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

[Mrmaxwell]

I am working from home this morning so I can watch the press conference and post here without the boss annoying me!

 

[CaptJCool]

Ah those were the days (j AS A joke)

https://www.qantas.com.au/img/page_graphics/graphics/frequent_flyer/pdf/Frequent_Flyer_benefits_guidebook.pdf

.

 

[wandering_fred]

Not going to happen BUT

one thing that QFF could do to "placate" those members who have earned lifetime status. Permit earning the next higher status at the renewal rate. Should I be so lucky to earn LTS and actually have to drop down to that level at some future point, I could qualify as SG for 600 SC.....
Or LTG could qualify for WP with 1200 SC.

If QFF is being picky then to enable this benefit perhaps 6 QF group (earning) flights would be required in the qualifying year.

Like I said earlier - beware of creative accountants....

Just wandering
Fred

 

[PlexWeb]

There are no new tiers being announced tomorrow.

To the contrary, there will be.

Granted, it's not your traditional NB/PS/SG/WP/P1 normal tiers, but the first announcement will be everyone's most anticipated tier, for life, with a very high threshold (let's say it's nowhere near 7k/14k for Silver/Gold).

The second announcement is more of a new 'club' than additions to the status tiers as we know it, but it offers certain members some benefits from fulfilling certain conditions, and it doesn't involve status credits.

I assure you, what I've heard is true and will be announced, and if not, then I'll eat humble pie and never post more upcoming 'whispers' like this. You can hold me accountable to that

Then for goodness sakes, they need to open up inventory supply so more of the heavy demand can be accommodated.

I do believe that's the plan, but I don't know the fine details of how they'll achieve that.

one thing that QFF could do to "placate" those members who have earned lifetime status. Permit earning the next higher status at the renewal rate.

Yes that's a nice thought but I'm reasonably certain existing tiers won't be affected by this round of changes.

 

[Major]

Welcome to AFF @PlexWeb

Thanks for your insight. It will be an interesting morning

 

[madrooster]

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.

QF's CM just got updated. There's a load of new functions now. Finally!

There's things that I can do on another Amadeus carrier's CM that I can't do on QF's but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

IIRC QF doesn't have a particularly good track record with the three month notice requirement. Couple of issues arose here on AFF and we had to remind the QF that there was this requirement (was it chauffeur drive?)

Chauffeur drive is a externally provided benefit and so as per the terms and conditions QF only needs to give a month's notice, not three.

To the contrary, there will be.

Granted, it's not your traditional NB/PS/SG/WP/P1 normal tiers, but the first announcement will be everyone's most anticipated tier, for life, with a very high threshold (let's say it's nowhere near 7k/14k for Silver/Gold).

It's a 62 year community service sentence, but you can pay your way to make it a 21 year community service sentence instead!

I won't be doing said community service for 62 years let alone 21 years... there's greener grass elsewhere on another continent.

SYD-OOL 6400pts+$27.58 Usually 8000pts
SYD-BME 18000pts+$53.39 Usually 18000pts

These are existing rates. The SYD-OOL is the price of a JQ Y award and JQ taxes. There's no fuel fines on JQ

SYD-BME is the current QF Y rate complete with current taxes and fuel fine.

 

[Pleb Status]

Granted, it's not your traditional NB/PS/SG/WP/P1 normal tiers, but the first announcement will be everyone's most anticipated tier, for life, with a very high threshold (let's say it's nowhere near 7k/14k for Silver/Gold).

The second announcement is more of a new 'club' than additions to the status tiers as we know it, but it offers certain members some benefits from fulfilling certain conditions, and it doesn't involve status credits.

Obviously this is the introduction of LTP at a very high number of LTSC (I assume in the order of 50,000-75,000, as 28,000 would be 'expected' and anything more would be pushing it) and the introduction of a 'complementary' SQ PPS style status scheme based on QF spend.

 

[mviy]

Obviously this is the introduction of LTP at a very high number of LTSC (I assume in the order of 50,000-75,000, as 28,000 would be 'expected' and anything more would be pushing it) and the introduction of a 'complementary' SQ PPS style status scheme based on QF spend.

Well LTS is 10*700=7000
LTG is 10*1400=14000

So I thought for quite a while that if LTP would be introduced it would be at least
10*3600=36000, though comments in this thread suggest a much higher level than that.

QF likes the LifeTime targets to be set such that those who achieve them are used to higher status levels.

 

[justinbrett]

Well LTS is 10*700=7000
LTG is 10*1400=14000

So I thought for quite a while that if LTP would be introduced it would be at least
10*3600=36000, though comments in this thread suggest a much higher level than that.

QF likes the LifeTime targets to be set such that those who achieve them are used to higher status levels.

I always figured they were 20x the initial qualifying rate. Ie, after maintaining status for 20 years you deserve to keep it for life.

20x 350 = 7000 (350 used to the the qualifying rate for Silver)
20x 700 = 14000 for gold.
Platinum should have been 28000 but I completely understand why they’d want to make it more due to crowding in the Dom J lounges and Intl F lounges.

 

[Brettmcg]

There will be a new tier that everyone is waiting for, which will be extremely hard to attain... and there will be even more new tiers that no-one will be expecting.... something different indeed.

Granted, it's not your traditional NB/PS/SG/WP/P1 normal tiers, but the first announcement will be everyone's most anticipated tier, for life, with a very high threshold (let's say it's nowhere near 7k/14k for Silver/Gold).

The second announcement is more of a new 'club' than additions to the status tiers as we know it, but it offers certain members some benefits from fulfilling certain conditions, and it doesn't involve status credits.

It guess it depends on whether one considers Lifetime Status to be a 'tier' in its own right. I don't, but that's possibly a terminology thing.

You're quite right that at 75k LTSC it is going to be difficult to achieve.

The 150K Club, which the second part of your post references, also doesn't really fall within the traditional tier structure, given the benefits are fairly limited, only offered by QF, don't convey OW benefits etc.

Now that you have provided some clarity around the terminology you have used, I agree that those things will be announced today.

There are more projects around the actual existing status tiers going on behind the scenes. Some changes in that area appear to have been deferred from the original batch of "enhancements" bandied around for this announcement. Watch this space.

 

[mviy]

When BA only needs 35000 lifetime tier points for a LTP equivalent, setting a target of over double that of 75000 LTSC on QF to get LTP is ridiculous.

 

[Brettmcg]

When BA only needs 35000 lifetime tier points for a LTP equivalent, setting a target of over double that of 75000 LTSC on QF to get LTP is ridiculous.

Yes, but now at least QF can say "we've listened and delivered what our customers want"

 

[madrooster]

Exclusive...

The new QF Y fuel fines that take effect from today:

AU Domestic Y - 14.00 AUD - no change
SYD/BNE/MEL <-> AKL/CHC/WLG/ZQN/NAN/NOU Y - 14.00 AUD - no change
SYD <-> DFW Y - 75.00 AUD - down from 150.00 AUD
SYD <-> HNL Y - 45.00 AUD - down from 90.00 AUD
SYD/BNE/MEL <-> LAX/SFO Y - 60.00 AUD - down from 120.00 AUD
LAX <-> JFK Y - Zero - previously also zero
SYD <-> JFK Y - 90.00 AUD - down from 180.00 AUD (QF11/QF12 entire way)
SYD/BNE/MEL <-> HND/NRT/KIX/CTS Y - 55.00 AUD - down from 90.00 AUD
SYD/BNE/MEL <-> SIN/HKG/BKK/MNL Y - 45.00 AUD - down from 75.00 AUD
PER <-> SIN Y - 35.00 AUD - down from 60.00 AUD
SYD <-> PVG/PEK Y - 55.00 AUD - down from 90.00 AUD
SYD/MEL <-> LHR Y - 140.00 AUD - down from 180.00 AUD (QF1/QF2/QF9/QF10 entire way)
PER <-> LHR Y - 140.00 AUD - down from 180.00 AUD
SIN <-> LHR Y - 50.00 AUD - down from 175.00 AUD
SYD/MEL <-> CGK/DPS Y - 35.00 AUD - down from 60.00 AUD
SYD <-> JNB Y - 95.00 AUD - down from 120.00 AUD
SYD <-> SCL Y - 95.00 AUD - down from 120.00 AUD

That should be every QF route covered. These are from a AU point of ticket origin.

There's no changes to W/J/F fuel fines for now.

The biggest reduction is on SIN-LHR QF1/QF2.

There's a few anomalies... eg. it's cheaper in fuel fines to fly SYD-SIN-LHR using QF81 + QF1 than it is to take SYD-LHR all on QF1. It's also cheaper to do SYD-BNE-LAX-JFK instead of SYD-JFK as QF11.

 

[kpc]

If LTP is set at 75K SC, that is absolutely ridiculous....I suspect that the majority that reach that level won't have many flying years left! It is typical of Qf - give but not really give!! It will be easier and cheaper to just retain Plat status each year. At current rates of 1200 SCs to retain Pat, you could retain Plat for 30 years at 30 x1200 = 36000 SCs!

 

[Brettmcg]

If LTP is set at 75K SC, that is absolutely ridiculous....I suspect that the majority that reach that level won't have many flying years left! It is typical of Qf - give but not really give!! It will be easier and cheaper to just retain Plat status each year. At current rates of 1200 SCs to retain Pat, you could retain Plat for 30 years at 30 x1200 = 36000 SCs!

Yep, although in my particular case, I've just turned 30, and if I continue retain P1 for the next 13 years, I would end up with LTP before my 44th birthday! Blows out to 20 years if I only reach 2400 SC annually for the next little while

 

[DC3]

ATA anyone ... ?

 

[Ansett]

One of the reasons EK gave for not allowing QF points to be used to upgrade with on EK flights was that it was too cheap, perhaps if there is a rise in upgrade points required this could open the door to use points to upgrade on EK operated flights?

 

[Deleted member]

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:

View attachment 171105

For many of us, this removes the incentive to earn points in the first place. If Qantas Frequent Flyer becomes a revenue-based program, I will be moving my business elsewhere.

I guess Qantas will need to balance that against potential loss of profit in the FF program. Why would they screw up a valuable source of profit?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Announcement will be that QANTAS is changing its business from an airline to a financial service provider dealing exclusively in QantasBits currency only. You may redeem FF points at 10FF pts ber QFBit. Transact enough QFBits and you can get a seat on a flight, which will now become an ancilliary part of the business, and only operate if there are enough passengers to service routes.

Regulatory approval is not required because, hey, we can just invent our own currency willy-nilly anyhow.

 

[ellen10]

Just watched Ross Greenwood (on Today). He was saying that one of the big announcements was that Qantas will be releasing more FF flight inventory on the popular routes, and at popular times e.g. school holidays. And more of the Frequent flyer flights, like the A380 flight to Japan.
Last year the QFF program made 372 million last year. So a very worthwhile product for Qantas.