Dave Noble said:
Given that you want to insult the scheme (given the terms you are using) what aspects of the QF scheme is it that you prefer to the AA scheme.
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For passengers that fly predominantly in economy, getting status is easier with AA and the earned miles have a higher value
I would be interested to know what aspects of the scheme you prefer on QF . I'm assuming that it isn't unreasoned prejudice and that there is a good reason
Sometimes my words do not come out the way I want them. I am not trying to insult the AA scheme. It probably is a good FF scheme for some people. As a general rule I do not like US based air carriers. Delta is OK but they have their own problems.
I only joined the QF scheme in May 2003 when I started travelling to Thailand for work. I didn't know anything about FF/loyalty programs and I was encouraged by the secretary at work to join. I attained silver status in the first year and have now made gold status in the 3rd year of membership. More than I could have ever wished for out of this FF scheme looking back 3 years ago.
Living in Australia I have mainly been flying QF and I think will continue to do so in the future, apart from the odd SC run on AY, so it makes sense, for me at least, to credit the flights to this FF scheme. Again I fly mainly heavily discounted economy except for the odd SC run in D on AY.
For international flights I travel with N,Q class airfares, sometimes V class when there is no sale on, and QF's scheme gives me the same recognition as if I had purchased a B,H,K,S,V class fares. For domestic flights I only ever travel on red e-deal O,N class fares unless I am really desperate to go somewhere in a hurry. So basically with QF I get the discount economy SC's and full FF points. With AA I would have to purchase a higher class airfare just to get the x0.25 mile recognition and even higher class airfares to get the x0.5 mile recognition. Not sure whether I want to spend the extra money!
I like QF's SC's based scheme as opposed to a mileage based scheme. And AA is not the only one here. Singapore and Thai are just a few to mention.
I like dealing with local call centres. Just recently with the AY debacle QF have been fantastic. Could not praise them enough. The service I have received from their friendly staff, yes I do find them friendly, makes me want to continue doing business with them.
I am very happy with the treatment I have received from QF in the air. In more than 90% of flights I am sitting in the front of economy with my aisle seat preference. When I was just mere silver status I received an op-up to business class SYD-BKK-SYD.
I trust QF. I know they will be around even with the dark JQ cloud hanging around. Yes I know they make changes to devalue FF points from time to time but that is business in general. The cost of goods or services at certain times must go up. To be honest with you I really don't care too much for the FF points just glad to have status.
I feel very safe when flying with them. I feel very comfortable. I feel at home when I step onto a QF aircraft.
I know that my points above are not all FF scheme related but all these little things matter. QF has done the right thing for me so I will continue to be a member of their FF scheme.
And yes I know that I could still fly QF and join AA's FF scheme but that would mean that I would need to spend more money to buy higher class airfares. Maintain 2 FF scheme's like you? Impossible.