Did "[un]Fairer Flying" change PE-J upgrade formulae?

[Isochronous]

I'm looking at HKG PE bookings post 1 July, and noticed that it appears some discounted PE fares are to be treated as "flexible Economy" for the purpose of Flight Upgrade Awards - meaning on SYD-HKG, that would require 40k points for Y-J rather than 25k for PE-J. I don't recall reading this as one of the changes posted by Red Roo here or in the mass QFF email (I could be wrong though). But if this is true, this is a substantial diminution in the value of PE fares.

PE Sale T&C

• Effective for travel on and from 1 July 2014

• Qantas Points and Status credits may be earned on this fare and will be calculated on each Segment. For more information check the Airline Earning Table.
• You may request Flight Upgrade Awards on this fare. However, Flight Upgrade Awards can only be redeemed on flights that are operated by Qantas with a QF flight number.
• For the purposes of redeeming Qantas Points for a Flight Upgrade Award, this fare is classed as Flexible Economy.

PE Saver T&C

• Qantas Points and Status credits may be earned on this fare and will be calculated on each Segment. For more information check the Airline Earning Table.
• You may request Flight Upgrade Awards on this fare. However, Flight Upgrade Awards can only be redeemed on flights that are operated by Qantas with a QF flight number.
• For the purposes of redeeming Qantas Points for a Flight Upgrade Award, this fare is classed as Flexible Economy.

PE Semi Flex T&C

• Effective for travel on and from 1 July 2014

• Qantas Points and Status credits may be earned on this fare and will be calculated on each Segment. For more information check the Airline Earning Table.
• You may request Flight Upgrade Awards on this fare. However, Flight Upgrade Awards can only be redeemed on flights that are operated by Qantas with a QF flight number.
• For the purposes of redeeming Qantas Points for a Flight Upgrade Award, this fare is classed as Premium Economy.

 

[Ewing]

Flexi Economy upgrade rates are the same as Premium Economy anyway - so there shouldn't be a difference.

Unless this is also changing or I'm mistaken?

 

[Isochronous]

Flexi Economy upgrade rates are the same as Premium Economy anyway - so there shouldn't be a difference.

Unless this is also changing or I'm mistaken?

Then why the difference in wording in the above examples if what you say is true?

 

[Mr_Orange]

Then why the difference in wording in the above examples if what you say is true?

Flexible Economy is the equivalent to full Economy (Y fare bucket only) which is the same as PE as far as points required for an upgrade are concerned. HTH.

 

[Mr_Orange]

It's also worth noting that there are now 3 international fare buckets (Y, B and H) that class as Flex Y from an earn point of view. Whether this will have any impact on the upgrade tables going forward is anyone's guess!

Link: http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/fairer-flying#changes-to-earn.