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

[oz_mark]

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

I have something - the removal of anytime access has thrown the FT AGM organisation into a bit of a spin :shock::!:. Maybe we will just end up daytripping to BNE.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

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

Call this market research if you will, but I'd like to understand what changes that Qantas has made to QFF recently are getting up the noses of members? Obviously Platinums losing "anytime" lounge access is one and Silvers losing priority check-in at domestic is another. Have Golds lost anything recently? Any other recent devaluations?
cheers
CrazyDave98

How to create the perfect FF Program, by trippin_the_rift.

1) Get a copy of QF FFP from 2004.

2) Copy everything, change wording and implement to existing airline that you work for.

3) Profit.

 

[serfty]

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

How to create the perfect FF Program, by trippin_the_rift.

1) Get a copy of QF FFP from 2004.

...

1994 would be better!

 

[markis10]

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

1994 would be better!

Why, free club access only came in 1998 for elites from memory, at least for the second top level elites (SG)

 

[dajop]

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

1994 would be better!

No 1994 is bad. That's pre OW.

 

[Mal]

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

It isn't just this change which is annoying. The degrading of the QFF scheme has been happening in small chunks over many years.

Yes, new features get added which enhance some aspects of the experience (New SYD/MEL F lounges, Any-Seat-Rewards, Priority Security Queues, Business Domestic Lounges, Welcome onboard planes etc), but lots of features get added to degrade aspects of the program.

It does make you wonder what is planned next...

 

[straitman]

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

It does make you wonder what is planned next...

I have been quiet about this thus far but quite frankly I am extremely pxx_ed off with QF at the moment.

I really am not convinced that planned is the right word for this. That is giving them too much credit IMHO :!: :evil:

 

[nonscenic]

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

For me the changes will probably tip the balance towards sharing my flights with other airlines, particularly that as an APS employee, I no longer get points for official travel, and that private travel overseas is more likely to be with a Star Alliance airline that avoids Heathrow!
I had acquired SG in Oct 2007 through mainly flying K or Y class and clocking up the SC. This reverted to silver in Oct 2009 through my employer relying more on video conferencing. I was offered Qantas Club Silver for three months, then joined the corporate access to Qantas Club. I am unlikely to fly enough to reach Gold again so the main benefits of retaining silver were for the benefits of extra baggage allowance, preferred seating and priority check in. Now that these benefits are being removed, even for paid club memberships, there seems little benefit in continuing to pay for lounge access. Internet access used to be one benefit of lounge access but in recent times the aging desktops are often inoperative. It is getting to the point that the $200+ annual fee is of poor value for money for access to a lounge that is often busier and noisier than the general airport waiting areas. These "enhancements" for what must be a significant segment of the Qantas market (those at the silver level) will only work against Qantas as it discourages loyalty, especially where employers are promoting that employees use the "Best Fare of the Day".

 

[serfty]

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

In 1994 Qantas had three levels of status.

Blue (20 flights*)
Silver (50)
Gold (80)

Gold gave anytime access to Qantas Lounges.

I joined the QP in October 1994, renewed in '95, became Gold in March '96 and have not paid directly for it since.

You could also earn based on distance travelled.

37½K points was enough for Business class domestic "Round" trip of up to 11,000 Km.

MEL SYD earned 707 QFF points.

 

[samh004]

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

It does make you wonder what is planned next...

I think that’s the right term, they’ll have a roadmap of where they see the program going and will have started down the path years ago. Implementing these changes overnight years ago would have been catastrophic, so they’re going at it slowly, but I doubt this was based on a relatively recent idea.

Wish we could see the roadmap, what’s at the end.

 

[markis10]

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

I think that’s the right term, they’ll have a roadmap of where they see the program going and will have started down the path years ago. Implementing these changes overnight years ago would have been catastrophic, so they’re going at it slowly, but I doubt this was based on a relatively recent idea.

Wish we could see the roadmap, what’s at the end.

Yep, a 10 year plan that started in late 2001

 

[JeniSkunk]

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

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).

Dave, with the larger overhead bins in the new aircraft, will DJ be looking at increasing the dimensions for luggage that can be bought on board as carry-on to bring it up to the sizing of the vast majority of carry-ons which are made for international travel?

Jenifur Charne

 

[samh004]

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

Dave, with the larger overhead bins in the new aircraft, will DJ be looking at increasing the dimensions for luggage that can be bought on board as carry-on to bring it up to the sizing of the vast majority of carry-ons which are made for international travel?

Jenifur Charne

I’d guess no, because it would depend which a/c you got on the day. If every a/c had the new larger space, it would be easy, but I don’t think all a/c in the fleet will. So if you brought a bigger bag on an older a/c it wouldn’t fit.

 

[JeniSkunk]

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

I’d guess no, because it would depend which a/c you got on the day. If every a/c had the new larger space, it would be easy, but I don’t think all a/c in the fleet will. So if you brought a bigger bag on an older a/c it wouldn’t fit.

I was thinking that when I made my post, Sam, but I also figured that it wouldn't hurt to ask anyway.

Jenifur Charne

 

[samh004]

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

I was thinking that when I made my post, Sam, but I also figured that it wouldn't hurt to ask anyway.

Jenifur Charne

True. I look forward to the answer, I was just saying… considering they don’t even keep the e-jets on certain routes, it seems like a lottery as to what a/c you’d get and if your bags would fit

 

[Aenveigh]

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

I'm surprised in this thread and others related to the recent changes that nothing much has been said about LTS or LTG.
Certainly for me the appeal of LTS (LTG is out of reach for now) was one of the reasons I primarily fly QF where possible - gaining an enduring benefit even should I stop flying regularly. I can't imagine LTS or LTG cost a whole lot - how many people end up on these tiers, but continue to fly all the time? - yet the appeal is high as it's something you can have 'in permanence' as opposed to DJ which is definitely a "immediate past" spend FF system only. However, the recent changes have highlighted how perhaps LTS/LTG is not as secure as you might think, and this along with my loosely enforced BFOD policy, and employer's stricter BFOD policy means I'd be far more receptive to flying DJ. Or switch if they institute LTS/LTG at DJ, as their frequency now is pretty similar to QF on most routes I fly so there wouldn't be any convenience sacrifice (and generally a budgetary gain, or at least no difference).

 

[Flashback]

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

True. I look forward to the answer, I was just saying… considering they don’t even keep the e-jets on certain routes, it seems like a lottery as to what a/c you’d get and if your bags would fit

Also if an aircraft goes U/S and a replacement is needed....... I can foresee problems there.

 

[samh004]

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

I'm surprised in this thread and others related to the recent changes that nothing much has been said about LTS or LTG.

There has been some talk, but there’s not many here with even LTS. Basically, as far as LTS goes for QF, a lot has been lost, but provided QF doesn’t go belly up or leave OW, you still have all the OWR benefits of LTS.

 

[JeniSkunk]

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

BFOD

Minor OT querry:
What does BFOD stand for. I cannot find it in the abbreviations and acronyms thread.
And since it's not in the abbreviations and acronyms thread, should it be added?

Jenifur Charne

 

[Mal]

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

Minor OT querry:
What does BFOD stand for. I cannot find it in the abbreviations and acronyms thread.
And since it's not in the abbreviations and acronyms thread, should it be added?

BFOD - Best Fare of the Day. (Used by some corporations who dictate that their staff need to travel on the cheapest fare)