Double SC's - A mere Marketing tool or Doom for WP?

[Feper]

I started 2012 as NB having once in my lifetime reached PS. Thanks to a double SC offer coinciding with a burst of flexi fares I've finally cracked it. looking forward to experiencing the Sydney first lounge next year.

2 further examples on this thread alone of the continued devaluation of WP and SG and proof of its use as a marketing tool.

Change is in the wind

 

[drron]

Re: WP for the first time ever

2 further examples on this thread alone of the continued devaluation of WP and SG and proof of its use as a marketing tool.

Change is in the wind

And you wonder why you get critiscised.

But congratulations to Ashleyn and lovestotravel.Splendid examples of the QF strategy to get more BIS.

 

[Feper]

Re: WP for the first time ever

And you wonder why you get critiscised.

But congratulations to Ashleyn and lovestotravel.Splendid examples of the QF strategy to get more BIS.

Splendid examples of the devaluation of the SG & WP program.

Did they award the gold medal in London to Usain Bolt for running only the first 50 meters?

 

[nlagalle]

Splendid examples of the devaluation of the SG & WP program.

Did they award the gold medal in London to Usain Bolt for running only the first 50 meters?

And how is that? QF got bums in seats and as I've pointed out to you at least twice already, even with double SC's it's still a big whack of flying to get to platinum. And at the end of the day it'll only be a small number that used the promo. And certainly not enough to crowd the lounge.

Edit: on bolt, bad example, he'd already won the race after 50 metres..

 

[nlagalle]

I sense things are going to change rapidly. I would not be surprised if Platinum benefits are eroded further include access to Lounges.

Don't agree JohnK, QF aren't about to change WP access, for if they did the F lounge would be like a ghost town.. Its the stand out benefit. I'm not sure where you get the idea from.

 

[Feper]

Re: WP for the first time ever

And how is that? QF got bums in seats and as I've pointed out to you at least twice already, even with double SC's it's still a big whack of flying to get to platinum. And at the end of the day it'll only be a small number that used the promo. And certainly not enough to crowd the lounge.

Edit: on bolt, bad example, he'd already won the race after 50 metres..

No, he was in front at 50 meters, he only won when he finished.

You are correct QF has got bums on seats, both in the planes and in the lounges, it is a total marketing tool, but the fact is that it devalues the program.

If QF where to give you LTG tomorrow even though you are only at 62.51% would feel the same sense of achievement?

 

[nlagalle]

No, he was in front at 50 meters, he only won when he finished.

You are correct QF has got bums on seats, both in the planes and in the lounges, it is a total marketing tool, but the fact is that it devalues the program.

If QF where to give you LTG tomorrow even though you are only at 62.51% would feel the same sense of achievement?

Ok he wasn't going to lose, if you want to be more precise. He'd already won at that point. As I said not a good analogy.

Why does it devalue it? Sure a handful of people may get platinum status that may not normally attain it, however they may strive to retain it next year too so that is a win for QF too. They get more bum in seats. I see no devalue when they dangle the carrot for a few people. Dropping the sc requirement to a lower level for all would devalue it, as its open to all then. But we all know the DSC is targeted.

If QF decided tomorrow that I'd get LTG on my current sc count I'd be Meh, no big deal. By the time I drop back to gold through lack of travel I'd have already made the 14k.

Oh and if you are looking at it that way, thanks to previous DSC promos I've had in the past. I'll probably make LTG with only about 80% of normally earned SC.

 

[ReLoad]

Re: WP for the first time ever

You are correct QF has got bums on seats, both in the planes and in the lounges, it is a total marketing tool, but the fact is that it devalues the program.

No doubt it devalued the program, its like printing more money, it has an effect. (on what scale is the real question)
However, really, what does an extra few people in the lounge at any one time do? bugger all. Whilst it is devalued yes, the actual true effect is so minimal that its not worth the effort to debate it.

I say congratulations to the OP, well done on your achievement and I look forward to hearing about your new experiences as a freshly minted WP!

 

[medhead]

To be deleted

 

[opusman]

Re: WP for the first time ever

As opposed to positive speculation? All you have to do is look at the way Gold has been enhanced in the past 12 months to get an idea of what has been happening.

What actual published benefits have been lost from any of the tiers recently? All I can think of is unpublished ones like ATA and free exit rows.

(edit: and the PS check-in changes which I think have all been reinstated anyway)

 

[medhead]

ATA was a published benefit. Not paying for exit rows also should have been published in theory (but I know nothing about it)


Sent from the Throne

 

[oz_mark]

Re: WP for the first time ever

As opposed to positive speculation? All you have to do is look at the way Gold has been enhanced in the past 12 months to get an idea of what has been happening.

Which particular enhancements to Gold are you referring to?

And there is panic going on right now. I think they rushed the Emirates merger and Oneworld has reacted to that decision and now they have changed the notice period of changes from 6 months to 3 months.

It's not a merger, and I doubt that the change of notice period has anything to do with a panic from oneworld.

 

[nlagalle]

As opposed to positive speculation? All you have to do is look at the way Gold has been enhanced in the past 12 months to get an idea of what has been happening.

And there is panic going on right now. I think they rushed the Emirates merger and Oneworld has reacted to that decision and now they have changed the notice period of changes from 6 months to 3 months.

Also I know it is just speculation but I see any change to increase QFF points in lieu of taxes and surcharges decreasing as a serious devaluation. I value QFF points a lot more than they way the airline would value them.

JohnK I don't recall any changes downgrading any tier recently. Why have OW reacted badly? I've not seen one article suggesting that at all. Certainly the changes of the 6 to 3 months isn't an indication. One World need QF for OZ connections. They won't be kicking them out anytime soon.

Oh and well done to both the OP and lovestotravel. Despite some members deriding you it's still a lot of flying to get to Platinum. So enjoy it and don't listen to what some sour grapes here say.

 

[beardoc]

Re: WP for the first time ever

If QF where to give you LTG tomorrow even though you are only at 62.51% would feel the same sense of achievement?

I think there's the kicker - it's not an achievement - it's a program that QF runs to improve the loyalty of their customers, especially the customers that bring them the most revenue. I think there's an important distinction here - that someone else gets those benefits too does not necessarily lead to a devaluation of the program. Also inherent in this is that QF wants you to feel special, as though you're in an exclusive club, because for a segment of the market, that's what keeps them flying with QF. But people are not better people, and not of higher value in the community by virtue of their QF WP status. They are still the same sort of people.

I for one am stoked that ashelyn has made WP - I really do appreciate the benefits of WP, and it is always great seeing fellow travellers getting there as well. I know it won't happen, but it would be kind of cool if everyone could get those same benefits - so many of my friends that hate flying don't quite understand why I like it so much, until they fly with me and discover all the little perks. It turns flying from a chore into a pleasure.

If QF sees benefit in offering double status credit promotions to certain individuals to make sure they increase the BIS miles of the airline, and the ensures the future viability of the airline so that they can continue to provide the same benefits for me and others, then I'm all for it. The lounges are not finite resources that we must stop everyone else coming to in order to be able to enjoy them ourselves. Indeed, more people using them will mean faster turnover of food in the lounge, more staff to serve drinks, a broader range of drinks, etc. and upgraded facilities in the long run. We don't need to fear the new DSC WPs - they're ensuring the viability of the airline.

Welcome to the club, ashelyn.

 

[simongr]

Re: WP for the first time ever

Any chance we can split out the recurrent negative theme into a new thread - I think it is a bit unfair on ashleyn and ltt to have such a downer in their celebration thread.

 

[Feper]

Re: WP for the first time ever

Any chance we can split out the recurrent negative theme into a new thread - I think it is a bit unfair on ashleyn and ltt to have such a downer in their celebration thread.

Im afraid to pint out that the emperor has no clothes.

 

[opusman]

Re: WP for the first time ever

ATA was a published benefit.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't. For example, here is a snapshot of the list of platinum benefits as of July 2010:

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Platinum Benefits

 

[DTM1]

Re: WP for the first time ever

All you have to do is look at the way Gold has been enhanced in the past 12 months to get an idea of what has been happening.

I'm not sure that gold has been "enhanced" at all. From where I sit, it appears that the WP value proposition has been slightly eroded by the increase in Gold benefits over the past couple of years.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: WP for the first time ever

I'm pretty sure it wasn't. For example, here is a snapshot of the list of platinum benefits as of July 2010:

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Platinum Benefits

It definitely was published as all WP's got the email saying it was changing.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: WP for the first time ever

I'm pretty sure it wasn't. For example, here is a snapshot of the list of platinum benefits as of July 2010:

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Platinum Benefits

ATA was a published benefit. It was covered in the Lounge Access section.