Using points to retain Platinum ...

[RichardMEL]

Disagree.

Follow this thread from the start it seems that QF is basically saying "We will NOT comp you unless you pay with the points" - they've reached out which suggests you've been flagged. I would find it unusual if one did not pay up to get a comp (though I suppose it could be a "we'll see if they bite" type offer) but I really think the era of the comp is going away.
And the 3 year average thing has never been documented as a given at any rate.

I think it's pay up or stay Gold.


my 2 cents.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Can always ask.. They can only say no.. And then I will most likely pony up the points

 

[Danger]

What’s your 3 year average like (excluding DSC and loyalty bonuses)? Is that over 1200 SC? If so, perhaps ring them up and see if you can get a comp without needing to part with any points. If they won’t budge then agree to spend the points.

Has there been an indication that DSCs and loyalty bonuses do not figure into the three year average? I was under the impression that a status credit is a status credit, at least in this regard.

 

[RichardMEL]

Has there been an indication that DSCs and loyalty bonuses do not figure into the three year average? I was under the impression that a status credit is a status credit, at least in this regard.

Given that the "3 year rule" is not and never has been a hard and fast rule that's been published outside of QF it's obviously going to be pretty hard to know.. however I would say yes they would qualify.. but with this caveat... Clearly over the last year or so QF has gotten a bit (a little bit) smarter about this, and nailed down a few things (for example, Loyalty Bonus SC's do not count to P1 or the P1 level bonuses) so it would not surprise me if things did change in this regard, but given that a) the comp process is more or less internal to QF and the whole "3 year average rule" has only been via anecdotal evidence and comments from various agents it's hard to confirm anything and b) This whole threat suggests QF is trying to, or going to, move away from the whole comp system - probably sooner rather than later.

I certainly would not count on anything being a given at this point in time myself.. but we all hope for the best

 

[nutwood]

I suppose the question is what does WP actually cost them? A Gold member has lounge access and even though that doesn't cover business lounges, the glass of wine you drink in either lounge costs the same. Better seats? Someone has to sit there! There's no real cost. Compare that against the cost of annoying a loyal customer of many years and you can see why the "three year rule" makes good business sense.

 

[RichardMEL]

I suppose the question is what does WP actually cost them? A Gold member has lounge access and even though that doesn't cover business lounges, the glass of wine you drink in either lounge costs the same. Better seats? Someone has to sit there! There's no real cost. Compare that against the cost of annoying a loyal customer of many years and you can see why the "three year rule" makes good business sense.

How long is a piece of string?

If one only flies around domestic then the "cost" is relatively small.. however what if you go fly around Asia and transit HKG every other month and use the Pier F which CX will charge QF for if one enters with their QF WP/OWE status? I have no idea what the going rate for lounge access is, but I would assume the "cost" for accessing F class lounges would be X more than for J.

However not everyone does that also

There is still going to be a cost though associated with it which will probably be more than that for your Gold status.

I daresay it may also relate to your own "value" to QF as a customer - how much yield thet extract from each member as to how much it's worth to them to either comp/renew status or not. eg: If I buy mostly J fares but fell away for a bit there then it's probably worthwhile for them to retain the status as either I pick back up again and their yield is good, or I stay not doiing as much and they've lost little in the process... but if I'm not that high value for some reason or other (maybe through DSC promos or taking advantage of just a few sale fares or whatever) then maybe not.

just my opinion of course.. hardly gospel

 

[oz_mark]

Has there been an indication that DSCs and loyalty bonuses do not figure into the three year average? I was under the impression that a status credit is a status credit, at least in this regard.

There has been some indication from a few that there may be some sort of revenue measure in the mix....

 

[froggerADL]

Disagree.

Follow this thread from the start it seems that QF is basically saying "We will NOT comp you unless you pay with the points" - they've reached out which suggests you've been flagged. I would find it unusual if one did not pay up to get a comp (though I suppose it could be a "we'll see if they bite" type offer) but I really think the era of the comp is going away.
And the 3 year average thing has never been documented as a given at any rate.

I had a more positive experience which I wrote about in post #46 of this thread.

 

[TonyHancock]

As a reference point I was comped at the end of July. My assumption was it was the 3600 over 3 year scenario.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Compare that against the cost of annoying a loyal customer of many years and you can see why the "three year rule" makes good business sense

It seems to me to be generally only a sense of entitlement that people think they should be comped because they’ve flown in the past. Ok, fine if it happens and QF can do it what it likes. But if someone hasn’t flown enough to retain then they’re not as loyal as they think they are. So that person might jump ship to VA but there’s plenty who would/could do the opposite and come to QF.

At least QF has soft landings. At CX and many other airlines you can go from hero to zero at the end of your membership year.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Ok.. I am actually short 110 SCs not 70. Spoke to QF today and they can't say what will happen if I don't take the points offer (which apparently is only being offered to travelers that have been WP for a long time.. or so they say)... Guess I'll wait and see what happens after 30 September...
At this stage I am thinking not to use the 120,000 points and see what happens.. I always have WP with VA and Mr Up is WP with QF.. might have to start travelling with him

 

[docjames]

I have a dilemma related to this topic. My membership year ends on 30 June. I am currently on 950 SCs and I have a SYD-JNB flight on 24 June in J which will net me 160SC. I can also claim another 50SCs through status bonus, so that would take me to 1160SCs. Last year I had 1270 SCs and the year before over 2000.

What are the chances now of being comped my WP renewal? I could do a status run but to get the last 40 but am running out of time to do so. Also, the cost of this would be far less than 100,000 points, which seems to be the renewal price.

I didn't think I would end up in this position but had to pull out of a work trip to China as I injured my knee and required surgery.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

What about just paying to upgrade the flight home and earning the 70sc?

 

[RichardMEL]

Ok.. I am actually short 110 SCs not 70. Spoke to QF today and they can't say what will happen if I don't take the points offer (which apparently is only being offered to travelers that have been WP for a long time.. or so they say)... Guess I'll wait and see what happens after 30 September...
At this stage I am thinking not to use the 120,000 points and see what happens.. I always have WP with VA and Mr Up is WP with QF.. might have to start travelling with him

this really frustrates me....

not you or your post UpInTheAir.. but this is so typical QF.... "They don't know what will happen"

and I suppose t also underscores FroggerADL's experience too.

It almost seems like there's 2 facets at play here (based on both the above) - they MAY still comp or may not rather than "pay the points and get it"

So it seems, if the agent is to be believed, you can pay and be sure, or take your chances.

Personally I do not like what this represents. it winds up being inconsistent (which QF is very consistent at being!) and may or may not have to do with 3 year averages, or if you have a 6 in your FF# or you were born in July. Good Grief!

And the worst thing is that it makes the giving of advice to try and help other pax to be extra difficult. Maybe.. Maybe not.

Take your chances....

I reckon pay up and be sure if that's what you really want and you have plans/bookings for travel next membership year to make it worthwhile and not worry if it's going to maybe be given or not. Specially if the 120k points is not a huge drain on a big balance.

my 2 annoyed cents.

 

[Assassin]

What about just paying to upgrade the flight home and earning the 70sc?

I was already in paid J on a 3 class 747, so no paid upgrade possible. I was comped WP in the end, but never received a call offering to retain WP for a points amount.

I would assume if you are offered to retain WP for 120,000 (or some other points amount), then you would not be comped if you decline...

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Yep.. been bumped to LTG.. 100 status credits short of retaining platinum.

 

[dairyfloss]

Yep.. been bumped to LTG.. 100 status credits short of retaining platinum.

Yuck. Did you end up finding out about whether you were actually over the 3 year average of 1200?

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Yuck. Did you end up finding out about whether you were actually over the 3 year average of 1200?

No I don't have the records but I have easily been WP for about 10 years so I don't think I would miss out on the average. Speaking to another QF rep (who called me a few days before it expired) she said that it was because of my great loyalty that they offered me the points deal.

Flying QF next week domestically.. will see if I notice the difference being gold rather than WP.. have asked for an upgrade so will see if status has any major influence (can't remember the last time I missed out).. Then I am around the world the following week in QF/OW J and to the US QF J the following month. Shouldn't take long to get back.

And if the WP does influence upgrades I always have VA for domestic travel

 

[dairyfloss]

No I don't have the records but I have easily been WP for about 10 years so I don't think I would miss out on the average.

I can't recall where on AFF I saw it, but there is/was a way to look at your entire QFF history on the website, by manipulating the month and year in the URL of the points activity pages. If you checked the month in 2015, 2016 & 2017 that your membership ends (September, I presume), you should be able to find the status credits that expired.

 

[michaele]

So I called Qantas and the lady I spoke to told me that she "expects that the WP renewal will just go through, but it won't be confirmed until the 3rd or 4th of July"... I asked her what was her basis for saying this and she said "based on the level of flying you have done and that you have maintained platinum for the last 7 years without assistance [which I didn't know]".

I asked her if her expectations were ever wrong and she said, basically no.

I think a status run will kill me, so I am going to run the gauntlet and see what happens....

Interesting - I am always intrigued with what amount of data is available for front line staff, whether at the call centre or in the cabin.

By without assistance, they mean without a comp? What was your SC earns roughly those years? Interesting they know its been 7 years and that comes into it.

 

[Pleb Status]

Yep.. been bumped to LTG.. 100 status credits short of retaining platinum.

A good (or bad) data point for others.

It does make me feel a bit better about my own drop to LTG... If QF are not comping 100 SC short of WP there was no way they were going comp me at 1085 SC short.