Upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes

[oz_mark]

Having worked at BA in a previous life, the biggest whingers were the ones who had a false sense of entitlement (ie: ECG).

....and easily bruised egos.

 

[connieguy]

Indeed.

I suspect if a survey was taken of all QFF members, well over 80% - possibly over 90% - would say the like the recent changes. The AFF community is far from typical, and very far from a representative sample of QFF members.

Wonder what the WPs, who spend >$100k of their own money and fly long haul international discount Y would have to say?

Maybe we should require posters to declare if they pay for their own seats and or they get them paid for? I mean the view point and opinions offered will be very different.

Oh BTW I do pay for $160 exit row seats, each way, to gain more room for my 1.9 mtr long body. Doing so eats up the mileage gained.

I pay for my seats.

 

[zeiron]

....and easily bruised egos.

hahahahaha!

my favorite response to the "dont you know who I am" question was "no sir, i do not"

and if I was having a really bad day, that would be followed with "and if i did, that would not alter the outcome for you today"

 

[NM]

On a side note...QF should issue points based on the Km flown and not mi. What's the bet the next move is to NM!!

Any time they want to move some miles to me (NM), they will be most welcome

 

[CMA222]

At around 630 post this topic makes good reading.

I am QF WP, and have been for a while. LTG is still a way off. I will only make WP1 if I win Lotto. I am about to complete my international bookings for the next few months and the "enhancements" have caused me to reconsider whether accumulating more than 1200 SC's per annum is worth the effort. I will certainly be utilising both Virgin Australia and AA as alternative schemes/airlines particularly given the loyalty bonus is now being capped and with the loss of surplus SC's from the loyalty bonus count each 12 months.

If we make the necessary assumptions on WP1 they will possibly be moved from "loyalty" to "royalty" while WP will potentially be down graded because it has been left unchanged. Looks like Gold is the QF preferred level and maybe WP will be trended down to allow WP1 to be the next big step after Gold.

All in all - disappointing. If Virgin joins Star Alliance it will be a whole new ball game.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Wow, 637 posts.

I do wonder whether Red Roo had any idea the number of people they would upset with the latest round of 'enhancements' and whether they have indeed measured the commercial impact of shunning their current 'official' highest tier members of their programme.

 

[connieguy]

Pmsl !! Thanks ReLoad that should go straight to the AFF pool room
This thread has disintegrated further and further away from meaningful discussion.

Yup.

Time for another F Lounge massage, bottle of French champagne, Salt & Pepper Squid lunch and a nice Cheese platter with a really good Aussie Red or chilled White / another bottle of the French Champs, while we wait for our flight.

Thanks Red Roo for letting us WPs know that we will still have F Lounge access when the full WP1 benefits are finally rolled out.

 

[connieguy]

If we make the necessary assumptions on WP1 they will possibly be moved from "loyalty" to "royalty" while WP will potentially be down graded because it has been left unchanged. Looks like Gold is the QF preferred level and maybe WP will be trended down to allow WP1 to be the next big step after Gold.

All in all - disappointing. If Virgin joins Star Alliance it will be a whole new ball game.

I suggest the big Star will soon be in Oz and working to attract new members. Virgin already has alliances with a lot of the Star Alliance group airlines.

Interesting how SQ allows it's top Solitaire PPS members a reserve pool, where money spent above the SGD$25,000 per year (~AU$19,000) needed to maintain status each year goes into the reserve pool so it can be drawn against if you fall short of the min spend in any year. Nice touch.

Singapore Airlines

SQ also looks at *Alliance spend (determine FF Status) and SQ spend (determines Club status). Red Roo has hinted at this dual min requirements becoming part of WP1 qualification requirements

KrisFlyer requirements:
About KrisFlyer -- Singapore Airlines

PPS Club requirements:
The PPS Club -- Singapore Airlines

We live in interesting times.

Of course QF know this and are working to hold their OW customers when that day happens.

 

[drewbles]

Yup.

Time for another F Lounge massage, bottle of French champagne, Salt & Pepper Squid lunch and a nice Cheese platter with a really good Aussie Red or chilled White / another bottle of the French Champs, while we wait for our flight.

Thanks Red Roo for letting us WPs know that we will still have F Lounge access when the full WP1 benefits are finally rolled out.

Just to stir people up, this would be whilst waiting for JQ35 or JQ36 yes?

I'm not going to warrant some posts here with a response. It's clear we all have different views, so I won't go all religious on them as they do on us (do unto others). Needless to say, people are entitled to their opinions one way or the other

 

[connieguy]

Just to stir people up, this would be whilst waiting for JQ35 or JQ36 yes?

JQ29 going to Bkk, CX going to Hkg, QF/AA to the states, Canada, South America and QF/BA on the Kangaroo route to Lhr, Ams, Mxp and various other EU countries. Takes a LOT of flying in discount Y to earn 3,200 SCs.

Needless to say, people are entitled to their opinions one way or the other.

Yup and I'm entitled to play the various airlines Loyalty/Benefits games to gain the lowest cost, bottom line, transport costs from city A to B I can get. To me it is just a long taxi ride to get to where my customer needs me to be.

 

[Red Roo]

Yup.

Time for another F Lounge massage, bottle of French champagne, Salt & Pepper Squid lunch and a nice Cheese platter with a really good Aussie Red or chilled White / another bottle of the French Champs, while we wait for our flight.

Thanks Red Roo for letting us WPs know that we will still have F Lounge access when the full WP1 benefits are finally rolled out.

No worries, have a nice trip!

 

[zeiron]

Yup and I'm entitled to play the various airlines Loyalty/Benefits games to gain the lowest cost, bottom line, transport costs from A to B I can get.

You absolutely are, and you bloody well should!! I cant help but feel like this thread has been going around in circles like a dog chasing his own tail. We all need to do what's best for ourselves, QF included. Granted, some changes work for some and not for others, we just need to make the changes work FOR us as best we can, and I truly do hope you come out on top at the end of it all....as i do for all of us.

 

[JohnK]

yes but you will lose any status credits toward the loyalty bonus at the end of your membership year...

Good point. It is a very sneaky way for Qantas to not pay out loyalty bonuses to the majority of QFFers. There are ways around it for the rest of us though.

i wouldn't want to get to 490 Loyalty Status Credits just before my anniversary date :evil:

I know we are not all the same but if I found myself in that sort of situation then I would Definitely spend some money on a cheap SYD-CBR or BNE-ROK/MKY return to make sure I received the loyalty bonus. For someone like me redeeming economy Oneworld awards the value of 8,000 QFF points is worth ~$200 so spending ~$140 on same day return flights and earning an 10,000 QFF points (2,000 for the return flights and 8,000 for the loyalty bonus) would be worth ~$250 and easily cover the amount I have outlaid.

The only thing that is required is to track SC earning through the year and be prepared to spend some money to get more money back....

 

[connieguy]

The only thing that is required is to track SC earning through the year and be prepared to spend some money to get more money back....

But when you hit the 2,000 SC ceiling, there is no way to crash through other than by gaining 2,400 SCs, giving up PG and taking the 50,000 mile bonus.

I need to somehow find a good time to tell SWMBO that her PG is now gone :evil: as I need the 50,000 miles bonus at 2,400 SCs to make up for the other WP "Enhancement" miles losses or that I'm stopping SCs at 1,200 (so no PG or 50,000 mile bonus this year) and posting flights to SQ and AA accounts. Either way I'm dead meat.

 

[JohnK]

On a side note...QF should issue points based on the Km flown and not mi. What's the bet the next move is to NM!!

QF used to issue points based on the Km flown but changed it to miles as part of another "enhancement".

 

[JohnK]

This Status chasing is ridiculous. You ought to fly, because you need to (work, holidays etc), not because of the "status" that will result from it.

What is wrong with flying as a hobby?

If you think that people should not be flying for a hobby then most people should stop having these passtimes as well such as riding bikes, run, swim, play golf, play soccer, play rugby etc.

I am truly amazed (read: shocked) by the number of people who seem to define themselves by their airline status! Arent we, as human beings, so much more than that?

Human beings? If I understand correctly then you really do not need status and you are quite happy to continue sitting in 58E on your Australia-Europe/USA trips.

Since I do the flying anyway I would rather have my status and make flying a little more comfortable and not worry about sittng down the back between the person who thinks it is OK to have their iPod on full blast with speakers you can hear 10 yards away and the person who wreaks of garlic. I don't quite pass out but I have come close a few times.

No thanks.

 

[serfty]

This thread is being closed pending review and possible cleanup. :-|

Please ALL calm down.

 

[straitman]

I am now reopening the thread with the expectation that common sense will prevail.

From a forum and a moderation perspective I encourage all members to attack the topic as much as you like but stop attacking the individuals who are posting on the topic.

 

[ReLoad]

I think the best thing i can do, to Red Roo (thanks for being here by the way) is to "State my case your honor"

As a all whY WP, I feel either rightly or wrongly, that the recent series of "enhancements" hurt me, no more ATA, PG going up etc.

Then very nicely you come in and up the PS and SG offerings with some nice rewards (great stuff). To counter this, you reduce the Loyalty bonus. fair enough, at least thats give and take.

But for me as a WP, ive now had 3 setbacks, No ATA, PG now out of reach, and finally now, based on my spend i'll lose at least 1 maybe 2 Loyalty bonuses.

Thats why I am a little miffed at your latest "enhancement".

Thats removing all emotions, your point of enhances extra bonuses for upper classes are great, but thats just not me (and thats not by choice by the way )

So thats it, thats me in a nutshell, please take my feedback as it is, it just sucks to be on the wrong end of 2 series of "enhancements" and it makes me wonder what the "third" is.

Cheers.

Mr whY domestic WP.

 

[JohnK]

Referring to my earlier post


From the current QF web site earnings table

Qantas (QF) BHK Discount Economy
Air Pacific (FJ) BGHKLMNOQSTVWY(international) Economy
Alaska Airlines (AS) BGHKLMQSTUVY Economy
American Airlines® (AA) GLMNSV Discount Economy
BHKY Economy
British Airways (BA) BHY Full Economy
China Eastern (MU) LMNRSTV Discount Economy
BEHY Economy

Finnair (AY) BHKY Economy

And I could have kept going

Sorry Fred that table has been that way for a long time.

Let me assure you that if crediting to QFF then only Y class credits as full economy SCs....