Interesting new QFF number format

[markis10]

New member this week: 1,903,xx_,xx_. Does that mean the next results announcement will say they have hit 1.9B members LOL!

 

[CaviAck]

It's been 1,90x,xx_,xx_ for at least 5 months now considering my mother joined in June and has a 1,90x,xx_,xx_ number.

 

[markis10]

Wonder why the change, are they expecting a sudden influx of new members?

 

[here2go]

Wonder why the change, are they expecting a sudden influx of new members?

They had to change the format as they were about to hit 10m, and while the old 7 digits would have worked for many years, IMHO the old numbering format doesn't help recognition. Now they all start with 19, you'll be able to spot a QFF number a mile away. I wonder if we'll all get migrated to the new format in coming years.

 

[markis10]

They had to change the format as they were about to hit 10m, and while the old 7 digits would have worked for many years, IMHO the old numbering format doesn't help recognition. Now they all start with 19, you'll be able to spot a QFF number a mile away. I wonder if we'll all get migrated to the new format in coming years.

Hope OT re migration, much harder number for the memory IMHO.

 

[here2go]

Hope OT re migration, much harder number for the memory IMHO.

Totally agree. I am jealous of my father and his 5 digits number. 7 digits is the maximum for ease of retention apparently.

 

[oz_mark]

Now they all start with 19, you'll be able to spot a QFF number a mile away. I wonder if we'll all get migrated to the new format in coming years.

I suspect the new format arose when they migrated the old Fortran platform across to their new platform. For all we know, we may have a new number on that system!

I don't think in the old system they would have needed to change it, it would probably just have started issuing 8 digit number.

 

[serfty]

New member this week: 1,903,xx_,xx_. Does that mean the next results announcement will say they have hit 1.9B members LOL!

This was mention in an adjunct to a thread topic back in September: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....o-among-you-has-longest-43483.html#post685754

 

[Flying mermaid]

Totally agree. I am jealous of my father and his 5 digits number. 7 digits is the maximum for ease of retention apparently.

Miller's Law which dates from the 50s held that people could remember 5 to 9 objects easily in short term memory ( with 7 the average). However given how often we use our FF numbers I am sure even very long numbers will present no challenge to this cohort.

 

[medhead]

Miller's Law which dates from the 50s held that people could remember 5 to 9 objects easily in short term memory ( with 7 the average). However given how often we use our FF numbers I am sure even very long numbers will present no challenge to this cohort.

I can remember my 10 digit velocity number no worries, and the 7 for QFF not to mention my main savings account number (but not the BSB) and of course my army number.

 

[madrooster]

I can remember my 10 digit velocity number no worries, and the 7 for QFF not to mention my main savings account number (but not the BSB) and of course my army number.

Plenty of people can remember their credit card number which is 15 or 16 digits depending on what type of card you have...

 

[MatF]

I was just about to post that my wife is regularly amazed that I can rattle off my 16 digit c/card number with no hesitation.
I try to reassure her that I have an excellent memory, and it's not from over use :/

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yes, repetition is the easy way to remember!

 

[Pleb Status]

Maybe they could of incorporated letters and kept the seven characters. My AAdvantage 'number' has two numbers, three letters and then two numbers. The old CO OnePass 'numbers' included two letters in the eight characters. Even just changing the first character to a letter would give another ~26 million 'numbers'.

 

[Hvr]

Maybe they could of incorporated letters and kept the seven characters. My AAdvantage 'number' has two numbers, three letters and then two numbers. The old CO OnePass 'numbers' included two letters in the eight characters. Even just changing the first character to a letter would give another ~26 million 'numbers'.

I may be misinterpreting the maths here, but if you changed the first number to a letter would you only have 16 million extra 'numbers' noting there are already 10 numbers (assuming zero is included)?

I find I can remember numbers more easily if they have a specific format that is adhered to such as with phone numbers, 4 and 4, or mobiles 4, 3, 3 digits. Even credit cards go 4,4,4,4 except for Amex which just has to be different.

 

[Pleb Status]

I may be misinterpreting the maths here, but if you changed the first number to a letter would you only have 16 million extra 'numbers' noting there are already 10 numbers (assuming zero is included)?

I find I can remember numbers more easily if they have a specific format that is adhered to such as with phone numbers, 4 and 4, or mobiles 4, 3, 3 digits. Even credit cards go 4,4,4,4 except for Amex which just has to be different.

You can use one of 26 letters followed by six numbers. I believe that would be 26 million combinations. Could be wrong however.

 

[Fantic125]

Don't make it too complex.

QFF number, passport and expiry date down pat.

Did notice that when I gifted gold to a work colleague in EU , she was allocated a 1900 number.

 

[Hvr]

You can use one of 26 letters followed by six numbers. I believe that would be 26 million combinations. Could be wrong however.

Depends if you change the first number for a letter or add an extra letter at the beginning of the number.

 

[JohnK]

Totally agree. I am jealous of my father and his 5 digits number. 7 digits is the maximum for ease of retention apparently.

That would depend on the person.

I can remember all my bank accounts, 2 Amex card, 28 degrees, 4 other credit cards, telephone numbers, frequent flyer numbers etc.

 

[oz_mark]

Maybe they could of incorporated letters and kept the seven characters. My AAdvantage 'number' has two numbers, three letters and then two numbers. The old CO OnePass 'numbers' included two letters in the eight characters. Even just changing the first character to a letter would give another ~26 million 'numbers'.

The system has issued 4 digit numbers, 5 digit numbers, 6 digit numbers and 7 digit numbers. I have no doubt the old system would have been happy issuing 8 digit numbers.

But along the way in the past year, QFF has moved onto a new system, and with it a new set of numbers to issue. Nothing really magic about keeping 7 digit numbers.