Qantas flags more seats, lower fees for frequent flyers

If they make it harder to earn status I'll scream.

That doesn't sound good. Switch to a revenue-based model? Hope not!

Lifetime Platinum is a lifetime dream ..

Get ready for an enhancement! The cynic in me is anticipating a spend-based status system. That is the direction FF schemes are going.

I think they will target significant changes on platinum members and make it harder to reach. It is so easy to reach platinum during the DSC period.

I am expecting dynamic pricing of reward bookings and status based on spend.

Krisflyer here I come!

Might be rolling out EQD, EQM like the American carriers.

It might be the biggest changes in 32 years but there have been plenty along the way. Qantas have for years perfected the FF double whammy to the point its an art form. Devalue the currency (points) and inflate the earning rate. Beautiful. Fancifull if you believe you are going to be better off after the announcement!!!

As an individual who is holding out for the next (potential) DSC promotion to book a tranche of flights for Q4 and Q1, the thought of upcoming enhancements has me somewhat concerned.

I'm sure it will be "revolutionary"

Maybe the recognition of spend with Qantas over a spread of Qantas products hotels, insurance, credit cards, sign up points bonuses.

i heard that they are going to reduce the points needed for classic rewards by 10%, but triple the taxes.

Looks like a busy week for Qantas with many media performances.

Just my luck sitting on 1330 SC and in ‘ dispute’ with QFF for not awarding me Gold and the bonus for passing through 1000 SC. Seems loyalty only extends one way. Sad really if one believes in supporting Aussie businesses

Bugger. I am 5 status credits from Platinum this week!

Time to plan the next 4-5 RTWs in Business... and spend it in time for the devaluation...? “Oh and by the way, we’ve enhanced lifetime gold requirements to now be 50000 SCs”

One thing guaranteed: the changes won't be for the benefit of customers

Lifetime status axed. I am LT Gold if they do that, then and I am off to SQ. Ironically I would probably still get Gold status but it would be the principal.

Rather than a minor devaluation I hope they get too greedy and do a major devaluation, enough to finally set me free from Qantas loyalty.

Never in the history of QFF has as change to the program meant good news for us. I mourn the loss of anytime lounge access, of equal status credit earning on partner airlines, of once a year guaranteed upgrade credits, etc etc etc. Remember when they "streamline" it means things they used to do, we now have to do (think "streamline the way check in works") and when they say "more efficient program" they mean more points needed per FF reward (think "we are introducing an update to classic reward bookings to improve program efficiency).

OK, thanks H2SO4, understand that, but find that 1330 SC ought to comfortably get me to gold. Credits were generated on double SC only on QF journeys and just single SC on BA flights, so will continue to negotiate with QFF. Unless SC generated by OneWorld flights , like BA also do not count despite the promotion that these flights will help to reach next tier levels?! Nice to have a forum for gripes as communication with QFF is sporadic at best.

Hope this doesn’t affect my progression towards annual/lifetime status.

Poor loyalty program and dreadful value award chart. About to get worse...

Since they are having a media event, I don't think it will be all bad. I do see maybe an introduction of differing levels of Frequent Flyer Classic Redemptions like other airlines (ie Saver, Flex). The might also offer extra SCs for sale. The key thing is Qantas probably wants to increase revenue, so look for measure that increase revenue.

I’ve always been curious how much qantas and other airlines for that matter lose when people constantly sign up for credit card bonus points and redeem their flights this way without earning their status on buying commercial fares. And the constant news stories out there making it seem like it’s a secrethack to sign up to CC bonus point schemes - seems like every man and his dog these days are doing it...

Is the card in the picture meant to illustrate that the QFF program is going to become more backwards and twisted than it already can be??

I think it will be more about getting people to spend their points on things other than flights, it’s a big negative on their balance sheet and they need to encourage spending other than flight rewards which people wait years to get. Judging by some of the emails I get I would also envisage some sort of status for hotels, health insurance, wine, that sort of thing as they try to diversify away from just being an airline.

I must admit to being slightly amused by those comments on here where people say they will stop using QF and send their business to another airline as a result of these changes, whatever they might be. Don’t you think QANTAS know there will be blowback? Doesn’t anyone think QANTAS would have researched this impact to death?

The bottom line is that QF doesn’t give a rats klacker what we say, what we will do or threats we make to take our business elsewhere. The reason being is that for most of us know already that loyalty with Qantas is a one-way street to their benefit. QF will ride this bump like all the others, knowing that any impact will be minor and short lived.

My predictions:

There’s a lot of negative comments here. A reflection on us as a society perhaps.

Hope they don't move the goal post for Lifetime Gold or remove it completely...

Mea culpa, Rebekah and H2SO4. Clearly forgot that my recent 2 month trip to OS only generated 2 eligible QF flights. Pity about the 2 internal BA flights; so much for oneworld membership benefits. Trip to NFQ ought to put my case on sounder footings, assuming the anticipated enhancements don’t throw a spinner in the works?!

5000 SC for Platinum One each year.

It'd be great to see some of the following changes be made as per customer feedback for classic flight rewards

-More accessible and user friendly (that being full search options available through the app)
-Reduction in taxes and fees (we have one of the highest in the world)
-Reduction in points required across all classes for flights

Have to love the customer centric "enhancements" rhetoric don't you. Platinum from the day it was introduced but realised loyalty was one way very early. Now accumulated 37,000SCs. No interest whatsoever in P1 and haven't flown long haul on inferior QF metal with inferior QF service for 15 yrs. JAL, CX, QR and AY are all infinitely better. Use QFF for my benefit, not a slave to game. Not flying longhaul on QF metal I still end up with 2200-2400 SCs every year. Every domestic flight is a Red E Deal so I reackon they will be after others like me. There is more chance of a Kamikaze pilots' reunion than Lifetime Platinum.

Hmmmm, someone on this forum knows something, and they're not telling.....

I wonder how the Oneworld Award will be impacted?

Further to previous post, the most remarkable thing is that QF has my flight activity record and if they had the intelligence to look, could see all the revenue that is leaking from their airline. Not once during my Platinum membership term has anyone from QF called to inquire how they could earn my business or that of the organisation I lead. Wouldn't I love to be able to see exactly what slice of my customers' total spend was captured by my business.

Guesses

That announcement came out of the blue. Two days notice to informed parties. Most expect the worst as it's what big business does when announcing major overhauls. Me included, I'm very close to LTG. There will be some sugar but plenty of salt.

Have a listen to this conversation. I am sorry to upset your "first world problems", but how about you stop worrying about yourselves and your perceived priveleges!

Expect the ultimate enhanc

I will be disappointed if the changes are negative to those of us who are serious frequent flyers as opposed to those who earn their points via third-party purchases (Woolies, credit cards et al.). As someone who has never sat on an Ansett (remember them!), Tiger, Virgin or Jetstar flight and flies only Oneworld airlines, I am 100% loyal to Qantas - I like being Platinum and the 'extras' it affords me. I would be disappointed if the changes suggested by others above are bought in. Loyalty is a two-way street and I would hope that Qantas recognise this and don't make too many changes to those of us who spend significant money on flights. Lifetime Platinum would be great and give us something to aim for - stopping at Lifetime Gold puts a glass ceiling on customer loyalty and does tempt some to join another alliance to 'double up' on service and programs. Anyway, let's not get too hyped about possible changes and let's see what is announced on Thursday - if it is bad news, then we can unleash the dogs of war! Happy flying. M

Spot on, MuzzH. I reckon we ought to close this forum on that positive note.

Often see questions here about the benefits of lifetime gold, asking if there is anything to elevate it above normal gold. If QFF are listening to their customers they could throw in some additional benefits, which could work to maintain loyalty. Lower threshold for P is one that many have suggested.

As not so frequent flyer, I do hope the points will continue to be non-expiring (as long as one earns or burns) as every couple of years it’s a pleasure to redeem them without the worry (as is the case with SQ and TG) of them getting wasted.

Seems a lot of nervous responses and a very gloomy outlook for the enhancement release.....

Unless a gate agent whacks people over the head with a stick as they board the plane, the same people will still fly QF. And the airline knows that. Get ready for the enhancements.

I reached Lifetime Gold with Qantas some years ago, good value as far as it goes. Having recently started travelling frequently again, mostly to UK/EU, I have decided to go for Finnair Lifetime Platinum as I miss those First Class Lounges!😎

Qantas will screw you either way..

Hopefully they won’t need to catch a plane to the media conference...they could be late. “Qantas thanks you for your patience.”

If I had to guess one aspect will be doing away with set Reward Tables and move to dynamic points redemption system as other have moved to recently.... and tell us it's "to give more flexibility to our customers".

If it is a scheme concocted by the Irish Village Idiot who thought it was a great idea to ask people to 'volunteer' to work over Christmas with no prospect of work, it will not end well.

Will be interesting to see how much notice they are giving before "enhancements" become effective.

Yet again I have to point out the Air New Zealand scheme credits you with Air Dollars which can be spent on any AirNZ flight. None of this silly "no more Loyalty seats on this flight", if there are seats for anyone, you can use Air Dollars to pay for them.

Qantas is going to screw us, one way or another. The points will be watered down even further, to the point where it is just easier to forget about reward schemes, and fly with the best and cheapest to our intended destination. All the negative comments here, including my own, indicate that everyone is expecting the worst from Qantas, and we are probably right to feel so pessimistic, given the track record of Qantas over the past 10 years...

Don't worry boys!..It's all good news! Qantas Frequent Flyer Program has been sold to a private consortium and it will be managed still by Qantas..with changes along the way too!

Based on past form QF will not do any favours for paying customers. Cut back earn rates, devalue existing points, make status harder to earn...............that is their history, all the while raking in huge profits.

Did anyone else get the FF survey a few days ago? There were a series of questions about how much you trusted Qantas not to devalue points and the credibility of the program on a series of metrics. It wouldn't surprise me if they were taking customers' temperature to generate data points prior to a move which will adversely affect those metrics. Obviously there will be a couple of low cost benefits as part of the announcement, but I suspect they will be window dressing for a series of adverse steps.

My insider tells me it's all good...

It is dynamic pricing. See the below image. Redemption rates for economy are lower but also said to be 'from ...'

meh. maybe it really is time to just get the cheapest ticket. use priority pass for the lounges.

Does anyone on here actually know how many billions of FF points are on the Qantas books? I remember reading a few years back that one of the American airlines had that many FF points outstanding, that if they could be used, there would be over 14 months of non cash travel across their networks both domestic and international..

Something to ponder..

QFF Points is the second currency in Australia. It is massive.

My mail is on Qantas starting its own Platinum/Amex worldwide replacement rewards system, with One World. Er, wasnt there a One World mtg very recently ?

Im expecting an Amex like approach. Now that they made earning points so much more easily they will only be worth half as much as what they are worth now

Qantas Titanium status to compliment its Titanium credit card

Perhaps Lifetime Platinum for those who have been Platinum for 30 years. Lifetime Titanium as per my above comment for those who have been Titanium for 50 years.

Looks like my lifetime Bronze status is about to become lifetime Nickel

Lifetime platinum is the ultimate required change to Qantas FF program

So why on earth do you people persevere with the little Q? Come on over to Emirates. Leave the Q in your dust

A pathetic, irritating and disappointing airline. The only way for Qantas from here is UP

They reward your misplaced loyalty by beating you about the head. I guess it feels so good when it stops.......

Let’s just wait a few hours and stop speculating.

And this is another reason that there will be a major announcement ..see below..

According to the new QF promo video on YouTube, points can now be redeemed on (selected?) NZ, AF, KL, PG and CI flights.

But have they reduced the cost of toasters on points?.

Few people having to eat their words now. Points cost up, but cash payment down. More reward seats. New partners. Lifetime platinum (although I’ll be 90 years old at my current travel rate to qualify). Not all bad really.