Upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes

[AdamR]

Ok guys read this:

If QF were not ready to reveal the new WP AND WP1 benefits then, in my opinion, QF should NEVER have mentioned WP1. Very bad mistake.

Nonsense. This sort of tease is standard marketing practice. You may be cynical, and your cynicism may even be justified, but foreshadowing something of benefit to super-WPs is sensible. They get the benefit of months of marketing buzz and speculation, and can even use that speculation to help formulate the product.

If it had not been anounced, then the cries that WPs have received nothing from today's announcement would be even louder.

One proviso--WP1 had better be good when it arrives, or the disappointment will be worse than if nothing had been done.

 

[angusburns]

Status and cabin bonus changes apply to Qantas and Jetstar Airlines.

Whilst I can't speak for Jetstar specifically, they have announced their fare family changes (with detail on QFF earn) on this page.

If you book a JASA on Jetstar will it be treated as a Business or Business Max fare? No SC points for a standard Business fare...

And is an economy ASA treated as a Starter, Plus or Max fare? No SC for Starter fares...

TIA!

 

[Pleb Status]

After looking at all of the changes, if I had a vote, I would vote to return to the old system. As a ~2500SC/yr WP, the negatives far outweigh the positives (it is not even close).

And this is before the soon to be announced increase in redemption points/decrease in services for WP. All QF is waiting for is to see what DJ will be offering to determine how much to rack up the points. This is classic marketing. Take the wind out of DJ's sail by announcing 'enhancements' before them and once everything has settled down, introduce the 'stick'. This is why all of the 'enhancements' have been aimed at the lower levels as these are the most likely to jump.

Since becoming LTG, I have been thinking of dropping QF internationally as I would still get QP access etc when flying domestically. These changes might finally get me to do it. QF would then get all of my 'low margin' O class domestic flights and SQ/EK would get my 'high margin' J class international flights.

If DJ could join *A, that would be interesting.

 

[medhead]

I'll continue to choose to fly less than 100 flights and use the benefits befitting of my status.... I guess you'll choose not to try to achieve POW status through the use of your SC and struggle through your WP benefits or choose to move your spend elsewhere.

Easy choice not to go for WP+++, I don't plan to fly 240 flights a year. I have chosen to move my spend, I have a another gold status to maintain. I certainly didn't ask for it without thinking I could keep it.

Now just on this theme, I followed and joined a discussion on AFF before making my choice, many inferred (or stated) that there were lots of WP whinging about the changes. But IMO it was simply a matter of working through how the changes affected us and then making our choice.

I'm beginning to think this round is just Part 2 of the last round.

I not sure there is much doubt on that point. More important is to think about how many more rounds there are to come.

 

[haydensydney]

 

[medhead]

But, and this is the big but, with a bonus every 500 SCs per membership year then if I achieve WP next year on 1200 SCs then only 1000 of them will count for a loyalty bonus. That means the calculations for points per SC will be significantly reduced from the offered bonus. I don't think was accidental.

Someone has worked out the numbers on about wining and losing on the loyalty bonus. 1200 SC is in the winning range, not as good as 16 points per SC but better than 11.1 points per SC in the current system.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....equent-flyer-changes-30095-24.html#post436651

 

[oz_mark]

But, and this is the big but, with a bonus every 500 SCs per membership year then if I achieve WP next year on 1200 SCs then only 1000 of them will count for a loyalty bonus. That means the calculations for points per SC will be significantly reduced from the offered bonus. I don't think was accidental.

Should you keep on doing 1200 a year, you will get 16,000 loyalty points a year (2 * 8,000) on the new system

On the old system, you would get 10,000 some years, 15,000 other years.

 

[wing]

Interesting thread. A colleague of mine was one of the WP1s invited to the media launch today. He said he was 'hosted' by the GM who looks after Airline Loyalty, apparently she has just moved to QFF from the QF Product team (was the girl behind the A380 interiors and the First Lounges!). Anyway, she said to him WP1 will not erode any benefits for WPs and is specifically about creating further benefits at the highest levels of WP. Also hinted WPs will benefit most from the improvements planned for upgrades as mentioned in the email. SO I am going to wait to hear the full extent of WP1 and upgrades changes before I make a full judgement on the outcome for me. Although must say am planning to fly new DJ A330 to PER shortly which looks good.

PS - He met Alan Joyce and Simon Hickey. He said Alan was late for event and seemed flustered, Simon Hickey apparently very nice and relaxed, Airline Loyalty girl very excited by changes and apparently very good looking (might be another reason to aspire to WP1)!

 

[awilcockson]

He said Alan was late for event and seemed flustered

He was probably coming from an airport that had been jet-star-ised, hence the late arrival

 

[peterr]

Hi all... First Post... so be kind!

Red Roo - It's fantastic having a representative of QFF on here and getting it from the source. So Thanks...


I had a question for you:

Has there been any discussion/review on what happens to member's points on the death of a member?

With the number of places to earn QFF points increasing significantly over the years (e.g. Woolworths Everyday Rewards), and the greater spend options (e.g. Qantas Frequent Flyer Store), it seems a bit harsh that they expire on death... particularly after all the effort taken to earn them... can they go to next of kin/spouse/etc??

Thanks in advance for any reply.


(Oh... and apologies for going off topic)

 

[beejay1177]

Hi all

Be kind - it's my first post (long time lurker!)

Have been PS for over a year, and this year will be my last time in getting a loyalty bonus. Currently only fly enough to obtain PS in my membership year flying domestically, but would have enough SC every 18 months to get my loyalty bonus.

With the new changes, my loyalty bonus will be reset approx 100 SC short of achieving the 8,000 bonus points each year, so for people like me in the lower end of the scale, it is a fairly significant loss.

 

[Pleb Status]

Interesting thread. A colleague of mine was one of the WP1s invited to the media launch today. He said he was 'hosted' by the GM who looks after Airline Loyalty, apparently she has just moved to QFF from the QF Product team (was the girl behind the A380 interiors and the First Lounges!). Anyway, she said to him WP1 will not erode any benefits for WPs and is specifically about creating further benefits at the highest levels of WP. Also hinted WPs will benefit most from the improvements planned for upgrades as mentioned in the email. SO I am going to wait to hear the full extent of WP1 and upgrades changes before I make a full judgement on the outcome for me. Although must say am planning to fly new DJ A330 to PER shortly which looks good.

PS - He met Alan Joyce and Simon Hickey. He said Alan was late for event and seemed flustered, Simon Hickey apparently very nice and relaxed, Airline Loyalty girl very excited by changes and apparently very good looking (might be another reason to aspite to WP1)!

This just shows how out of touch QF are!!! Most WP are neutral or negative towards the changes on this forum. So a quick survey shows it is a thumbs down....

 

[Troppo]

Demanding things without even a 'please' mark you as someone who should not be invited to become a CL member.

There are way too many people on this site whose sense of entitlement has become a chip on their shoulder ....

Ha ha ha ha!


Dear Alan,

Please make me a CL member.

I promise I will be nice and polite.

I have the honour to be.
Your obedient servant

Troppo

 

[kpc]

Don't forget...the QF freq flyer program was designed and developed to benefit Qantas, not YOU!:shock:

 

[pshepvic]

Hi all... First Post... so be kind!

Red Roo - It's fantastic having a representative of QFF on here and getting it from the source. So Thanks...


I had a question for you:

Has there been any discussion/review on what happens to member's points on the death of a member?

With the number of places to earn QFF points increasing significantly over the years (e.g. Woolworths Everyday Rewards), and the greater spend options (e.g. Qantas Frequent Flyer Store), it seems a bit harsh that they expire on death... particularly after all the effort taken to earn them... can they go to next of kin/spouse/etc??

Thanks in advance for any reply.


(Oh... and apologies for going off topic)

This had crossed my mind in the past as well. Until QFF change the policy, what you need to do, is make sure that someone in your family (that you trust, obviously) has your FF number and PIN. Then in the event of your death, they could log in (before reporting your death to QFF - would anyone actually do that anyway??), and transfer 100,000 points. Might not be all the points, but is still something I guess.

Mind you, if they're a good friend/family member and you trust them with the FF number, chances are they'll be upset if something happens and this could be the last thing on their mind!

Obviously the benefit would be reciprocal - you would get their FF number and PIN as well in case something happened to them (I guess that could also be the insurance for giving them your account details - if they take points from you and you are still well and truly alive, you just log in and take the same number of points back!)

 

[Alanslegal]

Interesting thread. A colleague of mine was one of the WP1s invited to the media launch today. He said he was 'hosted' by the GM who looks after Airline Loyalty, apparently she has just moved to QFF from the QF Product team (was the girl behind the A380 interiors and the First Lounges!). Anyway, she said to him WP1 will not erode any benefits for WPs and is specifically about creating further benefits at the highest levels of WP. Also hinted WPs will benefit most from the improvements planned for upgrades as mentioned in the email. SO I am going to wait to hear the full extent of WP1 and upgrades changes before I make a full judgement on the outcome for me. Although must say am planning to fly new DJ A330 to PER shortly which looks good.

PS - He met Alan Joyce and Simon Hickey. He said Alan was late for event and seemed flustered, Simon Hickey apparently very nice and relaxed, Airline Loyalty girl very excited by changes and apparently very good looking (might be another reason to aspire to WP1)!

I always hold a healthy does of sceptism for first time posters especially if its 'very for' or 'very against' something. And in this case, my sceptism only thinks you must be the wingman for Red Roo

However to be fair I do hope you are on the right track!

 

[JohnPhelan]

And this is before the soon to be announced increase in redemption points/decrease in services for WP. All QF is waiting for is to see what DJ will be offering to determine how much to rack up the points.
.

Seriously, some of you would make tabloid journalists blush, with the way you just make up things and then announce them as "fact".

And people on this forum constantly berate the media for 'making things up' ..... pot-kettle-black! :shock:

 

[straitman]

I always hold a healthy does of sceptism for first time posters especially if its 'very for' or 'very against' something. And in this case, my sceptism only thinks you must be the wingman for Red Roo

However to be fair I do hope you are on the right track!

Red Roo and the three new posters on this page all have substancially different IP addresses. - for what it is worth.

 

[pauly7]

Secondly, despite what QF say, the WPs' benefits will be eroded. How can they not be when all of a sudden, there's another group of people in front of you in the queue? Now, WPs are at the front of the queues for upgrades (CLs aside), from now on, it'll be P1, THEN WP. Who will get looked after first if there're any problems? Well, P1 first, THEN WP.

As was just pointed out to me offline by a QF rep, QF already grade people to their worth and loyalty within the QFF subgroups...(we know this and is been much discussed as to exactly how as it is not visibly published)....

So argueably the people who become P1 are already 'ahead' in priority of other people in the WP band... IE they would have definitely been getting AIR for a start, upgraded as a priority..etc. Perhaps this is twofold - a) making that fact more transparent and b) rewarding them.

Just thinking (with some help )

 

[dfcatch]

Alright, besides being stuck at work, it's taken me some time to work through this thread... So here goes:

1/ Red Roo - well done for keeping to your word and updating us as soon as you could. Also well done for clarifying a number of points and sticking around.

2/ Well done to QF for listening to our suggestions in your thread where you asked for suggestions. I do see some relationship between the themes and the new announcements.

The main themes as I recall were suggestions for:

- an Uber-WP level;
- FF/SC earn on JQ;
- a discounted point redemption level for status FF's as opposed to frequent spenders (and not referring to additional award availability).
- replacement benefits for WP to distinguish WP from SG.

3/ On WP1 - I'll never reach it, but you have reacted to something that a number of super-WPs wanted. Good job.

4/ JQ earn.... Fair enough, still doesn't make me want to fly JQ if I can help it.

5/ Extra status and cabin earn..... I've said numerous times that WP/SG/PS should have a tiered discount redemption rate so that real frequent flyers aren't disadvantaged by frequent spenders. And we all agree that frequent flyers should be rewarded more than frequent spenders.

Your approach I guess tries to address this from the other end by simply increasing the points earn potential of status members, rather than giving them discounts on the redemption side of the equation.

Unfortunately - like many others, I earn a lot of my WP status at the back of the bus - therefore the new structure fails to really give me anything extra..... I'm left still asking for the same discounted redemption rates or something else to reward my WP standing over and above SG status.

Yes you've tried to address the opposite side of the equation but have not done it in an equitable manner.

The result - I still see benefits being diluted, and the tradeoff doesn't seem to be there for me.

Sorry - it's not whinging, it's just an acknowledgement that the changes have failed to get me excited and feeling more loyal .

Bottom line - when I fly in whY as a WP - i get nothing more. Nada, zero, zip, zilch.....

All translated equals "will consider DJ for this next flight" (or NZ or similar). Something that for my next several transpacifics I may actually consider looking elsewhere.


6/ Loyalty bonus

My first reaction was "whatever".

My second reaction is "hang on"!! Are you going to wipe my accrued loyalty bonus earn every year when I fail to reach the next milestone??

WTF!!??



In summary Red Roo - I was going to score you an 8/10 on these changes, (giving you the benefit of the doubt on future upgrade improvements).

But I'm now giving you a 5.1/10.

It's barely a pass-mark because there are some improvements, particularly for SG and uber WPs (which I am neither).
That said - I reserve the right to reassess you into negative scoring territory (and direct more spend elsewhere) if I discover more benefits being eroded to my current status level.