silver & qc - New benefits to help you enjoy the journey

[footyguy]

hi.

i received this today via email.
(apologies if already posted)

More domestic check-in
options for Silver and Qantas Club Members

Faster, Smarter
Check-in remains the quickest and easiest way to check-in, but should you have
any specific requirements, Silver Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members are
now able to use the Premium Service desk at our domestic airports.

Our upgrades are getting even
better

As you may be aware, Qantas Frequent Flyers are able to
request a Flight Upgrade Award on selected fares for Qantas operated domestic
and international flights (with a QF flight number on your ticket), by
registering online or via the call centre[SUP]+[/SUP].

We’ve also been taking your feedback into
account in designing a new, even better points upgrades experience, and we’re
introducing some key changes later this year. In the past year, the success rate
for Bronze members in obtaining a Flight Upgrade Award internationally has been
on average 55%, and we expect the changes below to make success even more
likely.

The new upgrades experience

•	From December 2011, when you have registered for a Flight Upgrade Award, we’ll notify you with an SMS when your Flight Upgrade Award is confirmed so you can maximise the time to prepare for your upgraded Qantas journey.
On international services, we’re also making the following changes from December 2011:
•	The ability to register for a Flight Upgrade Award at any time from booking up until 24 hours before your scheduled departure,
•	Where possible, Silver and Qantas Club members will receive successful Flight Upgrade Award confirmation from up to 24 hours prior to their departure time,
•	We will also be processing Flight Upgrade Awards closer to the time of departure. This means there will be fewer empty seats in First, Business and Premium Economy on the aircraft on many occasions. For example, if a customer changes their plans on the day of departure and decides not to travel, we will be able to upgrade another customer into their seat.
And on domestic flights, from early 2012:
•	We’ll be introducing a domestic registration process for Flight Upgrade Awards on Qantas operated flights (with a QF flight number on your ticket), where your Flight Upgrade Award request can not immediately be confirmed. Confirmation of a successful domestic Flight Upgrade Award from the point of booking, as well as the ability to request ‘on departure’ Flight Upgrade Awards will remain available.

 

[k_sheep]

Yay for the check in backflip

 

[harvyk]

I thought the "more domestic check in options" wording was a little cheeky, a more appropriate way of saying it would have been, "a few months ago we screwed you over, and we're tired of seeing you flying with other carriers as a result"

sorry qf, I'm not going to forgot that this is something I had until you took it away. Why couldn't they simply put into their email "we f'ed up and forgot you where actually a loyal customer, we're sorry. btw the guy who decided screwing you over was a good idea has now been fired."

 

[Boeta]

In the past year, the success rate
for Bronze members in obtaining a Flight Upgrade Award internationally has been
on average 55%

Somehow, I really doubt that figure!

Although it is good to get the priority check-in domestically now, albeit there may be more people in the priority queue than the normal one now

 

[Greggsy]

Hooray!!! My impending LTS is now worth something again.

 

[draper]

Somebody in Management finally realised that those of us at the bottom of the pile who PAY for their own Qantas Club memberships and flights do add to the bottom line.
When Qantas started tinkering with the bottom tier members benefits and concentrated on those of you who have attained and seek to retain their Status Level my Family who are all Qantas Club Members (x5) bailed.
In the past 1 year alone Qantas has missed bums on seats from my Family travelling at the rear of the aircraft and up front, by a conservative estimate , 20 seats to and from Europe, 10 to and from the Far East and 10 to and from Northern America.
Small change, maybe, but it all adds up.
Too late to also add 6 seats to Europe (and the Qantas bottom line) already secured for next year. Other carriers value those of us that use our own money and are mindful of how we spend it.

Still not happy with Qantas. Whoever in Management decided that the back of the plane and Qantas Club Members were of no value should be made to "walk the plank".
In our case the boat has left the wharf, Qantas is going to have to do a lot of sucking up to entice my Family "back on board".

To the "suits", enjoy the benefits up front and the status tiers. Never forget that we are all aboard the same ship (aircraft), it is just a matter of who is in command that will see us all arrive safely.
Management must never dismiss those of us "down the back" who may one day rise to the top.

 

[Sojourner]

Unfortunately for some, it is too late for QF. They've had a taste of the new world and may not come back to QF (as often).

The other thing they should fix for both their Silver an paid up QC members is to remove the ridiculous restriction of only 1 checked in baggage with 32kg. I've asked a few QF staff about this and there seems to be a consensus that it is unfair and the baggage handlers aren't to happy about having to move more bags above 23kg these days.

 

[thewinchester]

I actually cheered at this announcement, because it is, at least in part, a recognition that the domestic benefits of paid QP membership were eroded.

Having said this, I personally haven't used a service desk since NGCI was introduced, save for when assigned an exit row.

Despite my 0/2 record with the baggage injectors, the smooth operation of the service has meant using a service desk (premium or otherwise) would have slowed down the process.

And while it would have been nice to use a premium counter when having international connections, the lines dedicated to this purpose move quite fast out of my usual port for this not to be a huge concern.

Unfortunately for some, it is too late for QF. They've had a taste of the new world and may not come back to QF (as often).

The other thing they should fix for both their Silver an paid up QC members is to remove the ridiculous restriction of only 1 checked in baggage with 32kg. I've asked a few QF staff about this and there seems to be a consensus that it is unfair and the baggage handlers aren't to happy about having to move more bags above 23kg these days.

Sadly, I agree with this statement - both to the loss of members and the baggage allowance issue.

I'm hoping the piece baggage limit for QP members will be reviewed (and reversed) in the fullness of time for domestic travel. Yesterday's announcement on check-in leaves me positive that this may happen at some time in the future.

 

[dfcatch]

I actually cheered at this announcement, because it is, at least in part, a recognition that the domestic benefits of paid QP membership were eroded.

Having said this, I personally haven't used a service desk since NGCI was introduced, save for when assigned an exit row.

Despite my 0/2 record with the baggage injectors, the smooth operation of the service has meant using a service desk (premium or otherwise) would have slowed down the process.

And while it would have been nice to use a premium counter when having international connections, the lines dedicated to this purpose move quite fast out of my usual port for this not to be a huge concern.


Sadly, I agree with this statement - both to the loss of members and the baggage allowance issue.

I'm hoping the piece baggage limit for QP members will be reviewed (and reversed) in the fullness of time for domestic travel. Yesterday's announcement on check-in leaves me positive that this may happen at some time in the future.

Unfortunately - any swap from piece system to weight system results in a loss / degradation of total weight allowed.

And trust me, for those time when you need the aggregate weight, better to have to pack bigger bags, than a bunch of smaller ones that still don't provide for everything you need.

Ie. I would much prefer 2 x 23kg rather than just 23kg in total.

Or 2 x 32 kg which would naturally be replaced by just 32kg.

Being allowed 2 bags is the point.

IMHO - QP and PS members should be allowed two bags too - just like they were allowed until we went to the weight system a couple of years ago.

Ie. QP/PS were allowed 2 x 32kgs for free, bronze got 1 x 32kgs. So we're still worse off.....but this is a small improvement.

 

[BAM1748]

I agree with pretty much all of the comments, they took something away we liked and now announce there is a new check in option. Just a few months later. Wonder if heads did roll.