Qantas Loyalty Program May Be Worth $2b

[ozmerish]

• If all award seats on a flight are taken, would I like a "points + pay" system that would make all other seats available?

...and various permutations of some of the above questions.

My favourite part of the survey - the example, IIRC, was a SYD-MEL for 16k points and the pay portion for $100.00. What a deal .

Continuing to run down the points in the QF account...

 

[JohnK]

Realistically no way to avoid unexpected changes, other than not using FFPs at all. They all have wording that allows changes at any time.

I agree with you given normal circumstances. But this type of airline takeover and uncertainty would not be considered normal, in Australia anyway. Then again maybe the people holding onto Ansett points a few years ago felt safe that changes wouldn't occur.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Does this mean you will move to AAdvantage for 2007 (instead of requalifying QF WP)? Or perhaps the dark side (DJ Velocity Rewards or NZ Airpoints)?

 

[JohnK]

AA platinum (OneWorld Sapphire) would be a waste of time as I would have OneWorld Emerald in a few months. AA Exp would be an almost impossible goal for me to achieve.

What other choices? Forget BA! CX Asia Miles? Finnair top tier takes a few years and looks too hard. IB? LAN? Haven't looled at Malev or JAL

Virgin does not really interest me as it does not have any status attached to their FF program.

Maybe Star Alliance but then domestic travel is wasted.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Then you have a dilemna.

You said you no longer want to commit to QFF due to uncertainty about future benefits of status, but don't like the alternatives.

Is the uncertainty worth risking compared to having no status (or one viewed by you as inferior)?

Personally I think you're overstating the risk. Whatever program you are in the status benefits next year (or the one after) could be different to those you thought you would get when you earned it.

 

[oz_mark]

Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

From ninemsn
Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

Qantas frequent flyer bonus point holders have been assured by the airline's chairman, Margaret Jackson, that a current takeover bid will not alter their entitlements.

Qantas directors have recommended a takeover bid by a consortium led by Macquarie Bank, raising fears the Qantas frequent flyer program could be sold off.

But Ms Jackson, after greeting the arrival of a restored Qantas jet in Sydney on Saturday, said the takeover consortium backed the existing management and business plan.

"Qantas tomorrow will be no different than what Qantas was yesterday," she told reporters.

"The frequent flyers program will continue."

 

[kpc]

Re: Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

Qantas frequent flyer bonus point holders have been assured by the airline's chairman, Margaret Jackson, that a current takeover bid will not alter their entitlements.

Yup, I believe her...I will be spending my points as quickly as I earn them, thank you very much:mrgreen::mrgreen:. How safe is my "lifetime" QC membership?:!:

 

[JohnK]

Then you have a dilemna.

You said you no longer want to commit to QFF due to uncertainty about future benefits of status, but don't like the alternatives.

Yes I do have a dilemma which I will not attempt to solve today. QF Platinum first, then....

My memory fades easily these days but I don't remember saying I no longer want to commit to QF. I thought I said "So many questions and no answers.

I just hope the loyalty I have shown the last few years does not go to waste. It will be much harder trying to start fresh in another FF program." Anyway, time will tell.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

That article caught my eye earlier on today and all I could do was laugh. I have total faith she is telling the truth.

Burn the FF points now or wait for another month or so to have enough for a RTW award?

 

[StevePER]

ANZ tipped to bid for loyalty scheme

ANZ is expected to be one of the big banks likely to look at the Qantas Frequent Flyer business if it is sold.

Qantas Frequent Flyer has 4.6 million members and is estimated to be worth about $2 billion.

With the agreed bid for Qantas under way, the Macquarie Bank-led consortium may consider selling such assets.

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting, as from memory management of the ANZ loyalty programs is outsourced to Pinpoint. Presumably if ANZ were to but it, they would almost certainly outsource the management just as they do with their own programs

 

[Soundguy]

ANZ is expected to be one of the big banks likely to look at the Qantas Frequent Flyer business if it is sold.

Groan..... that mob! IMO it's all downhill from here if this happens.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Yes I do have a dilemma which I will not attempt to solve today. QF Platinum first, then....

My memory fades easily these days but I don't remember saying I no longer want to commit to QF. I thought I said "So many questions and no answers.

I just hope the loyalty I have shown the last few years does not go to waste. It will be much harder trying to start fresh in another FF program." Anyway, time will tell.

I don't want to start comitting to another year of striving for QF Platinum and find that the goal posts have shifted part way through.

Changed your mind then?

 

[codash1099]

Re: Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

From ninemsn
Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

Keep in mind that she's probably not going to be "chief" for long. So far, nearly all of the comments about the future have come from people who may not be pulling the strings. I'd like to hear more promises coming from the new owners.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

Keep in mind that she's probably not going to be "chief" for long. So far, nearly all of the comments about the future have come from people who may not be pulling the strings. I'd like to hear more promises coming from the new owners.

Well, there aren't actually any new owners at the moment. All you will get at the moment is what the current intentions are.

 

[kpc]

Frequent flyers left up in the air

THE rights and rewards of more than 4 million Qantas frequent-flyer members cannot be guaranteed after the company's chairwoman, Margaret Jackson, yesterday refused to confirm that the frequent-flyer program would be retained. Speaking at Sydney Airport, Ms Jackson said only that there were "currently" no plans to change anything in relation to the program.
"The existing management at Qantas understands and recognises the importance and history of Qantas, the role that Qantas plays for the travelling public, the role that Qantas plays for our staff and the wonderful relationship we have with our frequent flyers," she said.......
Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon put the loyalty program's future on the table on Thursday, saying the airline's board had "always been very open that every part of Qantas is open for change if necessary".

Frequent flyers left up in the air - Business - Business - smh.com.au

 

[oz_mark]

There are of course any number of changes that could come out of a review, and I doubt that one of the chnages would be to shut the program down (if only because of the number of politicians and public servants that have points and would lose them, I would suspect that life would become very difficult for Qantas if they took that route). Furthermore, the Jetstar experience of adding eligible fares along the way should demonstrate some competetive advantage in having a scheme. I am not sure of the rules of the OneWorld alliance but it seems to me that there would be some sort of requirment to run some form of scheme.

All we can say is that it will probably get sold off to be run by a third party (or restructured within QF as a separate entity). And there will be some enhancements.

But until that happens, things just continue on as they do now.

Be alert, but not alarmed.

 

[codash1099]

Re: Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

Well, there aren't actually any new owners at the moment. All you will get at the moment is what the current intentions are.

OK, prospective new owners. The only indication of what they may or may not do comes from "speculation". Interesting to note that, of all people, it's the Labor party that wants to apply pressure on our behalf.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Frequent flyer points safe: Qantas chief

OK, prospective new owners. The only indication of what they may or may not do comes from "speculation". Interesting to note that, of all people, it's the Labor party that wants to apply pressure on our behalf.

I guess that says something about where the largest stashes of points lay.

 

[JohnK]

Changed your mind then?

I don't think I changed my mind.

Yes I know it is months away from decisions, if any, on the FF program. I am not expecting any major "enhancements" but by the same token I don't want to start comitting to another year of striving for QF Platinum and find that the goal posts have shifted part way through.

My QFF membership year ends in May 2007 and what I have stated is a thought so I don't understand how I have changed my mind.