Loyalty Bonus changing from 1 July 2013

[Andyzx]

Every give a wave to Red Roo... perhaps gauging the general response so far...

Probably didn’t even know about the change “left hand right hand stuff” so thought they should come and see what the marketing white board eraser had done this time
QF Marking thesaurus – your comments explained in our language
Enhancement= Clarification (n)
Sneaky = give them lots of time to get used to it before it effects them, they will forget next week long before the change comes in.
Change = notification was provided last year, see sneaky
Profit = who else can we enhance
Goal posts = where we want them
Primary driver = AJ’s chauffeur
EK = extra kapital, soon
Clause = how do we explain things with simplicity and clarity
Clause 20.5.1 = how do we explain things with difficulty and uncertainty
Jetstar = who?
“QF you sneaky little bugger” = note for member FF file
Thinking evil thoughts = what we do… very well, refer clarification
Clarification (v) = what we do… very well, refer clarification (n)

 

[markis10]

With the changes to notice for enhancements in the wind, QF could have been sneaky and waited until they were in place before publishing the change, kudos to them for being more upfront than they need to be!

 

[jetlagger]

No more 'enhancements' (as you like to call them) in the plan I am aware of. Hard to speak for a year from now but the plan is always to improve the program. I hate giving bad news as much as you all hate receiving it!

Send more cup cakes, quality wines & your attendance at our gatherings is a distinct true enhancement -

 

[kevrosmith]

No more 'enhancements' (as you like to call them) in the plan I am aware of. Hard to speak for a year from now but the plan is always to improve the program. I hate giving bad news as much as you all hate receiving it!

Hi Red Roo, always appreciate having the company rep providing input to the site.

Keep in mind, Qantas coined the phrase in this context when they announced changes as 'enhancements', yet those changes appeared to be at a disadvantage (... to some members). Once again, I'm sure someone else could find the email/thread/stream that originated our continued use of the phrase .

 

[anat0l]

Perhaps this is an indication that EK codes will earn QFF/SC?

That we can really only pray, and pray hard! (Probably a rumour up there with QF taking a 787 before JQ)

 

[medhead]

No more 'enhancements' (as you like to call them) in the plan I am aware of. Hard to speak for a year from now but the plan is always to improve the program. I hate giving bad news as much as you all hate receiving it!

This is an entirely flippant remark but in my experience it is Qantas that likes to call them enhancements.


Sent from the Throne

 

[kevrosmith]

With the changes to notice for enhancements in the wind, QF could have been sneaky and waited until they were in place before publishing the change, kudos to them for being more upfront than they need to be!

Keeping in mind, as JohnK pointed out recently, they have recently also reduced the official change notification period within which Qantas is required to notify members of changes to the T&Cs of the program (from 6 months to 3 months). Notwithstanding this, I acknowledge the change to the T&Cs has occurred in a timeframe greater than that required, though I haven't yet received the official notification of the change in an email as required by the T&Cs. I just happen to keep a watch on the T&Cs page and noticed the change.

There were two other major changes to the T&Cs:

3.1 Subject to clause 3.2, Qantas reserves the right to make any changes (whether material or otherwise) to Qantas Frequent Flyer, the Terms and Conditions, the Awards or Benefits offered and the Fee Schedule, including:
a) changes to:

• the ways in which Points are earned and redeemed;
• Point earning and redeeming rates and Eligible Flights;
• Award Flight blackouts or non-bookable periods;
• limitations on the number of Classic Awards and Flight Upgrades redeemable on particular flights;
• Awards or Benefits, including the continued availability of Awards or Benefits;
• Award restrictions or conditions;
• Status Credit restrictions and conditions;
• membership level requirements and benefits;
• ticketing procedures;
• ticketing and service charges and other fees; and
• the expiry of accrued Points;

b) changes to the parties included as oneworld Alliance Airlines, Airline Partners or Non-airline Partners, or the products and services offered by any of those parties on which points may be earned;
c) changes to any oneworld Alliance Airline, Airline Partner or Non-airline Partner participation including restrictions on earning and/or redeeming Points, cancellations, Point earning and redemption levels, Awards or Benefits; and
d) changes to Qantas products, services or flights.

and

9.2.2 All Points held in a Qantas Frequent Flyer account of a non-Active Member will expire at midnight Sydney, Australia time at the end of the 18th consecutive month for which the Member has not earned Points or Status Credits or redeemed Points (excluding any transfer of Points to or from an Eligible Family Member). For this purpose, Points earned in relation to Eligible Flights are deemed to be earned on the date the Eligible Flight was taken. Within 60 days of the Points expiration date, Qantas will notify Members of the number of Points that are about to expire and the expiration date as follows:
(a) Online Activity Statements display a warning to the Member;
(b) Members who continue to receive paper Activity Statements, will receive an Activity Statement which includes a notification that points are about to expire; and
(c) Members who have opted to receive communications online and via email, will receive a notification within their monthly electronic newsletter.
Note: With effect from 1 July 2010:

• If a Member does not earn or redeem any Points after 30 June 2010, the Points earned before 1 July 2010 will not expire until three years after the date of the last activity on that Member's account.
• If a Member does earn or redeem any Points after 30 June 2010, the Member's Points will expire three years from the date of the Member's last activity before 1 July 2010 or 18 months from the last date the Member earned or redeemed Points after 30 June 2010, whichever is the later.

 

[Red Roo]

Hi Red Roo, always appreciate having the company rep providing input to the site.

Keep in mind, Qantas coined the phrase in this context when they announced changes as 'enhancements', yet those changes appeared to be at a disadvantage (... to some members). Once again, I'm sure someone else could find the email/thread/stream that originated our continued use of the phrase .

Don't I know it! I know the exact email where we coined that phrase and I also remember the comments we got on AFF as a result. Won't be using it again unless all changes are enhancements.

 

[markis10]

Keeping in mind, as JohnK pointed out recently, they have recently also reduced the official change notification period within which Qantas is required to notify members of changes to the T&Cs of the program (from 6 months to 3 months). Notwithstanding this, I acknowledge the change to the T&Cs has occurred in a timeframe greater than that required, though I haven't yet received the official notification of the change in an email as required by the T&Cs. I just happen to keep a watch on the T&Cs page and noticed the change.

Considering there is at least one month news email between now and when the 6 months rule kicks in, they have given us plenty of time. I have a large amount of CX flights in June, glad it was not June 1 that was the date.

 

[serfty]

...

I don't think anyone could have been too annoyed with that change.

Hah, says you! QFF are after me! This weekend I earned 1000 SC's which would be 2 of these "loyalty bonii". Since only 1/4 of these were on QF flights doing the same next year won't earn any.

Not too fussed as I can't get a bonus with ...

...

I guess this doesn't affect you so you aren't really concerned about others who may be affected.

I remember 2005 when these "Loyalty Bonii" replaced upgrade credits.

And before that UC's replaced upgrade certificates.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

b) changes to the parties included as oneworld Alliance Airlines, Airline Partners or Non-airline Partners, or the products and services offered by any of those parties on which points may be earned;
c) changes to any oneworld Alliance Airline, Airline Partner or Non-airline Partner participation including restrictions on earning and/or redeeming Points, cancellations, Point earning and redemption levels, Awards or Benefits; and
d) changes to Qantas products, services or flights.

This probably means that when Qatar joins OW, you won't be able to earn points/SC on Qatar flights...

 

[Must...Fly!]

I guess this doesn't affect you so you aren't really concerned about others who may be affected.

Wrong. That was my personal situation. I remain concerned at the overall devaluing of the program, but in my personal situation this change is of little consequence (though annoying, as I will do a status run somewhere at some point, so it will reduce my points earn).

Hah, says you! QFF are after me! This weekend I earned 1000 SC's which would be 2 of these "loyalty bonii". Since only 1/4 of these were on QF flights doing the same next year won't earn any.

And of what value is that to QFF exactly? They are handing out points for people doing all sorts of flying on all sorts of airlines...it doesn't make much sense to me, and I think changing to QF marketed and JQ/3K operated & marketed as I said before would reward customers for loyalty but also protect QFF from handing out a lot of points to customers who aren't necessarily giving their dollar to QF, as in your case.

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps this is an indication that EK codes will earn QFF/SC?

That is not relevant in this particular discussion and there is no way you could tie the 2 together.

Another benefit has been removed. I couldn't care less if EK flights do not earn SCs/QFF points. I care about the loyalty bonus as from 1 July 1013 I will be losing 16,000 QFF points/year.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

And of what value is that to QFF exactly? They are handing out points for people doing all sorts of flying on all sorts of airlines...it doesn't make much sense to me, and I think changing to QF marketed and JQ/3K operated & marketed as I said before would reward customers for loyalty but also protect QFF from handing out a lot of points to customers who aren't necessarily giving their dollar to QF, as in your case.

That's not how FF programs work. When you fly on an AA flight and credit the miles to QFF, AA has to pay QF out of the ticket price you paid for the points which QF will credit to your account. QFF gets $$ out of every partner flight which you credit to it. Clearly they have decided these aren't enough for them to award you the loyalty bonus, and now they are changing it to purely flights on their own metal.

 

[Must...Fly!]

That is not relevant in this particular discussion and there is no way you could tie the 2 together.

Another benefit has been removed. I couldn't care less if EK flights do not earn SCs/QFF points. I care about the loyalty bonus as from 1 July 1013 I will be losing 10,000 QFF points/year.

Either the change QF made previously is not generating the savings they desired or there is something else major changing in the program with regards to earn. For example a vast increase in the opportunity to earn on a non-QF code......there, I tied it!

 

[simongr]

This probably means that when Qatar joins OW, you won't be able to earn points/SC on Qatar flights...

Let's not start that. I think the earning profile will follow the other program members like RJ.

That's not how FF programs work. When you fly on an AA flight and credit the miles to QFF, AA has to pay QF out of the ticket price you paid for the points which QF will credit to your account. QFF gets $$ out of every partner flight which you credit to it. Clearly they have decided these aren't enough for them to award you the loyalty bonus, and now they are changing it to purely flights on their own metal.

I actually think this isn't about the reward/return for the SCs themselves this is about people being driven to fly QFi rather than for example BA or CX.

 

[Must...Fly!]

That's not how FF programs work. When you fly on an AA flight and credit the miles to QFF, AA has to pay QF out of the ticket price you paid for the points which QF will credit to your account. QFF gets $$ out of every partner flight which you credit to it. Clearly they have decided these aren't enough for them to award you the loyalty bonus, and now they are changing it to purely flights on their own metal.

I know that AA pay, clearly it's not working in QF's favour when they factor in the loyalty bonus.

Let's say they aimed this squarely at those doing lots of F flying LOTFAP...I would much rather this change than an alteration to the earning system for AA dom A/P/F class flights in USA!

 

[TonyHancock]

I am inclined to indifference, I don't like to see the regular AFF members lose out but I do think that loyalty bonuses should be for travel on QF numbered flights. (I don't, however, think they should be capped if they are earned on QF numbered flights.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Why does Qantas have to make things so complicated.

I can understand that the scheme is meant for loyalty to Qantas not just to Oneworld; but I can't work out why you put the 4 per year minimum and it resets every 12 months, surely computers are good enough now to work out the rolling periods.

Although the hint seems to be that there will be a few Emirates flights with Qantas codeshares on them.

 

[amaroo]

Makes sense to me.......can't see why QF should provide a loyalty bonus to fly with someone else

In the last 11 months my family collectively received 80,000 QF loyalty points.......all from a return trip to Europe in F on BA If my family is racking these numbers up from one trip - there must be thousands earning more.