Qantas are to enforce the 4 segment rule for status!

[serfty]

There's a thread on FT that's been going for two weeks now; Here is a link to it 4 segment QF to be enforced for status?

It seems that Qantas have adjusted their four segment rule for status qualification a little bit and are now going to enforce it.

This is quite relevant for those expat AFF/FTers who have been attaining/retaining QFF status by flying oneWORLD and crediting to Qantas without actually flying on paid Qantas flights.

 

[Febs]

Saw this the other day...to be honest, I think it's quite reasonable.

4 segments could be as easy as 2 x SYD-MEL returns (ie: not too much of a stretch to someone going for higher status). I mean, if QF are providing the benefits of Gold/Plat status, it's not too much to expect said Gold/Plat member to at least make 2 return domestic flights on QF metal.

Just my opinion though. It's for reasons like this I prefer to be a member of the airline I fly most with (rather than join AA and fly mostly QF, for example). I know I'm in the minority there though.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[d15.in.oz]

Maybe AA has something similar in the pipeline. Perhaps QFF & AAdvantage have been discussing focussing loyalties recently.

Both alliance partners have very different, if not mutually exclusive, ways of rewarding loyalty– QF is more grounded & AA is up in the air. Although, in the fair flow of things, Aussies going for AA would seem to be on a better deal than Yanks going for QF.

 

[serfty]

... Although, in the fair flow of things, Aussies going for AA would seem to be on a better deal than Yanks going for QF.

In terms of active numbers there would almost certainly be more US based QFFers then Oz Based AAers.

However, QF SG status or better in the US get's one AC access (including complimentary beverages) whenever flying AA (or oneWORLD). AA Plat Status does not come with this access unless flying internationally (although, discounted AC membership is available).

By picking certain flights and fares on AA one could attain QF SG in two days for less than USD1500. By forcing four QF segments before being eligible for status it makes it just that li'l bit more difficult to do so.

 

[d15.in.oz]

By picking certain flights and fares on AA one could attain QF SG in two days for less than USD1500...

So, what you are suggesting is that there might be too many Yanks, Yupping a 6 segment US domestic return on a QFF number every 2 years, then reverting earning back to AAdvantage until it’s time to Yupp again? (With QFF Sapphire status then providing free drinks @ the bar, something not even buying an AC membership could do.)

 

[simongr]

Interesting stuff. I have switched to AAdvantage but am thinking about what I do later in the year for QFF before I drop to silver (yes I know QP membership could be bought but am thinking about status for points upgrades). I guess this wont affect me too much as I could easily make the 4 segment rule - mind you I might forget so need to be careful.

I have no airline loyalty at all sadly - I actually fly mostly CX (by BIS miles flown) - just wish their seats were longer...

 

[Evan]

I was wondering why the ~ next to my QF flights and the comment about it being counted towards status attain/retain.

Anyway i think its not that bad, 4 segments is reasonable i think, then again i live in AU at the moment and domestic flights would easily get me there, when i am OS my thoughts may change !

E

 

[Keith009]

Maybe AA has something similar in the pipeline. Perhaps QFF & AAdvantage have been discussing focussing loyalties recently.

Yikes - not AA as well! :shock:
Then again I visit the US a fair bit so 4 AA segments shouldn't be too hard to pick up.

 

[simongr]

Lucky for me I have that covered (AA) in the past 10 days

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I was wondering why the ~ next to my QF flights and the comment about it being counted towards status attain/retain.

Anyway i think its not that bad, 4 segments is reasonable i think, then again i live in AU at the moment and domestic flights would easily get me there, when i am OS my thoughts may change !

E

Confirming jetconnect flights do count (as they should). Manually credited flights do not count. Might cause an issue for some.

 

[d15.in.oz]

Anyway, speculation aside, it would seem appropriate for QFF to launch any new changes to the scheme next week, wouldn’t it? Perhaps on 1W's big day - April 1st?

 

[markis10]

Some QF flights to be not eligable for SC/Points

Noticed a change to my online statement with a little explanation note appearing beside all the status credits earned:

"Eligible flight (Qantas, QantasLink or Jetstar segment) counted towards status attain/retain. "

Looks like QF are putting into place infrastructure to allow for fares that will not earn points/SC on mainline services - I know this has been the case with JQ for a while but these latest changes make me suspect they are taking it further!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Re: Some QF flights to be not eligable for SC/Points

No it is part of the move to enforce the existing rule requiring 4 QF sectors to (re)qualify for status.

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Some QF flights to be not eligable for SC/Points

I don't see that other than making clear that non-points earning flights do not count towards the flight count requirement

e.g. 2 jetsaver flights on JQ plus a MEL-SYD-BNE award flight on QF plus 1400SCs earned on AA would not meet the requirement to attain Silver/Gold/Platinum status

I think that this issue is already being dealt with in another thread so seems appropriate to merge into it

Dave

 

[markis10]

Re: Some QF flights to be not eligable for SC/Points

I don't see that other than making clear that non-points earning flights do not count towards the flight count requirement

e.g. 2 jetsaver flights on JQ plus a MEL-SYD-BNE award flight on QF plus 1400SCs earned on AA would not meet the requirement to attain Silver/Gold/Platinum status

I think that this issue is already being dealt with in another thread so seems appropriate to merge into it

Dave

I would just question the timing of the change, we have had points earning on JQ for a while, and given that at this stage all Qantas and Qantaslink fares are eligible why would they include that wording if they were not looking at excluding something such as red e deals in the near future. Possibly they are looking at lowering fares beyond the current red e deal level to cater for Tiger, and not offer FF points as a result.

Thanks for the merge too, I was not already aware that this change had been raised before.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I don't think so. QF still provides points on cheapest fares in NZ and trans-tasman, indeed make a point of mentioning it in their advertising.

I think more related to US-based QFFers who are costing QFF money through lounge fees in USA, yet not flying QF at all.

NZ introduced a couple of years ago a rule requiring at least 1 paid flight on NZ metal to avoid an annual fee (and even non-earning fares count). Perhaps QF has talked with NZ about what effect this has had?

 

[serfty]

Anyway, speculation aside, it would seem appropriate for QFF to launch any new changes to the scheme next week, wouldn’t it? Perhaps on 1W's big day - April 1st?

Actually, given this and a few other changes that occurred with a Mar 22 revision of the T&C's, I can't see any major changes to the program happening for at least six months.

 

[oz_mark]

Actually, given this and a few other changes that occurred with a Mar 22 revision of the T&C's, I can't see any major changes to the program happening for at least six months.

Actually the biggest change in the T&C was taking away some of the "without notice" and "from time to time" clauses. Perhaps a result of the Victorian governments review of loyalty programs last year.

The four sector thing has long been there, just not enforced. Seems they are just getting stricter on the enforecement of some rules.

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Some QF flights to be not eligable for SC/Points

and given that at this stage all Qantas and Qantaslink fares are eligible

But they are not all eligable. Award flights on QF will appear on the statement and would, if they did not specify that it had to be an eligable earning flight, count towards the 4 flight requirement. Without the clause an award MEL-CBR-SYD r/t would meet the annual requirement

I don't see anything suspicious

Dave

 

[Flashback]

As an interesting sidenote I have just realised an addition to the account activity page

07 MAR 07 QF 068 ECONOMY 06MAR07 HONG KONG/PERTH 3,748 - 937 4,685 30

Where the ~ stands for:

Eligible flight (Qantas, QantasLink or Jetstar segment) counted towards status attain/retain.