Using points to retain Platinum ...

[clazman]

I have heard that some mining companies are now economising by buying fares that do not earn points or SCs for the FIFO workers they have left.

If I recall correctly, it added $17 to each fare for SC and points

 

[Basalt]

If I recall correctly, it added $17 to each fare for SC and points

If I was a FIFO I'd be prepared to pay the $17 difference for the SCs! I consume far more than $17 value from the QP every flight!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

If I was a FIFO I'd be prepared to pay the $17 difference for the SCs! I consume far more than $17 value from the QP every flight!

The FIFO worker doesn't have that choice though. The employer makes the choice and I suppose they see $17 (or whatever it is) per flight across their workforce as a significant saving.

 

[clazman]

I suggested giving the worker the choice and was told all in or out, nothing in between

 

[mviy]

Well for those of us who aren't doing FIFO less FIFO workers in the lounges may mean less crowding at times.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Well for those of us who aren't doing FIFO less FIFO workers in the lounges may mean less crowding at times.

Certainly has been the case in Perth - although if this were the grammar thread I would point out that it should be "fewer FIFO workers" not less!

 

[MrJetset]

I have been WP for the last 7 years. I have not flown at all in the past 22 months due to health problems except for a couple of domestic flights for which I used points and my status expires at the end of April. I am booked to fly to Europe in F at the end of May having taken up the recent double SC offer. This trip should net me about 1800 SCs altogether and I will then reach LTG and qualify WP for almost another 2 years. It will be interesting to see if I get any offer and what it is.

QF are known to comp WP on request for health problems. You should ask and submit your evidence.

 

[mannej]

QF are known to comp WP on request for health problems. You should ask and submit your evidence.

Why waste a comp if A) they are flying F so the benefits aren't an issue and B) they will make it outright from that trip?

Pushka will also state they don't always comp for health issues.

 

[MrJetset]

Why waste a comp if A) they are flying F so the benefits aren't an issue and B) they will make it outright from that trip?

Pushka will also state they don't always comp for health issues.

I know of at least 3 cases of family and friends, so believe who you wish.

 

[mannej]

I know of at least 3 cases of family and friends, so believe who you wish.

I am just providing the flip side, as Pushka was quite vocal in her disappointment on here.

Balance is always good.

 

[rsellens]

QF are known to comp WP on request for health problems. You should ask and submit your evidence.

I am not really bothered if they do or don't. The only difference to me is that I end up with only a few less points as I am already LTS and should be LTG by the time I get to London and I will have WP for nearly 2 years by the time I get home. So I won't be bothered chasing a comp WP.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Agree 100%.

So ASAs were a shortcut to status - big deal. QF seem to be happy to hand out status willy nilly these days. Why not reclaim some points and earn some cash at the same time.

Very strange decision on their part.

Over the years I have noticed Qantas seems to make it easier to get/retain status when things get tough in the airlines industry. This seems very LCC but if it keeps someone flying with them, then I guess it is a good business decision.

 

[RichardMEL]

Over the years I have noticed Qantas seems to make it easier to get/retain status when things get tough in the airlines industry. This seems very LCC but if it keeps someone flying with them, then I guess it is a good business decision.

Seems pretty obvious really. They want to try and lock in as much future revenue as possible when times are tough.. one way to do that is via status. If you don't use it(ie: give them $$$) then it's no real cost to them to do so.

When profits are easy this i snot so much of a concern.

I expect UA to be handing out lots of bonuses and stuff right now after flight 3411 and a 67% drop in 1Q products.

 

[mviy]

Without DSC I may never have reached WP. Next year I might fly enough to retain WP without needing any DSC. I think making it easier to get/retain status whether that be through DSC promos or comp methods like offering WP retain for 100,000 points have good benefits both for QF and the passenger.

Obviously there are those who think you should only be able to earn points from the flying you do and that there should be no comps. I can understand that view, but QF is a business and will do what it thinks is in its best interests.

 

[nutwood]

Personally, I don't have a problem with DSC promos. My feeling is that it allows people who don't fly as much, but are none the less brand loyal, to gain status. In all honesty, to achieve WP, even with DSC, you'd still have to do 700 SC's worth of flying and you'd have to book it all in the DSC window. If that's not loyalty, I don't know what is! There's a world of difference between utilising DSC's and churning credit cards.
I do not believe handing out SC's as part of a credit card promotion is smart business.

 

[katiebell]

I think it short-sighted not to offer a (points-free) comp status for those who have flown a lot over the years: it gives the pax a sense of being valued that is far more than the cost of the status and thereby enhances the airline's image in the eyes of the pax and anyone he/she tells. Very cheap marketting for the airline.

On the other hand dropping a previously loyal frequently flying pax to a lower status for failing to get the points in just one of many years travelling leavces one feeling very indervalued and increases the chances of looking elswhere for flights

 

[BacchusMarsh]

I think it short-sighted not to offer a (points-free) comp status for those who have flown a lot over the years

Pretty sure QF still do. The points offers are in the experimental stage.

 

[RichardMEL]

I think there's room for both.

QF could "reward" long term loyalty with extension of status either comp, or even by offering a challenge (eg: 200 SC in 90 days or something) or via points purchase.

QF's objective is to maintain the revenue flow, so offering status extension via spending of points makes sense, or by offering a challenge (hotels do this) also means revenue coming in. A comp, from their point of view, does not ensure future income (but having said that if status is not used by virtue of spend by either points or tickets) then the cost to QF is minimal.

I would think if a customer meets appropriate criteria then sure, extend via comp but for those that don't I see NO problem with offering a "paid" option or challenge - which is a win/win for the airline and more infrequent flyer.

Near the end of last year my status with a hotel chain was not even half that required to retain I though oh well I'll drop to what I earned... but they offered a challenge.. stay 3 more nights (rather than 20 or whatever I should have) and they'd extend. I grabbed that and stayed the nights. revenue for them and I kept the status. That's smart work by them IMHO and keeps me happy.

If QF had something like that (as this points thing seems to point to) then I think it makes business sense. With my extended hotel status I am more likely to book again with that chain this year to use that benefit... which I may not have done so much if I fell back in status.

Really this kind of stuff shows an evolution (not the other "E" word) in QF's CRM systems and extra ways to a) produce revenue, b) keep loyalty and c) reduce some FF liability all in one.

 

[nutwood]

I think there's room for both.

QF could "reward" long term loyalty with extension of status either comp, or even by offering a challenge (eg: 200 SC in 90 days or something) or via points purchase.

QF's objective is to maintain the revenue flow, so offering status extension via spending of points makes sense, or by offering a challenge (hotels do this) also means revenue coming in. A comp, from their point of view, does not ensure future income (but having said that if status is not used by virtue of spend by either points or tickets) then the cost to QF is minimal.

I would think if a customer meets appropriate criteria then sure, extend via comp but for those that don't I see NO problem with offering a "paid" option or challenge - which is a win/win for the airline and more infrequent flyer.

Near the end of last year my status with a hotel chain was not even half that required to retain I though oh well I'll drop to what I earned... but they offered a challenge.. stay 3 more nights (rather than 20 or whatever I should have) and they'd extend. I grabbed that and stayed the nights. revenue for them and I kept the status. That's smart work by them IMHO and keeps me happy.

If QF had something like that (as this points thing seems to point to) then I think it makes business sense. With my extended hotel status I am more likely to book again with that chain this year to use that benefit... which I may not have done so much if I fell back in status.

Really this kind of stuff shows an evolution (not the other "E" word) in QF's CRM systems and extra ways to a) produce revenue, b) keep loyalty and c) reduce some FF liability all in one.

Evolution is an excellent word in this situation, providing that this is what is actually happening. Loyalty is always a tricky one to judge and evolution in this area has to be a good thing. Imagine the circumstance of someone who flies PER-SYD return every week with Qantas. They buy the cheapest tickets but are still WP, as they should be. Solid, loyal customers. They then relocate to Melbourne but continue the weekly commute to Sydney. Suddenly they are no longer platinum, but they are the same loyal customers they were before. Quite possibly more loyal than someone else whose work pays for a OS trip that gains them status in one hit. The system needs flexibility.

 

[Basalt]

Evolution is an excellent word in this situation, providing that this is what is actually happening. Loyalty is always a tricky one to judge and evolution in this area has to be a good thing. Imagine the circumstance of someone who flies PER-SYD return every week with Qantas. They buy the cheapest tickets but are still WP, as they should be. Solid, loyal customers. They then relocate to Melbourne but continue the weekly commute to Sydney. Suddenly they are no longer platinum, but they are the same loyal customers they were before. Quite possibly more loyal than someone else whose work pays for a OS trip that gains them status in one hit. The system needs flexibility.

Agree, flexibility needs to be there. An airline would prefer a variable frequent flyer to a disgruntled frequent flyer over the long term. And airlines are a long term business (four A330-800s cost a billion, no short term ROI there!). For example, I can see us flying 800-1000 SCs every other year and alternatively 400-500 SCs every other year over the next decade. So over the long term we'll easily average SG, but will need DSC promos some years to keep gold. I suspect the various SC promos actually mainly help genuinely loyal customers, or rather those that want to be but may not be.