Pathetic [Where are the advertised extra award seats? ]

[JohnK]

OT: Do you honestly like anything with any airline?

I'm still flying Qantas.

Apologies that I'm not the model customer that just swallows every marketing campaign.

Charging customers QFF points + fuel surcharge for economy awards where the fuel surcharge alone is almost the same as the revenue airfare is daylight robbery. It's pathetic way to treat customers.

The Qantas move to 787 is a joke in economy.

P.S. Qantas cabin crew are generally friendly.

Qantas lounges are generally ok.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

You do realise that it’s QF that gets to decide what your QFF points are worth, not you?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...QF that gets to decide what your QFF points are worth, not you?

To a certain extent. I think this is one of the areas the ACCC is looking at - the arbitrary nature airlines claim they can devalue points. While airlines can, and do, change point requirements, there should arguably be a one year (or more) lead-in time to allow those who have based their accrual on the stated levels to be able to redeem.

I don't believe QF wakes up one morning and decides on new award earn and burn rates. It would take them months of planning. Why not let members know as soon as they start working on it?

 

[zenyattamondatta]

The ACCC’s repeated use of the word “unilaterally” was one of the reasons we decided they didn’t have a clue.

Does anyone really expect QFF to establish 12 million bilateral relationships? Or give the squeakiest wheels (loudest whiners) special treatment?

The recent changes are at best neutral from my perspective as lower charges are offset by increased points requirements. Anything that materially reduces QFF’s room to manoeuvre such as you propose will inevitably come at a cost.

 

[hb13]

I think the title is appropriate to be honest. I have looked at a variety of different QF routes including domestic and international a few days ago and then again today and didn't see a single extra seat released.

I think it is spin and pretty disappointing from QF.

 

[kamchatsky]

I guess for the new devaluations from QF, it looks like AA miles is even more value again .......

 

[drron]

AA miles have been great value but for me the value has dropped with JAL now releasing their award sets at 360 days out instead of 330.So now most have gone before AA gets a look in.

 

[amaroo]

QFF availability and value is fantastic What's not to like?

 

[Duffa]

QFF availability and value is fantastic What's not to like?

Go on, post us a screenshot, you lucky dog!!

 

[drron]

Fantastic for P1s and pathetic for us NBs.But even with no status with SQ I get great value there.Not on QFF.

 

[Matt_01]

Go on, post us a screenshot, you lucky dog!!

He wouldn’t need to post a screen shot, at most times the availability displayed is not as it seems. I have the same status as @amaroo and if we cannot see what we are after a quick call to QF and rewards seats become available.

 

[Matt_01]

.....The recent changes are at best neutral from my perspective as lower charges are offset by increased points requirements.

I have a different view. Everyone values their points differently and I will not get into that but lets just assume 1QF point = 1 cent. Yesterday a J reward flight from AU to the US east coast would have cost 139K points (CX or JL) and what ever the taxes were. Today that changed to 159K points and from what is being reported taxes are about $100-$125 dollars cheaper.

So post changes a return J booking for 2 PAX to the US east coast is an additional 80K points and save $500 in QF taxes. On a 1QF point = 1 cent ratio I think I am worse off. I. Would rather spend the $500 and keep the 80K points.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Fantastic for P1s and pathetic for us NBs.But even with no status with SQ I get great value there.Not on QFF.

It’s definitely not fantastic for P1s. If only I were a points whale I would accumulate my points elsewhere. Even after the cuts to fuel fines there’s still plenty of fish to fry elsewhere.
If only QF would realize that I don’t want to redeem my points on long haul Y no mattter how much you cut the redemptions.

And yes I’m aware I can pull a request at will via SST to Res. and have done so numerous times. It’s all just so clunky. I’d like a GUF2 option

 

[zenyattamondatta]

Would rather spend the $500 and keep the 80K points.

I agree. Hence, *at best* neutral, implying worse more often than not. Or to be more precise, worse some of the time, maybe neutral some of the time, but never better. I don't value Y awards at all.

 

[amaroo]

P1 has been fantastic for us. Since hitting P1 earlier this year I've requested and been approved for 24 x J and 8 x F most have been long haul flights, all requests were short notice. That's 2,120,000 QFFP toasted on short notice requested seats - try doing that without P1 !

But I am promiscuous, and have stocked piled points / miles well away from QFF. In amongst all this QFF flying we managed to squeeze in a couple of SQ suites rides back from CDG - sensational product! We liked it so much - we've already booked a couple of return SYD-LHR suites for early next year. The ability to get award seats on SQ is unbeatable, and is a refreshing change from QFF.

If you're prepared to cough up advantage miles - you can basically book suite rides carte blanche

Still have a ton of QFF points to burn and plan on toasting a big chunk of that before my P1 days expire. Then it's probably going to be all suites from there....

 

[kamchatsky]

AA miles have been great value but for me the value has dropped with JAL now releasing their award sets at 360 days out instead of 330.So now most have gone before AA gets a look in.

Bugger!!!!!! On well still better value than QF though

 

[amaroo]

Fantastic for P1s and pathetic for us NBs.But even with no status with SQ I get great value there.Not on QFF.

And that is what makes QFF a good proposition if you hold high status. Status provides all sorts of benefits, higher inventory of award seats it just one of them.

Completely agree it's the pits the other way round. Lets hope SQ don't change their award program...

 

[BriarFlyer]

Yesterday a J reward flight from AU to the US east coast would have cost 139K points (CX or JL) and what ever the taxes were. Today that changed to 159K points and from what is being reported taxes are about $100-$125 dollars cheaper.

Isn't the reduction in carrier charges only on QF flights?

I'm with you though, I would far prefer spending fewer points.

 

[dajop]

I've been QFF member for many years, a largely inactive one for the last 8-9 of those. My anecdotal observation, as an observer, is that QF really want you to buy or redeem a ticket - in a lower cabin - first, for you to use points in premium cabins on medium-long haul flights. On EF, I've watched relatively empty premium cabins fill up at the last minute, presumably due to the processing of upgrades. It seems to be the way to get such "awards" these days, those other than P1's expecting J and F seats on QF to be readily available without buying a fare first, are living in the past.

 

[ozfflyer]

It's midnight UTC. They may be offering more seats, just not the ones you and many others want.

think about it. Airlines have already been paid for their frequent flyer points by retailers, banks etc. They are not going to offer frequent flyer seats, when they could sell them for cash. FF programmes are designed to fill seats on flights that don't fill up with cash customers.

So you're a Qantas frequent flyer member. Hardly exclusive. You're one of 12 million.