Heads up about program changes

[medhead]

Qantas certainly emailed me a number of times last year looking for votes in some awards. Guess they didn't bother this year. meh!

 

[Deleted member]

How many of us left would still vote for Qantas even if we are asked to vote in such a survey?

On balance I would still vote for qantas in a number of categories on Domestic routes.

 

[Sequel]

And while we are on the topic of SOLC, the OW airlines have quietly updated their earning tables to include UL. And basically, if you fly on UL between AU/Malaysia/Sir Lanka/Middle East/UK/Europe, you'll earn only 25% points even on full fare Y.

Not sure if I am reading this right, but the SC's seem to be poor also. Uk/Europe to Sri Lanka (and rest of Asia) in J 80 SC's, for a 5,400 mile flight. Only redeeming feature is that I would be looking to fly via SIN, and the 1,700 mile SIN-CMB also gets 80 SC's! (I think, as it would come under "All Other Flights"?)

Under the old system, those two flights would earn 220, so a loss of 120 SC's on a return trip.

What doe this mean for me? Likely that I will still credit to QF while the rest of the family will credit the points to AA, as they will get close to double the points for the same flights (0.75 vs. 1.25) and with the lower redemption rates on AA they are worth even more! The reduction in SC's earned means the family wont get any QF status as they may have before the change so it is a no brainer.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Not sure if I am reading this right, but the SC's seem to be poor also.

Well, we've already covered that in the past 2000 posts.

I think reality has just hit me now, looking for a flight from SIN to LON, and either I fly on EK via DXB, or I get "penalised" if I want to take any other OW airline - despite there being a non-stop option on BA. (I know it's against flyertalk policy to take non-stop flights, but sometimes, you just need to get there in a certain time frame).

I'll still make WP for another year despite this, but I'm now asking myself, why bother?

 

[codash1099]

Well, we've already covered that in the past 2000 posts.

I think reality has just hit me now, looking for a flight from SIN to LON, and either I fly on EK via DXB, or I get "penalised" if I want to take any other OW airline - despite there being a non-stop option on BA. (I know it's against flyertalk policy to take non-stop flights, but sometimes, you just need to get there in a certain time frame).

I'll still make WP for another year despite this, but I'm now asking myself, why bother?

With my "normal" flying pattern, I'll only earn enough SC's to make SG this year. I'll make that even i I do no flying at all, so why bother with QF or OW at all? I've not enough years left to make LTG (unless I win lotto) so after 15 odd years of being 100% QF/OW. I'm off to *A. Certainly make my ex PER international choices easier.

Sorry, VA, but without a proper alliance, you just don't cut it.

 

[Awesom Andy]

With my "normal" flying pattern, I'll only earn enough SC's to make SG this year. I'll make that even i I do no flying at all, so why bother with QF or OW at all? I've not enough years left to make LTG (unless I win lotto) so after 15 odd years of being 100% QF/OW. I'm off to *A. Certainly make my ex PER international choices easier.

As attractive as LTG sounds, I don't think it's actually worth much. If you're going to keep flying after achieving LTG, you'll probably reach SG by its own rights anyway. If you aren't going to fly much, you won't be able to use it much either, and at which time, we'll all probably be looking at the BFOD anyway.

 

[papermate92]

what annoys me the most about QF and these 'enhancements' is the lack of codeshares to stay loyal. If you search the BA website MEL>LHR, you get offered in addition to a BA flight, BA Codeshare with Cathay AND... funnily enough Qantas!
If Qantas offered reciprocal varied options, I would have no trouble staying loyal

 

[Buzzard]

I still think that if you redeem Classic award seats and travel in J ( if you can ) then status really gives you nothing else that you won't get with the Business class seat anyway.................. okay no SC's & no points on the JASA as before but then again the dollar contribution is a lot less on Classic Awards so ....swings & roundabouts etc..

I am finally coming to the realisation that Qantas has done me a back-handed favour and opened my eyes to focusing on real value rather than them stroking my ego as a "valued Platinum member etc" and spending money I did not really need to spend.

I will still travel Qantas but I will be more value focused in future using points for Upgrades and Classic Awards and give JASA's/MASA's the flick.

Exactly for the reason you mention, I have A j coming up for SWMBO and I, booked as a Classic. $600 or so stays in my pocket.

 

[Himeno]

what annoys me the most about QF and these 'enhancements' is the lack of codeshares to stay loyal. If you search the BA website MEL>LHR, you get offered in addition to a BA flight, BA Codeshare with Cathay AND... funnily enough Qantas!
If Qantas offered reciprocal varied options, I would have no trouble staying loyal

Exactly. If QF actally used oneworld more and had expanded codeshare agreements with other members, it would go a long way to keeping more people.
Where are the codeshares from LHR and HEL to Asia and America?
The codeshares around Asia, transpacs and to Europe from TYO, KUL and HKG?

If EK was a member of oneworld, I might make use of the QF coded EK flights. They aren't, so I can't.
If QF wants people to fly on QF codes and be loyal to QF, then QF needs to make it so that people can be loyal to QF.


Of course, given the lack of updates from QF about any of this, which has been mentioned to QF multiple times, makes me wonder if they pay attention to what their customers tell them (or if they even care).

 

[Deleted User]

Exactly for the reason you mention, I have A j coming up for SWMBO and I, booked as a Classic. $600 or so stays in my pocket.

Buzz, that'll be me after June 30 too, but for now I need a couple of extra SC's so "marginals" just work for me now...

 

[katiebell]

With my "normal" flying pattern, I'll only earn enough SC's to make SG this year. I'll make that even i I do no flying at all, so why bother with QF or OW at all? I've not enough years left to make LTG (unless I win lotto) so after 15 odd years of being 100% QF/OW. I'm off to *A. Certainly make my ex PER international choices easier.

Sorry, VA, but without a proper alliance, you just don't cut it.

Could not agree more. With the new system for OW flights I won't stay WP and, as a LTG, I get no benefit by flying QF/OW long haul if I can't keep WP. I'll be putting most flights into *A and only using QF when it really is the best option (which won't be often given the abysmal QFi route network).

Thank you Qantas for freeing me from the tyranny of loyalty!

 

[Danger]

I have a oneworld Explorer booking ticketed in December that I made some date changes to (flights other than the first) after 28/29 March. Each time the ticket number changes but the booking reference stays the same.

Will my earnings post 30 June be subject to the new rules due to the ticket number changing, or will I earn at the current rates as the booking was originally created back in December?

 

[legroom]

I have a oneworld Explorer booking ticketed in December that I made some date changes to (flights other than the first) after 28/29 March. Each time the ticket number changes but the booking reference stays the same.

Will my earnings post 30 June be subject to the new rules due to the ticket number changing, or will I earn at the current rates as the booking was originally created back in December?

Tickets issued on .... ?

I suspect - no data - that the ticket date would be looked at.

I thought about changing a MASA booking made before the SIMPLE date for post July travel but decided against it partly because of this uncertainty.

 

[Danger]

Tickets issued on .... ?

I suspect - no data - that the ticket date would be looked at.

I thought about changing a MASA booking made before the SIMPLE date for post July travel but decided against it partly because of this uncertainty.

Firstly, full points to Qantas for their amazingly quick response to my email. I emailed late last night and by the time I'd got into the office this morning I had an email asking for additional information about my travel. I emailed it back and within 45 minutes had a call from the same agent. Incredible.

The agent said it would go on the booking date and because the booking date was December I will earn at the old/existing rates. I queried twice whether the change in ticket number mattered and she said no, it was the booking date and that was the information she had. The agent said she would let me know if anything changes and reminded me to keep my boarding passes. I would have preferred it in writing but I guess this will have to do.

Also, I note that the website refers to booking, not ticketing:

Bookings made prior to 27 March 2014
For members with a booking made prior to 27 March 2014 in a fare class impacted by these changes for travel on or after 1 July 2014, we will automatically credit your account within a month of flying with the Qantas Points that applied when you made your booking.​

 

[medhead]

So they've changed the date again?

 

[Danger]

So they've changed the date again?

Wasn't it always 27 March, the day the changes were announced (throwing the three month notification period out the window)?

 

[medhead]

Wasn't it always 27 March, the day the changes were announced (throwing the three month notification period out the window)?

I've seen 3 dates, 27, 28 and 29 March. The last version I saw had 29 March as the cut off, and I have screen shots of that date. This was discussed up thread, AFAIK.

Actually according to the FAQ it remains 29 March. note this also includes the requirement to ticket. Looks like once again the information on the Qantas website is confusing and contradictory. It was clearly stated at the lunch that comparing the people who wrote this stuff with 5 year olds was offensive. So it is hard to understand how such basic mistakes can happen. http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/fairer-flying-faqs

Q: When do these changes take effect?
A: The changes are effective for travel on and from 1 July 2014. This means if you book on/after 29 March 2014, for travel on or after 1 July 2014 you will earn Qantas Points and Status credits in line with these new Airline Earning Tables.
Q: What if I've already booked?
A: If you have flights booked (booked and ticketed prior to Sat 29 Mar 2014) for travel on/after 1 July 2014, you will earn the Qantas Points and Status credits that applied at the time you made your booking. The applicable Qantas Points will be credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer Account approximately four weeks after the dates of the flight(s) taken.

 

[Danger]

I've seen 3 dates, 27, 28 and 29 March. The last version I saw had 29 March as the cut off, and I have screen shots of that date. This was discussed up thread, AFAIK.

Actually according to the FAQ it remains 29 March. note this also includes the requirement to ticket. Looks like once again the information on the Qantas website is confusing and contradictory. It was clearly stated that the lunch that comparing the people who wrote this stuff with 5 year olds was offensive. So it is hard to understand how such basic mistakes can happen. Frequent Flyer - Program - Fairer Flying FAQs

Inconsistencies on the QF website? Say it aint so.

 

[JohnK]

It was clearly stated that the lunch that comparing the people who wrote this stuff with 5 year olds was offensive. So it is hard to understand how such basic mistakes can happen.

If the quality of person working on this is anything like the quality of the people they are hiring in my office then I totally understand.

Off topic but I have just seen a record. A 12 hour code change has gone through 9 code reviews before finally being passed. Ended up taking 8 days. 25 years ago in IT if you went through 3 code reviews you were out of job. These days you are you given a 3% increase along with those working hard.

 

[ChrisDPom]

John try working with superannuation legislation since 1983/84 like I have if you find that frustrating.

Canberra change the rules more often than QA change their FF program.

We we tell our super fund members "this is the rules for this year. We frankly have no idea what the rules will be for next year."

Fund members nearing retirement get rather upset about the uncertainty!!

QFF members can probably relate to this.

NB: Back a few pages, people were having a go at the Dubai lounge for European trips. Personally I disagree as I much prefer it to the SIN Q business lounge. Deliberately taking a longer break there than SIN to enjoy the nice reds and space available.