Seemingly comped Silver status

[YQY]

Really, is it that difficult to understand? DJ is now being led by a key former QF person, and have publicly declared they are going to come after QF in the business market. I think this change to PS qualification is just one of a broad range of initiatives (some that have been announced and some that haven't) to pre-empt DJ's plans and shore up support for QF.

How do you explain increasing the bar for PG (from 2100SC to 2400SC)? Do QF take WP for granted?

 

[dajop]

How do you explain increasing the bar for PG (from 2100SC to 2400SC)? Do QF take WP for granted?

I don't think the 2400 PG bar has been fully revealed yet. They have indicated that there may (will) be other offers made, and there as already been improvements to the PG program. For me (with a WP partner), PG is useless, but being able to offer it, for example to my sister, or one of my parents, is certainly an improvement.

 

[YQY]

For me (with a WP partner), PG is useless, but being able to offer it, for example to my sister, or one of my parents, is certainly an improvement.

I'm in a similar situation - Mrs YQY seldom flies without me - so PG is next to useless. I fly weekly to MEL in K - with a few OS flights thrown in, I get 2100 SC per year. However I will find a 2400 a stretch.

if the goal post is moved to 2400SC with no rewards at 2100SC - I will be sorely disappointed.

Unless of course the rewards at 2400 are exceptional ie guaranteed K to J upgrades

 

[samh004]

Unless of course the rewards at 2400 are exceptional ie guaranteed K to J upgrades

I think something like that is a little wild an idea.

I think there’ll be some better bonuses, but if you expect that, do you also expect discount Y to F upgrades for 1 point guaranteed?

 

[Bundy Bear]

Having said that, I imagine there must be other motivations for wanting an increase in Silver members? OR are the benefits of PS going to be "enhanced" in that good ol' Qantas way?

I just had a look through the email and found this enhancement from Qantas.

Domestic check-in changes for Silver Frequent Flyers and
Qantas Club members
From 1 February 2011, with the introduction of Next Generation
Check-in benefits, access to priority check-in counters at
domestic airports will no longer be available for Silver
Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members.​

Being Qantas Club life and in the past being able to use Priority check-in was definitely useful but now that benefit has been taken away.

This privilege will still be available for Qantas international flights.

 

[Flashback]

I just had a look through the email and found this enhancement from Qantas.

Domestic check-in changes for Silver Frequent Flyers and
Qantas Club members
From 1 February 2011, with the introduction of Next Generation
Check-in benefits, access to priority check-in counters at
domestic airports will no longer be available for Silver
Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members.​

Being Qantas Club life and in the past being able to use Priority check-in was definitely useful but now that benefit has been taken away.

This privilege will still be available for Qantas international flights.

That's interesting given it's a oneworld Ruby benefit.... sounds like they're going the way of AA, e.g. not extending OW benefits to their own members for certain things.

 

[oz_mark]

Really, is it that difficult to understand? DJ is now being led by a key former QF person, and have publicly declared they are going to come after QF in the business market. I think this change to PS qualification is just one of a broad range of initiatives (some that have been announced and some that haven't) to pre-empt DJ's plans and shore up support for QF.

Yep, I can see all the initiatives announced today are taking the fight up to DJ.

 

[thewinchester]

Yep, I can see all the initiatives announced today are taking the fight up to DJ.

Taking up the fight to DJ? I don't think so.

It's more like QF saying here's the keys to the car, and would you like the contents of my wallet as well! I doubt they could have found a better way to annoy longtime customers that would have some of them seriously considering where they airline loyalty is placed.

 

[samh004]

Yep, I can see all the initiatives announced today are taking the fight up to DJ.

How wrong we were about the direction they were taking with this

 

[Flashback]

Taking up the fight to DJ? I don't think so.

It's more like QF saying here's the keys to the car, and would you like the contents of my wallet as well! I doubt they could have found a better way to annoy longtime customers that would have some of them seriously considering where they airline loyalty is placed.

I think oz_mark was being facetious

 

[oz_mark]

I think oz_mark was being facetious

Perhaps.

I think it is NGCI related. Bump a few more to silver to give them the new card for NGCI. Take away priority check-in, which may not mean as much in the NGCI enabled airports.

 

[mikekhoury]

Can someone post a link to the email? I'm PS with Qantas Club and didn't receive anything...

or better yet, forward it to me. mike dot khoury at hotmail.com
thanks ya'll

mike

 

[samh004]

Can someone post a link to the email? I'm PS with Qantas Club and didn't receive anything...

or better yet, forward it to me. mike dot khoury at hotmail.com
thanks ya'll

mike

The email basically lists everything that’s listed on the website here:

http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/memberSpecials/latest-news

I was going to forward you my email, but each email lists personal details, like FF# and account balance. So that’s a no go unfortunately. The intro is thus though:

Hello Sam

Enjoy the journey with Qantas

As Australia's leading premium airline, Qantas is committed to giving you the best possible travel experience. The exceptional products and services you enjoy throughout your journey are complemented by the rewards you receive as a Qantas Frequent Flyer.

We've made a variety of changes in the last few years to give you a broader, more rewarding program. The coming months will see further changes, including enhancements for our most frequent flyers.

New benefits already introduced make it easier to reach Silver status. Thanks to this change, you're now a Silver Frequent Flyer. Your Silver membership kit will be sent to you shortly.

We've made it easier to retain your Silver status and are introducing even more rewards for Silver members.
You'll find highlights of the latest news and program changes below.

Regards
Norris Carter
Group General Manager Loyalty

 

[Nigelinoz]

A friend has only recently joined the program so is still bronze,his email is basically the same as samh004's but with the following paragraph.

Next Generation Check-in update
This new, intuitive check-in experience has begun as a trial at Perth domestic airport. Sydney T3 follows in November with other Qantas domestic airports being introduced in 2011 and beyond.
As a Bronze member you benefit from this new technology. Enhanced check-in kiosks allow you to avoid the queues and print your own bag tags. Then drop your bags at the new automated bag drop and you're on your way.
Make bag drop even faster with new Q Bag Tags featuring smart-chip technology, which eliminate the need for paper bag tags. Register now to be one of the first to buy these new Marc Newson designed Q Bag Tags.

 

[samh004]

A friend has only recently joined the program so is still bronze,his email is basically the same as samh004's but with the following paragraph.

I also got that paragraph, I just didn’t think it needed to be said. However re-reading it does say that Silver members will get their Q cards and Q bag tags in early 2011, as oppose to Bronze not getting anything.

I know this email was sent to all 5 tiers, so I am curious the differences between the 5 of them, though think it’ll be hard to find a CL willing to share the full text.

 

[simongr]

Taking up the fight to DJ? I don't think so.

It's more like QF saying here's the keys to the car, and would you like the contents of my wallet as well! I doubt they could have found a better way to annoy longtime customers that would have some of them seriously considering where they airline loyalty is placed.

OK lets split this between WP and PS.

They have just said to many fliers - "Hey you now get a 25% bonus on your earning on our flights and you get to use NGCI for domestic flights and for international you can use the express queues no - neat huh?" Lots of happy PS and a few people now thinking "actually not too hard to maintain silver status really so maybe a few of those BFotD might need to go to QF"

To existing PS "Hey we have made it easier for you to maintain your silver status. We are also rolling out a new check in system that you will be able to use to bypass those pesky queues for Domestic flights. You still get to use the express queues for International though"

I dont see heaps of PS being badly affected.

 

[samh004]

I dont see heaps of PS being badly affected.

Perhaps, but lots of PS and NB members turn out to be QP members because they need to pay for lounge access, and while some may have just found re-qualification easier, they’ve also found out that status or paying isn’t going to give them priority checkin, even though just the other day they paid for exactly that

That’s just devils advocate though, I think once bugs are ironed out of NGCI and everyone has learnt how to use it, things will actually be all right.

 

[notzac]

That’s just devils advocate though, I think once bugs are ironed out of NGCI and everyone has learnt how to use it, things will actually be all right.

This is of course assuming that NGCI is rolled out to all ports and that the system doesn't break down..

Otherwise it's a tangible loss of benefit for QP and PS.

 

[samh004]

This is of course assuming that NGCI is rolled out to all ports and that the system doesn't break down..

Oh, I’m eagerly looking forward (and hoping I’m not flying) to the day when Amadeus goes down again, or their own IT fails, and due to this rollout they have less staff at airports to deal with a problem. They’ll have big issues.

 

[bigmal]

Does all this mean that lifetime silver will now drop from 7000 to 6000 SC's to keep in line with the other ratios? (x200)