Article: Frequent flyers to gain under restructure

[oz_mark]

From News: Frequent flyers to gain under restructure | NEWS.com.au Business

RESTRICTIONS on redeeming frequent flyer points could be lifted after sweeping changes to the Qantas loyalty program, expected to be announced this week.

The new arrangement would allow travellers to use points towards any scheduled Qantas flight, similar to a system now operated by other airlines, including Air New Zealand

 

[NYCguy]

From News: Frequent flyers to gain under restructure | NEWS.com.au Business

:!:ATTENTION ALL "CHICKEN LITTLE" DOOMSAYERS - please refer to above:!:

 

[hardya]

:!:ATTENTION ALL "CHICKEN LITTLE" DOOMSAYERS - please refer to above:!:

but what about other parts of that article, such as:

"Essentially, any seat on Qantas would be available for frequent flyers," he said. "I don't see any negatives for consumers, other than the usual -- which it that the value of frequent flyer points is diluted constantly."

 

[dajop]

:!:ATTENTION ALL "CHICKEN LITTLE" DOOMSAYERS - please refer to above:!:

Will wait and see, but personally I think it will just re-inforce the predictions of doomsayers. I suspect it will mean that on a considerable no of flights where seats can be obtained today as redemptions, you will have to pay considerably more points to do so. Virgin Blue have this policy, but on many flights the number of points required is high (30K for MEL-SYD one way) .

Again will wait and see, but I suspect this will see the demise of one of the WP benefits (ability to request that a redemption seat be made available on Intl flights), as seats will be available on all flights, albeit at a quite high no of points on many.

It WILL benefit those accruing millions of miles through corporate credit cards though!

 

[kyle]

Again will wait and see, but I suspect this will see the demise of one of the WP benefits (ability to request that a redemption seat be made available on Intl flights), as seats will be available on all flights, albeit at a quite high no of points on many.

It WILL benefit those accruing millions of miles through corporate credit cards though!

Maybe QF is under pressure not just from its FFers to make the redemption seats more widely available, but from credit card companies such as Amex who are buying the points and which constitute a good revenue stream for QF. Just a thought.

 

[mabunji]

the value of frequent flyer points is diluted constantly."

..... But at the same time, there are more opportunities to earn frequent flyer points. AMEX now offer cards that accrue points at a ratio of 1.25 or 1.50, on top of introductory bonuses. Additionally there are numerous mortgages, margin loans and other financial products offering points.

I don't believe that my spending habits have changed greatly - I still put the same amount of 'stuff' on my card. Inflation and the imposition of GST has increased my credit card bill. My card now accrues points at 1.25 points per dollar. Bottom line I am accruing points on my credit card much faster than I did previously.

Best advice has always been that you spend the points as soon as you can - they will also be devalued over time. It is naive to expect anything else.

 

[drron]

When they say frequent flyers to gain it automatically worries me.Just hope they leave the OW awards alone which is where all my CC points that cant be transferred to AA go.

 

[oz_mark]

..... But at the same time, there are more opportunities to earn frequent flyer points. AMEX now offer cards that accrue points at a ratio of 1.25 or 1.50, on top of introductory bonuses. Additionally there are numerous mortgages, margin loans and other financial products offering points.

Qantas have also made noises about being able to get points from a variety of other sources as well (Supermarkets, Service stations have all been suggested). This is only going to work, long term, if there is a reasonable availability of seats.

 

[drron]

This mornings Sunrise news is talking about FF points expiring which I guess means they will be moving to 18 months which seems the norm now.Shouldnt worry any frequent or informed flyers.

 

[oz_mark]

This mornings Sunrise news is talking about FF points expiring which I guess means they will be moving to 18 months which seems the norm now.Shouldnt worry any frequent or informed flyers.

Aeroplan reduced from 3 years to 1 year recently.

 

[serfty]

Unused Aeroplan miles expire after 7 years from the date of earning, irrespective of account activity.

 

[futaris]

QF points have been seriously devalued over the last 7 years, anyway... Used to be able to get cheap domestic on QF points, or multistop itineraries, etc. And the fuel surcharges weren't there. The taxes definitely weren't that much.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well I certainly hope that it is not 12 months from date of earn...as that may force me to use points on the less effective domestic flights rather than international flights.

I tend to save all my FF points from various sources up for an overseas trip for 5 (family) every second year or so.

Lately I had been thinking about stockpiling for the RTW award...



18 months gives more flexibilty to me than 12 months as I cannot just take leave whenever I like....3 years to me is the desired minimum.



If QFF goes this way I will have to think about an AMEX card that I can "store" points on. I currently use the premium card as it is free and came with bonus points.


Citibank....I think offers an unlimited period??? Does anyone know?

 

[simongr]

If QFF go the same way as AA for example - it is not time from date of earning - but time since last activity. So you would not be required to take a flight within 12 months of earning points - just within 12 months of the last time you posted points to your account.

If you had a very large balance of points all you would need to do is transfer some in from another source to keep your account active.

Look up - the sky is no closer to the ground than it was yesterday...

 

[oz_mark]

Unused Aeroplan miles expire after 7 years from the date of earning, irrespective of account activity.

Not true, you must transact at least once every 12 months:

18. All mileage in an account expires if the Aeroplan member has not accumulated or redeemed Aeroplan Miles for a period of 12 consecutive months. Mileage may expire without further notice.

19. Mileage in an account expires 7 years (84 months) after the date of accumulation. Mileage accumulated in an account prior to January 1, 2007 is deemed to have an accumulation date of December 31, 2006 (regardless of the actual mileage accumulation date). Mileage may expire without further notice.

 

[oz_mark]

Well I certainly hope that it is not 12 months from date of earn...as that may force me to use points on the less effective domestic flights rather than international flights.

There is a difference between how long points last if you are transacting on the account, and if you are not. At present Qantas points don't expire if you have some activity within a three year period, and it is this period that some airlines have reduced to 18 months, and Aeroplan to 12 months.

In the case of Aeroplan, points last for seven years from the date of accumulation, or the whole lot expire if you don't have any activity for twelve months.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thansk Oz_Mark...I could live with either of those systems.

 

[serfty]

Unused Aeroplan miles expire after 7 years from the date of earning, irrespective of account activity.

Not true, you must transact at least once every 12 months:

It's absolutely true, if you earn an Aeroplan Mile today, it will expire in August 2014, unless it is 'used' before then, even if you have continued account activity at least every twelve months. When redeeming Aeroplan awards, oldest miles get 'used' first.

19. Mileage in an account expires 7 years (84 months) after the date of accumulation. Mileage accumulated in an account prior to January 1, 2007 is deemed to have an accumulation date of December 31, 2006 (regardless of the actual mileage accumulation date). Mileage may expire without further notice.

 

[oz_mark]

It's absolutely true, if you earn an Aeroplan Mile today, it will expire in August 2014, unless it is 'used' before then, even if you have continued account activity at least every twelve months. When redeeming Aeroplan awards, oldest miles get 'used' first.

If you earn a point today, and then have no account activity for the next twelve months, it will expire in August 2008.

 

[serfty]

If you earn a point today, and then have no account activity for the next twelve months, it will expire in August 2008.

That's absolutely true - I was pointing out a current significant difference between QFF and Aeroplan.

You can currently keep QFF points indefinitely by having activity every three years. If you have such activity they will not expire until used (sans one "kicking-the-bucket"). This would be the case whether they were earned 1, 5, 15 or more years beforehand.