Shocked & saddened at Qantas's response to my bereavement - over to VA I go

[11sjw]

Like others in here have said sorry to hear about your loss. The wine seems like 1 partner to tick off. Perhaps a small purchase through the Qantas online shop or the use of a Qantas points earning credit card.

 

[whatmeworry]

Hi - thanks for the comments. Yes, was very happy with Qantas giving me the challenge (a mix of responsibility for why they expired - too long to explain) - their way of acknowledging joint responsibility which was more mine than theirs.

No problem earning the points - just the speed. So thanks so much for the idea of wine! I have already earned points with two partners in the last few weeks - just not 2500. But a wine challenge with help from kind friends could be quite do-able! Wine doesn't go off -one of my mantras in life.

Any other ideas welcomed. Movie tickets are also good, but not instant - but last for months....and more reasonable than any cheap day or loyalty card.

And lesson learned - watch your primary and secondary card holders on every account....

thanks

Install the Qantas toolbar and earn up to 150 QFF points per month per account.

https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/partners/toolbar

 

[Pushka]

Like others in here have said sorry to hear about your loss. The wine seems like 1 partner to tick off. Perhaps a small purchase through the Qantas online shop or the use of a Qantas points earning credit card.

The issue is that the points are needed now.

 

[whatmeworry]

The issue is that the points are needed now.

Even if the points came in Monday, I doubt the OP could trade their points for reward tickets this week.

 

[Pushka]

Even if the points came in Monday, I doubt the OP could trade their points for reward tickets this week.

Agree. The timing is unfortunate.

 

[medhead]

The issue is that the points are needed now.

Even if the points came in Monday, I doubt the OP could trade their points for reward tickets this week.

The OP already has the required partners, they just need to hit the earn target. So Epiqure bonus points will work fine. IIRC one of the cheaper options nets 7000 points - well over target.

Hi - thanks for the comments. Yes, was very happy with Qantas giving me the challenge (a mix of responsibility for why they expired - too long to explain) - their way of acknowledging joint responsibility which was more mine than theirs.

No problem earning the points - just the speed. So thanks so much for the idea of wine! I have already earned points with two partners in the last few weeks - just not 2500. But a wine challenge with help from kind friends could be quite do-able! Wine doesn't go off -one of my mantras in life.

Any other ideas welcomed. Movie tickets are also good, but not instant - but last for months....and more reasonable than any cheap day or loyalty card.

And lesson learned - watch your primary and secondary card holders on every account....

thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Even if the points came in Monday, I doubt the OP could trade their points for reward tickets this week.

I checked availability - there are four economy seats on the one flight on a couple days this week from SYD to LAX. 90K points plus $300 per person in taxes and fuel surcharges. Coming back is a little more restrictive but splitting into 2 parties of 2 will probably give more availability.

 

[gracekelly]

Thanks everyone so much. Wine has been purchased, movie tickets purchased, and a restaurant booked for the future. Half the wine points have already come through. Now I just get to call and beg Qantas tomorrow to reinstate quickly after I have been so grumpy. but I don't need to go until the 25/26/27 so fingers crossed will let you know. And thanks MEL_traveller - yes we can split family up...I think my husband would prefer to go on his own.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

All the best with Virgin Australia hope they treat you better.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I hope this all works out well but I must admit I think there is a danger of having expectations that are simply too high.
As others have observed, it's good that Qantas are giving you an opportunity to have the points reinstated.
It will be great if you can use them for your flights at this unfortunate time.

Having said that, Qantas can only bend the rules in any one case as far as they can afford to bend them in every such case.
Because anyone reading boards like this (or twitter) will expect the rules to be bent for them, too.
So I can understand why they won't change the rules for the challenge.

Also, I wouldn't expect to be able to rely on the availability of award seats in an emergency or urgent situation, no matter how many points I had.
Even without any issues of points expiry and reinstatement challenges and so on.

 

[Deleted member]

Advice welcomed as am so surprised by the poor business decision and appalling customer loyalty from Qantas. For complex reasons which they accepted/agreed my husband's 400,000 points expired six weeks ago. They gave us a reinstatement challenge which is quite simple - earn 2500 points with two partners over 6 months. No worries - just need to get a different Qantas-earning credit card for him (he isn't the primary cardholder on our main one, and they wouldn't swap us over to transfer the points ANZ or Qantas- boring as an easy fix). Anyway.

My mother died last week in California, and the four of us need to go to the funeral. But for a variety of sad/business reasons, have no cash or credit to get us all there. So I call and have written to ask a simple request - as a mark of compassion, could they just acknowledge that as I will obviously meet the challenge, could they just credit the points back now so we can get ff seats to the USA (and there are heaps). And they said NO.

We explored various ways to quickly get points, but they will all take too long to process. So after 30 years of membership, many flights, turnover of 100,000s of points, different status levels (currently low-public servant), it all means nothing. Very upset.

And it also seems so stupid business-wise. I will have to borrow money from family to buy tickets - which certainly won't be on Qantas. I will spend money on hotels/cars/etc when there, will earn back my challenge with in the month. Then I will redeem those points and never come back. I know I am fragile emotionally - but aren't they being stupid?

Anyway - apologies for the vent - and advice? Planning on leaving July 26 - probably on Air New Zealand to LAX.

It must be a difficult time for you all.
Is there some advantage to flying with Air NZ over QF?
Even if QF remain intractable, surely the QF flight will give your husband sufficient points with the other partner points to complete the challenge?
In that way you do at least have your points safe in the bank, if not the ability to use them straight away.
I know decision making in stressful times is fraught, so I hope you end up with the best outcome.
I wish Good luck to you all at this time.

 

[Haplo]

Even if the Qantas doesnt give you the point straight away you could always call them and ask if they can hold the seats for you so when the points are reinstated then you can book these seats. What is the QFF status of your husband? If it is gold or higher then you have a good chance of getting the above request.

 

[Simo]

Even if the Qantas doesnt give you the point straight away you could always call them and ask if they can hold the seats for you so when the points are reinstated then you can book these seats. What is the QFF status of your husband? If it is gold or higher then you have a good chance of getting the above request.

My guess would be no status as he has not flown with QF as his points have expired

 

[gracekelly]

All sorted!! Yay. Will have plenty of wine to drink upon my return. Called Monday morning and they re-credited my points immediately. (55 minutes on hold but did lots of filing). Were on site by lunch, and tickets booked for four of us on the AA flight to LAX on July 27.
Now that the drama is over, I want to say thanks again for the advice - the wine was brilliant. And in fact if I hadn't bought a bunch to start in an emotional frenzy and joined Epicure for triple points, I would have noticed that one six pack of nice shiraz for $120 with 7,000 bonus points is a really good deal. (For anyone reading).
Anyway many lessons learned - primarily of course about not losing track of things, expecting too much, etc. And off we go with passports and visas sorted. (I do have all 8 passport 6 month expiry and expiry dates in my iCalender for the next decade - just my tip and to show I am not a complete airhead.)
Thanks again!

 

[samh004]

All sorted!! Yay. Will have plenty of wine to drink upon my return.

(I do have all 8 passport 6 month expiry and expiry dates in my iCalender for the next decade - just my tip and to show I am not a complete airhead.)
Thanks again!

Excellent!

Don't be a stranger, who knows what else you can learn and share here in the future.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Sorry about your loss. You could buy wine from Epiqure - one partner and points credit immediately. qantasepiqure.com.au Trying to think of a second partner that will post immediately.

Qantas cash?

 

[JessicaTam]

All sorted!! Yay. Will have plenty of wine to drink upon my return. Called Monday morning and they re-credited my points immediately. (55 minutes on hold but did lots of filing). Were on site by lunch, and tickets booked for four of us on the AA flight to LAX on July 27.
Now that the drama is over, I want to say thanks again for the advice - the wine was brilliant. And in fact if I hadn't bought a bunch to start in an emotional frenzy and joined Epicure for triple points, I would have noticed that one six pack of nice shiraz for $120 with 7,000 bonus points is a really good deal. (For anyone reading).
Anyway many lessons learned - primarily of course about not losing track of things, expecting too much, etc. And off we go with passports and visas sorted. (I do have all 8 passport 6 month expiry and expiry dates in my iCalender for the next decade - just my tip and to show I am not a complete airhead.)
Thanks again!

I am glad it has worked out for you.

 

[kermatu]

great to hear you've had a satisfactory outcome at a difficult time. Best wishes for the journey.

 

[mviy]

Qantas cash?

QANTAS Cash may take up to 8 weeks to reach the account, I think the T&C's say if I recall correctly. Though I did find after I first spent using my QANTAS Cash it was just days before I saw my first lot of points on my activity statement but YMMV.

 

[love_the_life]

So pleased that things got sorted Ladymavis and you were able to get your points reinstated in time for you to use.