Qantas: "Don't panic about your frequent flyer points"
By David Flynn, February 27 2014
Qantas has moved to reassure frequent flyers that their precious hard of points are not in jeopardy, although the airline has not pulled back from plans to put as much as 49% of the lucrative scheme onto the market – a move which could pour between $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion into the Flying Kangaroo's pouch.
But in the face of a record $252 million loss, with 5,000 jobs to go and over 50 aircraft to be pulled from the fleet, many travellers are understandably worried about the fate of Qantas Frequent Flyer.
"Let me assure you, however, that these measures will not impact your Qantas Points balance or cause your Qantas Points to expire" says Qantas Loyalty CEO Lesley Grant in an email blast dispatched this afternoon to the program's nearly 10 million members.
"These are tough but necessary measures to ensure a strong future for Qantas," Grant admits.
Part of that future is the new Aquire business rewards scheme which will launch on March 31st, with Qantas soon to reveal the first clutch of Aquire partners through which any business with an Australian Business Number (ABN) can earn Aquire Points.
"We want Aquire to be as important to businesses as the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is for consumers" says Stephanie Tully, Chief Marketing Officer for Qantas Loyalty.
"We expect to have close to ten launch partners, with some being existing partners in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and others who are new partners working with Qantas Loyalty for the first time" Tully told Australian Business Traveller.
The Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme provided one of the few bright spots in today's financial results, contributing some $137 million to Qantas' coffers.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
01 Feb 2012
Total posts 371
Those words seem to be carefully chosen to not discount the possibility of devaluing the points.
Imagine a treasurer saying, don't worry, your bank balance will stay the same, it just won't be able to buy half as much tomorrow.
Qantas - Platinum (Lifetime Gold)
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 54
I too received this email from Lesley Grant today. I’m not sure it reassures me so much as causes me to ask why they are spending money on some of the things itemised….. for example, I’m not sure I would choose to fly Qantas simply because they have a new snazzy lounge in HKG, LAX or Timbuctoo but I would choose to fly them if I received good service at best price…. I flew to Switzerland last October with BA in Business because it was both cheaper , I could choose to sit in 1st class one way to boot and I still earned One World air miles. I fly frequently to the USA and therefore use QF as a One World airline and accordingly hold Platinum status as a result but I would choose CX to HKG in preference both on price and service. I also earn NZ points due to frequent trips over the ditch which opens up the whole world of flying with Star Alliance and on SQ which is another superlative airline. QF must realise that we are voting with our feet and going to other airlines when they offer the same or better service and even better if the price is lower? QF needs to lift its game. It's not all driven by air miles any longer.... and as spinoza points out, even they could become devalued... what is the incentive to stick around.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
Yep, weasel words from the grande dame of QF (who prevously was supposed to have explored the options for putting QFi back on track!)
Critically, no reassurance about possible devaluation just the that the points won't magically be taken back.
11 Mar 2012
Total posts 315
Didn't panic. Booked 3 x J Classic Awards on CX PER-JFK return for next December! A Oneworld full service airline that still flies international routes out of Perth. :-P
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Feb 2014
Total posts 5
Uh, i never received the reassuring email as yet. When do i NOT panic?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 May 2013
Total posts 69
I didn't get my email until about 9:30pm last night, and as all have mentioned I wasn't reassured either that there won't be a devaluation down the track. Please Qantas Board come out and say that AJ has your full support as then we can use the football anology that he will be sacked soon!!!
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