Changes to QF Loyalty Bonus (now includes status credits)

[serfty]

Back in the 90's, Qualifying Blue (20 flights in your year) would earn 1 Upgrade certificate, Silver (50 flights) 2 & Gold (80 flights) another 2. These could not be used on international flights. (There were also distance criteria for status but I never really took much notice.)

After the turn of the century this changed and an "Upgrade Credit"s could be earned every 250 SC's, this was soon after changed to one every 450 SC's. For the first time since I joined, international flight could be upgraded.

One or more UC's could be used to upgrade a flight; the length/type of flight determined how many UC's were needed.

Initially an upgrade could be requested a certain number of days before departure, this changed to a varying level depending on one's status. ISTR something like 90 for Platinum, 60 for Gold, 30 for Silver - the exact detail escapes me at the moment.

After that it was changed so that simply U class for (eg) business needed to be available - no waitlist, if U was not available then no upgrade, although you could request later. This was for both domestic and international flights.

In 2005 this changed and UC's could no longer be earned, "loyalty bonus" (being points) were introduced and 5K could be earned every 450 SC's.

The SC's accumulated and required for your next "loyalty" bonus continued to accrue, regardless of membership year.

More recently, Qantas increased the earn to 8K, capped it a 4 per year and the SC accrual needed to be 500 on QF/Jetstar. At this time they also introduced the count reset at the end of a membership year.

Looking back, some years I did very well. My year that just finished was the first time since I joined QFF in 1994 that I did not earn a single Upgrade Certificate nor Upgrade Credit nor Loyalty bonus.

I did earn just over 1200 SC's, of which obviously less than 500 were earned on QF/Jetstar.

I guess I am no longer that loyal of a customer.

 

[samh004]

I guess I am no longer that loyal of a customer.

Some would argue Qantas have created that level of unloyalty. You just need something else to chase... an appropriate reward!

 

[pagingjoan]

Back in the 90's, Qualifying Blue (20 flights in your year) would earn 1 Upgrade certificate, Silver (50 flights) 2 & Gold (80 flights) another 2. These could not be used on international flights. (There were also distance criteria for status but I never really took much notice.)

After the turn of the century this changed and an "Upgrade Credit"s could be earned every 250 SC's, this was soon after changed to one every 450 SC's. For the first time since I joined, international flight could be upgraded.

One or more UC's could be used to upgrade a flight; the length/type of flight determined how many UC's were needed.

Initially an upgrade could be requested a certain number of days before departure, this changed to a varying level depending on one's status. ISTR something like 90 for Platinum, 60 for Gold, 30 for Silver - the exact detail escapes me at the moment.

After that it was changed so that simply U class for (eg) business needed to be available - no waitlist, if U was not available then no upgrade, although you could request later. This was for both domestic and international flights.

In 2005 this changed and UC's could no longer be earned, "loyalty bonus" (being points) were introduced and 5K could be earned every 450 SC's.

The SC's accumulated and required for your next "loyalty" bonus continued to accrue, regardless of membership year.

More recently, Qantas increased the earn to 8K, capped it a 4 per year and the SC accrual needed to be 500 on QF/Jetstar. At this time they also introduced the count reset at the end of a membership year.

Looking back, some years I did very well. My year that just finished was the first time since I joined QFF in 1994 that I did not earn a single Upgrade Certificate nor Upgrade Credit nor Loyalty bonus.

I did earn just over 1200 SC's, of which obviously less than 500 were earned on QF/Jetstar.

I guess I am no longer that loyal of a customer.

Serfty:
i continue to be in awe of your knowledge.
How on earth do you keep these records?
Amazing. Truly amazing.

 

[RichardMEL]

Re: QF 50 SC or 8000 points offer

As the screenshots show, one gets a popup when you login when you have crossed the 500/1000/1500/2000 SC threshold/year, when you click on the option to make your choice it's part of the profile page (see screenshots).

This is similar to how the "Platinum Rewards" at 2400SC work - but in that instance I've always had an email. I suspect/wonder if I did not login to my QFF account after a few days if the system would send an email to prompt or not. Not sure.

Also to note - the app did nothing even after it had updated the SC's there was no pop up or message or anything, it was only via the QF website login.

 

[RichardMEL]

Re: QF 50 SC or 8000 points offer

Tangent post:

relating to the earlier comments about the 2400SC level Platinum Bonus Rewards changes to qualification being on QF/JQ earned SC's only. I just got another example of QF being tardy/inconsistent.

Had an email as I am almost there, and it in, along with an old(current style) "gift wrapped" P1 card, the text, in part read:

You've almost reached your Platinum Bonus Reward[SUP]*[/SUP]. When you reach the milestone of 2,400 Status Credits[SUP]^[/SUP] you'll enjoy another exclusive privilege of Platinum One status.

Three Platinum Bonus Reward options
By earning 2,400 Status Credits[SUP]^[/SUP] on Qantas, Jetstar, oneworld[SUP]®[/SUP] alliance airlines and Fiji Airways (including at least four eligible Qantas or Jetstar flight segments[SUP]‡[/SUP]) in one membership year you'll get a choice from three rewards.

So you know this becomes misleading. I am at 2120 SC right now, what if I flew 300SC on CX and AY (for example) next got to over 2400 SC and did not get the option per the new rules.

Poor form QF. You need to be consistent. If you make a change, update everything appropriately.

 

[mviy]

Re: QF 50 SC or 8000 points offer

It gives the impression they decided to make this change and implemented it in a big hurry.

 

[Happy Trails]

Re: QF 50 SC or 8000 points offer

Tangent post:

relating to the earlier comments about the 2400SC level Platinum Bonus Rewards changes to qualification being on QF/JQ earned SC's only. I just got another example of QF being tardy/inconsistent.

Had an email as I am almost there, and it in, along with an old(current style) "gift wrapped" P1 card, the text, in part read:



So you know this becomes misleading. I am at 2120 SC right now, what if I flew 300SC on CX and AY (for example) next got to over 2400 SC and did not get the option per the new rules.

Poor form QF. You need to be consistent. If you make a change, update everything appropriately.

It's also not an "exclusive privilege of Platinum One status" .

 

[pagingjoan]

Re: QF 50 SC or 8000 points offer

It's also not an "exclusive privilege of Platinum One status" .

Perhaps it is, if SCs don't count towards retention of current status.

 

[RichardMEL]

Re: QF 50 SC or 8000 points offer

It's also not an "exclusive privilege of Platinum One status" .

good pick up - I didn't even notice that!

maybe they're just inserting the current status there. Still, it's not correct - I agree.

 

[serfty]

Serfty:
i continue to be in awe of your knowledge.
How on earth do you keep these records?
Amazing. Truly amazing.

To be honest, I posted from memory.

When I first came across AFF in 2004, there was very little I did not know about frequent flyer related traveling around Australia on Qantas.

 

[serfty]

Some would argue Qantas have created that level of unloyalty. You just need something else to chase... an appropriate reward!

Yeah - Lifetime WP status please

 

[pagingjoan]

To be honest, I posted from memory.

When I first came across AFF in 2004, there was very little I did not know about frequent flyer related traveling around Australia on Qantas.

Even more amazing, then!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: QF 50 SC or 8000 points offer

Perhaps it is, if SCs don't count towards retention of current status.

PJ you made me laugh !!

 

[dodgeyhack]

I received a loyalty bonus a few days after the change. I have 90 days to make a selection. This means I can make the selection in my next loyalty year. I wonder if the SCs will count towards that year? T&Cs don't appear to say anything about this situation. It may potentially be beneficial to me if they did count for the next year, as I'm expecting to be well short of WP next year and will be hoping for a comp. My average over three years wont change of course, but it might help to have more SCs next year and less this year. I'm currently 11 SC short of re-qualifying this year so will likely take a trip down to Melbourne at some point - applying them now would make that unnecessary, but that's actually a bad thing!

 

[bismarck]

I received a loyalty bonus a few days after the change. I have 90 days to make a selection. This means I can make the selection in my next loyalty year. I wonder if the SCs will count towards that year? T&Cs don't appear to say anything about this situation. It may potentially be beneficial to me if they did count for the next year, as I'm expecting to be well short of WP next year and will be hoping for a comp. My average over three years wont change of course, but it might help to have more SCs next year and less this year. I'm currently 11 SC short of re-qualifying this year so will likely take a trip down to Melbourne at some point - applying them now would make that unnecessary, but that's actually a bad thing!

They'll almost certainly apply in the year you "earned" them regardless of when you make the selection.

 

[kermatu]

They'll almost certainly apply in the year you "earned" them regardless of when you make the selection.

The picture Samh004 posted upthread might suggest otherwise - judging by the date of the post and the date specified on the activity statement. Interesting question in any event.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Some would argue Qantas have created that level of unloyalty. You just need something else to chase... an appropriate reward!

I tend to agree based on the majority of frequent flyers I've had the pleasure of knowing of the years.

This is easily proven by QF if they look at all LTG members and remove those who retain status through gov/corporate money. Simple machine learning could identify a pattern from the remaining members. I'm willing to bet a common trait (ie: higher probability than random) is attaining LTG. Then it's about digging deep to understand what specifically drives this cluster/group of members. While the answer may not be lifetime platinum, the answer sure as heck wouldn't be to penalise these members on status earning - which is what happens currently as the first 600 status credits each year are wasted effort.

 

[RichardMEL]

I received a loyalty bonus a few days after the change. I have 90 days to make a selection. This means I can make the selection in my next loyalty year. I wonder if the SCs will count towards that year? T&Cs don't appear to say anything about this situation. It may potentially be beneficial to me if they did count for the next year, as I'm expecting to be well short of WP next year and will be hoping for a comp. My average over three years wont change of course, but it might help to have more SCs next year and less this year. I'm currently 11 SC short of re-qualifying this year so will likely take a trip down to Melbourne at some point - applying them now would make that unnecessary, but that's actually a bad thing!

Good try but I am 99.94% certain that the SC's would apply to tier status of the year they are earned - with QFF posting date is irrelevant, it's ALWAYS based on earn date/year.

Good luck though

 

[pagingjoan]

Posted only as a point of interest that nowhere does it say here (as a reminder) that bonus SC's don't count to P1 status - yes, the email announcing it did as established earlier, but you'd think they'd put a reminder in the pop up/option page.

Anyway no more for me till next September at least

View attachment 83835View attachment 83836

To fill out the picture, the follow up email advising that a Loyalty Bonus is available now includes a "reminder" that the SC option does not count towards retaining PlatOne. A bit late, I suppose, if you have already made the choice.

 

[blackcat20]

Re: QF 50 SC or 8000 points offer

If you pass two loyalty bonii in quick succession, you get this: