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

[rock86]

Unfair? Whomever says that a loyalty programme needs to be fair? It’s about rewarding loyalty and not who can accumulate the most points via non flying means.

Isn't someone directing their discretionary spending to a Qantas branded product loyal though?

People on the ground who don't fly a great deal can also be loyal to the company and generate them significant revenue (sometimes more then an actual flyer).

 

[33kft]

Frankly, the arguments are all effectively the same.

Infrequent Flyer directing spend to QF partners: Where's my equity in the program? I'm paying for these points
Frequent domestic flyer away from home half the year: I'm the frequent flyer the program is named after! why should infrequent flyers expect to benefit?
Business owner controlling discretionary spend: I'm the real revenue source! I choose where the spend is directed

QFF's take is clearly: A little from column a, a little from column b, a little from column c

 

[rock86]

Frankly, the arguments are all effectively the same.

Infrequent Flyer directing spend to QF partners: Where's my equity in the program? I'm paying for these points
Frequent domestic flyer away from home half the year: I'm the frequent flyer the program is named after! why should infrequent flyers expect to benefit?
Business owner controlling discretionary spend: I'm the real revenue source! I choose where the spend is directed

QFF's take is clearly: A little from column a, a little from column b, a little from column c

Yep, pretty much spot on.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Anyone want me to write an article dissecting the QF changes from an airline perspective and how it benefits the airline?

By popular demand, here it is: Under the Hood: What the Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes Really Mean For Members

 

[Pushka]

Isn't someone directing their discretionary spending to a Qantas branded product loyal though?

People on the ground who don't fly a great deal can also be loyal to the company and generate them significant revenue (sometimes more then an actual flyer).

Except - That’s not what they are doing to accumulate the points. They are simply shopping - for anything! They can even get points to Qantas flying on Virgin if they use a Qantas points credit card.

 

[rock86]

Except - That’s not what they are doing to accumulate the points. They are simply shopping - for anything! They can even get points to Qantas flying on Virgin if they use a Qantas points credit card.

I think you are missing the point. Regardless of what they shop for, they can still generate Qantas quite a bit of revenue by being 'loyal' to them and utilising a product aligned to the QFF program when making their transactions.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

Except - That’s not what they are doing to accumulate the points. They are simply shopping - for anything! They can even get points to Qantas flying on Virgin if they use a Qantas points credit card.

And a very large percentage of top level frequent flyers are earning status on someone else's dime.

 

[Hillbilly64]

I'm seeing improved Awards flights already as a Bronze. BNE (via SYD and MEL) to LAX in J and F... 290 days out if anyone's interested.

I've never seen any J or F Qantas availability to LAX or SFO prior to this only availability with partner airlines in J and F

 

[amaroo]

I'm seeing improved Awards flights already as a Bronze. BNE (via SYD and MEL) to LAX in J and F... 290 days out if anyone's interested.

Agreed. I can see F SYD-LAX through a fair chunk of Dec

 

[RichardMEL]

Just did a tester and Qantas had a ridiculous points figure and the other guys had A330s in J at their normal level.
This is for a run from PER-SYD-PER in July. Now I won’t go and use 300,000 points one way so QF is way off.

Are you sure you were searching for classic rewards rather than "use points"?

 

[Pushka]

And a very large percentage of top level frequent flyers are earning status on someone else's dime.

As I said before if that’s the case then they are also spending a lot of time away from their home and loved ones for work travel. Small recompense.

 

[lacuska1]

this became the trend to do-revamping the FF point scheme so it would be less and less affordable to use-too many people using the different schemes to accumulate FF points so the airlines not making any profits on those seats-like Thai-SQ-BA-United to name a few all revamped their scheme to get less affordable for the masses.
I particularly opt out for the QF system as I flew with them first class so know how inferior their products are comparing to the real quality airlines-once you flew first class on Emirate,Singapore,Qatar you know what I'm talking about-so comparing points to service-Qantas simply not worth to spend -at least on first class!For the masses who use points earned by shopping at woolies etc you might get a value out of it if you fly economy-so good luck with it!

 

[VeniVidiVici]

As I said before if that’s the case then they are also spending a lot of time away from their home and loved ones for work travel. Small recompense.

But also getting paid a handsome wage in many cases.

Points and status for nothing yet complaining about people that specifically collect points using their own money in the hope they might be able to use them for a trip away every now and then.

 

[DC3]

As I said before if that’s the case then they are also spending a lot of time away from their home and loved ones for work travel. Small recompense.

Yes, recompense needed, but shouldn't this be provided by the employer (as part of the package) rather than by a Frequent Flyer program?

 

[Pushka]

But also getting paid a handsome wage in many cases.

Points and status for nothing yet complaining about people that specifically collect points using their own money in the hope they might be able to use them for a trip away every now and then.

So many assumptions. Have no issue at all with people being rewarded with flights using their points, but status is a different issue entirely.

Yes, recompense needed, but shouldn't this be provided by the employer (as part of the package) rather than by a Frequent Flyer program?

Unless you are self employed. It’s the airlines that benefit from our business so the FF program seems appropriate.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

So many assumptions. Have no issue at all with people being rewarded with flights using their points, but status is a different issue entirely.

I don't necessarily disagree however it's not a zero sum game here, a few high spenders get gifted status does not mean that status is taken from some flyers.

I just don't get the complaints from people that have status whilst barely ever opening their own wallet to do so. Assumptions yes, but based on people I know that are WP having never spent a dollar of their own money.

 

[rock86]

So many assumptions. Have no issue at all with people being rewarded with flights using their points, but status is a different issue entirely.

Again, you're not thinking about it from an overall Qantas business perspective though.

For Qantas, irrespective of whether someone is showing their loyalty by flying or spending money through a partnered product, they are generating revenue for the Group. Qantas have obviously looked at this and decided to reward (and entice the market share they're missing) non-flyers who generate them a nice chunk of revenue on the ground, hence the 'Points Club' concept (whatever it will actually look like).

 

[andye]

this became the trend to do-revamping the FF point scheme so it would be less and less affordable to use-too many people using the different schemes to accumulate FF points so the airlines not making any profits on those seats-like Thai-SQ-BA-United to name a few all revamped their scheme to get less affordable for the masses.
I particularly opt out for the QF system as I flew with them first class so know how inferior their products are comparing to the real quality airlines-once you flew first class on Emirate,Singapore,Qatar you know what I'm talking about-so comparing points to service-Qantas simply not worth to spend -at least on first class!For the masses who use points earned by shopping at woolies etc you might get a value out of it if you fly economy-so good luck with it!

BA is one of the few programmes that do (short-haul) economy redemptions quite well. The Reward Flight Saver system is a popular and accessible feature

 

[Pushka]

Again, you're not thinking about it from an overall Qantas business perspective though.

For Qantas, irrespective of whether someone is showing their loyalty by flying or spending money through a partnered product, they are generating revenue for the Group. Qantas have obviously looked at this and decided to reward (and entice the market share they're missing) non-flyers who generate them a nice chunk of revenue on the ground, hence the 'Points Club' concept (whatever it will actually look like).

Totally agree with your points. But that doesn’t mean I have to agree with the implementation of that.

I did a check on Award availability ex Adelaide to Europe next year. Only Y availability on Qantas and it isn’t until EK and Qatar release their flights a little later that any J appear at all.

 

[Pushka]

I don't necessarily disagree however it's not a zero sum game here, a few high spenders get gifted status does not mean that status is taken from some flyers.

I just don't get the complaints from people that have status whilst barely ever opening their own wallet to do so. Assumptions yes, but based on people I know that are WP having never spent a dollar of their own money.

We do a mix of both. Have to travel for work three in every four weeks coz Adelaide kinda sucks for our business but our private flights are self funded.