In case anyone missed it, this is a stealth program devaluation.
Fundamentally anyone will be able to pay an additional fee ($30++) for a spare seat next to them.
Not guaranteed until boarding.
In reality, it will play out as Gold/Plat++ members less likely to have a spare seat next to them.
Status holders spend more, much more frequently than non-status holders, and are the largest buyers of higher-class fares.
Anyone with status knows that an unpublished benefit of having status is you're more likely to have nobody next to you in the economy cabin.
Put into perspective - this is a scenario that will happen to you or me or the next Plat member someday:
- Platinum member pays $600 for one-way SYD-OOL on a full Y ticket. No spare seat.
- On the same flight, a bronze member pays $150 one-way SYD-OOL and an extra $30 for the spare seat.
No more shadows for elites coming soon to a flight near you... essentially this is a devaluation of program benefits.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/qantas-scheme-to-subsidise-empty-seats-slammed-034241941.html[/URL]
