What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

[Flashback]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Just means they only have to send you 2 Q bag tags, not 12 :mrgreen:

I see through their scam.... the Q bag tags will most likely already be on the bags when being weighed, therefore adding extra weight, yes... yes... I see...

They won't be sending any to me here, I won't get to see them till April next year most likely when I head home for a few days.

 

[blueflamenco]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

My concern would be the "stuffing of the overhead locker".:shock:

I am continually amazed on my american flights by the perpetual need of our (american) flying colleagues to stuff the equivalent of an african elephant into the overhead lockers. (I also wonder how they are even allowed on board.) :shock:

Even after living and flying in the US for years I still find this funny. When travelling in the US I make a point of carrying on the smallest bag possible because even in First you battle for space up top.

 

[dajop]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

As a gold, I am not sure that I have lost anything lately. The main effects seem to have been above and below.

Just the bag piece thing, as far as I can tell. Can only check 1 bag instead of 2, and 1kg less luggage, but that as all.... for now.

 

[Stephen65]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

I fly J class for work domestically a few times a year and the thing that annoys me most is the new one bag restriction as I often carry two for work reasons. All this will do is encourage me to try and carry one on. Only allowing one bag for paying J class seems extraordinary. I can also think of many occasions when flying J for holidays where you would want a second bag e.g. for sporting equipment. Are you now supposed to pack all that into one huge bag?

I would have assumed that being a paid QC member would grant me some additional baggage privileges. Currently being J class + QC means 40kg allowance and any number of bags. However after these changes QC membership is now worthless to me for additional baggage and my allowance drops to 32kg. It seems odd that silver status gets you an additional bag and another 32kg but being a paid QC member flying J gets you nothing extra.

I have been wondering for a while whether paid QC membership was really worth anything to me because flying J class gives me lounge access + one guest anyway. The loss of additional baggage and priority check-in has convinced me that I should drop it.

 

[Flashback]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

I fly J class for work domestically a few times a year and the thing that annoys me most is the new one bag restriction as I often carry two for work reasons. All this will do is encourage me to try and carry one on. Only allowing one bag for paying J class seems extraordinary. I can also think of many occasions when flying J for holidays where you would want a second bag e.g. for sporting equipment. Are you now supposed to pack all that into one huge bag?

I would have assumed that being a paid QC member would grant me some additional baggage privileges. Currently being J class + QC means 40kg allowance and any number of bags. However after these changes QC membership is now worthless to me for additional baggage and my allowance drops to 32kg. It seems odd that silver status gets you an additional bag and another 32kg but being a paid QC member flying J gets you nothing extra.

I have been wondering for a while whether paid QC membership was really worth anything to me because flying J class gives me lounge access + one guest anyway. The loss of additional baggage and priority check-in has convinced me that I should drop it.

If flying J all the time for work anyway I don't see a need for QP membership.

 

[PineappleSkip]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Back at your original question Crazydave, I'd look at this as the total package you get in return for loyalty, QFF being just a hook to keep you loyal and part of the equation.

I think its just been a slow burn and WP members and others are really realising with the last lot just how burned they are getting. Dajop has pointed out every flicker of the slow burning flame. The greatest annoyance for me was the 'enhanced' redemption rates which hugely devalued the points program.

The latest QF turnoff was a meal in Y SIN-PER. First time I'd flown their Int'l Y for a few years. It reminded me of the infamous 'cardboard box meal' days. If that was the standard their international Y offering is now pretty tawdry.

As an SG the last lot of QFF changes appear not to have materially impacted me. If they had, I'd be howling too. It's become a strange program, SG gets you virtually everything and WP doesn't offer much to me at all other than greater chance of upgrades and slightly better seats.

I actually feel better off because I'm freed of chasing WP status, and able to try a few more airlines than I might have otherwise, and can save money by chasing better fares than Qantas' often overpriced offerings.

For DJ my one wish, like that of 10,000 others, would be their joining *A. And upgrading their Y+ offering to a J. Currently, it doesn't strike me as much removed from, say, BA Club Europe.

Cheers skip

 

[Alanslegal]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Maybe give DJ Golds 'anytime' access to domestic The Lounges, and DJ Silvers to access to The Lounge when flying with DJ or their partners. Maybe this will sway some QF flyers who fly primarily domestic to consider switching over.

For example, the revenue lost for DJ Silver lounge access, is the (discounted) yearly membership fee being $369, but potentially those flyers will choose DJ more frequently there after and increase in flight numbers and revenue for DJ.

With QF removing their Silver's priority check-in there really isn't any good benefit available to PS, and if DJ add on complimentary lounge access, one could infer that DJ's Silver easily beats QF's Silver equivalent.

 

[Danger]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

. . . It will cost 6,000 pts to make such a request come May 2011.

dajop, where did you come across this change? I don't recall reading it in the 'enhancements'.

 

[bertflyer]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Skip, I feel the same:

As an SG the last lot of QFF changes appear not to have materially impacted me. If they had, I'd be howling too. It's become a strange program, SG gets you virtually everything and WP doesn't offer much to me at all other than greater chance of upgrades and slightly better seats.

I actually feel better off because I'm freed of chasing WP status, and able to try a few more airlines than I might have otherwise, and can save money by chasing better fares than Qantas' often overpriced offerings.
Cheers skip

As a newly minted SG, I wont bother chasing WP but will look beyond QF/OW flights once I have reached the required 600 SC to keep SG.
cheers
Bert

 

[dajop]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

dajop, where did you come across this change? I don't recall reading it in the 'enhancements'.

Implied the changes in fees see QF website for details, AFF thread for discussion.

When making such a request you need to pay an award assistance fee. Currently costs 2,500 pts for a requests, which will be returned to account if request is not successful. After 1 Dec that is increasing to 3,500 pts then from 4 May to 6,000 pts (for international, the only flights you can make a request for).

And of course if you want to change (over the phone) and make another such request it will cost another 11,500 pts

 

[N860CR]

Wow. I didn't really pay that much attention to the email, however there are some big changes there which I can't see saving qf all that much money. Just another case of them clearly having no respect for those who bring in the $$$. And they had the nerve to open with the "leading premium airline" bs.

The piece baggage system is going to cost them. A USA style 2 bags for elites would be much better than the single 32kg bag.

Dave, to confirm, does my dj gold allow me to check unlimited pieces up to 32kg? More and more of my $$ will be going to dj.

 

[extracta]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Wow. I didn't really pay that much attention to the email, however there are some big changes there which I can't see saving qf all that much money. Just another case of them clearly having no respect for those who bring in the $$$. And they had the nerve to open with the "leading premium airline" bs.

With the success of the rollout of the AMEX/MC FF credit card (with multiple banks) and Woolworths alliance the people making QANTAS the real money aren't even flying.

Every time a card is swiped it is Ka Ching for QANTAS. Even I use one and I haven't flown QANTAS for 25 years.

I am accruing the points in the hope that they will improve their prices and FF program and I can start using them on a regular basis.

 

[Flashback]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

With the success of the rollout of the AMEX/MC FF credit card (with multiple banks) and Woolworths alliance the people making QANTAS the real money aren't even flying.

Every time a card is swiped it is Ka Ching for QANTAS. Even I use one and I haven't flown QANTAS for 25 years.

I am accruing the points in the hope that they will improve their prices and FF program and I can start using them on a regular basis.

You may be waiting a while :shock:

 

[crazydave98]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Maybe you should ask RB if he would like to join us on a DJ sponsored MEL-SYD-BNE trip with QF Platinums to celebrate the last opty for anytime access to QPs on the last weekend we have the privilege, I would be happy to guest him in .

That is a brilliant suggestion! Not after a job in our marketing department by any chance are you? Will pass the idea on to our creative gremlins.

 

[crazydave98]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Dave, to confirm, does my dj gold allow me to check unlimited pieces up to 32kg? More and more of my $$ will be going to dj.

Confirmed! DJ flight baggage is weight based not piece-based. Note however that with VA the Gold deal is "One free extra piece when flying to the US with V Australia or an additional 10kg when flying to other international destinations".

 

[crazydave98]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Even after living and flying in the US for years I still find this funny. When travelling in the US I make a point of carrying on the smallest bag possible because even in First you battle for space up top.

Without able to tell you why for confidentiality reasons I can guarantee you that this won't be a problem at our new pointy end. When we announce details of new product, I would be happy to go into some detail about what's been done to ensure maximum space overhead if someone reminds me.

Also new delivery B737s will get the Boeing Sky Interior from next year - the overhead bins will be much bigger throughout the cabin (check out the international size roll-aboards in the photo looking into the bin).
Photos - 737 Boeing Sky Interior Unveiled at Flightstory.net - Aviation Blog
Unfortunately not a retrofit but we just happen to be having a major fleet turnover at just the right time (not to mention the A330 introduction).

 

[crazydave98]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

Maybe give DJ Golds 'anytime' access to domestic The Lounges, and DJ Silvers to access to The Lounge when flying with DJ or their partners. Maybe this will sway some QF flyers who fly primarily domestic to consider switching over.

For example, the revenue lost for DJ Silver lounge access, is the (discounted) yearly membership fee being $369, but potentially those flyers will choose DJ more frequently there after and increase in flight numbers and revenue for DJ.

With QF removing their Silver's priority check-in there really isn't any good benefit available to PS, and if DJ add on complimentary lounge access, one could infer that DJ's Silver easily beats QF's Silver equivalent.

Thanks Alanslegal. We're cognisant of the need to exceed Qantas' benefits just to be perceived as equal. My first thoughts are that the difficulty in implementing this suggestions is not so much the cost but the risk of overcrowding the Lounge and needing to extend much sooner than planned. Maybe something we could do for a limited time - anyway will pass it on to the team looking at tier benefits.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[djfuzz]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

crazydave, without wanting to push a rusty barrow, I imagine the very fact of these changes and the gaps they leave (eg some sort of anytime access, however limited) provide a pretty decent point of difference that could be leveraged by QF's competitors.

I can't say that too many of the other 'enhancements' really have that significant an impact, but it's been a long time since I've been into The Lounge, so I couldn't say whether or not they would need to be improved to match whatever 'enhancements' QF is making to theirs (though I imagine the answer would be 'not much'). Keeping coffee available beyond 11am and on weekends would be nice though - not everyone feels like drinking booze every afternoon.

I would also think some sort of status match or challenge (eg AA's Platinum Challenge) targeted at QFF elites thinking of making a change might push them in that direction. And some sort of priority for seat selection?

Finally, as others have said, the alliance / partner benefits are a massive part of the appeal of QFF, and I imagine VA/DJ may need to do a bit of work to match this.

I'm not saying I would necessarily be one of these potential switchers, but challenging QFF on these kinds of grounds while they're vulnerable would definitely shake me out of any blind loyalty and make it worthwhile to re-examine the value of loyalty to one over the other.

 

[markis10]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

. Keeping coffee available beyond 11am and on weekends would be nice though - not everyone feels like drinking booze every afternoon.

I have been able to get a real coffee at the lounge in the afternoon, its a small thing but a very good point!

 

[codash1099]

re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?

As a first time WP (hoping to renew next year) I'm as p*ssed off as the others here and for much the same reasons. Devaluing the benefits of status is hitting at the most loyal customers and that is BAD PRACTICE in any business management text.

That said, however, I see little or no chance that I would switch to any other airline that does not provide:

a) at least equivalent benefits in the domestic arena

and

b) full membership of a decent world wide alliance, and one which has flights out of PER.