Invited to participate in a QF Loyalty Virtual Focus group

[Seat0B]

I got an email from QF asking me to complete a "qualifying questionnaire" in which they asked questions like my FF status, my membership of Points Club and QBR and how many flights I took in the past 12 months to see if I was eligible to participate in a 90 minute virtual focus group with "Qantas Loyalty Research". They will pay 10,000 FF points for participating.

Today I got my invitation (see below).

Has anyone else been invited? Has anyone participated in something like this? What do you think they want to know? Any points of view I could represent?:

"Thank you for your interest in participating in this research.

We are happy to inform you that you have been selected to participate in one of our virtual Focus Groups, which will be held on Monday 16th of Oct 12.00-1.30pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time).

We will soon send you a virtual calendar invite with the details of the session. After participating in the full session, you will receive 10,000 Qantas Points, as a thank-you for your valuable contribution.

A few things to keep in mind:
· Please make sure you are on time! Late-shows may not be allowed to join the discussion.
· Please make sure you are able to dedicate the full 1 hour and 30 min to this discussion, and that you are in a quiet space, free from all distractions.
· You will need access to a mobile phone, a laptop or a desktop computer with a camera to participate in this focus group. We ask that you join this video call with your camera on.
· Please note you will also need a reliable internet connection.
· We also ask that you have pen and paper handy during the session, to take notes if relevant or to perform specific tasks if required.
· If you don’t remain on the call for the full duration of the discussion for any reason (including internet issues), you may not be entitled to receive any Qantas Points.

Please confirm your attendance by accepting the calendar invitation no later than Sunday 8th of Oct at 6.00pm.

If you have any questions, please reply to this email.
Thank you in advance for contributing to this research, we are looking forward to speaking to you.

Kind regards
RESEARCH TEAM
QANTAS LOYALTY - QANTAS AIRWAYS LTD"

 

[kookaburra75]

Have I been contacted/invited? - no.
What do they want to know? - just tell them... I suspect it might have more to do with the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program than Qantas itself, but who knows.

Let us know how you go.

 

[ChrisMars]

Tell them we want QR J award access like in the old days!

 

[Seat0B]

I'll keep note of all reasonable suggestions and mention if I get the chance.

 

[ChrisMars]

I'll keep note of all reasonable suggestions and mention if I get the chance.

Call center call center! Australian call center!

 

[DC3]

Call center call center! Australian call center!

What’s wrong with Tassie? Maybe I should have refrased that.

 

[flyingfan]

Given what I remember of what you said about your previous and contemporary travel patterns they must value the opinions of at least some premium/actually frequent flyers.
(In which case they could peruse AFF for free - but as we keep saying to each other, we're a pretty specific subset. I'm not convinced they still lurk here - if they do they're terrible at responding to it.)

 

[love_the_life]

Remember the days of the old classic any seat awards? (Been so long, I probably have forgotten what they were called) - JASA etc.
Gone I think forever, though would be lovely to have them back.

 

[exceladdict]

I'll keep note of all reasonable suggestions and mention if I get the chance.

Are you actively looking for further ideas?

 

[dylarr]

I got contacted as well and completed the qualification survey but haven't heard anything since although my availability is a bit tight so could only select a couple of the offered timeslots so not sure if that disadvantaged me, or that they just didn't like the answers I provided.

 

[bussyboy]

I'll keep note of all reasonable suggestions and mention if I get the chance.

PC+ benefit: upgraded flights receive any additional status credits applicable as if the ticket was originally a Classic Reward Booking

PC: Status credits earn for redeeming points in qantas marketplace, wine etc.

 

[Seat0B]

Are you actively looking for further ideas?

Yes I’m willing to present any reasonable suggestions if I get the chance. I actually don’t know what they will ask or how it will run but may as well be prepared. I’ll post a list of things I’d be willing to present closer to the date, so suggest away.

 

[Seat0B]

I got contacted as well and completed the qualification survey but haven't heard anything since although my availability is a bit tight so could only select a couple of the offered timeslots so not sure if that disadvantaged me, or that they just didn't like the answers I provided.

I am wide open at the moment. Retired and with a personal lockdown and travel ban for health reasons - I have all the time in the world

 

[RichardMEL]

That's great and sounds quite interesting to participate in.

My initial thought was though - if they're contacting members - wouldn't they KNOW their status, PC membership status and flights (well QF at very least) taken history? seems odd to ask that stuff..... but I digress.

 

[Seat0B]

That's great and sounds quite interesting to participate in.

My initial thought was though - if they're contacting members - wouldn't they KNOW their status, PC membership status and flights (well QF at very least) taken history? seems odd to ask that stuff..... but I digress.

I thought that too. But then again for my ORC claim, they asked for my BP for flights I’d already flown, and that they had already recorded on my FF account activity with full details of date, flight details, class flown etc. So it sure seems that the right hand really doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.

 

[kpc]

For LT Gold members, start the bar @ 600 SCs so only need another 600 SCs to retain Plat, rather than 1200. There must be some significant benefit of LT Gold!

 

[Princess Fiona]

For LT Gold members, start the bar @ 600 SCs so only need another 600 SCs to retain Plat, rather than 1200. There must be some significant benefit of LT Gold!

There is already a significant benefit. Lifetime Business check in and lounge access.
I don’t think they need to offer anything more, especially not a reduced SC earn for Plat benefits.

 

[kpc]

I guess we'll have to disagree on this.

 

[bussyboy]

@Seat0B Maybe a status hold benefit for serious illness could be relevant to you and worth suggesting, similar to what's offered already to new parents

 

[tdimdad]

Throwing this in the ring: system-wide guaranteed upgrades, e.g. granted together with loyalty bonuses to be used within the membership year.

At the 500 SC loyalty bonus, offer 1 * domestic for 2 pax, at 1,000 SC offer 1 * domestic/int'l for 2 pax, etc. Can be combined, i.e. you can save the first 2-pax domestic voucher until you get the second lot and then request domestic for 4 pax.
Exclusions can apply for timing, e.g. not available in the east coast triangle during corporate travel rush hours, etc.

Benefit: customer receives occasional higher travel comfort and service for the fare as an enticement to book more travel or higher classes in the future. Low additional cost to QF but perceived high value to the pax.
[As a personal note: receiving int'l upgrades to PE and J has ruined long-haul economy for me and I'm seriously thinking how to stretch my travel budget to fit in higher travel classes]

This does come with some caveats, too, where QF needs to shape up. E.g. on arrival, the pax needs to be able to receive their checked luggage before the Y pax even get to the luggage belt. Otherwise the enticement is diluted by the creeping "well, we all got here at the same time, anyway" feeling. The overhead bins onboard need to be available as per the travel class. Any special meal or assistance requests need to carry through to the upgraded travel class (doesn't currently happen automatically), etc.