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

[justin23]

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?

No I attain Silver regularly with economy international travel once or twice a year with some domestic economy. Occasionally I fly business or premium economy. It is a frequent flyer program though and it rewards two things, flying more, or buying more expensive flights. Silver would only get you a single use lounge pass and the lounges are generally pretty packed as it is sometimes. So if everyone who earnt just 120 SC's a year got a lounge pass, it would get very packed. All frequent flyer programs are like this.

Also long term loyalty is rewarded through lifetime status, but at 100SC's a year you aren't going to get lifetime status.

My suggestion is to have a look at the fares when you book. Often the flex economy fare is not too expensive, that will earn more points.

 

[justin23]

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.

Yeah I think trying to get people to burn their FF points on economy awards. I think many save for J/F rewards, because the fees mean you might be lucky to get $1000 off a Y award vs buying the outright ticket. I've stopped using my points for award fares. Either Y+/J upgrades or I might consider a Y RTW award (prob should just save for the J RTW award).

The fees are my main issue with award seats. So reducing those is a good thing, but I can't see that anything QF does, will offset the reduction in fees in any way that doesn't benefit them even more.

 

[2infinity]

I have always found economy rewards quite easy to find, both domestic and international, even looking at large redemptions, like 8+ international to popular destinations. Only problem is, I think economy redemptions are a waste of points, which I believe is the consensus with most 'in the know' FF's. I've never really had a problem with business redemptions domestically either. Like most, I want to use my points for long haul business rewards, which appear to be extremely rare, especially if you are looking at more than 1 seat. There are rare occasions where you chance upon some great seats, but for the most part, they are hard to find and you end up trying to plan your trip around when and where you can get business award seating rather than the attributes of the destination. I also find that the majority of business award seating isn't even available on Qantas metal and you have to fly with partner airlines, with majority availability on non top-tier partners.

I, for one, would rather spend more points to actually be able to spend my points. But it seems to me like Qantas is trying to encourage people to spend their points in economy rather than business+. Looking at the table in original post, a trend for less points and less money in economy. More points and more money in business (domestically), less money internationally.

Up to 10x increase in long haul business availability. This sounds awesome, but the reality is 10x zero is still zero and with a trend towards 2 engine planes, the business cabin is going to have less availability, not more.........and is that up to 10x per flight or per year?

At the end of the day, Qantas is, just like every other business out there, more interested in profits to shareholders than their customers. Any changes to the current award scheme will come with that thought in mind. The PR spin doctors will try and market any changes as positives to us poor customers, but it won't deliver. Only hope keeps us hooked.

 

[Berlin]

I also find that the majority of business award seating isn't even available on Qantas metal and you have to fly with partner airlines, with majority availability on non top-tier partners.

One big exception here I'd say are Emirates F rewards. Plenty of availability, especially on "exotic" routes like ex-DXB to Asia or USA-DXB routes. And some of my most amazing flight experiences ever (LAX-DXB in F to name one that was particularly memorable), I would have never been able to afford otherwise. One big reason for me to stick to Qantas FF, the other one being point upgrades from J to F on QF metal.

 

[Berlin]

And if I REALLY don't know what to do with my points, I'll hop on a quick EK F reward to the beautiful South Island of New Zealand

 

[blazer]

This is what annoys me. If you value the points at the same value that Qantas sells them for, and you then pay for a business class flight with these points, once you add the charges/taxes etc. ,it will cost you more than if you paid cash for it, and you would receive no points for your flight. This is provided you can even obtain the seat you were looking for. Lose, lose.

 

[drron]

Simpler and fairer?

No that one was a disaster PR wise so this time we are calling it Fairer and Simpler.

 

[lacuska1]

nearly 20K more points for an LHR flight on their mediocre business class!!!-what a joke-go with other airline for 146 K you can get first class tickets on better carriers than this crippled kangaroo!

 

[lacuska1]

just recently booked 2 first class tickets - SYD_SIN legs return-one via using my AA points and one using Qf points -just the tax difference was nearly 400 dollars more on QF-shame on you what a disgrace to rip off customers like this!-luckily no more Qf points left-will never use them again!

 

[Berlin]

And now that we've heard from the Qantas-haters, back to topic

 

[lacuska1]

And now that we've heard from the Qantas-haters, back to topic

who asked you? Not a QF hater just telling the truth obviously people like you is a pain to hear it as your head is in QF-s behinds...keep paying to them and good luck mate ;-)

 

[Berlin]

obviously people like you is a pain to hear it as your head is in QF-s behinds.

Oh wow, aggressive much? Maybe fix your grammar first

 

[RichardMEL]

Without more detail it's hard to tell. I mean seems to me more or less QF is converting the fuel fees to QFF points so the increase in the J reward cost in points is offset by a decrease in the cash component. That's a win for points rich people.

Yes, would be good to just get rid of the fuel fees, but I live in the real world so know such things are less likely than me winning the lottery and flying SQ Suites for the rest of my days

And again remember these are not announced changes, just junk they are throwing out there (though clearly would not surprise to see changes soon alas)

as for comments about QF lovers or haters.. please folks keep it civil. We all have opinions and views.. everyone has a different viewpoint and opinions are valid to each of us. Can we be civil?

 

[Silvia]

This is interesting. I think most of us would be less likely to get an economy reward, although there may be periods (easter, xmas) where it may be relatively worthwhile (e.g. USA or South American routes), but in saying that, I would most likely try to get a J redemption... or play the upgrade roulette.

Whilst I would probably wouldn't mind a 10k extra to secure a seat, it comes to my attention that some of the ways to get points are being changed. For instance, I used to utilise Qantas restaurants relatively regularly (yes to birthday bonuses!), now that's obviously ceasing. Obviously the changes in FF points per $ spent on credit card is also changing and being less rewarding. Qantas wine can be a good way to top up points, but in all, I do find the "easier" ways to get points are being cut. So technically FFs we are getting less points but are asked for more points to secure a reward. I guess that's how this loyalty system goes...

 

[Berlin]

This is interesting. I think most of us would be less likely to get an economy reward, although there may be periods (easter, xmas) where it may be relatively worthwhile (e.g. USA or South American routes), but in saying that, I would most likely try to get a J redemption... or play the upgrade roulette.

I couldn't agree more, like many on here are. However, us forum-posting frequent flyer fans are probably a minority in the scope of things.

I suspect there are quite a lot of members of Qantas FF who barely make it to Silver status (flying any airline as long as it's cheap) but reap some points here and there by taking out new credit cards and the likes. And these will be the ones who look for nothing but redemption seats in the back part of the plane, ideally for their entire families and during holiday periods. Needless to say, these people happen to be of little value to QF but often they are very vocal in their complaints and a lot of media reports seem to be written for them as well.

 

[Limewood]

So members like me who don't fly much but obtain thousands of points from purchasers and in doing so fill the pockets of poor Qantas, yet for decades have been penalised for not having status so rarely find j award seats out of or into Oz and if one does, get whacked in fees and charges for doing so. Its about time Qantas for one release seats to those that spend big say 50K+ PA, not just for those with status.

 

[Berlin]

Its about time Qantas for one release seats to those that spend big say 50K+ PA, not just for those with status.

Sorry, I am not sure if I understand- how can you not have status if you really "spend big"?

I can only assume that you're talking about spent NOT on Qantas flights so it's only fair that you don't get rewarded extra for that. It's called Frequent Flyer program for a reason but it seems to me that some people decide to just conveniently ignore that bit.

 

[dajop]

Needless to say, these people happen to be of little value to QF

As individuals they are of little value to QF, but collectively they are important market segment, important to keep planes full, and more importantly to maintain the points revenue stream, continuing the incentive for this group to earn FF points through various mechanisms.

(and yes, agree, many would see more value in getting 4 economy award seats with less points/taxes than in being more likely to secure a single business seat).

 

[Berlin]

collectively they are important market segment, important to keep planes full, and more importantly to maintain the points revenue stream

Sure, low value in high numbers. "High value in lower numbers" is usually the business model that's better for margins and profits but I am not a Qantas book keeper so can't really argue either way. They seem to do quite fine with having both, from what I can tell.

 

[dajop]

Sure, low value in high numbers. "High value in lower numbers" is usually the business model that's better for margins and profits but I am not a Qantas book keeper so can't really argue either way..

I think in the airline industry you need both types of customers. Business class is the ultimate "high value, low numbers", but not many, if any, airlines have been able to run successful business class only operations (apart from charter, private jet operators). Yet many have been very successful with low value/high numbers.