The Unloved WP Thread

[TonyHancock]

Given QF's desire to spread love to our SG and PS colleagues I thought it might be nice to have a thread where the "solid" (I like that term, it's not mine, but I like it) WP's can mourn the gradual erosion of the gap between SG and WP.

Every enhancement seems to push the solid WP closer to the edge. I'd love to know what the QF end game is for the WP who is not destined for Platinum One. Are we to become SG's again?

Come on QF solid WP's are people too, we need a bit of love now and again.

 

[OverrideServlet]

I wouldn't hold my breath for any forthcoming love.

They view us as the vocal minority.

 

[medhead]

I'll say it, the end game is good bye to current WP.

WP to be moved to 2400SC or somewhere 2000+. The WP and WPO to have separate loyalty bonus system, due to current cut off at 2000SC for those bonii.

 

[OverrideServlet]

I guess it wouldn't be surprising to see Any Time Access listed as a benefit for WP1 members.

 

[simongr]

I am sadly in a bit of a dilemma here as well. I have just made LTS and am sat on about 175K QF points and 140K Amex points. I am at about 1500 SCs YTD with a status year ending September.

Between now and 30 Sep I have the following trips planned:

SYD-HKG-JED-HKG-SYD - in J 18K miles
SYD-WLG-SYD-AKl-SYD - in whY possibly (syd-akl-syd in J on LA)
SYD-MEL-SYD x5 in whY

I used to be EXP on AA but am now Gold (38K mile sat in the AA account expiring Aug 2012). I could easily requalify for Gold status if I credit to AA but unlikely to make AA Platinum this year so not really sure what to do... I might have another JED trip this year and I could credit that to A to hit Plat and still make Plat with QF...

I am fairly certain to make plat again next year and will probably only hit around 1800 SCs though.

At the moment QF are not giving me any incentive to credit to them. Also the lack of status bonus on CX actively pushes me to credit to AA...

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Better seat selection. F lounge in Syd/Mel, J lounge in applicable ports. 100% status bonus on flights, large luggage allowance. There is still benefit to being WP

 

[TonyHancock]

Better seat selection. F lounge in Syd/Mel, J lounge in applicable ports. 100% status bonus on flights, large luggage allowance. There is still benefit to being WP

There is no doubt that on international flights there is a benefit to being WP. If my home base was Adelaide and my flying predominantly domestic to SYD/MEL I might not be quite so enthusiastic about WP. :-|

I think the issue is that QF is not doing enough to keep it's solid WP's happy. I suspect they could have offered 125% status bonus and people would have felt that QF valued them. I know that in the last year I have felt undervalued by the way QF has treated me. (The PG issue really pressed this home.)

This exercise is about trying to stop DJ luring SG/PS members away, and as exactly that exercise I suspect QF will have a fair degree of success.

 

[Keith009]

Further to my post in the other thread, my line of thought has been gradually switching from 'requalify for WP, adopt BFOD' to 'it wouldn't be such a bad idea to drop down to SG, and try to maintain Gold status on both QF and VA.' The positive enhancements to SG actually make it seem like a worthwhile alternative to C-list WP, especially at half the SCs required. Sure I'll miss my pre-flight bubbles, but if I can save a couple of grand by adopting BFOD that's enough cash saved for the finest of drops before or after the flight!

Oh well, will be interesting to see what further changes they've planned for WP. I have WP in the bag through June 2012 anyway so it's time to see if the grass is greener on the other side.

 

[medhead]

Better seat selection. F lounge in Syd/Mel, J lounge in applicable ports. 100% status bonus on flights, large luggage allowance. There is still benefit to being WP

Yep and those benefits equate to an extra 181 points per flight and a J lounge island dining experience per week.

If my home base was Adelaide and my flying predominantly domestic to SYD/MEL I might not be quite so enthusiastic about WP. :-|

Got it in one.

 

[simongr]

Better seat selection. F lounge in Syd/Mel, J lounge in applicable ports. 100% status bonus on flights, large luggage allowance. There is still benefit to being WP

I totally agree - there is benefit in being WP over SG. However what I think triggered this thread is that when QF are handing out the extra candy they didnt hand any our way which has ruffled a few feathers.

If they had just upped the status bonus to 125% in line with the increase given to the other levels then there wouldnt have been a peep from me.

 

[TonyHancock]

If they had just upped the status bonus to 125% in line with the increase given to the other levels then there wouldnt have been a peep from me.

That would have been true for me too.....until I discovered that being a loyal QF WP and booking my flights months in advance with QF will cost me 18000 points.

Nice one QF. :evil:

 

[Paddy55]

Better seat selection. F lounge in Syd/Mel, J lounge in applicable ports. 100% status bonus on flights, large luggage allowance. There is still benefit to being WP

Agreed.

Some valued opinions suggest shifting from QF to AA after attaining LTG for the superior burn rates on AA. I'm keeping an eye out for more 'enhancements', especially on JASA burn rates that might make me switch much much earlier.

Paddy

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'll say it, the end game is good bye to current WP.

WP to be moved to 2400SC or somewhere 2000+. The WP and WPO to have separate loyalty bonus system, due to current cut off at 2000SC for those bonii.

Sadly I think the truth will eventually be something close to this. I can maintain WP earning 12-1400 SC's per year with my current flying, I have no chance of getting Platinum 1 unless I go to the LOTFAP on an exhausting SC run once a year :idea:
I have WP locked in until May 2012 but I am seriously considering the fallback to SG and looking at VA/DJ as a possible option. An upper class lounge in SYD T1 would swing it.
Very unhappy Princess

 

[TonyHancock]

That would have been true for me too.....until I discovered that being a loyal QF WP and booking my flights month in advance with QF will cost me 18000 points.

Nice one QF. :evil:

Looks like QF has backed down on the May 17th booking date fiasco.

So 125% bonus and I'll feel at least liked if not loved!!

 

[medhead]

An upper class lounge in SYD T1 would swing it.
Very unhappy Princess

I'm sure I read, sometime in the last6 months, they were going to do that.

 

[simongr]

In the unloved column I also need to remember the increased hurdle for PG as well. Really not feeling the love here.

 

[Keith009]

I totally agree - there is benefit in being WP over SG. However what I think triggered this thread is that when QF are handing out the extra candy they didnt hand any our way which has ruffled a few feathers.

If they had just upped the status bonus to 125% in line with the increase given to the other levels then there wouldnt have been a peep from me.

Spot on.

If we view this announcement in line with the earlier enhancements to WP of removing Anytime Lounge Access and increasing the PG threshold, 'C list' WP benefits have actually decreased relative to SG which has been rather positively enhanced across both lots of changes.

I might be mollified if they introduced confirmed upgrade requests for all WPs.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Yep and those benefits equate to an extra 181 points per flight and a J lounge island dining experience per week.

Since you got a comp to DJ Gold, maybe you should just run with whatever karma you have, and start flying DJ instead?

 

[medhead]

Since you got a comp to DJ Gold, maybe you should just run with whatever karma you have, and start flying DJ instead?

Yes indeed, I know what I'm doing and why. these changes don't change that. basically, my face is not bovvered.

I will emphasis that I like these changes better because of the language that was used to announce them. I can see an endpoint where platinum costs more and that message is fairly transparent. None of this "the program has been enhanced" by removing benefits.

 

[drewbles]

Since you got a comp to DJ Gold, maybe you should just run with whatever karma you have, and start flying DJ instead?

I still have a problem flying DJ a little.

Most my domestic flying is trans-con, and I refuse to fly a 737, on any airline, for that amount of time.

This would mean MEL-SYD-PER for me, which I have no problem with, but DJ are not offering fares from MEL to PER via SYD for a decent price (in Y) that I know of.

Until DJ get their 330's on the MEL-PER leg, I'm stuck with QF.

Until they sort out a decent FF program (it's all good and fine being top tier when flying on your home airline), Velocity will be a second rate program.

When they announce the changes in the next 6 weeks, we may be surprised. DJ now have a prime chance to snap up a lot of disgruntled WP's. 25% bonus points over SG and the J lounge (domestic) or F lounge (international) aren't enough to keep me a WP for long. The other very-few perks of WP don't interest me much (I seldom check luggage, and never buy a last-minute full-fare Y ticket).

C'mon DJ, here's your chance to win a ~1800SC a year QF WP and take all his money