Qantas rolls out Classic Plus Flight Rewards

[Gold Member]

For us it is now a worse program than LifeMiles.

At least Lifemiles don’t knowingly deceive and cheat their members with unscrupulous behaviour while trying to disguise it in some PR web of lies.

 

[equus]

I'm at the point of changing Ww EDR from QF points to $10 redemption at POS.

Half way house is to change to Bank for Christmas. Stops them going to QF, but it you suddenly have a need (like Points Club or the like), you can change to QF and send them all at once. AFAIK you can always change to stop banking and just redeem them for $ as well.

 

[CaptJCool]

I disconnected this link long ago

Hardly spend $30 a week at the supermarket because I buy majority of products when they’re on the reduced sale price including meat which I take home and eat that night or the next evening
PS Eating out several times a week severely prunes the spend

However, I did find internal European reward flights were broadly available so have booked up half dozen of them.

 

[levelnine]

Sure, but value is subjective whereas the acquisition cost is real. As long as Qantas keep up their highly successful Marketing charades and conning people into thinking their Qantas points are worth a lot more than they really are, then this deception will allow them to keep playing this game with their loyal members.

Well the value has become a lot more real with C+: their value is 1c/pt for Y & 1.5c for PE/J/F.

That's why I think the move could ultimately backfire. Previously, they had a very amorphous value — somewhere from 1c to 5c+. Now it is there for everyone to see.

 

[exceladdict]

Well the value has become a lot more real with C+: their value is 1c/pt for Y & 1.5c for PE/J/F.

That's why I think the move could ultimately backfire. Previously, they had a very amorphous value — somewhere from 1c to 5c+. Now it is there for everyone to see.

Or now, they're only amorphous to the downside. It would be a fixed rate if the ever-increasing taxes were covered, but they're not, so depending on the route it could be quite a bit less.

 

[Gold Member]

Well the value has become a lot more real with C+: their value is 1c/pt for Y & 1.5c for PE/J/F.

That's why I think the move could ultimately backfire. Previously, they had a very amorphous value — somewhere from 1c to 5c+. Now it is there for everyone to see.

But you’re just looking at Classic+ awards with a somewhat fixed value and not the whole spectrum of points redemptions available to members. Points spent on toasters are worth far more to Qantas than Classic (and even the entry level C+) awards. Hence why there are seemingly unlimited toasters etc available on the store, but very few Classic awards available.

 

[levelnine]

But you’re just looking at Classic+ awards with a somewhat fixed value and not the whole spectrum of points redemptions available to members. Points spent on toasters are worth far more to Qantas than Classic (and even the entry level C+) awards. Hence why there are seemingly unlimited toasters etc available on the store, but very few Classic awards available.

My point is that, for the average person deciding whether it is worth acquiring Qantas points or not, the introduction of C+ has given them a very concrete idea of what those points are worth — C+ are freely available and therefore have become the 'default' value of a Qantas point.

To your observation, they have raised the floor value of Qantas points because now you can redeem them for 1c/pt every day of the week — it makes the toaster even more unattractive than it was before.

But it has also introduced a fairly hard ceiling value as well. Unless you're prepared to spend lots of time researching the ins and outs of classic awards and dealing with all the difficulties of finding them, the most you can now expect to ever get from them is 1-1.5c/pt.

 

[Gold Member]

But it has also introduced a fairly hard ceiling value as well. Unless you're prepared to spend lots of time researching the ins and outs of classic awards and dealing with all the difficulties of finding them, the most you can now expect to ever get from them is 1-1.5c/pt.

For the average person who understands the math, absolutely. But this is AFF and maxing out award and points value is what we do

 

[RichardMEL]

I disconnected this link long ago

Hardly spend $30 a week at the supermarket because I buy majority of products when they’re on the reduced sale price including meat which I take home and eat that night or the next evening

So that $30 min spend thing went away awhile ago(possibly when it was rejigged to WWR?). Any trabsactions earns woolies points these days.

i am like you - I do mostly smaller shops - rarely go above $20-30. They still can add up - specially with the bonus offers.

 

[theoracle30]

I agree with the thought that Classic Plus overall is good for those non-AFF types who are happy with the compromise in burning their points, leaving the Classic Rewards available for those like ourselves who can put more time and effort into finding them.

Obviously, partner airline availability isn't affected by the presence of Classic Plus or not, and Qantas maintains that they'll keep the number of their own Classic Rewards on their own metal the same (for now), so overall, there is a net benefit.

It would be a fixed rate if the ever-increasing taxes were covered, but they're not, so depending on the route it could be quite a bit less.

Classic Plus's fixed rate takes into account taxes. The points total is adjusted, so it's always 1.0/1.5 cents per point after the tax is subtracted from the underlying cash fare.

Qantas (and the websites who are advertising for them) love promoting the odd example of it being cheaper.

But in these cases you might as well just buy a cash fare (and earn points/status) rather than trading in your points for 1c each - I guess they are assuming people won't be smart enough to work this out.

The odd example of it being cheaper is handy for those who do want to save money and use their points for a trip. Yes, you could (and I would) book the cash fare if it's that cheap and you want to save points/earn SCs.

But it also comes with more restrictions and no upgradeability (assuming Economy Sale) so there is a place for Classic Plus connected to a sale fare for those 'standard folk' who have been saving for a while and can now get a family holiday with low co-payments, Points Club/status members who want to upgrade or those who prefer having the flexibility to cancel for 6K points.

I would argue that websites such as PH should be highlighting these rare nuggets as it is a points saving for a specific group of people. Of course, for the other group of people like us, there are still actual reward seats being found and shared.

 

[Capricornus]

Well the value has become a lot more real with C+: their value is 1c/pt for Y & 1.5c for PE/J/F.

That's why I think the move could ultimately backfire. Previously, they had a very amorphous value — somewhere from 1c to 5c+. Now it is there for everyone to see.

Classic Rewards and Classic Upgrade Rewards are still there. So the value is still between 1c and 5c+.

 

[levelnine]

Classic Rewards and Classic Upgrade Rewards are still there. So the value is still between 1c and 5c+.

For now.

 

[drron]

Well I have just booked classic J awards on JAL SIN-NRT-HND which gives a value of 5.5 cents per point through an OTC.

 

[muppet]

Well I have just booked classic J awards on JAL SIN-NRT-HND which gives a value of 5.5 cents per point through an OTC.

JAL flies from NRT to HND??

 

[Capricornus]

But it has also introduced a fairly hard ceiling value as well. Unless you're prepared to spend lots of time researching the ins and outs of classic awards and dealing with all the difficulties of finding them, the most you can now expect to ever get from them is 1-1.5c/pt.

I was just reacting to this.

For now.

Well, happy to revisit if it changes.

 

[drron]

No the bit in the middle will be NEX to Shinagawa, points stay at IC Three Strings and Keikyu express to HND.
But you could fly JAL NRT-ITM-HND.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well I have just booked classic J awards on JAL SIN-NRT-HND which gives a value of 5.5 cents per point through an OTC.

Awesome doc, though not really relevant to either Classic Plus(which do not apply to partners.. yet - if ever) or availability of CR on QF metal(I know, you avoid anyway).

Also did you maybe mean SIN-NRT-HKG? or some other "H" location?

 

[levelnine]

I was just reacting to this.

Well, happy to revisit if it changes.

My comments were aimed at broad swathe of regular users not the 0.01% of power users on here. As I said: 'Unless you're prepared to spend lots of time researching the ins and outs of classic awards and dealing with all the difficulties of finding them'.

99.99% of Qantas members were never getting and will not be getting 5c/pt value from their points. The introduction of C+ has given their points a very achievable and knowable value & it is hard capped at 1.5c/pt.

The next question is whether the 99.99% want to continue paying 1c/pt (or more) to acquire them given that very public value.

 

[Doctore1003]

The next question is whether the 99.99% want to continue paying 1c/pt (or more) to acquire them given that very public value.

No one is paying 1 cent per point on average across all their spend. Large retailers don’t have card surcharges and other points sources (eg bonuses) also aren’t that expensive.
One area where points cost is definitely an issue now is business payment processors that charge a fee. Those QBR partners may struggle.

 

[drron]

Awesome doc, though not really relevant to either Classic Plus or availability of CR on QF metal(I know, you avoid anyway).

Also did you maybe mean SIN-NRT-HKG? or some other "H" location?

Yes another senior moment. Should be SIN-NRT x HND-BKK.
But seriously I have been looking for any CR in or out of Australia but mrsdrron is now only LTG. All you get is a minimum of 200000 point as a CR+. They really should have a few more +s after the CR.