Having a nightmare with Qantas FF

[sumthinfornuthin]

I can sympathise with your situation, especially with the $ outlay. However, 4(?)xJ upgrade would be far from guaranteed as a Gold depending on the time of year and luck of the draw with elite loadings for that particular flight. Also I don't think Qantas will bend the rules, so I would be at peace with flying PE (a great product, although not necessarily for sleeping) with the small hope of the stars aligning in your favour. Otherwise you will end up getting a headache over an non-possible outcome.

My son is a pilot with QANTAS, he reckons that PE is by far the best VALUE seat going long distances. Might not be as comfortable as Business or First Class but a lot cheaper and the food is pretty good.

 

[RichardMEL]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I'll just have to go and figure out which direction I'm going to go in. I'm very aware that I'm a very small fish in the Qantas pond and that's fine. They have EVERY right to make choices, as do I. No doubt it will be a loss for me if I decide to leave something that wasn't "broken' (until last week anyway lol) but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

All the best to people that took the time to help. Bye.........

Oh, I like the emphasis there. then the "Bye..." so you don't like the majority of opinion expressed (and yet refuse to answer a number of poster's reasonable-I think anyway-questions) and appear to have decided to take your bat and ball and go home?!

First you claim a "nightmare" with QF... the extent of which - in essence - is the lack of return contact as promised - which all of us here agree is poor.. but given many other people's experiences this hardly rates on the "nighmare" scale (I definitely put chasing credit vouchers and the like ahead of this, for example - let alone travel disruptions, lack of refunds, missing or destroyed luggage and whatever else can befall travellers from time to time).

You choice to spend your $$ the way you like - absolutely no question... but to ask or expect for something outside of the published policies of ANY company (in this case an airline) is a bit much. Just because someone knew of someone else that was given it means nothing. They may have had 10 previous years as a Plat and was extended a courtesy on those grounds. I also agree with the other poster who said NOT granting this exemtpion is showing some loyalty to those who have earned it.

Either way yes - be upset they have not returned your call. I'm fully in support of that.. but the rest? Sorry mate but if you can't even clarify some questions we have then appear to spit the dummy and depart (for VA Y it seems) well.. you enjoy your experience over there, and I hope your family enjoy the time in the USA however you get there and in whichever cabin.

cheers.

 

[medhead]

I propose that this experience (along with others) actually shows that QF is starting to show some loyalty to customers who show loyalty to them. If the OP was a 'good' customer, they would have retained SG status over the past year and none of this would have been an issue.

Giving away status and benefits to those who do not earn it spits in the face of those who do earn it in accordance with the rules of the program.

As I said not appearing to want to maintain a relationship on the same basis is not showing loyalty to the customer.

In my case QF have made it abundantly clear that they are not interesting in maintaining our relationship as it stands, that they require more of my money to provide me with a lessor set of benefits. As such I reject your assertion that I'm a bad customer for reviewing my situation.

I'll also clearly state that some of the attacks on the OP in thread are pretty poor form

Of course, that doesn't change the fact that even at gold level the OP would have more chance if they purchased a lotto ticket.

 

[RichardMEL]

A
Of course, that doesn't change the fact that even at gold level the OP would have more chance if they purchased a lotto ticket.

Hi there.

I'm wondering if you can give me a free Lotto Ticket? I bought one 2 weeks ago, and another couple last year but I didn't win... I heard Intralot gave some scratchies away to someone else, so I think maybe I should get a lotto ticket because I want to win the big draw this Saturday night...

 

[medhead]

Hi there.

I'm wondering if you can give me a free Lotto Ticket? I bought one 2 weeks ago, and another couple last year but I didn't win... I heard Intralot gave some scratchies away to someone else, so I think maybe I should get a lotto ticket because I want to win the big draw this Saturday night...

Umm, no you can buy your own silver lotto ticket because it'll give you the same chance as a gold lotto ticket.

(lets not confuse issues here) 1) it would have been nice to get a gold extension and no need to attack the OP for dreaming, but 2)they would have the same chance of getting 4 upgrades. Point 2 is a constant regardless of point 1. I can happy discuss both as separate issues.

More chance to win the lotto and then buy business outright.

 

[mannej]

I'll also clearly state that some of the attacks on the OP in thread are pretty poor form

I'll state that being in disagreement with the OP is not an attack, not is it poor form. I don't think anyone has disagreed that the OP should not be annoyed about the lack of a response.

I have not seen any response in this thread that could be construed a personal attack sorry.

 

[medhead]

I'll state that being in disagreement with the OP is not an attack, not is it poor form. I don't think anyone has disagreed that the OP should not be annoyed about the lack of a response.

I have not seen any response in this thread that could be construed a personal attack sorry.

I must have imagined those posts that questioned the OPs attitude then.

 

[mannej]

I must have imagined those posts that questioned the OPs attitude then.

The post is there, but to be fair whilst it may be harsh in the context of the thread it's not an attack IMO.

 

[RichardMEL]

For my part I don't have a problem with the idea of ASKING for an extention or "dreaming" at all. Not at all. That's fine. A "threat" to move business elsewhere... well that's not going to get much positive response in my view given the nature of the request, but that's up to the OP of course.

My only personal opinion on Bemuda's "attitude" was his (as of now) final post on the matter with a sarcastic (as I read it anyway) thanks for the "help" followed by a "Bye". Personally I'm not sure what "Help" he was hoping for? Perhaps he has privately corresponded with Red Roo on the matter - hopefully so. By the nature of his most recent post it seems he did not like the general consensus of opinion but I also feel he didn't help himself when he failed to address various questions people had - specially regarding his contact with QF. At least on my own part the questions were sincere and not intended as any kind of attack.

really though the core issue here is not the request itself or the expectation that goes with that (if someone else did or did not, on hearsay, receive the same) but that QF allegedly have (or had?) not returned a call as promised. That is the core issue here for me tbh. Like everyone else here that I've read it's poor that they have not responded as promised - at least according to the OP, who appears to have fled so I guess we'll never know if they ever do call back!

 

[CaptJCool]

It's always depressing to drop status (hence the soft landing) and there is a 3 year "rolling' average scenario possible - happened to me staying at Plat level - my last trip saw me back in the Bus Lounge in Sydney (and its definitely different to Flounge - so I am empathetic to the original request - even getting a phone call saying sorry can't be done is better than no call - the issue for the QF system is "who's actually loyal?" those who put out hard earned $10-30k on the family trip (and yes done that some times) or those who have the fortune that their business pays? QF don't appear to value sufficiently your personal spend, and when its split across 4 family members there's no scope (unlike VA) to aggregate family status credits to keep a head of household status - if similar to transferring family points, i could transfer family members status credits then fantastic. I did work out it takes about a $15k individual spend to achieve Plat (if you dont do 'status runs in the USA) and yet this OP is spending $20k and gets a lesser result because the spending is spread across the household and not selfishly spent on just the one. food for thought

 

[medhead]

He was probably looking for help to get qantas to actually reply.

 

[Pushka]

Actually these days with customer service, if someone says they are going to get back to me I am more surprised if they do, and simply assume that they won't. I don't get angry anymore unless it's an essential "must win" thing.

And as far as being SG and receiving four upgrades then I still think that's really unlikely anyway. I don't like our chances and one is WP and I will be SG but I am ok with the PE seats we have anyway. If it was Emirates then we'd probably get the upgrade for free as they are kind to us. Q - mmmm not so much.

 

[RichardMEL]

He was probably looking for help to get qantas to actually reply.

Maybe, yet reviewing the first page of this thread his actual question (in his 2nd post) was that "is it normal to get called back by QF" so I dunno really.

 

[medhead]

Maybe, yet reviewing the first page of this thread his actual question (in his 2nd post) was that "is it normal to get called back by QF" so I dunno really.

Agreed the first few posts were less than ideal.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Maybe, yet reviewing the first page of this thread his actual question (in his 2nd post) was that "is it normal to get called back by QF" so I dunno really.

The answer to that is yes, it is normal. Close thread

 

[Quickstatus]

It's always depressing to drop status (hence the soft landing) and there is a 3 year "rolling' average scenario possible - happened to me staying at Plat level - my last trip saw me back in the Bus Lounge in Sydney (and its definitely different to Flounge - so I am empathetic to the original request - even getting a phone call saying sorry can't be done is better than no call - the issue for the QF system is "who's actually loyal?" those who put out hard earned $10-30k on the family trip (and yes done that some times) or those who have the fortune that their business pays? QF don't appear to value sufficiently your personal spend, and when its split across 4 family members there's no scope (unlike VA) to aggregate family status credits to keep a head of household status - if similar to transferring family points, i could transfer family members status credits then fantastic. I did work out it takes about a $15k individual spend to achieve Plat (if you dont do 'status runs in the USA) and yet this OP is spending $20k and gets a lesser result because the spending is spread across the household and not selfishly spent on just the one. food for thought

My $30k per year spend for 1J flight for 4 persons is lower in value than a single QF member spending $30k for 1 person's 4J flights. It has never made sense to me. I am introducing 3 passengers to the Qantas brand as well.


VA has a better idea with SC pooling.

 

[defurax]

My $30k per year spend for 1J flight for 4 persons is lower in value than a single QF member spending $30k for 1 person's 4J flights. It has never made sense to me. I am introducing 3 passengers to the Qantas brand as well.


VA has a better idea with SC pooling.

Well, some more "patriarchal" societies are already offering this for up to 8 family members! Family joining benefits
Not sure "family head" is a cherished concept in Australia though

Sometimes you can even include your driver and housemaids http://stageenv.saudiairlines.com/saudiairlines/Alfursan/Program+Information/Family+Member+Program

 

[Quickstatus]

Well, some more "patriarchal" societies are already offering this for up to 8 family members! Family joining benefits
Not sure "family head" is a cherished concept in Australia though

Sometimes you can even include your driver and housemaids Family Member Program

it really does not matter, the number of seats purchased is essentially the same for the $$$ spend.

8 family members flying once per year paid for by one person should be the same as 1 person flying 8 times per year. The loyalty is even greater as family holidays are paid for with the QF members own $$$ rather than a QF member flying on their company's dime.

sure the status does not extend to all members but tothe person paying the $$$

 

[RichardMEL]

8 family members flying once per year paid for by one person should be the same as 1 person flying 8 times per year. The loyalty is even greater as family holidays are paid for with the QF members own $$$ rather than a QF member flying on their company's dime.

Isn't there an assumption here that most large spend max - your $20k flyer - is on the corporate dime? OK I've never spent $20k on a ticket (*shudder*) but ALL my travel for the past 20+ years, bar one return MEL-SYD back in the 90's on AN has been self funded.

I'd say that to QF yor one pax spending $20k on, well let's say 2 seats (say 2 J to europe) is more valuable than your family of 4 spending $20k.. why? simply because the yield is so much larger for them AND they can still fit 2 more pax from your 2xJ spend vs 4xW spend. Or if you want to compare apples with apples, Your passenger paying full-Y on a MEL-SYD is obviously going to be of more value than 1 pax on a cheapo-Y fare, even though they may sit next to each other and receive the same service. And, that same full-Y pax will still be worth more than 2 cheapo Y fares - that combined are less than your full0Y, or even if they are even in value - because they've sold the one seat for that high value/yield, but with the cheapo fares you've sold 2, tus reducing the available capacity for other pax. This is the core, of course, of yield and revenue management, and the "magic formula" all airlines strive to find the right mix where they can fill their flights so that all seats are sold at the highest average price = more revenue to the airline.

As a solo pax with no family who travel to pool anything with, in some ways the pooling systems could possibly seem a bit unfair. It doesn't really bother me so much but some may feel that way

 

[straitman]

And hang on, I'm not quite following the dates for when you qualified for Gold and when your membership year ticks over.

It seems that your membership year ends 31 May (2015). If you attained Gold sometime during your 2014/2015 year, then you get the status for the remainder of that year, AND for the next year, (2015/2016) during which you will then have the time period to earn enough SCs to retain Gold. When you get to the next level for the first time, you always have it for more than 12 months before you drop down.

So you won't drop down from Gold as at 31 May this year... Or am I missing something? (It does imply that you earnt Gold during the first couple weeks of your membership year last year, but that is fairly doable with an international trip)

Just extending this discussion ever so slightly. IF Bermuda's membership year ends at the end of June rather than May they will still be Gold for their trip in June this year.

i.e. either way, May or June expiry they should still be Gold in June this year. .... or am I missing something completely :?:

Should Qantas have responded :?: Yes of course they should have and and the OP been a little less obtuse at the beginning I'm sure they would have been pointed to Red Roo who from my experience replies 100% of the time.

Regarding people attacking the OP I would have to say that IMHO several of his responses were more aggressive than anything put back to him.