Qantas frequent flyers to cash in

[AnonymousCoward]

Interesting - I wasn't aware of this unpublished WP benefit....

There's no gaurantee that you can get a seat, but I've been able to get seats opened up on LAX - SYD and SIN - LHR routes before. Sometimes not on the dates that I want, or the times I want, but it can be done. Other times the FF assistant will say something like "there's one seat left on that flight" or similar, which i suspect means that there weren't any, but because there are lots of spare J/D seats left, they've requested (and got) one for you.

 

[wandering_fred]

There are some opportunities at the moment.

As a mere nothing bronze I managed to get a Biz award seat SIN-PER on the 747-300. And the upper deck was only half full. So the few remaining 743 flights are a good possibility. though no discounts.

Oh yes I needed the seat after a 4-hour red eye from CMB. And the biz seat into PER made a major difference in clearing immigration and customs. About 35 minutes from touchdown to curbside....

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[john w]

Guys,
sorry if I'm a bit negative - but I've been trying to book QF FF seats for the past few weeks - booked the outward leg (PER to HNL) but no return. Was Plat for about the last 5 years - down to Gold this year and probably just my lifetime Silver next year. I really believe that we get screwed by QF - will probably concentrate on SQ from here (was PPS - now silver, but PPS in a month or so). Living in Perth makes it difficult for QF - they don't care that we pay all the taxes etc so I guess that its back to SQ - if QF doesn't care then why should I. Lots of my current flights are to Mumbai and also Shanghai - and apparently its not commercially viable for QF - just for SQ.

Pity - because I like the people, and I love feeling home when I board the kangaroo - but I guess that they don't really care about the west.

By the wat=y - I can book any seat soon - as long as I pay more points than SQ (already more to start with).

 

[wandering_fred]

Guys,
sorry if I'm a bit negative -

A number of us in the west wonder if QF would just as soon forget PER....

At any rate, fly QF to SINGAPORE (tickets based in SIN, of course) and then use the more consumer friendly OW partners........ for flying and crediting.

And Jet Airways does credit to AA - just no status miles

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Evan]

I saw some JetAirwarys flights with QF code shares, are there many or just a few ?
Anybody flown with them ? any good ?

E

 

[oz_mark]

A number of us in the west wonder if QF would just as soon forget PER....

For international flights anyway - I am sure they are raking in the $$ on some of the domestic flights.

 

[rezzadogs]

I saw some JetAirwarys flights with QF code shares, are there many or just a few ?
Anybody flown with them ? any good ?

E

Flew BOM/SIN last year on the red eye in J. Service was OK, meals good, but IFE lacked recent English movies. Majority of J customers under blankets and asleep before blocks off.

Codeshare flight number is only available if connecting to a QF flight out of SIN. Unfortunately I wasn't, so flew under 9W code. Took about 10 weeks for QF points to be credited.

 

[MelUser]

It is well known that QFF program changes will mean that any seat can be purchased as an award, albeit it an increased points number.

Does anyone know if this principle will also applyto upgrades? EG: Will upgrades on any flight be possible, say for 3 times the normal number of points now sought on the international lottery upgrade system QF uses?

 

[simongr]

If they change that it will be a significant devaluation of the top tiers as they get priority in the "lottery". It will further underscore that the FF program is a Frequent Credit Card program.

I would be surprised if this was included.

 

[ejb]

It is well known that QFF program changes will mean that any seat can be purchased as an award, albeit it an increased points number.

Does anyone know if this principle will also applyto upgrades? EG: Will upgrades on any flight be possible, say for 3 times the normal number of points now sought on the international lottery upgrade system QF uses?

Just spoke to our QF guy and he thought that upgrades would be available at anytime but the points burn would be very high.

ejb

 

[ejb]

If they change that it will be a significant devaluation of the top tiers as they get priority in the "lottery". It will further underscore that the FF program is a Frequent Credit Card program.

I would be surprised if this was included.

I thought the same, hopefully they will still hold some upgrades for Plat's.

I have long held the belief that it is more about credit card spend than flying, you only have to see the bonus points offered by CC companies.

ejb

 

[dajop]

I thought the same, hopefully they will still hold some upgrades for Plat's.

I have long held the belief that it is more about credit card spend than flying, you only have to see the bonus points offered by CC companies.

ejb

Yep, believe ur right for the points component. For flying - the hooks are no longer the points, instead it is the status - the lounges (hence the new FCL and dom biz lge), oneworld status, priority check in etc...

 

[oz_mark]

If they change that it will be a significant devaluation of the top tiers as they get priority in the "lottery". It will further underscore that the FF program is a Frequent Credit Card program.

The FF program is a business with the aim of generating income for Qantas. Selling points to credit card companies is but one way of generating income. For the average Joe in the street this is a driving factor.

The part of the program that credit card companies have not yet been able to buy is the status part. At this point in time, you do actually have to fly to get this. To many on this board, this is more important.

 

[oz_mark]

Points taken

Points taken - Planning - Money - Business - Home - smh.com.au

[NB: Clifford gets a mention in the article]

There has been nothing official - Qantas says it is not ready to talk to consumer writers - but this much is clear: a revamp of the popular Qantas Frequent Flyer program is scheduled for July.

Without releasing cost details, Frequent Flyer boss Simon Hickey has confirmed that there will soon be new ways for members to burn points with a bigger range of partners.

Significantly for those who have been frustrated in their attempts to redeem flights, the loyalty program is adding a second tier, Anyseat, opening up all seats on Qantas and Jetstar flights to points redemption.

However, people will not know how much more the Anyseat option costs until they attempt to book. How much more the airline's 5 million frequent flyers will pay for the privilege is still unclear, while some analysts say it's just Qantas playing catch-up: Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand have had an "any seat" scheme for years.

 

[ejb]

Yep, believe ur right for the points component. For flying - the hooks are no longer the points, instead it is the status - the lounges (hence the new FCL and dom biz lge), oneworld status, priority check in etc...

Completely agree, status levels have created so much more loyalty than points.

QF have been very smart with the way they lure us to the next level, now offering Biz lounges domestically.

For me the addition of Biz lounges will keep me loyal as I fly mainly dom in J anyway but I would still like to see a valuable QFF.

ejb