Qantas Introduces New Domestic Fares and Further Frequent Flyer Enhancements

[Craigie]

I'm surprised since these aren't going into effect until 7 July why AJ didn't announce them himself in yesterday's speech. Would have dampened some of the negativity attributed to it, and clearly demonstrated that positive action is being taken.

Erm I'd be surprised if he even knew, considering his head is firmly... missing in action.

This is definately focusing on domestic enhancements and not QFi

 

[MarcB]

Agreed these look like good changes. Red Roo, any chance you can confirm the fare classes that will now earn at full Economy SC rates? Are the super saver fare classes just being absorbed into the Flexi-Saver group so those would be the ones eligible for full earn?

As a further improvement, any chance we'll see these changes extended to the international flights? Always thought it odd that only Y class earns full Economy SC rates out of 10+ classes!!

 

[nlagalle]

Red E deals will still earn SCs at discount economy rates, I believe.

I'd like to see some more INT flights earn full SC's in Y.. a bit rough that only full Y does earn.. but one can dream!!

 

[MarcB]

Agreed these look like good changes. Red Roo, any chance you can confirm the fare classes that will now earn at full Economy SC rates? Are the super saver fare classes just being absorbed into the Flexi-Saver group so those would be the ones eligible for full earn?

As a further improvement, any chance we'll see these changes extended to the international flights? Always thought it odd that only Y class earns full Economy SC rates out of 10+ classes!!

Per my earlier post I am guessing fare classes will look like this:

Red E - EOQN - Discount Y SC Earn
Flexi - SVLMKB - Full Y SC Earn
Fully Flex - HY - Full Y SC Earn

 

[samiam]

Retracted - confused myself between discount SC's and red-e-deal upgrades

 

[serfty]

So basically, the only changes are:

• [-]S L V M buckets domestically will earn "Full Economy" SC's.[/-]
  L V M buckets domestically will earn "Full Economy" SC's as flex fares.
  S bucket domestically become part of the red e-deals 'category.
  
• Revenue (& YASA) domestic fares will be upgradeable.

 

[Craigie]

Re: New Domestic Fares and further Frequent Flyer changes

Yup. This change will save me quite a bit of money on my long haul international flights, being able to upgrade Red e-Deals.

I thought this was a domestic fare restructure?

 

[MarcB]

So basically, the only changes are:

• S L V M buckets domestically will earn "Full Economy" SC's.
• Revenue (& YASA) domestic fares will be upgradeable.

Yeah that's what I am taking away from the announcement too. A step in the right direction, but I'll wait to see the fare prices too before getting too excited. The flex KIPOXAP have been well priced comparative to Red E's, so lower priced fares currently in the super savers could be a winner if the price point is maintained.

 

[awilcockson]

The Qantas Frequent Flyer program is also set to roll out more exciting changes for members over the coming months.

Why is there a chold shiver running down my spine?

 

[williamsf1]

The Red eDeal fare family now consists of E, O, Q, N and S classes;
The Flexi Saver fare family now consists of V, L, M, K and H classes;
The Fully Flexible fare family now consists of B and Y class.

 

[tuppaware]

Ohh I thought it was the end of Discount Y domestically

Ahh well :-9

 

[Danger]

“In addition all flexible domestic fares will be classed as ‘Economy’ resulting in improved Status credit earn and upgrade rates for members on more fares.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't flexible fares always earn at the full economy rate? I thought it was only the lowest two fare categories (red and super saver) that were discount economy earning and the top two (flexi saver and fully flex) earned at the full rate.

Regardless, my reading is reds will still earn at the discount rate (as outlined in the above quote).

It should also be remembered that it wasn't that long ago that you could upgrade from reds anyway.

Nonetheless, I won't be a wet blanket or anything. I think the improvements are valid improvements and I'm thankful to QF for them.

 

[williamsf1]

The Red eDeal fare family now consists of E, O, Q, N and S classes;
The Flexi Saver fare family now consists of V, L, M, K and H classes;
The Fully Flexible fare family now consists of B and Y class.

Fares in V, L and M booking classes will now be classed as “Economy” instead of “Discount
Economy” for the purposes of Qantas Frequent Flyer Status credit earn.

In addition, the points needed for Flight Upgrade Awards on domestic Qantas flights from V, L
and M class fares will reduce from the “Discount Economy” rate to the “Economy” rate.

All Red eDeal fares, including E, O, Q, N and S classes, will now be eligible for Flight Upgrade
Awards on domestic Qantas flights.

X class fares, when booked as part of a Qantas Any Seat Award, will now also be eligible for flight upgrades

 

[drewbles]

So basically, the only changes are:

• S L V M buckets domestically will earn "Full Economy" SC's.
• Revenue (& YASA) domestic fares will be upgradeable.

That's how I read it too.

i inevitably end up booking a fair chunk of flights to/from PER in S, so this works nicely for me. I tend to do MEL-PER return 6-8 times a year. Going from 40SC's to 80Sc's is a huge improvement (and will negate the need for me to do more AA runs to top-up to retain my WP).

If other changes are as good as these actual-"enhancements", then I may just stick with QF until I hit LTG, then re-evaluate (I noted that it was going to be easier to get Gold on DJ and possibly Platinum, assuming the earn requirements are in line with their Silver and Gold, than it would have been to keep my QF level but this changes that considerably).

*edit*
S is Red-e deal now? I can't seem to find where that's referenced, got a link williamsf1?

I priced up a random date in September for MEL-PER and the price difference from a Red-e to a Flexi is $92 each way, making it an additional $4.60 per SC, which is decent for AU!

 

[oz_mark]

Makes the Jetsar Max fares look expensive on routes where both airlines fly.........

 

[Nigelinoz]

Makes the Jetsar Max fares look expensive on routes where both airlines fly.........

That point was made on Crikey

on July 7, the day the new system comes into effect, Plane Talking could have purchased a $200 flexible saver at a peak time between Sydney and Melbourne for $40 less than the Jetstar Max fare, which comes with no complimentary food but does offer a crack at the exit row seats, or a $235 fare on Virgin Australia, with meals and luggage included. At the cheapest possible fare level on that day Qantas was offering $117 at the lowest fare setting compared to Virgin Australia at $199 for its cheapest fare, which required an extra $12 for a checked bag up to 23 kgs, and no complimentary food, an offer easy to refuse although Virgin did have $88 fares on offer on the following day at good times.
Jetstar offered starter fares on that day of between $59 and $129, which meant at the higher level it was comfortably beaten by Qantas, especially in terms of leg room.
At the highest possible economy level, Virgin Australia was offering its premium product at $425, well below the $513 fully flexible economy fare on Qantas, which on a full flight, would still come with the risk of getting a middle seat, something avoided in the Virgin cabin

Cheers
N'oz
Plane Talking

 

[connieguy]

Re: New Domestic Fares and further Frequent Flyer changes

I thought this was a domestic fare restructure?

S**T. You are correct. Not really much use to me as my miles are 95% international long hauls. As QFi is losing money, there is probably not much hope of QFi Red e-Deals being upgradable. Bummer.

 

[oz_mark]

That point was made on Crikey

I was looking at some Perth flights, where I found some Flexi-Savers for $349. Jetstar Starter was $322, Jetstar Max was $602.

Maybe Qantas needs to rethink having them all displayed on the Qantas website :shock: WHy would you pick the JQ flight either side of the QF flight below?

 

[Major]

It's great to see what some proactive competition from Virgin has produced. I don't think these enhancements would have occurred without the VA upgrades and the soon to be announced changes to Velocity.
And the winner is....the AFF.

 

[MarcB]

That's how I read it too.


*edit*
S is Red-e deal now? I can't seem to find where that's referenced, got a link williamsf1?

+1 on this...williamsf1, where are you getting this information? S class has always been Super Saver. Red-e's classes have been the one's previously not-upgradeable.

This is now on the QF website. Qantas Flights | New Domestic Fare Rules for Australian Flights