Upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes

[Ewing]

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:.

Yes.

They might as well say that you require Silver or above to qualify for the loyalty bonus, because from December onwards a Bronze member will never receive it.

 

[awilcockson]

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.

Pity for those of us whose membership year ends on 30 Nov! We can kiss every single one of our accumulated loyatly SCs goodbye.

 

[connieguy]

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

Why do we have to wait 6 months until QF reveal the WP1 benefits? Does QF understand what feeling like a WP Mushroom means? Being taken for granted as a WP that will continue to spend $$ with QF for the next 6 months before the WP1 details are revealed doesn't even start to explain the place where I'm at.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

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

+1
Why change this and reset it every year? Just leave it as be...
And my 'year' ends Nov 30th.

 

[aus_flyer]

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.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Red Roo, can Qantas please update the FF T&Cs to reflect this. Otherwise, if we don't get the points and ring up, they'll point to the T&Cs and deny!

 

[jamesatfish]

Firstly, kudos to Red Roo for not only posting the changes here but sticking around during the day to address queries. It is good to see the airlines communicating directly with their customers through this type of forum and addressing feedback both positive and negative.

Like others I'd really like to see details of the WP1 program sooner than the end of the year. Last year I earned about 3300 SCs but decided to give EK F a try at the end of my membership year as there was no further incentive to credit to QF - had I kept those flights with QF I would have made the 3600 SC cutoff.

This year looks similar - sitting on about 600 SCs today with 1200 booked for June and a couple more ACIR* fares likely before my membership year expires.

So, even if QF can't / won't tell us what will be included in the WP1 program, can we get some clarification as to whether the new tier will be awarded retrospectively i.e. if I reach 3600 SC before my membership year expires on 1 October, and WP1 is introduced in December, will I be eligible for the WP1 tier?

It would be nice to know whether additional flights this year with QF will be rewarded under the new tier or if I should switch to another carrier / program once I hit 1200 SCs.

 

[TonyHancock]

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.

Thanks for reconfirming this. Will the QF terms and conditions be updated to reflect this?

At the moment they quite specifically say the opposite. (Follow the link below to the airline earning table) :shock:

9.5 Cabin Class Bonus and Status Bonus
9.5.1 A Cabin Class Bonus may apply for travel on an Eligible Flight in Premium Economy, Business or First class, Jetstar Business Max fares, and, in the case of British Airways, in World Traveller Plus, as specified in the Airline Earning Table. Any applicable Cabin Class Bonus will be credited according to the class booked for travel, not the cabin flown or any waitlisted class. Cabin Class Bonuses will not be credited for unpaid travel in, or unpaid upgrades to, a higher class. Members should check the Airline Earning Table for details. Cabin Class Bonuses do not apply to Qantas & Partner Classic Awards.
9.5.2 For flights prior to 17 May, 2011 a Status Bonus will be applied for Eligible Flights with a Qantas (QF), Jetstar (JQ,3K and VF), American Airlines® (AA) or British Airways (BA) flight number. The Status bonus for Silver Members will be 25% of the Base Rate, 50% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. For bookings made on and from 17 May 2011, the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 50% of the Base Rate, 75% for Gold members and 100% for Platinum Members. Status Bonuses do not apply to Qantas & Partner Classic Awards.

 

[Red Roo]

Red Roo - the following qantas pages needs to be updated --> Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Fly - Airline Partners

Flights operated by Jetstar Asia do provide provide Starclass/Business cabins ie 3K401/402 between SIN & AKL.

Thanks for the feedback, you are correct. VF does not have a Business Class offering, however, as you note, 3K does now offer this with the commencement of A330 services between SIN-AKL v.v.

I have requested that this be updated.

 

[connieguy]

Pity for those of us whose membership year ends on 30 Nov! We can kiss every single one of our accumulated loyatly SCs goodbye.

Just another of the almost countless "Enhancements" made by QF to their FF program.

 

[awilcockson]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Red Roo, can Qantas please update the FF T&Cs to reflect this. Otherwise, if we don't get the points and ring up, they'll point to the T&Cs and deny!

Interestingly, this page has been updated and matches what Red Roo has stated.

Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Fly - Airline Partners

 

[Troppo]

Dear Red Roo,

I have been plat for about 10 years and lifetime gold.

I currently earn close to the mythical new 3600 SC limit per annum.

You want me to stay and not be tempted to go to Cathay or Singapore?

Simple - give me Chairman's lounge for my 3600 SC.

 

[russ]

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel...program-with-new-vip-tier-20110517-1eqv2.htmlWhy has Joyce not revealed the WP1 benefits?

Because QF doesn't know what they are!!

Methinks somebody in the loyalty group stuffed up big time!

 

[awilcockson]

Just another of the almost countless "Enhancements" made by QF to their FF program.

I just did the calculations, and if I didn't fly any more this year after this current trip (unlikely but possible), then I'd have 370 loyalty SCs that would be wiped!

 

[Red Roo]

So flying BA metal on QF flight number gives the additional status bonus and increased earn rate? Must say the website is not clear at all anymore...

Correct, as per today, QF codeshare flights attract QF status and cabin bonuses.

For flights flown post 17 May 2011, the changed cabin/status bonuses apply.

 

[TonyHancock]

Interestingly, this page has been updated and matches what Red Roo has stated.

Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Fly - Airline Partners

...but the terms and conditions haven't.

 

[Red Roo]

The terms and conditions are very specific:

"9.5.2 For flights prior to 17 May, 2011 a Status Bonus will be applied for Eligible Flights with a Qantas (QF), Jetstar (JQ,3K and VF), American Airlines® (AA) or British Airways (BA) flight number. The Status bonus for Silver Members will be 25% of the Base Rate, 50% for Gold Members and 100% for Platinum Members. For bookings made on and from 17 May 2011, the Status bonus for Silver Members will be 50% of the Base Rate, 75% for Gold members and 100% for Platinum Members. Status Bonuses do not apply to Qantas & Partner Classic Awards."

I'll feel a little more comfortable when I see these amended to reflect Red Roo's post.

Understand the concern.

Just to advise, the changes have been briefed to qantas.com.

 

[awilcockson]

...but the terms and conditions haven't.

Correct. Consistency would be helpful.

 

[Red Roo]

1. Is this (increased status bonus etc) on new bookings only, or for any travel after May 17?

Existing bookings are included.

2. Have QFF classic awards changed in cost (other than fuel fine related costings as you'd already posted)?

Classic Awards pricing remains as is, other than the points option to pay for surcharges/fees/taxes, which I mentioned in the original post (you can naturally still pay these in cash).

3. What is the earn on QF codeshare flights on say BA/FJ etc (when travelling on the QF flight number)?

As per today, albeit with the new cabin/status bonuses.

 

[Red Roo]

To revisit a prior post here of mine....

There is no mention of cabin class bonus in the revised airline earning table for AA or BA in relation to "bookings made on and from 17 May 2011".

There is only an apparent reference to existing bookings.

This may be an error; a '-' in the appropriate column would be indicative (in a bad way). but there is none.

Earn on partner carriers (i.e. non Qantas/Jetstar Airlines) is not affected by today's announcements.

 

[connieguy]

It would be nice to know whether additional flights this year with QF will be rewarded under the new tier or if I should switch to another carrier / program once I hit 1200 SCs.

You are assuming existing WP benefits will not be "Enhanced" further to drive a bigger WP to WP1 differentiation? Sorry QF but I smell a rat in not disclosing the new WP AND WP1 benefits due to be rolled out in Dec 2011. I mean of they were beneficial to ALL existing WPs why not lets us know them? Instead QF seem to be asking us potential WP1s to give them all our money over the next 6 months until the emperor reveals his new clothes. As I said before, this smells like a set up with QF not wanting to see a big WP movement to other carriers.

Sorry Red Roo but that is now I see it as a WP Mushroom, being kept in the dark and fed, well not a lot. Not VERY professional. Not at all. If QF were not ready to reveal the new WP AND WP1 benefits then, in my opinion, QF should have NEVER mentioned WP1. Very bad mistake.