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

[RooFlyer]

I've never had success in getting a seat released as WP. One of the operators acted like I was asking for the unicorn.

I suspect that its been enhanced to mainly be a privilege of WP1s these days.

 

[OATEK]

I've never had success in getting a seat released as WP. One of the operators acted like I was asking for the unicorn.

I feel very fortunate to be 1 from 1 as WP, although I was only after PE seats.

 

[Lynda2475]

In 2019 Qantas introduced a new tier of points redemption which effectively reduced the value of points by up to 80-90%.

This is misleading because classic awards remain available. A genuine devaluation would be replacing Classic Rewards with dynamic pricing i.e. only anytime awards which has not happened.

Customers effectively buy these points by choosing to go to businesses that offer them

Another generalization. I don't buy anything specifically to get points, but i do do all my regular spending on points earning cards. If something I am going to buy anyway can also be linked to from QF shopping site I will gladly accept the bonus points, but I never buy a different brand or item just for points.

I could earn more if i shopped at Woolworths but they are inconvenient so I do not. Instead I earn flybuys which I can transfer to Velocity.

Just because some here buy points with some free wine; they are not really the norm.

If you want QFF, Velocity, Amex or Bank points you can earn them anywhere with the right credit card.

Obtaining Classic Rewards seats is near on impossible on most occasions now

Disagree it is no harder now than it was in 2019, you have always had to book premium international seats 9-11 months out if you want to fly in peak and always put in some effort.

Domestic classic awards in Y to the Aussie capitals are plentiful even up to the last minute, except for school holidays but again as they are predictable can be booked 12 months out without much issue ime. That said I was able to get 4 on A330 SYD-PER-SYD 3 weeks out for the July school holidays.

So remind me why QFF is superior to Aadvantage?

Cant see where anyone claimed this?

But unless you are a frequent traveler to the US or buying (rather than earning) AA miles it is much harder for the average Aussie to earn AA miles or fly their minimum segments. QFF, Velocity, Amex or bank points programs have local partners and credit cards.

Maybe all the QR fans should lobby Labor to grant QR extra flights on the condition they make a set number of seats of each of those flights available to QFF as award redemptions. Would never happen of course.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Long Frequent Traveler

 

[jase05]

Maybe all the QR fans should lobby Labor to grant QR extra flights on the condition they make a set number of seats of each of those flights available to QFF as award redemptions. Would never happen of course

Nah, I’d rather QR exert their ownership influence over BA and IB to have them both removed from QF inventory also

 

[RooFlyer]

Nah, I’d rather QR exert their ownership influence over BA and IB to have them both removed from QF inventory also

Maybe the Qataris can exert their influence over their part-owned Sydney Airport to create all sorts of mischief

 

[Lynda2475]

If that happen QF would do well to move to Star Alliance.

Personally Id like to see QR leave One World, replace them with a non ME partner.

But I find it funny all the QR fan boys are still QFF members, if you all prefer QR so much more why not join their FF program - then surely you would have zero issue redeeming on their flights?

 

[RooFlyer]

If that happen QF would do well to move to Star Alliance.

Perfect; Qantas and Air New Zealand would be properly aligned, with Qantas adopting AirPoints as its FF currency and Virgin (by then at least part owned by QR) could join OneWorld and adopt Avios as its currency, joining BA, IB and AY and QR.

 

[Mr H]

Personally Id like to see QR leave One World, replace them with a non ME partner.

I know you are not a fan of Qatar or the Middle East, but QR does have a really impressive set of connections. Apart from TK, I can't think of another airline that has such good and plentiful connections to north and east Africa, Asia and Europe. They transform OW in the eastern hemisphere from a series of hubs and spokes into a genuine network. They are a huge loss to the QFF redemptions (OK, technically they are still there if you book them three days before you fly) and I can't see any other suitable replacement.

 

[jase05]

Perfect; Qantas and Air New Zealand would be properly aligned, with Qantas adopting AirPoints as its FF currency and Virgin (by then at least part owned by QR) could join OneWorld and adopt Avios as its currency, joining BA, IB and AY and QR.

IAG might add TAP Portugal to their stable soon too

 

[Lynda2475]

For me losing LAN was a big hit, because I actually visit Latin America, it really limits OWA and RTW options. Would be good if they came back or Avianca or Aerolíneas Argentinas swapped alliances.

Id like to see another EU airline too since they have lost a couple over the years.

ME airlines add zero value for me personally. I can connect to anywhere I want to go in EU via Asia, UK or US.

 

[RooFlyer]

Apart from TK, I can't think of another airline that has such good and plentiful connections to north and east Africa, Asia and Europe. They transform OW in the eastern hemisphere from a series of hubs and spokes into a genuine network.

I agree; if you look at getting from Australia into continental Europe, with few exceptions, you have to go to one of their hubs on the far periphery - London or Oslo and then backtrack or deflect down into the European ports - unless you go to HKG first and then on Cathay, which is a big diversion and not really that good. Maps from Flightconnections.




The new members Oman and RAM, as well as RJ of course are handy, but still lie on the periphery.

With QR you go straight to the ME and with generally great connections, then go straight onto the European port you want, all on OW, if that's your alliance. EK does similar but not OW of course.



This is why I'm really looking forward to Turkish flying direct to Australia for *A. Fantastic soft and hard products, IST airport and a better network than QR into Europe (and just about anywhere else).

 

[Seat0B]

EK are not using all their available slots, and you can redeem your points on EK flights relatively easily, if flying via the middle east is your want.

I'm sorry but that is just not true. There are virtually no premium classic rewards flights in the period November - March, and only very occasional Y flights.

 

[Lynda2475]

Although it is a bit late now to be looking for Nov - Mar, 10 months out is the sweet spot.

Whilst Im sure you are looking to go to ME, but I was looking at NZ fares a couple of weeks ago, and EK J seats came up every day.

 

[Seat0B]

As you rightly point out - the vast majority are nuanced cases in between, and it's these people that have immense problems finding award tickets.

Yep that's us - a WP and an LTG actively seeking to avoid the school holidays, the Eurpoean summer and other known peaks, and we have not had any luck on premium cabin awards to a wide range of destinations including Japan, Europe (not fussed where in Europe, eg tried Munich, Berlin, Budapest, Zurich, Rome), London and USA (happy for LAX or DFW), over a substantial period of time. We have several million points between us, which keeps us a bit tied to QF, but certainly starting to question our long term loyalty.

 

[Quickstatus]

The value of the FF point is only realised at the point of redemption.

When a FF tries to redeem a seat using FF points and the only visibility is the "anytime" reward with the classic reward unavailable, the value of the FF point is a lot less than the value when a classic reward is available.

Hence the "junk" points. It is Qantas who set the T&C of the game. Therefore it is Qantas who sets the availability of classic rewards and anytime rewards and it is Qantas who sets the number of FF points payable for each type of reward. It is Qantas who determines the $ value of the FF point and thus Qantas who value the FF point as Junk.

The other reasons why the FF point can be considered Junk is because Qantas uses it as "compensation" and the value of the FF point at redemption in the Qantas shop is so low it is Junk

 

[Seat0B]

As well she has never been successful at getting an extra J award released.

I've never had success in getting a seat released as WP. One of the operators acted like I was asking for the unicorn.

Same for me. I've been WP or P1 for over 15 years and have only managed to get one J seat released in all that time. I too have been dismissed by operators, and had one in South Africa tell me they did not know what I was talking about. And as I mentioned in another thread, I was also incorrectly it seems, told by an operator in HBA that they did not release seats in both directions of an itinerary. Several posters have assured me that is not true.

 

[Quickstatus]

Welcome @Long Frequent Traveler
May you stay long and comment frequently

 

[Seat0B]

Although it is a bit late now to be looking for Nov - Mar, 10 months out is the sweet spot.

Whilst Im sure you are looking to go to ME, but I was looking at NZ fares a couple of weeks ago, and EK J seats came up every day.

I look all the time, and there are no seats, trust me. It does not matter how far out you look, there are no seats. Most times, not even economy seats. And virtually never anything in the J or F cabins.

This search was for seats in August and September 2024

 

[Quickstatus]

Maybe all the QR fans should lobby Labor to grant QR extra flights on the condition they make a set number of seats of each of those flights available to QFF as award redemptions. Would never happen of course.

No need to lobby the govt. They are doing a fine job advocating for an increased Qatari presence.
An #Openskies government policy is the simplest.