Qantas extends status extensions until end June 2023 (previously December 2022)

[Lynda2475]

I'm not looking for another program (as not feasible for me to earn the points and SCs needed elsewhere for gold equivalent), but if I lose gold this year, I will need to buy Christmas travel (instead of classic reward) to start the painful journey back to gold 700 SCs instead of 600SCs which for me is near impossible without DSC promos and work travel (non existent in current job).

As a mostly solo female traveler transiting the ME is not something I care to do from a safety pov, even more so since the DOH event last year.

It also has employment implications for me, as means i need to find a new job in my next FF year where I will get travel benefits, instead of being able to delay that move another year.

I'm still holding a grudge against star alliance given they did not honour my RTW awards bookings when Ansett went belly up, I will never pay to fly on Air NZ again since I hold them accountable. I have flown them once since, but only because client paid. KrisFlyer miles expire which is a turn off, whereas QF points dont as long as you earn more.

 

[mviy]

I think QF would be hoping people book trips with QF for say the Northern Hemisphere summer to retain status. Then if QF extends status after they have already booked psychologically they may not wish to cancel especially if there would be fees involved.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a DSC promo to encourage people to book trips then followed by further status extensions.

 

[Lynda2475]

Most people planning a northern hemisphere summer holiday (not business trip) would have booked their flights by now, as sweet spot for pricing is 6 months out (10 months if you doing reward flights), especially if there is any over lap with school holidays.

 

[RichardMEL]

Lynda, I understand. I too was caught up in the Ansett collapse with a revenue RTW ticket issued on AN ticket stock(!). I too feared for the worst, but the airlines involved (IIRC it was Lauda, OS, SK, LH and UA) all honoured the ticket, QF even flew me MEL-SYD in place of AN so I got very lucky (and my points were being credited to UA, so I did not lose on that aspect either) but I fully understand. I boycotted NZ for probably 15 years myself for other reasons to do with employment and what I learned they did to AN IT (through people I worked with) but I got over it in the end and have enjoyed their product a few times. Each to their own.

I guess perhaps as others have mentioned your options are more likely to go for a status match? At least then you would have that to work with - though I guess if the status was matched to a Star carrier that would be a hard no for you, and very unlikely to get a match to a OW carrier (unless QR brings back the match they did). A tricky situation I understand.

I guess we each have our reasons and they're all valid.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes fair point. I think the real issue is the lack of flair and innovation. QF has traded well on its safety and "home" branding, but really the soft product has been declining for years despite many "enhancements" and generally cant match ( and arguably doesnt try) other ME and asian premium players in terms of customer service and overall value - of course just my view based on my experience and Covid has changed everything.
To me QF is like a pair of old shoes which cost a lot to buy and which you have continued to spend money on maintaining cos they fit and are comfortable, despite being drab and having slightly uneven heels which cause you to wobble a bit when you walk... and then you see those new shiny shoes in the shop that are just as comfortable if not more, and cost 2/3 the cost... and come with a free shoe bag!

old shoes. lol. getting a bit on the nose too

I feel QF has the whiff of Air Canada about them - a dominant player in their home market who knows they can't compete with the big boys but put in a reasonable(at times) token effort banking on that home market advantage to keep customers. So many people complain about AC service, staff etc it's not funny (I find them just fine, but I've been used to UA and AA for decades, so expectations for north american carriers have been well and truly lowered over the years).

QF of course can't compete on cost basis with your ME3 and most of the asian carriers and so don't even really try, I think this is one reason QF jumped into bed with EK when they did - not only offering a much more premium product but also a network of connections that honestly is incredible from DXB. I don't love EK (except the shower experience.. I mean.. come on ) but connectivity and product wise in general it's a no brainer for QF imo.

(gosh remember the time there was a huge rumour about a QF/SQ tie up? that was the most exciting concept that never happened lol)

anyway I agree with you. QF holds many "hostage" through either network strength, "loyalty" etc (I mean more through tie ins with big brands like woolies etc) - the power of the QFF program - than a loyalty to the safety record and all that and thus the AC type situation. I mean BA is similar - heck most of the legacy carriers around the world in their own way.

I do feel this is why many have ditched the status handcuffs - specially if they can afford, one way or another, the premium cabin/experience travel they want to go either BFOD or whichever combo gets them to where they want. Of course not everyone can afford paid J (or F) or to even buy the miles in various programs and book just award travek (I have a mate who travels this way but can be very flexible and organises his travel a year+ in advance).

Since QF has weak domestic competition (VA) and the others are no issue in terms of worrying about things like premium cabin experiences, status and connectivity etc (Rex, Bonza) then QF has little reason to make big efforts (and let's face it they don't have the $$$) to improve the experience for most customers.. unfortunately.

 

[jase05]

So anything in the pipeline for those of us who actually retained status (albeit only lowly Gold) and have been flying pretty much right through the pandemic?
Most airlines are rewarding the ones who haven’t been flying yet very little offered for ones who have

 

[Tropic]

So anything in the pipeline for those of us who actually retained status (albeit only lowly Gold) and have been flying pretty much right through the pandemic?
Most airlines are rewarding the ones who haven’t been flying yet very little offered for ones who have

Not good situation but I guess bit easier if your employer or clients picking up the tab - its those that funded their own travel to maintain status I feel for.

 

[RichardMEL]

I think QF would be hoping people book trips with QF for say the Northern Hemisphere summer to retain status. Then if QF extends status after they have already booked psychologically they may not wish to cancel especially if there would be fees involved.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a DSC promo to encourage people to book trips then followed by further status extensions.

I am not so sure I agree.

pre-pandemic perhaps.

However there is still so much uncertainty about international travel (and let's not mention WA ) and I think THIS is the major driver of demand issues right now.. and I doubt a DSC promo, or status extensions or whatever really come into it.

Remember a relatively small number of QF members truly care to the extent we do about status. I mean the pool of elite members is small already, and then those actively worrying about retaining Silver, Gold, whatever. I think the bubble of a forum like this where we all have a much bigger interest in it can skew the perspective a bit.

People are still worrying about if they go to wherever will they get in? will rules change? will borders close? I just read in one of the other threads here a suggestion to go to Zurch due to a no PCR testing requirement (currently) but who knows what could change or when... and these issues in general are I feel still influencing a lot of people's travel decisions. This is why QF (and VA) slashed flying in the first quarter for domestic travel and pushed back many international routes.

The other counter to your thought in my view is that QF wants to (in theory anyway if it doesn't seem like it to us at times) to keep its customers loyal and happy and thus booking (for example, Lynda!) and by giving extensions that is the method. a DSC promo is of little use if you have 5 or 6 months left in your membership year and need a lot of DSC to retain and you have not been able to fly. If QFF extend the Jul-Dec folks that would be the incentive to actually book travel imo.

I am sure there will be bonus SC promos come along but they also target a slightly different group (more aspirational - to go from say Silver to Gold) but in a time of uncertainty I doubt many are booking long haul flights etc to up their status, or even as runs, as may have happened in the past.

Anyway we shall see. I am still confident.

 

[RichardMEL]

So anything in the pipeline for those of us who actually retained status (albeit only lowly Gold) and have been flying pretty much right through the pandemic?
Most airlines are rewarding the ones who haven’t been flying yet very little offered for ones who have

I fully understand where you're coming from, but what would make you happy?

And remember, things like status extensions, support etc are about what QF wants, not what we want.

As far as QF is concerned you're a bit of a golden (pun intended) goose of a customer to be able to be flying right through. One presumes (but not assume) for work. You don't need the support.

Yes, those who are not flying, or not flying as much (such as myself) through no real fault or choice of theirs are being "rewarded" but only to the extent of keeping what we already had anyway. Yes, some get an extra year, and currently some have not.

I understand it seems unfair if you've done it the hard way fully. I guess you are who would be the target of a bonus SC offer so you can get more out of your flying.

I do know some programs have rewarded those using services in various ways that have seemed quite smart. For example, Delta offering some "choice rewards" options to those higher elite members who retained status during 2021 (see Extended SkyMiles Member Benefits - COVID | Delta Air Lines) which seems like a cool idea.

Of course, QF has also rewarded those who retain during membership year with rollover SC's - essentially a free leg up into the next year based on flying that has happened. I know it's capped, but that has been one concrete way to reward those members who have retained status (in addition to the extensions, of course).

 

[Lynda2475]

I guess perhaps as others have mentioned your options are more likely to go for a status match?

Problem is I would have to do those status matching flights while I am still gold i.e. between now and end of July; and because I'm travelling all of August and already have a 5 day April trip I can not afford nor get approval for anymore time off work to fly anywhere else to do a status match.

Now if Qantas would have just confirmed a hard no on status extensions by end of December, I wouldn't have booked my April and June weekend trips as revenue trips with them, instead I would just be burning points whilst still gold and able to get seats, then in August 2023 decide what to do re a new program.

Work gets in the way of travel but funds it, a catch 22!

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think QF would be hoping people book trips with QF for say the Northern Hemisphere summer to retain status. Then if QF extends status after they have already booked psychologically they may not wish to cancel especially if there would be fees involved.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a DSC promo to encourage people to book trips then followed by further status extensions.

Yep I agree.
They will want to encourage further bookings for those with later expiry dates.
Announcing blanket extensions now when everyone but WA is free to travel would be counter productive for them in terms of revenue. A double SC promo or points promo would be more likely I think.

 

[jase05]

I fully understand where you're coming from, but what would make you happy?

And remember, things like status extensions, support etc are about what QF wants, not what we want.

As far as QF is concerned you're a bit of a golden (pun intended) goose of a customer to be able to be flying right through. One presumes (but not assume) for work. You don't need the support.

Yes, those who are not flying, or not flying as much (such as myself) through no real fault or choice of theirs are being "rewarded" but only to the extent of keeping what we already had anyway. Yes, some get an extra year, and currently some have not.

I understand it seems unfair if you've done it the hard way fully. I guess you are who would be the target of a bonus SC offer so you can get more out of your flying.

I do know some programs have rewarded those using services in various ways that have seemed quite smart. For example, Delta offering some "choice rewards" options to those higher elite members who retained status during 2021 (see Extended SkyMiles Member Benefits - COVID | Delta Air Lines) which seems like a cool idea.

Of course, QF has also rewarded those who retain during membership year with rollover SC's - essentially a free leg up into the next year based on flying that has happened. I know it's capped, but that has been one concrete way to reward those members who have retained status (in addition to the extensions, of course).

I’m not wanting much, perhaps uncapped rollover SC’s or even a extension in line with others so that for instance I had Gold for 18 months rather than 12.
Obviously QF need to do what’s right by them but I did like the VA idea of extra SC’s, doesn’t have to be double but even say a bonus 10SC’s per J flight for example would possibly get me close enough to tempt me into reaching for Platinum. As it is there is no real incentive for me to fly QF before my date as I’ve retained Gold and reached my cap of rollover SC’s.
Probably a bit of a moot point now too as I’ve switched over to BAEC so anything I fly now will go to them

 

[Lynda2475]

QF missed a huge opportunity by not having a DSC promo in Oct when border opening was announced, and by not having one in Jan when people typically planning their winter travels to warmer climates.

 

[mviy]

When the international border was reopened QF presumably expected those who would want to travel then would book regardless.

January whilst people are on holidays is not when they typically do a DSC promo. Feb/March would be more likely. Feb/March is far enough out from the Northern Hemisphere summer that it may bring forward some bookings, but close enough that some people will have already booked.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF missed a huge opportunity by not having a DSC promo in Oct when order opening was announced, and by not having one in Jan when people typically planning their winter travels to warmer climbs.

I am going to guess that the thinking in Mascot went something like this:

1. People have been locked down, unable to travel, whatever for the most part for the best part of 18 months (at the time)
2. Ergo.. everyone wants to go ASAP
3. Thus demand will be strong for whatever we offer
4. We do not need to give them incentive to drive demand because it will be huge.

more or less. ie banking on pent up demand doing the job for them. That's also why there weren't many sales out either. A few yes, and some destinations got some, but in general initial fares being offered weren't exactly generous iirc - certainly on international routes.

And in a way they were right because many DID book (and some actually have gotten out - more and more as time goes on) but then of course Omicron came along and pout a massive spanner in the works (and also remember back in Sep/Oct some states other than WA will still blocking entry for most - SA, Tas and QLD namely) and even as those states did relax things (finally) omicron came along, oil prices went up and demand fell back away due to all the uncertainties resulting in where we are now with a slashed first quarter network and some routes pushed back more (and some other sub optimally brought back, such as the old config A380 pulled onto SYD-LAX).

 

[Lynda2475]

some destinations got some

Yes the open destinations had some great deals, for example you could get J seats on QF to FJ over Easter and Anzac day for $1350 return - i know i booked it, because combinedwith Amex voucher was super cheaper than a QF J SYD-MEL return for 160SCs.

Feb/March is far enough out from the Northern Hemisphere summer that it may bring forward some bookings

They used to do a DSC in October to kick-start demand for the new year - I typically used this to book my northern hemisphere summer trip and then used the March one to add my shorter xmas shutdown trip plus any long weekends or work trips I knew about.

The reason I think Jan would have been beneficial this year is that omicron scuttled a lot of plans, and there were heaps stuck at home in iso dreaming of getting away later in the year. And they have done Jan DSC before.

Some might be lucky to be able to get leave with only 3-4 notice, but lots of us need to give 8+ months notice to get a guaranteed month off mid year.

All the uncertainty and lack of usual DCS timings means that over all i will spend less, not necessarily spend with another carrier.

 

[Matt_01]

I am another with a July end date so am interested in what may/will be announced and I have asked the VIP Team if there is anything in the works to which I received the expected answer of 'we suspect something will happen but have not been informed of anything'. I suspect that if they do have an extension to cover Jul-Dec cohort, sometime around Aug-Sep those in the Jan-Jun cohort will start up again. It has to end at some point.

 

[Lynda2475]

It has to end at some point.

Yes which is why should have been tied to the international border opening which was 1 Nov. So extend July to Oct as they have not had a full 12 months to travel, whereas later anniversaies will have.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes which is why should have been tied to the international border opening which was 1 Nov. So extend July to Oct as they have not had a full 12 months to travel, whereas later anniversaies will have.

Seems a reasonable suggestion indeed.

but as with everything - and WHATEVER they do (or don't do) some will find fault with. Just for example, international border opened yes, but imn a limited way and with limited flights, and if you were in WA or some other parts it means nothing.. so the West Aussies could quite rightly say "Well that's great but we still can't get out..." and so on. As Matt says, if QF extend Jul-Dec, which I still say is the only real option they have, then Jan-Jun will arc up - or some will.. though personally I would argue that since Jan 1, baring WA (there's that again) so many options have been there for domestic and some, and increasing, intennational travel. A Feb end date, for example, will (baring some new outbreak, major incident) have a full year to retain their status the usual way... so that would seem at this point in time more than fair.

Yes, it has to end at some point and because of the rolling anniversary situation it can NEVER be fair for EVERYONE totally. It just can't. We need to accept it that some will benefit more, some will benefit less and at some point decide what's more important.

so the games will continue and yes there will be unhappy people no matter what. Nature of the beast unfortunately.

 

[Matt_01]

So extend July to Oct as they have not had a full 12 months to travel, whereas later anniversaies will have.

Sure the international boarders opened on 1 Nov but not all flights went ahead and not to all locations. Not all state boarders were open on on 1 Nov and those in SA, WA, QLD, TAS?, NT? still had restrictions on domestic travel. You could fly out of these states but getting back was another story. Not sure what the WA rules are for residents (leaving and returning) and would suspect that WA residents would argue that extensions should run through to Mar 22. IMO status extensions should not be linked to international boarder opening dates. I suspect that there are quite a number of SG members who reached this level just travelling domestically. I did ask the VIP agent why the was cut off was Jun and announced in Aug which seemed to make no sense (to me) and was advised Jun is the end of the FY. It is just the way I think and may not be accepted by others but if QF makes an announcement in Aug it should includes everyone up too and including the month the announcement was made. From memory when QF announced the first round of extensions, Mar 20 all those with Feb dates were not included.