Time to give up on Qantas

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Waterline

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I have been an observer of this forum for some time, and after much thought, I thought I should contribute. I have been a platinum level flier (I am not a fan of acronyms) for eight years, and gold for many years before that. I reached lifetime gold sometime ago. Those who read this forum will know what that entails in travel time away from home.

I have become increasingly disheartened at the quality of service I receive from Qantas. Like most airlines, they get most things right most of the time. However, they seem increasingly uninterested in doing more than the bare minimum, and the frequent flyer program has been devalued to the point where I cannot see any utility in making use of it.


In the past two years, I have received poor service in respect of taking award flights, and dealing with lost property. The frequent flyer program has been devalued, and redeeming most awards above premium economy on international flights is in my experience very difficult. Benefits under the scheme are now squarely directed at booking QF codeshares to the long list of places Qantas doesn't go and at my current level that translates to additional cost for no real benefit. More often than not, it is far and away the most expensive option. Efforts to contact Qantas are difficult with anything other than bookings, and queries and complaints (as others here have indicated) seem to be given a very low priority.


I direct an organization that will spend about $800K on international flights this year, with much of that going to Qantas. I imagine that doesn't mean much to Qantas' bottom line, even with Qantas International losing money. I don't know if we will be valued by other airlines, but I am keen to find out, because my loyalty to date has been repaid with disinterested service at a premium price.
 
Maybe try Singapore Airlines for international travel, and Virgin Australia for some semplance of (higher) economy service on domestic travel than Tiger and Jetstar.
If you want to thumb your nose at Qantas and not give them any benefit, Singapore Airlines is the only way. Because if you go Cathay, some of the flights might be on Qantas metal.
Linking Virgin Australia flights to Singapore Airlines flights, might be harder, but will ensure none of the money your business or the business you work for, goes Qantas's way/sway.
I flew Emirates twice, and while not on Qantas metal trans Tasman, part of my $ would have gone Qantas's way, as I am a Qantas Silver.
Join all the employees in your organisation into Virgin Australia's frequent flyer system.
And then getting them to start flying Virgin and its partners.
On the slightly more expensive Singapore Airlines fares, you can earn points and status credits.
I am shallow, but if I put my mind to it, I could also thumb my nose at Qantas and put all my (singular) flight business to Virgin, but I like the Qantas Club, and feel Virgin's the Lounge is not that good as the Qantas Club.
You mention you don't like acronyms. So I am using full wordings.
 
..., part of my $ .......You mention you don't like acronyms. So I am using full wordings.

I consider usage of the ¨$¨ a fail. Maybe not an acronym, but ......

As for the OP, usually I don´t bother even reading ¨yet another bag Qantas¨ thread, especially when it is someone´s first post on the fórum, but you have taken the time to colmpile a concise and reasoned explanation of your displeasure. It is hard to disagree with it.

My main comment, (and please don´t see this as ¨defending¨ Qantas), is that if you have a substantial and ongoing usage of any large service provider, you will probably suffer the same disatisfaction these days. Business gets more and more competitive, and belts get tightened.

Can anyone tell me which major airline has all of the follwing:

1.- Better FF program for accumulating points/SC
2.- Better FF program for redemptions
3.- Better planes/hard product
4.- Better lounges
5.- Better ¨service¨
6.- And is INCREASING or has NOT DECREASED their FF benefits in the last 5 years.

I am sure we can all find airlines which beat QF in one or more of these áreas. (For example, sorry QF, but the ¨fees¨ on your FF redemptions are disgusting!)
But an airline that satisfies all of them? Not likely.
 
Welcome Waterline and "OUCH"
800k is a big spend and I bet Qantas would love to keep you. In fact, if they'd kept more people like you, they might not have been in the red this year!
I'm a long-time Qantas bagger (cough redemption etc.....) and was about to post on this forum when I read your post.

My kids (19 and 21) have just flown J (whoops..., Business Class) from MEL - LHR return. Out with Qantas and back with Malaysian (redemption thing; QF booked a year out - MH last month)
They couldn't speak highly enough about the QF product!
The QF lounge, the attentive staff, the LONG flat-bed with mattress for my 6'4" lad, the snacks, the Emirates J lounge; in fact everything. Malaysian just couldn't compete.

So here I am, eating humble pie.

And hats off to the two, young, male stewards who pampered my daughter.
 
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To the Original Poster. A proportion of Qantas staff have had a "go get stuffed" attitude for years and most noticable within their Frequent Flyer area. This began during the high flying arrogance of the Dixon/Jackson days but strangely enough despite 1000's of job losses and biliions in dollar losses in recent years much of that attitude still permeates. Qantas faces many challenges and I fear is continuing to lose customers and loyalty.
 
I consider usage of the ¨$¨ a fail. Maybe not an acronym, but ......

As for the OP, usually I don´t bother even reading ¨yet another bag Qantas¨ thread, especially when it is someone´s first post on the fórum, but you have taken the time to colmpile a concise and reasoned explanation of your displeasure. It is hard to disagree with it.

My main comment, (and please don´t see this as ¨defending¨ Qantas), is that if you have a substantial and ongoing usage of any large service provider, you will probably suffer the same disatisfaction these days. Business gets more and more competitive, and belts get tightened.

Can anyone tell me which major airline has all of the follwing:

1.- Better FF program for accumulating points/SC
2.- Better FF program for redemptions
3.- Better planes/hard product
4.- Better lounges
5.- Better ¨service¨
6.- And is INCREASING or has NOT DECREASED their FF benefits in the last 5 years.

I am sure we can all find airlines which beat QF in one or more of these áreas. (For example, sorry QF, but the ¨fees¨ on your FF redemptions are disgusting!)
But an airline that satisfies all of them? Not likely.

I think '6' is a bit impossible! But otherwise American Airlines probably satisfies just about everything, with the exception of better lounges. QF has 2 good F class lounges, but given lounge use of partner airlines is permitted under OW rules, it's not so much of an issue anyway.
 
They couldn't speak highly enough about the QF product!
The QF lounge, the attentive staff, the LONG flat-bed with mattress for my 6'4" lad, the snacks, the Emirates J lounge; in fact everything. Malaysian just couldn't compete.

When Qantas gets it 'right' they are up there with the best in the world. The problem is consistency. QF runs about 50/50 in terms of delivering either a 'good' or 'excellent' flight. The other times they seem to go out of their way to make you wish you were somewhere else.
 
I too have been bagging QF a fair bit - but mainly on its admin, website, 'PR' etc; not so much the hard product, although you do get the glaring service fails, but probably no more than other airlines, and better than most US ones. Qantas pilots and general air-related professionalism I'd defend against any.

I found an antidote to QFF etc frustration by diversifying flying onto Star Alliance and gaining Star Gold status there as well as keeping Plat on QF. Relatively easy for me as I'm a regular business traveller to Canada and Air Canada provide a decent service to there, direct to YVR. So I now have a choice when looking for Award flights and have lounge etc access when flying the vast majority of airlines, especially the ones I would choose to fly with (eliminates many Skyteam ones :) ), and this takes the pressure off Qantas (for me).

So, do vote with your credit card and diversify away, but I'd suggest if you can, keep a leg in both camps. The grass is not always greener, as they say.
 
I too have been bagging QF a fair bit - but mainly on its admin, website, 'PR' etc; not so much the hard product, although you do get the glaring service fails, but probably no more than other airlines, and better than most US ones. Qantas pilots and general air-related professionalism I'd defend against any.

I found an antidote to QFF etc frustration by diversifying flying onto Star Alliance and gaining Star Gold status there as well as keeping Plat on QF. Relatively easy for me as I'm a regular business traveller to Canada and Air Canada provide a decent service to there, direct to YVR.

I also did this but a few years ago but when VA went full service :)lol:) I went to Velocity. Totally OT but someone told me QF are going to take a stab at YVR again. Surely that can't work, they cannot possibly compete with AC and their onward network into Canada.
 
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I also did this but a few years ago but when VA went full service :)lol:) I went to Velocity. Totally OT but someone told me QF are going to take a stab at YVR again. Surely that can't work, they cannot possibly compete with AC and their onward network into Canada.

QF are doing I think 4 or 6 flights in January. Many of us hope it works, and increases. AC run daily, and usually twice daily during Jan & Feb. AND Air NZ also goes to YVR! So you think there would be room for QF. However mitigating against it is that there is no onward One World service across Canada, so unless you are going to YVR or YYC, probably better off going into LAX and then AA to a final central/eastern Canadian destination. QF is code sharing with WestJet, which will mitigate that to a certain extent, but no J on WestJet.
 
I think '6' is a bit impossible! But otherwise American Airlines probably satisfies just about everything, with the exception of better lounges. QF has 2 good F class lounges, but given lounge use of partner airlines is permitted under OW rules, it's not so much of an issue anyway.

Really? better planes. Really? better service Definately a better FF program for some.
 
Really? better planes.

Absolutely. Refurbished 767s. Brand new 777-300s with the latest product. Refurbished 772s coming on line with the latest product. 737-800s with new product in place. Transcontinental A321s with full flat beds. Main cabin extra seating.
 
Absolutely. Refurbished 767s. Brand new 777-300s with the latest product. Refurbished 772s coming on line with the latest product. 737-800s with new product in place. Transcontinental A321s with full flat beds. Main cabin extra seating.

How come I always get an MD80
 
QF are doing I think 4 or 6 flights in January. Many of us hope it works, and increases.

So just school holiday flights for skiers. Essentially a seasonal charter. Better they stick to that and re-focus their game on something that might make them money.
 
Absolutely. Refurbished 767s. Brand new 777-300s with the latest product. Refurbished 772s coming on line with the latest product. 737-800s with new product in place. Transcontinental A321s with full flat beds. Main cabin extra seating.

What about their 757's? Splitting at the seams it seems!
 
Hi waterline and welcome aboard.

I know how you feel about Qantas' inconsistency. As others have noted the grass isn't always greener. Try this thread to get the view of Virgin flyers. There's a lot of similarities. http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ralia-velocity/falling-out-of-love-63396.html

Maybe the best option for you and your company might be to take a best fare of the day approach - or a foot in both camps as RooFlyer says. Good luck.

By the way, an acronym free post was strangely liberating.:)
 
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