Thanks Qantas

[mhen]

Sitting here remembering this time last year in Paris and I realised over the last year my Qantas experiences have all been positive.

1. In May 2 for 1 deal PE SYD - LHR return and points upgrade to Business BKK - LHR meant arriving reasonably refreshed at a good price.

2. Had purchased SYD-LAX return for Sept for less than $1,000 and then managed to change it to SYD-LAX-JFK ret for only $10 more. Five days before departure offered points upgrade to Business on SYD - LAX on a non-upgradeable fare! Given upgrade to PE LAX - JFK - LAX.

3. Unexpectedly needed to make a short but expensive ($900) AA flight in North America used 8,000 QF points instead. That's got to be good value for points!

4. In Feb miissed a flight SYD-ADL because of traffic jam at Mascot. Put on next flight no charge although it was a very cheap fare!

5. 4K points for shopping at Woolworths over the year.

I realise all these were commercial decisions on their part but they were all much appreciated; saving money, better travel experience, earning rewards are all pluses in my book.

 

[ellen10]

Wow you have had a great year I'm envious!

 

[david870mdg]

3. Unexpectedly needed to make a short but expensive ($900) AA flight in North America used 8,000 QF points instead. That's got to be good value for points!

Can vouch for this!! Fares ex JFK in peak season $$$$$$ no thanks. QF points;
TAXES AND SURCHAGES USD $2.50 !!!!!


You sure have had a good run. Well done!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Shrek and I turned up late for classic award flights SYD-BNE in January school holidays,4 little shreks in tow. Ground staff did not bat an eyelid booked all 6 on next flight no charge.
Double platinum does sometimes have advantages and thanks to QF

 

[blueflamenco]

Good for you!

I have a couple of questions..

How do you obtain a points upgrade a non upgradeable fare?

Also, to book an AA flight in the US with Qantas points is this done through the qantas site?

 

[mhen]

Good for you!

I have a couple of questions..

How do you obtain a points upgrade a non upgradeable fare?

Phone call from QF offering the points upgrade.

Also, to book an AA flight in the US with Qantas points is this done through the qantas site?

Yes booked on QF site.

 

[straitman]

It is really good to see some positive feedback being posted rather than more of the usual whining that we so often see posted.

Excellent.

 

[munitalP]

It is really good to see some positive feedback being posted rather than more of the usual whining that we so often see posted.

Excellent.

Agreed





Mr!

 

[blueflamenco]

I have just looked on the Qantas site to book domestic US award flights and I am unable to get anything even remotely close to 8,000 points...

Is this only for certain routes? If so please let me know which ones.

Thanks!

 

[mhen]

I have just looked on the Qantas site to book domestic US award flights and I am unable to get anything even remotely close to 8,000 points...

Is this only for certain routes? If so please let me know which ones.

Thanks!

Hi blueflamenco

It all depends on the mileage. Up to 600 miles is 8,000 plus taxes, 601-1,200 is 12,000 plus taxes.

My flight was Montreal to New York. Unfortunately at late notice and being restricted to a particular day and preferably a middle of the day flight the best flight was showing at over $900 US. I was amazed when I checked QF and found the same flight could be had for 8,000 points plus fees and taxes (about $60 from memory).

So this is a really good deal for short flights that for some reason are quite expensive. But probably not worth it for long flights that can be got relatively inexpensively.

 

[mhen]

Thanks straitman and munitalP

I am embarrassed to say I forgot to include my best QF experience of the year. I usually book on-line but sometimes I need to speak with an Customer Service person.

When I booked my trip to US the cheapest fare to LAX finished before the time I wanted to fly. I had been intending to go to NZ in the meantime so I booked SYD-AKL, very long stopover, AKL -LAX and LAX-SYD. I then purchased a cheap ALK -SYD return to get me back for the few months inbetween.

Subsequently QF announced even cheaper fares SYD-JFK that covered the period I wanted. So I rang QF to see if I could change my flights. Because the fare was cheaper "no can do", however the agent very quickly suggested if I didn't mind adding in a second stopover then that would bring the fare to just above the one I had paid and therefore it was within the rules.

She also manged to rejig the AKL-SYD return into a SYD-AKL return without losing the flights and seat allocations I already had. She separated the bookings into a NZ trip and a US one. She suggested as I was stopping in LAX for a few days before going on to JFK I should get the A380 to LAX.

The second stopover in LAX on the way back meant that I could also get the A380 home. I asked if seat 80A (learnt that from AFF) was available and she allocated that for the trip over but it was not available coming home as there was a big group already booked in that area.

About three months later I had occasion to ring about a totally different matter and got the same agent. She immediately remembered me, asked how was the NZ trip and if I was aware I now had seat 80A LAX-SYD. She said she had made a note of it and kept checking so when the large group booking was changed she had allocated 80A to me.

Needless to say I asked to speak to her supervisor and said this agent was the best I had ever experienced, she had understood my needs and been proactive in suggesting very good solutions. I also said if I could have her direct line I would promise never to fly another airline again! No luck with that request unfortunately.

This was all extremely complicated for very little revenue for QF. Cost about $1,700 in total (including change fees) to go SYD-AKL-SYD and SYD-LAX-JFK-LAX-SYD. I am not a great revenue-earner for QF and although I am SG I refer to it as Struggling Gold, I make the 600SC by the skin of my teeth each year. I only retained Gold this year because of the 120SC from a YUP trip LAX-SFO-LAX (thanks to AFF for that little gem) during my LAX stopover.

So thanks again Qantas and also thanks to everyone on AFF, I have learnt so much from you.

 

[Kendall Roy]

YouTube - Thanks Qantas!

These guys are pretty happy with QF!

 

[blueflamenco]

^ haha

So long as you had nowhere to be I'm sure it was great!

 

[munitalP]

YouTube - Thanks Qantas!

These guys are pretty happy with QF!

Nice - also he's a saints supporter, it just keeps getting better

 

[thewinchester]

Talk about expressing your love. Surprise he didn't ask for the crew's hand in marriage LOL

 

[JohnK]

Sounds like you have had some incredible luck recently. Hope it keeps going for you.

Unfortunately some of us are not as lucky. If my plane leaves on time and my luggage arrives with me on the same flight then it is a good experience.

It is really good to see some positive feedback being posted rather than more of the usual whining that we so often see posted.

Are you whining about whining? :mrgreen:

 

[BATTLESTAR]

We've recently had mixed experiences with Qantas. Good outweighing bad. Our daughter was put on a later flight LHR-MEL last month after she called them to say her Ryannair flight decided to refuel for 2 hours 100km. from takeoff & hence her connection would fail. They were great even though it was a ff award flight in my name (bronze no status credits) We didn't mind so much then when a few days later we had to sit for 2 hours in the plane at Heathrow while we were counted 6 times (even though the plane was full) . Magically we still arrived at Melbourne early!

 

[cove]

It is very refreshing to hear from the normally silent majority of travellers who are satisfied with their Qantas experience.
This year I am travelling more and there have been no issues so I think Qantas is doing pretty good at meeting our expectations.

 

[BAM1748]

Another satisified Qantas customer here.

Managed nearly all QF flights (apart from some AA ones) and although they may not have all been perfect, certainly nothing to complain about. Even the delays, once bad weather at SFO and twice a mechanical problem (both times in Brisbane, weird)

Well done to Qantas.

 

[ellen10]

Flew home from London on the A380 with Qantas in Premium Economy and must say was very impressed with the plane, flight, cabin, the staff and service. Hope to experience it again soon.

On home front domestic Qantas flights have been very good. Flew recently with Jetstar and Virgin and whilst no general complaints Qantas experience is far better. I know you pay more but often it is not that much more.