Best Airline for Frequent Travel in Australia (split thread)

[serfty]

In recent times I have noted the E class is often offered as the least expensive Qantas domestic fare when booking online.

I do also note that Expertflyer does not list the E class fares for Qantas domestic flights.

I came across this when trying where and how best to gain the maximum use of my "free" Amex 'flight' (which books into O class) before I could no longer employ it with QF flights.

e.g. The current E class base fare for PER-MEL is AUD219.66+++ whereas the O class (OSXI) fare is $50 more at $269.66.

 

[JohnK]

Re: im sorry Qantas but you really have gone downhill... why? I loved Qantas for so l

My upcoming BKQ-LRE-BNE ticket was booked into Q on both flights (separate flight numbers) for a grand total of $49 with 25 SC's, that Qlink sale booked into Q for all destinations and was a good one, QF were certainly the best value then, mind you most routes are a monopoly.

OK. So that proves that I was not dreaming and I was right about the booking class.

In recent times I have noted the E class is often offered as the least expensive Qantas domestic fare when booking online.

Has been my experience most of the time but note that E class is not always the cheapest airfare.

The current sale has "O" class at $79 and "E" class at $101 which is not available online but is available when booking over the phone.

 

[Must...Fly!]

In recent times I have noted the E class is often offered as the least expensive Qantas domestic fare when booking online.

I must say in my very limited experience I agree with serfty (but then again, who am I to disagree ). I have seen more E fares pop up.

 

[medhead]

I must say in my very limited experience I agree with serfty (but then again, who am I to disagree ). I have seen more E fares pop up.

I'm not so sure. The majority of my flights are sale fares and the majority is also O. I booked 2 flights last night during Sept school holidays as the standard ready deal and they are E. My flight from now until then are O all costing $99 and the E fares last night were $133. Perhaps they switch things around when a sale is on?

 

[serfty]

Some comparisons. I'll refer to Economy CitiFlyer flights at 7pm on a Friday Night here with 38Kg checked baggage (pre-paying for excess baggage as appropriate) on the cheapest non-flexible fares.

• Compare Velocity Gold to Qantas WP.
  
  Baggage:
  
  Qantas up to an 38Kg free, DJ free up to 32Kg free. DJ costs $10 per Kg.

  • Cost for excess Luggage on DJ $60, $0 on Qantas
  
  Lounge Access:
  
  Both Complimentary; Qantas Business Lounge where available better catered.​
  
  In Flight:
  Complimentary Alcohol and a meal of some generic sort available on Qantas. Needs to be purchased on DJ.​
• Compare Non Status passengers.
  
  Baggage:
  
  Qantas up to 23Kg free, DJ charge $10 for first bag up to 23Kg. QF charge $105 for up to 15Kg over allowance, DJ costs $10 per Kg.

  • Cost for Luggage on DJ $160, $105 on Qantas
  
  Lounge Access:
  
  None for Qantas; DJ pre-paid access costs $30​
  
  In Flight:
  Complimentary Alcohol and a meal of some generic sort available on Qantas. Needs to be purchased on DJ.​

 

[JeniSkunk]

Some comparisons.
In Flight:

Complimentary Alcohol and a meal of some generic sort available on Qantas. Needs to be purchased on DJ.​

serfty, is it possible to know in advance what food and drinks will be available on a QF flight?
With DJ it is simply a case of going to the V-licious website and reading the menu.

Jenifur Charne

 

[markis10]

serfty, is it possible to know in advance what food and drinks will be available on a QF flight?
With DJ it is simply a case of going to the V-licious website and reading the menu.

Jenifur Charne

Not correct I am afraid, you can get an idea of what might be available but there have been numerous posts and threads before where the food has not been available on certain flights, for instance hot meals often run out on the Perth trips, thats not the case with QF where you will get a hot meal (at designated times) regardless of the choice of the passengers that have been served before you unless you are on a "catering not assured" BP.

 

[medhead]

serfty, is it possible to know in advance what food and drinks will be available on a QF flight?
With DJ it is simply a case of going to the V-licious website and reading the menu.

Jenifur Charne

The way that I get an idea of the food offering is when booking to click on the flight number. That will then say if the flight is a meal or snack flight. I've been known to fly at less convenient times in order to get the meal.

For drinks I'm not so sure and it varies during the day. With breakfast being tea/coffee/water. But otherwise it is "soft" drinks free and paid grog. Except cityflyer flights with free booze after (?) 1pm, I think. Others will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[dk4]

A comparison (on Flyertalk) between DJ Premium Economy & QF Business (obviously some things have changed at QF since 2009 & there is possible change ahead at DJ) but gives a perspective for frequent fliers - TWO TAILS – A Domestic Top Class Odyssey (QF Business & DJ Premium w/ PICS) - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Lounge Access:

• Both Complimentary; *1 Qantas Business Lounge where available better catered.

Lounge Access:

• *2 None for Qantas; DJ pre-paid access costs $30

Couple of points, then you can burn me;

*1 QP are more crowded, even the MEL J Lounge l visited a few weeks ago was choc-a-block at peak time. The SYD QP also gets almost to overflowing at times. Catering at the PER QP was pretty good, because they don't have a J Lounge and it's still getting refurbished. I can't speak for "The Lounge", haven' been in 1 yet.

*2 QP "yearly" membership can be bought. But, a 1 time entry can't.

I'm sticking with QF for the foreseeable future though. Fire away
​

 

[sunbeamrapier]

I'll still take QF over DJ / other airlines. I fly 90% domestic and wouldn't travel any other way.

Unless you are flying domestically between major centres, you must include Jetstar in the equation. I fly between the Gold Coast and Sydney several times a year - an airport no longer served by Qantas, and where the QF lounge has now been closed. My choices are Tiger, Virgin Blue and Jetstar.

Internationally, I stopped flying QF some years ago for two reasons: first, the business class seats were below par. Even after the last business upgrade the seats, not lie-flat, were inferior to the (quite old) BA business class. Second: it was impossible to use my points to fly business class back from London on the Kangaroo route at the time I usually fly.

Domestically I stopped flying Jetstar after a very unpleasant experience being seated next an obese passenger who was also aggressive about the space he took up. The Jetstar crew were pathetic - disinterested and unhelpful.

I now fly Virgin Blue only on domestic routes: I earn Velocity points on every flight and the general attitude of the airline is much more customer-focused and friendly than the awful Jetstar. I fly Virgin Atlantic on the Kangaroo route, and recently I flew V-Australia to the USA. I fly business, or "upper" class using points if I have them or pay for the same ticket if I don't.

I did not convert my credit cards to the "enforced transfer" regime when Qantas moved to limit customer options. My Mastercard earns Velocity points, and my Amex earns Virgin Atlantic miles. I am now "out of the loop" as far as Qantas is concerned - earning no QFF points on my cards or flights.

I still have a few QFF points. I use them as "fill-ins" if I fly domestically in the USA or Europe. I recently had to call the QFF centre to book a flight in the USA - the Qantas rep must have been on a call-volume target as she rushed me through quite a complex booking between three US cities to the point that I was quite stressed when I hung up.

That call reaffirmed my feeling that Qantas, now run by accountants, has lost the plot. Branson, the uber-salesman, loves his customers - or makes them feel that he does. Qantas does not - accountants don't like customers as a rule...

 

[EmilyHoward]

I generally travel on Qantas and have not tried Virgin Blue for several years. I find Qantas reliable and consistently well priced.

 

[flying foon]

New poster here, Hi. For what it's worth I have been Platinum on Qantas and now Bronze. I am now Gold on DJ. I fly domestic usually. I find DJ Lounge a calmer, zen like environment. (I can get a beer there before 5pm, something that cheeses me off in the Qantas Club) The actual flight, we I'm not sure that there is that much different. The posts talk about QF and a meal, it was always snack time when I flew.

 

[RobJ]

The Roo has become mangier over the years and Virgin Blue is surprisingly good. However, as a QC Lifer I'm locked into one world. Overseas, I'm tending towards Cathay because Qantas is overpriced and inferior in service and despises Adelaide. Domestically, though, I'm usually able to access a Red E fare and it is much the same cost as the cheapies for a definitely better product; at least, when they cancel your flight, there'll be another one along soon.

 

[EmilyHoward]

The Roo has become mangier over the years and Virgin Blue is surprisingly good. However, as a QC Lifer I'm locked into one world. Overseas, I'm tending towards Cathay because Qantas is overpriced and inferior in service and despises Adelaide. Domestically, though, I'm usually able to access a Red E fare and it is much the same cost as the cheapies for a definitely better product; at least, when they cancel your flight, there'll be another one along soon.

Well, the Qantas Club in the Domestic lounge Perth has just been renovated and is great now. I'm also a bit of a creature of habit I suppose. We now have Little Creatures beer in the Perth lounge too!

 

[nlagalle]

I can get a beer there before 5pm, something that cheeses me off in the Qantas Club)

You couldn't get a beer? I've never had an issue and from memory you can get beer from either midday or 1pm.

 

[NM]

You couldn't get a beer? I've never had an issue and from memory you can get beer from either midday or 1pm.

The bar opening times have changed over the years. He mentioned being Platinum and now Bronze, so with the soft landings that means its at least 3 years since he was Platinum status with QF and the bar times have certainly changed in that time. Though I can't ever remember it being 5pm and 3pm is about as late as I can remember the bar opening time for Qantas Clubs.

 

[tubist]

In February 2009 I switched from Singapore Airlines/Star Alliance to Qantas/One World. With the level of travel we get a 20% standard discount. The advantage of working for a company based in Singapore!
Three months ago I reached platinum in the Qantas frequent flyer program, all gained by intenational travel and all in premium economy - a class Singapore doesn't have. Every so often I get a free upgrade to business. Qantas service has varied from terrible to brilliant, all depending on the cabin crew. A few months ago I was stuck in JFK due to bad weather. The airport was closed. Qantas was the only airline that paid for passengers to stay in hotels they organised - I was in the Grand Hyatt by Grand Central Station. Plus US$100 for food and drinks. That level of loyalty to its passengers deserves recognition, and loyalty in return.

 

[Flashback]

New poster here, Hi. For what it's worth I have been Platinum on Qantas and now Bronze. I am now Gold on DJ. I fly domestic usually. I find DJ Lounge a calmer, zen like environment. (I can get a beer there before 5pm, something that cheeses me off in the Qantas Club) The actual flight, we I'm not sure that there is that much different. The posts talk about QF and a meal, it was always snack time when I flew.

Was the 5pm limit self imposed? It's never been that late, AFAIK.

The Roo has become mangier over the years and Virgin Blue is surprisingly good. However, as a QC Lifer I'm locked into one world. Overseas, I'm tending towards Cathay because Qantas is overpriced and inferior in service and despises Adelaide. Domestically, though, I'm usually able to access a Red E fare and it is much the same cost as the cheapies for a definitely better product; at least, when they cancel your flight, there'll be another one along soon.

This doesn't make too much sense.... QC life locking into OW, but flying CX? You won't be able to use your QP membership when flying CX. Will only get access if you have OW status e.g. OWS/OWE.

 

[EmilyHoward]

The bar opening times have changed over the years. He mentioned being Platinum and now Bronze, so with the soft landings that means its at least 3 years since he was Platinum status with QF and the bar times have certainly changed in that time. Though I can't ever remember it being 5pm and 3pm is about as late as I can remember the bar opening time for Qantas Clubs.

As far as I am aware, the bar opening times in domestic at least are 12 noon.