The Qantas QFF calculator appears incapable of computing the SC earn on CX for any economy fare below "flexible economy". It simply will not display an "economy" or "discount economy" output.
I am considering flying MEL-HKG-NRT return on CX economy, paid "Light" fare (class N out and S back).
The QFF calculator forcibly displays "flexible economy" with 30 SC's for MEL-HKG. Meanwhile, the QF "partner earn table" suggests this should be 15 SC's. The QFF calculator correctly shows 15 SC's for oneworld partner airlines, except notably CX.
(This is my source of confusion. Is CX some kind of special exception? The CX fare class website lumps all paid economy fares into the same bucket, as distinctly opposed to their Prem Ec, Bus, and First fares.)
Why is this occurring, and what would be the actual SC earn rate for a MEL-HKG-NRT return flight on this class?
Hi, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but earning QFF points and SCs all boils down to your fare codes. Unfortunately, fare codes N and S when flying CX are not eligible for SCs. You need to check the 'QFF earn category table first to see which fare codes are eligible for FF points.
Under CX, you will see that the only eligible fare codes for economy are M, L, B, H, K, and Y - they are the more expensive ones. And trying to pick a more expensive bucket (such as the economy flexible option) will most likely not change your fare codes (you get more flexibility and services by paying more, but these serviecs are simply travel extras that get added to your 'base' fare; while the base fare codes remain the same).
Qantas penalizes their members when flying with CX and MH quite severely, which is a shame as I do fly them quite regularly.
However, from my understanding, if you credit the mileage to CX frequent flyer program, then you will get some points. I guess this is similar to when you fly Qantas on the most heavily discounted fare, you most likely still get SCs and points, though very low, but if you credit it to another FF program, say BA, you might not.
Thank you quantumreality for the exceptionally helpful answer, that link you provided is absolutely perfect. I will keep that in my back pocket for future flights, as I travel with AA and AS often and have never really been able to get my head around their fare buckets as they relate to QFF. Really appreciate the response, thanks again!!
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QFF SC earn on CX "Light" Fare - **Complex**
ausJCP
ausJCP
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Aug 2014
Total posts 132
Hi ET folks, complex question:
The Qantas QFF calculator appears incapable of computing the SC earn on CX for any economy fare below "flexible economy". It simply will not display an "economy" or "discount economy" output.
I am considering flying MEL-HKG-NRT return on CX economy, paid "Light" fare (class N out and S back).
The QFF calculator forcibly displays "flexible economy" with 30 SC's for MEL-HKG. Meanwhile, the QF "partner earn table" suggests this should be 15 SC's. The QFF calculator correctly shows 15 SC's for oneworld partner airlines, except notably CX.
(This is my source of confusion. Is CX some kind of special exception? The CX fare class website lumps all paid economy fares into the same bucket, as distinctly opposed to their Prem Ec, Bus, and First fares.)
Why is this occurring, and what would be the actual SC earn rate for a MEL-HKG-NRT return flight on this class?
Many thanks,
quantumreality
quantumreality
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 16 Jan 2018
Total posts 71
Hi, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but earning QFF points and SCs all boils down to your fare codes. Unfortunately, fare codes N and S when flying CX are not eligible for SCs. You need to check the 'QFF earn category table first to see which fare codes are eligible for FF points.
https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables/earn-category-tables.html
Under CX, you will see that the only eligible fare codes for economy are M, L, B, H, K, and Y - they are the more expensive ones. And trying to pick a more expensive bucket (such as the economy flexible option) will most likely not change your fare codes (you get more flexibility and services by paying more, but these serviecs are simply travel extras that get added to your 'base' fare; while the base fare codes remain the same).
Qantas penalizes their members when flying with CX and MH quite severely, which is a shame as I do fly them quite regularly.
However, from my understanding, if you credit the mileage to CX frequent flyer program, then you will get some points. I guess this is similar to when you fly Qantas on the most heavily discounted fare, you most likely still get SCs and points, though very low, but if you credit it to another FF program, say BA, you might not.
ausJCP
ausJCP
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Aug 2014
Total posts 132
Thank you quantumreality for the exceptionally helpful answer, that link you provided is absolutely perfect. I will keep that in my back pocket for future flights, as I travel with AA and AS often and have never really been able to get my head around their fare buckets as they relate to QFF. Really appreciate the response, thanks again!!