QFF Low earn rate on Flex economy?

[mattggg]

I am VA Platinum, fly return every week domestically in flex economy (e.g. MEL - BRI - MEL). Sometimes business for longer flights (e.g. to East Coast to NZ or WA) and a few international flights per year in economy for vacation and work (Europe and Asia).

I was looking into whether it is worth trialling Qantas, and request a status match/status challenge.

However, I looked into earn rates of Qantas v VA on the most common routes that I take (remember, this is weekly return). For example on Flex economy Mel to Brisbane:
- Qantas, platinum member, would receive 2,200 points.
- VA, platinum member, I generally received around 4,000 points

I would receive almost double the points flying Virgin - over a year of flying we're talking a difference of like 150,000 points. On top of this, redeeming QFF for flights seems to attract significantly more tax/fees compared to VA!

Am I missing something? If this is the difference in earn rates between VA and Qantas on domestic, why would anyone that flies frequently for work domestically (e.g. MEL - SYD, MEL - BRI) choose QFF over VA?

Any insights or thoughts welcome, before I drop the QFF flirtations.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I don't think you're too far from the truth. I have colleagues who travel to PER in J fortnightly and they choose VA purely for the extra point earn but do enough QF for Gold.

Ultimately it depends what you value more whether that be a reliable global network or points (which can be easily supplemented through a CC).

 

[mviy]

QF has the better international network and soon will have flights direct non-stop between MEL and SFO. If I want to go VA I have to go via LAX.

Btw BRI is an airport in Italy. I think you mean BNE.

I don’t fly anywhere near as much as you and can easily get points from credit card sign up bonuses.

QF has lifetime status which VA is sorely lacking.

For VA to compete for my dollar they’d need to make big improvements to their network including lounge access and offer lifetime status. I’m already well on the way to lifetime status with QF so I’d be less and less inclined to switch even if they did that at least till/unless I reach LTG.

 

[Pleb Status]

For VA to compete for my dollar they’d need to make big improvements to their network including lounge access and offer lifetime status. I’m already well on the way to lifetime status with QF so I’d be less and less inclined to switch even if they did that at least till/unless I reach LTG.

As per the concurrent LTG thread, the 'cost' of lifetime status makes it achievable for less than ~1% of FF and therefore is not a concern for the remaining ~99% of FF.

 

[oz_mark]

On domestic routes, Velocity earn is directly related to the cost of the ticket. In comparison, Qantas is tied to distance, and overall is a flatter structure. In the end, Qantas is more generous at the cheaper end, while less generous on the more expensive tickets.

just all part of the fabric of frequent flyer programs and choosing whatever works best in your situation.

 

[Pleb Status]

On domestic routes, Velocity earn is directly related to the cost of the ticket. In comparison, Qantas is tied to distance, and overall is a flatter structure. In the end, Qantas is more generous at the cheaper end, while less generous on the more expensive tickets.

just all part of the fabric of frequent flyer programs and choosing whatever works best in your situation.

On the routes that I fly, only the lowest VA Getaway fares (classes M, S and T) pay less than the equivalent QF fares (due to the lack of status bonus). Everything else pays more or far more...

 

[mattggg]

As per the concurrent LTG thread, the 'cost' of lifetime status makes it achievable for less than ~1% of FF and therefore is not a concern for the remaining ~99% of FF.

Yea. I fly every week, and it would take me 6 years to get to LTG (remember, I fly 40 weeks of the year). By that time, I will be either so over travel, or would expect that business class becomes the norm in my career, that it won't hold much weight.

QF has the better international network

I'm not so convinced by this - I looked into direct QF international flights from Melbourne (my home city) and it's pretty underwhelming TBH.

• To Europe - Have always flown Etihad - VA Platinum provides access to the first class lounge in Abu Dhabi - showers, a la carte dining, good points earn etc.
• To the US, VA and Delta flights have always had the place covered (the QF MEL-SFO route will challenge that).
• Even Asia is pretty underwhelming from MEL on QF. For example, recent trips I've had to make for work. There is no QF/One World direct to Delhi from Melbourne, and they partner with China Eastern for China flights (sub-par airline in IMO. Compared to Hong Kong Airlines/Hainan). No direct QF from MEL to Bangkok. VA has direct flights to HKG and the SQ relationship gets you anywhere (though, cough lounge access at Singapore airport (bad food, no showers) is a constant pain point for me, and there are few perks when on-board SQ).

The biggest perk for QFF seems to be the ability to travel with colleagues, who mostly use QF in my world. But, I feel like a sheep if there is little benefit for using QF outside of this.

 

[mviy]

My long haul International flying for leisure is mainly discount J on DSC offers and my work travel is Flex Y with upgrade request to J. This way I can more than maintain WP but it’s not sustainable long-term. The LTSC platform I get from this will make it more realistic to achieve LTG once my travel decreases. If I reach LTG I could stick with just QF or try to get status with Virgin as well to get a good balance of both and then fly whichever airline suits me best after reaching/retaining SG on Virgin.

Considering SFO is an important destination for me in the US direct flights from SYD and soon MEL are huge. Currently I can avoid connecting in the US and soon I can avoid a domestic connection in AU too. The lounge situation in SFO is a problem though as CX turns lots of people away and the Air France Lounge is very poor.

My main destination in the Europe part of the world is LHR and QF flies there though they have cut their capacity from AU to LHR by 25% which reduces award seat availability and the chance for upgrades.

QF’s international timetable tends to be more consistent with a better lounge network though VA is making some progress.

imo it’s subjective preference as to what works best for you. I’ve assessed my needs and QF works best for me at the moment.