Today's Learnings (MH Flexible Earn on QF & Combined Classic Reward Bookings)

[RichardMEL]

However, I was flying in paid J (Business Class) and earning at an Economy rate. This same flight would earn 40 SC's if a QF code was possible. And a fairer comparison of QF J between SYD - CBR does earn 40 SC's for such a flight. So it's a poor earn rate, but I expected and tolerated it.

I think that is what was missing in the earlier post tbh. I actually assumed a flex Y flight myself, not J.

I definitely agree that yeah, comparable minimum distance flights should earn around the same. This is ever the ire of many with QFF from even before the days of "Simpler and Fairer" (which of course, is neither)

 

[oz_mark]

"Simpler and Fairer" (which of course, is neither)

All a matter of.perspective!

 

[kpro]

Yup apologies, shouldn't have left it ambiguous on the travel class.

Very hard to get a real flex Y fare class on MH these days though, as others have pointed out, even flex on MH's website books into discount economy.

 

[RichardMEL]

All a matter of.perspective!

Well possibly but I;m genuinely interested in the perspective that says QFF really has been "simpler and fairer" since that big change was introduced circa 2014. I'm not baiting or anything - I'm honestly just finding it hard to find a situation where one may find the program to be simpler and fairer?

 

[kpro]

where one may find the program to be simpler and fairer?

Well, if you look at it from Alan's perspective it does seem quite simple. Customers buy $$$ fares for QF marketed flights, they earn maximum benefits. Fairer for QF too, otherwise they're incentivising competitors.

Not very fair and simple for customers though.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well, if you look at it from Alan's perspective it does seem quite simple. Customers buy $$$ fares for QF marketed flights, they earn maximum benefits. Fairer for QF too, otherwise they're incentivising competitors.

Not very fair and simple for customers though.

well yes, I guess from that perspective - indeed. I absolutely agree to that point.

I took "perspective" to be from the customer side so sure, I didn't consider it from the company's side.

and now we wait for points and SC's to be even more dynamically linked to actual fare paid (you know, like the US majors have basically become). Simpler and fairer!

 

[FreddyFattler]

I extended a stay in Thailand by 3 days at the cost of $2500 for a one way J ticket home..

MH BKK-KUL-SYD and made the mistake of crediting to QF.

45 SC and 1100 points, apparently all MH flights credit as discount economy to QF.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

That is wrong.
Should be at least 70 SC, if you go to the QFF points and SC earn calculator.
BKK - KUL in J earns 40.
KUL - SYD in J but (should) earn in flexY earns 30.
Was that what they (QFF) issued after the flight, or did you put in a QFF claim and that was what came back?
Even if it was an Aust - KUL min earn, it would still earn more than just 45, even though J earns at flexY, it shouldn't be discY.

 

[FreddyFattler]

That is wrong.
Should be at least 70 SC, if you go to the QFF points and SC earn calculator.
BKK - KUL in J earns 40.
KUL - SYD in J but (should) earn in flexY earns 30.
Was that what they (QFF) issued after the flight, or did you put in a QFF claim and that was what came back?
Even if it was an Aust - KUL min earn, it would still earn more than just 45, even though J earns at flexY, it shouldn't be discY.

Sorry I was wrong on 2 parts, it was Flex Y not discount economy and it was 2100 points total. 1000 for the BKK-KUL leg and 1100 for KUL-SYD

I booked MH, when i got home i claimed through QF and sent my boarding passes and itinerary.

Upon receipt of the SC and Points i queried it and they replied with.

Total credited was 45 SC and 2100 points.

i guess i should just be thankful QF allowed me to have the business class experience on MH

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I won't fly MH as I don't plan to go to that part of the world, but will do QF to get to SIN, then JL to get to HND, one day.
Thanks for the info, that you had put in a claim.
Others on here will now know, a lot of us do, but newbies now know, either put points to Avois or to MH's own Enrich.

 

[kpro]

Should be at least 70 SC, if you go to the QFF points and SC earn calculator.
BKK - KUL in J earns 40.

You can't select the earn category as 'Business' in the QF calc unless the fare code is CDJ. Instead you need to select 'Fleixble Economy'.
So BKK - KUL in 'Flexible Economy', is stated to earn 20 SC's and 650 points.

I note this still doesn't match the actual earn posted on FreddyFattler's account though.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

But when I did choose J, it gave me 825 QFF points and 40 QFF SC, for picking MH.
Yes, I do see its not that clear that maybe if its a joint PNR to and from Aust, its a lower earn, and what I see as an earn rate for J BKK - KUL on the QFF points earn and QFF SC calculator will provide a higher earn, if its BKK - KUL vv on its own, with an Aust trip, its a lower earn rate, ...
But who knows for sure.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Additionally the QF/MH relationship has long been a bit strained.. probably going back to the days of the "Red" project they were going to launch together, but never happened. Yes, it is a gotchya though absolutely.

It's strange as QF has never flown to KL (thanks @AustraliaPoochie ) QF hasn't flown to KUL for sometime, so its not like there's direct competition, whereas there are plenty of other ports that QF fly to where there are other OneWorld carriers flying the same route and no such issues exist. Furthermore, QF under Alan Joyce, actually sponsored MH's inclusion into OneWorld!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

QFi did fly from KUL to SYD vv for a while, or to be a pedant, SYD - KUL.
I did it I think was 1996 or so.

 

[oz_mark]

But when I did choose J, it gave me 825 QFF points and 40 QFF SC, for picking MH.
Yes, I do see its not that clear that maybe if its a joint PNR to and from Aust, its a lower earn, and what I see as an earn rate for J BKK - KUL on the QFF points earn and QFF SC calculator will provide a higher earn, if its BKK - KUL vv on its own, with an Aust trip, its a lower earn rate, ...
But who knows for sure.

My guess is that this was booked in either I or Z class (which are business class buckets for MH). They map to Flexible Economy for BKK-KUL.

I don't understand the KUL-SYD posting

 

[jase05]

It's strange as QF has never flown to KL so its not like there's direct competition, whereas there are plenty of other ports that QF fly to where there are other OneWorld carriers flying the same route and no such issues exist. Furthermore, QF under Alan Joyce, actually sponsored MH's inclusion into OneWorld!

The SC earn is really poor on other OW carriers that fly the same routes as QF
I think the MH issue all comes down to QF wanting to push you towards SIN/BKK/CGK/MNL etc

 

[serfty]

My guess is that this was booked in either I or Z class (which are business class buckets for MH). They map to Flexible Economy for BKK-KUL.

I don't understand the KUL-SYD posting

The flights were in June, before the Aug 1st change, until then SIN-KUL in I/Z should have earned 40SC. It may be a manual entry given the posting date.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables/earn-category-tables.html?int_cam=au%3Aairline-earning-tables%3Aarticle%3Afrequent-flyer-earn-categories%3Aen%3Ann#malaysia-airlines

 

[RichardMEL]

But when I did choose J, it gave me 825 QFF points and 40 QFF SC, for picking MH.
Yes, I do see its not that clear that maybe if its a joint PNR to and from Aust, its a lower earn, and what I see as an earn rate for J BKK - KUL on the QFF points earn and QFF SC calculator will provide a higher earn, if its BKK - KUL vv on its own, with an Aust trip, its a lower earn rate, ...
But who knows for sure.

ah yes, but if Business was in JCD then that may follow, but if the booking was in I class as a cheaper J fare then it would earn at flex Y levels.

 

[RichardMEL]

It's strange as QF has never flown to KL (thanks @AustraliaPoochie ) QF hasn't flown to KUL for sometime, so its not like there's direct competition, whereas there are plenty of other ports that QF fly to where there are other OneWorld carriers flying the same route and no such issues exist. Furthermore, QF under Alan Joyce, actually sponsored MH's inclusion into OneWorld!

1. MH/QF relationship has been strained for quite some time (also see QR/QF)
2. QF clearly has a strategy to push (or try to!) those who care about SC/points earn to their own operated, or marketed at the very least flights (so QF to LHR, or codeshares on other carriers like EK). Basically to maximise their revenue.

QF likely see the "kangaroo route" as Oz->LHR basically so MH, in its own way, is competition. Less so than SQ, EY or other carriers that are not partners, but the have their "simpler and fairer" (lol) reasons for this strategy. Seen from the POV it makes some sense. Either way Oz->KUL->LHR falls under the umbrella of the "kangaroo route" more or less.

As pointed out by others, earning rates are also less than equal on CX/AY/UL and other partner carriers. MH is just the most savage example.

 

[baarg]

Reading this thread with interest regarding rules for reward seats as i am thinking of using them. Over the years I've accumulated a reasonable amount of qantas points and have never redeemed them on reward seats. I booked flights to EZE from Syd on sale but I live in Bne so looking at the best options to book my flights from Bne to Syd return. These would need to be flexible. One option I thought was to use my points, and there are economy and business classic reward seats available. The international booking is separate as I have the tickets already but wonder what would happen if I have to change the flights? Is it 6k points to change or would having an international ticket affect this booking? Does Qantas cancel reward seats at all? Or given the risk of changes to the flights is it best to book fully flexible paid seats?