Upgrades? Pffttt

[Platy]

I NEVER transfer points from my credit card's, Westpac and Diners saw to that with the number of points I lost with Ansett.

Yes, I have just started to leave my AMEX points alone until I decide what to do with them. I used to just transfer them to QF, but with QF FF scheme change in the air I am waiting to see if I am better off doing something else with them!

 

[Reggie]

Furthermore, many partners, including many hotels in my experience, want the kudos and marketing benefit of being a Qf FF partner , BUT then won't award points on many of their rates. We have already explored this in another thread with people sharing many examples of their own experiences on hotels not giving points.

I agree completely. The partners have to push for value for money. At present my supplier is Qantas, and they look after me in the QFF stakes, and thats all I can ask.

 

[simongr]

F
Why can't the situation be managed through status, which is status credit (flying volume) dependent not point dependent?

It is to a certain extent - top tier flyers have greater access to awards (albeit just with the proles) and greater access to upgrades. Which is in fact where this thread started - someone complained that they couldn't an upgrade and many people responded saying that people mostly earning points through flying are actually getting better service....

 

[NM]

DAve, don't you use your Hilton Honors membership to double dip for both Hilton and partner points? (perhaps you keep them just for hotel stays). Their book direct online rate is supposed to be lowest price guaranteed and allows dopuble dip points earn?

I take the Base Points plus Bonus Points deal with Hilton Honors. I find I get much better value using my HH points for free hotel nights for my family that I would get from the few QF or AA points/miles I would earn by chosing a different "double dip" option.

The same with my Priority Club hotel stays. So far this year I have booked 24 room nights at the Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise using my PC points.

It is my opinion that in most cases I receive better value by using the points in the loyalty program they were earned rather than cross-earning or transferring points.

Are you saying you would like an exclusive FF scheme just for flyers? Do WP privileges not give you sufficient status in such things? What would you like QF to do to improve their scheme for your particular point of view and preferences?

I am not saying that all. I just expect QF to reward loyalty as a QF Frequent Flyer based on their FF program defined status levels. The fact that they provide other ways for members to earn points should not be reflected in how QF reward loyalty to their brand/products. And I say that as someone who has evaluated the benefits of QF FF loyalty and chosen not to use QF FF as my loyalty program for my flying activities. I will continue to use my already earned points for what I consider to be the best value use (upgrades), but really do not expect to add any more points to my QF FF account in the future.

 

[NM]

Yes, I have just started to leave my AMEX points alone until I decide what to do with them. I used to just transfer them to QF, but with QF FF scheme change in the air I am waiting to see if I am better off doing something else with them!

I see that as a wise decision.

 

[Platy]

Ichosen not to use QF FF as my loyalty program for my flying activities. I will continue to use my already earned points for what I consider to be the best value use (upgrades), but really do not expect to add any more points to my QF FF account in the future.

Sounds like you might already be doing something along the lines I have been considering myself - once I reach lifetime gold with QF to change to AA or indeed to Star Alliance. Once again the forthcoming changes will affect my decision.

Thanks again for sharing your insights and experiences!

 

[NM]

Sounds like you might already be doing something along the lines I have been considering myself - once I reach lifetime gold with QF to change to AA or indeed to Star Alliance. Once again the forthcoming changes will affect my decision.

Yep, I made the decision about 2 years ago now (when I reached Lifetime Gold). I chose to remain with OneWorld so I can continue to get some benefit from my lifetime QF status, and I am generally happy with QF as an airline. I just find their FF program does not provide the save level of "value" to me as AAnother AAirline.

 

[Platy]

Yep, I made the decision about 2 years ago now (when I reached Lifetime Gold). I chose to remain with OneWorld so I can continue to get some benefit from my lifetime QF status, and I am generally happy with QF as an airline. I just find their FF program does not provide the save level of "value" to me as AAnother AAirline.

I am just a little concerned in my own case that since you can no longer purchase lifetime QP membership it may indicate that lifetime gold status may either be removed or become much much harder to attain in the next round of FF scheme "enhancements"!!! (I am still at 10,000 SCs, but would consider an AONE4 ex-MRU to accrue 3,000+ of the remaining Scs required in one hit!)

 

[QF WP]

In as much as it might indicate that QF reviewed how many people were buying it (probably a very small percentage of membership) and therefore it wasn't cost justifiable to continue.

Their market for Lifetime QC membership may have either felt it wasn't worth purchasing:

1. where their flying didn't justify the cost (irregular flyers, usually Bronze or Silver); or
2. where their automatic membership of the QC (Gold and Platinum members) meant it wasn't a necessity as they already had access

 

[NM]

I am just a little concerned in my own case that since you can no longer purchase lifetime QP membership it may indicate that lifetime gold status may either be removed or become much much harder to attain in the next round of FF scheme "enhancements"!!! (I am still at 10,000 SCs, but would consider an AONE4 ex-MRU to accrue 3,000+ of the remaining Scs required in one hit!)

I hope you are not considering Lifetime lounge access as the goal here and see more value than lifetime Qantas Club membership. Otherwise you are going to spend $14000 for a benefit that could be purchased previously for a lot less than that. And of course Lifetime Qantas Club membership is always going to include Qantas Club membership. Whereas Gold FF status may be enhanced in the future to remove the Qantas Club membership component or move to a model like AA where FF status does not get lounge access for domestic itineraries. Now obviously I hope that does not happen, but I am not sure I would be willing to invest $14000 for the benefit.

 

[Platy]

I hope you are not considering Lifetime lounge access as the goal here and see more value than lifetime Qantas Club membership. Otherwise you are going to spend $14000 for a benefit that could be purchased previously for a lot less than that

Sure - although if I have to do the journey anyway and the cost is similar, it would encourage me to use an AONE4 ex MRU base price $7,000 rather than a DONE4 ex NRT base price $7,500.

IF QF "enhance" by removing lounge access on Lifetime Gold they have pretty much destroyed one of the key benefits, which would be most unfortunate having slogged slowly yet exorably towards the magic 14,000 SCs for a number of years...:-|

 

[sunfan]

Could you please give me an example of a ADONE4 RTW that can earn 3000+ SC. I am based in SYD

 

[serfty]

Could you please give me an example of a ADONE4 RTW that can earn 3000+ SC. I am based in SYD

A bit off-topic; maybe you could pose your Question in a new thread?

 

[Platy]

Could you please give me an example of a ADONE4 RTW that can earn 3000+ SC. I am based in SYD

Allowing for the fact that the Australian flights have only business class the following would give you 3,050 status credits (3,210 - 160) on a AONE4. You can play with these combinations yourself using mileage monkey at:

MileageMonkey 0.95013

Remember as you construct an itinerary that only certain flights have first class. Your mileage earn will depend on your tier status with Qantas and airlines chosen (only some recognise status bonus miles).

SYD-HKG-NRT-SIN-NRT-SIN-LHR-MCT-LHR-SFO-MIA-BOS-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-SYD-CNS-PER-DRW-SYD

You can do little better by starting/finishing in Narita which allows you to use the SYD-AKL legs (first class on Lan Chile), thus potentially using first class for every sector, for example:

NRT-SIN-HKG-LHR-MCT-LHR-SFO-MIA-BOS-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-SYD-AKL-SYD-AKL-SYD-SIN-HKG-NRT

Starting in Mauritius gives you a very cheap price for an AONE4 (base $7,000), BUT it is hard to clear 2,920 status credits with several flights only available in business class (eg. JNB-MRU and LHR-FCO):

MRU-JNB-LHR-MCT-LHR-FCO-LHR-SFO-MIA-BOS-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-NRT-SIN-NRT-SIN-HKG-JNB-MRU

 

[Platy]

The SMH web site has mention of the upcoming changes to the QF FF scheme:

Loyalty schemes jet into profit - News - Travel - smh.com.au

Note:

- launch expected in February
- expected move towards non flight redemption options
- mention of $100 million profit
- comparisons to Aeroplan model
- move to include Jetstar in some way

 

[JohnK]

Doesn't a February launch sound unrealistic considering we are in November and there has been very limited information released by Qantas to date?

 

[simongr]

Dont they need to provide 6 months warning of changes to the T&C?

 

[JohnK]

I think so but I am not sure if it is mentioned anywhere in the terms and conditions that Qantas need to provide any warning of impending changes.

 

[Dave Noble]

Dont they need to provide 6 months warning of changes to the T&C?

They do not have to give notice to add new benefits, only where the change will limit benefits

From the Terms and conditions

3.2 Qantas will use best efforts to advise Members of material changes to these Terms and Conditions and, where such changes will limit Benefits:
(a) where the Benefit is provided by Qantas, to give Members at least 6 months' notice;
(b) where the Benefit is provided by a third party, where possible give Members at least 30 days' notice.

Dave

 

[straitman]

They do not have to give notice to add new benefits, only where the change will limit benefits

From the Terms and conditions



Dave

... and often it can be quite subjective as to whether a change is a 'new benefit' or a 'benefit limitation'