Upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes

[medhead]

Sorry, I stand corrected on that point.

I used to ask for partner gold, but won't bother any more. Even the benefit of the 50k points at 2,400 is quesionable, if you switch over to AA at 1,200, then the extra flying on AA to get to Exec Plat produces benefits with a vlaue of > the 50k.

I still think that this part of the strategy has not been thought through very well. As others have said, unless there is a (positive) enhancement to WPs (eg 125% miles), then I think QF will lose a fair amount of premium pax where they have another option.

Sorry I didn't mean to correct you, just to clarify how it works. I do agree it is pretty sparse for current WPs.

 

[aus_flyer]

Red Roo, will the T&Cs be updated to amend the line:

Cabin Class Bonus - bookings made on and from 17 May 2011

 

[Groundfeeder]

As a whole QF has the right idea with adding value, but sadly I feel these changes only help Silver, Gold and 3600SC+ Platinums.

I don't have a problem with that ( but no change to sc's earned)

 

[pshepvic]

So the only people earning Loyalty Bonuses in future will be Silver FF and higher because to reach 500 status credits you'd have to pass the 300 Silver level. Well that's the end of Loyalty Bonuses then for the majority of plebs then. In a sense it's no longer really a "loyalty" bonus at all, to me loyalty implies being a long-term customer that keeps going back, regardless of how often you go back in a defined amount of time.

Anyway I'm sure with all these bonuses it's only a matter of time before the redemption points tables will be updated to "bring them in line" with something or to "reflect" something else.

This gets back to the old debate of "are they running a Loyalty program, or a frequent flyer program?"

It is called Qantas Frequent Flyer after all, not Qantas Loyalty. In saying that, Silver members will still be earning an extra 25% points, which kicks in where they fly routes futher than 667 miles (the 1000 point guarantee is in effect until that distance). A long haul flight or two might work out better than the loyalty bonus (and considering the state of Qantas International, it sounds like they might want a few more passengers).

 

[sydney_kings]

Qantas revamps frequent flyer program with new VIP tier

Mr Joyce said he was unconcerned with Virgin Australia's plans to poach corporate travellers from Qantas.
"We don't have to cling on to the business market," he said.
"The business market is very happy to stay with Qantas."

The changes today appear to support this, give more to PS and QP and the elites. For the WP, not much in it, however, thankfully no worse than where we stood before.

I wonder if Alan Joyce will look back on those words. I would imagine a lot of corporate travelers have the option of booking any airline - not just QF.

I will be assessing Virgin's offering in the near future to decide where my loyalty lies. So far, I've been happy with QF over the existing Velocity program, however, as long as Velocity improves it's offering above QFF, I could quite easily make the jump over. So I wouldn't be entirely convinced that the business market is "happy" to stay with Qantas.

 

[awilcockson]

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel...program-with-new-vip-tier-20110517-1eqv2.htmlFor the WP, not much in it, however, thankfully no worse than where we stood before.

Well actually we are, the changes to the loyalty bonus are an "enhancement" in true QF style. Looks ok, until you dig a little deeper.

 

[serfty]

...
Some great improvements - I'm excited and looking forward to hearing more.
...

I'm glad you're exited.

My daughter who has taken 12 years to reach over 350 lifetime SC's and who's account is showing:

Additional Status credits required to obtain next Loyalty bonus: 230

... will have that change on December 1st to 500.

QFF are going reap a huge windfall though forced "Breakage" of this benefit:evil:.

 

[connieguy]

Qantas revamps frequent flyer program with new VIP tier

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the new level of VIP recognition was designed to entice those who fly a lot to keep their business with the airline, rather than divert travel to other carriers.

"They fly so much that once they get to Platinum we want then to keep on flying so they get to Platinum One," Mr Joyce told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

"There is a lot of money in that because, believe it or not, there's a lot of people out there that get to those levels."

The new top tier will come into affect from the fourth quarter 2011, Qantas says.

================

Ok fellow WPers 2 questions:

1) What has Joyce revealed that will keep us flying with QF until we get WP1 and not move dollars and miles to say AA EXP?

2) Why has Joyce not revealed the WP1 benefits?

 

[pshepvic]

I have thought about that as well. I asked myself what would LTG give me? I mean if you do not fly, then it is not worth a cracker. I don't see my flying dropping off over the next 10 years, so LTG has little value for me. However AA EXP has very definite value as all US domestic flights are done in F, while paying the lowest cost discount Y fares and you get 8 x J system wide upgrades per year without costing you ANY points. QF has nothing to compare with this. AA EXP benefits are the same as WP plus the extra AA EXP benefits.

Sorry but unless WP1 gets close to matching the AA EXP benefits, I will be moving to AA EXP. Nothing to do with country loyalty. Just business and being involved with a airline which appreciates its FFs who spend a lot of their life with their butts in airline seats and give them cost less upgrades to make those sets more comfortable.

With WP you may get a OpUp if the gods smile on you or you win the points upgrade lottery. Why so unprofessional a method to reward those WPs who do sit in airline seats a lot of their life? Makes QF WPs seem 2nd class FFs compared the AA EXPs. Wake up QF and create a professional way for your WPs to feel appreciated and gain some benefit from all the long haul miles they sit in QF seats.

AA EXP doesn't give lounge access, nor does flying F with AA. You have to have a paid membership to access a lounge within the US. That's where my LTG would kick in, so even if I'm flying a lot less, I'd still be getting lounge access around the world, but then putting the points towards AA. Win-Win.

 

[ozmille]

I'm glad you're exited.

My daughter who has taken 12 years to reach over 350 lifetime SC's and who's account is showing:... will have that change on December 1st to 500.

QFF are going reap a huge windfall though forced "Breakage" of this benefit:evil:.

The name should be changed from loyalty bonus to something else I think

 

[TonyHancock]

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel...program-with-new-vip-tier-20110517-1eqv2.htmlOk fellow WPs. What has Joyce revealed that will keep us flying with QF until we get WP1 and not move dollars and miles to say AA EXP?

Actually perhaps Red Roo could answer that one. I'd be interested to know.

I am also interested to know when the terms and conditions on the website (re flights booked before/after May 17th) will be changed to reflect Red Roo's comment about all flights on or after May 17th qualifying for the new earnings bonus.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Joyce isn't worried about losing business customers because large corporations/those with 7+ figure spend have contractual agreements with QF. If the customer was to break the agreement now, QF would benefit from the minimum contractural obligations. Add to that the sweeteners put in place to make sure companies run true to the contracts and you have a perfect setup for QF. I wouldn't be worried about that either.

 

[sr81]

I'm glad you're exited.

My daughter who has taken 12 years to reach over 350 lifetime SC's and who's account is showing:... will have that change on December 1st to 500.

QFF are going reap a huge windfall though forced "Breakage" of this benefit:evil:.

I have an FASA HKG-MEL on 4 DEC! This gets me over the 450 mark and I was banking on this for 5000 points for my loyalty bonus.

What a crock. Why does the loyalty bonus need to reset anyway, at least do it in line with MY membership year.

 

[simongr]

Ok fellow WPers 2 questions:

1) What has Joyce revealed that will keep us flying with QF until we get WP1 and not move dollars and miles to say AA EXP?

2) Why has Joyce not revealed the WP1 benefits?

I actually think if I steer towards AA then QF will lose business as I can then credit to CX and get the status bonus.

Sadly I am not flying enough to get EXP any longer. It really is a difficult choice. I know I could get to Plat this year and I have F lounge access secured until end Sep 2012 so I might start crediting back to AA...

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I have an FASA HKG-MEL on 4 DEC! This gets me over the 450 mark and I was banking on this for 5000 points for my loyalty bonus.

What a crock. Why does the loyalty bonus need to reset anyway, at least do it in line with MY membership year.

My guess is that it will be per membership year (when the reset happens). The new T&C just come into effect on 1st Dec. From 1st Dec you will need 500 SCs per bonus, rather than just 450. The total you have accumulated will reset to 0 when your membership year ends.

Resetting everyone's totals to 0 on 1st December would be pretty capricious.

 

[connieguy]

AA EXP doesn't give lounge access, nor does flying F with AA. You have to have a paid membership to access a lounge within the US. That's where my LTG would kick in, so even if I'm flying a lot less, I'd still be getting lounge access around the world, but then putting the points towards AA. Win-Win.

Sure get QF WP first, then AA EXP. And all for less than it will cost to get WP1 with so far undefined benefits.

I see that maybe WP1 and CL will become one as they will appeal to those who get their flights paid for by corp accounts and always fly QF J or QF F. For me it is my money that buys my mostly discount QF / OW Y tickets that I upgrade to J with points, so maybe I'm not WP1 material.

 

[Red Roo]

I'm not sure you were provided the wrong information. The airline earnings table is (probably was by the time most read this) very specific "Cabin Class Bonus -bookings made prior to 17 May 2011" and "Cabin Class Bonus - bookings made on and from 17 May 2011"

If this has now been changed to ensure the new earning rate applies to flights booked prior to the 17th May that is at least the right thing to do.

Just to confirm, bookings prior and after 17 May 2011 for flights from 17 May 2011 will earn in accordance with the new bonuses.

So if you booked a flight last week to travel next week, these flights will earn based on the new cabin and status bonuses.

 

[awilcockson]

My guess is that it will be per membership year (when the reset happens). The new T&C just come into effect on 1st Dec. From 1st Dec you will need 500 SCs per bonus, rather than just 450. The total you have accumulated will reset to 0 when your membership year ends.

Resetting everyone's totals to 0 on 1st December would be pretty capricious.

Well your guess is wrong, because that's what they are going to do!

http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/memberSpecials/latest-news?int_cam=ff:promo:latest-news:lang:en

At 1 December 2011, Status credit balances relating to the calculation of the Loyalty bonus will be adjusted to recognise only those earned within the member's current membership year. Status credits earned in previous membership years will not be recognised in the calculation of Loyalty bonus after 1 December 2011.

 

[Red Roo]

Will Qantas change the qualifying/retain rates for silver/gold now the bonus
points have increased? Hope not.

Just to confirm, we have not changed the attain/retain thresholds for Silver and Gold.

 

[simongr]

I have an FASA HKG-MEL on 4 DEC! This gets me over the 450 mark and I was banking on this for 5000 points for my loyalty bonus.

What a crock. Why does the loyalty bonus need to reset anyway, at least do it in line with MY membership year.

I wouldnt worry too much on that score. The way that it will work is that if you have 300 SCs on 30 Nov and have a membership year ending say 31 October and of the 300 150 related to travel in your prior membership year - say travel up to 31 October 2011 then on 1 Dec you will lose 150 SCs. If all 300 were earned in November then you would lose none.