Qantas Introduces New Domestic Fares and Further Frequent Flyer Enhancements

[ANstar]

Good job Qantas. Well done.

Two improvements that I really like....Upgrades from Red eDeals, and full Y earning on all flexi fares.

No complaints at all from me.

Amazing what a bit of new competition does!

 

[oz_mark]

+1 on this...williamsf1, where are you getting this information? S class has always been Super Saver. Red-e's classes have been the one's previously not-upgradeable.

This is now on the QF website. Qantas Flights | New Domestic Fare Rules for Australian Flights

There is an agents link: Latest Qantas News

Fare Family Changes
Fares in the Economy cabin will now be grouped into three fare families, each of which provides varying levels of flexibility for our customers:

• The Red eDeal fare family now consists of E, O, Q, N and S classes;
• The Flexi Saver fare family now consists of V, L, M, K and H classes; and
• The Fully Flexible fare family now consists of B and Y class.

...and...

The new Australian Domestic fare structure allows Qantas Frequent Flyer members to use points to upgrade to Business Class on all Australian Domestic fares and improves the Status credit earn rate
for some fares.

• Fares in V, L and M booking classes will now be classed as “Economy” instead of “Discount Economy” for the purposes of Qantas Frequent Flyer Status credit earn.
• In addition, the points needed for Flight Upgrade Awards on domestic Qantas flights from V, L and M class fares will reduce from the “Discount Economy” rate to the “Economy” rate.
• All Red eDeal fares, including E, O, Q, N and S classes, will now be eligible for Flight Upgrade Awards on domestic Qantas flights.
• X class fares, when booked as part of a Qantas Any Seat Award, will now also be eligible for Flight Upgrade Awards.

Links to the updated clue cards are at the bottom of the agents news item above.

 

[serfty]

+1 on this...williamsf1, where are you getting this information? S class has always been Super Saver. Red-e's classes have been the one's previously not-upgradeable.

This is now on the QF website. Qantas Flights | New Domestic Fare Rules for Australian Flights

It may make sense for S to become a red e-deal, but information on this [-]is[/-] was scarce.

[-]I can only find public reference to the fare structure as at June 10th this year. [/-](http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/policies/domesticretail100611.pdf)

There is an agents link: Latest Qantas News
...
Links to the updated clue cards are at the bottom of the agents news item above.

OK, that page was only updated in the last few minutes. I had been looking regularly.

http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/policies/RetailDomFareClueCard230611.pdf

 

[drewbles]

There is an agents link: Latest Qantas News



Links to the updated clue cards are at the bottom of the agents news item above.

Thanks oz_mark. I was looking thru the industry pages (without logging in; no access there) but couldn't find it. Perhaps i'm just going blind

That throws a bit of a spanner in the works, but the price has come down substantially so it's not so bad!

*edit*
Just read serfty's comments; that's why I couldn't find it, it wasn't there

 

[MarcB]

I notice that a few people are talking about pricing...has anyone actually seen any yet? Anyone with access to an Aussie GDS able to find these fares?

I note that the clue card does not mention a K advance purchase fare - or any class AP for that matter. Will be a shame if that goes unless there is some good pricing in the lower classes as the KIPOXAP represented good value on some routes - less than $100 difference on key dom routes between E and K!

 

[TheInsider]

Just reading some of that Qantas pdf for agents, have children always had a 20% discount?
Red-e-deal it states children are 100% of the fare, but if other fare class it's 80% of the adult fare?

 

[TheInsider]

As for the points upgrades at the airport, this wouldn't be for every FF'er would it?

Or is it the same as now just QC, SG, WP?

 

[chrisb]

i'm curious to see how much these upgrades cost. Hopefully they will stay the same as the current levels.

 

[willjd]

i'm curious to see how much these upgrades cost. Hopefully they will stay the same as the current levels.

Can we take bets on this? Give me a $1 at more points needed.

 

[Pvcmenace]

Just reading some of that Qantas pdf for agents, have children always had a 20% discount?
Red-e-deal it states children are 100% of the fare, but if other fare class it's 80% of the adult fare?

Booked Flexi Saver to HBA for Mrs PVC and Jnr PVC a month ago, where Jnr paid only 80% of fare, similar to international which is 75%.

Regards

 

[pshepvic]

As for the points upgrades at the airport, this wouldn't be for every FF'er would it?

Or is it the same as now just QC, SG, WP?

I'd assume it's the same - ie. ODU only available through the lounge, and therefor QP, SG and above.

That is until they announce changes to that policy when they bring in "enhancements" to change the request and notification process. I hope that doesn't mean that it gets opened up to anyone for ODU's otherwise that reduces my chances! (not that I've been flying QF much lately)

 

[MelUser]

The whole domestic upgrade process is completely disrespectful towards Super Plats, Platinums, Golds and Silvers as anyone can upgrade domestically.

It also discriminates against those (high revenue business travellers) who book their ticket at the last minute.

It also works negatively against other oneworld partner freq flyers and qantas frequent flyers trying to book redemption/award tickets in business class as it chews up availability.

In my view this change to the domestic upgrade system is detrimental and doesn't really help qantas or its loyal frequent flyers.

Some solutions: perhaps use a different fare bucket for upgrades (like AA) and perhaps yet another fare bucket for Super Plats, Plats and Golds to upgrade through?

Perhaps allow waitlisting for domestic upgrades (again like American Airlines)?

As it stands I think this is a useless enhancement for Qantas Frequent Flyers.

Qantas are you listening or have you now switched off?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It's great to see what some proactive competition from Virgin has produced. I don't think these enhancements would have occurred without the VA upgrades and the soon to be announced changes to Velocity.
And the winner is....the AFF.

Bingo!
With VA, l don't think that there would have been any changes.
But, it is a step in the right direction...

And l do like this in QF's statement...

“The Qantas Frequent Flyer program is also set to roll out more exciting changes for members over the coming months.

 

[Red Roo]

I have been reading through all your comments and thought I would clarify a few things that have come up.

These changes are for Domestic Economy fares only. They do not impact International fares.

The Red e-Deal fare family – S, N, Q, O, E and X class when booked as an Any Seat Award. These will be classed as Discount Economy for Status credit earn and upgrades
The Flexi Saver fare family – H, K, M, L and V. These will be classed as Economy for Status credit earn and upgrades
The Fully Flexible fare family – Y and B. These will be classed as Economy for Status credit earn and upgrades

We are not changing the points levels for Discount Economy and Economy Domestic Upgrade Awards requests.

Qantas Club members can still upgrade at the airport at The Qantas Club or Check-in Kiosk (where available). All the new upgradeable fares are eligible for On Departure Upgrades.

I hope this helps with some of your questions. I’ll check back again later.
And thanks for all the feedback so far.

 

[thewinchester]

I was going to consider taking bets on how long it would take someone to moan about these improvements and make an entitlement argument, but I would have never have guessed anything as low as post #52.

To Red Roo, apologies for the post of MelUser and anyone else who decides to hurl ungrateful, ill-considered commentary at you and your employer. I know coming back here to engage and interact with this community is a little like biting the hand that feeds them, but sadly in the social reality of online communities these things can and often do happen.

I have to use the word commentary above to describe it, lest the mods complain that I'm making a personal attack. I know exactly what I'd like to describe the commentary below as, but I'll leave that for other mediums.

The whole domestic upgrade process is completely disrespectful towards Super Plats, Platinums, Golds and Silvers as anyone can upgrade domestically.

You seem to forget paid members of the Qantas Club, who fork out substantial money each year and have this as a privileged of their membership. Of course, someone moaning like yourself above obv. isn't likely to get their facts right.

Further, from the QF website:

Upgrades are allocated according to your membership level: Platinum Frequent Flyers first, followed by Gold, Silver and then Bronze. When using your points to upgrade an eligible family member, the upgrade will be awarded according to the eligible family member's priority not the status of the Qantas Frequent Flyer whose points are being used.

That one paragraph alone blows your entire statement clean out of the water.

It also discriminates against those (high revenue business travellers) who book their ticket at the last minute.

Absolute rubbish, for reasons stated above. And if you buy last minute, you're in a seat lottery anyway so you can't expect upgrades when you buy so late.

It also works negatively against other oneworld partner freq flyers and qantas frequent flyers trying to book redemption/award tickets in business class as it chews up availability.

Upgrades aren't first come first served as already covered. They are based on recognition of loyalty as already stated. OW alliance members as usual would be treated at the same level as those who are members of QF on comparative OW status. Your point is moot.

In my view this change to the domestic upgrade system is detrimental and doesn't really help qantas or its loyal frequent flyers.

Did you fall asleep during the business and economics units in high school social studies?

Qantas is a business, their prerogative is to do what's right for them to deliver a dividend to shareholders, enhance revenue and financial stability for future investment and growth, encourage more customers, reduce liabilities from unused frequent flyer points.

More people, using more points, more often, means more flying, more seats available to be sold in lower revenue classes, more income, more bums on seats, and a more profitable company.

And guess what - if QF doesn't remain a profitable company, they go under. You QFF membership benefits will then mean nothing, zip, zero, nada, zilch. Your points balance (in Eurovision parlance) becomes nil points. Are you going to complain then that they weren't profitable enough to stay flying and ensure your hard flown benefits continued to mean something? Give me a break.

Red Roo are you listening or have you now switched off?

I can't speak for Red Roo, but I've sure switched you off. You join an exclusive and small list for me, those whose posts are automatically ignored by me on AFF from this point forward. Only one other member is on that list, and it's a pleasure to induct you to it for your outlandish remarks and completely ignorant commentary.

 

[TheInsider]

I can't speak for Red Roo, but I've sure switched you off. You join an exclusive and small list for me, those whose posts are automatically ignored by me on AFF from this point forward. Only one other member is on that list, and it's a pleasure to induct you to it for your outlandish remarks and completely ignorant commentary.

Wow i thought i was the only one who used this list!

 

[TheInsider]

And l do like this in QF's statement...

I wonder if that August date we'll also see more changes coming?

 

[samiam]

To Red Roo, apologies for the post of MelUser and anyone else who decides to hurl ungrateful, ill-considered commentary at you and your employer. I know coming back here to engage and interact with this community is a little like biting the hand that feeds them, but sadly in the social reality of online communities these things can and often do happen.

Please don't (in a sycophantic manner) apologise on my behalf - I enjoy the varying viewpoints on this thread that are either balanced or otherwise, and appreciate the commentary and dialogue.

I also have a differing viewpoint on who is the hand holding the food.

/OT

 

[Fifa]

I just got my email from QF:
"Great news about domestic fares, Status credits and points upgrades"

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It's great to see what some proactive competition from Virgin has produced. I don't think these enhancements would have occurred without the VA upgrades and the soon to be announced changes to Velocity.
And the winner is....the AFF.

I was going to consider taking bets on how long it would take someone to moan about these improvements and make an entitlement argument, but I would have never have guessed anything as low as post #53.

Actually, i quoted from MAJOR - Post #39 or do you mean post #52 is having a whinge????