Qantas unveils the biggest changes to status in program history

[justinbrett]

At LTG they have Sapphire status across OW; no material incentive to fly Qantas over other OW carriers just for the benefits of Gold. So they might choose on price, for instance. The question is whether Qantas wants the punter who has reached LTG to then have a reason to keep paying for QF flights or not, or simply let them go to other carriers. You said above that them leaving for others would be a 'win/win' for Qantas. I disagree.

As to what QF might do about it - its been said a number of times by others - make LTP a realistic goal, or put some carrot out in front.



I'm in the same boat! Although if I could get a status match to QR Plat for Plat, I'd move over there.

Giving out LTP at a lower threshold is just exacerbating the problem you purport to exist - people will then just post “reached LTP, time to switch airlines”.

 

[RooFlyer]

Giving out LTP at a lower threshold is just exacerbating the problem you purport to exist - people will then just post “reached LTP, time to switch airlines”.

Sure, but Qantas has earned so many more fares in the meantime!

 

[justinbrett]

Sure, but Qantas has earned so many more fares in the meantime!

Well I said it’s not a problem, you did.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I’ve been LTG for over 10 years and I’m still very happy to maintain WP (100% self funded) for the extra perks on QF and obviously OWE benefits.

+1 describes me to a T.

 

[mviy]

I suspect I might still go for WP sometimes after getting LTG, but won’t see the need to keep it every year.

 

[VPS]

Someone with LTG has more incentive to fly QF than anyone, they have status with no further obligations. If after slogging it out for 14K SCs they choose not to fly QF, I’m not sure what you expect QF to do about it.

There will always be the grass is greener crowd (for all airlines) and for every person walking away from QF there’s another coming back - we’re not spoilt for choice when it comes to airlines. Just look at the VA forum after their (much worse) recent changes.

Umm - I replied to you earlier that I have been LTG for six years and rarely flown Qantas - I go for BFOD

 

[RooFlyer]

Well I said it’s not a problem, you did.

Nah, I didn't say Qantas earning more fares is a problem. You've probably mis-understood again:

I reckon QF would much rather the punters didn't walk away after LTG. No shareholder return from someone not flying the airline.

or missed the end bit here:

At LTG they have Sapphire status across OW; no material incentive to fly Qantas over other OW carriers just for the benefits of Gold.

But here we go again. Lets just let it rest, eh?

 

[Johnxx]

With the loss of Points Club I'll be shopping at Coles almost exclusively now....the Woolies Bank for Christmas 125k points drop in the first week of membership year was an essential element of the program.
0.34 Krisflyer points per $1 spend at Coles is pretty good considering how easy it is to accumulate the points

 

[Kangol]

With the loss of Points Club I'll be shopping at Coles almost exclusively now....the Woolies Bank for Christmas 125k points drop in the first week of membership year was an essential element of the program.
0.34 Krisflyer points per $1 spend at Coles is pretty good considering how easy it is to accumulate the points

Which card are you referring to for the 0.34 KF / dollar?

 

[SYD]

Which card are you referring to for the 0.34 KF / dollar?

Presumably FB->VA->SQ?

 

[bussyboy]

Presumably FB->VA->SQ?

@Johnxx
And with Coles Plus Saver and Coles Plus (10% off a shop each month and free delivery on orders) - base earn is 3FB/$ which is about 0.97KF/$.

 

[Johnxx]

@Johnxx
And with Coles Plus Saver and Coles Plus (10% off a shop each month and free delivery on orders) - base earn is 3FB/$ which is about 0.97KF/$.

Yes, Flybuys to Velocity when the 5% bonus transfer is on then to KF. I'll look into the Coles Savers but you wouldn't get the bonus on the big points - 10k for 4 shops of $50 (which I get offered 4 times per year) and 20X on the gift cards but they would definitely push the Krisflyer average closer to 0.5 KF.....either way bye bye Woolies. It was nice to earn QFF points but the easy setup to PC+ was the big fish

 

[esseeeayeenn]

My comments on the "enhancements"

New milestone rewards between Lifetime Gold & Platinum
In my humble opinion, this package is both a disaster and a slap in the face for loyal passengers.
The main problem is that the main problem remains unresolved.

The main problem is that Lifetime Platinum Status is in fact a Lifetime Super-Platinum One Status.
The obvious and necessary solution is a logical and consistent regime of lifetime status thresholds.
In other words, a threshold for each tier of lifetime status which is based on a consistent multiplier of the annual threshold.

For Lifetime Silver, the threshold is 7,000 = 20 x 350 - the annual Silver threshold.
For Lifetime Gold, the threshold is 14,000 = 20 x 700 - the annual Gold threshold.
So far, so good.

But for Lifetime Platinum, the threshold is 75,000 = 53.6 x 1,400 - the annual Platinum threshold.

So the truth is there is no such thing as a QFF lifetime Platinum Status.
What goes by that name is much more difficult to attain, and delivers more benefits.

The remedy is to introduce a real Lifetime Platinum Status with a logically consistent status credit threshold and commensurate benefits.
Logically, the threshold for Lifetime Platinum should be 28,000 and for Lifetime Platinum One, 72,000.
I wouldn't quibble over the difference between 72,000 and 75,000.

What Qantas has introduced instead is not only different in the detail, it is a fundamentally, conceptually different thing.

One of the main attractions of Lifetime Status is that it continues after your peak flying years are over.
After you retire, when there are no more work trips, and your retirement income may not be able to fund the same frequency of travel, you know that you are going to be able to continue to enjoy, for example, lounge access, without worrying about your class of travel or earning SCs.

What Qantas has given us is not a benefit of this nature at all.
Instead, they have given us an additional benefit during our peak flying years.
While we are still flying, we can earn and "bank" additional years of Platinum status.
At best, this will delay our drop in status by 5 years.
I'm hoping to live for much longer than 5 years post-retirement.

But there is also a devil in the detail.
The threshold for each additional year of Platinum Status is 10,000 SCs.
That's more than 7 times the new threshold to retain Platinum and more than 8 times the current threshold.
So for every 7 additional years of flying at a Platinum level, we may earn as little as one additional year of Platinum Status.

This is the slap in the face.

What Qantas needs to do is cut the bullshit, the tricks, and, frankly, the misleading and deceptive conduct contrary to consumer law.
If you're really interested in simplifying the program, start here.

New, permanent ways to earn status credits on the ground​

Awful, horrible idea. Reverse it, immediately.
The separation between points and SCs has meant that you need to fly to earn status.
It should stay that way.

The initial limits on this mean its impact will be marginal.
But it's the thin edge of the wedge.

New benefits added to existing status tiers​

Meaningless tinkering around the edges.

Roll over status credits​

The only "enhancement" which is actually positive.
However why impose a limit?
The limits make the impact of this marginal.

Removal of Loyalty Bonuses and Higher status retention targets​

These are actual and/or de facto increases in the threshold to attain and retain status.
They are self-evidently negative and a devaluation of the QFF program.

Points Club will be axed and Green Tier gets the chop too​

Je m'en fiche.
For the monoglots, I don't give a cough.
These subprograms were always distractions.

Overall comments and actions to take​

As a Lifetime Gold member who continues to earn Platinum status each year, there is no prospect that I will achieve Lifetime Platinum (One) Status.
Despite the changes, my best option is to start using my BA FF membership for all my OneWorld flights.
There is a very realistic prospect of achieving Lifetime Gold, which also carries OneWorld Emerald status.
The only potential downside is a year without OWE benefits while I earn status with BA.
However, as I will be flying in business or first anyway, this will have little to no practical impact on me.

It will, however, represent my own little FU to Qantas in response to the giant FU they just delivered to their most loyal passengers.

I prefer this defiance, however meaningless and trivial, to the stomach-churning sycophancy which has generally been on display in response to these "enhancements".

Just FYI I am currently writing a complaint of misleading and deceptive conduct over lifetime platinum status. Will let you know how it goes.

 

[Mr_Tee]

Just FYI I am currently writing a complaint of misleading and deceptive conduct over lifetime platinum status. Will let you know how it goes.

What is the basis of your complaint, if you’re able to share that at this stage?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

At LTG they have Sapphire status across OW; no material incentive to fly Qantas over other OW carriers just for the benefits of Gold. So they might choose on price, for instance. The question is whether Qantas wants the punter who has reached LTG to then have a reason to keep paying for QF flights or not, or simply let them go to other carriers. You said above that them leaving for others would be a 'win/win' for Qantas. I disagree.

As to what QF might do about it - its been said a number of times by others - make LTP a realistic goal, or put some carrot out in front.



I'm in the same boat! Although if I could get a status match to QR Plat for Plat, I'd move over there.

With the recent changes Qantas seem to be saying that they do want to retain the punters who have reached LTG.
Because they are giving them some carrots.
The problem is the carrots are so small and wizened and dried out and so hard to pull from the ground that they're no real incentive at all.
As I said in my main post in this thread, the solution is as simple as it is obvious.
A proper, proportionate threshold for true Lifetime Platinum Status.
And an honest re-badging of the current LPS Tier as Lifetime Platinum One.
The tinkering at the edges with one extra year of WP for every 5 years earned is just insulting.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

What is the basis of your complaint, if you’re able to share that at this stage?

That what is advertised in big print as Lifetime Platinum Status is actually, when you read the fine print, Lifetime Platinum One Status.
So all the claims about "status credits never go away" and the promises of rewards for lifetime loyalty are misleading.
Please note that the consumer law concept of "misleading or deceptive conduct" does not require dishonesty or falsehood.
Only conduct which is likely to mislead or deceive.

 

[Mr_Tee]

That what is advertised in big print as Lifetime Platinum Status is actually, when you read the fine print, Lifetime Platinum One Status.
So all the claims about "status credits never go away" and the promises of rewards for lifetime loyalty are misleading.
Please note that the consumer law concept of "misleading or deceptive conduct" does not require dishonesty or falsehood.
Only conduct which is likely to mislead or deceive.

Good luck with that argument.

If QF even bother to respond to you it might be along the line of “We can design the program however we like. The terms and conditions are clearly spelt out for all to read and understand and make their own decisions if they want to participate or not.”

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Good luck with that argument.

If QF even bother to respond to you it might be along the line of “We can design the program however we like. The terms and conditions are clearly spelt out for all to read and understand and make their own decisions if they want to participate or not.”

You're missing the point.
The ACCC doesn't accept these "read the fine print" arguments any more.
If the big, bold claims are misleading, they're unlawful.

 

[ChrisMars]

That what is advertised in big print as Lifetime Platinum Status is actually, when you read the fine print, Lifetime Platinum One Status.
So all the claims about "status credits never go away" and the promises of rewards for lifetime loyalty are misleading.
Please note that the consumer law concept of "misleading or deceptive conduct" does not require dishonesty or falsehood.
Only conduct which is likely to mislead or deceive.

Hey, apologise, I didnt understand what is misleading, do you mind clarifying a bit, I am curious.

 

[DejaBrew]

If the big, bold claims are misleading, they're unlawful.

But in what way are you arguing they are being explicitly misleading/deceptive?

Qantas' legal/comms team are likely to have crafted the various communications and press releases such that they are technically true when pressure-tested against Consumer Law, which would mean they aren't in breach. No doubt there's a very high probability that they're skirting a fine line with it, but I suspect you would be extremely hard pressed to prove a case against them.

By all means, have a crack at it. But I'd maintain very low expectation of a favourable outcome.