Qantas Status Extension - Ambiguously worded text

[RedSMS]

Hi All,

My Status is due to end end of July (today),

As you know, Qantas will extend your status for a further 12 months if you create a booking before status expiry for travel until 31st DEC 2021.

I booked a flight today to extend my status for a further 12 months.

THEN,

I looked at the message I received on Monday, and cross-checked it with the wording on the website and it read the following:

Hi Member, your current QFF status is due to end on 31 Jul. However you can extend it for another 12 months by simply booking an eligible Qantas operated flight before 31 Jul for travel anytime in 2021. Book now with Qantas. Conditions apply. To opt out of SMS text STOP to +61428681741.

Note how it says BEFORE 31ST JULY.

This is incredibly ambiguously worded. I assumed that all I had to do was create a booking before my status ends for travel up until Dec 31 2021.

Can anybody tell me whether or not my status will be extended as whilst my status is still valid, today is the 31st, hence not BEFORE the 31st....?

Also, has anybody experienced similar difficulties?

The flight was booked half an hour ago, SURELY this is simply poor wording in behalf of QF?

Why would they get you to create a booking when you still have a day if status remaining?

A bit worried. I had such a busy week, and planned to do it today...

Thank you all so much in advance, I really appreciate it.

 

[AIRwin]

Just in case, can you rebook using any gift vouchers purchased after 23 November 2020?

 

[RedSMS]

Huh? That really wasn't what I was looking for..

 

[muppet]

Huh? That really wasn't what I was looking for..

Airwin was offering a potential solution as often PNR’s keep their initial creation date and this extention offer was announced 23 Nov 2020.

Your OP is irrelevant isn’t it? …. today is 31 July so either way the ship has sailed.

That being said, per the original terms of this offer, I think you’ll be extended.

from the email:

All you need to do is book a Qantas operated flight (with a QF flight number) before your membership year ends, for travel before the end of 2021.*

 

[RedSMS]

Airwin was offering a potential solution as often PNR’s keep their initial creation date and this extention offer was announced 23 Nov 2020.

Your OP is irrelevant isn’t it? …. today is 31 July so either way the ship has sailed.

That being said, per the original terms of this offer, I think you’ll be extended.

from the email:

Thanks for your reply. Surely QF would act in good faith in this situation... Have you had yours extended? If so did it happen automatically?

Cheers.

 

[Matt_01]

@RedSMS I wouldn't be concerned QF T&Cs and messages are always poorly worded. The booking system also works in UTC so you technically have to 10 am AEST tomorrow to make the booking. The PNR create time stamp is all that is important. The original wording was The booking creation date must be made on or after 23 November 2020 and before the member’s current status end date of between 31 March and 31 December 2021. If the outcome is not what you were expecting you have have to call QF and I suspect they will honour the extension. Final thought you may have had a busy week but you have had 8 months notice to make the booking.

 

[RedSMS]

Thanks Matt for your reply.
You are right, I have had 8 months, but at the same time, I live in Melbourne where travel restrictions beyond 5km have been up in the air on multiple occassions.

Looking forward, they still will be up in the air for the foreseeable future.

Finally, my status is still valid for another 3 hours is it not? I booked a flight before the end of my current status. Why would QF say that you can extend it if you create a new booking up until 31 DEC, but not allow you to extend it while youre status is still active. That makes zero sense whatsoever.

Thanks once again.

 

[Matt_01]

@RedSMS if you take your mind off the status extension offer and read in conjunction with all the fee free change offers it was not to difficult to book any flight from 23 Nov onwards and then just change it free of charge. As it happens my roll over is tonight so I am interested to see what happens.

 

[oz_mark]

Don't overthink it, and remember most promotions are inclusive of whatever the last date mentioned in the terms is.

 

[RedSMS]

@RedSMS if you take your mind off the status extension offer and read in conjunction with all the fee free change offers it was not to difficult to book any flight from 23 Nov onwards and then just change it free of charge. As it happens my roll over is tonight so I am interested to see what happens.

Alright, I get what your saying.... But what about those who are either not an Airline/travel freak or just too busy? You get an email + website with poorly worded information.

Furthermore, why should it matter how long the offer has been there for? Been an FF for 25 years and have $4k in credit with them. You would think they would want to keep their FFs, and if they are that stingy that they would expect you to do it a full day before the end of your status....well, taking all that into account that's a bit much.

I would think at worst I would have to call them. I have booked the flight which shows intent.

The ambiguous wording makes for an honest mistake.

Surely they will see that.

 

[Matt_01]

... But what about those who are either not an Airline/travel freak or just too busy? You get an email + website with poorly worded information.

You seemed to have missed the point of my original response, it will just all work out. I am not one of Airline/travel freak's you mention and am on record stating that I dislike flying, it is just a bus with wings. I have been FF for more than 25 years and have come to realise the inadequacies of QF.

 

[RedSMS]

You seemed to have missed the point of my original response, it will just all work out. I am not one of Airline/travel freak's you mention and am on record stating that I dislike flying, it is just a bus with wings. I have been FF for more than 25 years and have come to realise the inadequacies of QF.

Apologies if I've upset you. Agree re inadequacies

 

[RedSMS]

Just had a thought. Just checked how many status credits I would normally need in order to requalify, and it says the following...notice how it says "before Sat 31st July." If I was 10 short and arrived into MEL from SYD this evening, those SC's would be credited on arrival and I would have hit my target then and there right?

So if it's worded that way anyway, surely my status gets extended?

 

[RedSMS]

You Beauty. Status extended.
Thanks all and sorry for the bother..

 

[Danger]

You Beauty. Status extended.
Thanks all and sorry for the bother..

To clear for others, however, status usually takes around a week to settle in the new membership year anyway. That is, your old status usually hangs around for a few extra days into the new year. Having only skimmed this thread, it seems yours is going to be extended but a word of caution for others.

 

[Matt_01]

@Danger my status rolled over this morning and the SC took a few more hours to arrive. QF seems to have got this correct this year however they have had 5-6 months to iron out the bugs.

 

[oz_mark]

To clear for others, however, status usually takes around a week to settle in the new membership year anyway. That is, your old status usually hangs around for a few extra days into the new year. Having only skimmed this thread, it seems yours is going to be extended but a word of caution for others.

If the expiration date has moved along to next year, then it should all be good.
It's when the expiration date doesn't move that it's time to worry!

 

[RichardMEL]

Just my two cents.

You really did overthink this didn't you? I understand why but after 25+ years of being a FF (with QF I assume) I would have thought one would be somewhat used to the way QF operates (or doesn't as the case may be ). Yes, promotions are poorly worded, but they are also worded to, more or less, the lowest common denominator. Often with QF the intent is very clear even if the wording is not, and they are usually pretty good with honouring that.

Just to the comment above from the OP about wanting to keep their FF's... tbh having a promotion where all one has to do is BOOK a flight (not even fly it!) to retain status for a year - and you were sent a reminder no less - well that's pretty easy and clear way of showing they want to keep their FF's in my book. The only way it could be easier would be a free extension (QF has been there, done that already). This has to be one of the most generous offers ever in my book - most specially for the higher status levels such as Platinum and P1.

And it's likely there will be more of the same.

And in previous years people would be rightly pointing out that QF never notifies people of things like points expiry and the like - they have gotten better at that - and to send you a reminder a week or so prior to your status anniversary - well who can complain about that? I reckon that's very good.

so really.... given the most unusual times we are all living through this is a very very good outcome in my book.

Anyway glad your status was extended so quickly and you're happy. That's the main thing.

 

[avante]

Hi hope everyone is staying safe and keeping well.
Just jumping in as well as I had booked a flight (via my company travel agent) for July that got cancelled by Qantas. I took a screenshot of the cancellation on the app in case my status doesn’t extend after my anniversary (30 Oct). From reading this thread it sounds like Qantas have been pretty good so hopefully I don’t have to use it!