Your QFF Program (Actual) Enhancements Wishlist

[AnonymousCoward]

If someone has bought QC membership I would think in a way it is loyalty as no doubt they would be flying Qantas more than other commercial airlines so they can utilise their QC.

Since buying a QC membership doesn't preclude someone from having status on another airline (or buying other airline's lounge memberships), you can't say "without a doubt" that someone flies on QF more because they have a QC membership.

If the pax flies on QF a lot, then they'll have status courtesy of the flights (and the associated benefits). A QC membership is simply a commercial transaction: money for the listed benefits.

 

[travelbird]

I agree. This TOTALLY stinks.

How come if I buy a commercial ticket on Jetstar I'm not charged a fuel surcharge, but if I use my Qantas points to redeem a seat on the exact same Jetstar flight then I'm charged a fuel surcharge.

Pfft. Unfair rort.

 

[justin23]

Couldn't agree more. The changes to the loyalty bonus did nothing to reflect loyalty. In fact, and with the 20:20 hindsight of recent changes, it was the first of the changes aimed at encouraging higher spend, than greater loyalty.

I've said it before (to Qantas too) and I'll say it again, if you only fly 3 times a year, but all flights are with Qantas, then you are loyal and you deserve a loyalty bonus, even if it takes 3 years to reach the 500 SCs required.

Completely agree. I've only once flown a non OW carrier ex-Australia and of OW/codeshare was a flight on LAN and a flight on South African airways, in both cases due to lack of QF flights.
Most of my PS status is from Y international, but the changes mean I'm unlikely to keep attaining PS, so I may as well take the cheapest airfare now rather than QF. So my loyalty is not being rewarded at all and its international where they are struggling to make a profit.

How about 2 international rtn flights (exc. NZ) on QF metal a year gives automatic PS. I think the aim for Qantas should be to get more lower tiered members in PS and hopefully keep them flying Qantas in the hope to attain gold for example. You would still need the 700 SC's for Gold however giving those loyal flyers some reward for flying QF international a few times a year and the benefits of PS are nice for those who are used to SG or WP. Seat selection and the J queue are the two things i like, however there have been times, where the Y queue was a lot shorter than J so I used it.

 

[Roberto]

- Lifetime Platinum
- If no LTP then a sort of LTG+ which gives F-Lounge access on QF.
- Additional Lounge passes for friends/guest/family - especially when using Oneworld airlines.
- More FF-Partners outside Australia (Credit Card, Hotel,...)
- Same SC on Partner Flights (especially where QF does not fly).
- More Airlines with Status-Bonus
- SCs on EK or QF codes on EK at a reasonable price.
- Upgrades on Airlines other than QF
- Confirmed Upgrades
- More classes than Y that earn Full Eco SCs on Partner Airlines
- Possible to take the SCs that over the threshold into the next membership year.

What I miss but won't reinstated:
- Codeshare, Statusbonus, Minimum Miles with BA
- Flights from FRA and LHR to SIN and HGK on own metal
- Loyalty-Bonus for all airlines again
- Anytime Lounge Access!

I fully agree with these requests - although it doesn't really affect me as I stopped flying Qantas years ago (WP at the time) because of a combination of "enhancements" to the frequent flyer program and a really bad flight experience. I only collect Qantas miles at Woolworths now.

I'd be interested to know if members know of any other airline that doesn't immediately confirm an upgrade. All the airlines I fly with do.

Also how about making the miles spent on award tickets count towards status in the way that Starwood Hotels count award nights towards status in the SPG program?

Until Qantas makes these type of changes they won't see me back.

 

[harvyk]

Buying a QC membership isn't "showing loyalty" - it's a commercial transaction - you get certain benefits (e.g. lounge access, priority check-in) in return for a certain amount of money. If you don't think that's good value, then don't pay.

Actually I’d call it loyalty, you're hardly going to fork out $700 because you think you might fly QF once… By purchasing QP, you have shown a pretty good indication that you intend to use QF for flying over the next year (that or simply handed QF $700 for no reason, which I’m sure they won’t complain about either)

Here is an out there suggestion. Stop serving alcohol in lounges. That would turn them from boozey pubs (Perth stands out) into places to relax or work. Go one step further and get rid of the TV's. The money saved could go to putting on food that people want to eat (rather than putting out food that is technically edible and not good quality but some how underwhelming). Maybe some money towards fast internet.

No bad bad bad suggestion… I see nothing wrong with lounges serving alcohol, and since 99.9% of all drinkers of alcohol are able to do so responsibly I don’t see why they should stop serving it due to the actions of an absolute minority. Perhaps they should offer a suggestions box as to what food they should serve, and alternate the choices a bit.

Since buying a QC membership doesn't preclude someone from having status on another airline (or buying other airline's lounge memberships), you can't say "without a doubt" that someone flies on QF more because they have a QC membership.

If the pax flies on QF a lot, then they'll have status courtesy of the flights (and the associated benefits). A QC membership is simply a commercial transaction: money for the listed benefits.

Since being a WP doesn’t preclude someone from having status on another airline (or buying another airlines lounge membership, or hey even just flying another airline for the fun of it) I hardly see how QP membership is considered not loyal when status = loyal.
Keep in mind, that if I fly 100 flights per year, 80% of them with other airlines, 20% with QF, but in those 20 flights I’m able to obtain status, am I loyal in the strictest sense?

 

[turffy]

I agree that SC should be standard with classic rewards. Let's face it the QFF are not really an indication of just flying now but more a reflection of overall response to QFF marketing e.g. using their endorsed credit cards, rental car partners etc etc.
How you have paid for your flight should be immaterial.

 

[Lucky_man]

{In response from removing alcohol from Lounges}

No bad bad bad suggestion… I see nothing wrong with lounges serving alcohol, and since 99.9% of all drinkers of alcohol are able to do so responsibly I don’t see why they should stop serving it due to the actions of an absolute minority. Perhaps they should offer a suggestions box as to what food they should serve, and alternate the choices a bit.

Ok, lets get the facts on that 99.9% number. If only 0.1% of people were loud and boorish in the Perth domestic lounge they would not need to make announcements over and over on the PA asking people to watch their language and noise level. The second issue is that it would reduce the number of people in the lounges to start with. I am no teetotaller nut I'd happily forgo a drink for a better environment.

As to the actions of an absolute minority - note that that is 49.9%. That would be about right for Friday evening in Perth.

If you travel through Perth airport try this - go to the QP and then go to the more distant gates (not Qantas) and find a cafe for a coffee. The environment is just heaps better.

 

[pearler47]

Ability to book classic awards more easily. Don't cloak robbery as a benefit to members, when changing rules. Given I fly from Melbourne, more partner seat availability. If you are forced onto Jetstar, there should be a discount.

 

[harvyk]

{In response from removing alcohol from Lounges}
Ok, lets get the facts on that 99.9% number. If only 0.1% of people were loud and boorish in the Perth domestic lounge they would not need to make announcements over and over on the PA asking people to watch their language and noise level. The second issue is that it would reduce the number of people in the lounges to start with. I am no teetotaller nut I'd happily forgo a drink for a better environment.

As to the actions of an absolute minority - note that that is 49.9%. That would be about right for Friday evening in Perth.

If you travel through Perth airport try this - go to the QP and then go to the more distant gates (not Qantas) and find a cafe for a coffee. The environment is just heaps better.

I've certainly done the head down to the main terminal to get to a quieter place, in fact I wrote a blog entry about it -> Why aren't I in the qantas club right now? - Blogs - The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community
However for me the problem was not the booze which people had been drinking, it was the fact that there was no where to sit, and no real food available. My comment in the entry around booze was that since I'd be driving when I got to CBR I couldn't partake as heavily as I otherwise would have liked.

The way I see it is lounge access provides options. When you travel there is no security guard sitting there forcing you into the QP / JLounge / FLounge as appropriate... You simply have those available as options if you wish to partake.

 

[markir]

[h=2]Your QFF Program (Actual) Enhancements Wishlist uot[/h]Pigs might fly too.
Come down to earth. Flog Qantas of to the highest bidder. It's about time we become a bit more realistic. If Qantas can't sustain itself, without hands out from the government they shouldn't be in the business of flying. I know it is tough out there.
So be it. markir

 

[Russell Lewis]

FF programs are paid for by all travellers/users by building in the cost as an overhead to businesses. As such I can see no reason why FF points can't simply be used as payment for upgrades and/or purchases of flights. None of this "depending on availability" - the points are fully funded and costed as part of normal operating costs.

 

[harvyk]

Your QFF Program (Actual) Enhancements Wishlist uot

Pigs might fly too.
Come down to earth. Flog Qantas of to the highest bidder. It's about time we become a bit more realistic. If Qantas can't sustain itself, without hands out from the government they shouldn't be in the business of flying. I know it is tough out there.
So be it. markir

Nothing wrong with putting together a wish list, besides QF reps lurk around here, so you just never know when a suggestion could be picked up...

 

[harvyk]

FF programs are paid for by all travellers/users by building in the cost as an overhead to businesses. As such I can see no reason why FF points can't simply be used as payment for upgrades and/or purchases of flights. None of this "depending on availability" - the points are fully funded and costed as part of normal operating costs.

Because an FF point is a liability to QF. They control that liability by controlling how much goes out as awards vs how much goes out as paid ticket... Basically since a FF point does not have an actual value, and because they know that by controlling how they get spent, they don't have to have money just sitting there to cover the entire liability, since there is never going to be a point in time where they will need to pay out that full liability.

To put it bluntly, if QF truly opened up any seat any flight (and charged reasonable rates) to QFF, QF wouldn't exist by the end of next week.

 

[wandering_fred]

FF programs are paid for by all travellers/users by building in the cost as an overhead to businesses. As such I can see no reason why FF points can't simply be used as payment for upgrades and/or purchases of flights. None of this "depending on availability" - the points are fully funded and costed as part of normal operating costs.

Actually what you are describing are called ASAs. And they are priced comparably to the last revenue (ie $$) seat...

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Sumnerned]

First and most important it needs to be on an airline we enjoy flying on. QFi in-flight service has never been great, and while the company has been clearly working on this, now we are faced with poor schedules and no domestic lounges. In general though, we feel that up til now QFF has served us pretty well.

Some form of limited family SC pooling would definitely have increased our historical spend with QF. Whether the disenchanted family members, who now mostly use EK, can be returned to the fold is questionable.
More QFF Partners outside Australia would help, we would definitely try to use them.
Something with a fun aspect to it would be good, seat auctions or similar. But not restricted to Au domestic PLEASE.

 

[Himeno]

Other then reversing parts of the QFF program changes, the only actual enhancement I can think of is to put W on the A330s.

 

[JohnK]

I snipped the rest of your post because you went off on your usual tangent of defending those on the cheap seats.

And your argument is sound?

Only people paying for business and full economy should get be getting the benefits?

Keep dreaming. You aren't going anywhere without those in the cheap seats.

 

[BD1959]

As I've posted in the very long thread on the QF rule changes, I think QF would much rather infrequent travellers buying the cheap tickets, as they might be able to make some marginal profit out of those people. If QF have to give away status benefits, it would be to people who's bought enough higher profit tickets to justify the cost.

Not true, Anonymous Coward, on other threads you've posted as "fact" QF would rather non-status passengers purchase cheap seats and status flyers cost QF. In those threads you've been asked to provide evidence, which you've failed to do - just as you failed to respond to your assertion that Corporate TAs don't sell tickets in the cheaper fare buckets.

It's nice to see you now starting to differentiate between opinion and fact.

Regards,

BD

 

[medhead]

You wouldn't be pissing off those that are spending lots of money with QF. You'd just be pissing off those that don't spend a lot of money with QF.

Frankly, I'm kinda surprised that no one's suggested "give WPs $100 every time they book a flight with QF", because the predominant argument here seems to be that putting a butt in a seat is more important than actually making a profit.

Still don't get it, I see. Unfortunately that is not what people are saying at all. I guess the difference between revenue and profit is a bridge too far. But do keep on with the the ludicrous view that Qantas can make a profit without revenue. As you well know profit on the entire flight is the important measure not profit from one seat.

Then of course you're still trying to claim that statused passengers cost money. That's a joke if ever I read one. Plenty of examples of cost offsets against status benefits have been provided. How about actually addressing those examples? How much does a coffee and 2 pancakes cost Qantas? How much do they get for 30kg of freight between ADL and SYD? As with anything there are swings and roundabouts. That means it is highly dubious to suggest Qantas gives a damn about who buys the seat as long as the seat is sold.

 

[allancw07]

Enable customers to pay for the full cost of a ticket using FF points and at competitive prices. The last time I tried to buy a ticket using FF points, I wanted a return economy class ticket to London. I paid the full amount asked with FF points, but was then asked to pay a cash amount of $950.00 to cover expenses and taxes! I immediately cancelled my booking and used my full accumulated points account to buy Woolworths Wish cards. Not a very good return for my points but better than paying for an airflight ticket.
Allancw07