Why stay loyal to Qantas...

[paulsmithers]

Once upon a time...when I was working, I actually got to the dizzy heights of Platinum for a couple of years and Gold for many years.

Now that I am retired and sunk to lowly Bronze, I find that Qantas status is impossible to attain without "buying" it.

I have been intensely loyal to Qantas for many years and still up to now have used them for all flights.
This Qantas Frequent Flyer year for example included two overseas trips. The first Brisbane to Greece return which earned 140 status credits and the second Brisbane to Sydney to Dallas return for another 150 status credits. All in all 10 short of Silver.

Qantas flights are not the cheapest, and with the Frequent Flyer Program obviously not catering for "ordinary" people, I am going to find it hard in the future to justify flying with Qantas.

Just my thoughts....

Paul.

 

[opusman]

Chasing status is fairly pointless if you don't actually fly very much. You'd be better off going for BFOD and maybe looking around for business class deals on cheaper airlines. Unfortunately Qantas do not consider a couple of economy overseas flights a year a sign of loyalty.

 

[snabbu]

Welcome to AFF paulsmithers.

If that is your current regular travel patterns I suggest you check out the USDM and Lifemiles threads. Flying up front for those 2 overseas trips a year for around the same cost as QF Y fares is quite possible.

 

[Limewood]

I'm in same boat, was loyal to Qantas, now semi retired and self funded can go with airline, these days still rack up few hundred thou QFF points but mainly buy US miles and go long haul in J anyway so still get the perks, not concerned about status. Currently SG and have couple years of Q club left too, don't fly domestic much though. Our last few int. flights have been on CX & EK with another 6 booked with two of those on QF.

Must say I've never known any business to make constant changes in a such a short time, mostly to the detriment of its regular flyers.

 

[Quickstatus]

While there are tangible benefits to be gained in the Qantas FF program, it does require a bit of "gaming" and in many cases "buying" as you put it.

Chasing Status will be very difficult if only travellling in Y unless you are a road warrior

It comes down to a cost benefit analysis of you interaction with the airline and its FF program.

My humble advice:
If your flying habits do not get you status without "buying"', then you should go best fare of trip or best fare of day. BFOD. Many airports are developing better facilities. In the US for example, I prefer the restaurants in the airports rather than the airport lounges (except the QF one at TBIT).

In LAX at least (and prob also other places), the best way to get a better than lounge experience is to book a airport hotel room even if you dont stay overnight. You get a private room, better than lounge shower, better than lounge dining, free transfers to and from airport. Best thing to do is to check in first then go to airport hotel room. There are many surrounding LAX and are just minutes away. At TBIT there are masses of people sitting on the floor waiting hours for their checkin to open - usually the airlines going to North Asia. At least Qantas do not have this problem. The cost of airport hotel will be more than covered by BFOD.

 

[Limewood]

There are lounge passes one can buy in USA too.

 

[Pleb Status]

Once upon a time...when I was working, I actually got to the dizzy heights of Platinum for a couple of years and Gold for many years.

Now that I am retired and sunk to lowly Bronze, I find that Qantas status is impossible to attain without "buying" it.

I have been intensely loyal to Qantas for many years and still up to now have used them for all flights.
This Qantas Frequent Flyer year for example included two overseas trips. The first Brisbane to Greece return which earned 140 status credits and the second Brisbane to Sydney to Dallas return for another 150 status credits. All in all 10 short of Silver.

Qantas flights are not the cheapest, and with the Frequent Flyer Program obviously not catering for "ordinary" people, I am going to find it hard in the future to justify flying with Qantas.

Just my thoughts....

Paul.

Elite status is not for 'ordinary' people and elite status should be limited exclusively to those who 'buy' it. All airline FF schemes work this way (except when QF gives it away with DSC). The whole idea is to 'reward' your best customers, those who fly in paid J/F many times a year, not your casual Y traveller.

If you do not fly regularly, BFOD is the only thing that should be considered when looking at who to fly with, particularly in J.

 

[Quickstatus]

+1 for lounge passes.

however the maths are better for airport hotel if travelling party is >1.

 

[juddles]

...... I actually got to the dizzy heights of Platinum for a couple of years and Gold for many years.

,................Qantas status is impossible to attain without "buying" it........ All in all 10 short of Silver........Frequent Flyer Program obviously not catering for "ordinary" people,................. hard in the future to justify flying with Qantas......

Paul, I understand the disappointment when you fail to reach a status, but you need to be fair too.
So just ¨my thoughts¨:

1.- I don´t know when it started, but the ability to gain Life Time Silver and Life Time Gold is I feel a very nice aspect of the program, which is designed perfectly for people like yourself that fly lots during working periods but then fly less.

2.- Status should always require being bought! Whether that is during previous great travel or current reasonable amounts, it should not be free, or those that fly/spend more would be unfairly subsidising everyone else.

3.- falling just short of Silver was unfortunate, but the points level has to be set somewhere. And the QF system of reducing the requalifying amount (from 300 down to 250 in the case of Silver) is a nice touch!

4.- The Qantas FF program most certainly caters for ¨ordinary people¨! You can earn points so many ways now. You can earn points buying a loaf of bread - how much more ¨ordinary people¨-friendly can it be made??

5.- If you find it hard to justify flying Qantas in the future, there are many other airlines out there. I am just uncertain which will be better for you.


As others have said, you are probably best off with your flying pattern to join Lifemiles or someone and buy points to get good ticket value.

No airline is perfect every single flight for every single passenger, but the best reward I get for my loyalty to Qantas is that they still exist. I love flying with them.

 

[pauly7]

Elite status is not for 'ordinary' people and elite status should be limited exclusively to those who 'buy' it. All airline FF schemes work this way (except when QF gives it away with DSC). The whole idea is to 'reward' your best customers, those who fly in paid J/F many times a year, not your casual Y traveller.

Agreed, when VA were gifting anyone's dog with status it diluted the worth, same as the days of QF DSC as you mention. If you know the right people at VA it is still pretty easy to snag Gold btw

Status is to reward current frequent consumers. Not to thank previous customers who for whatever reason do not come to you as often. I think it is completely appropriate.

As I progress in my career I'm lucky enough to be flown in premium cabins everywhere and regardless of status you still get the trimmings. It becomes less important I guess!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas flights are not the cheapest, and with the Frequent Flyer Program obviously not catering for "ordinary" people, I am going to find it hard in the future to justify flying with Qantas.

Just my thoughts....

Paul.

Qantas has a fantastic reputation for safety, and for many that is reason enough to stay with them.

However, there are plenty of other options, many substantially cheaper and offering a better on-board product and/or a more realistic, fair, and equitable frequent flyer program.

In many cases, for just $500 more than the Qantas economy fare to Europe you could be flying a mixed class fare (economy to Singapore and business from there), and you'll not only have full flat beds and lounge access from/to SIN, but also the status credits to get you silver for next time you fly Qantas.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Status is to reward current frequent consumers. Not to thank previous customers who for whatever reason do not come to you as often. I think it is completely appropriate.

except for lifetime status

 

[RichardMEL]

+1 with the general gist of responses here. It's called a "Frequent Flyer" elite level for a reason... a few trips a year well... unless it's paid F to LHR or something why should one be rewarded with status and the perks of that?

As mentioned above the ability to earn lifetime status is a nice way to acknowledge long periods of loyalty.. having just got to LTG myself (amazingly!) it's really nice to think (until the T&C change of course!) that if I stop flying tomorrow on a regular basis, that should I drop to the few flights a year that I can have that nice little bonus that Gold gives, but that has been gained over 20 years (in my case) of being a QfF member.

And frankly if your road warrior types felt that pax who fly a few times a year could get the same sort of perks that would absolutely devalue the point for those. Of course one won't mention the specialty case of CL members at this point

So, enjoy retirement and I think that status is probably the best sort there is for your lifestyle and enjoy it... and fly on price/schedule for what suits you I reckon

 

[pauly7]

except for lifetime status

Of course
...but personally I don't 100% agree with that scheme, but I know people here love it and will keep them flying QF as their travel declines.

 

[Nizar]

Qantas flights are not the cheapest

Hard to disagree lol the other day I'm looking for 2x one way J fares MEL-CDG.

UL (with the first leg on QF metal on a codeshare) was ~$5,800 all up for two pax.
QR was ~$9,500 all up for two pax.
EY was ~$10,500 all up for two pax.
SQ was ~$11,000 all up for two pax.
QF was ~$14,000 all up for two pax.

Yeh ok UL may not offer lie flat beds but SQ certainly do (obviously some of their MEL-SIN are 773s and 333s but if buying a revenue fare you can pick and choose the 77W on this sector) and QR does have lie flat beds. EY does too. And neither of SQ/EY/QR beds are reported to have slopes lol.

So why should I bother with QF ?
Who do they think they are lol ?

 

[RichardMEL]

More that SQ/QR/QF and so on are far more direct routings. UL is out of the way and longer connections/stops, so this is why they offer far cheaper pricing to stimulate demand. Same with Royal Brunei, which offers 2 stop service to LHR.. oh and they're smaller and perhaps not the best product.

I am not defending the pricing model per se, but your QF's/QR's/SQ's/EK's of this world obviously command the price premium for all of the factors, and QF obviously have the local market "advantage"

And if people didn't pay these prices on these airlines then the market would dictacte that the prices all fall till people do pay them...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeh ok UL may not offer lie flat beds...

actually they do! (both versions of their long-haul aircraft - the forward facing 2-2-2 and the reverse herringbone)

 

[Nizar]

More than SQ/QR/QF and so on are far more direct routings.

What do you mean by "far more direct routings" ?

QR: 10517 miles (via DOH)
QF: 10490 miles (via DXB)
SQ: 10410 miles (via SIN)
EY: 10502 miles (via AUH)

Looking at the above information on number of miles required, perhaps I am missing your point on your "far more direct" routings ?

With UL your point is taken, and it is a fair one, but I don't really understand what you meant about routings, to me, all SQ/QF/QR/EY seem to have similarly direct routings. SQ and EY are actually shorter if you wanna look at the details lol

 

[RichardMEL]

What do you mean by "far more direct routings" ?

QR: 10517 miles (via DOH)
QF: 10490 miles (via DXB)
SQ: 10410 miles (via SIN)
EY: 10502 miles (via AUH)

Looking at the above information on number of miles required, perhaps I am missing your point on your "far more direct" routings ?

With UL your point is taken, and it is a fair one, but I don't really understand what you meant about routings, to me, all SQ/QF/QR/EY seem to have similarly direct routings. SQ and EY are actually shorter if you wanna look at the details lol

Sorry if I was not clear, but that was my point. *compared to UL* you're getting about the same transit time to europe, give or take a little bit, on your QF/SQ/EY/EK etc. you go on UL which what is QF to SIN I think, then UL to CMB/europe? that's a much longer way. Business types who are prepared to pay for full J, want to get there in your ~24 hours (or so) not "stopping all stations" whereas AFF folks might enjoy a more interesting, or more fruitful (for miles/SC/experiences) routing

As example I just did a random lookup MEL-CDG for March. The cheapest option is VN - with a 39h transit time. QR is $1k more but gets you there in 23h...... what are most people going to pick?

(ironically AI are even more expensive, yet offer a 44h transit time... must be a misconnect at DEL forcing an overnight.

 

[Nizar]

Sorry if I was not clear, but that was my point. *compared to UL* you're getting about the same transit time to europe, give or take a little bit, on your QF/SQ/EY/EK etc. you go on UL which what is QF to SIN I think, then UL to CMB/europe? that's a much longer way. Business types who are prepared to pay for full J, want to get there in your ~24 hours (or so) not "stopping all stations" whereas AFF folks might enjoy a more interesting, or more fruitful (for miles/SC/experiences) routing

As example I just did a random lookup MEL-CDG for March. The cheapest option is VN - with a 39h transit time. QR is $1k more but gets you there in 23h...... what are most people going to pick?

(ironically AI are even more expensive, yet offer a 44h transit time... must be a misconnect at DEL forcing an overnight.

I totally agree, which is why I also compared SQ/QR/EY, as QF has no legitimate "reason" for being more expensive than these. Not that it needs a reason, but for me, when I try to weigh up if spending more to QF is justified, I am struggling to find a reason to choose the QF option.