Woolworths has done a 180 on its decision to scrap its Qantas Frequent Flyer program that denied these shoppers their savings.
Back in October, the supermarket giant announced it was ditching its frequent flyers points for supermarket discounts, but as it turns out, customers quite enjoyed the old version.
Woolworths’ revamped scheme had attracted criticism from customers and consumer group Choice, particularly on social media, with claims stating it was convoluted and put hurdles in the way of customers who could simply buy cheaper products at the likes of Aldi.
In the new scheme, every 10 Woolworths Dollars will be convertible into 870 Qantas points, while emails offering customers the choice to earn Qantas points or Woolworths Dollars are expected to be launched early next year.
Woolies didn’t give a specific launch date, saying that it needed to make IT and systems changes before implementing it some time in the first half of 2016.
From 1 January until launch, customers who previously earned Qantas points through the supermarket will continue to do so.
“Those who prefer cash back can continue to use Woolworths Dollars to get money off their shopping, while avid points collectors will have the option to convert their Woolworths Dollars into Qantas Points at a very attractive rate and with no minimum spend,” Woolworths managing director Brad Banducci said.
“This fantastic outcome means Woolworths Rewards is 100 per cent relevant to all Woolworths customers, while also offering the best frequent flyer partnership in Australian supermarkets.”
Qantas Loyalty chief executive Lesley Grant said Qantas points were a top choice for lots of people, especially for those who earned them from a number of avenues like flying, credit card spend and online purchases.
“Those customers tend to preference brands that offer Qantas points because it helps them reach their goals faster, which can mean upgrades on flights or taking the family on an overseas holiday each year,” Grant said.
Woolworths Dollars will remain the default earning option for Woolworths Rewards, but customers selecting the Qantas points option will nominate to automatically convert their Woolworths Dollars into Qantas points. This applies to Woolworths Dollars earned at supermarkets and BWS bottle shops.
