Qantas rolls out Classic Plus Flight Rewards

[levelnine]

So I’ve put my ‘money’ where my mouth is and used today’s USA sale to book PER-LAX in J Classic Plus for 456k points + $1312.

This is going to be the strategy going forward for anyone unable to request the release of award seats.

It is a brutal devaluation — approximately double the cost of a classic award seat at current price levels.

It is even more brutal when you consider you're only getting 1.35c/pt in value once you take into account the points you're not acquiring that you would have acquired if you bought the revenue fare as a SG member (ie the value of 456K points + $1312 needs to be compared against the $8152 cash fare + 50K points earn on a PER-SYD-LAX rt in discount J).

 

[Doctore1003]

This is going to be the strategy going forward for anyone unable to request the release of award seats.

It is a brutal devaluation — approximately double the cost of a classic award seat at current price levels.

It is even more brutal when you consider you're only getting 1.35c/pt in value once you take into account the points you're not acquiring that you would have acquired if you bought the revenue fare as a SG member (ie the value of 456K points + $1312 needs to be compared against the $8152 cash fare + 50K points earn on a PER-SYD-LAX rt in discount J).

Yes, good points. I'm happy because I got the dates I wanted, just a few months out from travel, and my family is awash with Qantas Points (over 5 million), so it's less than a 10% hit to the account. Plus I need the SCs.

I recognise this is a special situation. I guess my point is there are certain circumstances where CR+ works.

I could have flown SQ for 288 KrisFlyer miles, but with some tricky layovers, and not my exact dates. Those miles are more valuable to me for flying to Europe, where Qantas CR+ isn't going to be as useful.

 

[serfty]

Further Strangling of Classic Awards​

I have been researching award flights in economy between Melbourne and Brisbane and noted that to get a Classic award, in most cases you need to connect or fly Jestar. it seems generally Qantas is offering Classic+ only on direct flights.

Here's a typical example for an August date next year:


...

...

So, the most frequent economy choices are: Classic Plus direct for 15.1K points and $99+++, Jestar () for 11K & $38 or connect for 13.8K & $99. The are NO direct classic awards available that day. This is typical of most days to end of schedule. There are a few dates here and there with a direct on QF metal for the $13.8K and $55 but they are infrequent. (In fact I eventually used seats.aero to find some with AA/AS award space on a direct QF metal flight)

For me with Qantas Frequent Flyer, it is getting to the point where domestic redemptions are simply not cost effective in mot cases.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Further Strangling of Classic Awards​

I have been researching award flights in economy between Melbourne and Brisbane and noted that to get a Classic award, in most cases you need to connect or fly Jestar. it seems generally Qantas is offering Classic+ only on direct flights.

Here's a typical example for an August date next year:

View attachment 471702
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View attachment 471703
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So, the most frequent economy choices are: Classic Plus direct for 15.1K points and $99+++, Jestar () for 11K & $38 or connect for 13.8K & $99. The are NO direct classic awards available that day. This is typical of most days to end of schedule. There are a few dates here and there with a direct on QF metal for the $13.8K and $55 but they are infrequent. (In fact I eventually used seats.aero to find some with AA/AS award space on a direct QF metal flight)

For me with Qantas Frequent Flyer, it is getting to the point where domestic redemptions are simply not cost effective in mot cases.

If it's indeed the case that Y seats cannot be had at the Classic rate on nonstop flights on the Golden Triangle, then I'd say yes, it's bleaker than I thought.

 

[flyguy77]

I've noticed similar. This is all revenue management driven and probably powered by AI or similar now.

If a flight is expensive or during a peak time you won't find it as a classic reward.

Airlines don't want anyone getting real actual value from their points.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Airlines don't want anyone getting real actual value from their points.

Just makes it increasingly easier to become a free agent, as I reminded myself yesterday while searching for a single open seat in the International Business "lounge" at SYD before being relegated to a barstool wedged between another pax and the sparkling wine station. Premium.

 

[Doctore1003]

If a flight is expensive or during a peak time you won't find it as a classic reward.

I think it's more than that.

PER-MEL in the middle of the week in the middle of winter next August: only CR option is economy at 6 am or Jetstar. Appalling.

I'm glad as WP I can call up and request seats, but that doesn't help the majority of QFFers.