Losing QFF points and calling in the media

[Pushka]

So someone who has had Cancer then depression and after that a heart attack survived might be a little down on his luck then gets kicked while down by getting his million points wiped that he won earlier on a morning show. Would this person be deserving ?
\When would you two ....Pushka and Loves the life.........be a little more sympathetic to such a person. If I was a Qantas executive this sort of letter would move me. If it was written. (hypothetically)

Why? It sounds like something we would read in New Idea. Who deserves what in life?

 

[love_the_life]

So someone who has had Cancer then depression and after that a heart attack survived might be a little down on his luck then gets kicked while down by getting his million points wiped that he won earlier on a morning show. Would this person be deserving ?
\When would you two ....Pushka and Loves the life.........be a little more sympathetic to such a person. If I was a Qantas executive this sort of letter would move me. If it was written. (hypothetically)

This thread has gone off on a wild tangent as there have been really only 2 sets of situations - the people in the original media story (where one of them did have cancer) and who hadn't read their emails and the second set of lost points where people lost points as they assumed they were getting points from WOW and it turns out they hadn't realised they needed to specify this. My comments don't relate to other hypothetical scenarios.

 

[cwd]

Without really wanting to comment on particular circumstances, it does seem that it wouldn't be hard for Qantas to send out at email, with an appropriate subject line, warning people that their points are due to expire in some number of months. The fact that they instead bury this detail in what is essentially a marketing email, which I imagine they have data telling them the majority of people don't read, suggests that the breakage associated with accidental expiry is probably intentional.

Seriously, I'd have thought it would be hard for anyone to get sympathy for expired points if Qantas were simply to send out an email 2 or 3 months before someone's points were about to expire, alerting them of this, and suggesting a few of the easy ways to earn/burn.

The points challenges are probably a more lucrative way for QFF to deal with the issue.

 

[cwphoto]

So someone who has had Cancer then depression and after that a heart attack survived might be a little down on his luck then gets kicked while down by getting his million points wiped that he won earlier on a morning show. Would this person be deserving ?
\When would you two ....Pushka and Loves the life.........be a little more sympathetic to such a person. If I was a Qantas executive this sort of letter would move me. If it was written. (hypothetically)

No, same as everyone else.

I would much prefer corporations support causes through philanthropic means, that benefit many.

 

[marki]

No, same as everyone else.

I would much prefer corporations support causes through philanthropic means, that benefit many.

Helping an individual not necessarily precludes a philanthropic streak. Sometimes helping the one helps the many. & Vice Versa.

 

[cwphoto]

Helping an individual not necessarily precludes a philanthropic streak. Sometimes helping the one helps the many. & Vice Versa.

So where does it end? - it's a slippery slope, next thing anyone with a sad story is claiming special treatment.

 

[Hvr]

So where does it end? - it's a slippery slope, next thing anyone with a sad story is claiming special treatment.

And once you're known for being a soft touch then it never ends, people try and out do each other and the scamming starts very quickly. When there is a benefit to themselves people will lie, cheat and carry on without regard for anybody else or even the truth.

Frankly, I understand why there has to be a line drawn in the sand and an apparently harsh attitude adopted. It is the only way to survive.

 

[Pushka]

So where does it end? - it's a slippery slope, next thing anyone with a sad story is claiming special treatment.

And then some get special treatment and some don’t so it’s better just to nip it in the bud and not grant to any. Which is why I was a bit antsy when the Pregnant Pause came in. It was special treatment for some in what is a normal human condition. I would think differently if it was a child; but then that is a very unlikely situation with travel points.

 

[marki]

So where does it end? - it's a slippery slope, next thing anyone with a sad story is claiming special treatment.

Does it have to end?

 

[marki]

Why? It sounds like something we would read in New Idea. Who deserves what in life?

This thread has gone off on a wild tangent as there have been really only 2 sets of situations - the people in the original media story (where one of them did have cancer) and who hadn't read their emails and the second set of lost points where people lost points as they assumed they were getting points from WOW and it turns out they hadn't realised they needed to specify this. My comments don't relate to other hypothetical scenarios.

No, same as everyone else.

I would much prefer corporations support causes through philanthropic means, that benefit many.

So where does it end? - it's a slippery slope, next thing anyone with a sad story is claiming special treatment.

And once you're known for being a soft touch then it never ends, people try and out do each other and the scamming starts very quickly. When there is a benefit to themselves people will lie, cheat and carry on without regard for anybody else or even the truth.

Frankly, I understand why there has to be a line drawn in the sand and an apparently harsh attitude adopted. It is the only way to survive.

Very tough ..........attitudes opinions ye-all ....ouch

 

[RichardMEL]

I am preparing to be flamed

Honestly, when one suffers a major life illness whatever that looks like, do Qantas points really matter?

Exactly. perspective.

Now sure, there are the cases where "I was saving my points for when I went into remission so I could go to Bali" and so on type things. I get that.. but in the grand scheme of things.. getting through a major situation, or dealing with an ongoing chronic condition(s) (I am, only saying that because I feel I can claim some understanding of those that do in one way or another), that living life and getting through is the main thing right?

So someone who has had Cancer then depression and after that a heart attack survived might be a little down on his luck then gets kicked while down by getting his million points wiped that he won earlier on a morning show. Would this person be deserving ?
\When would you two ....Pushka and Loves the life.........be a little more sympathetic to such a person. If I was a Qantas executive this sort of letter would move me. If it was written. (hypothetically)

for me this comes back to perspective as above. Do we care about people dealing with major illnesses? I think everyone would answer yes to that. Most certainly anyone with personal experience themselves or through family/friends. That's very different though.

And sympathy for a condition or situation is one thing, but then said people jumping up and down about their points is something else - SPECIALLY when QF offers them a way to reclaim them.

I mean a lot of people are acting like QF wiped all the points and said tough there's no way you're getting them back. Not true.

Without really wanting to comment on particular circumstances, it does seem that it wouldn't be hard for Qantas to send out at email, with an appropriate subject line, warning people that their points are due to expire in some number of months. The fact that they instead bury this detail in what is essentially a marketing email, which I imagine they have data telling them the majority of people don't read, suggests that the breakage associated with accidental expiry is probably intentional.

They do and they did. Yes, it used to be hidden a bit in the monthly newsletters I gran tthta, but they definitely do send out such emails.
Further, the original story quoted the couple indicated they had both received those messages and read them, but too late. How is that QF's fault?

Sure, QF can do better but in the case above the people admitted they read and understood the emails. That they read them too late? Unfortunate, but sorry... people expecting personal calls to remind you and all that are expecting way too much imho.

And absoluutely it is in QF's financial interest to let the points break as it reduces their liability at zero cost.

It's up to a better bunch of people than I(eg: fair trading) to determine if ithe notifications are not good enough and to take action.

Seriously, I'd have thought it would be hard for anyone to get sympathy for expired points if Qantas were simply to send out an email 2 or 3 months before someone's points were about to expire, alerting them of this, and suggesting a few of the easy ways to earn/burn.

The points challenges are probably a more lucrative way for QFF to deal with the issue.

Absolutely.. but it's not like they're not offering a way to get the points back.

So where does it end? - it's a slippery slope, next thing anyone with a sad story is claiming special treatment.

And this is the thing. What I could jump up and down and say well gee my rescue dog needed daily treatments for 3 years while I nursed her so I lost my points because I was unable to travel and it's all QF's fault.. so give 'em back.

And speaking of dogs, it's exactly things like this that have led, imho, to abuses of the ESA system in the USA. Yes it seems a stretch but bear with me... people have clearly taken advantage of a system set up to help out people with a genuine need, which in reality are a very small number, and suddenly everyone and their peacock travel (or try to) under this.. Where does it stop? QF do a good deed for the old cancert survivers because they go to the media there'll be 2000 requests before them the next morning.

And as for the latest lot of whiners on Today Tonight blaming the woolies change and ranting about losing their points and loyalty goes both ways and all this. What twaddle. To me if you have ZERO activity in 18 months then you're not being in any way loyal but you expect that back? Further TT did not bother to note that all these people were, again, offered challenges to recover their points... the headline is akin to evil QF nukes points with no recourse for innocent punters.

And as for blaming Woolies change... that's ONE smll aspect of earning in QF loyalty. There are so many other ways to earn.. but that aside I know I got so many freakin emails about the change I was sick of it. I even got reminders after I'd changed. I call BS on people claiming they had no idea... if they dismiss such emails as "marketing spam" that's their call, not QFF's fault imho.

And last there's people jumping up and down and blaming QF for their inattention or laziness.. I'm sorry but this really bugs me (and I am NOT talking about the cancer case)... It seems this is a thing in society these days more and more where (some) people will blame everyone else except owning up and taking responsibility. If it's easy enough for the vast majority of us out there to manage then sorry.. specially these younger types who should be absolutely on top of things like emil, apps etc I have next to zero sympathy when they won't put their hand up and say "uh. OK I missed that. my bad. I'll do the challenge" instead they jump up and down and demand they get thgeir points back for nothing and basically no consequence to their (in)actions. That's not how life works! Sometimes it IS unfair(to you). There's a lot of entitlement out there and I, at least, gfrew up in an age when that wasn't a thing.

Some years ago I did a Star Alliance RTW which I credited to UA.. 30k odd miles of J travel.. it all credited fine but I did not receive the status I felt I was due. I queried UA and they reminded me that I'd only done 2 sectors actually on UA metal, and not the 4 required (as with QF~) so even though via miles and all that I was due status I'd missed one of the criteria. You know what? I was embarassed I'd missed that myself and even asked the question. I copped it as my bad and learned that lesson. I didn't go crying that "Why didn't United tell me with an email or call that I needed 2 more sectors to get the status"? Nope. I'm not a hero or anything like that. I'm human.. I missed up. I lived.

Finally, while you get the flamethrowers out, I absolutely agree there are deserving and unique cases out there that warrant personal consideration (like, for example, if someone was in a coma for a year!) and QF (and other loyalty schemes etc) have probably, quietly, done the right thing. I don't know of any such cases mind you, but I am sure they are out there. I understand these people who go to the media are using the "squeaky wheel" approach and often it works, but again where is the line?

And for me, my sympathy/empathy towards people with chronic conditions or unusual personal situations is there, but it doesn't always have to extend to semi-related issues such as this.

Now I must go call QF and tell them my cat has hyperthyroidism and I need my status extended for 3 years..... because they owe me.

 

[marki]

I am preparing to be flamed



Exactly. perspective.

Now sure, there are the cases where "I was saving my points for when I went into remission so I could go to Bali" and so on type things. I get that.. but in the grand scheme of things.. getting through a major situation, or dealing with an ongoing chronic condition(s) (I am, only saying that because I feel I can claim some understanding of those that do in one way or another), that living life and getting through is the main thing right?




for me this comes back to perspective as above. Do we care about people dealing with major illnesses? I think everyone would answer yes to that. Most certainly anyone with personal experience themselves or through family/friends. That's very different though.

And sympathy for a condition or situation is one thing, but then said people jumping up and down about their points is something else - SPECIALLY when QF offers them a way to reclaim them.

I mean a lot of people are acting like QF wiped all the points and said tough there's no way you're getting them back. Not true.


They do and they did. Yes, it used to be hidden a bit in the monthly newsletters I gran tthta, but they definitely do send out such emails.
Further, the original story quoted the couple indicated they had both received those messages and read them, but too late. How is that QF's fault?

Sure, QF can do better but in the case above the people admitted they read and understood the emails. That they read them too late? Unfortunate, but sorry... people expecting personal calls to remind you and all that are expecting way too much imho.

And absoluutely it is in QF's financial interest to let the points break as it reduces their liability at zero cost.

It's up to a better bunch of people than I(eg: fair trading) to determine if ithe notifications are not good enough and to take action.




Absolutely.. but it's not like they're not offering a way to get the points back.




And this is the thing. What I could jump up and down and say well gee my rescue dog needed daily treatments for 3 years while I nursed her so I lost my points because I was unable to travel and it's all QF's fault.. so give 'em back.

And speaking of dogs, it's exactly things like this that have led, imho, to abuses of the ESA system in the USA. Yes it seems a stretch but bear with me... people have clearly taken advantage of a system set up to help out people with a genuine need, which in reality are a very small number, and suddenly everyone and their peacock travel (or try to) under this.. Where does it stop? QF do a good deed for the old cancert survivers because they go to the media there'll be 2000 requests before them the next morning.

And as for the latest lot of whiners on Today Tonight blaming the woolies change and ranting about losing their points and loyalty goes both ways and all this. What twaddle. To me if you have ZERO activity in 18 months then you're not being in any way loyal but you expect that back? Further TT did not bother to note that all these people were, again, offered challenges to recover their points... the headline is akin to evil QF nukes points with no recourse for innocent punters.

And as for blaming Woolies change... that's ONE smll aspect of earning in QF loyalty. There are so many other ways to earn.. but that aside I know I got so many freakin emails about the change I was sick of it. I even got reminders after I'd changed. I call BS on people claiming they had no idea... if they dismiss such emails as "marketing spam" that's their call, not QFF's fault imho.

And last there's people jumping up and down and blaming QF for their inattention or laziness.. I'm sorry but this really bugs me (and I am NOT talking about the cancer case)... It seems this is a thing in society these days more and more where (some) people will blame everyone else except owning up and taking responsibility. If it's easy enough for the vast majority of us out there to manage then sorry.. specially these younger types who should be absolutely on top of things like emil, apps etc I have next to zero sympathy when they won't put their hand up and say "uh. OK I missed that. my bad. I'll do the challenge" instead they jump up and down and demand they get thgeir points back for nothing and basically no consequence to their (in)actions. That's not how life works! Sometimes it IS unfair(to you). There's a lot of entitlement out there and I, at least, gfrew up in an age when that wasn't a thing.

Some years ago I did a Star Alliance RTW which I credited to UA.. 30k odd miles of J travel.. it all credited fine but I did not receive the status I felt I was due. I queried UA and they reminded me that I'd only done 2 sectors actually on UA metal, and not the 4 required (as with QF~) so even though via miles and all that I was due status I'd missed one of the criteria. You know what? I was embarassed I'd missed that myself and even asked the question. I copped it as my bad and learned that lesson. I didn't go crying that "Why didn't United tell me with an email or call that I needed 2 more sectors to get the status"? Nope. I'm not a hero or anything like that. I'm human.. I missed up. I lived.

Finally, while you get the flamethrowers out, I absolutely agree there are deserving and unique cases out there that warrant personal consideration (like, for example, if someone was in a coma for a year!) and QF (and other loyalty schemes etc) have probably, quietly, done the right thing. I don't know of any such cases mind you, but I am sure they are out there. I understand these people who go to the media are using the "squeaky wheel" approach and often it works, but again where is the line?

And for me, my sympathy/empathy towards people with chronic conditions or unusual personal situations is there, but it doesn't always have to extend to semi-related issues such as this.

Now I must go call QF and tell them my cat has hyperthyroidism and I need my status extended for 3 years..... because they owe me.

It is a good read Richard and the hyperthyroid cat made me crack up with LOL

 

[cwd]

I am preparing to be flamed
They do and they did. Yes, it used to be hidden a bit in the monthly newsletters I gran tthta, but they definitely do send out such emails.
Further, the original story quoted the couple indicated they had both received those messages and read them, but too late. How is that QF's fault?

Oh, I didn't realise they'd changed that. In that case, I take back what I said. It seems like end of story on this whole expiring points issue. Those are the rules, and if Qantas are making sure everyone knows when they're due to expire, I can't see what the issue is.

Does anyone have an example of such an email? (Probably a bad forum to expect people to received one...)

 

[cwphoto]

Does it have to end?

Of course it does.

 

[mrsterryn]

If you log into Qantas account does it tell you points are due to expire ?

 

[Hvr]

If you log into Qantas account does it tell you points are due to expire ?

It does remind you about the 18 months without activity so just check your records.

 

[mrsterryn]

It does remind you about the 18 months without activity so just check your records.

Thanks I havnt had an 18 month stretch tank goodness
Just wondering. Appreciate the info

 

[mannej]

Dare I suggest this member leaves their savings account inactive for 3 years and sees what happens?

 

[Pushka]

It is a good read Richard and the hyperthyroid cat made me crack up with LOL

Well I’m hypothyroid but not a cat. Surely that deserves something?

 

[Pushka]

Very tough ..........attitudes opinions ye-all ....ouch

Not at all. I’d have liked an extension to my status opportunity when I had to cancel flights due to medical condition. I grouched a bit on here. But only when I heard about the Pregnant Pause. Qantas owe me nothing.