Upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah, I kinda knew that...

Perhaps I was being too subtle...

I was just agreeing and giving an example

 

[AnonymousCoward]

QF are welcome to fly that international flight with or without a bum in the seat. Whether the seat is profitable or not if QF's business. But I'm sure they would prefer to fill it vs not filling it. And the additional revenue from the seat is still more than the consumption at the F lounge (JQ35 excluded).

Revenue means nothing unless you are making a profit. Where you sell things below cost, you become a "value subtracting" enterprise (the opposite of value-add). Many such business existed in the former Soviet Republics. They are all broke now.

Not sure what you mean by "only a single OW airline has this as an option".

CX is the only OW airline I'm aware of that "sells" top tier status to anyone (and that is a limited set of Centurion card holders, and only on a one-time basis). If SCs were available for sale, why hasn't QF jumped on that bandwagon?

Why can't you buy status with your CC? Because status is the one thing that differentiates a Frequent Flyer from a Frequent Spender. (As you already know).

I think this is a distinction that you are drawing, yet I don't think airlines necessarily care. Many airlines in the US give away lower tier status with CC and so on. Why not OW airlines?

 

[dfcatch]

It's the operating carrier that pays.

So if I am a QFFF, flying CX, and accessing a BA (not joint) lounge, CX actually pays out twice... once to QF for the miles, and once to BA for me using the lounge.

Sorry, my mistake. You are correct.

There is some reporting that goes on though (and I mistakenly thought it included revenue as well). Eg. I am QF, when using an AA lounge and flying AA, it's recorded as a QF visit.

Are you sure it's not operating carrier only when "Class of services access", and FF program when FF access?

I may very well be mistaken - but I'm sure I remember it being explained to me once.

 

[dfcatch]

Revenue means nothing unless you are making a profit. Where you sell things below cost, you become a "value subtracting" enterprise (the opposite of value-add). Many such business existed in the former Soviet Republics. They are all broke now.



CX is the only OW airline I'm aware of that "sells" top tier status to anyone (and that is a limited set of Centurion card holders, and only on a one-time basis). If SCs were available for sale, why hasn't QF jumped on that bandwagon?



I think this is a distinction that you are drawing, yet I don't think airlines necessarily care. Many airlines in the US give away lower tier status with CC and so on. Why not OW airlines?

Point taken and not necessarily of a different view.....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are you sure it's not operating carrier only when "Class of services access", and FF program when FF access?

I may very well be mistaken - but I'm sure I remember it being explained to me once.

yeah - i got it wrong... your original quote was right!

(i was thinking about class of service, but got the QFFF bit wrong.)

apologies.

 

[dfcatch]

yeah - i got it wrong... your original quote was right!

(i was thinking about class of service, but got the QFFF bit wrong.)

apologies.

No need to apologise, I don't work for an airline so I can only go by what has been explained to me. (and I may have got it wrong). I was merely thinking out loud anyway.

We've definitely drifted off topic, so to try to get back on topic I'll go back to my original point that I don't believe YUPP runs are QF's problem.
QF have set the SC earning table and decided what airlines and classes earn what SCs. They no doubt have suitable commercial agreements about this. (As alluded to by Red Roo earlier in the thread regarding increased earning bonuses on AA/BA).

Just as I don't believe it's relevant as to whether you are a Y WP or a J/F WP (again, QF has set the earning table in a way to equalize the status regardless of how you earn it).

The key issue here is whether the new mix of benefits will continue to relieve WP's of unnecessary cash in QF's favour.

IMHO - I feel that QF may very well lose out.

But - a lot of that rests on what DJ can pull off.

 

[11sjw]

Expensive doesn't mean that the fare is profitable. QF has stated publicly (and this means that is must have some legal basis for the statement - or be guilty of misleading the market) that it's international arm is non-profitable. Each "visit" to the F lounge will probably cost QF more than it's making on any cheap fare IMHO

Be wary of statements regarding profitability. I've had more than one QF Intl Pilot tell me that QF Intl pays the maintenance fees for the JQ fleet yet the earnings from that fleet go onto JQ's books. Accountants are just wonderful, aren't they?

 

[Alanslegal]

Each "visit" to the F lounge will probably cost QF more than it's making on any cheap fare IMHO

Those non-WP/OWE J passengers flying to JFK are subsidising my $25 JQ F Lounge visit

Besides I would think QF / JQ would rather have a dominant market share including making a loss on a small number of tickets than allowing their competitor to have another BIS flyer (and some revenue).

Hypothetically, if every flyer used the PBG for example, the other carriers could end up with no-one flying them. And that is one of the purpose for the PBG ... some tickets have short term losses, for longer term gains.

 

[Alanslegal]

Why can't you buy status with your CC? Because status is the one thing that differentiates a Frequent Flyer from a Frequent Spender. (As you already know).

Well I would argue that this use to be the case .... but now with ASA it's a whole new ball game. Frequent spenders now have access to classic-level awards but earning SCs. Yes it takes a decent amount of flying generally, but if a person has too many frequent spending miles, then flying a few international FASA or JASA flights, and elite status is reached quite easily.

 

[nlagalle]

Well I would argue that this use to be the case .... but now with ASA it's a whole new ball game. Frequent spenders now have access to classic-level awards but earning SCs. Yes it takes a decent amount of flying generally, but if a person has too many frequent spending miles, then flying a few international FASA or JASA flights, and elite status is reached quite easily.

That maybe the case, but most wouldn't know what an ASA was or how to get status...

 

[dfcatch]

That maybe the case, but most wouldn't know what an ASA was or how to get status...

Agreed. I see Alan's point, but IMHO don't think it is a major concern.

And besides, if a frequent spender doesn't fly enough to earn status without an ASA. Then ( with the exception of the ASA run itself), they won't be in the lounge that much consuming benefits.

 

[mattjdalton]

there's a significant chunk of daylight between Platinum and Platinum One

In reality the chunk of daylight has the WP+ benefit at 2400 credits

 

[simongr]

Anyone else heard of the new direct line email to QFF for WP? Seems like a decent enhancement to me and avoids the QF website comments/complaints process.

 

[TonyHancock]

Anyone else heard of the new direct line email to QFF for WP? Seems like a decent enhancement to me and avoids the QF website comments/complaints process.

I think you mean improvement and not enhancement. We now know that enhancement is defined as removal or reduction of benefits and services.

Couldn't agree more though, it is a bit of a performance using the feedback form, and my recent experience suggests QF is not bothering to respond to questions submitted via the feedback form. :-|

 

[Danger]

In reality the chunk of daylight has the WP+ benefit at 2400 credits

Can you elaborate on what you mean here?

 

[codash1099]

Couldn't agree more though, it is a bit of a performance using the feedback form, and my recent experience suggests QF is not bothering to respond to questions submitted via the feedback form. :-|

Not my experience. Made a minor complaint via the feedback form and had a phone call from them 2 days later. Actually an email response would have been OK with me, but the personal touch was appreciated.

As yet, I have had no news of a direct email contact for WP's. Certainly would be handy.

 

[simongr]

The wording used to me was

"Have you got the new direct email address? We have heard the feedback and hope this will be very useful to you"

This is what QFF have done badly in the recent past - they have actually made improvements but not told us about them effectively or have told us of improvements for other people with a fanfare without realising that some of us can join the dots and see what is being taken away.

If I have call to contact them I shall try the new email address.

 

[TonyHancock]

The wording used to me was

"Have you got the new direct email address? We have heard the feedback and hope this will be very useful to you"

This is what QFF have done badly in the recent past - they have actually made improvements but not told us about them effectively or have told us of improvements for other people with a fanfare without realising that some of us can join the dots and see what is being taken away.

If I have call to contact them I shall try the new email address.

I guess the problem for QF is that the email address will soon be in everyone's hands and if the requisite information, name and FF number, is not included then there is a round of qualification required before qualifying whether the sender is a WP.

 

[dfcatch]

I used to have only nice positive things to say about QF's response to feedback (good and bad).

However in the last 6 months I have had cause to submit 3 lots of feedback to QF. The first two were mixed (part positive praise of crew, part complaints of service), the third was just a general issue (including my calls not being routed to premium).

After no response - I had to re-submit the last two submissions to get a response.

1/ First resubmission only elicited a response because I emailed directly to AJ. (A member of the "executive services team" telephoned me within 7 days and left a voicemail to assure me that my issues would be addressed.

2/ Second resubmission was two days ago where I re-raised my issues and also complained of the pathetic (IMHO) level of customer care lately (especially relative to what used to be good responsive service). I had an initial response today by email carefully addressing all my points, and that customer care would get back to me further regarding my complaint on their lack of responsiveness.

So we'll see......

I used to rave about how good QF were in this area and it seems that cost-cutting has had an impact.

Either that or they have contracted Customer Care out to JQ

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Either that or they have contracted Customer Care out to JQ

I usually just fork out for the $20 express complaints handling fee. Ensures your complaint is 'amongst the first responded to'.