Due to simpler and fairer will you drop status?

[danintas]

Have been SG for > 10 years and expect to retain, along with VA WP

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

QF should have by all means decreased MPG to 800 on short distances or to 1000 for a bit longer distances in Australia, but should have left QF SC alone.
Unless they purposely want less valued people - who spend less - in the upper echelons of the QF FF program, me for eg, get PS this upcoming one year then back to NB.

5 SC each time is small fry, but x 10 trips per year, that's 50 SC down the loo or bog!

Slightly off topic, imagine if Scoot suddenly joined VA's VR program, not likely but just imagine.
Cheap fares, and earn points!
Would be good for those Sydneysiders who fly to Singapore and then to other destinations Scoot flies to.
Now also considering that Air Asia has its Big Shot program, I think the fairer and etc changes will come back to bite QF harder than they expect.
While I have not yet flown Air Asia, their Big Shot program is looking very sweet. The taste might go sour later, but 1 point per MYR2 spent of flights and other things...

If the 01 Jul 14 changes didn't come in, I would have gotten 505 SC in this upcoming 12 months, Aug 14 to Jul 15. Some upcoming flights with EK J booking in QF's system, and also LA dis Y, and Jetconnect J too.
With the drop in QF FF points earn and SC, I think my count drops to 415 or so.
So not enough for the Loyalty Bonus of 500 SC to get 8000 QF FF points.
But 415 would give me PS for what its worth, 1 complementary visit to the QP, but I plan to keep my paid membership of QP anyway.
After that, I would have to drop to NB.
Its not cheap trying to chase QF FF and SC, but with the 01 Jul 14 changes, I am giving up chasing Silver/Loyalty Bonus.
Qantas Loyalty? Tee hee!
Paying for the QP is enough. No more other $ from me to QF.
Sorry for the warble.

 

[amaroo]

Interim poll results are interesting. No doubt QFF will be happy...

 

[Princess Fiona]

QF should have by all means decreased MPG to 800 on short distances or to 1000 for a bit longer distances in Australia, but should have left QF SC alone.
Unless they purposely want less valued people - who spend less - in the upper echelons of the QF FF program, me for eg, get PS this upcoming one year then back to NB.

What do you mean ?

 

[DeKa]

The new program is actually helping me... Much of my flying is on Saver fares so more SCs.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

I had enough status credits accumulated and flights pre-booked (over a dozen of them) before the changes were announced to make Gold, so will drop only one tier this year.

But now that I'm no longer automatically favouring Qantas and moved to a largely "cheapest fare on the day" policy (with a lean towards OneWorld airlines for international travel due to lounge access while I'm still Platinum) I expect to only make Silver next year. My travel has been 100% self-funded for the last two years and I've always been happy to pay a substantial premium to fly Qantas group. No longer. I expect that the only way I'll continue to chase QFF status is if my work circumstances change and someone else picks up the tab.

 

[codash1099]

Unless I get very creative, win lotto or am comped, I'll probably soft land to SG, but I'll have earned more than enough for that anyway. I've been comped 3 years in a row when I didn't need it, but I doubt that will count for much.

Cause is a combination of no QFi out of PER, and "simpler and fairer".

 

[blueythecat]

Last year I made WP+SG this year I’ll probably just scrape in at PS

I had no idea how complex my life had become over the last 7+ years, for example:

• I used to think we only had one domestic airline – QF
• I used to chase SC, making extra flights just to get there
• I used to fly J on dom legs just for the SC’s
• I used to try and fly QFi whenever possible
• Chase points and spend $$ on my QFF linked CC
• I thought loyalty was a two way street!

Then QF came along and made my life simpler and fairer, what a revolution!! I’ve discovered and changed all sorts of things:

• We’ve actually got another domestic airline, and they’re pretty good too
• I no longer complicate my life chasing SC’s
• No more dom J flights – who needs to spend $$$ on dom J anyway (except maybe to PER)
• We’ve got loads of international options out of Aus
• Switched my direct earn QFF CC to a Amex MR and Citibank Visa so I can transfer my points elsewhere
• And I’ve got way more $$$ is my pocket, nice

Since the 1-July I’ve only been inside a QF plane 3 times. My two upcoming J trips to Europe, which I would have previously booked on QFi (via DXB), are now booked on BA (via SIN). Added bonus as I don’t really like that DXB airport and SIN is so lovely (really looking forward to the trip).

QF I’m prepared to complicate my life again, if you’re prepared to make some changes:

• Return SC earn to pre 1-July levels
• Restore MASA or all-the-time SC on Classic Awards at the class of travel earn level (eg U earn at J level, not flexy-econ)
• Restore anytime QP access for WP
• 4 free J upgrades on dom flights each year – loving this VA feature

 

[Reggie]

I will fall from WP to SG through soft landing or fact LTG. Have been WP for 12 years. I will unlikely make SG based on SCs due to several reasons, change in job, QF making my life simpler, my last holiday flights being points redemption, and my next being J class on Etihad at a ridiculously cheaper price than QF/EK were offering. So with no LTP and not being able to get retain WP at QFF, looks like Etihad and BA maybe my newly favoured FFer schemes. I'm not sure I will ever make LTP on BA without another change in jobs to international J travel again!

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

Interim poll results are interesting. No doubt QFF will be happy...

I think the more pertinent question is: Are you spending more, the same or less with Qantas after the changes?

If people, overall, are spending the same or even more while still dropping in status, then they will have achieved their goal. Ie, a reduction in costs/liabilities without a corresponding reduction in revenues. If however as a result of dropping tiers people are moving to other airlines (or vice versa), then it will have backfired on them.

 

[JohnK]

QF should have by all means decreased MPG to 800 on short distances or to 1000 for a bit longer distances in Australia, but should have left QF SC alone.
Unless they purposely want less valued people - who spend less - in the upper echelons of the QF FF program, me for eg, get PS this upcoming one year then back to NB.

It was getting out of control. Something had to give. Perhaps Qantas went overboard with the "enhancements" but at least they did something.

If you notice the forums, changes are not limited to Qantas. A3 has got in on the act with drastic changes announce earlier in the week. And AA in the USA with xUPP runs getting harder and harder. And another US airline increasing the spend required to get top status. UA?

Qantas isn't going to go down with changes to SC earn. They have other problems they need to seriously sort out.

 

[amaroo]

I think the more pertinent question is: Are you spending more, the same or less with Qantas after the changes?

If people, overall, are spending the same or even more while still dropping in status, then they will have achieved their goal. Ie, a reduction in costs/liabilities without a corresponding reduction in revenues. If however as a result of dropping tiers people are moving to other airlines (or vice versa), then it will have backfired on them.

No doubt the flyers that were earning via ASA/MASA need to spend a truck load more to maintain the view .... the ones flying on OTP (other people's money) I doubt would even notice or care.

 

[ozonslo]

Happy where I am, would like to attain Plat. but don't fly often enough to achieve it. But if Q offer double status points, well then I may go for it.

 

[Cessna 180]

Doubt I will be able to maintain Plat, due to less credits on some domestic routes I fly regularly and also company policy chance to cheapest rather than flexi. Qantas is not the only company making cutbacks!
Also there always seems to be ready deals available even if the price goes up, where as it used to seem that short notice bookings only had flexi available

The Q service and frequency is still good to places I go and better than the opposition plus more regional lounges and ticket prices are generally the same.

Hardly fly V anymore and the four free upgrades are useless unless on a flexi as has been discussed.

 

[jastel]

Should just stay at the lofty heights of Silver...
A flight on the 31 Oct should give me just enough to requalify I think.

My silver card (and credits I guess) expire in Nov, is that Nov 1 or Nov 30??
Credits would be dated the day of the flight I assume...even though they don't appear for a few days...if reset date is Nov 30 I am safe as more flights in Nov.

 

[Mattg]

I think the more pertinent question is: Are you spending more, the same or less with Qantas after the changes?

If people, overall, are spending the same or even more while still dropping in status, then they will have achieved their goal. Ie, a reduction in costs/liabilities without a corresponding reduction in revenues. If however as a result of dropping tiers people are moving to other airlines (or vice versa), then it will have backfired on them.

I think you make a good point. Should we start another poll?

 

[swilk]

My WP1 year finishes in Nov. I will almost make 1100 SC this year but will get a soft land to WP anyway. Other international airlines have my business now and not just One World partners.

The drop in QF SC from 4000 last year to 1100 this year is telling isn't it! Try as I may I can't seem to find any QF flights internationally out of Perth

Yes, I have had no choice but to fly airlines other than Qantas - they are getting my money through no choice of my own. So spending the same but dropping SC at Qantas' expense.

 

[fresherbill]

I'll hopefully land softly on SG and then let my QFF coast to nothing (I have 2 years of QP on ice too). I'm self-funded, so the perks attainable through mASAs have been the most valuable aspect of my flying in the 4 years I've been with QFF.


Flying mostly to Asia, I will either ease back to SQ or use pennies saved by flying LCCs to buy the extra creature comforts. SG and WP have been fun, but Qantas has made it clear that travellers like me are not in their crosshairs.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Of course have to spend more to get the same amount of SC.
Its not a level playing field, as flex Y and flex J earn more than disc Y and disc J post Jul 14.
500 vs 415 SC in my case.
If I wanted to be able to get Loyalty Bonus, I now have to spend more to pay QF to get the extra 80 or 90 SC.
I guess as a lowly paid pooch, I am like most others, who this Qantas outfit as a whole, are not interested in.
Should I pay and fly the extra to get the difference, nak.
The "kitty" is already dry. A moth just flew out of my wallet.

 

[MH_fan]

I'm tossing up between crediting my travel towards QF or MH. My "travel year" with QF is Oct to Sep whereas MH is a calendar year (Jan to Dec). I've already maintained WP with QF til my anniversary date next year. Looking at my travel plans for the next 8-9 months (and possibly towards the end of next year), I'll either maintain WP with QF or earn WP with MH. If I credit my travel from now to the end of this year on QF, I'll make SG and might get close enough for a WP comp (with my domestic travel in 2015), if they average the SCs over the 3 years. Looking at my travel plans for the first 6 months of next year, I will make it to 3/4 of WP with MH and definitely reach it before the end of next year. The difference is that the points I'll earn on QF (if I credit everything to them) will net me a return economy redemption ticket from Sydney to Singapore whereas the points I'll earn on MH (in 2015 alone) will net me a return business redemption ticket from Sydney to London! I'm leaning towards MH with those kinds of numbers...
Oh, my travel is 99% self-funded.