Some ideas to enhance QF FF prog for PLATINUMS

[dajop]

Sure, but then why say it's too easy

I wasn't saying it was too easy, probably more implying it was a little unfair, particularly on those oblivious to the rules. All other things being equal (ie SC's from other carriers), someone based in US flys to Australia in J class on DL, UA or VA and then does 4 domestic red e-deals on QF may get platinum. Someone that forks out big $$ for and F ticket return JFK-SYD on QF108/7 may not be (I do realise that this is all hypothetical, I am sure someone doing F in such a trip probably a) does not care about being WP and b) if they did would arrange their flights appropriately).

In any event, it probably doesn't need changing at all, because frankly if people who get status from very little flying on QF (like me last year, mine was mainly CX) are not competing for benefits with all the WP's who are flying with QF a lot. Someone who gets all their status flying F in the US, and very little is hardly going to impinge on your MEL-SYD commuters ability to get a forward aisle seat on the Fri night trip home, nor take up space/eat the food/drink the grog in the MEL & SYD dom J lounges....

 

[Dave Noble]

Because quite frankly, the QFF program isn't good enough to warrant that sort of eligibility! Go pre 2001 QFF and I would say yes!

I don't see any reason to change it and think that the programme generally sucks and went from a great programme in 2001 to what it is now, however where people are talking ablout limiting ability to attain status then a $ value to QF would be the fairest eay... better than X SCs etc. A set figure that all have to meet to indicate value to QF

Again, I suspect that like the regular "QP access" threads, the general ideal situation would be one where others are affected whilst leaving the poster easily able to attain the status

 

[Aenveigh]

I wasn't saying it was too easy,

Sorry, it was JohnK - I mistakenly attributed that part to you.

In any event, it probably doesn't need changing at all, because frankly if people who get status from very little flying on QF (like me last year, mine was mainly CX) are not competing for benefits with all the WP's who are flying with QF a lot. Someone who gets all their status flying F in the US, and very little is hardly going to impinge on your MEL-SYD commuters ability to get a forward aisle seat on the Fri night trip home, nor take up space/eat the food/drink the grog in the MEL & SYD dom J lounges....

Agreed. Although your SYD-LHR F example does show some weirdness, I wonder if any QF F fare should exempt you from the 4-flight requirement? I guess as you say it's easy enough to work around if you want the status.

 

[esquire]

Hi everyone,

I attended a QFF market research evening recently - they invited 18 'premium platinums' - their words -defined by QF as more earning more than 3000 SC pa.

Although I cannot discuss in detail, lets just say QF are seriously considering introducing an additional level to WP that equals CL in status - but for people who actually earnt it , with a series of rather valuable additional benefits the further up the SC ladder you go...

..there was also an idea floated to start earning SC or points on JQ...



Time will tell

 

[oz_mark]

Although I cannot discuss in detail, lets just say QF are seriously considering introducing an additional level to WP that equals CL in status - but for people who actually earnt it , with a series of rather valuable additional benefits the further up the SC ladder you go...

..there was also an idea floated to start earning SC or points on JQ...

I see merit in both these ideas - although likely only the second one would really affect me (and that would be in a positive way)

 

[JohnK]

I see merit in both these ideas - although likely only the second one would really affect me (and that would be in a positive way)

I don't have an issue with either of those ideas although it would be extremely disappointing if a new level above Platinum was created and then existing benefits were taken away from the current Platinum level to "fund" the additional benefits for the new Super Platinum level.

 

[ejb]

I don't have an issue with either of those ideas although it would be extremely disappointing if a new level above Platinum was created and then existing benefits were taken away from the current Platinum level to "fund" the additional benefits for the new Super Platinum level.

Perhaps it could be called Iridium, that sounds fancy enough.

I can see it now, status running through the US for weeks just to get the 4500 SC's required for Iridium.

If QF are considering a new level I can only assume it will be tough to get and will only be recognised by QF as oneworld don't have higher than OWE so will be useless overseas.

ejb

 

[anat0l]

If QF are considering a new level I can only assume it will be tough to get and will only be recognised by QF as oneworld don't have higher than OWE so will be useless overseas.

I think that perhaps a new tier is not in order, but rather just more rewards for hitting higher SC marks. PG is one example, but perhaps we need better or more incentives.

For example BA Exec Club, after you (re)qualify for Gold (oneworld Emerald) at 1500 tier points, you can get:

• Gold Upgrade for 2 at 2500 and 3500 tier points
• Partner Silver at 4500 tier points (hmmm.....rather steep)
• Concorde Room card at 5000 tier points

Most of our wishes are covered in various posts about this thread.

BD have the (in)famous 55k status miles benefit where all status miles earnt in excess of 55k status miles are converted to destination miles. Although it begs to reason whether this is benefit is (business talk) economically sustainable (just look at the state of BD Diamond Club).

LTGs also need benefits to keep them with QF (apart from chasing WP every year). These higher SC targets might just be what is required.


Also, iridium? Yeesh, what a name (although I'm not really fancying on Super Platinum either) - I'll pass on the name of that rank, please. Perhaps we just have to think of something prestigious which is not a precious metal (we've used them all up). Can you imagine trying to find "pejorative" nicknames for the new ranks, too. (I like the one samh004 made for Chairman's Lounge ).

 

[ejb]

...Also, iridium? Yeesh, what a name ....

I thought I was onto something.....

Time to move on

ejb

 

[MatF]

..there was also an idea floated to start earning SC or points on JQ...

I'm really, really tired, so may have missed something, but don't we already have that?

 

[medhead]

Well if this is about an "enhance" i say remove entry rights to J and F lounges

 

[JohnK]

I'm really, really tired, so may have missed something, but don't we already have that?

I think he was referring to all JQ flights earning SCs and QFF points.

Not sure how they would determine SCs earned on 4c airfares but one would assume they would think of something appropriate. Probably best to leave that one alone and not dilute the QFF program further....

 

[jamesatfish]

Although I cannot discuss in detail, lets just say QF are seriously considering introducing an additional level to WP that equals CL in status - but for people who actually earnt it , with a series of rather valuable additional benefits the further up the SC ladder you go...

Agreed that QF should add some incentive for SC earning post WP PG, but I'd hate to see it come at the expense of current WP benefits.

Guaranteed upgrade certificates would be a nice touch - say every 1000 SCs above PG you get a certificate to upgrade yourself (and anyone on the same PNR) with points on one particular flight. You'd still need to pay the points upgrade fee as for the current upgrade lottery, but the upgrade seats are taken out of any available fare bucket and confirmed the minute you make the request.

In terms of actually enhancing the QFF program itself - how about differentiating flight & airport benefits from pre- & post-flight benefits? For instance, leave out the J & F lounge access privileges, the increased baggage allowance and the priority check-in and make those benefits available to those actually flying in the Y+, J and F cabins.

In exchange, improve the on-ground experience for high-tier FFs. Make it easier to book seats in premium cabins - improve award upgrade availability for high-tier FFs, and offer a cash discount when a high-tier FF member books a paid premium cabin ticket, or open up fare class availability depending on tier status (for instance allow WPs to book J seats at D or I prices). Allow high-tier FFs easier rebooking / changing of flights - for instance when a WP purchases a Red eDeal fare allow it to be treated as a Super Saver for the purposes of rebooking or cancelling. Increase the Loyalty Bonus points 'gift' based upon your FF status.

 

[dajop]

AgFor instance, leave out the J & F lounge access privileges, the increased baggage allowance and the priority check-in and make those benefits available to those actually flying in the Y+, J and F cabins. .

Bad idea. If such "enhancements" were to be made, I would certainly avoid QF.

And certainly from the airlines perspective trading off "cheap" benefits such as J&F lounges and baggage allowances for benefits that detrimentally affect revenues would be a bad commercial decision. After all, whilst top tiers provide a small proportion of number of FF members, they form a higher proportion of those with bottoms in seat and an even higher proportion of revenue. To do anything that whittles away revenue opportunities from this group is not a wise proposition. Certainly not in an environment where competition is limited.

 

[jamesatfish]

Bad idea. If such "enhancements" were to be made, I would certainly avoid QF.

And certainly from the airlines perspective trading off "cheap" benefits such as J&F lounges and baggage allowances for benefits that detrimentally affect revenues would be a bad commercial decision. After all, whilst top tiers provide a small proportion of number of FF members, they form a higher proportion of those with bottoms in seat and an even higher proportion of revenue. To do anything that whittles away revenue opportunities from this group is not a wise proposition. Certainly not in an environment where competition is limited.

On the other hand, I'm from the group of WP members who retain their membership doing 1 or 2 AONE4 trips and the odd J-return trip to the US each year. When I fly domestically I usually pay for an upgradable economy ticket and use points to upgrade to J.

As a result, to me the lounge, luggage and check-in benefits of WP are worthless as I'd get the exact same benefits as a result of my class of travel. I'd much rather see benefits that make it easier / cheaper to book future flights with QF in those premium classes rather than just a duplication of what I'd get as a non-FF member in the same class. If anything, knowing that I'd get the exact same flight experience if I decided to do my next US trip on a *A carrier rather than QF means I need more incentive to be loyal to QF.

Of course I appreciate that there are many different ways to earn WP status, and someone who flies domestic discount Y commutes every week of the year has VERY different needs as a WP member than I do. I'm not saying that my suggestion would be in the best interests of every WP member - but in the spirit of this thread it is certainly in the best interests of myself.

 

[dajop]

OI'd much rather see benefits that make it easier / cheaper to book future flights with QF in those premium classes rather than just a duplication of what I'd get as a non-FF member in the same class. If anything, knowing that I'd get the exact same flight experience if I decided to do my next US trip on a *A carrier rather than QF means I need more incentive to be loyal to QF.

From QF's viewpoint, if QF are having trouble filling premium cabins what you say makes sense, but then if that is the case they are better to just offer lower fares to everyone. If they are operating at a reasonable loads in such cabins, to undermine profitability of your most profitable segment of the market by offering significant discounts to them, does not make sense. The whole point of airline loyalty programs (other than in the US, but I won't go there) to me seems to be to retain the loyalty and importantly the revenue stream of your most profitable customers - and not only that - but to try and maintain their loyalty whilst actually charging them a premium over regular customers.

 

[anat0l]

On the other hand, I'm from the group of WP members who retain their membership doing 1 or 2 AONE4 trips and the odd J-return trip to the US each year. When I fly domestically I usually pay for an upgradable economy ticket and use points to upgrade to J.

As a result, to me the lounge, luggage and check-in benefits of WP are worthless as I'd get the exact same benefits as a result of my class of travel. I'd much rather see benefits that make it easier / cheaper to book future flights with QF in those premium classes rather than just a duplication of what I'd get as a non-FF member in the same class. If anything, knowing that I'd get the exact same flight experience if I decided to do my next US trip on a *A carrier rather than QF means I need more incentive to be loyal to QF.

Of course I appreciate that there are many different ways to earn WP status, and someone who flies domestic discount Y commutes every week of the year has VERY different needs as a WP member than I do. I'm not saying that my suggestion would be in the best interests of every WP member - but in the spirit of this thread it is certainly in the best interests of myself.

I see no need for this.

QF protect their premium product in a number of ways as it is already. For example,

• It is very expensive (at least ex-AU) - it would not be that high if people actually paid that amount (sure, for some people it isn't coming directly out of their back pocket, but not the point). If people never wanted to pay that amount "even for QF premium class", then QF would have to lower their prices to garner some premium pax.
• It is difficult as a WP to get premium Classic award seats; lower status pax find it even more difficult.
• Upgrades are tightly controlled and for international sectors are never guaranteed.
• We have seen many times that QF will not freely upgrade people just because the physical space exists.

It is true that if you choose to fly premium class all the time, then the range of benefits afforded by the program will be less exciting, unique or additionally useful. But as you say, there are different kinds of WPs, and not all of them earn that level by flying all premium class (let alone all QF premium class). Besides, you may fly J all the time, but being WP will allow you First priority and First lounge access. If you fly First all the time, then sure, not much else exciting (except perhaps some of the more unwritten benefits).

 

[dajop]

I'd much rather see benefits that make it easier / cheaper to book future flights with QF in those premium classes rather than just a duplication of what I'd get as a non-FF member in the same class.

Of course what I said in my previous post notwithstanding (I am going to contradict myself now!), when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of loyalty, QF already do make it cheaper for their most loyal customers, to book future flights in premium classes. Those customers being organisations that spend a lot of money and the majority of their travel spend on QF. QF do deals at a corporate levels, hence no need to make it part of their loyalty program directed at individuals.

 

[JohnK]

Also, iridium? Yeesh, what a name (although I'm not really fancying on Super Platinum either) - I'll pass on the name of that rank, please.

I agree on Iridium but what is wrong with Super Platinum?

Perhaps they should just name the new level Platinum Elite.

 

[oz_mark]

I agree on Iridium but what is wrong with Super Platinum?

Perhaps they should just name the new level Platinum Elite.

May as well call it unobtanium level.