Upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes

[epsc]

The main reason for me to be WP is so I can be top of the queue for reward upgrades when travelling overseas with family. It's hard enough to get a 3 seat upgrade, but I assume that as I won't be a Plat 1 I will no longer be top of the queue - therefore my chances of getting that coveted upgrade just took a significant hit! Is that right, Red Roo?

 

[pauly7]

The main reason for me to be WP is so I can be top of the queue for reward upgrades when travelling overseas with family. It's hard enough to get a 3 seat upgrade, but I assume that as I won't be a Plat 1 I will no longer be top of the queue - therefore my chances of getting that coveted upgrade just took a significant hit! Is that right, Red Roo?

As others have already pointed out, those people who are P1 are already ahead of you in the upgrade queue - you just don't know it. QF already have layers built into the QFF tiers.

 

[Leumas]

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

FWIW, I'd be surprised QF staff is still at work at 10pm...

 

[epsc]

While I had suspected as much, it disturbs me that when I have called Qantas in the past to ask about this I have been told unequivocably that all WP's are EQUALwhen queueing for upgrades - it's strictly first request in, first served. Seems that's not quite correct - is that right, Red Roo, or, if you cannot as a Q rep answer that question, anyone else?

 

[equus]

The main reason for me to be WP is so I can be top of the queue for reward upgrades when travelling overseas with family.

Even ignoring variations within WP, CL are ahead of you in the queue right now.

 

[Leumas]

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 )

I thought about that when I posted, given I've never received the mythical AIR thing. I have no doubt there are subgroups within WPs now, and will be further subgroups within P1 and WP in the future.

As you said, with P1 officially exists, QF has made it slightly more transparent. If they claim WP benefits won't be eroded, it is pure spin. WPs are now officially demoted one spot in the upgrade queue, phone queue, any other queue you can think of. They can only claim that because we can't prove it.

Maybe except the domestic priority boarding queue, because that hardly ever exists...

EDIT: Another thought - If they can truly claim WP benefits won't be affected, P1 benefits will have to be completely outside how a customer (WP or not) interacts with QF now. If it touches any existing processes, be it on the phone, services on board, bookings/priorities, etc, then it's an erosion of benefits.

What this means is P1 will likely have things that are similar to the LH Super-doper level benefits (can't remember the name), so it'll be the phone agent able to book your flights as well as your hotels, restaurants, etc... Some sort of concierge service, even more points, airport transfer. If that's the case, is it even worth the effort?

There's also a chance QF won't even publish the P1 benefits, just to keep the mystery. We'll have to rely on those here that are at that lofty height to tell us mere mortals.

 

[chorse]

Agreed. I'm a paying QP member, and for the last 18mths I've had to resort on a 3G dongle in the lounges because the wireless is useless. IMHO, the poor performance due to supply not meeting demand and signal not giving quality coverage across the whole lounge. The problem is more prevelant in DOM lounges (PER, MEL, SYD T3), but the INT lounges (SYD T1) also have some explaining to do.

Haven't had many problems in SYD INT, apart from it being incredibly slow to get the initial portal page up. LAX Qantas lounge (in the a380 terminal) a week ago was > 90% packet loss even though they had it password protected. I was tempted to use one of the cables from the wired pcs

 

[ThunderbirdNZ]

"In terms of other changes, there is an increase in points required to pay for surcharges, fees and taxes on eligible Australia and New Zealand Domestic Classic Awards from 3,000 points to 4,500 points per segment, due to jet fuel prices."

The fine print always comes at the end!

As if it wasn't already better value just to buy a cheap seat, this clinches it. There doesn't seem to be much incentive for NZ consumers to collect QFF points anymore. But then, I'm only now realising that my two international trips a year don't really qualify me as a 'Frequent Flyer'.

 

[pauly7]

On a side note, I wonder who will become the first P1 on AFF!?!

 

[Alanslegal]

On a side note, I wonder who will become the first P1 on AFF!?!

if p1 benefits are soooooooooo fantastic i will be doing what i said in my post earlier ie 3600sc worth of yupp fares

 

[notzac]

HAHHHAAHhahahahaa ... spectacular!

 

[cove]

I think QF are trying to encourage us to stay with the one company namely Qantas.
It may work and we should wait for the real details of the offer.
Reading something into a deal that is not fully released is not what we should be doing.
As you know Western Australia in the good old days stood for "wait awhile" and that is what we should all be doing.

 

[serfty]

As others have already pointed out, those people who are P1 are already ahead of you in the upgrade queue - you just don't know it. QF already have layers built into the QFF tiers.

While I had suspected as much, it disturbs me that when I have called Qantas in the past to ask about this I have been told unequivocably that all WP's are EQUALwhen queueing for upgrades - it's strictly first request in, first served. Seems that's not quite correct - is that right, Red Roo, or, if you cannot as a Q rep answer that question, anyone else?

Actually, when it comes to operational upgrades, it is likely that those with such high SC levels would generally be in front of those WP with 2500 or less SC - this would be due to the member's PCV.

However, for points upgrades it seemed very likely that Fare Class has been the 'tie breaker' with Status levels in recent year. Now Qantas have not documented this in the T&C's, (they used to state time of request, but this disappeared some time ago.) so they can change the determinant at any time.

I do note the T&C have not changed in relation to this:

16.3.5 Flight Upgrades will be awarded to Members according to their Qantas Frequent Flyer status levels in the following order: Platinum Members first, then Gold Members, then Silver Members and then Bronze Members.

I suspect they may with the "Improved upgrade request and notification process planned for late 2011 ..."

 

[Malecc]

Totally undecided about the changes at present.

I earn about 3000sc every year, so reaching 3600sc to obtain WP1 will be difficult, I've only ever reached 3600sc once in 5 years.

I already have Lifetime Gold and obviously there is no benefits available to me after this. I don't think Qantas will ever offer me CL membership even though I am the CEO of multi billion dollar buisness that spends around $750k a year with them. I think our spend it just not big enough and I'm obviously not important enough to Qantas!!!

I think it may be time to look around at what other loyalty programs are out there. I gained Lifetime Gold in under 5 years, I've been a QFF since May 2006.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to which loyalty program might be worth joining? Does any other airline offer a lifetime membership?

 

[simongr]

As you know Western Australia in the good old days stood for "wait awhile" and that is what we should all be doing.

I dont think this is an option for those people that are on the margin for status - I plan my trips up to six months in advance (my big OS trips that is). The status and points I receive are a consideration in those trips - if I can keep cost consistent between carriers I will do whatever I can to ensure a OW carrier.

Some of my bigger trips could be early in my status year but late in the status year for other programs and options.

So no - I choose not to wait so that I can maximise benefits in other ways.

 

[equus]

Actually, when it comes to operational upgrades, it is likely that those with such high SC levels would generally be in front of those WP with 2500 or less SC - this would be due to the member's PCV.

Likely, but the correlation of PCV with SC level will probably depend on the source of the SC earn. PCV reflecting value to QF will correlate well with QF SC earn, but those SC sourced from YUPP/KUPP activity (for example) are not likely to result in a substantial PCV.

There may well be scenarios where much lower SC totals reflect a higher PCV for QF earn, than those earned elsewhere within OW.

In fact, the whole correlation of SC to QF loyalty breaks down a bit when the OW earn comes into it. Other airlines have addressed this to an extent by reserving their ultimate status level to qualification earned on that airline alone - whilst alliance earn counts for lower levels. With the Platinum One announcement so far, it doesn't seem QF is going that route, but maybe a "clarification" (enhancement) may be forthcoming when the benefits are finally announced.

 

[oz_mark]

Actually, when it comes to operational upgrades, it is likely that those with such high SC levels would generally be in front of those WP with 2500 or less SC - this would be due to the member's PCV.

I wonder though, how many people on really high SC's (and PCV), are already toward the front of the aircraft, and may not be providing much competition for opups from Y->J? Maybe they are inline for J->F opups.

 

[TonyHancock]

I dont think this is an option for those people that are on the margin for status - I plan my trips up to six months in advance (my big OS trips that is). The status and points I receive are a consideration in those trips - if I can keep cost consistent between carriers I will do whatever I can to ensure a OW carrier.

Some of my bigger trips could be early in my status year but late in the status year for other programs and options.

So no - I choose not to wait so that I can maximise benefits in other ways.

This is the big problem with the QF "teaser" approach. Sure I would like them to think through the impact of changes, (They failed with yesterday's effort, and with the previous enhancements in October 2010 both resulted in immediate back flips on key issues - and rightly so) but there has to be a balance.

I plan my trips months in advance. I have UK return flights booked for July, October and December 2011 already. I'm currently looking at February and April 2012.

If there are some genuine improvements for WP's in international upgrades it may sway me to maintain my business with QF.

I don't begrudge any of the additional benefits bestowed upon PS and SG FF's by QF yesterday, it would have just been nice to have little recognition for WP's too, rather than clumsily alienate a particularly loyal group of frequent flyers.

My fear is that more WP benefits will be diluted by opening up whatever upgrade improvements are in the wings to SG's and PS's. :shock: That seems to be current QF practice.

 

[ajca]

I already have Lifetime Gold and obviously there is no benefits available to me after this. I don't think Qantas will ever offer me CL membership even though I am the CEO of multi billion dollar buisness that spends around $750k a year with them. I think our spend it just not big enough and I'm obviously not important enough to Qantas!!!

Talk to your travel people. If they can't get you a CL membership with that position and spend, I'd be amazed...

 

[simongr]

My understanding was that a spend of $1M was required for CL access (unless you get CL through some non revenue based access such as Chair of a Govt Committee).