Qantas FF announcement 20 June - "biggest overhaul" in program history

[calmelb]

I feel given how big the announcement is, it’s not going to be something that only affects the top portion of FFiers (they might be affected but they’re not going to make a huge deal), I think it’s something like it being sold off, like a name change, or the whole use your points as another way.

I feel if they wanted to make a really bad change they wouldn’t have made it a press conference, the bad articles alone will rip them to shreds post announcement

 

[ozflier]

I think you need to spend some money on flying before receiving the benefits of status.

My point is that this may be a change QFF is considering - give the non flying punters access to real benefits ( ie upgrades , business class overseas, lounge access ) rather than just the occasional special at the Qantas Shop.

 

[pchammond]

My point is that this may be a change QFF is considering - give the non flying punters access to real benefits ( ie upgrades , business class overseas, lounge access ) rather than just the occasional special at the Qantas Shop.

I hope not! The lounges are already crowded as is

 

[onemore]

I hope not! The lounges are already crowded as is

Funny you should say that, because that is exactly what I was thinking recently when the F lounge was full in Sydney because of flight delays, "I bet there is something done to reduce the numbers in the lounges".

 

[opusman]

"I bet there is something done to reduce the numbers in the lounges".

Spend requirements for status would do that...

 

[PineappleSkip]

QANTAS CEO ANNOUNCES PIE IN THE SKY FOR FREQUENT FLIERS

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth today announced that the airline would be rolling out a dedicated bespoke cabin for frequent flyers, promising greater award availability on every flight.

The innovative new cabin, with Recaro seating based on seats in Qantas’ economy cabins, will initially be provided on project sunrise aircraft, but is expected to be rolled out to other aircraft over the next few years.

Mr Joyce said “classic award seats are here to stay, and today we’re announcing a new classic award seating area with enhanced award winning seating options”.

Qantas’ market research found that more award seats were available in economy, so the innovative new award winning seats are modelled on our existing award winning economy seats.

Ms Worth said “What could be better than flight awards in award winning seats? Our frequent flyers told us that they love our next generation, award winning Recaro seats, and now we’re providing the next generation of next generation, award winning seats in our new cabin. She added “We’re calling the new, dedicated classic award cabin ‘the Classic Room’ as a salute to our classic awards”.

The Classic Room is a bold new option that will take the self loading freight concept to the next level. Mr Joyce explained “We recently ruled out putting sleepers in the project sunrise cargo hold, and this decision freed up space for a new cabin that will eventually provide classic award seats on every flight”.

Premium cabin awards will be enhanced too. Before the changes announced today, a classic award seat in first typically cost about three times that of the equivalent economy award, even though the first seats weren’t as next generation or award winning as the economy seats. Market testing of cargo hold seating found that some passengers were less delighted than others with the dungeon-like environment in the hold.

Business and first classic award seats in the legacy cabins will now be replaced by new David Caon designed sunrise virtual window seats in a dedicated area of the Classic Room. The seats will have three times the recline of a standard economy seat, and some seats will feature an innovative virtual window based on extensive research of Emirates’ marketing material for their refreshed first class.

Mr Joyce said “I ordered simplicity and fairness, and that’s what we’re giving”. Ms Wirth added “three times the recline for three times the points - Qantas doesn’t get fairer than that”.

A wellness innovation in the sunrise seat is the unique and innovative massage feature. Each seat features a soothing massage spindle embedded in an innovative rotating seat squab, which will provide a new dimension for in flight entertainment on long flights.

The Classic Room will also feature enhanced dining options. A Neil Perry inspired wellness menu will be exclusive to our classic cabin, featuring Qantas award winning sourdough bread and wellness water served in David Caon designed boutique plastic bottles. Passengers in the dedicated premium area will also have access to an enhanced range of Neil Perry Party Pies, with a rotating menu of innovative but classic flavours, including cheese and bacon, tomato and onion, and classic potato.

“Now, our loyal Qantas frequent flyers will be able to enjoy pie in the sky, while they sit on a spindle and rotate”, beamed Mr Joyce.

———


Cheers skip

 

[Max Samuels]

QF is pretty good with data and analytics.

Disagree. Knowing first-hand how it is done (having done it), who does it (mainly outsourced offshore now, which means its not the "A" team), QF's analytics is woefully lacking. The amount of info it has on its members should enable it to do far more clever analysis than it currently does. You'd be surprised how much of what they do is "manual"... you should see the process for crediting other oneworld airline miles and SC to QF FF accounts! You would die...
Don't let a sexy app confuse you - its all smoke and mirrors.
My FF summary page, for example, says that i have earned 250k+ this year from "phone and more".... no idea what that even means. Certainly not from my phone - I guess its the "more"?

That's how good they are at "data"....

 

[Hoatzin]

You know how with VFF, you can use you points to pay for petrol at BP?
I wonder if QF will be announcing a similar thing (along with everything else): use your points to pay for things, like a regular currency (with select partners of course).

Allowing points plus pay on an ad hoc basis for good and services would be a good way to bring down points balances across the board as I suspect many non elite flyers with large point balances that they find difficult to use may find this option appealing as it would allow them to get some value out of their points more easily than taking the time to scroll through the rewards shop with its limited options.

 

[Guvner]

Cheese and bacon party pies? Where do I sign?

 

[TheInsider]

That's how good they are at "data"....

I agree, QF are extremely poor at data and their systems are not up to it.

There has been an Amadeus product - CEM that's been out for a while and QF are still only in the discovery phase of deciding to purchase this product. They have been in this phase for over a year.

Their check-in system is also one of the most basic and cheapest versions out of all the Amadeus users too (meaning they are so far behind on what other carriers can do), which is in contrast to QF being the launch carrier of the product with BA.

Amadeus Customer Experience Management | Amadeus for Airlines

Aggregate customer data and compute valuable insights in real-time for airlines.

amadeus.com

 

[DC3]

"... I bet there is something done to reduce the numbers in the lounges".

Spend requirements for status would do that...

So much for those of us not travelling on the company dime.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Assuming this is a serious question, it basically removes all of the sweet spots in the program that make it valuable to its users. A revenue-based system means that all points are worth a fixed amount as determined by the airline, and you can no longer get valuable rewards for a small number of points.

Under a revenue-based system, J award seats from SYD to LAX could cost over a million points. Don't believe me? Just look at current Qantas Points+Pay pricing:

You're focussing on redemptions. A revenue based system for earning status would be a good thing for me personally. The twice a year business class passenger on revenue tickets might finally get rewarded rather than those on cheap MEL-SYD tickets who just happen to fly with a DSC deal.

 

[boomy]

Interesting times... I’ll be in the QF lounge tomorrow morning tuning in with anticipation (hopefully just big media hype without much negative changes).

 

[rakeman]

QFF has not been a generous program for a long, long time

So they are decreasing it even further? Making something cough even coughpier. I also agree with the idea that when major negative changes occur they don't do a press announcement followed by a conference.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't QFF already earn them a lot of money, I'd be cautious in changing the biggest cash cow I've got.

Prediction: They are selling it off.

 

[Sojourner]

When I saw the headline, I could hear in the distance the collective groan coming from the AFF community.

 

[onemore]

So much for those of us not travelling on the company dime.

You mean I am not the only frequent flyer paying for lots of flights out of my pocket?

 

[Hoatzin]

You're focussing on redemptions. A revenue based system for earning status would be a good thing for me personally. The twice a year business class passenger on revenue tickets might finally get rewarded rather than those on cheap MEL-SYD tickets who just happen to fly with a DSC deal.

To be fair MEL_Traveller, as a twice a year business class passenger on revenue tickets you are already being rewarded. If Qantas sets the rules such that people on cheap MEL-SYD tickets with DSC can get status then that is legitimate. It would take 6.25 return trips on this route in Disc Y with DSC to maintain PS, 15 to maintain SC, and 30 to maintain WP. There is a case to be made that someone who takes 15 return journeys on this route per year should benefit from QC access, and someone who does it 30 times per year should enjoy the domestic J lounge.

 

[EestiTiger]

Prediction: They are selling it off.

That was my initial thought too. Considering how well it does to the bottom line I'd be surprised though!

 

[DC3]

When I saw the headline, I could hear in the distance the collective groan coming from the AFF community.

… and probably well-founded, based on past announcements.

 

[sudoer]

A revenue based system for earning status would be a good thing for me personally. The twice a year business class passenger on revenue tickets might finally get rewarded rather than those on cheap MEL-SYD tickets who just happen to fly with a DSC deal.

Where are these cheap MEL-SYD tickets you speak of? I'm flying a red e-Deal off peak next week at a cost of $573 or $28/SC. Almost the same price as flying to Hong Kong but 1/3-1/4 the SC.

I think the true beneficiaries of a revenue based system would be the golden triangle Y flyers given current ticket prices..