Frequent fly in Qantas ointment

[kpc]

Frequent fly in Qantas ointment - Opinion - smh.com.au

Burn those points....

 

[tinky]

Another frequent flyer newspaper report

For those who are interested, an article stating that the points will probably double after Qantas makes its 'enhancements' later on this year.

Frequent fly in Qantas ointment - Opinion - smh.com.au

Nothing that hasn't already been discussed here but interesting to see the media's interpretation.

 

[drron]

You bet.Reading that word"enhance".Now where can I go.

 

[file51]

It would be nice if the SMH could at least get the current point requirements correct...

Sydney-California: economy 96,000, business 256,000

Unless I am going blind J return is 192,000 F is 288,000

 

[Standby]

Re: Another frequent flyer newspaper report

Duplicate thread I am afraid:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-articles/frequent-fly-in-qantas-ointment-12238.html

Same Journo rehashing his same article of a few weeks ago...obviously keeps this in the folder for slow news days.
Now it may be just me, and as others a pointed out in the past, any negative change to the scheme requires 6mths notice.
As far as I can see there hasnt been any advice that the current Marginal availability scheme will change ,rather that essentially once those limited seats are gone it will be the same as Velocity in that a value is attached to points and linked to published fares. To say points reqd will be doubled seems pretty simplicitic. Again as with DJ (which I have had experience redeeming on above the marginal rate/sometimes below when they are on sale )it will be a sliding scale and will probobly be up to 3 times if youre crazy enough to waste yr points on the last seat in the cabin.
Even marginal avail you would expect over the next 6-12 months to increase as the squeeze on seats currently eases as all airlines grow capacity and frequency with A380s and 787s. Also expanding LCCs take some Low end and unaligned punters away.
And theres nothing like a subprime meltdown to change a few companies travel policies that have had J cabins bulging to overflowing ,allowing easier access to upgrades. The biggest threat here is consolidation as being rumoured in the US.This stops capacity growing and keeps cabins full and fares high.
1 last point is with a very strong competitor in DJ growing Domestically and launching INT it wold be very brave to risk alienating a band of 4M plus people at a time you want to spilt the business as a money maker in its own right.
I'll do as normal , ignore journos and wait for the details myself and then discuss the merits or otherwise the the experienced contributors to these boards

 

[Dave Noble]

It would be nice if the SMH could at least get the current point requirements correct...

Unless I am going blind J return is 192,000 F is 288,000

According to the article that I just read it does state that it is 192,000

■ Sydney-London: economy 128,000, business 256,000;

■ Sydney-California: economy 96,000, business 192,000;

■ Sydney-Sing/Bangkok/HK: economy 60,000, business 120,000.

 

[Mal]

The sky is falling. The sky is falling. Quick, don your foil caps and report to the underground escape caves...

When Qantas sends me a letter advising of the changes, then I will worry about how bad they are. Until then, things are status quo and we can all keep living our daily lives.

 

[Mal]

According to the article that I just read it does state that it is 192,000

Online newspaper sites have a habit of changing stories around after they are 'published'. Perhaps that is what happened here...

 

[file51]

Re the Sydney California points requirement, Copy/Paste from the website as it was when I viewed the page thank you very much.

If I was to type it out myself it would have said SYD-LAX/SFO

 

[littl_flier]

Interesting that they name May as being the time frame when we'll go "anytime rewards".

Apart from that, nothing new really. I like the way the journo uses "enhance" too.

 

[oz_mark]

Well he does say double points in peak season:

If the American experience is a guide, when Qantas introduces its new system you will basically need to double the miles required to travel in peak season. That's hyperinflation, but the price of making no changes will be worse.

At the moment they complain you can't get tickets in peak season, then they complain they are too expensive...

 

[drron]

Re the Sydney California points requirement, Copy/Paste from the website as it was when I viewed the page thank you very much.

If I was to type it out myself it would have said SYD-LAX/SFO

I noted the change as the day went on.Typical sloppy journalism.

 

[Mal]

Re the Sydney California points requirement, Copy/Paste from the website as it was when I viewed the page

The Brisbanetimes copy here:
Frequent fly in Qantas ointment - Opinion - BrisbaneTimes - brisbanetimes.com.au

Has the following:

■ Sydney-California: economy 96,000, business 256,000;

Looks like not all copies of the article have been fixed

Also, for someone who claims "The last time Qantas "enhanced" its frequent flyer program it introduced reforms that have induced me to stop flying Qantas.", he does seem to still want to fly them often per his "silver" FF status, and attempts to either upgrade or get award tickets he discussed in the last article:
Frequent flyer points a big con - News - Travel - theage.com.au

To me, he sounds bitter about not being able to use points.

 

[serfty]

Online newspaper sites have a habit of changing stories around after they are 'published'. Perhaps that is what happened here...

file51 is correct; there is a mistake as I read it on the Age website early yesterday.

And it's still there:

• Frequent fly in Qantas ointment - News - Travel - theage.com.au

• Sydney-California: economy 96,000, business 256,000;

 

[NM]

Interesting that they name May as being the time frame when we'll go "anytime rewards".

Apart from that, nothing new really. I like the way the journo uses "enhance" too.

Indeed May will not provide the usual 6 months notice that is normally provided by Qantas when the enhance the program with major changes.

 

[JohnK]

I don't think there is anything to worry about. We are not reading anything that has not already been discussed on AFF.

I believe that FF points required for awards will remain the same and anytime awards will require at least double the FF points. Now with this enhancement the number of awards available may also drop making it harder to use FF points. As long as some awards are available I think I would be able to use my FF points the way I want to use them.

I do not see myself using FF points for anytime awards and I would rather pay for the airfare if I really need to travel somewhere. Off course there will be people who will redeem anytime awards and use 2-3 times the normal FF points required. That is entirely their choice if they want to waste FF points this way.

 

[serfty]

Possible time line (that fits in with May):

• February: Major announcement with the immediate introduction of a few palliative changes. This announcement to set the timetable of these changes
• May - (3 Months after the initial announcement) - the implementation of changes such as per this tread (anytime awards).
• August - (6 months) - the real "Enhancements" that will cause many a post here and on FT!

 

[file51]

I believe that FF points required for awards will remain the same and anytime awards will require at least double the FF points. Now with this enhancement the number of awards available may also drop making it harder to use FF points. As long as some awards are available I think I would be able to use my FF points the way I want to use them.

My thoughts exactly, much like what UA offer, regular and saver awards.

Whereas the current point levels on QF for burning will be considered as saver level...

 

[Yada Yada]

Indeed May will not provide the usual 6 months notice that is normally provided by Qantas when the enhance the program with major changes.

I think Serfty may be on to the likely timing. Either that or they will announce that they've scrapped the policy of giving 6 months notice!

 

[dajop]

I believe that FF points required for awards will remain the same and anytime awards will require at least double the FF points.

Not necessarily, this is the US style model, also used by others such as SQ. However if you look at the emerging FF model in this part of the world (as used by two of QF's significant competitors, Virgin Blue & Air NZ) award availability and the points required is indirectly (in the case of DJ) or directly (in the case of NZ) proportional to the fares available for purchase on a given flight, at least on the home carrier flights. I would not be at all surprised if QF go down a similar path.