Qantas Frequent Flyer changes coming in early 2024

[smiliemonster]

I'd like to see improvements in partner relationships, including better earning and redemption options across the board. Oneworld and other alliances are typically behaving like spouses on the cusp of divorce. Of course I understand the economic drivers, but I'm sick of being one of the forgotten kids. The limited QF network means they really do need to have solid partnerships with accessible itinerary to make the frequent flyer program worthwhile.

 

[Mickey Mouse]

(Please don't hate me!)

I'd like to see the massive points hauls for credit card churning removed.

Anything with "a pulse and a payslip" (including Uni students working 5mins/week) can rack up insane numbers of points, completely warping the system.

If QF could be trusted to implement a hybrid system, then one in which there were:
* some guaranteed (non Y) seats for the plats at first release
* some guaranteed (non Y) seats for the plebs a bit later
* last-minute releases with more dynamic pricing (given the above two points)
* the occasional "we're going CRAZY!!!'" mass seat dumps for PR
* no DYKWIA seat releases! (or at least, if there are plenty available, for each one handed to a plat, have a waitlist of plebs to allocate a matching seat to whoever's at the top of the list - for goodwill!)

 

[elanshin]

(Please don't hate me!)

I'd like to see the massive points hauls for credit card churning removed.

Anything with "a pulse and a payslip" (including Uni students working 5mins/week) can rack up insane numbers of points, completely warping the system.

That goes against QF's bottom line significantly. All those points that CC hand out, QF gets money for it. Whilst the exact cost per point is a closely guarded secret, they definitely do earn money.

In QF's pov having a huge bank out there that is hard to use is a great thing. Interest free liability instrument that they control? Finance company's wet dream. (Hence why this is so lucrative now).

It's just that public opinion has tipped too much the other way so they have to hand out the candy a bit. Asking them to fundamentally shutdown their money printer will basically not happen.

 

[RichardMEL]

Domestic First Lounge?

It's called the CL.

 

[RichardMEL]

Remember Doug Parker has an involvement here. Now sure, he's not running Loyalty, but probably would have some influence on direction... in terms of AAesque changes.

I can definitely see both dynamic pricing coming in for rewards, and also more revenue based earnings for QFF. This wouldn't shock at all.

I also agree with the somewhat cynical view as to what "improvements" mean given the audience of the AGM. I do, however, think they would definitely take the DL bachlash and current sentiment towards QFF into account to give something seemingly good, throw in a few sweeteners, then pull the rug out when the other shoe drops at a later date.

Anyway, lowering LTP threashold might be an interesting thing they could do at relatively little cost to QF - I mean even if they lowered it from 75K LTSC to 50k LTSC - it's still going to be a relatively small number of people who would be eligible but they could claim "hey, we dropped this by a third!"

My very fist thought upon reading the headline of this thread was "they'll go Standard/Saver reward systen" (a la SQ, UA etc) - and given relative ease to earn QFF points that would make some sense to offer. While I would not at all be surprised at dynamic pricing (as above) where they could claim "Hey, Melbourne - Mildura is down to 5k points in Y!" and show how great that is - but the reality being of course you won't see lower pricing on key routes but again it would SOUND like an improvement to the punters.

Anyhoo, the question was what would we LIKE to see.. well I'm not about more reward seats on popular routes - I know everyone wants J seas to LHR every day they want, but I'm a realist to know this is a business and all the rest. I would much prefer real changes that are (uh oh) consistent and work for customers - I mean proper partner availability online, proper ticketing that works, tools to allow self service changes far more easily than now (anything to keep folks away from call centres). Heck, what about Plat/P1 being able to request reward release online? Bot can say no if need be, and those who could get a manual review could go into a queue. You know, all the kinds of things we've wanted for years - a stable website that actually works for the majority of things, ticketing that isn't a "maybe if you're lucky" but actually works and quickly etc.

I realise that can't happen in just a few months given all the obvious backend work that needs to happen, but this is about what I would like right?

as for changes to QFF I'd like - change LTP threashold to something a little more attainable and something that makes sense in relation to the goals for LTS and LTG. Possibly another option for loyalty bonus rewards at say 2400, 4000 etc SC - along with gifting gold, x points etc, what about confirmable upgrade on an international flight - or two domestic or something like that. Or even an ability to rollover some SC's to the next year. Say you make 2400 SC but won't make it to P1, why not have an option to say rollover 200 SC or something to the next membership year? Maybe if one got to say 3k SC, that could rise to 500 rollover SC. Yeah, that means a reduction in future revenue so unlikely to be a thing, but there are some loyalty programs (like hotels) who do "rollover nights" and that kind of thing, and PCP does have the 100 rollover SC's, so it's not totally an unknown for QF.


Clearly they could go a number of ways, but we can be sure that, at the end of the day, the "improvements" are going to be for QFF and now us.

 

[elanshin]

LTP definitely needs to be a proper carrot when a P1 needs 20+ years (at 3600) its beyond a bit ridiculous.

But really perhaps the 2 tiered awards and guaranteeing a bunch of awards per flight might be the most realistic whilst beneficial.

Alternatively, they could consider doing stuff so that there other redemptions are not insanely bad in comparison. (Still worse off but not a joke). You know toaster redemption for like 1-1.5c per point.

 

[mviy]

I think probably the “improvements” may be more aimed at the Bronze travellers who earn a lot of points on the ground and fly occasionally rather than those of us looking for Platinum/Platinum One to be made better and LT status easier to achieve

 

[CaptJCool]

If QF want to improve the experience

Then it needs to address

1. The earn rate
a frequent flyers J & Flexi business
B frequent flyers personal funding
C points club (non-frequent flyers)
D churners


2. The burn rate

The promised land MIST
v the promised Land MUST

The Senate submissions made it very clear many believed they’ve been sold a DUD with the promised land of future classic reward tics

3. Fare pricing
Don’t know if anyone has noticed but domestic public J fares have dropped significantly in past weeks
Even if still $200 or so more than VA
it’s ridiculous that a one way J fare across Australia is priced at $2,700 -$3,300

There’s some pressure on some routes keeping the back of the plane cheaper. Noting economies of scale don’t work for regional flights (but state govt subsides do)

Personalised Promo codes could be used to offer dynamic discounts

They know lounge access produces improved loyalty but are slow to learn $54 offer for a once off lounge pass when you’ve spent $125-200 on some way ticket is way over-priced.

Y is still overpriced on routes like Adelaide Hobart ($179) when VA & JQ offer under $100

Dynamic pricing that offers cash discounts or double status credits or double points during the booking process would be beneficial

What they did well during Covid
Book one flight to keep status
This was a winner !

The flat $50 off a return flight was a DUD
especially when you’d doubled the prices anyway - a dynamic discount would work better so If you fly Sydney to Perth the offer could be tailored

Keeping the flight credits
My mother could do with the $545 pickpocketed given back to her

Change Fees
Halve, cut them by 70% them or more
In a modern computerised system $99 per passenger is plain and simple highway robbery

International fares
If you can discount $4,000 off the now inflated F fares you can do better
Pre-Covid the return F SALE SYD-LHR was $9,999
4 years later $14,499
What a 50% ride up on just 4 years when CPI peaked at 7%

Classic rewards
Reduce the cash portion

For the average punter increasing points spend to Europe from 192,000 to 216,000 means they need to spend an extra $24,000 at 1 point per $1 spent earn rate
Just so you can save $400 on carrier fees and then we’ve seen EKs voluminous multiple carrier fee price hikes
It was BS then and it’s BS now

 

[kangarooflyer88]

LTP definitely needs to be a proper carrot when a P1 needs 20+ years (at 3600) its beyond a bit ridiculous.

Nevermind Platinum 1s - what about World Platinums? 60 years of earning status just to earn lifetime World Platinum status? Can someone please explain what exactly they are earning? Unless the average life expectancy of a World Platinum is 140 years old, 60 years of flying QF as a World Platinum is already a life sentence!

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

I think probably the “improvements” may be more aimed at the Bronze travellers who earn a lot of points on the ground and fly occasionally rather than those of us looking for Platinum/Platinum One to be made better and LT status easier to achieve

PC does this to some extent - especially for the churners!

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

Have mentioned this before (and it's definitely a self-serving suggestion ), but if the bar for re-qualifying Wanker Platinum was set at 600 SC for Lifetime Gold members I'd continue to pay the Qantas premium when travelling overseas. As it stands now, I look forward to trying other OneWorld airlines for my international travel as I'll be moving to a Best (OneWorld) Fare of the Day strategy.

 

[Doctore1003]

(Please don't hate me!)

I'd like to see the massive points hauls for credit card churning removed.

Anything with "a pulse and a payslip" (including Uni students working 5mins/week) can rack up insane numbers of points, completely warping the system.

It’s only a matter of time before the RBA reviews interchange fees again and cuts them, leading to lower sign-up bonuses and points earn rates. It’s inevitable, from a consumer protection standpoint, given the rise of cashless payments. Enjoy the good times while they last.

 

[doctorstrangelove]

I'm optimistic on this one, purely because they'll have to start releasing more seats on QF metal to remain competitive going forward. Qantas used to be able to run their racket by relying on their partner airlines to pick up the slack for the paucity of Classic Rewards, but they effectively lost QR award availability last year and according to AFF that's now going to happen with BA too (possibly to a lesser extent). Awards availabilty on Emirates is better but still patchy and with extortionate carrier charges...

If I were QFF management I'd be getting seriously concerned about folks jumping ship to 1) Velocity or 2) credit cards that can earn Avios via a flexible awards program - at least for those looking for international redemptions; if flying purely domestically they probably offer enough not to jump ship.

I'd be curious to know if there's already been a drop off on people applying for Qantas linked CCs this year given their reputational damage (and likely macroeconomic factors too).

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Another bold prediction: QFF moves to Avios currency the same way Qatar and FinnAir did. Soon all OneWorld airlines will use Avios as the currency for travel alliance wide

 

[doctorstrangelove]

Another bold prediction: QFF moves to Avios currency the same way Qatar and FinnAir did. Soon all OneWorld airlines will use Avios as the currency for travel alliance wide

If you can't beat them, join them!

 

[Mr Bill]

Bring the Call Centers back home.

 

[openseat]

No doubt "enhancements" to make it "simpler and fairer"!

 

[bussyboy]

What's the strategy here? Book rewards for beyond the changes and cancel/rebook if truely positive options become available next year??

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Remember with QF, when flying ADL - SYD in dicsY used to earn 15 QFF SC, those were the days.
Then, ADL - SYD was changed to 10 QFF SC in discY.
They might change it to ADL - SYD to be 7.5 in discY.
But to give and take, they might reduce the points needed for a Y seat, from 8000 to 6000, for a short Aust dom flight zone 1 sector.

 

[ChrisMars]

Priority lounge showering for WWP?