Best Airline for Frequent Travel in Australia (split thread)

[medhead]

You claim you are searching for the cheapest fares, without actually saying what fare classes you are using for each flight, so an apples to apples comparison can be made based on the fare classes. The correct fare class comparisons for QF to DJ are:
QF: Red e-Deal
DJ: GO! Fare

QF: Super Saver
DJ: Blue Saver

You claim , but in each pair of the dates you list, they are a mere 2 days apart.

The SC earn on DJ for a Nothing Red using the $95 Blue Saver fare is 475 SCs, and for the $116 Blue Saver fares, the SCs earned is 580.
On QF, the SC earn for the one way flight for a Nothing Bronze using the Red e-Deal or a Super Saver is a measly 10 SCs.

Jenifur Charne

I must agree with others if I'm looking for the cheapest fare then the fare class is irrelevant. Whether a go fare or a super saver I'm after the lowest cost at the time and date that best suits me.

Regarding the 2 day gap JohnK actually lives in Sydney so the gap is really a week. But I can see the confusion based on how the flights are quoted to indicate BNE to SYD return.

10 SC may be measly. But then qantas only requires 700 to get gold compared to 50000. In other words comparing the absolute amount earned is not useful in isolation.

The more this thread goes on the more it shows that value has to be taken on a case by case basis whenever it can be found. Someone who locks onto one airline in the belief that airline is cheaper in all cases are deluding themselves.

 

[JeniSkunk]

No their not, I've been able to get the front rows (including the much wanted row 4 on a 737) on nothing more than a Red-E-Deal + NB. Even now it's unusual for me to have to sit further back than row 19, and oftan much further forward, and I usually travel on red-e-deals.

Thanks for that info, harvyk.
From what is posted here on the forum and my sole experience of flying QF, I did not realise that QF had narrow body aircraft without clear demarkation of the fare classes.

When I'm sitting on a plane the only thing I really care about in regards to class is if I'm in Eccon, Premium, Business or First. I don't really care if I am flying on a Y class or a E class ticket, the result is the same - 1x eccon seat. Chances are if your looking at GO! Fares, Red-E-Deals, Super Savers or Blue Savers, your not really concerned with flexibility, and chances are your more concerned with price.

The other thing which you have ignored is the true value of a point. Which would you prefer, 1 million points with the buying power of a single Y return SYD-MEL flight, or 100 points with the buying power of a round the world F ticket. I know which I'd prefer.

Which type of points are you referring to. Frequent flyer points or SCs?

Edit: reply to medhead

Regarding the 2 day gap JohnK actually lives in Sydney so the gap is really a week. But I can see the confusion based on how the flights are quoted to indicate BNE to SYD return.

Thanks medhead.
I could only go on what John had originally posted, and yeah, not knowing he was SYD based, did cause that confusion.

10 SC may be measly. But then qantas only requires 700 to get gold compared to 50000. In other words comparing the absolute amount earned is not useful in isolation.

The more this thread goes on the more it shows that value has to be taken on a case by case basis whenever it can be found. Someone who locks onto one airline in the belief that airline is cheaper in all cases are deluding themselves.

10 SC with 700 to get Gold means 70 flights on that run to get Gold in QF, which well undercuts the 101 flights needed for Gold on DJ for the same run.

Jenifur Charne

 

[medhead]

Thanks for that info, harvyk.
From what is posted here on the forum and my sole experience of flying QF, I did not realise that QF had narrow body aircraft without clear demarkation of the fare classes.

10 SC with 700 to get Gold means 70 flights on that run to get Gold in QF, which well undercuts the 101 flights needed for Gold on DJ for the same run.

Jenifur Charne

There is demarkation between business and economy. Buying a more expensive fare in economy may not result in a better seat. It should also be mentioned that erring that better seat without status can be hard work.

Yep, that would be a good example of how status will work out for someone looking for cheap fares. It might change around if someone is buying more flexible fares.

 

[harvyk]

Which type of points are you referring to. Frequent flyer points or SCs?

I'm referring to both points and SC's as none have a true value assigned to them.

Sometimes points have the buying power of $$$, other times points have the buying power of fractions of a cent, and that can be within the same program.

Even SC's don't have a real determined value, given that you could access the PS \ SG \ WP privileges simply by choosing another program within OW which advance you to ruby \ sapphire \ emerald in OW at a faster or slower rate for the same amount of flying.

Most points programs are run so that there is no direct correlation to points and real money. So stating you earn x number of points flying with one airline over another really is meaningless, unless you put it in terms of what you can purchase with those points.


In any case price is not the sole thing which makes people chose one airline over another, otherwise there would be no such thing as J (or PE or F) and we'd all be flying TT.

 

[JohnK]

How absolutely effortlessly easy it is to selectively misquote information.

I am not trying to selectively misquote information. I am seriously looking to book 2 return flights in January and QF and DJ, to a lesser extent, are the only choices and coincidentally both have a sale at the moment.

You claim you are searching for the cheapest fares, without actually saying what fare classes you are using for each flight, so an apples to apples comparison can be made based on the fare classes. The correct fare class comparisons for QF to DJ are:[

I am searching for the cheapest airfares possible. I will not purchase a Super Saver on QF unless I really needed to travel just like I would not purchase anything more than a Blue Saver on DJ.

You claim , but in each pair of the dates you list, they are a mere 2 days apart.

I live in SYD but I already have a flight SYD-BNE early January after I return from Thailand.

I book most of my returns BNE-SYD mainly for cnnsistency but it also suits my flying patterns overseas as I can usually throw in a SYD/MEL-BNE sector on multi-city boooking tool on return from SIN.

Where you mention the frequent flyer points on QF and DJ, you fail to say how each airline calculates points. You also fail to list the SC earn for each flight, and the status level you are using for each flight.

For each BNE-SYD return on QF anyone will earn 2,000 QFF points and 20 SCs.

QF calculates frequent flyer points at flat base rate of 1 point per mile travelled, then it adds percentages of the base frequent flyer points earned for the varying frequent flyer class levels. Nothing Bronze is 0%, Plebian Silver is 25%, Scum Gold is 50%, and Whinging Platinum is 100%.
DJ calculates frequent flyer points at 5 points per $AUD spent on fares for a Nothing Red, 6 points per $AUD spent on fares for a Plebian Silver, and 7 points per $AUD spent on fares for a Whinging Gold.

Do not underestimate the QF 1,000 QFF points guarantee. I blows Velocity earning out of the water.

The last point to note in the comparisons is where in the aircraft you plan on sitting.

All my flights are booked on wide bodies and I am usually seated in the first or second row of economy. I dislike 737's and I hate it when QF substitutes a 737 for a 767 especially since I plan my flying patterns and take the time to select flights operated by a 767. :evil:

For a DJ flight, excepting the PE rows, using OLCI you are not heavily restricted in your choice of seat. Economy fares can get any row from 4 to the rear of the aircraft.

I don't know what it is like for low status QFFer but that is about the only good thing I have found with DJ is that I can get a decent seat at OLCI.

 

[notzac]

I don't know what it is like for low status QFFer but that is about the only good thing I have found with DJ is that I can get a decent seat at OLCI.

It's pretty awful -- think last couple rows (if there's any choice at all) for a Bronze member.

DJ's OLCI function is much improved, and I'm now finding myself in rows 4-6 on pretty much any flight I want.

 

[harvyk]

It's pretty awful -- think last couple rows (if there's any choice at all) for a Bronze member.

It depends what you mean by choice, I don't believe NB's can select seats until checkin, unlike PS and above that can select seats at anytime up until stepping onto the plane.

As a PS I usually do most of my real seat selections at T-72, as most of the better seats have opened up. I do some seat selections prior to that, but I treat that as a backup incase I forget to log on within T-72. For a 737 flight, row 19 seems to be the magic cut off row, where forward seats aren't opened up until after T-72.

 

[snazzy_traveller]

I am contemplating becoming a Qantas Frequent Flyer. I am also a member of the Velocity rewards programme which is completley free to join. I find the Velocity programme similar to QFF however the service in the air will not be as good. Qantas have the most professional service in the air. This is already a known fact and I am sure most of you already know that.

It depends on what your budget is I think. I would probably say Qantas, but it depends on your financial situation / budget.

 

[harvyk]

I am contemplating becoming a Qantas Frequent Flyer. I am also a member of the Velocity rewards programme which is completley free to join.

So is QF's if you join using wollies everyday rewards.

The trick with joining a rewards program is look at what your already doing. If you are already flying with QF in general, join QF FF, if you fly DJ as a rule, join Velocity.

Loyalty programs are great provided you do not change your habits to get value from them, otherwise you will become a slave to them and find that you fit in really well around here...

 

[Flashback]

It depends what you mean by choice, I don't believe NB's can select seats until checkin, unlike PS and above that can select seats at anytime up until stepping onto the plane.

As a PS I usually do most of my real seat selections at T-72, as most of the better seats have opened up. I do some seat selections prior to that, but I treat that as a backup incase I forget to log on within T-72. For a 737 flight, row 19 seems to be the magic cut off row, where forward seats aren't opened up until after T-72.

Note that if you select at T-80, you'll have an even better selection ... :shock:

 

[JohnK]

Loyalty programs are great provided you do not change your habits to get value from them, otherwise you will become a slave to them and find that you fit in really well around here...

That happened to me with Hilton and Priority Club.

I was spending way too much $$$ for a few measly points and not getting anything significant more than staying in a "so-called" lesser hotel for more than half the price. I don't really care for corner room upgrades, or complimentary bottles of water, or chocolates, or turn down service, or having 20 pillows to choose from or cheap bottle of wines etc. Glad I saw the light.

 

[snazzy_traveller]

So is QF's if you join using wollies everyday rewards.

The trick with joining a rewards program is look at what your already doing. If you are already flying with QF in general, join QF FF, if you fly DJ as a rule, join Velocity.

Loyalty programs are great provided you do not change your habits to get value from them, otherwise you will become a slave to them and find that you fit in really well around here...

This is true. Considering I'm 19 and still live at home, I don't generally do too much shopping at Woolworths. I generally try to fly Qantas when I can, however I only do so if it is not too expensive.

The past few times I have been fairly lucky, and I don't mind paying $20 - $30 extra to fly Qantas, but I don't know how often these kind of fares will come up so it makes it hard for me to predict how much I will actually be flying Qantas.

I have booked 3 further flights with them this year, aswell as 2 jetstar flights, but from what I understand, jetstar does not count toward earning status credits and FF points.

hmm..

 

[medhead]

This is true. Considering I'm 19 and still live at home, I don't generally do too much shopping at Woolworths. I generally try to fly Qantas when I can, however I only do so if it is not too expensive.

The past few times I have been fairly lucky, and I don't mind paying $20 - $30 extra to fly Qantas, but I don't know how often these kind of fares will come up so it makes it hard for me to predict how much I will actually be flying Qantas.

I have booked 3 further flights with them this year, aswell as 2 jetstar flights, but from what I understand, jetstar does not count toward earning status credits and FF points.

hmm..

You don't have to shop at Woolies to join up to QFF for free. Just go down and get an everyday rewards card. Register online and get your free Qantas frequent flyer membership.

go to this post and you might even get some points for signing up. http://www.australianfrequentflyer....olworths-create-new-15636-151.html#post351766

You might even ask the person doing your shopping to swipe your card for you. You might not get any benefit immediately but it is worth collecting points from a young age, IMO.

 

[samh004]

This is true. Considering I'm 19 and still live at home, I don't generally do too much shopping at Woolworths. I generally try to fly Qantas when I can, however I only do so if it is not too expensive.

You don’t need to buy anything at Woolworths to get the free QFF membership. Just enter a Woolworths, get a free Everyday Rewards card and signup online.

https://www.everydayrewards.com.au/

The past few times I have been fairly lucky, and I don't mind paying $20 - $30 extra to fly Qantas, but I don't know how often these kind of fares will come up so it makes it hard for me to predict how much I will actually be flying Qantas.

There is a sale on now, until 31st August, to match the Virgin Blue sale.

I have booked 3 further flights with them this year, aswell as 2 jetstar flights, but from what I understand, jetstar does not count toward earning status credits and FF points.

hmm..

The fully flexible JQ fares will earn full economy SC’s and points, but the cheaper fares do not.

 

[snazzy_traveller]

You don't have to shop at Woolies to join up to QFF for free. Just go down and get an everyday rewards card. Register online and get your free Qantas frequent flyer membership.


.

Joking? I am already an everyday rewards member. So I can become a Qantas FF member without having to pay that $82.50 joining fee?

 

[medhead]

Joking? I am already an everyday rewards member. So I can become a Qantas FF member without having to pay that $82.50 joining fee?

I'm not sure if it is only available for new EDR members or not. Just check the EDR website to see. Definitely free for new EDR members.

 

[Flashback]

Joking? I am already an everyday rewards member. So I can become a Qantas FF member without having to pay that $82.50 joining fee?

Yep, just log in to your Everyday Rewards account, and you should be able to do it through there.

 

[snazzy_traveller]

You don't have to shop at Woolies to join up to QFF for free. Just go down and get an everyday rewards card. Register online and get your free Qantas frequent flyer membership.

.

You just saved me $82.50!

Thank you so much. Am now a Frequent Flyer member! this made my day

 

[medhead]

You just saved me $82.50!

Thank you so much. Am now a Frequent Flyer member! this made my day

No worries. This site exists to help and everyone here has helped me so much, I can only try my best to pass on what I've learnt here myself. A group effort all around.

And thus nature balances itself.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I was spending way too much $$$ for a few measly points and not getting anything significant more than staying in a "so-called" lesser hotel for more than half the price

Interesting. I dedided I was spending way too much on accor advantage plus to get a 'free' night, usually the worst room in the place, and 'half price' nights that were marginally cheaper than the going discounted price. I decided it was a waste of money and developed an aversion to accor hotels. It wound up being a disloyalty programme. Even if you do get points thru a-club.

But PC I thought was great value and yeh there were lesser hotels but also great ones (I'd nominate the Crowne Plaza at KL and the Intercontinental Singapore) but I did appreciate the value the points were

Cheers skip