Just want to take a step back to the discussion on JQ, the bundles have been enhanced in recent months where instead of a full meal, you get a voucher for a value which doesn't cover for the meal (or whatever it is they provide, depending on the lenght of the flight). While most people prefer to be able to choose something else, in bean counters term, it's a loss of value for the pax. The prices were also enhanced at that time too. This applied to other parts of the group such as 3K as well.
Also, for some sectors, the prices have also been made "simpler, fairer", with increases across the board, and some very short trips such as SIN-KUL on 3K being simplified to the same as, eg SIN-TPE, making it extremely poor value for such a short flight, where it would make up of $0 fare, $34 tax, and $30 plus bundle (all in SGD), virtually doubling the price of the flight to get 1000 points and 10 SCs to fly for 184 miles. I can't quite remember what it was for something like SYD-MEL, but I don't think it was $22AUD before.
For the starter plus bundle, it's basically charged the same way as a surcharge, and they can sometimes be of a very good deal. In pre-July 1st earnings, when SIN-HKG was on sale for $150 SGD return, adding the plus bundle both way takes it to $212 SGD, which paid roughly 6400 points as a WP and 40 SCs, while using both the SIN and HKG lounges (when they are open). Of course, even SCSCMs wouldn't go and abuse this given the small returns - try 35 return flights to qualify for WP. Having said that, an outlay of roughly $6500AUD is one of the cheapest way to achieve WP - if you don't die from insanity on the way.
As crazy as it sounds, post-July 1st, this 3K SIN-HKG flight increases earnings in both points and SCs, but obviously not of amounts signficant enough to earn someone status unless you make the A320 your home. And anyone who has to do serious flying between SIN-HKG would probably be doing so on CX or SQ to help maintain their sanity (and possibly their status in a different frequent flyer program).
And just to rub salt into the wound, post-July 1st, JQ starter plus SYD-PER, depsite being 400 miles further than the 3K SIN-HKG flight, earns less in both points and SCs. Not entirely sure where "fair" or "simple" comes into play here.
