The Unloved WP Thread

[serfty]

I have life time gold status; until recently there has been a significant enough difference between SG and WP to encourage me to continue crediting to QFF to attain WP - partner gold even.

The changes this year have significantly attenuated that difference; I will be seriously re-evaluating my approach over the coming months.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

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

How much of the 1800SCs was on QF metal?

 

[TonyHancock]

Lonely Hearts

Unloved FF with a QF PSR of 1135 over 12 years seeks attractive airline, to love him and provide him with some nice benefits as reward for about 400 hours of air travel a year.

Happy to travel some Y+ and J to the UK five or six times a year and will be up and down from MEL to BNE quite often.

Likes: Quiet lounges, red wine, party pies, bulkhead Y and Y+ seats, early seat selection, and upgrades.
Dislikes: Neil Perry inspired food and non enhancing enhancements.

Any interested airlines can contact me by PM or this thread

 

[tuppaware]

There is always going to be someone who misses out!

 

[connieguy]

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

Gotta admin it is sure strange that QF announces all these changes yet fails to define the WP1 benefits. To me this is NOT what I would do to encourage existing WP loyalty if I was QF. All they have seemly done is to say to existing WPs that they do not matter that much in the overall scheme of things and that QF still needs to think about how they will handle a 2 tier WP program.

I can only suggest this was done for a reason, which is yet to be revealed.

 

[Pleb Status]

We are not just unloved, we are totally non-existent to QF (except when they want our money). Throwing some sort of bone our way would have been nice particularly as the new WP1 tier will reduce our effective benefits just by being present (op-ups for one).

With WP1 qualification at 3600SC, at least there should only be a few thousand WP1's above your standard WP.

What I am worried about is what we might lose to help differentiate WP from WP1. No more dom J lounge access (likely), no more Syd/Mel F lounge access or a BA type Concorde Lounge arrangement (less likely), further restrictions on seat selection (i.e. no WP selection of row 4 (737), row 23 (767/330) or exit rows before online check in opens (very likely), further restrictions on Classic reward seat availablilty (likely) etc....

Normally, with these types of changes, all of the good stuff is announced at the start (increased status bonuses etc). All of the bad stuff is in the detail which is released at the last minute. I can also smell a classic reward/upgrade reward redemption point hike coming.....

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I suppose one benefit to being a solid WP will be less crowding in Dom J and Int'l F lounges due the the slimmer gap between SG and WP...

 

[drewbles]

How much of the 1800SCs was on QF metal?

around 900-1100 probably. It varies depending on the year, so not far from retaining WP outright on QF metal anyway.

 

[TonyHancock]

I can also smell a classic reward/upgrade reward redemption point hike coming.....

Same for JASA's/FASA's.

It's easy for QF to control the points. All they have to do is give everyone lots more points, maximising the publicity in doing so, and then increase the number required for rewards. (Not so heavy with the publicity on the latter.)

I know I'm a cynical whinger......but someone has to be.

 

[Ewing]

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.

That makes it a bit harder.

But, when you have a choice between a Dash 8 or a 737-400 on QF vs a 73W/738 or a E70/E90 on DJ as is the case with most of my flights then the choice becomes much easier

 

[Danger]

Gotta admin it is sure strange that QF announces all these changes yet fails to define the WP1 benefits. To me this is NOT what I would do to encourage existing WP loyalty if I was QF. All they have seemly done is to say to existing WPs that they do not matter that much in the overall scheme of things and that QF still needs to think about how they will handle a 2 tier WP program.

I can only suggest this was done for a reason, which is yet to be revealed.

Just thinking about this over the past few minutes, I wonder if the decision to delay announcing the benefits of WP1 is strategic. Perhaps QF is waiting to see the reaction (particularly from WPs) to the other changes announced today before deciding on a definitive list of benefits for WP1.

We are not just unloved, we are totally non-existent to QF (except when they want our money). Throwing some sort of bone our way would have been nice particularly as the new WP1 tier will reduce our effective benefits just by being present (op-ups for one).

What I am worried about is what we might lose to help differentiate WP from WP1. No more dom J lounge access (likely), no more Syd/Mel F lounge access or a BA type Concorde Lounge arrangement (less likely), further restrictions on seat selection (i.e. no WP selection of row 4 (737), row 23 (767/330) or exit rows before online check in opens (very likely), further restrictions on Classic reward seat availablilty (likely) etc....

I'm not sure we'll see a further devaluation of WP with the introduction of WP1. While the 'intangible' or 'invisible' benefits may change slightly, such as availability of awards, I think QF has copped enough flack lately to not dilute WP any further. The benefits I would suspect will come with WP1 will be more akin to Chairmans Lounge level (although certainly not Chairmans Lounge in its entirety), rather than picking off some of the WP benefits as they are now.

Still, I'd like to see others' thoughts on what the WP1 benefits should be.

 

[awilcockson]

It's easy for QF to control the points. All they have to do is give everyone lots more points, maximising the publicity in doing so, and then increase the number required for rewards. (Not so heavy with the publicity on the latter.)

And the bigger problem with this is that sure they've increased the earn rate on future flights, but all of a sudden your bank of points is worth less, even though you've been saving for ages to take the family on a specific trip (yes, I'm talking personally, I've finally saved enough to take us all to HKG, really need to hurry up and book before the burn rates get enhanced).

 

[farstar]

Looking at the Jetstar Fares and Bundles page it seems to imply that QANTAS Club members can use the Gold Coast lounge so while good for others for a WP it means a much more crowded lounge so while not a downgrade it it will not make me happy if it get as crowded as a QP.

 

[NYCguy]

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

They view us as the vocal minority.

Well, there aren't that many of you, and ya'll do whinge a hell of a lot. Even the term WP implies that!

And now that there is Platinum One (may I suggest SP, "smug platinum"?), well... It might be time to see if you can wring some good lovin' out of Virgin!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Are those changes applying to increased SC's applying from booking date or flight date?

 

[MatF]

Puts hand up **

As I said in the other thread, there's nothing in the announcement for me. It definitely feels like I'm going backwards.

Add up all the -enhancements- in the last year or so, and I'm feeling decidedly unloved.

Perhaps QF is waiting to see the reaction (particularly from WPs) to the other changes announced today before deciding on a definitive list of benefits for WP1.

Maybe, but halving the SCs required to get to WP1 would be the only announcement that would interest me.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I have life time gold status; until recently there has been a significant enough difference between SG and WP to encourage me to continue crediting to QFF to attain WP - partner gold even.

The changes this year have significantly attenuated that difference; I will be seriously re-evaluating my approach over the coming months.

I found the above post the most interesting of all that I have read during the day. Interesting that serfty would consider changing his earning preferences to another airline.

I made this comment in a trip report I made in November 2010,

Qantas Gold is probably is the sweet spot for status and I don't think that Qantas Platinum is worth the extra flying when there are other options.

And it seems the recent changes reinforce my original thinking. :-|

Qantas sees the new improved Virgin Australia a threat to their mid level frequent flyers, and this is probably the biggest reason to keep them from jumping ship.

 

[djfuzz]

Well, there aren't that many of you, and ya'll do whinge a hell of a lot. Even the term WP implies that!

And now that there is Platinum One (may I suggest SP, "smug platinum"?), well... It might be time to see if you can wring some good lovin' out of Virgin!

SP! Now I'll know what to tell people when they ask me where I was when NYCguy coined the acronym.

Really, the WP acronym should be similarly enhanced - shame the 'P' in PS is already taken.

 

[serfty]

Nup! PO (i.e. "pooh') I reckon as Plat One.

 

[YQY]

I am sitting in the SYD J lounge having a 2008 Tollana Pinot Noir with a decent meal of Minestrone with smoky bacon and Argentinia style braised beef & I have been allocated an exit row. My tummy is full & I feel good and I will use the flight to respond to emails - I'd rather be a WP than a SG.