Potential changes to QF awards - amount of points and cash needed, & number of award seats released

[juddles]

As P1 I have never had too much drama in getting seats using points. My problem is that I consider a redemption in F long-haul with Emirates as spectacular value - hence I am always points-poor.

But my pet hatred of the entire QFF points redemption model is those damn co-payments - simply obscene.

 

[amaroo]

As P1 I have never had too much drama in getting seats using points.

I look forward to testing that out very soon. As a plat the “award release” benefit is kinda useless when looking for 4 x F / J .... suspect P1 won’t improve the odds all that much.

 

[Kangol]

Nothing about F, which is probably the most important. Changes might be similar to J.
For oneworld awards, it works out in our favour.

 

[Saltywings]

Nothing about F, which is probably the most important.

But there are so few QF routes with F, and of those that have it, QF F isn't exactly the bees knees of F compared to what's available on the world stage. I'd much rather have plenty more J long haul availability than F. It isn't worth the current points premium imo.

Of course, it's not a zero-sum game: QF could open up more F and J. But that would be a win for the consumer and we can't have that!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I look forward to testing that out very soon. As a plat the “award release” benefit is kinda useless when looking for 4 x F / J .... suspect P1 won’t improve the odds all that much.

You'd be pushing it for four F seats I reckon!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Would love to know by how much QF is willing to increase the points for an F award. I booked my first QF F award in 1999 for the old QF1/2 via BKK and *think* it was 280k for the return flight, don't remember the co-payment. Now it's 384k.

 

[amaroo]

You'd be pushing it for four F seats I reckon!

Yeah, I had a chuckle when posting that .... we'd settle for 2F and 2J

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Yeah, I had a chuckle when posting that .... we'd settle for 2F and 2J

Can't imagine a problem with 2xJ. Wouldn't completely rule out 2xF if it's off-peak and/or the stars align.

 

[CaptJCool]

If you’ve got the points, why does the airline deny access?

If two go today and two tomorrow, what’s the difference between four going today ?

If anyone’s actually stumping up the cash and booking the seats, which we know does happen, clearly they won’t be available but a sophisticated business ought be able to not just juggle yield on each flight but betwee. Flights and days. After all. The end result is the same. Still make a profit. .....

Oh that’s right .... probably cause each and every flight has a yield and they’re not looking at the bigger picture.

It’s the gripe I have on lack of family pooling, even though The bank of Mum and Dad are paying for the fares, and Same as in this case, where long term loyalty is not rewarded because “you as an individual just don’t spend enough”
I have a beef with Qantas regarding status credits. Having been a bronze frequent flyer for many years (I am in my late 70s) I can only hope to attain silver if I fly 10 times a year. Is this set up for business people?

I can afford only three or four flights a year using cash and points to visit family, which gets me 90-120 credits and bingo, they disappear each June. Living 71 kilometres from Melbourne Airport, which can take anything up to two hours' travel time, occasionally it would be nice to use the Qantas Lounge, even once a year.

Read more: Qantas, why am I still stuck on bronze status?

 

[Must...Fly!]

You know there's this thing called Qantas Club membership which gets the letter writer what they want...maybe they just don't want to pay...but it's there!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Paging Limewood to the white courtesy phone!

Just gonna put on some popcorn.....

 

[sjk]

Isn't the OP a violation of the terms associated with the Qantas survey?

 

[kpc]

Isn't the OP a violation of the terms associated with the Qantas survey?

No.

 

[zoomzoom]

QF have never done anything to benefit customers, we simply exist to contribute to executive bonuses.Self loading cargo, paying through the nose. This will make the FF program less attractive and even worse value.
This is what happens when you have too much market power. QF are just like the banks.

I only fly QF when absolutely necessary. Too expensive, second rate product.

 

[Melburnian1]

These 'changes" (QF not the sole culprit) heighten my cynicism about frequent flyer schemes.

Those of us who self fund travel are often far better off just taking BFOD on a reputable legacy airline, and not worrying so much about 'how many points (or status credits) do I receive?' The difficulty is that psychologically, many (including me) watch our points balances and consider it's great to be accumulating more. However, if one pays through the nose in fees or cannot obtain (say) J seats to LHR, just a waste of time.

 

[Oubline]

I hope they don’t increase the cost of the 280k business around the world award.

 

[Rich]

Cynical of course but I am also keen to see any reduction in carrier charges.
For any long haul flights for a lowly bronze it is hard enough to find 2 business seats but when you take the family then economy it has to be. However the carrier charges often mean it is not worth spending the points. e.g. fly MEL to JFK and it is 120000 points plus $590. You may find a sale fare for $1400 or less so I would rather save my points. I find I am using points for all my domestic travel only and even then, Virgin charges are less so I might choose Virgin instead.

 

[Berlin]

As long as this doesn’t affect the points needed (or availability) for an upgrade from J to F, that’s where I use most of my points and kinda found my personal “sweet spot” for redemptions: Buy a J seat outright (rather an I seat, actually) and then use points to upgrade en route to the US or London. In 3 out of 4 cases the upgrade gets approved and you fly in relative peace on the long routes.

With regards to the actual proposed changes, I’m with most of the other posts here: “Up to 10 times...” already says it all: It’s a relative increase, not an absolute so next to useless on many routes where you currently have none or close to none. And the “Up to” opens the back door for a short term increase only to then quickly go back to usual levels (if at all). And at the same time, we all need to use more points. “Cheaper” cattle class fares and reduced fees = total meh.

 

[GlennT]

It's always disappointing that QFF always dresses up negative news such as program devaluations as 'enhancements'. You would think that the endless derision from the entire FF community each so-called enhancement cops, would persuade the PR spin types to drop this deceptive expression. Or maybe they just have a tin ear.
The proposals appear to be aimed at more bums-on-seats in Y, as Business become even pricier. Carrier fees are already sky-high, so plenty of room there for a bit of fat trimming. QFFF points for Premium seat s are already unreasonably high both on Qantas and partner airlines, so increases are just unreasonable. As pointed out elsewhere, this would be a free kick for the multitude of other FF programs, who offer in many cases considerably lower overall costs on the same or similar routes, with better availability to boot. Qantas is not known in certain FF circles as he Queen of Mean without reason!

 

[Pierre_a]

Presumably this increase in redemption cost will apply to partner awards? For example I would expect EK awards in premium cabins to increase in points cost by a corresponding amount. If this is the case we will see an increase in points cost for no corresponding increase in partner availability, assuming of course Qantas are unable to influence their partner to release more availability.

My personal redemption profile (bronze, traveling exclusively to Europe during school holidays) sees me unable to access Qantas premium cabins anyway. I have been able to successfully get my family of three to Europe and back in J on a number of trips now - but exclusively on partner airlines. The effect to me therefore is a simply an increase in points cost.

Of course, I may be wrong and partner cost and availability will remain the same. But I am skeptical.