OT: I had about 10,000 IHG points, but gave them up without making a redemption, I am not happy that IHG has made up a new rule, stay once in a very expensive range of hotels in a 12 month period, or your points expire.
IHG used to be good that points didnt expire, but they have gone down the road of points expiry. And yes, I do realise that both Accor and PGRewards also do have time expiry. Am a current member of both these, at least they have cheaper hotels in their liaison than IHG.
Maybe its time to stop travelling and hide my $ under my mattress in my dog box!
Travelling nowadays is no fun, its so expensive, and also so onerous.
Yes, but the point (pun intended) is that you were warned. IHG sent an email and even had a pop up on the app I think about the change. Half the discussion in this thread is about QF not being up front on expiring points (yet the posts saying the newsletter has had a note in there seem to contradict that to some extent).
My own feelings on the whole warnings of expiring points are two fold:
1. Yes, QF (since that is the focus of this forum and this thread) should have it more clear, as they used to, both on your website summary and email updates - it's not hard given they give you your current balance etc and they absolutely used to show expiry dates). So yes, QF took that away. If I was super cynical I would say it's deliberate but I'm only partially cynical so I won't
2. By the same token, there should be limits on how much "hand holding" people want. I mean if QF do put a note in the monthly newsletter saying your points will expire and you don't read it - is that QF's fault? Do you want 20 emails reminding you? A phone call? (yes I am being over the top here). My point being that spoon feeding happens at primary and secondary school. In the adult world, not so much. By all means, inform us, and give us the tools(which QF is lacking in) but I personally feel we don't need to be reminded all the time oh your points are going away. As responsible adults we should be aware of such things.
Remember all these loyalty programs are NOT there for our benefit, they are there for theirs. Again, super cynical me would suggest QF would be more than happy to have the points go as it lessens their liability and they have no incentive to want you to keep them indefinitely because of that. Further, having them expire is incentive to YOU to keep activity going - all activity is worth revenue to them (except for spending of points). .. so again, that's a bonus for them and most likely money.
Finally people who are active will never have this be an issue because if you have a linked CC, or use something like EDR.. er.. woolworths rewards, or are signed to assure, or any of the rest of partners just a single spend a month, or every 3 or 6 will keep you active. It's not hard. And if you're NOT doing any of this, chances are you probably don't have a huge balance, or if you do you probably don't care about it that much.
I think 99% of AFFers would be savvy and/or interested enough to ensure they keep their loyalty programs active - be it QF, hotels, car rental, whatever... and if they don't, like Pooch with IHG, then it's not worth enough to them to keep and that's fine.. it's a choice.
And yes, I am very aware that there are situations where one cannot fly or stay at hotels or whatever (for example, pregnancy/new family, change in jobs/financial circumstances, illness etc).. I myself did not fly for several years due to medical stuff... but I still kept my QFF, UA and other accounts I deemed important to be active through things like a yearly sped, or the QFF toolbar(when it was around) or similar.
Summary: QF could be far more transparent about this absolutely, but consumers need to also be aware and responsible.
(and IHG have plenty of cheap properties. Heck I stayed at the Melbourne HI for $115 and was upgraded to a suite. If that's too expensive for you, let alone they are not too bad in asia and parts of the US, and even the AKL airport HI can have reasonably cheap rates at the right time... I've even had a $130ish rate at the Adelaide CP which in your home. IHG are among the cheaper, for their mid range properties anyway, of the big chains IMHO, but everyone's mileage will vary).