Changes to QF Loyalty Bonus (now includes status credits)

[bismarck]

Looks like a quiet change to the QF Loyalty Bonus to now offer the option of 50 Status Credits.

Could be fairly handy for some who come close to attaining/retaining platinum.

+ For the purposes of the Loyalty Bonus, the Status Credits earned must be from eligible Qantas or Jetstar flights (JQ, 3K, GK and BL) within a single membership year. Loyalty Bonus can be earned up to four times each membership year, to a maximum Loyalty Bonus of 32,000 Qantas Points or 200 Status Credits. If selected, Loyalty Bonus Status Credits do not count towards attaining or retaining Platinum One status. The Loyalty Bonus reward must be selected within 90 days from the date a member achieves the Loyalty Bonus. Once selected the reward cannot be changed.

Source: https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/flying/earning-points-qantas-jetstar#loyaltybonus

 

[Princess Fiona]

Doesn't count towards P1 earn/retain.
I'll stick to the points, good for those that can take advantage
" If selected, Loyalty Bonus Status Credits do not count towards attaining or retaining Platinum One status. "

Also note that Partner Gold now requires 2400 SC earn on QF/JQ
Anyone get an email about these changes ?

 

[bismarck]

Yes, no good for P1.

Will be useful for me...brings forward WP qualification to before​ my flight to NZ instead of after. Looking forward to the FLounge.

 

[RichardMEL]

Interesting.

I am kind of glad it does not apply to P1 - they are being very strong on the qualification for this level (let's not start a tangent here about the value of P1). I like that they are holding the line on this though.

The 2400 SC change is interesting but is just another step to the pushing people to fly the home carrier more (ie: keep the revenue where they want it)

 

[Quickstatus]

So a renewing platinum will only need 1100 SC+ 100 loyalty bonus SC = 1200

I think complimentary renewal of Tier status when close to target might dissapear.

 

[blackcat20]

Doesn't count towards P1 earn/retain.
I'll stick to the points, good for those that can take advantage
" If selected, Loyalty Bonus Status Credits do not count towards attaining or retaining Platinum One status. "

Also note that Partner Gold now requires 2400 SC earn on QF/JQ
Anyone get an email about these changes ?

Email just landed in my inbox.

[TABLE="width: 100%"] [TR] [TD="class: x_font17a, align: left"]Dear blackcat20,
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]

[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="class: x_font17a, align: left"] We value your loyalty and your choice to fly with Qantas. That's why we're returning the favour and improving our existing Loyalty Bonus[SUP]+[/SUP] by giving you the power to choose your own reward.

From 3 November 2016, when you earn 500, 1,000, 1,500 or 2,000 Status Credits on eligible Qantas and Jetstar flights each membership year, you'll be rewarded with a Loyalty Bonus[SUP]+[/SUP] of either 8,000 Qantas Points or 50 Status Credits. It's up to you!

Take your membership to the next level

When you choose a Loyalty Bonus[SUP]+[/SUP] of 50 Status Credits, you'll be even closer to moving up or retaining your membership tier. With extra privileges on the horizon, all you need to do is keep flying to reach them.

It's all about providing you with a more rewarding experience.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

And there's a link: https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/flying/status-credits#benefits-summary

 

[RichardMEL]

Cue "Platinum is the new Gold" comments

 

[opusman]

So basically a 10% bonus of SCs.

 

[kermatu]

Interesting.

I am kind of glad it does not apply to P1 - they are being very strong on the qualification for this level (let's not start a tangent here about the value of P1). I like that they are holding the line on this though.

The 2400 SC change is interesting but is just another step to the pushing people to fly the home carrier more (ie: keep the revenue where they want it)

I actually laughed when I saw in the email that it doesn't count toward P1 - but I appreciate your point about valuing the status.

Now if only the status was of such value. (I know the thread shouldn't go there - but couldn't resist).

Giving people the choice of points or SCs is a good thing though.

 

[Hvr]

I reckon this will be the first of several 'enhancements' relating to status attainment and retention.

Don't be too surprised to see a minimum QF/JQ requirement for each tier per the current P1 requirements.

 

[opusman]

I reckon this will be the first of several 'enhancements' relating to status attainment and retention.

Now that I'm getting close to LTG I'm quite certain the goalposts are going to be moved soon

 

[RichardMEL]

I reckon this will be the first of several 'enhancements' relating to status attainment and retention.

Don't be too surprised to see a minimum QF/JQ requirement for each tier per the current P1 requirements.

Agree that is the logical extension of these moves.

 

[pagingjoan]

Doesn't count towards P1 earn/retain.
I'll stick to the points, good for those that can take advantage
" If selected, Loyalty Bonus Status Credits do not count towards attaining or retaining Platinum One status. "

Also note that Partner Gold now requires 2400 SC earn on QF/JQ
Anyone get an email about these changes ?

No email here.

 

[kermatu]

Agree that is the logical extension of these moves.

A reaction to a spike in number of status pax from the double SC bonanza? I don't have facts on this to be clear, just my observations from friends and colleagues that they are Gold or Plat "for the first time".

 

[RichardMEL]

A reaction to a spike in number of status pax from the double SC bonanza? I don't have facts on this to be clear, just my observations from friends and colleagues that they are Gold or Plat "for the first time".

That wouldn't make sense to me - they(QF) put the DSC offer out there.. they would have run the numbers... I do not think this is really connected...

indeed offering SC at loyalty bonus time suggests they're not concerned.

as for pushing people to QF/JQ flying to earn status - again the DSC offer not relevant as it only applied to QF flying anyway

my 2 cents.

 

[kermatu]

That wouldn't make sense to me - they(QF) put the DSC offer out there.. they would have run the numbers... I do not think this is really connected...

indeed offering SC at loyalty bonus time suggests they're not concerned.

as for pushing people to QF/JQ flying to earn status - again the DSC offer not relevant as it only applied to QF flying anyway

my 2 cents.

Referring to future restructuring, not this change. But all speculation on my part anyway.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Interesting move and most certainly a great helping hand to those close to Qualifying Gold or Platinum that are just a smidgen away.
I just hope that the qualifying SC's required for each tier doesn't change anytime soon and set the goal posts further apart.

Overall as someone who is halfway between LTS & LTG, the bonus Status credits under this arrangement could come in handy.

 

[RichardMEL]

Referring to future restructuring, not this change. But all speculation on my part anyway.

I was too, in part.

I mean if they make Silver, Gold, Plat quals reliant on X QF/JQ SC earn I don't see how that may relate to any QFF SC promos

Now if they changed the SC levels for status that would be something else - pushing Gold to say 800, Plat to 1600 etc yes, I could see that, but it puts them further out of sync with VA and they probably don't want to go down that path

tbh this straategy seems a little odd to me as I can't quite see what the goal is. On the surface it seems customer friendly, but one wonders what the catch is, or if the other shoe will fall in the near/medium future..... that's probably the real concern for us all

 

[samh004]

This is exactly what I needed to see. Quickly logged in to flick the switch but now I see it is an option you're presented with afterwards. Regardless, my mother was going to be 10SC short of Platinum for the first time at the end of the year, and will now be across the line by 40SC!

I presume earning the bonus SC doesn't count towards loyalty bonuses either? Kind of makes things complicated... but otherwise the 2nd, 3rd and 4th bonuses would be easier and easier to attain?

I am kind of glad it does not apply to P1 - they are being very strong on the qualification for this level (let's not start a tangent here about the value of P1). I like that they are holding the line on this though.

I know at least one person who is getting a very sweet ride to P1. Perhaps half the number.

A reaction to a spike in number of status pax from the double SC bonanza? I don't have facts on this to be clear, just my observations from friends and colleagues that they are Gold or Plat "for the first time".

I also don't think this is connected... when they used to offer DSC to more in the past (when I got to WP and P1 on the back of it), that was a worse time for them

Overall as someone who is halfway between LTS & LTG, the bonus Status credits under this arrangement could come in handy.

It would certainly encourage me to fly more, if only to finally hit LTG before that is 'enhanced'. Removing LTG would make this new benefit less useful to me, and I'd probably not change my flying patterns.

 

[RichardMEL]

I know at least one person who is getting a very sweet ride to P1. Perhaps half the number.

DSC has absolutely helped me almost totally to more than half way so yes. It is a sweet ride.

These changes could lead to things like bonus offers in total not adding to P1 - and while that would make it much harder, it also would "level the field" more and in some respects I like it. Again, this is not about what one gets at the P1 level of the value of it (which varies) but that QF clearly wants to keep this as a level above. So it would not surprise me if future bonus SC offers may not apply. I've made P1 the "hard" way multiple years, so a change like this would actually be "fairer" in that respect and I wouldn't jump up and down about it.

The whole thing will get messy and far from simpler though if your bonus SC's don't count to the next loyalty bonus or indeed other levels (like the 2400 Platinum Bonus - which the email is specific in saying that, for now at least, it does)

All in all though I am not unhappy with this change. It devalues status a little bit more for those that want to see it that way but I don't mind it myself.

I'll stick with the points myself.