"... we'll shortly announce a major investment to improve our Frequent Flyer program"

[TheRealTMA]

Friends are very annoyed that they booked trip to Madrid and back from LHR in F and J, fare paying, only to now find out that there’s no chauffeur drive if booked through QF, only via EK. Was a penny pinching move by QF some years ago now especially since booking through QF is generally more expensive than through EK.

 

[CaptJCool]

I heard the Tube train was no substitute for the car but it’s dirt cheap and all for the cost of an Oyster (card)

 

[JohnK]

'Existing classic rewards allocation wont be affected' which in many cases I suspect is zero. What is the betting that on many flights the only availability will be Classic+?

I think it's starting to look that way.

Quite a few people on here echoing my experience of less availability of classic rewards in any cabin in recent years.

 

[Mattg]

Over the past couple of years, Qantas has been releasing "extra" Classic Reward seats as temporary goodwill type things, which sounds good in a press release/investor presentation.

E.g. they announced in October 2022:

In August, Qantas extended its commitment of up to 50 per cent more Classic Reward seat availability until 30 June 2023, and saw Frequent Flyers use more than 1.2 billion Qantas Points to book flights in just 48 hours.

What's the bet that this "50% more Classic Reward seats" will stop, so in reality the number of Classic Reward seats available next year will actually be less than what was available last year - even if the "regular" availability technically hasn't reduced.

 

[levelnine]

What's the bet that this "50% more Classic Reward seats" will stop, so in reality the number of Classic Reward seats available next year will actually be less than what was available last year - even if the "regular" availability technically hasn't reduced.

Completely agree. And these extra goodwill seats were pretty much the only way to get award seats on most premium long-haul routes in J/F (ie Australia to LHR/FCO/CDG/JFK/DFW/SFO/LAX/SCL/JNB) except for the odd trickle of a seat or two on random days and WP/P1 releases.

That means, going forward, there will be no way to get seats on these routes unless you're willing to pay the Classic+ price.

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

you have to wonder if part of going in this direction is almost to restrict classic premium rewards to WP/P1 which effective acts as a carrot (or ankle shackle really) for people to keep crediting with QF. Having said that, selfishly as a WP, if release of awards at CR rates is easier I would personally benefit.

I'm also interested if there will be any changes in benefits. if you look in the Asia Pacific region, NZ/CX/UA/AA all have upgrade vouchers/mechanisms for high tier members.... hint hint.

 

[devlin]

No @Big John Mr Flyfrequently got it yesterday as SG

Another Gold here, I got the survey.

 

[Lynda2475]

WP and I got the survey

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

I think that anyone with enough points to afford a Classic+ flight would almost certainly be a PC/PC+ member.

Not necessarily. Hard to get pc/pc+ if not Australian.

 

[Lynda2475]

Not necessarily. Hard to get pc/pc+ if not Australian.

True but Id guess 98% or more of QFFs are Australian based.

 

[cambriamarsh]

True but Id guess 98% or more of QFFs are Australian based.

You might be surprised. There are quite few NZ based ones on here, as well as a few UK and elsewhere based members.

 

[levelnine]

Not necessarily. Hard to get pc/pc+ if not Australian.

Hard to earn lots of Qantas points purely through flights (ie not using PC/PCP methods).

Even if you are flying return SYD-LHR in First as a Platinum One, you're only earning 74K QFF points.

You're going to need to fly that route over 11 times to be able to afford a single, one-way Classic+ ticket SYD-LHR in Business (not even First)*.

*Assuming a generous 1.5c/pt redemption rate — my guess is it'll be lower for premium cabins — and a $13K revenue ticket (ie $15K - ~$2K in taxes).

 

[Mr H]

Hard to earn lots of Qantas points purely through flights (ie not using PC/PCP methods).

…

You're going to need to fly that route over 11 times to be able to afford a single, one-way Classic+ ticket SYD-LHR in Business (not even First)*.

Correct. My point was that Rewards + flights are going to be bloody expensive. Even if I had amassed points from 11 first class returns on the kangaroo route, I doubt I’d feel inclined to blow the entire stash on a single flight.

 

[levelnine]

Correct. My point was that Rewards + flights are going to be bloody expensive. Even if I had amassed points from 11 first class returns on the kangaroo route, I doubt I’d feel inclined to blow the entire stash on a single flight.

Another way of putting the hilarity of Classic+ for non-credit card churners.

To earn enough points from only flying to redeem a single return SYD-LHR business class ticket on Classic+, you'll need to have flown return SYD-LHR in First 22 times as a P1.

One free* business class flight for every $440,000 you spend with Qantas.

*still have to pay classic reward taxes/fees.

 

[FrustratedQP]

I currently have over 2 million points. I always pay for J domestic Qantas flights, even if they are more expensive to accumulate points and SC’s to then use points for premium international flights, it is a symbiotic relationship, they get get good money for quite a few domestic J flights and I get value back in the one or two international flights that I take. I am WP. If CR’s dry up and/or the ability to request and often get them released is taken away, I will spend what points I have and then fly either BFOTD or look to spend my money with a better loyalty program. I am sure I won’t be the only one. I believe that this could be a disaster for Qantas if the rumours are true.

 

[Lynda2475]

You might be surprised. There are quite few NZ based ones on here, as well as a few UK and elsewhere based members.

Never said they weren't international members but they are NOT a significant percentage; and not QFF's core demographic.

If based outside Australia (more than just temporarily) you would be better served by making another program your main one, so that you can earn points by ore than just flying.

As others have said the points earnt by actually flying are typically far outweighed by other earning methods for most.

Personally I will continue to only redeem points on classic rewards, like others if these disappear entirely then I will switch my points earning activities.

If other people want to use points + pay and receive poor value they can.

 

[VPS]

I did they survey and told them they need to get staff to read AFF to see about the screw ups they keep making

 

[Mr H]

I did they survey and told them they need to get staff to read AFF to see about the screw ups they keep making

They would also find people bragging about finding loopholes plus a fair few turkeys suggesting Christmas.

 

[drron]

As far as I am concerned the best change that they could make would be the ability to transfer to a hotel program so that we could get something we wanted at a more reasonable cost.

 

[Lynda2475]

There is already the ability to redeem points for hotel stays and tours.

Im not convinced that hotel programs offer better value than classic rewards.