Qantas unveils the biggest changes to status in program history

[tassiemark]

I think QFF are missing a trick on the requal thresholds. They are a powerful stretch/sunk cost psychology, the idea that a couple more SCs this year will save you a bunch next year. I do think people who value plat more in certain years eg when international travel is booked will be more likely to just forego it in the off years rather than try to maintain a continuous run

This is exactly me. Will renew WP this year, but the difference between 1200 and 1400 annually is a big leap with how I fly and value the status - which is mostly for the QF F lounges and OWE benefits, and occasionally requesting CR seats for my partner. It's not like HBA will ever have a J lounge... So with the changes I may soft land G every other year we're not planning a big intl trip.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Having a quick read through have they said what is happening with the Partner Gold/ 50K points at 2500 SC and the other P1 bonuses ?

Can’t recall seeing it mentioned so hopefully it’s staying.

 

[levelnine]

Will renew WP this year, but the difference between 1200 and 1400 annually is a big leap with how I fly and value the status - which is mostly for the QF F lounges and OWE benefits, and occasionally requesting CR seats for my partner. It's not like HBA will ever have a J lounge... So with the changes I may soft land G every other year we're not planning a big intl trip.

With the loss of the loyalty bonus, the extra 200SC required to retain, the loss of PCP 100SC rollover and Green Tier 50SC earn (offset, at most, by the 140SC earn on ground), and the possible devaluation of SC earn on award flights, I think a lot of WPs will be forced to consider whether it is feasible to retain Plat status.

 

[SYD]

Having a quick read through have they said what is happening with the Partner Gold/ 50K points at 2500 SC and the other P1 bonuses ?

Can’t recall seeing it mentioned so hopefully it’s staying.

Pretty sure that there’s no change.

From the FAQ:

Are the Platinum and Platinum One Bonus Rewards being retired as well?​

No, we will continue to offer these rewards.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/program-changes.html

With the loss of the loyalty bonus, the extra 200SC required to retain, the loss of PCP 100SC rollover and Green Tier 50SC earn (offset, at most, by the 140SC earn on ground), and the possible devaluation of SC earn on award flights, I think a lot of WPs will be forced to consider whether it is feasible to retain Plat status.

Less over crowding in the F/J lounges….

 

[Aeryn]

Overcrowding is bad for you (well, us), but Qantas will want to maximize lounge usage one way or another, as long as it brings revenue. Something else will come up to monetise those empty seats. Co-branded credit card like Virgin is doing?

But the CC companies pay Qantas for the lounge passes that come with the card, whereas complimentary QC from PC+ was Qantas funded.

PC+ members are also credit card churners, so it's more of a straight devaluation for these people. Instead of getting Qantas Club, they now get a few lounge passes.

Not all PC+ are churners, many are those that can channel business spend via cards. With longer exclusion periods these days, even churners would be picking up fewer lounge passes (its usually 2 per card) and unlike QC membership, passes dont allow guests/kids.

 

[esquire]

For someone like me on 67000 lifetime status credits who gave up flying Qantas 6 years ago, the offer of 4 years of platinum is actually very enticing.....

Agree I’m on 53000 at the moment I’ll happily take the 3 WP years plus another soon. Clearly they were listening to feedback at least. Might make LTP but doubt it

 

[levelnine]

Not all PC+ are churners, many are those that can channel business spend via cards. With longer exclusion periods these days, even churners would be picking up fewer lounge passes (its usually 2 per card) and unlike QC membership, passes dont allow guests/kids.

There is a big overlap in the Venn diagram. And indeed, it's a big devaluation for those people.

Less over crowding in the F/J lounges….

As with all forms of status, people want the line to be cut off just behind them

 

[SYD]

There is a big overlap in the Venn diagram. And indeed, it's a big devaluation for those people.

Until we see what, if anything replaces PC.

 

[levelnine]

Until we see what, if anything replaces PC.

If the whole point is to streamline status and remove the PC program, I don't think there will be any replacement on the lounge access front. SC earn on award flights is different as they specifically mentioned that feature is under consideration for retention in some form.

 

[http_x92]

Made PC+ a few years it existed and I have relied on rewards flights to earn status credits especially around DSC time.

Heres hoping at the very least we can still earn SC on rewards flights after 2027.

Losing the 100 SC rollover from PC+ will be tough but I imagine being a Silver replaces that anyway.

 

[LionKing]

Or even more likely if they do a lot of Int travel. I usually hit the 7K mark and hardly any of that is domestic.

Of course, I can earn 1000 SCs minium on each international trip at the end of the semester.

 

[Dalec]

I assume it will but is it 100% confirmed that the SC earn rate will remain the same? I am about to do my annual MEL-SYD-AKL-BNE-MEL DSC run which nets me 540SC and expect that earn rate will remain the same after these changes are applied?

 

[SYD]

If the whole point is to streamline status and remove the PC program, I don't think there will be any replacement on the lounge access front.

Given the majority of PC+ members are probably business operators, shifting focus to QBR perks would make more sense. There’s already QP discounts etc there that could be positively enhanced.

I doubt QF have any special mandate to treat churners well. They’re just happy to make the money from the banks - for now.

SC earn on award flights is different as they specifically mentioned that feature is under consideration for retention in some form.

Yes, to me - it’s the main concern.

 

[DejaBrew]

...I don't think there will be any replacement on the lounge access front.

Won't be surprised if this is indeed the case. Options are obviously still there for buying QC (either annually or via flexi), otherwise lounge access is easily obtained through Status. If they retain SC earn on award flights, then that opens the option for high points earners to still attain Status through award flights, which in turn entitles them to lounge access. If anything, this likely encourages more QFF points spending and/or more revenue fare purchasing.

 

[Johnxx]

So I am PC+ now and waiting for my anniversary in September to dump 350k for the 100SC rollover
but now it's better to attain just PC for next year right now so I can earn SC on CR in 2027?

 

[Rich]

Absolutely zilch in this for P1s who are QF's most loyal FFs.

What more do they want?

 

[moa999]

Wonder how the removal of PC/PC+ will effect the points conversion mobs like pay.com.au

 

[DejaBrew]

What more do they want?

Rollover SCs counting toward the 2700SC minimum earn requirement on QF would have been nice

 

[SYD]

So I am PC+ now and waiting for my anniversary in September to dump 350k for the 100SC rollover
but now it's better to attain just PC for next year right now so I can earn SC on CR in 2027?

So where on the PC path are you currently? I’d be looking to make sure I was already at 150k well before Sep (at least to preserve SC earn thru to Sep 2027).

If you’re very lucky and “Late 2026” = Oct to Dec, you might even get to do PC to Sep 2028! . Although I suspect that’s a very small crowd that can dump 150k in (within the respective limits) that quickly!

 

[Pushka]

MrP will benefit. For the WP bank year. I won't. And maybe even more so if the LTG goal is shifted before I can get there.