Bad change - Qantas FF miles expire earlier.

[upright man]

Qantas FF has announced that from July 2010, miles earned will expire in
18 months instead of 36 months as before;

see the T & C below :

http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/...m/terms#jump24

This is a drastic and inconvenient change, sigh.

[jhm]

Unlike KrisFlyer where miles expire regardless of activity, this seems to be 18 months only if there's no activity on the account which IMO does not seem a big problem.

[upright man]

Unlike KrisFlyer where miles expire regardless of activity, this seems to be 18 months only if there's no activity on the account which IMO does not seem a big problem.

Yes, you're right, and considering any activity counts (flying on any OneWorld flight, car rental, hotel, Australian duty free shop) it shouldn't be a big problem.

[KeithMEL]

Seems like everyone is moving that way, this comes after other major airlines like UA and AA announced cuts to the mileage validity period from 3 years to 18 months on their reward schemes. It'd affect overseas customers more, as Oz-based members can simply top up their accounts with a variety of means like credit card activity, dining or shopping for groceries (and god forbid - even flying ).

The other changes:
- Family transfers will no longer count as activity
- Anyseat awards to accrue points and status credits
- Anyseat awards will be upgradeable with points

The changes to anyseat awards are a good thing IMO, except the cost of such awards (which are already expensive as they are) will inevitably rise.

[Lobster]

The email they sent informing me of these changes was a classic. It started off by staying how many more partners they had to earn miles with and then Oh by the way they are all going to expire so much earlier than they used to. It really was one of the worst attempts I have seen at trying to cover up bad news with some good news.

[jjpb3]

The email they sent informing me of these changes was a classic. It started off by staying how many more partners they had to earn miles with and then Oh by the way they are all going to expire so much earlier than they used to. It really was one of the worst attempts I have seen at trying to cover up bad news with some good news.

My impressions exactly.

[SQflyergirl]

The email they sent informing me of these changes was a classic. It started off by staying how many more partners they had to earn miles with and then Oh by the way they are all going to expire so much earlier than they used to. It really was one of the worst attempts I have seen at trying to cover up bad news with some good news.

The day a company can stop using these PR-Corporate press release spinners, I might actually start reading them. I know of no company, mine included, where these kinds of things don't go through the hands of 5 people from corporate affairs, 3 internal lawyers and 5 more external lawyers before it heads out the door.........

[jhm]

The day a company can stop using these PR-Corporate press release spinners, I might actually start reading them. I know of no company, mine included, where these kinds of things don't go through the hands of 5 people from corporate affairs, 3 internal lawyers and 5 more external lawyers before it heads out the door.........

I think you should blame the marketeers and spin doctors for this rather than the lawyers!

These press releases which dress up "enhancements" as changes for the better really are insults to our intelligence. Why not just say it straight ?

[Kyo]

The day a company can stop using these PR-Corporate press release spinners, I might actually start reading them. I know of no company, mine included, where these kinds of things don't go through the hands of 5 people from corporate affairs, 3 internal lawyers and 5 more external lawyers before it heads out the door.........

I can think of Velocity and a certain Gold upgrade...

[SQflyergirl]

I can think of Velocity and a certain Gold upgrade...

Ooh that old OOPS! chestnut

[KeithMEL]

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...1215-ktpq.html

Use it or lose it: Qantas tightens frequent flyer scheme
ANDREW HEASLEY
December 15, 2009 - 3:04PM

Qantas frequent flyer points will expire in half the time after the airline tightened up its lucrative rewards scheme.

From July 1 next year, the scheme's six million members will have to use their points more regularly or lose them within 18 months, down from the current shelf life of three years.

A Qantas spokeswoman characterised the changes to its loyalty program as an improvement, saying they had been designed to encourage more account activity from members.

I was waiting for the e-word to slip out, close enough.

[SQflyergirl]

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...1215-ktpq.html



I was waiting for the e-word to slip out, close enough.

So can we also expect an oops! email to come out soon after saying that it's not true?

[Kiwi]

I was waiting for the e-word to slip out, close enough.

perhaps she was kiwi?