Complimentary Gold Membership

[tomo69]

They don't fly anyway. Not going to cost a thing. Who cares?

Well done to OP's friend.

Totally agree with you medhead!

 

[oz_mark]

Gold Coast FFers with VA have requested QF status matches and been knocked back. By virtue of their status they were prepared to give some business to QF, but they said no.

Here we have examples of NB flyers, with very little business to offer QF, being gifted Gold status

It is not logical

Consider that, from the perspective of Qantas, the purpose of the frequent flyer program is to drive incremental revenue, then it makes sense. If you can offer some infrequent traveller a taste of gold, then you might just get some extra bookings out of them.

The "loyalty" term is about you becoming loyal to them, not the other way around!

 

[samh004]

Yep and I pay for all my flights as well. They have accumulated 3000 points in the last 12 months. That's 3 flights maximum. You can give someone chairman's lounge if they don't fly it will not impact on anyone.

So you're saying if I reduce my flying they'll give CL to me...

Totally agree with medhead here, if the Gold status makes them fly enough to retain it, then Qantas has done very well, as they've previously flown next to nothing. On the other hand, if they can't retain it, they probably wont be a burden on the system.

 

[BD1959]

Do you think if I promise not to be a burden on the system they'll comp me P1?



Regards,

BD

 

[Pushka]

It's like Foxtel. I've been with them for years, but all the special deals are only given to new subscriptions.

 

[medhead]

It's like Foxtel. I've been with them for years, but all the special deals are only given to new subscriptions.

Yep I'm annoyed with my ADSL plan as well. Apparently, I blew the data allowance in 10 days and I'm shaped to no speed. But for the cost of my plan, the current version includes 8 times the download allowance in a new plan. ISP promised to remove the shaping as a one off but that hasn't happened. It's darn annoying. Especially as I just cannot work out how that much data was used and the on't provide any information at all about when or how it was used.

So much for loyalty

 

[Kaldemir]

Yep I'm annoyed with my ADSL plan as well. Apparently, I blew the data allowance in 10 days and I'm shaped to no speed. But for the cost of my plan, the current version includes 8 times the download allowance in a new plan. ISP promised to remove the shaping as a one off but that hasn't happened. It's darn annoying. Especially as I just cannot work out how that much data was used and the on't provide any information at all about when or how it was used.

So much for loyalty

Telcos usually let you move to other plans with equal or higher monthly payments. Did you ask them if they will move you to the current version of your plan?

 

[Pushka]

Yep I'm annoyed with my ADSL plan as well. Apparently, I blew the data allowance in 10 days and I'm shaped to no speed. But for the cost of my plan, the current version includes 8 times the download allowance in a new plan. ISP promised to remove the shaping as a one off but that hasn't happened. It's darn annoying. Especially as I just cannot work out how that much data was used and the on't provide any information at all about when or how it was used.

So much for loyalty

Oh yeah. Why cant they just move everyone up to the same as the new plans, for the same price. Not exactly rocket science. Mobile phone companies do the same thing.

 

[serfty]

It's like Foxtel. I've been with them for years, but all the special deals are only given to new subscriptions.

If you are out of contact you can call and and tell them you will recontract if they give you a new special deal.

If they refuse then tell them to cancel the service.

 

[lovestotravel]

It's like Foxtel. I've been with them for years, but all the special deals are only given to new subscriptions.

Exactly and they will not match the deal to keep you.

But you can cancel and start again..... Annoying but worth it

 

[serfty]

If you are out of contact you can call and and tell them you will recontract if they give you a new special deal.

If they refuse then tell them to cancel the service.

Exactly and they will not match the deal to keep you.

But you can cancel and start again..... Annoying but worth it

Some specific examples here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....0-bonus-points-foxtel-34645-2.html#post578559

 

[RickyT84]

In my opinion, I don't think giving the OP's partner Gold is as big as some people making it to be (I am speaking as a self funded Gold member). If the OP's partner does not travel that much (which seems to be case), I doubt the occassional lounge visit will make much of a difference. If the OP's partner chooses to retain status after he/she has sampled what Gold membership has to offer, than QF would have done well in terms of additional bookings (and revenue).

Bear in mind, retaining Gold requires quite a lot of flying and it can be quite difficult if one does not travel often ot take advantage of ASAs.

 

[medhead]

Telcos usually let you move to other plans with equal or higher monthly payments. Did you ask them if they will move you to the current version of your plan?

The stupid thing, or perhaps not, is I'm on a bundle apparently *any* changes will kill the codes of said bundle. It is worth at least $600 in family calls.

Edit: so yes they did offer to change the plan. But I just need to be careful in how that happens.

 

[JohnK]

Some people don't care about the annoying loud music playing next to them.

Some people don't care about the poor eating/chewing habits of those around them.

Some people don't care if someone has received a status level for free where they have worked hard and spent money to achieve that level or perhaps never quite get there.

Telling someone who does care and worry not to care and worry is not going to change anything. And yes I do know that caring and worrying is not going to change anything but it makes the person feel much better.

 

[Deleted member]

I think it devalues Gold for those people who have been loyal to Qantas. It means more competition for those seats reserved for Gold pre-selection, both at the time of booking, and at T80 and T24. Extra bodies in the lounges, for people who would not normally fly if they are only bronze - ie entry level. So people who are silver, get dudded completely and not recognised, and Gold face more competition. My Qantas Club membership is due, and I have been gold but mostly silver. My reward? I have to hand over $400 approx in three days time. Thanks Qantas!

I don't know your personal circumstances , however it wold seem that with judicious planning and use of CC points, EDR points a few JASA status runs might solve your problem.
I wonder if $400 plus some points wold be enough to buy a decent SC run? And keep you in Gold each year?

 

[Pushka]

I don't know your personal circumstances , however it wold seem that with judicious planning and use of CC points, EDR points a few JASA status runs might solve your problem.
I wonder if $400 plus some points wold be enough to buy a decent SC run? And keep you in Gold each year?

I haven't been in gold for a couple of years now so I'd have to get there first but I should aim for that, shouldn't I. I never thought of a status run for me only for my hubby who is about to reach platinum but that is a good point you make. I've only received 1 EDR points offer which was this week, for Mambo. . I bought some beach towels a month ago so that seems to be where that came from, as I'm definitely not a surfie chick. . But my work CC is attached to Qantas AND from that thread here I know I can use that to pay the next BAS statement.

Yes, you're spot on. I'll do some checking on that. Thank you for waking me up!

 

[medhead]

Telling someone who does care and worry not to care and worry is not going to change anything. And yes I do know that caring and worrying is not going to change anything but it makes the person feel much better.

You know, I normally try to ignore these types of comments. But frankly that is the biggest load of rubbish I've ever read. Caring and worrying about things beyond your control does not make you feel better. It gives you an ulcer, it's bad for your heart and it leads you to an early grave.

I'd hate to see that happen as I'd have no posts to try to ignore.

 

[burmans]

Telcos usually let you move to other plans with equal or higher monthly payments. Did you ask them if they will move you to the current version of your plan?

Agreed, don't complain here, ring and there is a very good chance they will upgrade but they don't upgrade if you don't ask. I've had this happen a number of times to me recently, rang up ready to threaten to take my business elsewhere but they just say, "oh, we can upgrade that easily enough".

 

[burmans]

Oh yeah. Why cant they just move everyone up to the same as the new plans, for the same price. Not exactly rocket science. Mobile phone companies do the same thing.

I think the logic is that there is a cost (albeit sometimes minimal) to the upgrade and if you haven't asked you don't actually care. Many organisations rely heavily on this general sense of inertia, banks being a prime culprit. Who in there right mind would have significant sums in bank accounts earning .01% interest. Very few you would think but the actual statistics say otherwise, there are huge amounts of money in just such accounts because we are in general too lazy to move it.

 

[Pushka]

I think the logic is that there is a cost (albeit sometimes minimal) to the upgrade and if you haven't asked you don't actually care. Many organisations rely heavily on this general sense of inertia, banks being a prime culprit. Who in there right mind would have significant sums in bank accounts earning .01% interest. Very few you would think but the actual statistics say otherwise, there are huge amounts of money in just such accounts because we are in general too lazy to move it.

I disagree. People do care, but assume that companies look after their clients, as they did 'in the old days" and they dont know that there are better offers out there. The internet has done a huge thing for people power - it connects people to each other so that they can learn from each other's experience. Information is power.

I read on WP recently that if you rang Foxtel as a loyal subscriber, and said you wanted to close your account because you couldn't afford the cost anymore, then they would offer you a deal that significantly reduced your subscription. I did that, and they reduced my bill by $40 a month, for a year. We shouldn't have to resort to such measures. They rely on people paying too much and living in "ignorance".