Ok, Whilst my status is only gold and l am no expert
, l do have some thoughts.
I believe these changes are a pre-emptive shot to deal with the new
Virgin Australia, rebranding, partnerships, business and full service, lounge and service changes. These new Qf changes are to sure-up and reduce the possible moving across of QF's biggest repeat cash flow customers ie Silver and gold.
Whilst WP may be more frequent flyers, as a bucket their cash flow pot would not be as big as gold, silver combined due to there lesser numbers.
However l also believe that there will be advantage changes still to come for WP's. But QF will now hold out until they see the re-action and announcement of Virgins new Velocity programe and changes to come later in the year.
I have been told that Virgin intends to run a solid top teir status match aimed at their new proposed business/corporate market.
I would hazard a guess that QF suspects that this on the agenda and is holding out on final announcements for an updated standard WP and will re-act to it when Virgin lays out it's new/updated programe aimed at QF's best customers.
I believe that these QF announced changes are designed to make it expensive for Virgin to match.
I also believe we would not have any QF changes to the programe if it were not for Virgins move to hit the Corp/business market.
I do see changes in the future for WP's, but QF is holding an ACE card up it's sleeve, in reserve.
WP's should not give up hope and drop to gold or to change programes just yet, I have a feeling if you do, you are going to kick yourself at a later stage.
I think QF are just being very cunning here.
I think this is all a very clever game of cat and mouse at the moment.
QF is trying to out think one of their ex-owns and they know and fear he is very good at what he does.