Qantas apologises to frequent flyers with status extensions, lounge passes, points & more reward seats

[pauly7]

Off topic: But I still argue that Joyce could have picked up the phone to Virgin and the other airlines and made an example out of them and grounded all flights in and out of the first state premier to close their borders to other states, both to and from their state, and within their state, even McGowan would have folded in a matter of days if they had done that, can't fly everyone who needs to go everywhere in WA in one VIP Falcon 20. States have no jurisdiction over aviation and the industry should have pushed back on that over-reach straight away.

I get the sentiment but of course this would have broken about 7 different laws but you know a good rant post always welcome on AFF

 

[QF_Flyer]

Did you actually speak to an agent who knew anything about the offer in the end ? I’ve still had no acknowledgement of my email. The system said I’d be sent a reference number, crickets on that one. When I return to Australia hopefully there will be enough time left to get this sorted before the cut off date.

No, I got exactly the same outcome as you, sounded like the agent was telling me what I wanted to hear, but actually doing nothing. I sent a formal request to the FF email address, and got an auto response with a reference number, they do generally respond to those within a few days, but we'll see how that goes. Fingers crossed, at the moment we still have a few weeks I guess.

 

[BrettV]

I see peoples points are turning up, which is good - has anyone else still not even received the thank you email? I'm WP and have received nothing yet - I didn't really have any complaints with QF until now, but ironically this will actually cause discontent rather than make amends for it.

Likewise for me. Still no email but was able to access the $50 voucher through the app. Time for an email and see how it goes!

 

[seat11a]

No, I got exactly the same outcome as you, sounded like the agent was telling me what I wanted to hear, but actually doing nothing. I sent a formal request to the FF email address, and got an auto response with a reference number, they do generally respond to those within a few days, but we'll see how that goes. Fingers crossed, at the moment we still have a few weeks I guess.

I’ve sent a 2nd email to the FF dept as I didn’t get a reference number or response to my first email. Out of interest which of the drop down box topics did you use. Or is there a different email address I should be writing too? Thanks

 

[DC3]

… Or is there a different email address I should be writing too? Thanks

This is the email address: [email protected]

Auto reply is generated straight away with a reference number.

 

[seat11a]

This is the email address: [email protected]

Auto reply is generated straight away with a reference number.

Thank you very much for that. Email sent and reference number received. Now the wait. Cheers.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Update: Ended up using Uncle Alan's handkerchief (i.e. $50 flight voucher) on a $109 red e-Deal fare from Sydney to Byron Bay (don't judge!) which effectively worked out to about $165 return. I also received the 2 QF business lounge vouchers earlier this week and immediately transferred them to a QF Silver friend who is trying to hit Gold next program year.

Status extension doesn't mean much for me since I did all of my bookings to maintain status by mid-February this year. The status credit roll over will be nice I suppose, but wished Uncle Alan could provide more than that for those who remained loyal during these challenging times. Certainly a QF Platinum One who ordinarily earns 5,000 status credits a year isn't receiving any special recognition for their hard work this program year. Then again, maybe Uncle Alan will provide another treat for us QF elites who retained status the hard way later. We'll see!

-RooFlyer88

 

[jakeseven7]

Update: Ended up using Uncle Alan's handkerchief (i.e. $50 flight voucher) on a $109 red e-Deal fare from Sydney to Byron Bay (don't judge!) which effectively worked out to about $165 return. I also received the 2 QF business lounge vouchers earlier this week and immediately transferred them to a QF Silver friend who is trying to hit Gold next program year.

Nice one! And good use of the pressies! Are you a new cast member on Byron Baes?

 

[dairyfloss]

My WP Jul-Dec 30K gift just deposited, after accepting the offer on Sep 1st. 20K credit to PC new membership year target, in the flights category

 

[eminere]

My WP Jul-Dec 30K gift just deposited, after accepting the offer on Sep 1st. 20K credit to PC new membership year target, in the flights category

Same here.

 

[eastwest101]

I get the sentiment but of course this would have broken about 7 different laws but you know a good rant post always welcome on AFF

Off topic: I can see that sort of action falling foul of Competition Law (e.g. cartel behavior) maybe, but I can't see how any state or federal government can compell a private business to operate at a loss, closing state border made all airlines loss-making, so its not cartel behavior, its a rational business response to a government restriction, albeit one with some uncomfortable effects on politicians and other parts of the economy. The only one where they would have continued to operate would be the few state subsidized intrastate routes funded by the state governments where they are contractually obliged to run services e.g. the Western QLD remote routes and maybe a few in other states but very limited in number.

 

[mviy]

I have used my $50 voucher as well. Used the remaining balance of a travel pass on the same booking and then paid for the balance.

 

[SydneySwan]

I have used my $50 voucher as well. Used the remaining balance of a travel pass on the same booking and then paid for the balance.

How did you manage to do this? Any specific steps to take?

 

[mviy]

When paying with a Travel Pass you can choose to split the payment between a Travel Pass and a Credit Card. The voucher from QF takes $50 off the price. It's all done on the page where you choose the payment method and enter payment details.

 

[RichardMEL]

I have used my $50 voucher as well. Used the remaining balance of a travel pass on the same booking and then paid for the balance.

Interesting. The T&C specify cannot be combined with a "flight credit" which I kind of assumed included TP's but hey if the payment screen allows for input of a TP then hey that's great.

(I got my code email and points today after accepting on Sep 1 as a data point)

 

[SYD]

Interesting. The T&C specify cannot be combined with a "flight credit" which I kind of assumed included TP's but hey if the payment screen allows for input of a TP then hey that's great.

(I got my code email and points today after accepting on Sep 1 as a data point)

TPs and TCs are quite different. The TP is basically like a credit/debit card payment.

So it makes sense that you can combine with the apology voucher (despite the claims you can’t).

 

[RichardMEL]

TPs and TCs are quite different. The TP is basically like a credit/debit card payment.

So it makes sense that you can combine with the apology voucher (despite the claims you can’t).

oh yes, I do agree they are different and TP is a far more flexible form of payment. I guess that's why T&C did not include TravelPass in the wording

all good. works for me!

 

[Optics]

Media suggests QF is announcing all the above this week.

'$50 off towards a return flight' not much chop when the airline typically already prices itself well above competitors, a key gripe of senior corporate individuals interviewed in the last few days by the 'Australian Financial Review's' Chanticleer columnist Mr Tony Boyd yet has (according to the article) 'inferior service'.

And 'more FF seats?' We've all heard that refrain before. With airlines (including but not limited to QF) rarely making public how many seats are available for FF redemption on each flight (except with very occasional 'points planes') and reports on AFF of prebooked FF redemption users being bumped off flights to use the USA term, take this with a large dollop of salt.

There's also 15000 to 30000 extra points for important, but numerically small, platinum and platinum one members, and various lounge invitations. Will latter have the seats available to handle extra guests? Can members find reward seats - if not, what 'value' do extra points, welcome as they might be, have?

Perhaps all this will please some, but more travellers would surely be concerned about punctuality, cancellations, and as the senior business leaders opined, standards of service and what they say is the missing value for money.

Journalists and business leaders have sure been slow to publicly comment on how this airline has deteriorated, given so many users or staff have been 'joyced'. Ask the baggage handlers.

Many international airlines leave QFi for dust, and these competitors by and large don't engage in the sort of wokeness QF practices, especially great Asian and Middle Eastern airlines.

I would be really interested to understand what they mean by "more FF seats". I'm searching and there is not a single business class award seat to Europe between now and June 23. Does anyone know if they will be issuing more award seats anytime?

I'm wanting to travel in May next year and couldn't find any award availability, so checked the other months for interest, and nothing at all. If its not likely there will be any such award seats made available for May at any time, then I will look to book paid flights while the fares are still quite reasonable.

 

[levelnine]

I would be really interested to understand what they mean by "more FF seats". I'm searching and there is not a single business class award seat to Europe between now and June 23. Does anyone know if they will be issuing more award seats anytime?

The extra seats were released on the Monday after the apology at 12pm. Most were gone by that evening or early the next day, especially on popular routes (eg to Europe).

 

[mviy]

I may end up flying via SYD and SIN to LHR again in Flex Y hoping for an upgrade this time as a solo WP. If I can do that on double credits I'll earn most of what I need to retain WP on the one trip.

I wasn't ready to book for next year. I might not even go overseas next year.