QF Double Status Credit Promos - I am not 100% sure I follow the logic anymore...

[motef]

Another query. Anyone received a targeted bonus SC email when there were sale fares to the searched destination?

Just finished up on our double yolkers from the Feb promotion. AU to NZ in August. Froze our bloody coughs off and our bloody DSCs went out with a bang when we pranged the bloody motorhome. Insurer wouldn’t accept it was all bloody QFF’s fault even though their bloody promo got us there in the first place.

Cheers skip

Yes I have. Was searching NZ from anywhere on the east coast while the J Tasman Sale was on. ~$500 AUD per pax one way then got a 50% SC email

I booked.

 

[Dannyism]

+1 to searching for a destination then waking up to a targeted 50% bonus SC offer. 7 day booking window for flights to the end of the year.

 

[TheRiddler]

So I was one of those that was hanging out for DSC. As a LTG, I was going to use the Magic Pudding to get WP with my flights for the rest of the year. When it didnt come, I put my spend for the rest of the year with Singapore Airlines in an effort to build status there. Admittedly it was only a few flights (just shy of AU$10k of spend) but will probably mean that I will now also spend more with SQ next year - something that wouldnt have happened if I'd been targeted with the promo.

 

[Max Samuels]

Qantas and group staff, relatives and others are definitely banned from accessing any QF , Oneworld or other lounges when travelling on industry discount tickets.
Even if they are flying in business class or have frequent flyer status which would otherwise entitle them to lounge access.
The only circumstance in which they are permitted to access the lounge is if they are a guest of a REV PAX (revenue passenger).

Not true - my mate used to work in Sydney QF First - they made sure all their QF mates could get in. They just put them on the guest list. The first class lounge required them to be on the guest list and it only worked if the person on the door was your mate - ie only first class lounge workers could get away with it as they all knew and loved each other.... but every boarding pass must be scanned.

But the dom lounges.......... so different. Only the flying member even requires a boarding pass so much easier to get in. The dragons on the counter just recognise a friend and nod them into the lounge.

 

[Ade]

Not true - my mate used to work in Sydney QF First - they made sure all their QF mates could get in. They just put them on the guest list. The first class lounge required them to be on the guest list and it only worked if the person on the door was your mate - ie only first class lounge workers could get away with it as they all knew and loved each other.... but every boarding pass must be scanned.

But the dom lounges.......... so different. Only the flying member even requires a boarding pass so much easier to get in. The dragons on the counter just recognise a friend and nod them into the lounge.

Wish I had a friend who works at the F lounge. Have only been there once, as a guest of someone. Not yet, in my own accord ..

 

[Max Samuels]

Not sure I’ve ever seen this happening, access to any of the QF lounges seems quite closely guarded plus as I understand it QF staff on industry fares are strictly prohibited from lounge access.

Well that's the point.... you won't see it happening! It's all very underhanded.

But remember, you DON'T have to be flying to be a guest of a member in the dom lounges. So there is no requirement for you to produce a boarding pass (or even ID for that matter). So worst case if you get challenged (which never happens) you just say "I was in here with my important friend Mr business as his guest and he has just gone to the dunny/shop/for a smoke..............."

Obviously I cannot provide any actual evidence as I don't spend much time reviewing the surveillance footage of the lounges (or do I????) , but over the years I have had several friends that work in the lounges (SYD & BNE) and I know anecdotely they let their friends in all the time.... you just have to know who is on the door... like a nightclub. Except the F lounge as it is a bit stricter but you can still get on the list

 

[Max Samuels]

I'm going to say it....... and possibly because I never take advantage of it (i.e. I am being selfish) but I think the WP guest thing is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy too generous. Especially the unlimited number of kids < 18 one can bring with them. Essentially a family of 10 can get access with just one "legit" member.

I think it was CX (and others do it too I know) where even a kid is considered a guest.,.... maybe that's why the CX lounges are so much nicer....

But that would save the overcrowding of lounges - fewer guests. And no kids.

Did I mention no kids?

Also, they should limit the number of kids.

 

[wannabe_wp]

Not true - my mate used to work in Sydney QF First - they made sure all their QF mates could get in. They just put them on the guest list. The first class lounge required them to be on the guest list and it only worked if the person on the door was your mate - ie only first class lounge workers could get away with it as they all knew and loved each other.... but every boarding pass must be scanned.

But the dom lounges.......... so different. Only the flying member even requires a boarding pass so much easier to get in. The dragons on the counter just recognise a friend and nod them into the lounge.

Right so basically it was employees of the lounge just letting their mates in.

So it wasn't really allowed but they just did it anyway.

 

[Max Samuels]

Right so basically it was employees of the lounge just letting their mates in.

So it wasn't really allowed but they just did it anyway.

I don’t think I ever said “allowed”... was just suggesting a potential reason. Sorry for confuse!

 

[Townsend]

I can think of many reasons why Qantas will not have a double sc’s promotion again. However I can think of one reason why they should...they will sell more tickets. I am seriously thinking of doing a sc run if they have a double sc promotion but I definitely will not buy those tickets without the promotion.

I think that there are a number of people thinking the same way.

 

[levelnine]

Another reason why double status credit offers are potentially at risk of evaporating: Virgin Australia's weakness.

If VA is in a cost-cutting phase and won't be offering their own double status credit promotions, then there is less competitive incentive for QF to offer them.

 

[motef]

Another reason why double status credit offers are potentially at risk of evaporating: Virgin Australia's weakness.

If VA is in a cost-cutting phase and won't be offering their own double status credit promotions, then there is less competitive incentive for QF to offer them.

Virgin just offered me a double SC promo at the start of the week via targeted email.

Currently Gold with them as well

 

[Ade]

Virgin just offered me a double SC promo at the start of the week via targeted email.

Currently Gold with them as well

Really!?! that's awesome

would be interested to know ;

1. By any chance, is your anniversary date nearing?
2. Are you close to Platinum ?
3. Did you search for flights on VA website, but didn't book ?

 

[Ade]

Another reason why double status credit offers are potentially at risk of evaporating: Virgin Australia's weakness.

If VA is in a cost-cutting phase and won't be offering their own double status credit promotions, then there is less competitive incentive for QF to offer them.

And I think with VA planning to cut down routes (or, that's what I hear/read), QF will invariably get a slightly, if not much better, upper hand with bookings.

My guess is corporate bookings would like to stick to someone who is stable

 

[motef]

Really!?! that's awesome

would be interested to know ;

1. By any chance, is your anniversary date nearing?
2. Are you close to Platinum ?
3. Did you search for flights on VA website, but didn't book ?

1. No its May 2020
2. No only just made Gold
3. No

 

[Ade]

1. No its May 2020
2. No only just made Gold
3. No

Cool. Wanted to check if VA is also following QF to release targeted SC promos when someone searches for a particular route, but doesn't book it.

It's not a published rule or something, but that's how it always happens for me .. When I log in and search for a flight in QF and don't book it. QF will send me targeted SC offers based on that route/continent.

 

[levelnine]

Virgin just offered me a double SC promo at the start of the week via targeted email.

Currently Gold with them as well

That's actually very worrying because it may suggest VA is also moving away from general DSC offers to targeted offers.

 

[JohnK]

QF probably care about churning too many customers... but QF's business intelligence is not very intelligent at all.... all outsourced to terrible places

Qantas cares about revenue. Customers get in the way.

I've utilised double SC offers quite a lot but I've also experienced the overcrowding in the lounges. I don't think the business model is going to suffer too much if double SC offers stop. If you're 200 SCs short you may still go for it without the offer but at least they'll stop the cheap Platinum Ones.

 

[JohnK]

I think it was CX (and others do it too I know) where even a kid is considered a guest.,.... maybe that's why the CX lounges are so much nicer....

But that would save the overcrowding of lounges - fewer guests. And no kids.

Did I mention no kids?

Also, they should limit the number of kids.

Really? No kids? CX and Emirates count a 3 year old and above as a guest. So as a Platinum I cannot enjoy a quiet moment in the lounge with my family before a flight.

 

[Max Samuels]

Really? No kids? CX and Emirates count a 3 year old and above as a guest. So as a Platinum I cannot enjoy a quiet moment in the lounge with my family before a flight.

Well that's a good thing (for me!)