Heads up about program changes

[TomVexille]

Now that mum has discovered flying J on points, I've got no chance....shot myself in the foot with that one. Otherwise I would actually have enough.

Stuffed up that one

 

[hdfb]

Wonder if these programme changes have lead to staff strictly following their rules. I've flown forward 6 times out of 6 requests at CBR airport travelling on classic awards and red e-deals, each time the staff were happy to accommodate my request despite no delays.

Tried it tonight, was on QF821 at 2045 to MEL, got to the airport at 1630 and hoped to put on the 1710 flight. Was told I wasn't able to by three different staff members. Who wants to spend almost 4 hours in QP as they watch 3 MEL bound flights take off before they hop on a plane? Not me.

Booked an award fare on VA at 1830, $30 in taxes later and I'm in QP trying to eat and drink ~$150 worth to recover the fare I must forfeit.

I know rules are rules and I was fortunate the previous six times, but this reaffirms my decision to cancel my QF status run and not chase requal for SG next year.

 

[Buzzard]

Wonder if these programme changes have lead to staff strictly following their rules. I've flown forward 6 times out of 6 requests at CBR airport travelling on classic awards and red e-deals, each time the staff were happy to accommodate my request despite no delays.

Tried it tonight, was on QF821 at 2045 to MEL, got to the airport at 1630 and hoped to put on the 1710 flight. Was told I wasn't able to by three different staff members. Who wants to spend almost 4 hours in QP as they watch 3 MEL bound flights take off before they hop on a plane? Not me.

Booked an award fare on VA at 1830, $30 in taxes later and I'm in QP trying to eat and drink ~$150 worth to recover the fare I must forfeit.

I know rules are rules and I was fortunate the previous six times, but this reaffirms my decision to cancel my QF status run and not chase requal for SG next year.

If you purchased a flexi which has a better earn from July 1, would it be worth it :?:

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I've always been refused at CBR

 

[suey]

I'm super late to the party with this news coming out whilst I was away on a really busy work trip... I am one of the many it seems, who are pretty disillusioned with qantas, and this "enhancement" is the nail in the coffin. Two years ago I was a qantas WP - then due to changes in qantas flight times/routes internationally (I am mainly an international traveller), I started exploring other options, particularly after the fabulous virgin status match promo. I have now requalified as a virgin platinum twice - admitedly it is easier to qual than with qantas, however the decisions I make for airlines/flights don't just affect me, but everyone at my company, as the staff travel airlines on my recommendation.

I am now qantas SG and am only sitting on 60 SC's for this year, so it is unlikely that I will even requalify and if that happens, goodbye qantas. That also means that all the other travel from my company that isn't already on virgin will also go - not just my flights.

The main perks for me with travel are lounges (although I had a paid QP membership prior to gaining status and would do that again if need be - though if I have status on other airlines I won't need it), priority queues at the airport and the significantly increased chance of better seats as the majority of my travel is in Y. The priority queues and better seats would probably be the main benefit of status for me, as many of my trips are last minute and I don't get time for the lounge anyway. Priority luggage is also nice, but I wouldnt mind not having it. Surely that can't cost qantas that much money that they would prefer to lose my business?? Maybe they think people are bluffing and will just stay with them anyway, despite all the perks being eroded over the years??

How I see it is yes, people may chase status and sometimes do some crazy things to get status and that status may cost qantas money when they use lounges etc, but what status also does (and probably why it was invented in the first place) is makes the people with status loyal to the airline/partner airlines and will make them put bookings that they could put on any other number of airlines with qantas. There is a lot of competition on many routes I fly on, but status causes me to reduce the number of airlines I am looking at for bookings, as I don't like flying on airlines where I doubt I can get a good seat and have to queue up for ages to check in.

I would love to fly qantas all the time, as I actually prefer them over other airlines, however when they don't fly the routes I want anymore, or do anything to make me feel like my loyalty to them means anything at all, then what is the point? I don't think Virgin Platinum status is worth as much as qantas (no F lounge for example), however they do have other perks - other high tier membership with car rental and hotel companies - which co-incidentally has completely changed how I book cars and hotels, as I am now high tiers there and get those benefits, plus it is relatively easy to qual, so I doubt I will really bother with qantas after I get bumped down in September.

The other thing I find really frustating is the capacity to burn points... I have a massive points balance with qantas now, as the last 3 times I have wanted to book an award flight so my partner/kids could travel with me on a work trip, it was impossible with qantas, but easy to get the flights through virgin, so I have done that. I am now wanting to burn the close to 1million points I have racked up, so they don't end up completely worthless - so great, I got heaps of bonus points through status, but then cant' even use them! At least I can use the virgin status bonus points.

It just seems like such a crazy crazy situation and seems like qantas doesn't understand the impact of a loyalty program on consumer behaviors at all!

 

[Himeno]

I've always been refused at CBR

I've never asked. CBR has offered it a number of times.

 

[JessicaTam]

I've always been refused at CBR

Only flown out of CBR once in U. Asked in the J lounge and was put onto the earlier flight.

 

[blackcat20]

Only flown out of CBR once in U. Asked in the J lounge and was put onto the earlier flight.

Times two.

 

[whatmeworry]

I think it is great value.

To some people though it is going to be useless as they're never flying Qantas again because they cannot earn SCs and points on awards from 01 July 2014. No?

I wonder how some people who bump up their SC's by flying on cheap J/F fares in Asia and the USA will cope?

 

[whatmeworry]

and perhaps NOT telegraph it to the world . lest we end up with more enhancements

So are we going to start our own AFF secret society?

 

[Princess Fiona]

So are we going to start our own AFF secret society?

No, I think we will carry on as before.
I think I said similar previously in the "(Confirmed) Removal of (online) ASA" thread. We are all pawns in a game, the rules may change but we play on as playing the game is the reason we are here.

 

[Rugby]

To pinch from Oscar Wilde - "A man must have an occupation" - and I much prefer this 'occupation' to my day job

 

[Robbi]

I couldn't agree more.

I think the current thread seems to be going around in ever decreasing circles, and I believe we need to start to develop new guidelines on how to handle what QF has handed us.
Time for some proactive thinking and action

Well, start a new thread then!

 

[ketsuzei]

Well, start a new thread then!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....gram/best-status-run-options-after-59156.html

 

[medhead]

Wonder if these programme changes have lead to staff strictly following their rules. I've flown forward 6 times out of 6 requests at CBR airport travelling on classic awards and red e-deals, each time the staff were happy to accommodate my request despite no delays.

Tried it tonight, was on QF821 at 2045 to MEL, got to the airport at 1630 and hoped to put on the 1710 flight. Was told I wasn't able to by three different staff members. Who wants to spend almost 4 hours in QP as they watch 3 MEL bound flights take off before they hop on a plane? Not me.

Booked an award fare on VA at 1830, $30 in taxes later and I'm in QP trying to eat and drink ~$150 worth to recover the fare I must forfeit.

I know rules are rules and I was fortunate the previous six times, but this reaffirms my decision to cancel my QF status run and not chase requal for SG next year.

Nope they've started doing that a few months ago.

 

[medhead]

Only flown out of CBR once in U. Asked in the J lounge and was put onto the earlier flight.

U in a masa, which has flexible fare conditions?

 

[katiebell]

...Overall, the focus is on making it easier for members to understand the number of Qantas Points and Status credits earned by moving from a distance based calculation, to a zonal earn table for both Qantas and Jetstar. There are also some changes to Status credit earn with other partner airlines.

We believe it’s a fairer way to earn points and Status credits as it will now more closely reflect the fare paid, route travelled and airline you choose, versus the miles flown.

Some of the key changes that you may find most notable are:

- an opportunity to earn more with Qantas on flexible fares, including in premium cabins
- new minimum points guarantee, according to the fare purchased
- a simplified Qantas and Jetstar earn table
- the option to book Any Seat Awards in Classic Award fare classes (X, Z, U and P) will be removed from 1 July 2014

...

Dear Red Roo,

Please do feedback my thoughts about these ill-conceived changes (or to use QF speak, enhancements).

1 they are not simpler, especially for long haul travel. It is far more complex

2 QFi is now a virtual airline, especially for those who do not live in/fly from SYD. If QFi do not fly to a destination (or via an acceptable route) then, no matter what 'enhancements' or other inducements are made, I cannot fly QFi

3 many QFi codeshare partners are not acceptable to me and not equivalent in standard to QFi and my preferred OW airlines

4 being able to earn SC and points at the same rate when flying the routes/schelues/times that QFi does not fly has been an attraction of the QFF FF programme. The cuts to earn rates for OW are massive (is this the start of QF ditching OW???)

5 almost every year since I gained WP status QF has degraded the WP benefits: why penalise the most loyal customers?

6 I will now be looking at CX marco polo as I think that this will be the only way to stay OW emerald and, from th posts I have read (admittedly not the full >180 pages), I am not alone in looking at ditching QF FF.

7 Whilst I can understand the increase in SC/points for higher fare classes, it does not make sense in customer loyalty to rip oiut so much from the cheaper fares (these should have been kept static).

If the aim of these changes are to damage another part of the QF business and jetstarise the airline, then keep on with these daft ideas. If QF wants to be a preferred airline then how about reversing the damaging parts of these changes. The changes will not make me choose QFi when other factors (i.e. the important things for me when buying an airfare) would make the QFi flight unattractive or, more commmonly, impossible/non-existent.

 

[Joshua]

Dear Red Roo,

Please do feedback my thoughts about these ill-conceived changes (or to use QF speak, enhancements).

1...

You've answered your own question. You, like many QF customers have outgrown the carrier, or at least its loyalty program. Don't feel bad, it is okay. Time to find another (effectively public transport) company which matches your/our worldly views, lofty ideals and dynamic nature.

 

[beardoc]

No, I think we will carry on as before.
I think I said similar previously in the "(Confirmed) Removal of (online) ASA" thread. We are all pawns in a game, the rules may change but we play on as playing the game is the reason we are here.

Agreed. This is the fun of the game. Rules keep changing, we keep rolling with the changes. The fun here is the community that does share information.

 

[ChrisDPom]

Being Perth based, I have already seen more than enough changes for my 3 annual non- work PER - LHR trips.

My 5+ domestic ones annually are with work & pretty much locked in with QA as they fly to my WA intrastate and eastern state destinations so can use my QC membership (ironic that work let us choose airline if we are Club members providing we meet the cost!!).

I have done my last 3 UK trips via MEL or SYD for a days work then on the QA 380 to LHR and back same after we lost the SIN shuttle and kangaroo route QF 1/2/9/10 option.

Being QFF Silver minimum, 195cm and 2 DVT's mean picking seats is my priority.

Will now take the code share PER - DXB - LHR route as ASA SC PER - MEL/SYD run has gone.

Will use Emirates code share from PER (compulsory) with QF 380 DXB-LHR- DXB where available.

Intermittent annual Gold now looks out of reach as I Red-E deal economy, but I won't miss the extra 10+ hours flying & transit each way.

Will now have to be careful using my points just to ensure I maintain Silver.

As I am price conscious and have no high expectations on SC most years except Silver minimum for seat selection, I have started booking return flights LHR-PER where the 2nd leg is the start of my next Oz to Europe trip.

Book in Sterling on the UK website and even with the declining AUS$ works out cheaper (less so called "taxes and charges"?).

Works fine if 2 trips locked in less than 9 months apart.

Suspect others may have to look at the same when SC runs become less relevant due to these changes and cost becomes more the priority.

QA are still getting my money but they are getting less and hurting my loyalty.

Cheers everyone

Chris