You know Loyalty Programs are going mad when...

[QF WP]

My example is the QFF program. Achieve QF Lifetime Silver and you get a congratulatory letter from the Manager, QF FF Programs. That's it :!: Whoopee :roll: ...

From what NM said on another thread, he didn't even get that when he achieved Lifetime Gold.

Some airlines actually smother you with gifts with a similar level of flying ...and a new membership card with a particular threshold noted.

Others (like AA) - achieve Lifetime Gold or Lifetime Platinum and you get 4 (for Gold), or 8 (for Plat), System Wide Upgrades (SWU's)...and to achieve those levels, you don't even have to have any credit from flying (as any points transferred from other loyalty programs count towards the achievement).

Insert your own story...

 

[straitman]

No comment :!:

 

[JohnK]

My example is the QFF program. Achieve QF Lifetime Silver and you get a congratulatory letter from the Manager, QF FF Programs. That's it :!: Whoopee :roll: ...

I got a "Extending your Silver Qantas Frequent Flyer membership" letter from QF when I re-qualified silver early signed by Jenny Chamberlain, General Manager Loyalty Programs including a complimentary invitation to the Qantas Club. I am quite happy with that. Just depends on your expectations.

I wonder what I will get in 4 weeks time when I strike Gold! A brand spanking new QF Gold card.

 

[Dave Noble]

On loyalty programmes going mad ( I wonder where QF WP got that idea for a name from ? )

I was arranging hotel room in New York for this weekend for my fiend and the room rate was USD169 + tax per night ( total USD194), so for 2 nights came to $384

I was able to improve on this by getting debil to sign up for a Priority Club account and then purchasing 20,000 points ( cost USD200) which also gave him Gold Status in Priority Club

That same hotel costs 10,000 points per night, so the 20,000 points nicely covered 2 nights accommodation

There is something going screwy when its 48% cheaper to buy the points for the room than actually book the hotel, plus of course earn 20000 qualifying points getting 1/3 of the way to Platinum

Dave

 

[Platy]

I, too, was amazed at the lack of recognition on attaining lifetime silver with QF, yes the letter from Jenny Chamberlain (always nice to receive), and that was it. I partly assume that as silver is somewhat lower in status than WP that the status benefits would be an anti-climax in any case and nothing really to get excited about!

I realise some of you consider the WP luggage tags somewhat uncool, but I am amazed that on re-qualifying for Platinum QF don't automatically mail out crisp, new, luggage tags! However, they will send some new ones out if you ring up and ask nicely!

 

[Yada Yada]

I wonder what I will get in 4 weeks time when I strike Gold! A brand spanking new QF Gold card.

Yes, and you will also receive two gold luggage tags, and some leaflets explaining the benefits. Of course the big benefit is free QP entry.

My example is the QFF program. Achieve QF Lifetime Silver and you get a congratulatory letter from the Manager, QF FF Programs. That's it :!: Whoopee :roll: ...

I agree Lindsay - reaching lifetime Silver or Gold is a real milestone and should come with something better than just a letter. They certainly are not dangling any carrots.

 

[JohnK]

I wonder what I will get in 4 weeks time when I strike Gold! A brand spanking new QF Gold card.

Yes, and you will also receive two gold luggage tags, and some leaflets explaining the benefits. Of course the big benefit is free QP entry.

Oh! I forgot the luggage tags!

 

[NM]

Yes, and you will also receive two gold luggage tags, and some leaflets explaining the benefits. Of course the big benefit is free QP entry.

Luggage tags! I have not had any of them in 10 years from Qantas. They must believe their old tags were string enough to last through the earning process of lifetime gold status. Sadly they were wrong. They died years ago.

I use the theory that anyone with QF luggage tags on the luggage is a recent starter in the program - or they like to purchase from eBay .

 

[JohnK]

I use the theory that anyone with QF luggage tags on the luggage is a recent starter in the program - or they like to purchase from eBay .

Some of us are very proud of our lowly QF status luggage tags and ensure they are clearly visible on our luggage.

 

[serfty]

I use the theory that anyone with QF luggage tags on the luggage is a recent starter in the program - or they like to purchase from eBay .

Some of us are very proud of our lowly QF status luggage tags and ensure they are clearly visible on our luggage.

Hey, I look after my tags....

Can't say the same for what happens to tags between SIN & MEL when out of my control; In January a nearly pristine SG tag got neatly severed in half. I still wonder what happened to the two floating pieces :?

 

[bfmi]

I use the theory that anyone with QF luggage tags on the luggage is a recent starter in the program - or they like to purchase from eBay .

My various luggage choices have a range of tags - even some very old QF Club tags (ie. paid access no status) and others up to Plat. Most of the higher status tags are in the desk draw waiting for the battle worn cousins to have flown their last flight.

A lot goes for the positioning of the tag on the luggage. Pick an exposed side handle and your tag will have a very short life. Half slide it into a plastic reinforcing edge on the top of the roller bag and it should be your bags escort for a long time. Beats filling out paper tags each flight.

 

[straitman]

A lot goes for the positioning of the tag on the luggage. Pick an exposed side handle and your tag will have a very short life. Half slide it into a plastic reinforcing edge on the top of the roller bag and it should be your bags escort for a long time. Beats filling out paper tags each flight.

I believe that the most obvious position is the best when I'm looking for my luggage. If necessary I'm happy to ring and get new ones and/or drag some old ones out of the draw.

 

[danielh]

Once a year I usually call up and say that I need new tags and will get another set as spares.

I've got about 6 QP tags, 4 SG and 2 WP so far. I do not get any Silver ones as (as they explained) that my QP tag had more 'status' then PS.

Regards
Daniel

 

[QF WP]

you can "launder" AMEX points through SPG and onto AA, to achieve Lifetime Gold (and LT Plat) without having had the need for actually flying on any airlines, including AA. What a fantastic :idea:

IIUC (if I understand correctly), the transfer rate of Amex to SPG is a rate of around 1 : 0.6 - but wait there's more (the steak knives :shock: )...then when you transfer 20K blocks of points from SPG to AA, you get a bonus 5K each time IIUC. Therefore, the through rate of transfer isn't 1:1 but it's not shabby either (based on the exact model shown)

You do have to be very patient and totally committed to the cause to achieve this darstedly and shneaky plan :twisted: (as the max transfer is 100K Amex points per transfer, as well as transferring from SPG in blocks of 20K each time).

 

[NM]

IIUC (if I understand correctly), the transfer rate of Amex to SPG is a rate of around 1 : 0.6 - but wait there's more (the steak knives :shock: )...then when you transfer 20K blocks of points from SPG to AA, you get a bonus 5K each time IIUC. Therefore, the through rate of transfer isn't 1:1 but it's not shabby either (based on the exact model shown)

Depends on the Amex earn rate. With Rewards MAximiser or Platinum CC, you earn 1.5 MR points per A$ spent.

Amex transfer to SPG at a rate of 330 SPG points per 1000 MR points.

SPG transfer to AA at a rate of 25,000 AA miles for 20,000 SPG points (less than 20,000 transferred are at 1:1).

So that means a rate of 0.61875 AA miles per A$ spent on Amex Rewards Maximiser or Platinum CC.

 

[blackhorse]

I use the theory that anyone with QF luggage tags on the luggage is a recent starter in the program - or they like to purchase from eBay

By having the luggage tags proudly and prominently displayed is likely to result in you not being 'randomly selected' for explosives test[/quote]

 

[Groundfeeder]

Blackhorse

By having the luggage tags proudly and prominently displayed is likely to result in you not being 'randomly selected' for explosives test

Despite this statement, reality has proven to me that I can generally always get a free vacuum at any airport. Maybe its the beard that gets them suspicious ....

 

[blackhorse]

Blackhorse

By having the luggage tags proudly and prominently displayed is likely to result in you not being 'randomly selected' for explosives test

Despite this statement, reality has proven to me that I can generally always get a free vacuum at any airport. Maybe its the beard that gets them suspicious ....

Until I got the luggage tags , I was 'randomly selected' almost every time. :x With the tags, I have been selected only once 8) ..

May be it is the tags, may be something else

I am happy till I m 'randomly selected :evil: ' again...

 

[serfty]

Blackhorse

By having the luggage tags proudly and prominently displayed is likely to result in you not being 'randomly selected' for explosives test

Despite this statement, reality has proven to me that I can generally always get a free vacuum at any airport. Maybe its the beard that gets them suspicious ....

Until I got the luggage tags , I was 'randomly selected' almost every time. :x With the tags, I have been selected only once 8) ..

May be it is the tags, may be something else

I am happy till I m 'randomly selected :evil: ' again...

They's ways 'n means of getting around this ol issue.. see Vacuum avoidance

 

[NM]

Maybe we need to seek assistance from EBay to have all the auctions for FF kits pulled so that the bad people can't use this theory to avoid the screening :roll: .

In my experience, tags on bags (or lack of tags) are not a significant in the decision used to select people for specific screening. The availability of the person undertaking the testing process has a higher influence in the selection process.