We are entitled to STATUS CREDITS!!!

[turffy]

Hi to all,

My first post, here goes.

I find the situation with both QFF and Velocity each having 2 counting systems (i.e. FF points and SC) quite ridiculous in the sense that NEITHER of the systems now measure our loyalty to their FF brand.

Originally FF points were accrued for paid flights - a simple and accurate measure of loyalty. Now FF points have morphed into a multi faceted marketing tool for many products and industries. The result is that your FF points balance rarely has anything to do with how often you fly.

This was probably the reason why SC were introduced - to track loyalty of paid flights which they do. Fair enough but devoted points collectors are not being treated fairly.

My point is that the whole FF world has now become more than just flights - we are asked to hire this car, use this card, stay at this hotel, buy this petrol, respond to this offer etc etc. I don't feel that our loyalty to the particular brand of FF is being recognised. If we play the game, change our credit card, hire brand X car, stay at this hotel etc and build up our points to allow us to travel using them then I believe we are entitled to earn SC for the loyalty we have shown to the FF brand (not just the airline).

NO MATTER HOW WE GOT THE TICKET - POINTS OR CASH - WE ARE ENTITLED TO STATUS CREDITS IMHO!!!!!!

I would love to hear the communities thoughts. If you overwhelmingly agree with me then we should start lobbying the airlines to change their system.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Turffy

 

[Robert K]

You can get SC with ASA tickets. Not sure what you are getting it.

FF program is a marketing tool. The fact that it 'rewards' loyalty is only a welcomed by product.

 

[elbarto]

You know you can earn status by using a xASA on Qantas from the points you've earned from shopping. If we earned SCs just from shopping we'd all be WP1 and that would make the status levels worthless. You'd quickly start complaining that the Flounge is always full of "woolies wankers". So by forcing you to fly and earn your SCs the airlines are maintaining the exclusivity of the elite levels. Not to mention other factors such as alliances getting upset.

 

[serfty]

Welcome to AFF.

Interesting first post.

FWIW, Qantas do have provision for some award flights to earn points/SC's This is not the case with Virgin Australia.

IMHO, as these rules are available when you join the loyalty schemes, you know what you are getting in to.

 

[medhead]

Both poll options are the same.

Given the value of points to the airlines, maybe there is some case to make for earning SC (but not points) for award flights. But the thing is these award flights are what you're getting for being loyal, so I'm not sure how they can be considered a demonstration of loyalty. Maybe they should be counted as eligible sectors.

 

[coyote25]

You know you can earn status by using a xASA on Qantas from the points you've earned from shopping. If we earned SCs just from shopping we'd all be WP1 and that would make the status levels worthless. You'd quickly start complaining that the Flounge is always full of "woolies wankers". So by forcing you to fly and earn your SCs the airlines are maintaining the exclusivity of the elite levels. Not to mention other factors such as alliances getting upset.

I think the ops major point is flying should earn status earn if flying on points. QF heard that and created Any Seat Awards (ASA).

Now ASA can cost more but there are some very value low cost options.

Loyalty to a shopping brand while it benefits QF by the company buying the points it's not the long term game, companies can and will shift program to another airline or cease altogether.

 

[medhead]

I think the ops major point is flying should earn status earn if flying on points. QF heard that and created Any Seat Awards (ASA).

Not really. ASAs have not always earned SC.

 

[pshepvic]

Yes and no.

If you fly using points on a Qantas Any Seat Award or Points + Pay, then you DO earn Status Credits.

Only on Classic awards with Qantas do you not earn SCs. In these cases, you also have flexibility with the ticket and can cancel for a relatively low fee (particularly with long haul it is a small number of points compared to the ticket cost - on short domestic hops though the cancel fee is substantially higher relative to the flight cost). These tickets have lower taxes than Any Seat awards as well, so effectively on Any Seats the extra $ you pay in fees and taxes is actually paying for you to get Points and SCs. I don't have a problem with this system at all, and it certainly gives you the opportunity to earn SCs on flights booked with points. So for Qantas, I don't really see any point in lobbying them to provide something they already provide!

On the Virgin side though, yes I'd like to see them give points and SCs on Any Seat awards, but some of their fares on these are such good value they'd almost be making a loss. For the Reward seats I think it's quite reasonable not to offer SCs because of the lower redemption costs, as with Qantas Classic awards.

 

[pshepvic]

I think the ops major point is flying should earn status earn if flying on points. QF heard that and created Any Seat Awards (ASA).

In actual fact, Virgin had Any Seat Awards before Qantas - they just never offered SCs or Points earn on them. Qantas created a similar model to Virgin but added that as an extra incentive.

 

[turffy]

Hi

New to all this, what are ASA tickets please?

 

[Paddy55]

Hi

New to all this, what are ASA tickets please?

Qantas Any Seat Awards:

Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Awards

 

[oz_mark]

NO MATTER HOW WE GOT THE TICKET - POINTS OR CASH - WE ARE ENTITLED TO STATUS CREDITS IMHO!!!!!!

The only reason I can see for this is that you want the benefits of being a Frequent Flyer, without actually doing any flying. Points and Status Credits have different purposes within the Frequent Flyer scheme, and can be viewed separately (and Cathay Pacific is an airline that do separate these things, with points in Asia Miles, and status in Marco Polo).

A few years ago Qantas somewhat broadened the stream of where you could earn points from (EDR, the credit card changes etc). The subsequently put in place the mechanism for Any Seat Awards to earn SCs. So if you want status, you go through the ASA path. In all cases, you have to fly.

Now, even if they were to decide to award SC for non flight activities, you open up a whole world of problems in trying to define an earning scale that would be appropriate.

 

[turffy]

Hi

Not sure if we are totally on the same page. What I am suggesting is being awarded SCs when you have booked a flight using your accumulated FF points NOT being awarded SCs for 'just shopping'
As such you could never earn enough points shopping at woolies to redeem enough flights to earn enough status credits to get free QC membership

 

[oz_mark]

Hi

Not sure if we are totally on the same page. What I am suggesting is being awarded SCs when you have booked a flight using your accumulated FF points NOT being awarded SCs for 'just shopping'
As such you could never earn enough points shopping at woolies to redeem enough flights to earn enough status credits to get free QC membership

...and that was the reason earning was enabled on Any Seat Awards.

 

[elbarto]

Hi

Not sure if we are totally on the same page. What I am suggesting is being awarded SCs when you have booked a flight using your accumulated FF points NOT being awarded SCs for 'just shopping'
As such you could never earn enough points shopping at woolies to redeem enough flights to earn enough status credits to get free QC membership

Which is what the Qantas Any Seat Award allows you to do.

 

[turffy]

Hi
Please re-read the quote you posted- "NO MATTER HOW WE GOT THE TICKET (Yes a redeemed points ticket to FLY with) - POINTS OR CASH - WE ARE ENTITLED TO STATUS CREDITS IMHO!!!!!!

I am only talking about awarding SC's when you have taken a flight irrespective of how the ticket was paid for. Clearly the majority of your flights would be paid for with cash but for the few that are redeemed with FF points I believe SCs should be awarded (clearly no FF points should be awarded).

 

[pshepvic]

And as has already been mentioned a number of times here, if you redeem your points for Qantas Any Seat Awards, you DO earn Status Credits!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[oz_mark]

I am only talking about awarding SC's when you have taken a flight irrespective of how the ticket was paid for. Clearly the majority of your flights would be paid for with cash but for the few that are redeemed with FF points I believe SCs should be awarded (clearly no FF points should be awarded).

As has been stated multiple times, Any Seat Awards are the mechanism by which this is done.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

My point is that the whole FF world has now become more than just flights - we are asked to hire this car, use this card, stay at this hotel, buy this petrol, respond to this offer etc etc. I don't feel that our loyalty to the particular brand of FF is being recognised. If we play the game, change our credit card, hire brand X car, stay at this hotel etc and build up our points to allow us to travel using them then I believe we are entitled to earn SC for the loyalty we have shown to the FF brand (not just the airline).

NO MATTER HOW WE GOT THE TICKET - POINTS OR CASH - WE ARE ENTITLED TO STATUS CREDITS IMHO!!!!!!

I would love to hear the communities thoughts. If you overwhelmingly agree with me then we should start lobbying the airlines to change their system.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Turffy

I think you need to change the way you view these programs. It's not a frequent flyer loyalty program. It's a rewards program.
You fly - you get benefits (SC and the tiers that go with it).
You shop/hotel/card/everything else - you are rewarded with points.

Getting SC for spending would instantly wipe out mileage runs, and destroy the very core of the program for those who make it profitable.
Although, having a 'spending tier' could be interesting. For example if you make more than say 1m points/year you get a 10% bonus on all points credited to QF. That would certainly reward loyalty.
Unfortunately I don't see much hope for Mr and Mrs average Australian who spend $15-$20k/year excluding living expenses.

 

[travelislife]

This sseems to be going around in circles. Your rant seems a bit off the mark Turffy as it has been stated you CAN get status credits through flights booked using your frequent flyer points in the Qantas program through any seat awards.