Your QFF Program (Actual) Enhancements Wishlist

[mannej]

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

It has already been established that economy rewards aren't very good value, it is in the higher cabins where you get better use of your points.

 

[DaveB]

Remove the mandatory direct sweep of CC points to QFF - if the scheme is really that good, it should not need such a draconian stick in place.
With minimal status, (reached PS by accident though soon to end) booking J seats on domestic runs should not confine you to Row 3. Though normally easily pleased, one too many trips in Row 3 were always underwhelming and have now confined the experience to never be repeated.

 

[medhead]

Remove the mandatory direct sweep of CC points to QFF - if the scheme is really that good, it should not need such a draconian stick in place.
With minimal status, (reached PS by accident though soon to end) booking J seats on domestic runs should not confine you to Row 3. Though normally easily pleased, one too many trips in Row 3 were always underwhelming and have now confined the experience to never be repeated.

It was made pretty clear at the lunch with Lesley, at least it was my take away, that they are never going to kill direct sweep. Despite what people would have you believe they make money from each and every point. Direct sweep is designed to maximize the value retained by Qantas. If you don't want direct sweep there are a couple of cards that still allow conversion to QFF with a correspondingly high annual fee.

 

[JohnK]

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

On the existing A330s?

Spend more money to rip out economy seats, put in premium economy seats instead and then move business class seats so galley can be in between business and premium economy.

All this for short flights to Asia so you can oversell economy and then upgrade high status frequent flyers to premium economy?

 

[ketsuzei]

If you don't want direct sweep there are a couple of cards that still allow conversion to QFF with a correspondingly high annual fee.

I only know of the AMEX Platinum Charge, which I took up last July after Qantas effectively gave us advance warning of the demise of MASAs. A significant proportion of my points have subsequently gone to Qantas anyway, but that will change come July 1.

Would be interested to hear about any other options for cards without direct sweeps.

 

[medhead]

I only know of the AMEX Platinum Charge, which I took up last July after Qantas effectively gave us advance warning of the demise of MASAs. A significant proportion of my points have subsequently gone to Qantas anyway, but that will change come July 1.

Would be interested to hear about any other options for cards without direct sweeps.

I thought there was a citibank one. Perhaps not.

 

[wandering_fred]

On the existing A330s?
Spend more money to rip out economy seats, put in premium economy seats instead and then move business class seats so galley can be in between business and premium economy.
All this for short flights to Asia so you can oversell economy and then upgrade high status frequent flyers to premium economy?

Sorry John, I pay for the PEY seats... Without them I will fly someone else's red eye if I have the choice. Especially since PER-SIN (which was short enough to endure/accept plain Y) is gone.

But ripping up the existing interior and replacing parts of it? No QF missed this premium market three or four years ago. More interestingly, shortly after I expressed a hope to CX that the A330s be fitted with Y+ (Mar 2010) they did just that. But the cheap PEY seats (ie non-flexible non-refundable) need to be better priced (ie about the same as reasonably flex Y). But then pricing exAustralia is horrible in ALL classes (and seemingly ALL airlines)

Happy wandering after finishing up from the soap box.

Fred

 

[TweedleB]

Definitely number 2 harvyk. Also the ability to fly QF and not be palmed off to another carrier on a lesser class for one leg. eg, SYD to LHR flying J and find on booking that you cannot get direct with QF but if you fly via HKG on CX in Y you can get QF J to LHR.

 

[DaveB]

I have never looked back following the intro of direct sweep. Having at the time around 2m QFF points, I decided to start sending the majority of my points elsewhere and have fully appreciated the eye opening experience no longer putting up with cough availability, poor routing and scheduling.
Have flown a grand total of 3 QF flights the past 7 years, all old on line JASA's with QStore getting a workout.
Platinum or Centurion Amex do nothing for me using in decreasing order the following cards:
Citi Select, Altitude Black, Amex Edge, WWEDR and NAB QF Premium with the last two QF cards kept as do not need to pay annual fees though understand WWEDR are not freely waiving fee renewals in recent times.

 

[Sumnerned]

It has already been established that economy rewards aren't very good value, it is in the higher cabins where you get better use of your points.

Only if you think the price of higher cabins is also the value. I do not.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

I have never looked back following the intro of direct sweep. Having at the time around 2m QFF points, I decided to start sending the majority of my points elsewhere and have fully appreciated the eye opening experience no longer putting up with cough availability, poor routing and scheduling.
Have flown a grand total of 3 QF flights the past 7 years, all old on line JASA's with QStore getting a workout.
Platinum or Centurion Amex do nothing for me using in decreasing order the following cards:
Citi Select, Altitude Black, Amex Edge, WWEDR and NAB QF Premium with the last two QF cards kept as do not need to pay annual fees though understand WWEDR are not freely waiving fee renewals in recent times.

Agreed. Direct sweep is anti-competitive and a way to reward Qantas for your loyalty to them, not for Qantas to reward you for your loyalty:

- direct sweep means Qantas automatically gets the points value of your credit card spend each month, into a program they can change the value and terms of at will. Amex MR and other programs mean you can transfer the points value of your credit card spend to whatever program may provide the best value for your loyalty.
- for the privilege of "direct earn", on many cards you have to pay an additional annual "Qantas Rewards fee"!

No thanks.

 

[BD1959]

Only if you think the price of higher cabins is also the value. I do not.

Please don't take this as criticism, Sumnerned, certainly isn't intended to be.

What do you look to do to gain maximum value for your point spend?

Regards,

BD

 

[codash1099]

Agreed. Direct sweep is anti-competitive and a way to reward Qantas for your loyalty to them, not for Qantas to reward you for your loyalty:

- direct sweep means Qantas automatically gets the points value of your credit card spend each month, into a program they can change the value and terms of at will. Amex MR and other programs mean you can transfer the points value of your credit card spend to whatever program may provide the best value for your loyalty.
- for the privilege of "direct earn", on many cards you have to pay an additional annual "Qantas Rewards fee"!

No thanks.

I've been paying more for my non-direct-sweep card and was beginning to doubt the value of the extra payment.

However, at this stage, I'm happier to have 600000 points outside the QF program with the ability to move them to a number of other programs but including QF.

 

[Sumnerned]

Please don't take this as criticism, Sumnerned, certainly isn't intended to be.

What do you look to do to gain maximum value for your point spend?

Regards,

BD

My last spend was a couple of mASA/JASA's, SYD-LHR. No more of those in future!

The next spend, or at least the one I spend most time planning, is a OW RTW 140/280.

Once or twice I have done Classic award one way Y CHC-LHR and flown on an LCC such as AirAsia X the other way. Pretty good service if you pay for good seats. The overall deal can be pretty good on that sort of set-up, though the QF charges on the Classic Awards are a bit steep.

Recently I purchased points plus pay fares to Tassie, far from maximising the points value, but I try only to have just enough points for my major travel plans, and spend the others as opportunity arises.

I have never bought anything from the store, or vouchers.

All this might be a bit different if I was living near you!

And I have never paid for a J class fair on QF, and do not plan to start anytime soon.

 

[dajop]

It has already been established that economy rewards aren't very good value, it is in the higher cabins where you get better use of your points.

Even then, with a a number of programs out there where you can purchase miles, I'm seeing business class miles capping out at 1.5c per point. When you pay $1800 + 280,000 pts for a business class round the world, or could instead (if you had no way of earning QFF points) just buy enough points on AA or Life Miles for 6 different point to point flights - without paying fuel surcharges, it's hard to get more than 1.5c per point in value from the QF points.

 

[downgraded]

Allow me to buy a QFi fare and commit to a points upgrade during initial purchase.

The waffle about letting you know 7 days/48hours/ 24 hours before flight is zero value meaningless spin. It doesn't influence a purchasing decision towards QF. Let me use pay + points upgrade as one transaction and I might not just go to another airline instead in the first instance.

 

[harvyk]

Only if you think the price of higher cabins is also the value. I do not.

The value of higher cabins is a funny one. For example, I could fly SYD-LAX for roughly $1,500 in Y, or I could fly the same flights for $8,000 in J... Now yes, the skybed will be immensely more comfortable, but is it really worth $6,500? In my opinion probably not (I can do a lot with $6,500). However when talking about points, the price difference is only double. So if your talking 96,000 points for a return Y, or 192,000 for return J, it becomes a far better value proposition, esp as "taxes" won't change between the fare types. (at least they didn't during my last trips). So for me, the higher cabins are one of those nice things which I get to dip my toes into and pretend I belong there, knowing that I can fly Y any time I like, and since the points didn't cost me anything to earn it give me just a little taste of the high life effectively for free.

(No I don't have a fairy god-boss who routinely pays for Y+/J/F flights around the world, although he himself will chose to fly Y, even for long haul)

 

[Lucky_man]

Allow me to buy a QFi fare and commit to a points upgrade during initial purchase.

The waffle about letting you know 7 days/48hours/ 24 hours before flight is zero value meaningless spin. It doesn't influence a purchasing decision towards QF. Let me use pay + points upgrade as one transaction and I might not just go to another airline instead in the first instance.

If upgrades were conformable at time of booking then every proficient booker (ie Personal Assistants of execs etc) would try this before paying for a full fair premium cabin. So while it may not influence purchasing toward QF it does influence purchasing QF premium cabin. It is effective and good revenue management. For a traveler not much troubled by the full cost of the premium cabin QF get the full price sale. For those that find it a hard pill to pay, QF get a lesser amount but still more than a economy fair (points) - but only if that passenger is prepared to risk the lowly cabin.

So I'd argue strongly against having confirmed upgrade with modest points at booking - the only way it could be done is if availability of upgrades was even more heavily restricted.

Ultimately I think what you have said is true but QF has only lost a customer that wants premium cabin but is not willing to pay for it. It is not unreasonable for a customer to take this position just as it is reasonable that QF will not go out of their way to attract such customers.

 

[medhead]

If upgrades were conformable at time of booking then every proficient booker (ie Personal Assistants of execs etc) would try this before paying for a full fair premium cabin. So while it may not influence purchasing toward QF it does influence purchasing QF premium cabin. It is effective and good revenue management. For a traveler not much troubled by the full cost of the premium cabin QF get the full price sale. For those that find it a hard pill to pay, QF get a lesser amount but still more than a economy fair (points) - but only if that passenger is prepared to risk the lowly cabin.

So I'd argue strongly against having confirmed upgrade with modest points at booking - the only way it could be done is if availability of upgrades was even more heavily restricted.

Ultimately I think what you have said is true but QF has only lost a customer that wants premium cabin but is not willing to pay for it. It is not unreasonable for a customer to take this position just as it is reasonable that QF will not go out of their way to attract such customers.

Not really because they would come from the premium cabin classic award inventory. Once that is depleted then there would be no confirm able upgrade available.

 

[Lucky_man]

Not really because they would come from the premium cabin classic award inventory. Once that is depleted then there would be no confirm able upgrade available.

If the upgrade came from the classic award inventory (very few upgrades do) then they are available instantly - in effect - you just book them as an award in the first place. You'd have to either drop all of the upgrades that occur using non award inventory (most of them) or have two upgrade paths - from award with immediate notification and upgrade based on capacity at boarding without advanced notification.