Upcoming Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes

[TonyHancock]

You're wrong.

Red Roo, as someone who plans well in advance, I'm very disappointed that the increased cabin bonuses only apply to "bookings made on and from 17 May 2011"

(as per Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions )

Again, there's nothing that benefits me as a WP that isn't benefiting all other tiers.

If this is the case I'm in the same boat too.

Red Roo, please can you confirm that this is the case?

 

[Leumas]

I supspect that there will be no devaluation of the tiers going on, RedRoo has already released some of the bad news - increased surcharges on award bookings, so perhaps we can take this on face value?

The way I read the increased surcharges is simply due to the high fuel costs. If the fuel prices fall, surcharges will be adjusted accordingly like last time, and so will this cost.

So this is neither good news or bad news.

Am I being naive here?

 

[Red Roo]

Red Roo - Can you confirm yet if the current OneWorld status levels will remain? i.e. Silver will still be Ruby, Platinum will still be Emerald etc..? The only way I can see these changes as negative is if Platinum becomes Sapphire, and Platinum One is the only Emerald tier. Hopefully that doesn't happen. If not - then job well done QFF! Ignore the whingers.

I have to admit, I never predicted being asked this question

We're not changing the equivalent oneworld status equivalents for our tiers, so yes, a QF Platinum is still a oneworld Emerald, a QF Gold is still a oneworld Sapphire and a QF Silver is still a oneworld Ruby.

 

[simongr]

Can't believe the whining here....

Here are a round of QFF enhancements that are ACTUAL enhancements (and very good ones, I might add), and people are still complaining?

Now sure, us WPs don't get as much as PS/SG's, but so what? We're not being disadvantaged (except for perhaps a small % for whom the status bonus changes effect), it's just that other levels are getting even more benefits - which is great if we, as WPs, ever drop.

I see your points but again - there is nothing targetted at the WP level. Sure there is a promo for PONE which we can aspire to but the difference is SG/PS are being handed a benefit and WP are not.

 

[Red Roo]

The T&C's here seem to suggest that the booking date will be taken into consideration and everything booked before 17 may will attract the old earning rates;

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

CORRECTION

Bookings made pre and post today's announcement will attract the new earn rates for flights taken from 17 May 2011.

 

[TheStudent]

Leumas - I don't know, but i do believe this would be an expremely poor time for QF to devalue its programme because

1) VAA's new attack on the business market
2) The possibility of a huge cost to Qantas under a carbon tax will mean that it will need to defend its position, as the overall market will take a huge hit.
3) The market is overcrowded, with 4 major airlines currently operating, and Strategic Airlines also trying to grow, as well as increased competition from overseas airlines. This will effect everyone's profit margins
4) Rising fuel costs further squeeze profit margins

Overall I believe Qantas needs a loyal customer base right now

 

[simongr]

One point that is potentially good is the improvement to the upgrade process - here's hoping that is a WP benefit only and not just a PONE benefit.

 

[Alanslegal]

Changed Loyalty bonus from December 2011 – a Loyalty bonus of 8000 points for every 500 Status credits earned within a membership year up to 4 per year.

Let's say I earnt 1495 SC in my membership year, would it be correct to say that I would forgo 495 SC as it would not roll over into the new year for Loyalty Bonus calculations?

 

[TonyHancock]

I have just checked this with with Qantas Frequent Flyer, this is correct.

Bookings made post today's announcement will attract the new earn rates.

Isn't this a bit cheap? Given that the seat next to me is still open on my July flight, if it is taken, I'll be sitting next to someone who will be earning more miles because he/she didn't book until after 17th May? Doesn't seem very fair.

 

[Paddy55]

I have to admit, I never predicted being asked this question

We're not changing the equivalent oneworld status equivalents for our tiers, so yes, a QF Platinum is still a oneworld Emerald, a QF Gold is still a oneworld Sapphire and a QF Silver is still a oneworld Ruby.

Good to hear Red Roo.

"Enhancing" QF Platinum down to Sapphire would break this camel's back!

Earlier in the thread and elsewhere there have been comments on apparent increased cost / reduced availability of JASAs - certainly looking out in Mar/Apr 2012 it is rare to find 140K JASAs on SYD-LAX. 1,000K is much more usual. :shock:

Has there been formal "enhancements" in this area?

Paddy

 

[drron]

I have just checked this with with Qantas Frequent Flyer, this is correct.

Bookings made post today's announcement will attract the new earn rates.

I have booked but not paid for a Circle Pacific fare in November.Do I have to cancel and rebook to get the new bonuses?

 

[Red Roo]

While I understand from your posts that Platinum One isn't being introduced today, Qantas has nonetheless announced the target (ie. 3600 status credits). Effectively, you've given people something to aim for but without giving them the full armoury to do so. I'm being perhaps a bit too metaphorical but what I'm essentially saying is, please at least let us know when the 3600 goal will become active. As someone above 2400 status credits and about 60% through my membership year, I'm very keen to know whether this goal is something I should be aiming for. What would really annoy me is if I was to aim for the 3600 (admittedly, somewhat blindly as I don't know what the benefits are), only to reach it and find out 'Platinum One benefits will become active from 1 January 2012'.

I understand your situation. At this point in time, I don't have anything more concrete at this point in time in regards to dates. We are working on finalising the proposition for later this year.

I'm also very keen to hear this. In fact, if Platinum One became the new Emerald and so on, that would certainly be a phenomenal devaluation of the entire program. On a similar note, how do we consider Platinum One? Is it the new 'top tier' or do we just treat it like Chairmans Lounge as being almost a separate program?

Think of it as an exclusive level within Platinum.
QF Platinum remains a oneworld Emerald tier.

 

[serfty]

Let's say I earnt 1495 SC in my membership year, would it be correct to say that I would forgo 495 SC as it would not roll over into the new year for Loyalty Bonus calculations?

I asked that in post #17 - have not seen a reply as yet.

...

Moreover, what happens to a FF who earns 490 SC's in a membership year? Will they get the 8000 with the first 10 earned in their next year?

... the "within a membership year" is ominous however.:-|

 

[aus_flyer]

I hve booked but not paid for a Circle Pacific fare in November.Do I have to cancel and rebook to get the new bonuses?

Could be wise. In the past Qantas has looked at the date the booking (PNR) was created, not the issue date, for determining similar (date-related) issues.

 

[aus_flyer]

I have just checked this with with Qantas Frequent Flyer, this is correct.

Bookings made post today's announcement will attract the new earn rates.

Very, very disappointing!

 

[Red Roo]

STOP PRESS

Very, very disappointing!

Good news, I was provided with incorrect information.

Qantas and Jetstar flights flown from 17 May 2011 will attract the new bonuses. Booking date does not apply here.

Apologies for any inconvenience and confusion caused.

 

[equus]

The T&C's here seem to suggest that the booking date will be taken into consideration and everything booked before 17 may will attract the old earning rates;

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

And the T&C update is very badly worded, and almost inconsistent between the text in Section 9.5 and the Airline Earning table at the bottom.

The Cabin class bonus is not mentioned in the text, but the table mentions the 17/5 booking date as the cut off.

The Status bonus isn't mentioned in the table, only in the text, which mentions flights before 17/5, and bookings after 17/5, but leaves a big blank about flights after 17/5 from bookings made before.

Then to contradict and confuse, the earning points table Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Fly - Airline Partners doesn't mention booking date at all, and simply talks about "earn points when flying" and then "prior to" and "on and from" which really implies flight date not booking date.

For the status bonus at least, it would make sense to assume it would have to apply to the flight date, not the booking date, as after all, what happens now when you book as one status (say WP), then fly after being downgraded to SG - you sure don't earn at the bonus that applied when you booked!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

You're wrong.

Red Roo, as someone who plans well in advance, I'm very disappointed that the increased cabin bonuses only apply to "bookings made on and from 17 May 2011"

It cuts both ways. Those on JQ flights that would otherwise require purchase of a bundle get the benefit of the points and SCs per their original booking.

You are not getting anything less than what you thought you were getting when you booked.

Edit: just read Red Roo's follow-up. It's a moot point now.

 

[medhead]

Leumas - I don't know, but i do believe this would be an expremely poor time for QF to devalue its programme because

Except for my usual flying they have devalued the benefits. Platinum used to mean an extra 362 points on my regular route, it is now 181. The benefit to me of being platinum is reduced - devalued.

Clearly what qantas is doing is giving extra at the bottom, extra at the top and nothing in the middle. So those in th middle who have have the luxury of many flights have a choice:

• aim for more qantas flying. Hard if they still can't make it to the extra benefits.
• do nothing, stay the same
• move to double gold status.

This situation is clearly targeted at those who do lots of domestic discount flying. They don't have the option to increase the amount of flying to get more status. So they can either fly more expensive or drop down a level and do double gold, if they do anything.

NB this is not a whinge (I know what I'm doing and why), just my take on what is going on.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

A fair few airlines have 2 or more levels on Emerald or Star Gold equivalent but with their own super/top tier. You need not look further than SQ, LH and almost all US legacy carriers.