Express pass for JQ flights

[medhead]

I had an interesting experience with the Qantas Group before a JQ flight MEL-SIN. I popped into the F checkin suite, mentioned I was flying JQ, flashed the platinum QFF card and asked for an express pass. The response was "Jetstar is a separate airline". The nice desk lady even held up an express pass to show me the QF logo on the pass. (This could've been mansplaining except for the reversed gender roles) I mentioned something about qantas group and walked.

Anyway, I've been contemplating feedback to QFF, since I though the point of Platinum was to have extra benefits when flying on Qantas, JQ and Oneworld.

Lo and behold what do I read on my Platinum renew pack today.

It's our way of thanking you for your continued support of Qantas, Jetstar and oneworld alliance airlines.

That was my thought precisely. Along with, "shouldn't that thanks count when I actually fly on anyone of those airlines?"

Delving into the section called "A smoother journey through the airport" the situation isn't clear cut. No mention of airlines:

Fast track through security with priority lane access[SUP]11[/SUP]

11. Priority security lanes are available weekdays during peak periods at Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney (T3) domestic airports and at selected Australian international airports

No explicit mention of fast track with JQ. But still fast track is supposed to be available to thank me for supporting Qantas Group and Oneworld - Surely the thanks must apply on all of those airlines? For example I can use the complimentary access to Qantas international first lounges while flying with JQ. There are no airlines mentioned against that "smooth journey through the airport" benefit.

In fact the only mention of airlines is same day enjoyment of the Qantas club or domestic business lounge before or after travelling Qantas, JQ or Oneworld.

Anyway, to feedback or not to feedback - that is the question.

 

[Austman]

I had an interesting experience with the Qantas Group before a JQ flight MEL-SIN. I popped into the F checkin suite, mentioned I was flying JQ, flashed the platinum QFF card and asked for an express pass. The response was "Jetstar is a separate airline". The nice desk lady even held up an express pass to show me the QF logo on the pass.

Strange. I've had the reverse experience. They were happy to give me an express pass when I was on JQ MEL-SIN.

 

[medhead]

Which would suggest it was just a one off for that staff member, and I should submit feedback.

 

[Austman]

Which would suggest it was just a one off for that staff member, and I should submit feedback.

Maybe - or I've been just lucky. I don't see it as a big ask especially when you can later go to the QF Flounge (so it can't be about the money...). I doubt that the passport control could care less if you had a QF or a JQ BP - they haven't with me so far. They usually don't collect it anyway.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On the QF website it lists 'benefits when travelling with Qantas' and a separate section 'benefits when travelling oneworld'.

JQ is not mentioned in either of those.

Does Qantas platinum get business class check-in for JQ flights now?

Lounge access for JQ seems to be a separate issue, with different rules around the JQ/QF relationship.

 

[Austman]

Does Qantas platinum get business class check-in for JQ flights now? .

They do in most QF domestic business lounges (or QPs without a business lounge) with HLO.

 

[medhead]

On the QF website it lists 'benefits when travelling with Qantas' and a separate section 'benefits when travelling oneworld'.

JQ is not mentioned in either of those.

Does Qantas platinum get business class check-in for JQ flights now?

Lounge access for JQ seems to be a separate issue, with different rules around the JQ/QF relationship.

Good questions which go to the underlying issue. They're offering benefits to thank me for supporting JQ (inter alia); but I can't use those benefits when supporting JQ? This is from the welcome pack. That welcome pack doesn't make lounge access a separate issue, as noted.

But we could look at that benefits when travelling from the website and ask "What is Qantas"? QFd, QFi are both treated as entirely separate business units. (As is JQ.) Does "travelling with Qantas" mean both QFd and QFi? I get those benefits with both of those airlines. Hence "Qantas" means more than one particular airline. Surely that then means "travelling with Qantas" refers to travelling with the Qantas Group?

No need to get too excited about my speculation, sometimes the whole Qantas Group/separate airlines thing really is the limit. I'll renormalise my frustration and cynicism at some stage.

 

[BD1959]

Just reviewed the QF.com website for FFs and - under benefits and "At the Airport" - there are distinctions drawn between travelling Qantas and travelling oneWorld.

Specific benefits of flying EK as WP are called-out at the bottom of the Qantas benefits - including Express Immigration; no mention of JQ.

Personally, if I have the severe misfortune of having to "fly Orange" I expect absolutely nothing - and I'm yet to be disappointed!!

Regards,

BD

 

[Austman]

11. Priority security lanes are available weekdays during peak periods at Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney (T3) domestic airports and at selected Australian international airports

Well domestically, the WP card is all that's needed even when flying JQ. So why not the same internationally when you need a separate printed card?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I don't want to fly Jetstar and I wouldn't expect any Platinum QFF benefits if I did.
HOWEVER I do object to the inconsistency.
If I go to the QF website and try to book flights from PER to Asia, I will be given options including sectors on Jetstar.
I reject all those options and book with MH instead.
But QF can't have it both ways.
If Jetstar is part of QF for the purpose of selling me a ticket then it should be part of QF for the purposes of status benefits.
My preferred solution is for QF to stop trying to sell me Jetstar sectors.
But I understand if your preferred solution is for them to extend QFF benefits.

 

[Austman]

I don't want to fly Jetstar and I wouldn't expect any Platinum QFF benefits if I did.

That's such a silly argument when at least some QFF benefits when flying Jetstar are clearly part of the QFF scheme.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

It's not an argument it's a statement of my expectations.
If what QF & JQ offer exceeds them in some respects that's all well and good.
I don't expect full service airline benefits on an LCC.

 

[BD1959]

I don't want to fly Jetstar and I wouldn't expect any Platinum QFF benefits if I did.
HOWEVER I do object to the inconsistency.
If I go to the QF website and try to book flights from PER to Asia, I will be given options including sectors on Jetstar.
I reject all those options and book with MH instead.
But QF can't have it both ways.
If Jetstar is part of QF for the purpose of selling me a ticket then it should be part of QF for the purposes of status beneifts.

The issue here is that people tend to think that the QF website is exclusively for the sale of QF flights.

The QF website is now a general vendor area with QF themselves becoming more and more like TA for flights. There are any number of combinations of carriers that the website will offer - just tried a dummy booking from MEL-BPN, the last leg is on GA. If I booked that specific trip on QF's website, I wouldn't expect benefits flying GA. Ceveat emptor.

Yes, I know that QF and JQ are the same Group however I think we're all old enough to know that there's only ever any relationship-benefit if it suits QF.

Regards,

BD

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I'm very happy for QF to offer me sectors on their OW partner airlines.
Just not rubbish.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't want to fly Jetstar and I wouldn't expect any Platinum QFF benefits if I did.
HOWEVER I do object to the inconsistency.
If I go to the QF website and try to book flights from PER to Asia, I will be given options including sectors on Jetstar.
I reject all those options and book with MH instead.
But QF can't have it both ways.
If Jetstar is part of QF for the purpose of selling me a ticket then it should be part of QF for the purposes of status benefits.
My preferred solution is for QF to stop trying to sell me Jetstar sectors.
But I understand if your preferred solution is for them to extend QFF benefits.

I would understand your never actually having bought a pure JQ ticket, but if one does choose the pure Jetstar option given on the QF web site (ie for a domestic flight), you are transferred to the separate, JQ website (I got curious once). This to me indicates that JQ is rather a separate airline than QF for the purposes of selling you a ticket.

With multiple sectors, with multiple carriers (such as PER-KUL), Qantas gives options of QF+MH, along with QF+JQ. MH is undoubtedly a 'separate airline' and you won't get (all) the same status benefits on MH as you do on QF (such as status linked SCs and points). JQ is treated the similar way but more so. Qantas appears to be consistent in their approach.

I totally share your disdain for Jetstar and to make sure my eyeballs don't burn by being presented with the orange star in the half second before I can scroll on, I have my TA do my bookings and they know not to offer JQ .

For the OP, I would give feedback, with zero expectation that any meaningful response will be received back nor that it will be considered internally to any great degree.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good questions which go to the underlying issue. They're offering benefits to thank me for supporting JQ (inter alia); but I can't use those benefits when supporting JQ? This is from the welcome pack. That welcome pack doesn't make lounge access a separate issue, as noted.

But we could look at that benefits when travelling from the website and ask "What is Qantas"? QFd, QFi are both treated as entirely separate business units. (As is JQ.) Does "travelling with Qantas" mean both QFd and QFi? I get those benefits with both of those airlines. Hence "Qantas" means more than one particular airline. Surely that then means "travelling with Qantas" refers to travelling with the Qantas Group?

No need to get too excited about my speculation, sometimes the whole Qantas Group/separate airlines thing really is the limit. I'll renormalise my frustration and cynicism at some stage.

The welcome pack is a summary of the rules and benefits, and references the full details available at Qantas.com.

Qantas .com outlines tier benefits when flying Qantas and/or oneworld partners. Lounge access has it's own set of rules regarding admission.

Qantas .com defines Qantas, Jetstar and Qantas Group separately. Qantas = 'Qantas Airways Limited ABN 16 009 661 901', (that therefore includes QFi and QFd and excludes Jetstar)

 

[Austman]

The welcome pack is a summary of the rules and benefits, and references the full details available at Qantas.com.

Even on qantas.com the "Access to Premium Security Lanes" benefit doesn't seem to exclude Jetstar (like most of the other stated benefits do)...

Anyway, some QFF status benefits do apply when flying JQ: QF J/FLounge access and status credit and points bonuses. CLs even can use JQi business class check-in counters apparently.

Not that much, but they are there.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Anyway, some QFF status benefits do apply when flying JQ: QF J/FLounge access and status credit and points bonuses.

I guess technically QF might argue slightly differently. They would say entry to lounges prior to JQ fligths is not by virtue of OW status, but rather because QF gold/platinum status gives you complimentary membership of the Qantas Club. Qantas Club has rules for lounge access, which includes Jetstar flights. Otherwise, all OW elites would be able to enter QC Clubs prior to JQ flights, which they can't.

 

[basso]

Even on qantas.com the "Access to Premium Security Lanes" benefit doesn't seem to exclude Jetstar (like most of the other stated benefits do)...

Let's have a look. This page: https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/flying/tier-benefits , starts off with:

The benefits of status really add up and are designed to make your journey even more comfortable and rewarding. You'll not only earn more Qantas Points1 when you fly with your Status Bonus but our tiered members enjoy a range of privileges when you fly with Qantas.

This page: https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/statusPrivileges, says this:

Privileges are subject to change and unless otherwise stated, these privileges are not available on flights that are operated by another carrier including Jetstar, even if you have a QF flight number on your ticket, unless otherwise stated.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Let's have a look. This page: https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/flying/tier-benefits , starts off with: This page: https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/statusPrivileges, says this:

There you go (not sure how I missed that!). And the 'welcome pack' refers back to Qantas .com for full details.

Those quotes/statements resolve the definition that 'Qantas' = both QFi and QFd as raised earlier by medhead. And the complimentary QC membership covers JQ lounge access (separately from the tier benefits table).