Qantas Points Expiry - Warning!

[juddles]

........

The way Qantas does it - hidden away in an e-mail you might otherwise pass over as not of interest - is simply disgraceful...........

I couldn't be bothered reading past this post - there are simply so many times people get this surprise. Despite being a devout Qantas fan, this peeves me - as per Rooflyer, the technique (it is nothing less than that calculated concept) of hiding this info in yet another promotional email, is in my opinion, "disgraceful". That single word expressed by Rooflyer is perfect.

 

[nlagalle]

I couldn't be bothered reading past this post - there are simply so many times people get this surprise. Despite being a devout Qantas fan, this peeves me - as per Rooflyer, the technique (it is nothing less than that calculated concept) of hiding this info in yet another promotional email, is in my opinion, "disgraceful". That single word expressed by Rooflyer is perfect.

Well as a different angle, I just ha 1500 Malaysia Enrich points expire.. no notice at all..

 

[RichardMEL]

Really I'm in two minds here.

On the one hand I don't consider it 'sneaky" to expire points per the published policy of the program. Surely at some point it is the responsibility of the member to be aware of this.

On the other hand though, they(QF) do not go out of their way to advertise this. Now, some have posted they do give you a warning in their monthly emails - but many skip those - and specially if an infrequent flyer gets these and isn't doing any travel they would probably trash it as not relevant to them at that point in time. Now is that the fault of QF? is it "sneaky" if they provide a written warning in their newsletter but it's not read by the recipient? I guess everyone's mileage will vary.

Certainly, as demonstrated, some programs are much better than others at informing you both on apps, or in emails or on the website of the program when you login. QF is poor at this (when I login I can see no place on the summary screen suggesting my points will expire if I have no further activity in 18 months - and that's poor). When I login to United, for example, I have an actual date of expiry right there under my balance. Even my poor eyesight can see this and it's clear.

I suppose I personally am in the camp that one should be aware of the published rules of such things. Others are more used to being spoon fed with reminders and warnings and stuff (and yes, when I get a text from the denist reminding me I have to go next week it's both good and bad !!!). I can see both sides of this, but I also think that at the end of the day we as members or users should take some responsibility to manage our own affairs.

QF should make it clearer though and it definitely seems a conscious decision to remove this information from the summary screen which i think is poor. Sure, they benefit from points spill, but I also imagine it's small amounts per month that are actually being expired. Anyone with a significant balance will be invested in what's going on with them and/or have activity enough, even if it's EDR or a bank account/CC linked or something.

my 8 cents

 

[RooFlyer]

Just received an e-mail from Hyatt. The subject line was : Important Account Information – Don’t Lose Your Points

That got my attention.

The headline was: Take action or your account will be closed due to 24 months of inactivity

That's pretty direct.

The first paragraph was: We haven't heard from youin some time. Actually, it's been almost 24 months since there's been any qualifying activity with your account. Remember,your account will be closed and all points forfeited if there's no activity byFebruary 28, 2017.

That leave me in no doubt.


This is a company/program that's looking after the member. Compare and contrast to Qantas FF.

 

[drron]

Just over a week ago I got a similiar one from IHG-dont let your points expire.
First sentence of the email-your points will expire on xx/4/2016.
So it seems it is easy to do.

 

[straitman]

Just over a week ago I got a similiar one from IHG-dont let your points expire.
First sentence of the email-your points will expire on xx/4/2016.
So it seems it is easy to do.

I thought IHG points never expire.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I thought IHG points never expire.

No, they 'enhanced' their scheme with a new program to provide more 'benefits and flexibility' for IHG members. Part of this was that points (may) expire after 12 months of no activity. I've been completing the odd survey to earn a few thousand points to keep the account active.

 

[jono88888]

Who this policy really disadvantages, in my view, is the very infrequent flyer who perhaps does a trip someplace "every other year" and thinks they'll slowly build up so they can get an award somewhere in the long term, and if their "every other year" flight (assuming no other activity) causes a 18month gap then they're in trouble. However it's also likely that point totals would also be relatively small for that reason.

Just speaking of my own flying pattern, I tend to fly a couple of times a week, then when I get a work engagement based in my home town it can drop to zero for a year or more. Not typical, but certainly not too unusual a pattern. I have recently added an entry in my calendar for 15 months time to warn me to check my points as it's possible I'll not have flown in that time and would hate to lose my hard earned points. I am fully aware of the points expiry as is just about everyone in this forum, but to many people FF programs are not that important and whatever folks say of personal responsibility I don't see why QF can't send specific warnings of pending expiry rather than intentionally hiding them in a generic newsletter email, I for one rarely have the time or inclination to read such emails. If QF can tailor emails to my wine, golf and other interests I'm sure it would be very easy to tailor an email around points expiry if they had the desire to do so.

 

[drron]

If QF can tailor emails to my wine, golf and other interests I'm sure it would be very easy to tailor an email around points expiry if they had the desire to do so.

Because they and other airlines really want your points to expire.

 

[oz_mark]

I

No, they 'enhanced' their scheme with a new program to provide more 'benefits and flexibility' for IHG members. Part of this was that points (may) expire after 12 months of no activity. I've been completing the odd survey to earn a few thousand points to keep the account active.

If you have any form of status, they won't expire. It only affects base members.

 

[coyote25]

Because they and other airlines really want your points to expire.

Got to reduce the points liability somehow off the balance sheet. While it's likely small points for each individual involved probably a nice saver for QF overall - don't want family members later pooling points for a redemption!

They are taking care of the pennies on this one.

 

[JohnK]

Because they and other airlines really want your points to expire.

And that is really sad. Take the money and try to avoid paying out.

 

[drron]

I

If you have any form of status, they won't expire. It only affects base membets.

And as IHG is essentially our 4th hotel program I am going to be a very base member.
Also mrsdrron got her warning email from Accor.Our number 3 program.

 

[serfty]

And that is really sad. Take the money and try to avoid paying out.

Why sad?

Qantas is not a charity ... I'm sure their shareholders enjoy any increase to profits.

 

[drron]

But hotel companies are also not a charity yet they can warn you.
Why are airlines different?

 

[straitman]

Why sad?

Qantas is not a charity ... I'm sure their shareholders enjoy any increase to profits.

It doesn't take many less than 100% ethical actions to lose more than you gain though.

But hotel companies are also not a charity yet they can warn you.
Why are airlines different?

Correct.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why are airlines different?

To be fair - only some airlines. AA sends out fairly prominent warning messages.

 

[JohnK]

Why sad?

Qantas is not a charity ... I'm sure their shareholders enjoy any increase to profits.

Charity?

You've earned the points and those points should never expire. And if they do happen to expire then Qantas needs to do everything to warn including receiving acknowledgement that the member has received and understands that points will expire.

Just like gift vouchers.

It's a blatant rip-off. Not a good trait. And one reason why I have no guilt whatsoever when I rip-off corporations.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

You've earned the points and those points should never expire.

It's hardly as self-evident as you repeatedly and repeatedly and repeatedly insist. You would have to expect a significant repricing for actuarial reasons if they change the rules.

 

[oz_mark]

It's hardly as self-evident as you repeatedly and repeatedly and repeatedly insist. You would have to expect a significant repricing for actuarial reasons if they change the rules.

Indeed. It is not so much that expiration causes a windfall profit - breakage is actually built in to the financial modelling. If you take it out there, they will adjust things somewhere else to make up the shortfall.