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Showing the latest news for category Qantas.

Is Epiqure Premium Membership Worthwhile?

Many of our wine-loving members are also members of Qantas’ food and wine community, Qantas Wine (formerly epiQure). The program claims to offer good deals on premium wines, and many of our members are also attracted by the proposition of bonus frequent flyer points. Anyone can order wine from epiQure, but becoming a full member … Continued

7 Apr 2015 Qantas

Qantas Priority Baggage Blues

This week our members complain about the notoriously unpredictable approach of Qantas to priority baggage. One member has status, flies business class and has priority marked luggage but finds that their bags are still often the last to arrive off the conveyor. Many members find this frustrating given that priority luggage is trumpeted as a … Continued

2 Apr 2015 Qantas

Booking internal South American flights with Qantas points

In South America, depending on where and when you want to fly, internal flights are often expensive. And this problem is exacerbated by the fact that on some airlines, tourists are not even allowed to buy the cheapest tickets, which are reserved for sale to local residents only. So it’s little surprise that one of … Continued

28 Mar 2015 Qantas

Is Qantas Silver Status worthwhile?

A member is planning a large overseas trip at the end of the year and is wondering whether or not it would be worthwhile to attain silver status with Qantas before the trip. I am 220 status credits away from Silver with a month to go in this year. I noticed that once Silver is … Continued

17 Mar 2015 Qantas

Qantas back in the black

For the first time in a number of years, Qantas last week announced a profit in their half-year results. The highlight of the results is an underlying profit before tax of $367 million. Qantas’ controversial cost-cutting seems to be the main source of the improved financial position. The airline reports that a staggering $374 million … Continued

2 Mar 2015 Qantas

New Qantas “Bid Now” upgrades: How will they work?

Qantas announced recently that they are introducing a new way to upgrade called “Bid Now”. Under the new system, which will function alongside the traditional “classic” points upgrades, selected flyers will be offered the opportunity to bid for an upgrade using a combination of points and cash. It will operate like an auction, with bidders … Continued

23 Feb 2015 Qantas

Qantas Aquire annual fee axed

Qantas has removed the annual fee charged to businesses for ongoing membership of Aquire, its loyalty program for small-to-medium businesses. The removal of the $179 yearly payment makes Aquire significantly more attractive to business owners. The change was announced along with various other improvements to the program including the addition of three new partners and … Continued

9 Feb 2015 Qantas

Qantas Fuel Surcharge Cuts: Smoke and Mirrors or Tangible Benefit?

Qantas has announced that fuel-related surcharges will now gradually be absorbed into base fares for Frequent Flyer redemption tickets. This announcement has been trumpeted as Qantas delivering a real and tangible benefit to loyal frequent flyers. However, many of our members remain sceptical about this announcement. One member has opined that until Qantas are in … Continued

5 Feb 2015 Qantas

Don’t let your Qantas points expire

The issue of expiring Qantas points is not one anyone with an active Qantas Frequent Flyer account should need to worry about. Qantas has a clear policy that points will not expire as long as the account has been active in some way in the past 18 months. But for less frequent travellers, this is … Continued

17 Jan 2015 Qantas

Dad lives it up in First; Mum & the kids slum it in Economy

One member this week is planning a family trip to Europe and wants to experience the luxury of First class, but won’t be able to bring the whole family into the pointy end. Instead of our member risking getting into trouble with his wife, the plan is to split the travel so that both Mum … Continued

13 Jan 2015 Qantas

Business Class to Europe: the dream and the reality

Many people dream of one day flying to Europe in Business class, but think it is impossible to afford unless they win the lotto. However with some frequent flyer points, and a bit of sage advice, the dream doesn’t have to remain forever as just a dream! One member this week wants to use points … Continued

5 Jan 2015 Qantas

Qantas “enhances” Priority Boarding, more changes to follow in 2015?

One of the better perks for many of our members is priority boarding. A benefit usually on offer to the top tiers of frequent flyers, it allows them to board at anytime in a dedicated queue without joining what is often a long line. While Virgin have offered this benefit to their domestic Platinum and … Continued

14 Dec 2014 Qantas