Qantas extends current status Until at least March 2021

[marki]

So this is going to sound a bit like sour grapes but my platinum status expired at the end of Feb so I missed out on the extension by essentially 24 hours.

That’s fair enough - and I’d cop it on the chin - but to get an email from Qantas saying they’ve done me the great favour of extending my new lower gold status for 12 months is a dead-set kick in the nuts... since I’m already lifetime gold.

Perhaps they’ve worked out how to extend my life by 12 months?

I feel your pain and the response from Qantas has been less than stellar IMHO

 

[marki]

Don't sweat it, there`s not much difference between platinum and platinum 1. No difference whatsoever on domestic.

You are almost right but there are more seats to choose from and they do seem to greet you more but maybe it's my imagination

 

[Notyourbag]

I really feel for those with an anniversary date from March to now. If domestic is back to semi normal in September, that only gives them 6 months to make their qualification. Lets hope QF do something similar to VA and contribute status credits or pro-rata their requalification required.

 

[Pushka]

I really feel for those with an anniversary date from March to now. If domestic is back to semi normal in September, that only gives them 6 months to make their qualification. Lets hope QF do something similar to VA and contribute status credits or pro-rata their requalification required.

And especially for SA where flights to anywhere aren’t going to be the highest priority to reestablish right now.

 

[Cognac]

I really feel for those with an anniversary date from March to now. If domestic is back to semi normal in September, that only gives them 6 months to make their qualification. Lets hope QF do something similar to VA and contribute status credits or pro-rata their requalification required.

Yeah, it's not great. I mean, I don't fly for status, but it's certainly nice to have access to various lounges when on the road. And the vast majority of my travel has been international, which makes things even harder with respect to getting back in the air.

I sent the Q team a query the other day asking about an update with regards to this status extension (especially as it wasn't really an extension when it was provided only 2 weeks prior to the end of the membership year). The website still says it's assessing the situation as it changes.

"Given the wide reaching impacts Coronavirus is having across the world and our business, we are unable to extend your status for another 12 months. Please be advised that if you've already attained your status then you will automatically enjoy your current benefits for the rest of your Membership Year another 12 months[sic]. Status extension will not apply."

The rest of the email (a further 9 paragraphs) was basically them just advertising their partner programs and Qantas Points Club at me.

While disappointing, I'm pretty much resigned to losing my status at the end of March 2021 and having to re-qualify.

 

[justinbrett]

Yeah, it's not great. I mean, I don't fly for status, but it's certainly nice to have access to various lounges when on the road. And the vast majority of my travel has been international, which makes things even harder with respect to getting back in the air.

I sent the Q team a query the other day asking about an update with regards to this status extension (especially as it wasn't really an extension when it was provided only 2 weeks prior to the end of the membership year). The website still says it's assessing the situation as it changes.

"Given the wide reaching impacts Coronavirus is having across the world and our business, we are unable to extend your status for another 12 months. Please be advised that if you've already attained your status then you will automatically enjoy your current benefits for the rest of your Membership Year another 12 months[sic]. Status extension will not apply."

The rest of the email (a further 9 paragraphs) was basically them just advertising their partner programs and Qantas Points Club at me.

While disappointing, I'm pretty much resigned to losing my status at the end of March 2021 and having to re-qualify.

I wouldn't pay much attention to that email. They're obviously not concerned with status at the moment - but once things start getting back up and running - and Virgin has a new owner - they will need to attract their customers to fly. I expect there will be something for people like us - maybe not an automatic extension - perhaps a 50% reduction in SCs. It would be a very small group of people who could qualify as WP on only domestic flights in a six month period. Cast your WPs aside now they might not come back. I'm sure they'll do something.

 

[Aeolus]

Pointless retaining WP or P1 when there's no international flying anyway (to mid July 2021 if speculation is true). Heart goes out to all the QF staff affected from today's announcement.

 

[Port Power]

Pointless retaining WP or P1 when there's no international flying anyway (to mid July 2021 if speculation is true). Heart goes out to all the QF staff affected from today's announcement.

That’s partly why I went for a refund from credit voucher. The trip to Japan in March might still not go ahead again. I like the WP perks but probably won’t do quite as much flying in 2022 to retain anyway. As others have said, I might choose easier routes with other carriers instead.
Those poor staff members who are being laid off. They would have felt uneasy enough while in limbo these last few months.

 

[mviy]

Pointless retaining WP or P1 when there's no international flying anyway (to mid July 2021 if speculation is true).

Whilst there's no domestic First Lounge (well there is the Chairman's Lounge but that's invitation only and may not reopen for some time), there are still benefits for domestic flying for WP and P1.

For example:

P1 can select front row economy seats (if available) when booking which on many planes gives extra leg room and means you'll be one of the first off the plane after it lands.

WP can select the third row of economy when they book (if seats not yet taken) and at T-80 can often select the front row of economy (SG probably can select row 4 at T-80 too, but WP may see more seats at T-80 which is useful if travelling in a group).

WP and P1 can go into the Domestic Business Lounge even when flying economy.

If you only fly Business Domestically then it may not mean a lot, but they are nice benefits to have (though probably not worth going out of one's way to get on their own).

SG is probably the sweet spot for domestic only with priority boarding and access to the QANTAS Club lounges.

QF may decide to further extend status or temporarily make it significantly easier to retain or attain.

Heart goes out to all the QF staff affected from today's announcement.

Hopefully a vaccine is found sooner than expected and QF can rehire some of these staff in the future. It's certainly devastating for them.

It takes many years of training for pilots, engineers etc. and when new opportunities arise there's likely to be lots of competition for the few roles available. Those nearing retirement age may find it especially difficult.

One feels particularly for those who went through Ansett's collapse, managed to get a job at QANTAS and now will be laid off again.

 

[BD1959]

Whilst there's no domestic First Lounge (well there is the Chairman's Lounge but that's invitation only and may not reopen for some time), there are still benefits for domestic flying for WP and P1.

For example:

P1 can select front row economy seats (if available) when booking which on many planes gives extra leg room and means you'll be one of the first off the plane after it lands.

WP can select the third row of economy when they book (if seats not yet taken) and at T-80 can often select the front row of economy (SG probably can select row 4 at T-80 too, but WP may see more seats at T-80 which is useful if travelling in a group).

WP and P1 can go into the Domestic Business Lounge even when flying economy.

If you only fly Business Domestically then it may not mean a lot, but they are nice benefits to have (though probably not worth going out of one's way to get on their own).

Two major benefits of WP Domestic for me:

1. Lounge Access on arrival - especially when flying interstate for a customer meeting with colleagues flying from other states, other carriers. I can relax, work waiting for them to arrive.

2. IIROPS - this may become even more valuable as Qantas adjusts its schedules daily going forward to minimise costs. I've found QF's proactive contacting me to inform of a late afternoon/early evening cancellation invaluable to allow me to reschedule soonest and not have to wait for a couple of hours for an available seat.

Regards,

BD

 

[Aeolus]

It takes many years of training for pilots, engineers etc. and when new opportunities arise there's likely to be lots of competition for the few roles available. Those nearing retirement age may find it especially difficult.

One feels particularly for those who went through Ansett's collapse, managed to get a job at QANTAS and now will be laid off again.

I really hope that when/if QF rehires them later down the track that they don't need to start from the lowest rank again and work their way up. The airline seniority system is really baffling.

 

[Cognac]

I wouldn't pay much attention to that email. They're obviously not concerned with status at the moment - but once things start getting back up and running - and Virgin has a new owner - they will need to attract their customers to fly. I expect there will be something for people like us - maybe not an automatic extension - perhaps a 50% reduction in SCs. It would be a very small group of people who could qualify as WP on only domestic flights in a six month period. Cast your WPs aside now they might not come back. I'm sure they'll do something.

Fingers crossed. Mind you, the airlines (and the country, and the rest of the world) have bigger things to worry about in the short term. I'm sure they'll have some sort of promotion once overseas holidays are an option again.

Pointless retaining WP or P1 when there's no international flying anyway (to mid July 2021 if speculation is true). Heart goes out to all the QF staff affected from today's announcement.

Yes, no point having it when there is no flying - hence the extensions. But without the extension there are those of us that won't have it again once we do restart flying (ie, after March next year). Which is the discussion. First world problems though.

Definitely feel for those that are being laid off.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well this crazy covid situation is definitely one way to thin out the elite ranks starting next year. Even with more near normal domestic flying... depending on when borders re-open for general travel (and people trying to avoid MEL ) it's probably going to be quite some time till more normal business (or leisure) travel occurs. Probably be few retaining P1 over the next 12 months or so I would guestimate.

Interesting times ahead from that point of view..

With that in mind one other benefit of P1 is a soft landing to WP for the year after, for those that don't requalify, or even get to 1200.

So many unknowns with this mess, and QF's latest announcement about fleet groundings, staff cuts and the like present the notion that QF definitely has a gloomy short/medium term outlook to travel. demand.

I suspect 2021 will see more activity on the status front from QF. They simply have to I reckon.

 

[mviy]

If they do extend things further they probably don't want to announce it too soon as they don't want to discourage people who can fly from flying at the moment.

 

[aus_flyer]

With Qantas not having First Class until 2023 and minimal international flying at best for the next 18 months... what does the future hold for the First lounges?

 

[woodborer]

I would posit that as they have now made some operational decisions, they might start looking at the impacts it has on their frequent flyers, and how they should best respond.

Fully expect some further announcements on issues for their frequent flyers, but I'd suggest they may not be for a few months yet.

 

[bPeteb]

My new card arrived yesterday. I'm 60 short of WP requal. The letter was the standard 'you haven't qualified but we've looked at your history and extended your status for a year'. I know I haven't but I would have.

I'll be lucky if I fly enough to get 100 the way it's looking even though I had flights worth 800SC booked and now cancelled. SG soft landing next July unless something miraculous happens.

Hardly an actual problem in the big scheme of things. I have a job and all of my family and friends have theirs, and their health.

 

[justinbrett]

If they do extend things further they probably don't want to announce it too soon as they don't want to discourage people who can fly from flying at the moment.

There's a balance here though. If you are a WP who expired in Mar - sitting at around 0 going into Jul - you've got no hope (and probably no motivation) to get 1200 SCs on domestic in that short timeframe (especially with most states still closed).

A 50% reduction in the target would work better - 600 on domestic is doable. But if they leave things up in the air, I won't bother chasing until they tell me.

 

[Cognac]

My new card arrived yesterday. I'm 60 short of WP requal. The letter was the standard 'you haven't qualified but we've looked at your history and extended your status for a year'. I know I haven't but I would have.

I'll be lucky if I fly enough to get 100 the way it's looking even though I had flights worth 800SC booked and now cancelled. SG soft landing next July unless something miraculous happens.

Hardly an actual problem in the big scheme of things. I have a job and all of my family and friends have theirs, and their health.

Yes. It's definitely something worth remembering. These are definitely first-world problems.

 

[RichardMEL]

With Qantas not having First Class until 2023 and minimal international flying at best for the next 18 months... what does the future hold for the First lounges?

Obviously who can say. I expect there will not be any open even when limited international resume (whenever that may be).

BUT do not forget.

QF's F lounges are used by a number of partner airlines such as OW airlines and a few others. That is a source of revenue and possibly even a requirement under partnership agreements.

I would expect that the major lounges would re-open at some point. Probably with much paired down service (I can see the spa services possibly given the chop possibly) but I would think they would.

Remember locations like SIN and LAX also act as OW First Lounges (moreso than SYD or MEL imo) and there are few, if any, other options (QR at SIN is really nice and brand new I will admit but LAX is a bit bare for other great options). There will probably be reason for QF to have those open.

I certainly don't think they are going away even if QF has no F anytime soon.

(Also remember things are ever changing.. just because QF is storing 380's and do not expect to have them back anytime soon the situation could be very different in a year - I sure hope it is!!)