New Qantas promos including double status credits (book by 3/9/25; travel 4/9/25 until 22/8/26)

[me-h]

I'm about 400 sc from hitting LTG finally, and had been waiting for next DSC offer to do a little holiday somewhere to knock it over. Given the extra SC won't count, I think I'm better just waiting until after the promo when there are some cheaper sale fares, right? I'm relieved I'm close enough I can still get over the LTG line soon-ish, but disappointed at this change of the rules. I've been WP for quite a few years now but will come nowhere near retaining WP this year (so the gifted SC are useless), and I'm not going to go on a bunch of DSC status runs just to get that for another year, as LTG is pretty much the only goal for me now that am so close.

 

[Dvg]

Good luck on lowering the bar!

Pretty sure qantas has never lowered the bar unless it was a customer service issue

 

[QF_Flyer]

I notice that the FAQ says it can take up to 8 weeks for the DSC to be credited.
What are people's experiences with how soon they show up in reality ?

If I book a flight using this, it would be in early / mid October and my year-end is Oct 31st.

Given the DSC would be just enough to have me retain gold, I am a bit concerned that they may not show up in time.

In my experience (had DSC flights from the last round flown last month) it's within a couple of days of the flight. Even if they don't, they count from the date flown, so even if they're late, they still count towards your current year.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Do I still get the double status credits if I book via AMEX using my travel credit, or is it essential to book direct with Qantas?

From past experience, yes you'll still get them, any booking avenue on QF metal/QF code booked within the DSC booking window and flown within the DSC flying window will earn.

 

[QF_Flyer]

neither the loyalty bonus offer today or the DSC offer contribute to LT status, this was always the case so if you have already achieved/retained your status for the year they are worthless

Nope, always counted towards lifetime until now. Even the 600 SC given in 2021 for pandemania counted towards lifetime (the 500 rollover in 2022/23 didn't count).

I remember in 2020 (? whenever BP joined up with QF), they tried to exclude the 50SC from that from lifetime, but there was the obvious backlash (since everyone had status extended) and they backed down - I was sort of half heartedly hoping that would be the case with this, but I doubt it'll come about.

I'm currently on 1,827, just short of 6 months into the year - unfortunately that isn't equally weighted in the second half, so I'm not currently on track to reach P1.

Grateful for clarification / confirmation. .Eligibility is said to be on Qantas marketed and operated flights.

If I book return flights in/out Europe through/marketed Qantas but on the flights operated by Emirates (so 4-digit flight numbers beginning QF) — this booking would not qualify for this offer? Either for double points or double SC?

2017 was the last year codeshares (with QF code on "foreign" metal) counted for DSC sadly. The only exception is the AY operated flights SYD-SIN/BKK.

 

[QF_Flyer]

What challenging times are those exactly?

For corporate, things look pretty rosy today.

Prob the whole $90M fine for violating FW rules...that sort of thing doesn't do them any PR favours either.

No doubt the "gift" is there to increase revenue.

I suspect the whole thing is to increase revenue and to brush any negative publicity under the carpet. Anyone on the status train will book regardless, this brings forward potentially a year of revenue.

 

[Port Power]

For the first time ever, this DSC offer came just as I was about to book an international flight. Usually the promotion is published a week after! I have now booked return to CDG for trips next June/July, which will renew WP for 2027. Also took advantage of the DSCs to book a visit to Mum in Melbourne next May..

 

[QF_Flyer]

I haven't received an email yet, are others in this boat too?

Yeah, no email here, but the confirmation turned up straight away when registering, and all the details show in the app.

 

[MG1]

This does seem like an own goal for QF.

After VA's major status downgrade, I was planning on moving a lot of my flying over to QF. I imagine that others may have been in a similar boat - they would've had some good news in their direction only to undo it all with this. Now that DSCs don't count towards LT status, I'm wondering what the point is. My plans with both VA and QF are now out the window.

First world problems, I know, but still very frustrating.

 

[QF_Flyer]

...With the potential end (let's hope this is a one-off) of LTG via DSC...

Sadly, I see it as very unlikely this would be a random, one-off, I suspect that from now DSC will no longer count toward LT (just as DSC hasn't applied to QF coded flights on partner metal since 2017, other than the AY codeshares SYD-SIN/BKK, which are for all intents and purposes QF flights).

I'll happily be wrong, though!

 

[QF_Flyer]

This does seem like an own goal for QF.

After VA's major status downgrade, I was planning on moving a lot of my flying over to QF. I imagine that others may have been in a similar boat - they would've had some good news in their direction only to undo it all with this. Now that DSCs don't count towards LT status, I'm wondering what the point is. My plans with both VA and QF are now out the window.

First world problems, I know, but still very frustrating.

Agree, but with so many other airlines ruining their loyalty programs (BA was a very good program for lifetime Emerald, attracting a lot of US and European flyers, until their recent move to revenue), this could be a heap worse.

I would be around 18 months from LTG at current average earn rate, now it's more likely 4 years, which is a long time in FFP world (a lot can change).

Definitely First world (Oneworld?) problems, as you say.

 

[Doctore1003]

Keep in mind that Qantas has flagged more changes to earning status to be announced later this year. It’s been suggested this may relate to earning SCs ‘on the ground’. They should hurry up and tell us.

 

[RooFlyer]

So this is offered as thanks for loyalty?

So you can see how much they value everyone’s loyalty. SFA.

 

[mviy]

Keep in mind that Qantas has flagged more changes to earning status to be announced later this year. It’s been suggested this may relate to earning SCs ‘on the ground’. They should hurry up and tell us.

It’s possible that DSC no longer counting to LTSC could be what they were referring to. However, if there are any further changes this year, I would be very surprised if they tell us during the booking window for this DSC promo.

 

[CaptJCool]

Oh for the days of Anytime WP (plus non-flying guests) lounge access (now your guest and you both need to be flying) and JASA DSCs with 100% earn rate (now enshrined within Points Club at a reduced rate of around 70% albeit after a 0% rate for sometime between removal and Re-introduction)

Whichever system used this now choice smacks of “hidden” Revenue model AND instant gratification intermittent reinforcement (the gambling model)

So you get the annual Status awarded but it slows you down significantly in how many years it will take to reach LTG (witness the thread LTG the holy grail on here that people mention how many years it took (24 years in my case with a fair amount of employer supported) but I can’t imagine spending twice as much ON SHORT-HAUL domestic Red-E deal tics at $169 for the lousy 10 SCs to reach LTG.

I do think this affects the FF forum “hobby” more than the average punter as they’re not focussed on flying more. Like all other retrograde enhancements , sadly we “suck it up” and I’m grateful I’m “grandparented” in with LTG but I expect in the future opportunities for fare or status or cheaper competitors) arbitrage will be found. (Loopholes)

 

[justinbrett]

Prob the whole $90M fine for violating FW rules...that sort of thing doesn't do them any PR favours either.

Yeah I think you missed the point completely. The results show those events haven’t been challenging at all. QF is as strong as ever.

 

[sydneyboi]

I'd be curious to know if the DSC count towards lifetime gold from the earlier DSC promo in the year,
As others have pointed out QF IT systems are rubbish as we all know and *hopefully* won't know the difference....

 

[justinbrett]

I'd be curious to know if the DSC count towards lifetime gold from the earlier DSC promo in the year,
As others have pointed out QF IT systems are rubbish as we all know and *hopefully* won't know the difference....

Yes they did, and it’s been confirmed that their systems do know the difference. The individual promo is tagged to the PNR.

A flight in Sep/Oct this year could be part of three different DSC promos.

 

[sydneyboi]

Yes they did, and it’s been confirmed that their systems do know the difference. The individual promo is tagged to the PNR.

A flight in Sep/Oct this year could be part of three different DSC promos.

Thank you for claryfying.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Two DSC in one year.

The dark side to this is that QF has to continue running these campaigns, or big chunks of people lose status (since so many people are dependent on DSC to retain status).

In this sense, the status economy is semi-artificially propped up by campaigns.

While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, just think about it next time you're in the business class domestic lounge and can't get a seat even though you're paying $1,000 for a one-way SYD-MEL in J.