Beyond WP1

[samiam]

Government freeloaders? Really? Regardless of your political beliefs government is a vital component to the way society runs and for people to be involved in the profession you belittle there needs to be some 'perks' and incentives. No different to industry.

I agree with everything you say, up until the word Government

 

[BoyZeus]

• I was invited to preview of those miserables.

what a terrible film

 

[haggiscat]

Government freeloaders? Really? Regardless of your political beliefs government is a vital component to the way society runs and for people to be involved in the profession you belittle there needs to be some 'perks' and incentives. No different to industry.

Government is a service, not a profession, and I'm most unhappy that my local State MP (Miss Portolesi) is able to offer her snotty nosed child Business class flights on the public tit. As for Civil Servants, the name speaks for itself - Business if they are flying to a meeting, economy if they aint, and First - never.

 

[RWJ777]

Government is a service, not a profession, and I'm most unhappy that my local State MP (Miss Portolesi) is able to offer her snotty nosed child Business class flights on the public tit. As for Civil Servants, the name speaks for itself - Business if they are flying to a meeting, economy if they aint, and First - never.

Well I think it would be silly to scorn the many by the actions of a few (or one).

By your restricted term of profession, the original three would only apply -- divinity, the law and medicine.

Overall, Australia is blessed with excellent and corrupt-free democratic government (certain aspects of NSW aside!). It's a bit easy to take cheap shots at it without comparison to other systems.

 

[haggiscat]

I'm not taking a cheap shot, I'm saying that the culture of entitlement which appears to pervade the political class and the civil service is inappropriate given the nature of the occupation. Interestingly, the lady at the Business Lounge counter in Brisbane told me that Peter Slipper always used the Business Lounge in preference to the Chairman's Lounge. Which I thought was interesting given that he appears to enjoy rorting his entitlements in all other respects. Maybe the eye candy is better in the BL.

 

[maomaocat]

It all depends on your flying patterns. For some people, getting to OWE is easier on AA than QF and vice versa.
Each program's elite status has different benefits and making the most of them depends on where and who you fly with.
It also depends on what you plan to use your points on - if it's award flights you are after, then AA redemption rates make a mockery of QFF ones.

How does AA measure up for mostly domestic flights in AU? I've got no intention of flying to LOTFAP in the next two years or so, but will most likely make a handful of flights to Asia / Yoorp.

Can I transfer QF WP to become AA EXP? I've got zero chance of hitting WP1, and WP will be a close shave for me each year.

 

[mannej]

You can try and get AA to status match your WP, but they are not obliged to do so.

 

[NM]

You can try and get AA to status match your WP, but they are not obliged to do so.

AA are most unlikely to status-match from QF. They will invite you to take a Platinum Challenge. I am not aware of anyone who has been matched by AA to Exec Platinum from QF Platinum.

 

[Kangol]

How does AA measure up for mostly domestic flights in AU? I've got no intention of flying to LOTFAP in the next two years or so, but will most likely make a handful of flights to Asia / Yoorp.

Can I transfer QF WP to become AA EXP? I've got zero chance of hitting WP1, and WP will be a close shave for me each year.

I've never done it, but this table shows 10k points for Y and 17.5k for J. Not sure how much the cash co-payment is.

http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/aadvantageAllPartnerChart.jsp

Since it goes by regions, a 10k SYD-CBR may not be worth it but a 10k PER-xMEL-AKL would be (the same is 25k on QFF).

Unlikely to get a status match with AA but if you don't ask, you'll never know.

 

[Kangol]

AA are most unlikely to status-match from QF. They will invite you to take a Platinum Challenge. I am not aware of anyone who has been matched by AA to Exec Platinum from QF Platinum.

I thought anyone can do the AA GLD/PLT challenges? ie. just ring up, pay and you are ready to go...?

Edit: whoops, I thought you were alluding to it being an invite-only offer.

 

[rhjames]

I agree. Things like Rudd flying 114 people to Copenhagen business class, including his photographer and hair dresser (couldn't he get a haircut before he went, and take his own comb?) - all for nothing. Some politicians do good things - I remember one occasion a few years ago.

As for the Chairman's lounge, I'd like to see a list of which politicians have access.

 

[samiam]

As for the Chairman's lounge, I'd like to see a list of which politicians have access.

All 226 serving, according to this article:

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/polit...e-in-qantas-upgrade-spree-20120829-2514e.html

"The upgrades are additional to free membership of Qantas's Chairman's Lounge given to all 226 serving politicians - allowing them privacy and free food at most domestic airports."

 

[Hvr]

Government is a service, not a profession, and I'm most unhappy that my local State MP (Miss Portolesi) is able to offer her snotty nosed child Business class flights on the public tit. As for Civil Servants, the name speaks for itself - Business if they are flying to a meeting, economy if they aint, and First - never.

If you're talking civil servants you probably want to complain on a UK internet site. Here they are public servants. If a politician is letting their child fly at public expense (regardless of class) I agree, they better have a very good reason.

Only very senior public servants fly business class domestically and SYD-CBR vv isn't included in that entitlement. Still no need to let the facts get in the way of a good rant.

Your first comment and my final rebuttal, "Government is a service, not a profession" well regardless of what your occupation is, then surely you are entitled to be remunerated appropriately including conditions of service?


I appreciate some people like to sneer at, and look down on people who work in government or even are in parliament. In my opinion some of those people really don't understand what they're sneering at. Politicians generally do work very hard as do public servants.

One thing they do work hard at is dealing with businesses who want subsidies (grants or welfare by another name) for their organisation/industry etc. And watch them whinge when they don't get it.

Oh and if you exclude politicians and very senior public servants from the CL then the business personnel will go to where ever they are, i.e. the J lounge and meet there. It does serve a purpose and it suits those involved. When declared then it doesn't compromise the ethics of parliament or the public service.

 

[RWJ777]

If you're talking civil servants you probably want to complain on a UK internet site. Here they are public servants. If a politician is letting their child fly at public expense (regardless of class) I agree, they better have a very good reason.

Only very senior public servants fly business class domestically and SYD-CBR vv isn't included in that entitlement. Still no need to let the facts get in the way of a good rant.

Your first comment and my final rebuttal, "Government is a service, not a profession" well regardless of what your occupation is, then surely you are entitled to be remunerated appropriately including conditions of service?


I appreciate some people like to sneer at, and look down on people who work in government or even are in parliament. In my opinion some of those people really don't understand what they're sneering at. Politicians generally do work very hard as do public servants.

One thing they do work hard at is dealing with businesses who want subsidies (grants or welfare by another name) for their organisation/industry etc. And watch them whinge when they don't get it.

Oh and if you exclude politicians and very senior public servants from the CL then the business personnel will go to where ever they are, i.e. the J lounge and meet there. It does serve a purpose and it suits those involved. When declared then it doesn't compromise the ethics of parliament or the public service.

And very well said too!

 

[Mrmaxwell]

These are all good ideas but seem against QF's current definition of 'enhancements'