Qantas rolls out Classic Plus Flight Rewards

[MelbFlyer]

So much for the new program removing confusion among the average punter ....

To be fair though, the average punter should also have their own initiative to search / read as well - there was a link on the Qantas website outlining the differences between Classic and Classic+:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-flight-rewards.html

 

[Rich]

No, I often saw such on QF Domestic as well (before and after this change). i.e. Only P+P in Economy (X), CR in Business (U).

This VA rate might be an equivalent to P+P but you can see wildly different amounts that seem more like CR+. Eg I went MEL to OOL recently. 11k up via SYD, 14k back direct. Other flights in 20ks and 30ks.

 

[tdimdad]

Rusted on handcuffs comes to mind....

LT***

But eventually that rust corrodes through the metal...

 

[levelnine]

To be fair though, the average punter should also have their own initiative to search / read as well - there was a link on the Qantas website outlining the differences between Classic and Classic+

I think there's a reasonable argument that they've made the situation worse by calling Classic+ the same thing as Classic. If they had called them Flexible Rewards or something like that, it would have helped the average person.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think there's a reasonable argument that they've made the situation worse by calling Classic+ the same thing as Classic. If they had called them Flexible Rewards or something like that, it would have helped the average person.

Ah, but then people might notice when the word "Classic" disappeared entirely.

 

[serfty]

Ah, but then people might notice when the word "Classic" disappeared entirely.

More likely the + disappears along with PUZ&X ... Keeping just "Classic"

[Aside]

Coming into the latter 90's, both Qantas and Ansett had three class domestic services in mainline; "First", "Business" & "Economy".​

​

Then they both went to two classes, calling them "Business First" & "Economy" - the former having a hybrid First/Business soft product (you could now get Cointreau served on a J fare).​

​

Some months later the 'First' was quietly dropped from "Business First" as well as the hybrid service (and Cointreau)- reverting to the of the "Business" of yore ...​

​

¶ Strangely QF and AN did this at the same time as each other ... tin foil hat anyone?​

[/Aside]

 

[RooFlyer]

More likely the + disappears along with PUZ&X ... Keeping just "Classic"

Yes, that's what I mean. Under the classic/classic+, if they dropped either the + or maybe 'classic' (stand alone), the word 'classic' would still be there, even if the pricing was only classic+. If there was 'classic' and 'new way', then when they drop 'classic' it will be obvious that the cheaper version had gone.

Strangely QF and AN did this at the same time as each other ... tin foil hat anyone?

Artifact of the Two Airline policy!

 

[serfty]

Yes, that's what I mean. Under the classic/classic+, if they dropped either the + or maybe 'classic' (stand alone), the word 'classic' would still be there, even if the pricing was only classic+. If there was 'classic' and 'new way', then when they drop 'classic' it will be obvious that the cheaper version had gone.

Now I think about it, "Plus Reward" or "+ Reward" would appear to have rather positive connotations ...

 

[philr2000]

The more ppl i talk to about points, the more I realise most will think the Classic Plus is a great initiative. These ppl are most certainly not frequenting forums like this and have been to resigned to the old 'there's never any seats anyway' excuse, then spending 500k points on a pair of RM Williams

 

[opusman]

I think there's a reasonable argument that they've made the situation worse by calling Classic+ the same thing as Classic. If they had called them Flexible Rewards or something like that, it would have helped the average person.

How about Nearly Any Seat awards?

 

[Flyfrequently]

In conversation with Pilot nephew last night, consensus amongst his mates is Staff Travel will become harder to get, as less seats on offer, ie folk willing to fork out for Classic + where previously with points +pay they weren't.
I guess only time will tell.
He did add, he has always considered it quite a privilege to have this perk.

 

[elanshin]

I think there's a reasonable argument that they've made the situation worse by calling Classic+ the same thing as Classic. If they had called them Flexible Rewards or something like that, it would have helped the average person.

I do think the term and branding is fine. Its not the classic red and if you did any amounts of research online you'd notice it looks very different coloured. There's also constant "introducing classic+, a new way to spend your points" tooltip that appears atm when you search and it regularly comes back after you click it away.

In conversation with Pilot nephew last night, consensus amongst his mates is Staff Travel will become harder to get, as less seats on offer, ie folk willing to fork out for Classic + where previously with points +pay they weren't.
I guess only time will tell.
He did add, he has always considered it quite a privilege to have this perk.

I suspect it won't drastically change. The C+ increase will probably be matched with a decrease overall from economic factors.

That said J will probably remain hard to get. My friend is still sad that he hasn't been able to get staff J tickets like he used to precovid.

 

[levelnine]

I do think the term and branding is fine. Its not the classic red and if you did any amounts of research online you'd notice it looks very different coloured. There's also constant "introducing classic+, a new way to spend your points" tooltip that appears atm when you search and it regularly comes back after you click it away.

Well the screenshot I posted earlier suggests average punters are getting confused. Maybe there's nothing you could do to stop everyone from being confused, but what you're pointing to are quite subtle differences — ask 100 Australians if they know classic awards are red in colour and 99 will give you a look of utter confusion.

 

[shuuy]

Tried to book SYD-BNK on points. No Classic+ showed up (and so over to VA I went).

 

[levelnine]

Tried to book SYD-BNK on points. No Classic+ showed up (and so over to VA I went).

Not available for domestic flights yet.

 

[ish]

Now that CR+ has been live for a while, do we have any evidence or experiences that WP requests for CR award seat release is harder / less likely to secure? I assume they are pulling from the same inventory…

 

[exceladdict]

Now that CR+ has been live for a while, do we have any evidence or experiences that WP requests for CR award seat release is harder / less likely to secure? I assume they are pulling from the same inventory…

I have personally only requested releases for domestic inventory, which is not yet available for CR+ so too early to tell.

 

[RooFlyer]

Report in the Oz from the first four weeks of Classic Plus

Qantas triggers stampede to cash in frequent flyer points after big change in loyalty program

Probably paywalled, so a few snippets:

The launch of Qantas’ new Classic Plus reward seats has triggered a stampede by frequent flyers to redeem mountains of points on flights to London, Tokyo and Singapore.

A month after Qantas unveiled the product in response to growing discontent among frequent flyers unable to use points in the way they wanted, the airline has seen a surge in redemptions.

Qantas revealed over 6.5 billion points had been used in four weeks to book international flights, 35 per cent more than the monthly average.

with a bit of 'cop that', critics

Qantas Loyalty chief executive Andrew Glance said it was clear Classic Plus was a hit with the program’s 15 million members, and was providing more opportunities to fly where they wanted to.

“Bookings have been particularly strong in our premium cabins, and to popular routes during peak periods,” Mr Glance said.

 

[CaptJCool]

Stampede
The points are worth nothing if you can’t actually spend them

So it becomes a “tickets selling fast”
“Hurry last days”
Sale must end Someday
Kinda gig

 

[MooTime]

Always going to be burst of folk grabbing premium cabin seats who have a truck load of points. Blind Freddy could see that.

Gee it's only 35% higher than the norm, hardly thru the roof.

Of course it'll die down and another nothing to see here fizzer of an enhancement.