Are some AFF members "blind" to the Foibles of their 'favorite' carrier?

[JohnPhelan]

I'm a very proud Turkish Airlines member - I think they have a fantastic FF program.

I've always wanted to be a platinum member of their program - "Turkish Delight", I think it's called .....

 

[samh004]

I've always wanted to be a platinum member of their program - "Turkish Delight", I think it's called .....

I know you're joking, but they did a status match program late last year, so you could have been a member...

 

[Happy Trails]

I've always wanted to be a platinum member of their program - "Turkish Delight", I think it's called .....

There's also a super-elite , invitation only tier - Midnight Express.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

A lot of people wear Nike.are they sheep as well?

Well we could have a most interesting discussion here on this point, and revolving around "brand value".

So quick answer is yes.

Many people due to brand will pay a premium for a Nike product if it is their "brand" even when there may be no performance difference over another product. ie think T-shirt emblazoned with the "swoosh". Hell many people on holidays will buy shoddy fakes, that they know are fake, merely because they are branded as a prestige product.

You know you have made it with a brand when people buy your product regardless.

That is not to say that a company with strong brand can get lazy, as if the product ends up going bad, then brand will only keep you going so long.

With Nike they spend a lot on R&D, but they also spend a truckload on "brand'. What was it the another night? A $250 million sponsorship for the latest golfer to be a Nike Ambassador. Money such as this is all about getting people to by Nike by brand rather than just on Nike's products.

Marketers will often tell you that you need to be "first in mind".

In terms of FF programs in Australia for the whole populace...QFF still "owns" the space.

Back on AFF members. They are in many cases looking beyond the brand and are more calculating.

Digressing for a minute, the reasons that we all use various FF programs and what we are trying achieve are all quite different.

Status in particular can be hugely important to many due the benefits it can deliver to those that fly a lot, and moreso if they have to fly Y. And so for some say who may have a lot of paid flight with Qantas it can be a great benefit to work the status system to gain various benefits. These benefits may outweigh the dis-benefits of say lack of J/F access for redemptions(though status does assist in getting more access) when compared to their programs.

For some forumites assigning any QF flight to AA became a better path.

We are all different in our circumstances, what we can "earn" , how we can "earn" and what we wish to "burn" on. So what is best is also different for each of us.

I remember reading of one person who flew so much for business, that the last thing he want to do for recreation was to fly. So all of his optimising went into making his work flights as pleasant as possible, with no goal of personal flights.

 

[harvyk]

Here is a thought, could it be that we're not blind to things other than our favourite airlines, it just we like our favourite airline and don't see a need to try others just because...

Right now QF flys to the places I want to go, and for the most part flys aircraft that I like, has a decent service and gives me lounge access, why would I try an unknown?

Of course when ppl ask questions here, of course I'll give a QF slanted answer, because I haven't flown non OW in over 3 years and of course in my mind I'm giving the best answer I can, because it's exactly what I would be doing if I was in the OP's position. Not much point giving advice which I wouldn't follow myself.