Qantas thanks its most loyal customers

[Kceips]

Are there? we don't know how many might be missing out. have any NB's got on here saying the missed out and are flying?

We are a family of 4 NB and 1 PS traveling internationally next month. None of us got rewarded as none of us were "selected bronzes" to be part of this deal and PS family member qualified after the date of loyalty bonus so also got no benefit!!

 

[muppet]

Any updates on the free upgrades? Not expecting one tomorrow as row 4 is blocked and it is showing J5 (implication being that there are 4 CLs or CIPs sitting in row 4 who are more likely to be upped to the 4 free J seats).

No seat change during OLCI. Sadly the 7:15 flight is showing J8...

Perth - Syd yesterday, no free upgrade for this WP. Went to request a points upgrade, The woman in front of me got an upgrade as a QPNB on red edeal (cost her 16000), I was refused from a flexi as WP. There were two seats left on takeoff.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Perth - Syd yesterday, no free upgrade for this WP. Went to request a points upgrade, The woman in front of me got an upgrade as a QPNB on red edeal (cost her 16000), I was refused from a flexi as WP. There were two seats left on takeoff.

Ouch !! Not exactly a way to thank your most loyal customers :shock:

 

[mannej]

Ouch !! Not exactly a way to thank your most loyal customers :shock:

To be fair perhaps the Lounge Dragon was not to know Muppet's status before granting the last ODU to the QPNB?

 

[amaroo]

Perth - Syd yesterday, no free upgrade for this WP. Went to request a points upgrade, The woman in front of me got an upgrade as a QPNB on red edeal (cost her 16000), I was refused from a flexi as WP. There were two seats left on takeoff.

That would give the .....

Perfect example of one step forward....& then two back.

 

[medhead]

We are a family of 4 NB and 1 PS traveling internationally next month. None of us got rewarded as none of us were "selected bronzes" to be part of this deal and PS family member qualified after the date of loyalty bonus so also got no benefit!!

I'm assuming you're referring to the bonus points offer. I thought Red Roo said that any bonus points will be given based on status at time of flying. So it will be interesting to see if your PS gets anything.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[maninblack]

Perth - Syd yesterday, no free upgrade for this WP. Went to request a points upgrade, The woman in front of me got an upgrade as a QPNB on red edeal (cost her 16000), I was refused from a flexi as WP. There were two seats left on takeoff.

Back in July I ran into a friend at the QF lounge in HKG. He is a WP and was traveling in Y on an upgradeable fare, I was in J. He had put in for a points upgrade but didn't get one. He again asked for one at the lounge, no luck. Just before boarding he asked again, Premium or Biz, no luck. As a WP he had managed to get an exit row.

After takeoff his TV wouldn't work.

Guess what, they moved him into Premium as there were spare seats

Guess what, there were 3 empty seats in J upstairs and 4 downstairs

I really don't care about what systems QF have in place for upgrades, fare buckets or whatever, this is just ridiculous and there is something severely wrong with the way this is managed. He's an easy going guy but was more than a little annoyed, I told him to complain to the CSM but he couldn't be bothered ultimately and fell asleep I think. Yet another example of how QF really rewards it's most loyal customers.

 

[codash1099]

Perth - Syd yesterday, no free upgrade for this WP. Went to request a points upgrade, The woman in front of me got an upgrade as a QPNB on red edeal (cost her 16000), I was refused from a flexi as WP. There were two seats left on takeoff.

Strange. If things are a bit tight, they will usually just take your BP and let you know just before boarding. This allows them to sort out priorities.

 

[simongr]

Guess what, they moved him into Premium as there were spare seats

Guess what, there were 3 empty seats in J upstairs and 4 downstairs

I really don't care about what systems QF have in place for upgrades, fare buckets or whatever, this is just ridiculous and there is something severely wrong with the way this is managed. He's an easy going guy but was more than a little annoyed, I told him to complain to the CSM but he couldn't be bothered ultimately and fell asleep I think. Yet another example of how QF really rewards it's most loyal customers.

He got an upgraded seat and you think he should complain to the CSM?

I don't know why he would bother asking in the lounge as they can't process and ODU for int'l flights.

On the more general topics of OpUps I really am in two minds on OpUps becoming more regular. On the one hand it is nice to get something as a reward for loyalty (I won't say free as everything comes at a price) and it would be nice if QF's systems and people really stuck to the "if you have to upgrade then upgrade the most loyal first" rather than the seemingly random process that it is now.

On the flip side I want QF to be profitable so that they can reinvest in better products and services. By having more frequent OpUps it does devalue the product - the final major airline in the US has gone into Chapter 11 and guess what "free" upgrades were widely available (through status and sticker based upgrade processes rather than OpUps) - people end up not paying for premium cabins and still get to sit in them. Also if I have been loyal enough to QF to stump up $8000 for a J seat why should someone who was only loyal enough to stump up $2000 get a free upgrade? Shouldn't I get four times the special treatment?

I don't think it is an easy topic for the airline to deal with in a way that is going to make enough people happy.

 

[serfty]

Unlike many carriers in the USA, Qantas won't fill every spare seat with upgrades. They leave one or more in case late Bookers are prepared to ante up the considerable $$$ to purchase said seats.

 

[richie9x]

Perth - Syd yesterday, no free upgrade for this WP. Went to request a points upgrade, The woman in front of me got an upgrade as a QPNB on red edeal (cost her 16000), I was refused from a flexi as WP. There were two seats left on takeoff.

That is one thing I noticed Qantas will typically leave 2 business class seats available on domestic flights for last minute bookings and changes of full price business fares. I suspect if you had been before that woman you would have got the upgrade and she would have missed out.

 

[dfcatch]

You should have gotten the upgrade - even if those seats were due to no shows.

You don't need U class to get an ODU processed - just an empty seat in J.

I'm surprised your BP wasn't taken as suggested above.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Perth - Syd yesterday, no free upgrade for this WP. Went to request a points upgrade, The woman in front of me got an upgrade as a QPNB on red edeal (cost her 16000), I was refused from a flexi as WP. There were two seats left on takeoff.

Terrible. Might have been left open for CL or WP1?

 

[mannej]

Terrible. Might have been left open for CL or WP1?

Or the U inventory had ran out?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

i guess we'll never know

 

[maninblack]

He got an upgraded seat and you think he should complain to the CSM?

I don't know why he would bother asking in the lounge as they can't process and ODU for int'l flights.

He got an upgrade on the flight because his TV was broken, not because QF were showing any real generosity of spirit and the upgrade should have been to J given there were 7 empty seats as is a long standing WP. (now a WP1 I believe)

Yes you are correct, Qantas systems are antiquated, rule bound and anachronistic and hopelessly out of touch with the needs and expectations of some of their most loyal customers.

There are those who seem to like being served up tripe and others who consider it unacceptable in this age of competitive markets.

 

[mannej]

He got an upgrade on the flight because his TV was broken, not because QF were showing any real generosity of spirit and the upgrade should have been to J given there were 7 empty seats as is a long standing WP. (now a WP1 I believe)

Yes you are correct, Qantas systems are antiquated, rule bound and anachronistic and hopelessly out of touch with the needs and expectations of some of their most loyal customers.

There are those who seem to like being served up tripe and others who consider it unacceptable in this age of competitive markets.

I guess your gripe is with Yield Management. Are space available upgrades the norm, or is it a balance? The justification QF will use is that by allowing too many space available upgrades, no one will purchase tickets in the premium classes, resulting to the devaluation of the premium product amongst other things.

 

[dfcatch]

I guess your gripe is with Yield Management. Are space available upgrades the norm, or is it a balance? The justification QF will use is that by allowing too many space available upgrades, no one will purchase tickets in the premium classes, resulting to the devaluation of the premium product amongst other things.

Absolutely correct - which is why the AA system of automatic domestic upgrades is not the best option.

But - AA's system of SWUs is a workable option for QFi.

As is NZ's system of comp. upgrades that are still inventory controlled.

 

[dfcatch]

Or the U inventory had ran out?

You don't need U inventory for an ODU - you just need the points, and an empty seat.

If you want a confirmed upgrade in advance - then you need U.

 

[muppet]

To be fair perhaps the Lounge Dragon was not to know Muppet's status before granting the last ODU to the QPNB?

This is true, there's no way she would have known.
I'm not blaming the lounge dragon...or anyone I don't think. I was just all expecting one because of the memo that said WP and CL would get them. I also thought there was some kind of collecting requests and ranking them prior to points upgrades - but it was definately first in best dressed, and I was one to late.