QFF Status more important than Points?

[boomy]

Re: Thanks, AFF

Then would it be safe to say that your choice to choose other airlines for long haul makes your P1 status negligible to a NB, unless the P1s have access to 'more' partner inventory that we don't know about.

You are missing the point. what I am saying is that if the highest QF status can find it hard to get award seats then lower status members have very low chance to get anything other then what is published online, which is not much, that's why QF status is important.

 

[cove]

Re: Thanks, AFF

kpc we need to control your wish for us to experience economy flights to Singapore from Sydney.
Have recently booked one way on SQ to London out of Perth using J to SIN and Suites to LHR for 97750 Kris miles each.

 

[timster]

Re: Thanks, AFF

I agree with the OP's proposition, as far as my circumstances are concerned.

The emphasis one places on points and their usefulness depends on how hard it is for you to generate them. If you have a mechanism to generate tons of them with minimum effort (credit card spend), then the return on effort will be good. If you also fly enough to have the status to exploit the points to best effect that also obviously helps too.

You have to read recommendations on AFF with the proviso "Am I the same type of flyer/points generator as the poster who is recommending I do this/that/the other ?".

If you have to scratch and save to generate points then it's a mug's game IMHO - and the majority of the 10 million QFF members probably fall into this category. The benefit then swings very much in the airline's favour, shackling you to an airline/alliance when you'd be better off with BFOD. Of course you're a small fish to the airline, so they don't really care about shackling you in particular, but they do care about the 10 million QFF shackled mass. That's why they give away a few points for blowing your nose these days.

The majority of that mass have no status and will be lucky to get the occasional Y award, while paying taxes that may amount to half of QF's outright fare. That is, the points have only bought them half a flight, or the flight has effectively "cost" them twice the points paid.

My recommendation for the mostly-Y flying mugs without large CC spends is to see if there is an airline/alliance that will allow you to get at least gold status with your flying patterns. It was easier a year or so ago, but there are ways of getting/maintaining it with maybe two Y long hauls a year (or one J), although probably not with OW AFAIK. And (mostly) forget about the quest for points. If you can't get at least gold status, you're kidding yourself that you're even in the game, and that your scratched/saved points are truly useful - go BFOD.

In summary, break the single-airline shackles.

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: Thanks, AFF

You are missing the point. what I am saying is that if the highest QF status can find it hard to get award seats then lower status members have very low chance to get anything other then what is published online, which is not much, that's why QF status is important.

For qantas flights, yes. Other than that the P1 through to the NB is fighting for the same partner award inventory (unless there's an unwritten benefit that P1s have access to more CX JL etc awards).

 

[boomy]

For qantas flights, yes. Other than that the P1 through to the NB is fighting for the same partner award inventory (unless there's an unwritten benefit that P1s have access to more CX JL etc awards).

The only unwritten benefit I can think of is more op-ups, especially on EK flights.
Back to the topic, if you're always planing your trips 10-12 months ahead and always book J/F seats then I agree you don't really need status.
QF status comes handy in a few cases:
1. Upgrading your purchased seat.
2. Releasing award seats in a short notice.
3. Releasing extra award seats for "family" members.
4. F lounge access (WP/P1 only).
5. Much better customer service in case anything goes wrong with the booking.

 

[kpc]

The only unwritten benefit I can think of is more op-ups, especially on EK flights.
Back to the topic, if you're always planing your trips 10-12 months ahead and always book J/F seats then I agree you don't really need status.
QF status comes handy in a few cases:
1. Upgrading your purchased seat.
2. Releasing award seats in a short notice.
3. Releasing extra award seats for "family" members.
4. F lounge access (WP/P1 only).
5. Much better customer service in case anything goes wrong with the booking.

Recently, I was after a J award for +1 from Syd-Dxb-Lhr on QF1 on a specific date...set alarm at 0050:evil: (as I was in Ireland) to be ready to book at 353 days out when award seats are released...and guess what, absolutely NADA!! Since I was already up, I skyped the premium desk, and they released an award seat for me, tagged on a Lhr-Bud leg in J on BA as well...cost me an extra 6K Qf pts booking fee which i was quite happy to pay....so even at a year out, still needed to rely on my Plat status for award release....as QF premium award seats become harder and harder to redeem, I'm now finding award seat release as one of the best benefits of Plat status (F lounge access in Syd is nice but I reckon ths standards are slipping)

 

[Paddy55]

Status is important - it makes life very nice for frequent traveler - up the front of the upgrade lottery, extra Award Seat release, 'shadow' seats, etc as people have said.

Fortunately points have some very good uses too as Mrs Paddy and I using (AA) points will be flying to/from Europe in July in First, and in the Flounge in SYD and the Concorde Room in LHR - somewhere my WP status couldn't get me if I wasn't flying F on BA.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

C'mon Pooch. Mrs 340 and I easily get an ADL-x-HKG return in J every year with points. Sometimes I even piggy back a CX F HKG-LHR return. Status Credits are where they're at, but the FF points are the cream on the coffee.

 

[RichardMEL]

As usual the Pooch is confusing this old cat person

...on the one hand I understand AP is suggesting "points are passe/useless" yet he then points out (no pun) that, in his opinion, SC;s etc are earned by using his beloved points plus pay. Yet if points are useless and unimportant to him, only status is, then how can he use his points plus pay?

furthermore I'm not sure of the real point (again, no pun) of this thread is. OK sure, a personal viewpoint, but I don't see a question or anything here to the community?

As others have pointed out (OMG AGAIN NO BLOODY PUN!! ) everyone's circumstances and priorities are different. Not everyone is seeking a goal of LTS/LTG, or cares for status. In the original example of making 10k points over 10 years, that very occasional flyer simply has no need, interest or is ever going to get near either meaningful status or a LT goal, so they will probably wind up buying a toaster in the QF store, or a one way to SYD.

QF gives out points fairly easily these days with credit cards and the like. Points are great for upgrades, or awards on routes, or that odd indulgance of say EK F to LHR, or a CX F flight HKG-JFK or something. Others may see value in saving up to redeem Y tickets to OOL for the family annual vacation. Everyone's different.

and that's my POINT! (pun darn well intended!!!)

 

[SQ421]

........suggesting "points are passe/useless" ........ points out (no pun)......... beloved points plus pay. Yet if points are us......... can he use his points plus pay?

....... the real point (again, no pun) of this ......., a personal viewpoint, but I ......

As others have pointed out (OMG AGAIN NO BLOODY PUN!! ) ...........

QF gives out points fairly easily .......the like. Points are great .......

....my POINT! (pun darn well intended!!!)

Clearly we know what's important to you

 

[BD1959]

I think the Pooch probably fell foul of his asserting certainty rather than opinion in his OP.

In my current situation - where the vast majority of my flying is weekly domestic commutes - status is the goal with respect to IIROPS priority and MEL/SYD Dom J Lounge access. It also used to be PB, but since that is neither an enforced benefit and has since been diluted, less so.

I spend points every couple of years - usually on a J redemption MEL-LHR-MEL - and while, yes, I need the points to purchase I've also needed the WP status in order to open up a seat.

If all goes according to my employer's plans, next membership year is likely to be my last as WP. On the rarer occasions I'll then fly, I'll miss the benefits more than the points I'd have earnt. If I then don't have sufficient points - or if I am unable to gain access to redemption seats when I wish to fly, it'll be cash purchase, most probably MH J.

For those who are belittling P+P as poor value in the Y cabin: this also is not 100% the case. There are various posts out there comparing Classic Y + Taxes versus Sale Y using P+P where the latter *can* prove to be cheaper. Not always black and white ... a bit like the Pooch!

Regards,

BD

 

[yohy?!]

To me, FF points these days are passe.
What you now need, and its of most importance is SC earn or status credit earn.
SC earn will help you climb the ladder to more benefits.
FF earn means absolutely nothing.
If you have accumulated 10,000 QF FF points by flying, over 10 years, lets say, but not up to 300 SC per year, or 700 SC per year, you are not getting to PS/SG. SG is where the real benefits start, PS is a taste test.
If you fly 10,000 QF points per year, and have got 300 SC in that year, then you are in the goodie basket. Even better if you flew 20,000 points per year and got 700 QF SC.
Edit: I too thought you were a young "sprat", didnt realise you were around in the AN days.
So, er, you would have had SC earnings already down pat.

Given the rate of devaluation of earn rates of points and benefits of status I think you need to really rethink the value proposition for paying above the odds to have status at all (assuming it's not something you can get at someone else's cost like work travel). After a few years at WP when flying mostly international, dropping back to SG when now flying domestic the benefits really aren't that much more to justify putting more spend to QF.

 

[RichardMEL]

Clearly we know what's important to you

lol nah, I'm a status hound. got my P1 requal flight in a few weeks. sad but true lol

I don't use P+P

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Qantas status is nice but it's certainly not worth more than other airline points.

QF points are a bit of a joke internationally... You can redeem many other oneworld airlines miles on QF flights at less cost than QFF points, but at the end of the day a combination of both is required to fully maximise the benefits of traveling.

 

[RichardMEL]

Very true re the value of QFF points - specially for flight redemptions with the "price" then the extra charges on top make it a bit of a joke compared to the likes of AA - absolutely.

QFF status is useful if you mostly live in QF land (obviously!) specially in terms of potential for upgrades on longer haul sectors and the like. Status with a OW airline like AA or AB will give you the lounges and priority but not the "home airline status perks" - but that's fine if you spend more time on those carriers - and things like upgrades are an interest of course.

For me personally now at LTG and P1 I am thinking about other options since there's little left for me to attain in QFF land. That's just me though

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Very true re the value of QFF points - specially for flight redemptions with the "price" then the extra charges on top make it a bit of a joke compared to the likes of AA - absolutely.

And BA, CX, AA, JL, MH...the list goes on!
BA for example is 3,500 avios syd-mel + next to no taxes. Same $1 per point as QF earn but burn rate significantly more appealing.

For me personally now at LTG and P1 I am thinking about other options since there's little left for me to attain in QFF land. That's just me though

Fortunately for you there are others already gone through this transition. Let me know if you need any help figuring out what to do next ;-)

 

[pagingjoan]

And BA, CX, AA, JL, MH...the list goes on!
BA for example is 3,500 avios syd-mel + next to no taxes. Same $1 per point as QF earn but burn rate significantly more appealing.
Fortunately for you there are others already gone through this transition. Let me know if you need any help figuring out what to do next ;-)

You could line up a few customers for this advisory service, trippin_the_rift.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

You could line up a few customers for this advisory service, trippin_the_rift.

I developed a program that does exactly this. Scaled it back after minor setbacks.
Now it's a simple online tool where you plug in basic things like:

Departure,Arrival,Booking Class, Marked Airline
EG: SYD-HKG,D,QF or LHR-DXB,N,BA and so on...

It then spits back instantly how many miles + elite points/credits you would earn on that sector on all oneworld airlines. It gives you a fast indication where you're best off sending your FF business. I'm planning to add support for star alliance in the future.

Can add multiple segments so good for RTW planners too.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

As in my avatar, I am an Australian Pooch, and due to subcontract work doing shop and other cleaning, if I dont appear, I dont get paid. I wont say what I write on my OPC and IPC, but rare that I have been questioned, but what I do write as a job is a true description of what I do for employment. Can always show them I can use a swing buffer if they kick up a stint! Show us you can do it, that you really are a cleaner!
Simples, as the Meercat ad says.
Due to this, I cant go far off for any holidays.
NZ is the only one I can go for, and come back, 1 day public holiday + a weekend is a nice time off, or when Christmas falls on a Fri and Mon, or weekend + Mon.
Chasing QF SC is my pastime. My only pleasure!

 

[Nizar]

To me, FF points these days are passe.
What you now need, and its of most importance is SC earn or status credit earn.
SC earn will help you climb the ladder to more benefits.
FF earn means absolutely nothing.
If you have accumulated 10,000 QF FF points by flying, over 10 years, lets say, but not up to 300 SC per year, or 700 SC per year, you are not getting to PS/SG. SG is where the real benefits start, PS is a taste test.
If you fly 10,000 QF points per year, and have got 300 SC in that year, then you are in the goodie basket. Even better if you flew 20,000 points per year and got 700 QF SC.
Edit: I too thought you were a young "sprat", didnt realise you were around in the AN days.
So, er, you would have had SC earnings already down pat.

I totally disagree.
I earn around 200-300k points a year from CC spend, sign-up bonuses, hotel stays, etc.
And I find this is usually sufficient, along with AA/LM purchases, to fly largely F and J, in which case for me, its status which "means absolutely nothing".
Each to their own though and YMMV, but that's my view.