in extra seats isn't generally required based on load factor alone - it seems it is only really required to make additional aisle and window seats available so the too narrow seating config can leave another middle seat empty...

I know they haven't actually taken delivery of any 787s yet, but can I suggest they "enhance" them so that they are 8 abreast in economy? Having flown on 787s in both 8 and 9 across configurations, the 8 abreast was comfortable while the 9 across was downright unpleasant. For the long-haul routes QF have in mind with these aircraft, they'd be crazy to make the seating so tight.

 

[RichardMEL]

Ok the wish lists are pretty fun but the margin between reality in this world we now inhabit and those lists is pretty large IMHO.

With that in mind I've tried to think of some enhancements that could work for both QF and its customers.

For example, AP calls for SG to get a pass to the F lounge. Fine, but if you give every SG a pass(or 1+guest) every year the F lounges will have a huge demand on them. Golds are dime a dozen at QF (sorry but relative to WP's etc... they are) and that would be a huge cost to QF, However why not tie it to a one time gift on attaining, for example, 3000 Lifetime SC's (that's going to be just under 5 years of Gold)? It's a long way to LTS(for little reward ) but how about factoring in some benefits along the way?

to expand this, why not give little things at different levels that don't even need to be tied to current status

eg: 1000 LTSC - a QC pass
2000 LTSC 2 QC pass or 10k points or a domestic upgrade
3000 LTSC - F lounge invite or 10k points or 2 dom upgrades
(etc)

Tie it to milestones to encourage further spend - along the lines of the 2400 SC/year bonus and the P1 incremental bonuses post 5000 SC/year.

(and yes, I remember upgrade credits.. when did they go away???)

With that in mind, what about giving say at 3000 SC in a year a confirmed upgrade (like a SWU) - incentive to go beyond 2400, but if you can't make 3600 you get something, and the P1's can still use it - tie it to the usual upgrade processing times, but say at 4000 SC's offer one that can confirm at time of booking for one class, one flight. Or make this a gift at 10k LTSC.

The numbers can be changed around. my idea is to reward both loyalty and revenue, but not to make it like candy and incur huge costs to QF to provide but act as incentive to keep flying with QF.

We'd all like LTP so maybe make it at 30k LTSC (rather than 28K) (and I am only around 18k LTSC so this is not something I'd get close to any time soon just FYI)


btw IIRC "Flyahead" is available at least to me as a P1. I've never been knocked back for an earlier flight on day of departure. Heck I even got a seat on a flight that EF claimed was 0'd out 90min prior and did not expect to be allowed. Maybe I've just been lucky but certainly had no issue doing that. Again this may only be a P1 thing as opposed to WP.

I'd like to see some more bundling (I know that's a bad word) offered for QF mainline. eg if I book a flight, maybe offer a buy in for more SC's or QFF's (US carriers do this kind of thing). Make it at a price point that makes sense and could be tempted to take up (since Double SC promos seem to have gone the way of the dodo) or what about an option to book CD with QFF or as an ad on (I know one can book transfers via QF website, but I mean more easily bundled in and perhaps tied to one's status level and/or fare type-eg a WP flying Premium Y to LHR could get a discount over what a Silver Y pax might be offered)

there are all little things that could be tweaked to give customers some options and rewards to stimulate spend and loyalty and in a way that QF could offer with a low cost to them and potential to increase revenue/yield.

just some random thoughts

 

[exceladdict]

<snip> It's a long way to LTS(for little reward ) but how about factoring in some benefits along the way?</snip>

I think this is a winner.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Ability to save award booking scenarios so we don't have to re-input details. This would be especially useful for 140/280/420 bookings or multi-city revenue bookings, eg when checking what's available or when booking hotels, concerts etc around these more complex bookings.

cheers

 

[cove]

PER-SIN-LHR on QF metal would be my pick.

 

[Chrizztofa]

Very easy. Bring back guest passes. I fly 100 times a year, I'm allowed to have 200 lounges guests, when I rarely have a guest. But twice a year when I travel overseers with family, there are more guests than my allowance. That then requires me to beg to let us in, or we don't use the lounge. So I say guest passes to recognise my contribution to use when I actually need them. The passes would be recorded electronically against the QFF account and can be used for direct family (siblings, wife, inlaws) to bring in up to, say, 3 guests. Cut the generic 1/2 guest rules. Guest passes would be something like:

Plat One 30/30+
Platinum 30
Gold 20
Silver 10 to 20.

Blocks of 5 guest passes could be issued per 20 SC beyond qualification.

Or something like that. The options are endless.

Review usage and adjust the above numbers accordingly.

Love this idea. I'm also usually a solo traveller but at the moment can't guest in both my parents when I'm travelling with them internationally.

Other thoughts which I think seem reasonable:
- 2 guests for WP/P1 in international business and first lounges (i.e. same as domestic flights).
- Ability to upgrade with points on EK, AA and other codeshare flights (I think you can only do that with LAN at the moment)?
- For WP, some of the following that VA offer: Five ways to make the most of your Velocity Platinum status - Australian Business Traveller (maybe upgrade vouchers, hotel status and family pooling?)