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 most 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
...
View attachment 471703
...
View attachment 471704
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.

 

[serfty]

I did not think this could get worse. Qantas are making classic award seats available to oneworld partner airlines while forcing QFF members to use Classic+ for the same flight. See here for Wed. May 6th; Qantas, American AAdvantage and Alaska Atmos.




I can get X on the directs with Qantas if I wangle a bit with multi city on an international itinerary.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Gross.

Don't worry, I'm sure they'll fix this ASAP... by enhancing the availability to OW carriers away.

 

[flyguy77]

I did not think this could get worse. Qantas are making classic award seats available to oneworld partner airlines while forcing QFF members to use Classic+ for the same flight.

That's disgusting.

 

[ChrisMars]

That s so infuraiting, and fully break the promise of maintening CR. Hopeffuly @AFF Editor will look into it and write an article to get Qantas attention

 

[stm1sydney]

That s so infuraiting, and fully break the promise of maintening CR. Hopeffuly @AFF Editor will look into it and write an article to get Qantas attention

Bless. You kept flying Qantas on the basis of Qantas keeping its promises?

 

[Cloud9]

Bless. You kept flying Qantas on the basis of Qantas keeping its promises?

The only promises QF seem to keep are those for bonus payments to slimy little.... ahem.

 

[flyguy77]

That s so infuraiting, and fully break the promise of maintening CR. Hopeffuly @AFF Editor will look into it and write an article to get Qantas attention

They have probably maintained it numbers of seats wise...

But just moved it all to Jetstar flights or convoluted routes no one will want to book instead.

 

[AFF Editor]

That s so infuraiting, and fully break the promise of maintening CR. Hopeffuly @AFF Editor will look into it and write an article to get Qantas attention

We've reached out to Qantas to request a response to the issues raised today in this thread.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I did not think this could get worse. Qantas are making classic award seats available to oneworld partner airlines while forcing QFF members to use Classic+ for the same flight. See here for Wed. May 6th; Qantas, American AAdvantage and Alaska Atmos.
View attachment 471712

View attachment 471713
View attachment 471714
I can get X on the directs with Qantas if I wangle a bit with multi city on an international itinerary.

Thanks for pointing this out. I wonder if it also works via Avios?

I've noticed a near total lack of award flights on the QF website from CFS to SYD unless booking months in advance. For example, there are currently no CR seats in Oct or Nov, only C+ and I refuse to pay those prices. That leaves me with a choice between Rex and the train.

 

[MooTime]

Qantas, The Spirit of everybody other than Australia.

You can see their excuse already...
IT issue
Seats hadn't loaded yet
Transitioning to an adjusted system
Blah blah

 

[kamchatsky]

That's what happens when most people have golden handcuffs to QF. They will fly QF over VA regardless of how bad QF treats their customers. QF can afford to treat their customers with contempt.

Ironically I have a stash of AS/AA miles that I haven't managed to spend for a while. I will look at spending it on QFd if needs arise.

You can argue that VA program has gone worse but at least their flight prices are cheaper than QF in general. That's why even with the VA devaluation I still prefer VA over QF

 

[ChrisMars]

That's what happens when most people have golden handcuffs to QF. They will fly QF over VA regardless of how bad QF treats their customers. QF can afford to treat their customers with contempt.

Ironically I have a stash of AS/AA miles that I haven't managed to spend for a while. I will look at spending it on QFd if needs arise.

You can argue that VA program has gone worse but at least their flight prices are cheaper than QF in general. That's why even with the VA devaluation I still prefer VA over QF

I have the platinum handcuff so its relatively fine, but yes, when the metal will change to gold, I ll start experimenting with VA. My Velocity points stash is already bigger than my QF points one, in preparation for this. Will the grass be greener? Will see. A pity with the recent changes on va status though.

 

[downgraded]

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

This has been going on for a while. I previously booked CRs with days notice on Mel-syd no issue, plenty of options, recently it was the same: JQ or 6am only. QFF is a dud now.