Loyalty Bonus Changes: November 30 Draws Near

[awilcockson]

Well my membership year finished yesterday (30 Nov) and I logged on this morning and was greeted with:

You need 500 SCs to get next loyalty bonus.

Total number of Loyalty Bonuses awarded 0 of 4

Yesterday I required 115 SCs to get my next bonus. No pro rata points were awarded for the SCs I had accumulated towards the next bonus.

I am in the same boat (membership year ended yesterday). I was half way to a loyalty bonus and that is now wiped.

I still find it intriguing that Qantas would introduce a new tier at 3600 SCs, but limit loyalty bonus earning to the first 2000 SCs!!!

 

[simongr]

I am in the same boat (membership year ended yesterday). I was half way to a loyalty bonus and that is now wiped.

I still find it intriguing that Qantas would introduce a new tier at 3600 SCs, but limit loyalty bonus earning to the first 2000 SCs!!!

That would be because at 2400SCs you can earn 50K bonus if you don't take PG. That 50K is a lot more than you would get in LBs from 2000SCs to 3600SCs

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I am in the same boat (membership year ended yesterday). I was half way to a loyalty bonus and that is now wiped.

I still find it intriguing that Qantas would introduce a new tier at 3600 SCs, but limit loyalty bonus earning to the first 2000 SCs!!!

I agree.
There seems to be a no-mans-land between 2400 - 3600.

Sure, you get a choice of 50k points/PG/parking-drive options, but after that?

Even a discount Y to J upgrade, SYD-LHR can set you back 96k points, one way.

 

[awilcockson]

That would be because at 2400SCs you can earn 50K bonus if you don't take PG. That 50K is a lot more than you would get in LBs from 2000SCs to 3600SCs

That's a dodgy argument.

Before changes:

3600 SCs = 8 Loyalty bonuses (8 * 5000 = 40,000) + the optional 50,000 at 2,400 SCs = 90,000 points

After the changes:

3600 SCs = 7.2 Loyalty bonuses but capped at 4 (4 * 8000 = 32,000) + the optional 50,000 at 2,400 SCs = 82,000 points

But even worse than the capping is the resetting of the count to zero every year.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

But even worse than the capping is the resetting of the count to zero every year.

I missed that one.
That's a hit below the line QF!

 

[awilcockson]

I missed that one.
That's a hit below the line QF!

It sure is.

As I've pointed out previously my wife and 2 kids each have around 250 SCs in the loyalty bonus "bank". These will all now be reset before they ever earn the bonus.

Teaching them that taking their one or two flights a year over 3 or 4 years will lead to some form of reward is a true lesson in loyalty. Resetting the SC count is a lesson in stingey-ness.

 

[simongr]

I do agree - I perhaps should have included that this was QF's argument not mine. I do think this is one of QF's carpest changes recently. I have been lucky this year at the point of implementation. It might be a consideration next year as I get close to the anniversary date whether I book not just QF but a OW carrier.

 

[medhead]

Just on Pone and loyalty bonus, I wouldn't be surprised to see them introduce some other loyal bonus system for Plat one. That would address the issue with capping.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[Blackadder]

With my year ending Nov 30, had 295sc till my next bonus, now 500sc.

 

[Red Roo]

Hi All,

Just to clarify. Today the Loyalty bonus counter (X of 4) has been reset to 0 for every member and everyone is eligible to earn up to 4 Loyalty bonuses between 1 December and the end of their membership year, regardless of any Loyalty bonuses earned already this membership year. You can continue to earn up to 4 each membership year thereafter.

Cheers,
Red Roo

Family of six. Looking at how this seems to be working so far, four of us have received loyalty bonuses so far this (earning year), and our "points to next bonus" reflect that.

[e.g. earned 60 points since last bonus, now shows 440 to next bonus]

and this new message:

Total number of Loyalty Bonuses awarded in the current membership year 0 of 4


But here comes the but...

Two of us haven't had bonuses during the current membership year, but nor have we had our previous SCs wiped out.

[e.g. SCs earned from 01 Oct 2011: 80
Additional Status credits required to obtain next Loyalty Bonus: 210 ]

Could be a promising sign, could just be an IT glitch.

 

[simongr]

Hi All,

Just to clarify. Today the Loyalty bonus counter (X of 4) has been reset to 0 for every member and everyone is eligible to earn up to 4 Loyalty bonuses between 1 December and the end of their membership year, regardless of any Loyalty bonuses earned already this membership year. You can continue to earn up to 4 each membership year thereafter.

Cheers,
Red Roo

I hope QF realises that makes it even worse than I had previously considered during the transition. Take me for example - I have a 30 Sep anniversary. If this had been implemented on anniversary dates I would have 12 months to earn the 4 bonuses. Now I only have 10. I am likely to be in the 1800 to 2400 zone of SCs but if things slow down a bit and I am at the lower end of that scale but now to earn the four max I have to do those 2000 SCs in a 10 month period.

 

[Alanslegal]

Putting it simply, ALL QF flyers who earn up to 440SC each membership year ...... loses out! Thanks QF and I say this on behalf of the 6.5million or so 440SC or less flyers!

 

[Red Roo]

Hi All,
Sorry if my last post created confusion!

From today, Status credit balances relating to the calculation of the Loyalty bonus have been adjusted to recognise only those earned within your current membership year. Status credits earned in previous membership years will not be recognised in the calculation after 1 December 2011.

So by way of an example:
Joe Blogs has an anniversary of 30 Sept. In the time between 1 Oct and 30 Nov 2011 earns 200 SCs. On 1 Dec Joe will have 200 of the 500 SCs required to earn their 1st of 4 Loyalty bonuses. Once that is awarded, the SCs relating to the calculation of the Loyalty bonus will be reset to 0 and Joe will need to earn another 500 to achieve their 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] of 4 possible Loyalty bonuses prior to 30 Sept 2012.

If Mr Blogs earns 2000 SCs in their membership year (1 Oct 2011 – 30 Sept 2012) they will be awarded 4 loyalty bonuses of 8,000 points each.

While the SCs are reset in terms of the Loyalty bonus, they will still continue to count towards lifetime status and retaining or attaining status for the following year.

I hope this helps in understanding the changes implemented.

Cheers,
Red Roo

I hope QF realises that makes it even worse than I had previously considered during the transition. Take me for example - I have a 30 Sep anniversary. If this had been implemented on anniversary dates I would have 12 months to earn the 4 bonuses. Now I only have 10. I am likely to be in the 1800 to 2400 zone of SCs but if things slow down a bit and I am at the lower end of that scale but now to earn the four max I have to do those 2000 SCs in a 10 month period.

 

[medhead]

Putting it simply, ALL QF flyers who earn up to 440SC each membership year ...... loses out! Thanks QF and I say this on behalf of the 6.5million or so 440SC or less flyers!

I think that should be those earning less than 495 SC a year will now lose out. Or I may be confusing myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[beejay1177]

Hi Red Roo

I think most people get the concept of what has happened - it's more the implications of the calculation of the loyalty bonus. I can see two issues: There are some of us who would earn less than 500 status credits each year, and would have previously earned the loyalty bonus 18 months or so. There are others in the higher tiers that wouldn't have a problem earning 500 status points, but due to their anniversary dates have faired badly due to only being awarded on current membership year.

 

[coyote25]

So under the old system needed 65 status credits for the bonus with no time limit.

Now need 115 credits with 2 months until reset and unfortunately zero to no travel Dec/Jan. Could easily loss the 385 status credits. Not really "loyalty" when you limit earn to 12 months.

 

[chrispy3276]

As medhead expected, I've gone down to 30 SC's, with 8 months to earn 470 SCs. Would normally earn just under that in a typical 8 mth period, so will be interesting to see where I'm at when June comes around to see if this change actually has benefited me as a PS or not...

 

[Awesom Andy]

A bit late now, but I only just thought of this... instead of trying to do all these conversions where someone may or may not lose out, wouldn't it have been easier if they just go, on 1 Dec, everyone is awarded their bonus pro-rated based on how many SCs they have. Say, if someone had 100 SCs towards their bonus, they could've been given 1111 points, and the count starts from scratch.

Then, based on membership anniversary, you would assign members with number of bonuses available for the year. e.g. 1 - 3 months till new membership year = 1 bonus available, 4 - 6 months = 2 bonuses... etc, and a year later, everyone gets their 4.

 

[v8Statesman]

I read a lot of people upset here. On one hand I understand it. But on the other it is a loyalty thing for Frequent flyers. That is what this still offers. If you are Gold (SG) or above, you will still get at least 1 per year. This I am guessing is QF's rational for a loyal frequent flyer.

The people most upset here are the people wanting everything from QF and obviously not "Frequently" flying. There is competition in the marketplace. If you don't like what QF offer, vote with your wallet.

My Mother, and both my daughters loose out here. But I am not complaining, as they are not frequent flyers! My daughters are not even "occasional" flyers!

 

[markis10]

My Mother, and both my daughters loose out here. But I am not complaining, as they are not frequent flyers! My daughters are not even "occasional" flyers!

One could conceivably fly SYD-MEL 45 times in a year and not get a loyalty bonus, I would certainly count that as a frequent flyer!