QFF Ideas & Suggestions

[medhead]

None of these suggestions actually addresses the cost of providing these benefits. Everyone wants more benefits. But no one wants to actually pay for them. THis is why I think that this entire thread, and all the ones like it, are simply a waste of time.

QF is not here to benefit loyal flyers. There are here to pay their shareholders dividends. And until people here can actually quantify the costs and benefits of the changes they are suggesting, everything's pretty much a waste of time.

Umm a representative of qantas asked for your suggestion. They didn't ask for a cost benefit analysis of those suggestions. This thread contains ideas, it is up to qantas to use them as they see fit.

Never?

They spent a lot of money on the new F lounges in Syd / Mel, and i imagine each visit costs a lot.

J domestic lounge access

Advanced seat selection

Increase luggage allowance on certain flights.

There is constant pressure in the airline industry. Many studies show that airlines, on average, around the world, aren't justifying their cost-of-capital. With ever decreasing fares, either expect dilution of benefits, increases in requirements, or having to pay more for flights. I doubt the latter would be very acceptable to many people here.

Yes never, for exactly the reasons you mention here

 

[Princess Fiona]

To keep my loyalty and make me fly more often with QF :
1. Acknowledge my WP status when flying JQ, priority boarding, seating and if possible points and SC as per red-e-deal QF fares. QF has effectively abandoned my home airport and I split my leisure travel between DJ and JQ based on schedule as there is currently zero incentive to fly JQ .
2. Allow lounge access with 2 guests when flying domestic partner airlines eg Brindabella, Aeropelican
3. Allow me to take my kids into the lounge when we are flying QF/OW: I have 4 of them . Haven't yet had a problem but would like it published as a benefit.
4. WP to have confirmed international upgrades at time of request if possible. Most of my work travel is paid J on QF therefore not applicable but for leisure travel with family I would divert more business to QF if my status allowed this advantage.
Thankyou Red Roo for the opportunity to provide feedback to QF .

 

[codash1099]

A couple of other things I thought of over the weekend.

1) Allow transfers of points after the death of a member (put the account on hold, and then work with the estate executor, charge x points admin if needed)

2) Remove the restriction on assigning awards to eligible family members, and prefer the ability to nominate people that you can assign them to.

While I would love this to happen, I wonder to what extent QFF rely on the expiry of points in this manner, or via points collected but never used, to add to the profitability of the program.

 

[oz_mark]

While I would love this to happen, I wonder to what extent QFF rely on the expiry of points in this manner, or via points collected but never used, to add to the profitability of the program.

They do rely on it to an extent. One of the motivations for direct earn on credit cards was that Qantas would get the benefit of expiring points, rather than the banks. Still, I think it is something they should look at.

 

[simongr]

I think the question was what would incent me to fly on QF more. What I don't understand is all of the replies requesting benefits when flying JQ - how i sthat flying on QF?

Any way the things that would drag more QF $ out of my wallet (as opposed to say CX/BA):

- Confirmable int'l upgrades. If I could confirm a J to F upgrade then I would certainly put the flight to QF rather than CX/BA. Now I know many argue that if airlines allowed confirmable upgrades then people would pay for whY and upgrade. What I want is J to F - so you have your pound flesh - I just get better champers...

- Stronger link between status and award redmeptions

- Two guests into the F lounge if flying QF. I often fly with colleagues who are Gold/Silver and we are travelling in J and it would sway us to fly on QF over CX/BA

 

[dfcatch]

I think the question was what would incent me to fly on QF more. What I don't understand is all of the replies requesting benefits when flying JQ - how i sthat flying on QF?

I agree with most of your suggestions here.

The reason JQ comes up as an issue is because QF has dropped flights/routes. This means that when QF is not an option, then we have to choose between JQ & DJ. If QF want us to choose JQ and keep the $$ with Qantas Group, then we want some basic benefits such as priority checkin etc.

QF can't pretend JQ is a separate airline unless they reinstate QF Flights and directly compete with JQ on comparable routes and times.

 

[docjames]

I think the question was what would incent me to fly on QF more. What I don't understand is all of the replies requesting benefits when flying JQ - how i sthat flying on QF?

I agree with your other points. The thing about recognition on JQ is that in many instances, JQ has replaced QF. FFers feel they are being loyal by choosing JQ (as a QF-group airline) instead of just cheapest/most convenient / try another airline for any other reason. THIS is why there should be benefits in flying JQ, as their travel $$$ stays with QF-group.


Edit: dfcatch beat me by one minute!

 

[markis10]

I think the question was what would incent me to fly on QF more. What I don't understand is all of the replies requesting benefits when flying JQ - how i sthat flying on QF?

You should move to the gold coast or sunshine coast to get an answer to that question, or to a lesser extent HBA, CNS or MKY and DRW (int). If you want to bump out of MKY after a full days work you have the choice of JQ or DJ, same for CNS-MEL, having at least the option to get SCs on the lower fares would bring some traffic back to a QF owned airline.

 

[dfcatch]

Edit: dfcatch beat me by one minute!

Quick and the dead my friend

 

[samh004]

- Confirmable int'l upgrades. If I could confirm a J to F upgrade then I would certainly put the flight to QF rather than CX/BA. Now I know many argue that if airlines allowed confirmable upgrades then people would pay for whY and upgrade. What I want is J to F - so you have your pound flesh - I just get better champers...

Does anyone have the CX financials? I know you can do that with them, quite often my dad will choose hit flight over based on if he’ll be in J or not (while paying for Y). So if they do it, and they’re fairly premium, how do their financials stack up? Are they losing out with everyone booking Y and getting J?

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Wow... Negative much?

If it's such a waste of time why do you keep posting in here, off topic?

A majority of the posts in here haven't been moaning, have been constructive and without emotion - save for a few usual suspects

You're missing the point. People here have just largely been asking for free things (without consideration of the cost of providing them).

Given that QF is currently on a mission to *cut* benefits, rather than spend money increasing benefits, why does anyone think that expensive requests without corresponding cost-savings are ever going to be implemented?

Useful suggestion: bring back guest passes because that allows flexibility. Help fund this by removing the "1 guest per traveller" allowance at the moment

Suggestion that will not be implemented: I usually have two friends I travel with, so it wuld be great if you could give me some guest passes as well as my existing allowance

And do remember serious domestic competition (DJ) is coming, it's not an 'if' but when so I think it's a great move and timing from QF to ask these questions.

Well, maybe I'm just more pessimistic than you.

 

[medhead]

You're missing the point. People here have just largely been asking for free things (without consideration of the cost of providing them).

Given that QF is currently on a mission to *cut* benefits, rather than spend money increasing benefits, why does anyone think that expensive requests without corresponding cost-savings are ever going to be implemented?

The question asked is what would make us spend more with qantas. There is no need to consider cost savings. That is something for qantas to do when they look into the suggestions here and decide if they wish to adopt those suggestions. The thread isn't a business plan

 

[notzac]

Useful suggestion: bring back guest passes because that allows flexibility. Help fund this by removing the "1 guest per traveller" allowance at the moment

I respectfully, vehemently disagree with this suggestion -- we don't need another AAirline that honours oneworld elite benefits to everyone except their own elite members.

1 guest per elite pax (either Gold or Platinum, in line with advertised OW benefits), along with x number of guest passes per year (where 'x' has different values for Gold and Platinum members) for access to domestic Qantas Clubs and international J Lounges for guests beyond the advertised entitlement and only when travelling with said elite pax would make for a good compromise to my mind.

I also agree with an earlier suggestion that QF should put in writing at what age they consider a child travelling with an elite pax as using one of the guest 'spots'.

 

[anchew]

Here is my contribution to the discussion. I'll answer Red Roo's question first by saying why I am currently (for the moment) a loyal QF pax.

Since moving to Canberra from Melbourne around 4 years ago, I fly between MEL and CBR around once a month and still do. Back then it was on either DJ or QF depending on the cheapest fare. Two years ago, I changed jobs which came with the perk of QP membership. My spending patterns changed immediately. With QP access, I now fly with QF whenever possible, including international flights. For example, currently, I'm typing this up on QF 46 somewhere over the Tasman (to be uploaded when I get to the QP in SYD DOM). Air NZ was around $20 cheaper but I didn't hesitate in booking with QF. In addition, next weekend, I'm flying to Singapore (2 international flights in two weekends is not the norm for me - it's purely coincidental). When researching flights, EK (via DJ CBRSYD) was around $800 while QF was around $1000. I ended up booking QF even though EK was 20% cheaper. Why?

Two reasons. Firstly, I get access to the QP when flying QF. However, I recently found out (through AFF) that DJ is offering status matching for QFF members. Being SG, status matching gets me 'free' access to the DJ lounge, which in my opinion, is much better than the QP domestically particularly with its barista coffee (I'm eaisly impressed). I haven't had time to really consider if (a) I should get status matching with DJ and/or (b) switch alliances to DJ. And why haven't I? It's because of the second reason - status credits.

When flying for work, I usually fly in J so being a QP member is irrelevant. But I still prefer QF because of the sc (I don't get QFF points when flying QF for work). Now that I reached my goal of SG (only last week), the 'sc' reason for me to continue with QF is not much of an incentive anymore (another 700 points to reach WP is out of reach for me for my anniverary of 31 Jan).

So this got me thinking about Red Roo's question. What could QF do to QFF for me to not change my loyalty to DJ? (Captain has just announced that we'll be landing soon so I'll ponder this issue while we decend into SYD and continue this in the SYD DOM QP).

(Now in the SYD DOM QP). If the next tier is obtainable, then I would indeed continue flying with QF to try and reach that next tier. For example, at 1,000 SC, there could be Gold+ which could have benefits somewhere between SG and WP, or some sort of 'reward' similar to (but to a lower degree) what is offered when you reach 24,000 sc - maybe a single complementary entry to QF First Lounge (to give the member a taste to WP)? Another way that could make me not consider moving to DJ would be an improved (rather than enhanced) loyalty bonus instead of the current 5000 QFF points. 5000 points is not enough of an incentive for me.

Just my thoughts.

 

[dfcatch]

I respectfully, vehemently disagree with this suggestion -- we don't need another AAirline that honours oneworld elite benefits to everyone except their own elite members.

Ahh yes... Fair enough point.

I too had advocated a return to the guest pass system (as a replacement to the current 1 guest everytime system - not in addition), as I don't use my guest spot on most occasions, but if I want to take my parents overseas once a year - can't take them both in. And I felt that status pax/QP members with regular accompanying partners have lots of options for their regular travel partner.

But after considering your point - I accept that my suggestion is great for QP members, but complicated for SG/WP.

I would be happy with a VERY small allowance of extra guests (perhaps this could be electronically linked to your FF account so that guest "passes" can't be traded). Or even just send me two Complimentary Invitations like I got when I was silver and never used them (I was QP as it was).

Or perhaps just have the ability to purchase a guest spot on a per day/use basis.

I don't feel I should have to purchase an Annual Guest Card just so that my parents can both accompany me into the Int J Lounge once a year......

 

[straitman]

Red Roo,

Thanks for this thread and thanks for proving me wrong as a cynic of your previous posts. I am more than happy to be proven wrong and have you on board here than the other way around.

After sitting and reading through all 155 posts over the last few days I really have to wonder about a few answers from a few people. Red Roo asked 'How would you improve Qantas Frequent Flyer and how could the program encourage you to fly more with us?'

Most people IMHO have stuck to the point with their posts and we now have quite a comprehensive list of positive items and answered the question as asked. Quite reasonably Red Roo did not ask for a cost analysis as we have no real idea of some of these things balance out against each other and so we cannot in a real sense offer help in that area.

Unfortunately a few have wandered off on tangents and in places gone right off topic. (Interesting reading but off topic)

The one thing that really amazes (confuses) me, particularly after a thread of 719 posts is the almost total lack of comment about reinstating any time access to the Qantas Clubs. Other than that I have a bunch of thoughts however they have all been covered in one way shape or form during the discussion.

 

[TonyHancock]

The one thing that really amazes (confuses) me, particularly after a thread of 719 posts is the almost total lack of comment about reinstating any time access to the Qantas Clubs. Other than that I have a bunch of thoughts however they have all been covered in one way shape or form during the discussion.

I guess I took the view, rightly or wrongly, that the reinstatement of anytime access was covered comprehensively in the anytime access thread.

It would be nice to see it reinstated but it is not at the top of my list of "enhancements" that will make me fly more with Qantas. The ability to upgrade on international flights in advance is head and shoulders above everything else.

 

[dfcatch]

I guess I took the view, rightly or wrongly, that the reinstatement of anytime access was covered comprehensively in the anytime access thread.

It would be nice to see it reinstated but it is not at the top of my list of "enhancements" that will make me fly more with Qantas. The ability to upgrade on international flights in advance is head and shoulders above everything else.

+ 1 on what Tony said.

Anytime access was adequately covered, would be happy to have it back. But my other suggestions are higher on my list.

 

[Princess Fiona]

They already do : children under 3 years don't count as a guest. I would like this to be expanded to include dependent children can be admitted as guests similar to AA.

 

[medhead]

1 guest per elite pax (either Gold or Platinum, in line with advertised OW benefits), along with x number of guest passes per year (where 'x' has different values for Gold and Platinum members) for access to domestic Qantas Clubs and international J Lounges for guests beyond the advertised entitlement and only when travelling with said elite pax would make for a good compromise to my mind.

I also agree with an earlier suggestion that QF should put in writing at what age they consider a child travelling with an elite pax as using one of the guest 'spots'.

Fair point. But it still doesn't change the fact that being able to have one or two guests everytime I fly is of minor benefit to me. However, having to beg to guest my family a couple times a year is a big issue to me. Everytime I have a family holiday, I'm in limbo not knowing if Qantas is going to value the loyalty of all my other flights during the year, or if I'm going to be turned away. Certainty in that situation will ensure that Qantas gets my holiday dollars.

BTW Qantas already does publish an age of 3 or less. Experiences around here seem to suggest that there is some flexibility on that age limit. But just like so many other things that flexibility just adds uncertainty to the customer and when it is cut off it actually hurts the relationship.

The one thing that really amazes (confuses) me, particularly after a thread of 719 posts is the almost total lack of comment about reinstating any time access to the Qantas Clubs. Other than that I have a bunch of thoughts however they have all been covered in one way shape or form during the discussion.

I also felt that anytime access had been covered. But for the record, if Qantas wants more of my money then they should bring back anytime access. I have already diverted my spend because of it's removal so that I can gain access to a lounge whenever I fly. There is also the situation with JQ and the Qantas Club not being opened for JQ flights. As a total package with Qantas group membership of The Lounge is a better prospect to get what I want. I'm sure Qantas already knows that anytime access is cheaper than putting flights onto all possible domestic routes. Oh, and I'm only asking for anytime access as published, not being allowed into the business lounge.