The ex-QFF benefits list. What do you miss the most?

[Timsboot]

I first joined the QFF program in 1991. In those days a trip to Europe in Y earned enough points for a free Sydney to Noumea round trip. And when I say free, I mean 100% free. No taxes, fees, petrol or "just because" charges.


In the years since I have mainly been WP but have spent time in Gold and NB as well. Also over that time I have seen scores of emails, letters and notes from QF announcing program "enhancements" and "streamlining" of processes. I learned that the QF definition of "enhancement" meant that I lost something and "streamlining" meant that I would now do for myself something that QF used to do for me.


The most recent example of this is the change in loyalty bonus as of 1 July. Previously 500 SCs = 8,000 bonus points. Now only QF flight number flown SCs count. This is going to cost me 8,000 to 16,000 points per year.


I have also lost the following over the last 20+ years.

• Anytime biz class lounge access for WP regardless of carrier
• Changing point calculations from kms to miles effectively reducing points earned by ~40%
• SCs used to count towards certificates that could be traded for upgrades
• Inflation in overseas redemption. It simply costs more for a non-free seat
• Introduction of ASA and more seats being moved from classic to ASA
• First and Biz lounges being amalgamated (Singapore and Bangkok being recent examples)
• Exit rows being sold rather than reserved for WPs
• It is easy to say that the one I miss most is the truly free flight. If I leave that aside as a WP the one I also really miss is the anytime lounge access

I still value the program but I remember when there was more too it.


So forum readers what other old but not forgotten QFF benefits do you remember and which one do you miss the most? Have we gained more than we lost?

Let's try to put together the most comprehensive list of ex-QFF benefits.

 

[moa999]

But on the flipside...
in 1991 a First Class seat I think was still a recliner - definitely worse than today's Business Class skybed
no lifetime status
no First Class lounges whatsoever, albeit the domestic lounges I think were better than the current offerings
no alliances - oneworld launched 1999, but from memory QF had a semi-alliance program before that

and thats before we get into the cost of domestic flights.

 

[awilcockson]

Have we gained more than we lost?

No.

One of the questions I asked at the QF lunch was with regards to the ever increasing "taxes and charges" on award redemptions, and in particular fuel fines. QF didn't really seem to care, the only answer they had was that "the fuel surcharge doesn't come close to covering the cost of fuel". Which is possibly true but disingenuous as there must be a component of the base fare that contributes to the cost of fuel. When it costs almost as much in "taxes and charges" on an award fare as it does to buy the ticket outright for cash ... well the value has pretty much gone from the program.

 

[dajop]

I

• First and Biz lounges being amalgamated (Singapore and Bangkok being recent examples)

With you on everything, but this one. The amalgamated Singapore lounge is better than either of the previous First or Business lounges.

Do you remember the round Australia multi stopover award? Was that QF or AN? Or Both? I never had the opportunity to use one but it was exceptionally good value.

I think the worst is the increase in both points and surcharges. Included in this the lack of free stopovers. In 2004 I did MEL-SYD-JNB-WDH/stop/-JNB/stop/-SYD-MEL in 2004. 80,000 pts then in Y with low/no fuel surcharges. Today 124,000 pts + $???.

 

[medhead]

Classic awards were not moved to any seat awards. As the name suggests any seat awards could buy Any Seat on the aircraft, including classic awards. They could, in general, only buy that classic award if it was also available to buy as a classic award.

In any case, you get your wish now as classic awards are practically no longer available to purchase as any seat awards.

 

[dfcatch]

[/LIST]


Do you remember the round Australia multi stopover award? Was that QF or AN? Or Both? I never had the opportunity to use one but it was exceptionally good value.

I believe they were offered on both.

30,000 for round-Australia in Y IIRC.

Sent the folks around the country on AN at the time.

40,000 also bought you a confirmed upgrade to J (subject to U class availability) MEL-LAX. Although that was pre-skybed.

QP was much better stocked in terms of catering back then too. Both QP and Golden Wing were superior to today's average QP IMHO.

 

[Flying mermaid]

But on the flipside...
in 1991 a First Class seat I think was still a recliner - definitely worse than today's Business Class skybed
no lifetime status
no First Class lounges whatsoever, albeit the domestic lounges I think were better than the current offerings
no alliances - oneworld launched 1999, but from memory QF had a semi-alliance program before that

and thats before we get into the cost of domestic flights.

When we went F in 1989 it was definitely still recliners - I thought they were just heaven after economy.

There were definitely F lounges - we flew F for the first time in 1989 and they existed then - but pretty ordinary - nicer food than J lounge, but that was about it. No dining, or spas or all the other stuff we take for granted. From memory you went to the same reception area in Sydney and turned one way for the J lounge and the other for F (. Behind a sliding glass door). It was quite small, but never crowded or noisy.

I think I miss online JASAs the most - yes I know I can phone and get one, but I hate phoning.....

Those upgrade credit things were a pain - I only used ours once.

Kms to miles was another sad change.

On the plus side, it is so much easier to search and book for flights (and awards). And a lot more award flights around too. It used to be very hard to find an award flight in the 90s but there is much better availability now.

 

[opusman]

There's a distinction between benefits of the frequent flyer program (QFF) and benefits/offering of the airline when flying (QF).

IMO QFF value/benefits have gone down massively, but QF value/benefits have gone up.

 

[ts911993]

I miss the luggage tags

 

[simongr]

There's a distinction between benefits of the frequent flyer program (QFF) and benefits/offering of the airline when flying (QF).

IMO QFF value/benefits have gone down massively, but QF value/benefits have gone up.

I think this is a great point - there is a distinction BUT I find it hard to separate them really.

 

[QFBOY]

I remember flying ADL-MEL/SYD/PER/DRW via ADL then ASP then back to ADL in First for 45000 pts no taxes.
Remember the kilometers being capped and I think I had a couple left over. Great value, think J was 37500 pts.

 

[Pleb Status]

Upgrade credits. 1250 QF/OW SC was enough for a J upgrade from Australia to LHR (5x250). Now you have to earn a minimum of 6000 QF SC spread over a minimum of three years (4x500x3) to get the same thing (from discount Y, 12x8000=96000FFP).

 

[roncritch]

Do you remember the round Australia multi stopover award? Was that QF or AN? Or Both? I never had the opportunity to use one but it was exceptionally good value.

Yes..went J class Per- Brisbane stopped for my daughters wedding...down to Syd for 5 day holiday...then to Adelaide to see my Dad for a couple of days and back to Perth - so PER_BNE_SYD+_ADE_PER for 35,000 points J Class!

I am an original member of QFF automatically signed up from their Executive Club..anybody remember that? (hmm might have been a TAA thing)..nice leather bag tags and leather boarding pass wallet.. and all for free. So a 5 figure membership number...although I saw someone with 4 figures the other day. (And we don't even feel old!! )

The Op-ups were always good to me and easier to give out it seems. All it took was to have a friend in Qantas. (years since I had one come to think of it)

 

[dajop]

But on the flipside...
in 1991 a First Class seat I think was still a recliner - definitely worse than today's Business Class skybed
no lifetime status
no First Class lounges whatsoever, albeit the domestic lounges I think were better than the current offerings
no alliances - oneworld launched 1999, but from memory QF had a semi-alliance program before that

and thats before we get into the cost of domestic flights.

Reflecting on this, you are right the J products are much better, as are some of the lounge offerings (the FCL's are masterstroke, it seems that they allow people to forgive every other "enhancement ). The points inflation + surcharges for J are , for most, acceptable. It is the Y points inflation and surcharging that's out of control, where product is a little better (AVOD) but something was lost in legroom along the way.

 

[dairyfloss]

...although I saw someone with 4 figures the other day. (And we don't even feel old!! )

My boss is a 4-digit member in the 6,000's... Been WP for about that whole time I'd say. I might have to ask him about what he misses most... I can't visualize him on the forum himself!

 

[roncritch]

17's me ask him

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Two things I remember were the pre-direct-earn ability to store credit card points and decide if/when I wanted to transfer them to QFF, and the ability to transfer in SPG points.

Although for me now, credit card and SPG points are too valuable to transfer to QFF if it again became possible.

I remember seeing the 30,000 Y / 45,000 J around Australia redemptions but never taking advantage of them. All seems like a blissful dream now compared to the current program.

 

[JohnK]

There are a few benefits that have disappeared that I really miss

- Upgrade credits. Now that I fly a lot these would have come in very handy.
- Anytime access to domestic lounges including when not flying
- Anytime access to international business lounges when flying other carriers
- Ability to pre-select exit row on all international flights
- The 30,000 QFF points award around Australia in economy
- Loyalty bonuses on all flights

I am sure there a few more benefits that do not come to mind right now. Patiently waiting for next benefit to be removed.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I miss:
- international op-ups
- upgrade credits
- priority boarding.. uhhh
- anytime access
- having a shadow
- xASA

 

[openseat]

Upgrade Credits - I used to nearly always get to use them flying SYD to ADL (before the change in zones) - very nice for a dinner time flight.
Decline of the QP