Qantas frequent flyers unleash over ‘almost worthless points’ in submissions to Senate

[KSC]

The days of “loss leaders” in any business are long gone. Why would someone sell at a loss in this economic or political climate ?

Costco (roast chickens, hot dogs), IKEA (hot dogs) and other places still have loss leaders. It’s actually best todo it in a downwards economy.
As for airlines you are correct I wouldn’t imagine any airline purposely pricing anything at a loss currently.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Costco (roast chickens, hot dogs), IKEA (hot dogs) and other places still have loss leaders. It’s actually best todo it in a downwards economy.
As for airlines you are correct I wouldn’t imagine any airline purposely pricing anything at a loss currently.

$39 melbourne to sydney? By the time you take out taxes and security processing, isn’t it just filling seats for whatever they can get?

 

[KSC]

$39 melbourne to sydney? By the time you take out taxes and security processing, isn’t it just filling seats for whatever they can get?

True that could be a loss leader example in fights, good point.
However, those prices would not be for all the seats and others would pay more to compensate.

 

[TurboNator]

This is a long thread and I apologise if similar was written/covered...

FWIW - I am lowly Bronze status... I used to book Syd - LHR return business for up to 300k points before COVID... in addition, I scored Lon - Syd (one way) FLAGSHIP FIRST American Airlines last year (travelled a month ago) for about 220k points... now - NO CHANCE. I check out fares for next year DAILY, the best I can find Syd - LHR return was 560k points (rewards plus) + about $1,750 in taxes...

How come Virgin Atlantic (have some of their points left) pretty much ALWAYS have availability (on their routes, unfortunately no Sydney or HK with them anymore) and at UNCHANGED prices (compared to pre-COVID)? I'm asking you QANTAS...

QANTAS gleefully accepted MASSIVE handouts from the tax payers (us) - and this is what we get in return? DOUBLE the prices and poor availability of reward seats... THIEVES!

 

[muppet]

How come Virgin Atlantic (have some of their points left) pretty much ALWAYS have availability (on their routes, unfortunately no Sydney or HK with them anymore) and at UNCHANGED prices (compared to pre-COVID)? I'm asking you QANTAS...

Happy for the whinge, we all need it sometimes.

Do me a favour, for these amazing Virgin Atlantic rewards - find the days with reward availability in Upper Class, then compare the “taxes and charges” co-pay on the redemption with just buying the Upper Class fare outright.

That’s why there’s heaps of availability.

 

[TurboNator]

Happy for the whinge, we all need it sometimes.

Do me a favour, for these amazing Virgin Atlantic rewards - find the days with reward availability in Upper Class, then compare the “taxes and charges” co-pay on the redemption with just buying the Upper Class fare outright.

That’s why there’s heaps of availability.

Found it (immediately, first try) - London to Mumbai round trip, Upper Class in March 2025, £2,627.19 - or 75,000 points + £913. Same result for May and May June, as far as one can look... So - THREE separate searches/dates, all available. In case you have any further doubt:

Book a flight

Search for a Virgin Atlantic flight round-trip, multi-city or more. You choose from over 300 destinations worldwide to find a flight that fits your schedule.

www.virginatlantic.com

Your point is...?

 

[jase05]

Happy for the whinge, we all need it sometimes.

Do me a favour, for these amazing Virgin Atlantic rewards - find the days with reward availability in Upper Class, then compare the “taxes and charges” co-pay on the redemption with just buying the Upper Class fare outright.

That’s why there’s heaps of availability.

Yeah, fees are quite high with VS unless you depart from outside LHR or the US
Can also book with Velocity points and pay almost zero in fees

 

[muppet]

Found it (immediately, first try) - London to Mumbai round trip, Upper Class in March 2025, £2,627.19 - or 75,000 points + £913. Same result for May and May June, as far as one can look... So - THREE separate searches/dates, all available. In case you have any further doubt:

Book a flight

Search for a Virgin Atlantic flight round-trip, multi-city or more. You choose from over 300 destinations worldwide to find a flight that fits your schedule.

www.virginatlantic.com

Your point is...?

So if we extrapolate that for a Sydney to London on Qantas per your post, the taxes would be equivalent to about $4,000. Not what i call an amazing deal.

My point is, with Virgin Atlantic you heavily subsidise the reward with cash, so its not comparable.

In fact, if you’re happy with those sky high surcharges, Qantas partner Emirates offers a fair bit more availability than Qantas’s own flight.

 

[TurboNator]

Yeah, fees are quite high with VS unless you depart from outside LHR or the US
Can also book with Velocity points and pay almost zero in fees

Fees might be high, but they are not exorbitant like QANTAS prices - and the availability is million times better with Virgin.

The most ironic thing for me - go to QANTAS tables/calculators on their site and see what they say it costs for a business class fare to London... Yeah, good luck finding that. Pretty much can be classified as false advertising.

 

[Kangol]

This is a long thread and I apologise if similar was written/covered...

FWIW - I am lowly Bronze status... I used to book Syd - LHR return business for up to 300k points before COVID... in addition, I scored Lon - Syd (one way) FLAGSHIP FIRST American Airlines last year (travelled a month ago) for about 220k points... now - NO CHANCE. I check out fares for next year DAILY, the best I can find Syd - LHR return was 560k points (rewards plus) + about $1,750 in taxes...

How come Virgin Atlantic (have some of their points left) pretty much ALWAYS have availability (on their routes, unfortunately no Sydney or HK with them anymore) and at UNCHANGED prices (compared to pre-COVID)? I'm asking you QANTAS...

QANTAS gleefully accepted MASSIVE handouts from the tax payers (us) - and this is what we get in return? DOUBLE the prices and poor availability of reward seats... THIEVES!

They are not thieving anything.
You voluntarily signed up to their loyalty game, which is governed by their rules.
They deem you are not loyal enough (which is true) and their loyalty to you has been reciprocated.

If you hate it so much, why not cancel your account?
Or join another loyalty program that suits your capacity, financial or otherwise...

Why do you feel entitled to get something for nothing?
It's only money, after all.

 

[TurboNator]

So if we extrapolate that for a Sydney to London on Qantas per your post, the taxes would be equivalent to about $4,000. Not what i call an amazing deal.

My point is, with Virgin Atlantic you heavily subsidise the reward with cash, so its not comparable.

In fact, if you’re happy with those sky high surcharges, Qantas partner Emirates offers a fair bit more availability than Qantas’s own flight.

More like $3,500 - EXACTLY what I paid when I booked Qantas flight yesterday (for next year). EDIT: this was for two tickets. another EDIT: who can say how much would taxes be if they were to fly to Sydney, does not necessarily mean they would double, that is hypothetical. Still, I feel my point is valid: between the availability and the price Qantas is abusing the friendship...

So again - your point...?

P.S. How does one book with Emirates using Qantas points - unless the fare appears on Qantas site?

P.S. mark 2.0 - have seen Emirates availability a month or so ago - surcharges were much higher than Virgin.

 

[TurboNator]

They are not thieving anything.
You voluntarily signed up to their loyalty game, which is governed by their rules.
They deem you are not loyal enough (which is true) and their loyalty to you has been reciprocated.

If you hate it so much, why not cancel your account?
Or join another loyalty program that suits your capacity, financial or otherwise...

Why do you feel entitled to get something for nothing?
It's only money, after all.

I don't feel I am entitled and how do you figure I want something for nothing??? Their OWN SITE says you need 287,000 points for a return business fare to London!!! Where can one get that these days??

They changed the game/goalposts DRASTICALLY in their favour, and all that AFTER they took BILLIONS from the tax payers!

 

[Kangol]

I don't feel I am entitled and how do you figure I want something for nothing??? Their OWN SITE says you need 287,000 points for a return business fare to London!!! Where can one get that these days??

They changed the game/goalposts DRASTICALLY in their favour, and all that AFTER they took BILLIONS from the tax payers!

Because you are complaining about not being able to book classic awards.
A classic award is basically getting something for nothing, regardless of your opinion.
If you don't personally feel you are entitled, it doesn't make it true.

You can get a return J classic award to London (144.6k points each way) by being loyal to QFF.

The game is theirs to change, in whatever way they want. You knew this when you signed up.

Don't be mad at them because they changed the game, be mad at yourself for failing to adapt.

You don't deserve, or have the right to, access to reward seats. No one does.
However if the loyalty relationship exists, that's what Qantas want first, before they give you access.
You are better off joining another FF program, or buying your own plane to fly to London.

 

[Mr H]

I don't feel I am entitled and how do you figure I want something for nothing??? Their OWN SITE says you need 287,000 points for a return business fare to London!!! Where can one get that these days??

They changed the game/goalposts DRASTICALLY in their favour, and all that AFTER they took BILLIONS from the tax payers!

Their OWN SITE also says

12. Redeeming Qantas Points for Rewards​

12.1 Reward availability is limited.

Stop being selective on which bits of the terms and conditions you want to apply.

 

[TurboNator]

Because you are complaining about not being able to book classic awards.
A classic award is basically getting something for nothing, regardless of your opinion.
If you don't personally feel you are entitled, it doesn't make it true.

You can get a return J classic award to London (144.6k points each way) by being loyal to QFF.

The game is theirs to change, in whatever way they want. You knew this when you signed up.

Don't be mad at them because they changed the game, be mad at yourself for failing to adapt.

You don't deserve, or have the right to, access to reward seats. No one does.
However if the loyalty relationship exists, that's what Qantas want first, before they give you access.
You are better off joining another FF program, or buying your own plane to fly to London.

Wow... With all due respect - that is super ridiculous rant...

Did you miss the part where I mention their website, prices and how much money they took from the tax payers, yet treat us this way...? I am a member of their FF program, have points but "don't deserve, or have the right to, access to reward seats" ??? Hello, Earth to you...

And yes, I am just Bronze, but having looked DAILY and getting no luck finding normal pricing (as per THIER OWN SITE) I have a valid point, thanks.

And no - I did not know they will double the prices AT ANY POINT (and especially not after receiving a MASSIVE handout, most of which seems to have gone to executive bonuses), not sure how can anyone think that's OK...

So - most probably you either work for Qantas or have some kind of relationship with them, otherwise there is no rational explanation for your argument. <redacted>

Post automatically merged: Jul 11, 2024

Their OWN SITE also says

12. Redeeming Qantas Points for Rewards​

12.1 Reward availability is limited.

Stop being selective on which bits of the terms and conditions you want to apply.

if one looks / searches DAILY for 10-11 months ahead one should hope there is something available... USED to be.

 

[jase05]

Wow... With all due respect - that is super ridiculous rant...

Did you miss the part where I mention their website, prices and how much money they took from the tax payers, yet treat us this way...? I am a member of their FF program, have points but "don't deserve, or have the right to, access to reward seats" ??? Hello, Earth to you...

And yes, I am just Bronze, but having looked DAILY and getting no luck finding normal pricing (as per THIER OWN SITE) I have a valid point, thanks.

And no - I did not know they will double the prices AT ANY POINT (and especially not after receiving a MASSIVE handout, most of which seems to have gone to executive bonuses), not sure how can anyone think that's OK...

So - most probably you either work for Qantas or have some kind of relationship with them, otherwise there is no rational explanation for your argument. <redacted>

if one looks / searches DAILY for 10-11 months ahead one should hope there is something available... USED to be.

Rewards are limited and as it’s a popular route they would go almost instantly once released. Don’t forget that the high tier members get earlier access than you do and will snap them up ASAP.
I’m not a fan of QF but understand how the game works and still don’t have much issue finding award flights for the routes I want and I’m not even a bronze anymore

 

[TurboNator]

Rewards are limited and as it’s a popular route they would go almost instantly once released. Don’t forget that the high tier members get earlier access than you do and will snap them up ASAP.
I’m not a fan of QF but understand how the game works and still don’t have much issue finding award flights for the routes I want and I’m not even a bronze anymore

As I've already said - you used to be able to find fares, plus I did look every day for many days, well ahead... Plus - they provided additional availability (Classic Plus) - does it have to be DOUBLE the price..??? 50% higher not enough?

Post automatically merged: Jul 11, 2024

Qantas releases award seats to NBs at 297 days out so of course you are not seeing award seats 10-11 months out.

Can I suggest that you find out how the program works and then come back for constructive discussions.

Can I suggest you don't assume I ONLY looked at 10-11 months ahead...? Edit: 297 days is 10 months give-or-take... or do you take everything literally?

 

[jase05]

As I've already said - you used to be able to find fares, plus I did look every day for many days, well ahead... Plus - they provided additional availability (Classic Plus) - does it have to be DOUBLE the price..??? 50% higher not enough?

Post automatically merged: Jul 11, 2024

Can I suggest you don't assume I ONLY looked at 10-11 months ahead...? Edit: 297 days is 10 months give-or-take... or do you take everything literally?

As has already been stated, the higher tiers see the awards before you do and will book them immediately. On that route I’d almost be willing to bet you have next to zero hope of getting award seats

 

[TurboNator]

As has already been stated, the higher tiers see the awards before you do and will book them immediately. On that route I’d almost be willing to bet you have next to zero hope of getting award seats

Again... used to be able to, why no more? I'd be OK if there was availability at a reasonable price increase, say 50% more... but no, there is Classic Plus at just about double the price.

Again^ : Qantas took 2.7 BILLION DOLLARS from the taxpayers, posted RECORD profits after the borders reopened... but they do not like returning the favour.

 

[jase05]

Again... used to be able to, why no more? I'd be OK if there was availability at a reasonable price increase, say 50% more... but no, there is Classic Plus at just about double the price.

Again^ : Qantas took 2.7 BILLION DOLLARS from the taxpayers, posted RECORD profits after the borders reopened... but they do not like returning the favour.

Times have changed. During Covid there were plenty of people who kept collecting points and couldn’t spend them so now you probably have a stack of high tier members with millions of points up their sleeve. Perhaps there are more high tier members now. I honestly don’t know but what I do know is that as a lowly nothing member these days I don’t even bother looking at Premium routes and just stick to the old favourites of mine that no one else wants