New QFF membership cards

Status
Not open for further replies.
reflector

reflector

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2008
Posts
41
Hi everyone,
This week I received my new QP card in the mail.
I immediately noticed that it looked and felt a little different.
It seems to be thinner than the previous card, and actually feels a little fragile. The logo has been updated to the stronger QF font seen on the side of new livery aircraft, and the background is different.

My theory is that because the QP card is not a financial card, and so they have decided to cut costs and make it thinner than what may be required by mastercard to meet its card specifications.

I'd be very interested to hear from members with other card types to see if they have had similar experiences.

I've searched the forum and not found any other references to the new cards. If this has been raised elsewhere please forgive me.
20180407_105214.jpg
 
I received my new Gold card this week with the new design. I actually think it looks great - YMMV.
 
Struggling to Redeem Your Frequent Flyer Points?
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

reflector said:
Hi everyone,
This week I received my new QP card in the mail. I immediately noticed that it looked and felt a little different .... I'd be very interested to hear from members with other card types to see if they have had similar experiences .....

View attachment 122501
Click to expand...

I'm still waiting on my new QFF card so can't comment on the look/feel as yet, reflector.

However, I noticed that your card expires at the end of February, but that you only just received the new card (in April). Did you have to chase them up for that card as it seems rather late?

I'm asking because my current QFF card expires in three weeks and the new card seems a bit late (compared to previous years) in being mailed out, so I may need to contact them. I have an overseas trip coming up in June and maybe another in May, so am looking for the card as sometimes I am asked to produce it at partner lounges.

Edit: I requalified for status months ago, and in the past have usually received the new card quite early.
 
reflector said:
My theory is that because the QP card is not a financial card, and so they have decided to cut costs and make it thinner than what may be required by mastercard to meet its card specifications.
Click to expand...

But it is isn't it? Isn't this how you access Qantas cash and pay for things?
 
The chip visible on the front of the card would seem to indicate it's a financial card.
 
Any particular reason the OP (or anyone else) can't just photograph the old with the new, back-to-back, and resolve the issue once and for all? :)
 
I just held my old WP (last year) to my new roo design and they're the same thickness. Also same thickness as a PS card from 2012.

coriander said:
The chip visible on the front of the card would seem to indicate it's a financial card.
Click to expand...

I have a non-QCash card and I still have a chip.
 
DC3 said:
However, I noticed that your card expires at the end of February, but that you only just received the new card (in April). Did you have to chase them up for that card as it seems rather late?
Click to expand...
Don't panic, mine was as a result of a late payment and backdating my membership to the renewal date, i think it took around 2-3 weeks to arrive as usual.

juddles said:
Any particular reason the OP (or anyone else) can't just photograph the old with the new, back-to-back, and resolve the issue once and for all? :)
Click to expand...
SO:
In the interests of advancing science and answering this question once and for all, I have done some testing. (which I couldn't do this morning as my wallet with my old card was at the office, but now retrieved)

Thinness: I placed both old and new cards on a flat surface, edge to edge and felt the join where they met. I could not feel a perceptible difference in height. The human fingertips are amazingly sensitive, and I suspect that if there was even a slight height difference, I would have felt it. In the absence of a micrometer to give me exact thickness, I believe that this has not changed.

Flexibility: The card still felt somehow cheaper, so I conducted another test to see if the new card was bendier than the other. I measured 2cm from one end of each card and positioned this over an edge. Picture a springboard and you'll have the right idea. I then placed a known weight on each card in the same position, and measured the change from flat to bent, so see if there was a "springiness" difference. To my surprise, the old card deviated 7mm, the new card deviated only 6mm. This may be an error or it may be that the new card is actually more rigid.

Conclusion: Despite the card not being actually thinner, or more flexible, it still felt "cheaper" though this is obviously very subjective. I believe this may be due to the matte finish on the new card compared to the shiny gloss finish of the old card. And yes, i have far too much time on my hands... :)
 
the new QFF cards are def thinner.. not that it really matters but it does "feel" cheaper somehow. I don't know why it should really matter of course since the only time I really use it is to scan at a kiosk or (rarely) hand to an agent. Certainly feels less substantial

and as an aside, the roo has lost its sparkle on my P1 card (whoopeedoo I know!)

seems kinda appropriate really :D
 
I hope they're not too thin. I've found it the perfect thickness/toughness for scraping the ice off the windscreen when in the UK for work - and I don't want to risk my actual credit cards
 
Thin also means easier to snap.
Once I walked into a glass sliding door that didn't slide open fast enough... snapped my visa debit card broken but lucky didn't bleed my ear or head.
Also if they are too thin they can bend in wallet if sitting in one spot for a long time.
If it was a QTMC ex QCC never mind as they come yearly, but if QFF membership card with no QTMC it a tough thing to keep it newish looking for long.
Edit: Oh QP... that comes annually so only worth a year.
Not that bad then
My QCC card now QTMC still has till Oct to go, maybe new membership cards are as OP has.
Pity.
 
Last edited:
GoldCanyon340 said:
My all time favourite card was my Gold Amex circa 1992. Now that thing knew how to sparkle.
Click to expand...

I remember those days, applications had to be made buy a heavy weight paper form. From memory the application was 2 pages in total. First was double sided marketing material, second was the application form, tri fold with details being completed on one side and then folded to form the reply paid envelope by licking that old nasty glue along 3 sides. From memory AMEX actually rang your employer to confirm you worked for who you said you did, also seem to recall having to get my pay slips certified by the payroll officer who was also a JP as a true and accurate copy.

I seem to recall minimum annual income for the Gold card was in the vicinity of $30K and the green was around $15K or $20K. I had that gold card for years. AMEX Gold charge was about the flashest card out there in the early 90's.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..

Recent Posts

Currently Active Users

Total: 920 (members: 42, guests: 878)
Back
Top