Hmmm? Playing the game? Yes, agreed to an extent but with reservations learned over time. Let's continue with the sporting metaphor.
Please bear in mind it was over 30 years ago that I joined QFF - so whilst I may be new here I have been in the game if you like for a while, but not all consumed by it. For instance doing Status runs to me are laughable, both in respect to time lost and the cost, though if someone else is paying I can see why some people may consider it worthwhile.
I never considered myself to be playing a game either. I simply accumulated points, lots of them, from daily [mostly] business activities and used them mostly to fly somewhere as time allowed. It was not contrived or complicated. I've never received a joining bonus for using a particular credit card either.
I tried other airlines when it suited either for reasons of availability, price or convenience. I made
Etihad gold simply through flying and it wasn't that hard. Unlike qantas.
Cool.
I've reread all your posts on the forum now. At first I thought you were trolling, but now feel otherwise. Anyway, by your own admission, you've absolutely been playing the game even if you realise it or not. Apparently what has floated your boat for the past 30 odd years has been accumulating points and using them for flights for you and others as you posted. Great! That's one of the major points (no pun intended) of these schemes, and even you admitted you've done well with this strategy over the years.
OK, you see now value in status and it's not really something you've flown enough (and you've used points mostly - after all you boasted that you rarely paid for any flights on QF - though of course you paid by earning the points, but we'll just put hat to one side). No worries. Although, ironically, you also indicated the great value you found in getting the status with EY (Ethiad) to enable you and your giant roll to come home in comfort and style. Yet, you seem to have a problem with those who do seek to earn and keep status. I know, I know "Whatever floats your boat." got it.
In my view qantas has not been sportsman like in it's dealings with QFF members and other clients more broadly, to the point that their behaviour has been scandalous as has been widely reported.
Qantas gets immediate remuneration when they sell points to corporations who then reward us for our custom. There was a time when those points were treated equally with points earned via flying etc. For most people, especially those who have to pay for their own flights, that took time, sometimes a lot.
Then by the time they accumulated sufficient they found their points bought less - often a lot less, whereas cash purchases for flights varied little. The cost of buying shopping vouchers with points for instance doubled and tripled.
Given that qantas was remunerated years earlier this seemed unfair.
Congratulations! You have just defined inflation!
A dollar earned in 1994 (when I joined QFF incidently) doesn't have near the same buying power as it does today. That's economics 101. OK yes, I am sure Captain Ahab will remind us that FF point devaluations are much higher than the rate of inflation over the years. That's true. However, while there have been various rises in Classic Reward (CR) seat prices over the years, QF actually hasn't raised them quite quite some time. Sure, availability is an issue, but that's also a function of increased demand (QFF and partner members) and supply. Also Economics 101.
And, ALL the loyalty schemes - hotels, airlines etc, do his. Just recently BA had a big devaluation for Avios use, and UA monstered some premium seat award costs. Your grass may be greener over at Virgin and whatever Star Alliance program(if any) you've picked, until they do the same thing.
L:ike real world inflation it's a fact of life.
I recall you mentioned earning 1m points over your 30 or so years of engagement with QFF. Congratulations! There are posters here who earn and bearn that in a month. For those folks (I am not one of them) the "I earned a point 30 years ago and it's not worth as much now" doesn't really have much meaning does it?
Everyone's in a different situation and float their own boat.
Thirdly, As one accumulated more points you moved through the levels for various additional benefits -simple. As time went on it became more difficult to achieve those levels &/0r the reward for doing so was reduced.
And then came status points which had the net effect of making some points better than others.
Not really as tier points and then status credits are an additional earn to points earn. I'm not sure what you're trying to say here.
OK yes benefits have been "enhanced" (as a QF pet word) over the years absolutely - I don't disagree with that. The earn rate of SC's though hasn't really changed in that time for QF flights - with a few tweaks over the years. (I won't get into the complex world of partner earn rates, "Simpler and Fairer" and all that, because many other airlines play he same games with their "partners")
And no doubt those people who accumulate lots of points from flying as opposed to other means think that's wonderful - it's only fair - especially those whose employer pays for their flights.
Not everyone is swanning around on someone else's dime. I'm self funded for example. And why should people not accumulate "lots of points" (though I think you actually mean Status Credits in this context?). Are you saying it's unfair for those flying for work to attain high status due to that? I'm not entirely sure.
Seems like there's a lot posting here, using a whole new language, their english littered with a pile of abbreviations only those indocrinated into the system [game] understand.
OK yes, fair enough, guilty as charged. I've been a long time member and I do slip into the "slang": of the board. Understandably confusing to new members.
If nothing else it's amusing Whatever floats your boat
Well, I've been pondering why you decided to plant your foot in this thread and trying to understand.
With respect, you've made it clear you don;t fly for status, and are not even half way to getting Silver status, so Life Time Gold is clearly not a goal for you. That's not meant as a criticism in any way - it's just not your flying pattern or way you engage with the program(s). That's absolutely fine! Whatever floats your boat!
So with that in mind, I'm curious as to why you've making these posts in a thread that doesn't really seem to have any relevance to your situation or way you see the system. In some ways it even comes across a little bit jealous or envious of those that perhaps have achieved this, or maybe a bit condescending to those you seem to feel are wasting their time/money/effort to achieve their goals (thinly disguised with boat floating). Or maybe you're just using it as an excuse to vent your obvious dislike for QF.
Perhaps all of these related posts should go to another thread because I see little relevance to Life Time Gold status with QF.
