I am a mere small fish in this big pond, but in my case, I have earned my Gold and then WP year after year through flying very frequently in discount economy and occasional premium economy (all of them self funded). I, for one, have not taken any shortcuts and have not taken advantage of any loop holes (I have ever had 1 MASA, booked for later this month because the prices were too expensive for me (the cheapest CBR to BNE one-way direct, in economy, was around $300) and I decided to use points to fly). And I will not re-qualify for WP based on the recent changes. Based on your argument (which I agree with), Qantas is telling me I am not good-enough of a customer for them. I understand that, and I respect their decision. But it is also within my rights to re-evaluate what "I" bring to this relationship; namely my loyalty and my cash... what do they say about "goose" and "gander"??!!
QF obviously don't value the standard Corporate Cowboy: those that ride the Golden Triangle week-in, week-out. They use the Corporate TA to book fares, the Corporate TA is obliged to provide the cheapest seats available; usually these are Discount Economy; occasionally, if returning during the evening peak, they may be Economy (I tend to get a 1/3 hit on this).
As discussed elsewhere, you can just about scrape WP on this pattern (without the DSCs). Highly unlikely to under the new regime, but would get SG.
So, QF are saying that the benefits that are provided and costing them so much money, they are willing to risk losing the revenue completely for that cost. What are they??
- Seat allocation ... all online, no additional cost
- WP Shadow ... only if the flight isn't full
- Additional Luggage .... not usually a consideration for your Corporate Cowboy (or Girl)
- Priority Boarding ... no additional cost (and rarely enforced)
- Business Lounge over QC ... this *HAS* to be the killer for QF
So, QF are willing to trample all over the very customers they've fought tooth-and-nail to keep at WP previously (provided they had an average history of > 1200 SCs) because of the cost of brown sludge and a premium beer over a standard beer.
Wow!!
Regards,
BD