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

[docjames]

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).

Isn’t this part of the unsaid complaint with QFF that recent QF sentiment is compounding - earn earn earn points (I’m getting three emails a day from Assorted Qantas spam) , but try to use points for a classic award and it’s either eye gouging (only any seat cost available, a toaster etc) or just flat out unavailable.

Edit: and then the apology points didn’t land anywhere near soon enough in time that if it topped you up over the mark to achieve an award seat, the award seats were gone before the points landed. Some “apology”.

 

[jpp42]

Isn’t this part of the unsaid complaint with QFF that recent QF sentiment is compounding - earn earn earn points (I’m getting three emails a day from Assorted Qantas spam) , but try to use points for a classic award and it’s either eye gouging (only any seat cost available, a toaster etc) or just flat out unavailable.

It's a natural consequence of various facts :
* Qantas Frequent Flyer has a great brand reputation and people seem super keen to use whatever deals they can, to get QFF points (I'm not immune myself)
* QFF makes good money for Qantas because every point they sell to a partner, they have a good margin on (apparently).
* Qantas doesn't actually offer all that many flights to key destinations, compared to much bigger international carriers, and compared to the amount of points QFF members are hoarding
* The reward seats are so "cheap" (compare the difference between rewards and points+pay), revenue management indicates that Qantas (and partner carriers) should release as few as possible
* For example, there are only 2 x QF flights per day to London, and if only 4 seats per flight are business class rewards, that means only 3000 total business reward seats are available (per direction) per year.
* Qantas is having no trouble filling the rest of their planes with revenue seats in this post-pandemic period, which reduces their appetite for releasing reward seats which cannibalise revenue
* Many people have banked FF points during the pandemic, since you could still earn at similar rates from all the non-flying sources, but couldn't spend them. This further increases demand for reward seats

 

[docjames]

It's a natural consequence of various facts :
* Qantas Frequent Flyer has a great brand reputation and people seem super keen to use whatever deals they can, to get QFF points (I'm not immune myself)
* QFF makes good money for Qantas because every point they sell to a partner, they have a good margin on (apparently).
* Qantas doesn't actually offer all that many flights to key destinations, compared to much bigger international carriers, and compared to the amount of points QFF members are hoarding
* The reward seats are so "cheap" (compare the difference between rewards and points+pay), revenue management indicates that Qantas (and partner carriers) should release as few as possible
* For example, there are only 2 x QF flights per day to London, and if only 4 seats per flight are business class rewards, that means only 3000 total business reward seats are available (per direction) per year.
* Qantas is having no trouble filling the rest of their planes with revenue seats in this post-pandemic period, which reduces their appetite for releasing reward seats which cannibalise revenue
* Many people have banked FF points during the pandemic, since you could still earn at similar rates from all the non-flying sources, but couldn't spend them. This further increases demand for reward seats

Which goes to the death by 1000 cuts - and the current negative feedback for Qantas Recently.

It’s step wise:
Expensive pricing. Yes but i can earn FF points and get a free seat every so oftern.
Poor award availability - that’s ok because they have a wide route schedule (international options gone)
Poor international availability - partner airlines now now release award seats (see the Qatar thread….)
Poor availability - crews are great and flights are on time - at least the crews are still (mostly) great

Etc etc. The recent negative publicity is the travelling customers screaming “enough”.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Qantas clearly have some issues of their own making. The expose last night was heavily biased in favor of the socialists at the ABC and the union movement. AJ not responding will not have helped balance that view.

It is extremely hard to manage a business in times of uncertainty and especially so with a gaggle of ‘Monday Morning Quarterbacks’. I have always understood a business to require strong staff relations to endure times of hardship and uncertainty. Clearly that is the lesson the Qantas Board are learning the hard way.

 

[Quickstatus]

business to require strong staff relations

Unfortunately that went out the window a long time ago

Question is: What is Qantas?. Who is a Qantas employee?

 

[Optics]

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).

Thanks for explaining, but doesn't make me happy. Is it likely there will be further award seats made available prior to my planned trip May 23? If not, I'll just bit the bullet and book a paid fare while still reasonably priced.

 

[mviy]

Thanks for explaining, but doesn't make me happy. Is it likely there will be further award seats made available prior to my planned trip May 23? If not, I'll just bit the bullet and book a paid fare while still reasonably priced.

Unfortunately the truth about the difficulty of redeeming points for classic flight rewards and upgrades doesn't please most of us, but it is what it is. I think another large release of classic reward seats before then is unlikely, but not impossible. I would probably book a fare while the price is good then if seats are released reconsider your options further at that point.

 

[levelnine]

Is it likely there will be further award seats made available prior to my planned trip May 23? If not, I'll just bit the bullet and book a paid fare while still reasonably priced.

That one came out of the blue, so it is impossible to say, but I wouldn't rate the chances as being high.

 

[Catweazle]

Can't use mine at the moment.

Can a member here claim it for free and I can email / private message them my promo code to use with their return QF booking?

 

[amcmahon]

I've seen some comments that those with Gold have already received their Domestic Business Lounge invites which were meant to be distributed as part of this Qantas apology. I keep checking and mine still only show the standard "general" invites I've received from CC's. Has anyone else received their passes (or not)?

 

[Lynda2475]

I have not received any communication re the domestic business class passes for Gold and also cant see in my account, I only got the $50 flight voucher but then again Ive also never received my $50 Hotel voucher fr points club (again only a $50 wine voucher).

It would be nice to get J lounge access on some domestic flights especially in cities where J offers hot food, would be a total waste to use in SYD.

 

[SydneySwan]

Can't use mine at the moment.

Can a member here claim it for free and I can email / private message them my promo code to use with their return QF booking?

Are these transferable? Until someone tries we won't know for sure but we do know that Qantas Hotel vouchers are transferable.

 

[Kangol]

I've seen some comments that those with Gold have already received their Domestic Business Lounge invites which were meant to be distributed as part of this Qantas apology. I keep checking and mine still only show the standard "general" invites I've received from CC's. Has anyone else received their passes (or not)?

I've seen some screenshots calling it "DBL" in the complimentary lounge invitations page, so it looks like there are some people out there who have received them.

Post automatically merged: Sep 9, 2022

Are these transferable? Until someone tries we won't know for sure but we do know that Qantas Hotel vouchers are transferable.

The $50 apology voucher is just a coupon code. So, yes (don't ask me how I may or may not know)

 

[NM]

I've seen some screenshots calling it "DBL" in the complimentary lounge invitations page, so it looks like there are some people out there who have received them.

That is exactly as they show in the QFF account under "Lounge Invitations", where DBL = Domestic Business Lounge.

Note: DBL passes are for Gold status members. I received mine as a Life Time Gold with current Gold status.

 

[ausfox]

I have received a DBL invitation in my account dated August 2023. No email indication.

 

[scottlu13]

WP, no email or points... Called up 2 weeks ago they said they would try resend the email.
Anyone else in the same boat?

 

[nerdag]

WP, no email or points... Called up 2 weeks ago they said they would try resend the email.
Anyone else in the same boat?

Same here. Only the $50 voucher to offset the increase in airfares.

 

[seat11a]

WP, no email or points... Called up 2 weeks ago they said they would try resend the email.
Anyone else in the same boat?

I return home next week. Will give them a call, however not feeling confident I’m going to get an email at all, given the lack of success of those who have already rung Qantas.

 

[blackcat20]

I've seen some comments that those with Gold have already received their Domestic Business Lounge invites which were meant to be distributed as part of this Qantas apology. I keep checking and mine still only show the standard "general" invites I've received from CC's. Has anyone else received their passes (or not)?

I got mine, only one though (was it meant to be one or two?). One is not so useful.

 

[encryptededdy]

I got mine, only one though (was it meant to be one or two?). One is not so useful.

I received two... But I'm not even Gold.