Question for Lesley 2014 Melbourne

[JohnK]

Your attitude seems to revolve around that the fact that you think you are the 'genuine article' when it comes to frequent flyers because you do the hard yards in whY and therefore nobody else should be allowed the same status as you or achieve it in a way that is less hard than you did. Newsflash, you are not the only member of QFF!

I never said I was the genuine article.

I have Lifetime Gold and I shouldn't. I have only been Platinum for 7-8 years. Lifetime Gold is an extremely generous reward and handed out way too early as can be seen from a lot of posts from the "genuine articles" of AFF. Once they have Lifetime Gold off they go to build status on another alliance. Yes very beneficial to Qantas and their ability to stay afloat.

Lifetime status is something that should take 20+ years to achieve. Not 3-4 years.

Bring back MASAs and DSC promotions :evil:.

Never. Stop torturing yourselves thinking Qantas owes you features you can milk to death.

Where did I say I was an authority on anything? You also seem to forget I am entitled to my opinion not the opinion of those on AFF.

And let's not be under any false illusions. The survival of the airline is my No1 concern.

 

[SQ421]

Never. Stop torturing yourselves thinking Qantas owes you features you can milk to death.

Esp. when there's so many other features to be milked.

 

[Pleb Status]

I'm afraid those levels of attainment are far too high and it's very easy for you to propose a change since you have LTG. For the vast majority of the travelling public getting 7000 SCs would take decades of travel, let alone 14000. It is a tiny minority that would achieve it in 5-6 years.

Your attitude seems to revolve around that the fact that you think you are the 'genuine article' when it comes to frequent flyers because you do the hard yards in whY and therefore nobody else should be allowed the same status as you or achieve it in a way that is less hard than you did. Newsflash, you are not the only member of QFF!

Bring back MASAs and DSC promotions :evil:.

The lifetime status levels at QF are far to easy compared to other programs. Most programs require you to earn 10 years of top status (say WP) to earn any lifetime status at all (say PS). For example, at AA, lifetime Gold (PS level) is 1,000,000 miles (or 10 times EXP qualification).

Lifetime status levels are supposed to be set so only a few can obtain the SC required. No 'normal' customer should be able to even get close to the lowest level of lifetime status.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The lifetime status levels at QF are far to easy compared to other programs. Most programs require you to earn 10 years of top status (say WP) to earn any lifetime status at all (say PS). For example, at AA, lifetime Gold (PS level) is 1,000,000 miles (or 10 times EXP qualification).

Lifetime status levels are supposed to be set so only a few can obtain the SC required. No 'normal' customer should be able to even get close to the lowest level of lifetime status.

I disagree :
LifeTime Gold (OWE) at BA is actually exactly comparable with what QF sets at LTG in terms of years of flying.
QF 14000 SC (700 attain/ 600 retain PA) approx 23 years of membership at Gold level
BA 35000 TP (1500 attain/ retain PA) approx 23 years of membership at Gold level (equivalent to QF Plat)

If QF were to introduce LTP at 28000 SC this would be approx 22 years at Platinum level for the average person.

 

[Mr_Orange]

The lifetime status levels at QF are far to easy compared to other programs. Most programs require you to earn 10 years of top status (say WP) to earn any lifetime status at all (say PS). For example, at AA, lifetime Gold (PS level) is 1,000,000 miles (or 10 times EXP qualification).

Lifetime status levels are supposed to be set so only a few can obtain the SC required. No 'normal' customer should be able to even get close to the lowest level of lifetime status.

Like I said, most normal flyers would take decades to reach these targets, as evidenced by PF's calculations above. It is only the small minority who get there in under 10 years.

As a data point, I have been with QF for approx 4.5 years and am just over 50% LTS. On that basis, it will take me a minimum of 18 years to hit LTG. Is that not loyal enough for you?

 

[kpc]

I'm about 1.5-2 years away from LTG at current rate of flying, and unless there is something like LTP to aim for, once I obtain LTG, I will be looking to fly other airlines apart from QF, and if I do fly QF, will be crediting to another program.

I disagree :
LifeTime Gold (OWE) at BA is actually exactly comparable with what QF sets at LTG in terms of years of flying.
QF 14000 SC (700 attain/ 600 retain PA) approx 23 years of membership at Gold level
BA 35000 TP (1500 attain/ retain PA) approx 23 years of membership at Gold level (equivalent to QF Plat)

If QF were to introduce LTP at 28000 SC this would be approx 22 years at Platinum level for the average person.

I was QF Gold for 5 years and have been QF Plat for 5 years and am still 2 years away from LTG assuming I maintain current flights levels (QF Plat)....To get from LTG to LTP (if it was available and set at 28000 SCs) I would need to maintain my current flight levels for an additional 12 years:shock:...so maybe QF are doing me a favour by not having a LTP level to aim for and releasing me to fly other airlines!!:shock:

I'm not sure who is advising Lesley Grant and colleagues...

 

[Pleb Status]

I disagree :
LifeTime Gold (OWE) at BA is actually exactly comparable with what QF sets at LTG in terms of years of flying.
QF 14000 SC (700 attain/ 600 retain PA) approx 23 years of membership at Gold level
BA 35000 TP (1500 attain/ retain PA) approx 23 years of membership at Gold level (equivalent to QF Plat)

If QF were to introduce LTP at 28000 SC this would be approx 22 years at Platinum level for the average person.

From memory, up until a few years ago, most BA Y fares did not earn any tier points so earning lifetime status was far more difficult.

 

[Princess Fiona]

From memory, up until a few years ago, most BA Y fares did not earn any tier points so earning lifetime status was far more difficult.

Maybe for some long before it was introduced. Tier points have been earned on discount Y since 2009. Lifetime status was introduced in Sep last year.
Interesting that they've also gone beyond Gold and introduced Lifetime GGL which is their P1 equivalent.

Anyway I'm getting a bit OT but my point is that other OW alliance partners have Lifetime Status beyond the OWS level currently offered by QF and it would be great to see QF introduce the same thing IMO.

 

[cfellows]

3) Given QF is a founding Member of OW why do you penalise member's for flying OW especially where QF has no flights i.e. International out of Perth or Adelaide?

13) Given SQ/VA announcement re interchange ability of points for award flights and upgrades between the two programmes when will QF FFers and EK FFers be able to this especially from say Perth and Adelaide where members do not have the ability currently to use points to upgrade internationally thus devaluing the programme in peoples eyes.

18) Why does JQ/3K SC Not Count towards P1 Qualification given that they are QF group companies and often booked under QF Codeshares.

20 ) Why is it that on a recent trip MEL-coughet via Singapore booked on a saver fare and a QF Codeshare no points or S/C were earned on the JQ/3K Operated sectors yet the Earn table tells us we would earn how is this simpler and fairer?

i really hope your email has answers to these questions in the reply

 

[Jaryd]

Good list of questions!

I must be one of the few people who have actually benefitted from the 'simpler and fairer' change.

I've been gold for a few years, always flying Flexible Economy for work. Now my SC earn rate is double what it used to be and for the first time I'm going to make platinum. *happydance*

I'll probably never make lifetime gold, but from a consumer retention perspective it makes sense to have lifetime platinum. However it wouldn't surprise me if there were internal politics at QF which prevented this from being introduced... maybe they think it will be a gateway for Politicians to start asking for lifetime Chairmans lounge. Lol.

 

[Deleted member]

I never said I was the genuine article.

I have Lifetime Gold and I shouldn't. I have only been Platinum for 7-8 years. Lifetime Gold is an extremely generous reward and handed out way too early as can be seen from a lot of posts from the "genuine articles" of AFF. Once they have Lifetime Gold off they go to build status on another alliance. Yes very beneficial to Qantas and their ability to stay afloat.

Lifetime status is something that should take 20+ years to achieve. Not 3-4 years.


Never. Stop torturing yourselves thinking Qantas owes you features you can milk to death.

Where did I say I was an authority on anything? You also seem to forget I am entitled to my opinion not the opinion of those on AFF.

And let's not be under any false illusions. I couldn't care less about the over inflated egos of some on AFF. The survival of the airline is my No1 concern.

Frankly, anyone who achieves LTG from whY is definitely entitled.
I wouldn't / couldn't endure it that's for sure.
I suspect that LTG should be seen more as enhanced lifetime QP.
To reward the less frequent ( in later life) traveller for past loyalty (Frequency)

 

[Deleted member]

Lifetime Qantas club still offered?

Lifetime Silver gets you priority check-in, complimentary seat selection on international flights and 50% bonus QFF points. That's not too bad.

If more benefits are needed then maintain the status you need every year.

I am not so sure about Lifetime Platinum. The way some people accumulate SCs they'd get there in 5-6 years. The whole idea behind lifetime status benefits is to have your loyalty for many years not just a few years and if you then run off and build status in another alliance those benefits have cost the airline dearly.

Personally Lifetime Gold is too easy. I have it. Something like 28,000 SCs would be closer to the mark. And lifetime Platinum at possibly 56,000 SCs more than likely more.

I am astounded at the expectation of some on AFF that the airline needs to make everything easy for them.

I don't believe LTQP is still offered. Mine comes courtesy of "flight Deck Life " pre merger between QF and AA (TAA) .
I do take your point on LTS. It's a shame that it doesn't also include some kind of lounge access.
But interestingly If I never achieve status again after qualifying , I shall need to use my QP card for lounge access and my LTS for benefits. It will be interesting to see how that works. Maybe they will comp me LTG ? .............. Yeah right!!

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

I am not so sure about Lifetime Platinum. The way some people accumulate SCs they'd get there in 5-6 years. The whole idea behind lifetime status benefits is to have your loyalty for many years not just a few years and if you then run off and build status in another alliance those benefits have cost the airline dearly.

1. Whatever it might have cost Qantas to provide status benefits is vastly outweighed by the revenue (and therefore profit) they gained from offering those benefits. If a member got there in only a few short years, it just means Qantas got that member's money that much faster.

2. If a member spends tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars with Qantas to attain lifetime Gold status and then runs off to build status with another alliance, then any benefits they're entitled to by virtue of that status from that point on doesn't cost Qantas a thing.

3. Lifetime Platinum would motivate (some of) those same members to keep on spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars with Qantas instead, for however many years it would take to get there. After which - wash, rinse, repeat - the same arguments apply.

 

[OATEK]

<SNIP>
2. If a member spends tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars with Qantas to attain lifetime Gold status and then runs off to build status with another alliance, then any benefits they're entitled to by virtue of that status from that point on doesn't cost Qantas a thing.

It could be argued that it costs QANTAS a great deal in terms of lost revenue, even if not for the occasional "Gold" service when they do fly QF.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

3. Lifetime Platinum would motivate (some of) those same members to keep on spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars with Qantas instead, for however many years it would take to get there. After which - wash, rinse, repeat - the same arguments apply.

I've always thought QF should introduce a LTG benefit where you start the year at 700 SC.
So folks who credit to another alliance think - well it's only 700 SC to get Platinum, may as well at least do that. Rather than needing a full 1200/1400 when their fallback position is already Gold.

I can hear the folks at QF crying "but that's only the small small% of people who are SC savvy like AFF!!" - Those who are NOT SC savvy are going to rack up the miles regardless so all the extra 700 does is give them a nudge towards P1 - which is a good thing for everyone.

 

[JohnK]

3. Lifetime Platinum would motivate (some of) those same members to keep on spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars with Qantas instead, for however many years it would take to get there. After which - wash, rinse, repeat - the same arguments apply.

What's the motivation once you achieved the desired Lifetime status?

Almost every Qantas thread I read these days someone mentions as soon as I have Lifetime Gold I will build status with another airline or I have Lifetime Gold so I will build status with another airline. Qantas staff read these threads and take the warning signals onboard.

Why would Lifetime Platinum be any different?

All I am trying to say is reaching Lifetime status should be difficult. It should be a struggle. It should be a challenge.

I suspect Marginal Any Seat awards earning SCs and Double SCs offers have frightened Qantas. People are getting smarter. When one person learns how to milk the system you have 100s within days doing the same thing. How many false Platinum Ones, Platinums and Golds are out there? Each one is costing Qantas dearly.

 

[Ansett]

Ladies and Gentlemen can we please Keep this on topic it has gone way off topic I did ask in the original post if people could keep it to questions only and not comments and discussions.

Thank you

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ladies and Gentlemen can we please Keep this on topic it has gone way off topic I did ask in the original post if people could keep it to questions only and not comments and discussions.

Thank you

Excellent idea. In fact it would be good if one of the mods could kindly move all the posts on Lifetime Status to a separate thread for further discussion.

 

[maninblack]

Ladies and Gentlemen can we please Keep this on topic it has gone way off topic I did ask in the original post if people could keep it to questions only and not comments and discussions.

Thank you

Whilst you are 100% correct, I guess that one perspective is that there is no point posing questions to someone who is not going to really listen anyway.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

I never said I was the genuine article.

Lifetime status is something that should take 20+ years to achieve. Not 3-4 years.

Starwood requires 10 yrs of Platinum before LTP or a minimum of 500 stays (50 stays per year equals platinum...I agree, LTG is too easy right now, but then again, I'm well over 25k SC's. I'm not a FF chaser, so not interested in multiple plans or chasing OWE from another airlne, I'm just a simple traveller who enjoys a few perks while conversing the globe. Am chilling in Munnar, India now.

Sorry JK, no golf here, up at 1500m at a tea estate...