Qantas unveils the biggest changes to status in program history

[Invisible Monkey]

Very interesting. As with most things in life,. there will be those that benefit from the changes and others that will take a serious hit. Not sure which category I fall in as it stands.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I wonder how the new search engine will go.

It may benefit those who are new to the redemption game but at the same time will make it harder for premium cabin redemptions as more people have visibility / knowledge of it.

Websites like Point Hacks etc, are already doing this, further eroding availability.

I'm only a lowly Silver and generally don't fly enough to even make Silver normally, so chasing SCs isn't of much importance to me - redeeming business class reward seats is my M.O.

 

[DejaBrew]

Will there still be a way of getting discounts on Qantas Wines for points buyers (replacing the 10% PCP benefit)?

Same thought crossed my mind as well, but I'm guessing benefits such as this may be offered to certain Status levels.

I wonder what the new 'on the ground' SC categories and earn will be? Will existing credit cards be eligible?

@Mattg already mentioned these in his article -:

• Credit cards
• Banking & home loans
• Insurance
• Car
• Home utilities
• Hotels & accommodation
• Holidays & experiences
• Everyday shopping
• Retail & lifestyle
• Sustainability

 

[Dr Ralph]

The annoucement of direct flights to Las Vegas caught my eye.

The removal of points club will mean I focus less on earning QFF points.

 

[Volando]

The prospect of a new search engine for awards is both exciting and terrifying. Let's hope it works properly.

I'd worry about what it means for availability for more savvy folk like - AFF members - who know how to scratch below the booking engine surface to find availability e.g. playing with the multi city tool.

I have plenty of friends and family members who currently give up when a simple return search yields no results a day or two either side of their preferred dates.

 

[SeatBackForward]

So many questions and thoughts. A few random ones that spring to mind (which I'm sure will be answered in due course:

1. Will there still be a way of getting discounts on Qantas Wines for points buyers (replacing the 10% PCP benefit)?
2. Will there be a mechanism to earn SCs on classic reward flights (replacing PC benefits)?

The article by @Matt Graham says "Qantas is currently considering ways to continue offering this as part of its program, but hasn’t yet committed to anything."

The annoucement of direct flights to Las Vegas caught my eye.

See also - routes that only last one season...

 

[LionKing]

Since I retired I can only achieve Silver each year. This means I will need 300 to Retain, but I suppose Status Credits on the Ground will assist in this regard.
If PC goes, will also lose Hotel / Wine vouchers.

I wonder whether there will be mid-tier benefits for hotel/wine vouchers.

 

[Flyerwin]

Overall seems like a win? Status on the ground, simplifying different SC programs...

 

[jase05]

Some good changes in there but still not enough to make me open up a new QF account.
I’d only consider rejoining if all OW partners earnt a respectable SC rate ex Australia. Currently it’s a disgraceful mess and the single biggest thing preventing me from being a member

 

[Kangol]

Absolutely zilch in this for P1s who are QF's most loyal FFs.

If there's 500 SC for rollover available to WP, does this mean you only have to earn 3100 SC for P1?

 

[Spoor 35]

Some good changes in there but still not enough to make me open up a new QF account.
I’d only consider rejoining if all OW partners earnt a respectable SC rate ex Australia. Currently it’s a disgraceful mess and the single biggest thing preventing me from being a member

How about on top of fixing the SC earn, they sort out redemptions with their founding OW partner QR...

 

[kermatu]

As always, pretty sceptical about QF changes and only time will tell. One thing I like the sound of is being able to bank and use at time of your choice when to activate a bonus WP year. I got LTG years ago but am a long way off LTP so could be handy.

 

[offshore171]

You have to earn 250SC more per year to even begin to have any excess SCs. There will be lots of people who don't fall into that category.

Certainly it's of less benefit to those who just scrape into a given tier. But for those who currently have "wasted" excess, , the rollover is a clear improvement.

I'm not sure your mention of 250 more required is correct. Starting with Silver, you have to earn an extra 50 to retain and then anything after that is excess and available for the rollover scheme.

The other new "value" that SC's now have is for the LTG holders. The excess above 14000 can now "buy" a year of Platinum in certain stages.

Overall, I think the new scheme's "value" of SC's is either neutral or a slight improvement. YMMV.

 

[levelnine]

I'm not sure your mention of 250 more required is correct. Starting with Silver, you have to earn an extra 50 to retain and then anything after that is excess and available for the rollover scheme.

Current WP retain threshold (if you earn the loyalty bonus): 1150SC

New WP retain threshold: 1400SC

Rollover SC only start accumulating after 1400SC.

 

[aikman]

To those of us who have or are going to spend thousands of dollars on status runs, it's worth considering that Qantas can change the rules and benefits at any time.

 

[LionKing]

I believe this is definitely a win for frequent flyers:
500 Rollover for Platinum as opposed to 100 for PCP, which meant if they launch before FY26, I almost guarantee 500SC to start with, together with SC on the ground (140) and DSC, all I need to do is to fly to Singapore via Melbourne return and I am retaining Platinum.
Green tier is definitely redundant, I never used it and I am glad it's gone.
10000 SCs with 5 years Platinum definitely appealing for me to keep flying Cathay Pacific once I reached LTG instead of going for Singapore Airlines PPS Club.
As someone who is spending $25K+ on flights, I am glad Qantas is trying to recognise this effort, or else I would have gone for AIr China Lifetime Diamond, or China Eastern Lifetime Gold.

 

[SeatBackForward]

If there's 500 SC for rollover available to WP, does this mean you only have to earn 3100 SC for P1?

The following year yes. So you'd need to earn 2400 SC in the first year, meaning an excess of 1000 SC's of which 50% will carry forward so you'll start the next year at 500SC's and then only need 3100SC's more in the second year to get to P1. Still a lot!

 

[justinbrett]

Still no revenue based system as so many were so sure on…

This was the time to do it if they were going to do it.

My only concern is removal of PC(+), but I’d take the rollover instead of the loyalty bonus and the slightly higher retain targets. Do a well timed DONE4 every second year and you’re retaining WP every year.

 

[SeatBackForward]

10000 SCs with 5 years Platinum

Check that, it's one year of Platinum every 10,000 SC's

 

[moa999]

10000 SCs with 5 years Platinum definitely appealing for me

Think it's every additional 10,000 SCs gives you a year of banked platinum.. up to 5 years which you'd get at 65,000.