QF to codeshare with Westjet

[markis10]

According to airlineroute.net

Subject to US Department of Transportation approval, QANTAS plans to place QF code on following Westjet operating service, as early as 01OCT14.


QANTAS operated by Westjet
Honolulu – Vancouver
Los Angeles – Calgary
Los Angeles – Edmonton
Los Angeles – Vancouver

 

[defurax]

Another codeshare partner to avoid...

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Another codeshare partner to avoid...

Any reasons why?

 

[defurax]

Any reasons why?

Westjet is a carrier in permanent identity crisis between being a LCC or full service.
I can understand the need to codeshare on HNL-YVR, but I'd rather fly on AA and AS to reach other Canadian cities from LAX. Lounge access (and a shower) is very important to me at LAX, so these codeshares are another way of losing lounge access...

 

[drron]

Westjet aren't bad to fly.But that is within Canada and sectors that have an AA codeshare.Cant get QFF points though.
I would agree it doesn't make much sense flying them from LAX.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Westjet is a carrier in permanent identity crisis between being a LCC or full service.
I can understand the need to codeshare on HNL-YVR, but I'd rather fly on AA and AS to reach other Canadian cities from LAX. Lounge access (and a shower) is very important to me at LAX, so these codeshares are another way of losing lounge access...

You certainly have a very valid point regarding LAX & lounge access & obviously this would be foregone if flying to YYC or YVR from LAX with West Jet.

West Jet are certainly a better airline than Air Canada when it comes to domestic flying in Canada IMHO, With a fun, Quirky personality that Air Canada sadly lacks.

 

[Himeno]

According to airlineroute.net

Subject to US Department of Transportation approval, QANTAS plans to place QF code on following Westjet operating service, as early as 01OCT14.

Why does US DOT need to approve an agreement between Australian and Canadian carriers?

 

[mannej]

Why does US DOT need to approve an agreement between Australian and Canadian carriers?

I would guess it comes down to the routes they are code sharing on.

 

[dajop]

Westjet is a carrier in permanent identity crisis between being a LCC or full service.
I can understand the need to codeshare on HNL-YVR, but I'd rather fly on AA and AS to reach other Canadian cities ...

As opposed to the legacy carriers in the US who are full service carriers with LCC service at least in economy.

I am sure many would see this a positive, as many do not have lounge access anyway, and of those who do a non stop to YYC or YEG without lounge access may be preferable to traveling via PHX or DFW with lounge access, as the AA/US timetable nonstop to both cities seems very limited.

 

[defurax]

So according to AusBT QF will codeshare on all these WS flights.



Los Angeles (LAX) / Vancouver (YVR)
Los Angeles (LAX) / Calgary (YYC)
Los Angeles (LAX) / Edmonton (YEG)
Honolulu (HNL) / Vancouver (YVR)
Calgary (YYC) / Toronto (YTO)
Calgary (YYC) / Montreal (YMQ)
Calgary (YYC) / Ottawa (YOW)
Calgary (YYC) / Kelowna (YLW)
Calgary (YYC) / Winnipeg (YWG)
Calgary (YYC) / Victoria (YYJ)
Calgary (YYC) / Saskatoon (YXE)
Calgary (YYC) / Regina (YQR)
Calgary (YYC) / Halifax (YHZ)
Calgary (YYC) / Vancouver (YVR)
Vancouver (YVR) / Toronto (YTO)
Vancouver (YVR) / Kelowna (YLW)
Vancouver (YVR) / Edmonton (YEA)
Vancouver (YVR) / Ottawa (YOW)
Vancouver (YVR) / Saskatoon (YXE)
Vancouver (YVR) / Regina (YQR)
Vancouver (YVR) / Winnipeg (YWG)
Edmonton (YEG) / Winnipeg (YWG)
Toronto (YTO) / Ottawa (YOW)
Toronto (YTO) / Montreal (YMQ)


This is quite different than only a few LAX and HNL flights, this might actually be useful! I still won't book a QF codeshare out of LAX on WS, but I won't mind doing so out of YUL (no OW lounge there anyway).

 

[TomVexille]

Why does US DOT need to approve an agreement between Australian and Canadian carriers?

Because the agreement in question involves travel in the US?

 

[cmon0005]

Yeah i'll never book this, codeshare on a LCC what are they thinking... JQ is bad enough. I would expect at very least that the combined flight would be cheaper than the AS /AA options if not then it's ridiculous.

 

[madrooster]

Yeah i'll never book this, codeshare on a LCC what are they thinking... JQ is bad enough. I would expect at very least that the combined flight would be cheaper than the AS /AA options if not then it's ridiculous.

Being a LCC isn't as relevant in the US/Canada as it is here. Take a look at the LCCs B6 and WN in the US... unless you have elite benefits on AA/DL/UA/US, then B6 and WN actually offer a better service.

WS is no better or worse than AS or AC on the LAX-Canada route. QF's Canada fares currently permit AS/AC/WS on the LAX-Canada sector, with your choice of carrier as they are all the same price. In fact, if you had to compare them... on separate fares, WS offers 1 23kg checked bag for free, AS/AC offer none.

AA remains the best choice for QF elites if their limited schedule is suitable, given elite benefits are available.

 

[dajop]

Yeah i'll never book this, codeshare on a LCC what are they thinking... JQ is bad enough. I would expect at very least that the combined flight would be cheaper than the AS /AA options if not then it's ridiculous.

I really don't get this bias against supposed LCCs, especially in the US where they're all LCC's in my book (except perhaps Southwest ) If in business I can understand it, but I am assuming Westjet don't have business class anyway, so QF won't be selling that on the codeshare. But the day I flew AA from ORD to LAX as a WP in a centre seat of a 767 in the fourth last row, and all I was offered was a single plastic cup of flat Coke with nothing to eat - even purchasing - as it was "outside of meal times" was the day I realised that in the air there's not a whole lot of difference between an LCC and a legacy carrier.

And I go back to the scheduling. To fly on AA between LAX and YYC you need to route via PHX (or on the AA codeshare on Westjet!), unless doing a status run, surely a non-stop is a good alternative, competitive with AC. And to YEG a single daily CRJ flight that doesn't connect with most of QF's US bound flights, or any of QF's Australia bound flights.

So "what are they thinking" would be let's offer a single stop alternative connection to Canada that competes with DL, AC and UA (who all have single stops to YEG and YYC), and that most passengers would either realise that air travel in North America is all very LCC, or otherwise wouldn't tell the difference.

Whichever way you look at it additional choice is not a bad thing.

 

[defurax]

In my case it's not only about avoiding LCC, when I travel for work I prefer to fly on legacy carriers which are members of my favorite alliance (it used to be *A, now I'm OW). Why? Simply because legacy carrier tend to take care of you better when cough hits the fan (volcano eruption, snowstorm, etc).
For example someone could book MEL-HNL-YVR on JQ and WS all on QF codeshare, if they are happy with that I'm happy for them...I would throw my ticket in the garbage and change TA.

 

[RooFlyer]

Have recently taken my first Westjet flight, YVR-YYC. QF code share, in Y, for the 1 hr flight, I earned 20 SCs and 600 points, + 600 status bonus, posted the day after the flight; for 2 hr flight HBA-SYD in discount Y I got 800 points total and 10 SC. That's not bad a bad earn on the Westjet codeshare.

From that experience, and what my Canadian colleagues constantly tell me, its not accurate to describe Westjet as a 'LCC' with implications to Jetstar and Ryan Air type of carrier.

Its much more like Virgin was a few years ago. A cheaper alternative to the legacy carrier, a reliable, efficient 'no frills' service that gets you there and back, in modest comfort. No lounges, no FF program (but you can earn 'Westjet dollars') - lower overheads, cheaper prices and decent in-air experience.

Very happy to take them again - certainly against 'Air Canada Rouge' which is the alternative from YYC to LAX (other than AS via SEA).