I've written this elsewhere but I feel perhaps my (not important to anyone at all
) opinion is worth another go...
Because QF (and VA) operate on a rolling anniversary this is where the inequalities creep in when chosing a date based threshold for extensions - as discussed to death on here with everyone's examples.
The programs that have a cut year end for all members are much fairer in this respect because everyone gets the same in terms of an extension.
I don't know if one is "better" than the other (I'm sure folks like trippin_the_rift has some interesting thoughts on that) but I do think that is creates a "level" playing field.
I also very much suspect that as this drags on later (QF just admitting there won't be much improvement in flying until at least July now and I would not be surprised to see that push out more - specially for domestic) that there will be more to happen in this space for punters.
I suspect doing things like reducing thresholds (a la IHG and UA and some others) to achieve/advance status) are probably not on the radar... and that is probably more technical to implement for them rather than an idea that they may want to do.
I do think there's still room here for QF to try and address the inequity for some members - should they choose. VA's current situation does not help the punters unless it does seem that the new airline will be seen as a real threat going forward. Time will tell.
Finally.. every person's situation is different.. their travel patterns - disrupted heavily for goodness knows how long - it's just so difficult. Consider the people who travel for work that may find this takes either a relatively short time to rebound, or perhaps years.. or leisure folks who may not have the disposable cash coming out of this horrendous situation to do their usual trips to family, Bali, USA or whatever... and yes, the leisure folks who hold high status are affected potentially as much as those on the company dime.
At the end of the day.. main thing is to get through this and to have that luxury to be getting out there again whenever that is when things will be so very different in so many ways. I mean heck lounges, for example, may be cut right back - certainly initially - that perhaps having access may not be as "useful" as once seen (I don't just mean f&b but what about reduced capacity for social distancing, lack of seats with power to work at if every other one is blocked off etc)...
.. and it mnay well be that those who have had the status extended even over those who had already qualified etc may not even be getting out there to take advantage of it anyway.
EVERY person's mileage does and will vary even more.
I want all of us.. the "lucky" extended ones, and the "unlucky" ones alike to all get through this either way and get on wih having lives with loved ones, family etc and hopefully not touched terribly by the current situation.
