Looking for reasons to stay with Qantas

[pleffer]

Hi All,
I have been P1 with Qantas since day 1 of the program and as I start a new year of travel, I am for the first time looking for reasons to stay with Qantas and not switch the majority of my travel to SQ.

i earn most of points travelling up to Asia in J and have for the past three years averaged around 5500 status credits on QF and also done enough to scrape through into PPS on SQ.

But what will keep me flying QF ( I am LTG)?

- the hard product up Asia lags well behind SQ
- with the 380s now flying to Dubai, the upgrade to F is gone
- the 4 flights a day ex SYD on SQ gives me great flexibility
- SQ cabin staff always provide a high level of service
-
Yes, I would miss the F lounge in Syd and Mel, but that's hardly enough to keep me.

Any thoughts? Anything someone can think of to change my mind.

 

[boylero]

The points you earn as a WP1 on QF metal far oustrip the lousy 1.5 you get as a SG on SQ in J, whereas you get Cabin and status bonus with QF. Secondly the ability to use QF points on a huge variety of things through the QF Store and other partners is often handy

I fly SQ regularly as my work dictates it, but the poitns earn versus spend ratio is not that great

 

[moa999]

- The hard product on the QF A330 will be improved (starting this year)
Up close: Qantas' new Airbus A330 business class 'suites' - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

- Agree that SQ on this route for service, and frequency is tough to beat, but as mentioned SQ is not that generous on earning, and its fuel fines and flexibilities when booking are probably worse than QF

- Have you though about going via KUL on MH or HKG on CX - sure a bit further but still with oneworld?

 

[Mwenenzi]

What will you use the SQ miles for? SQ miles expire 3 years after you earn them. Use them or loose them.
What benefit will SQ status give you, given you fly J?

With QF LTG and flying J I would be crediting OneWorld flights (QF, CX, BA, etc) to AAdvantage FFP. Far better earn to burn if you redeem J / F flights. But no upgrades on QF with AA miles. Use your QF points for these. If flying SQ before 31 March open a US Airways ffp account. The US Airways miles will convert some time to AA miles.

 

[TonyHancock]

If most of your travel is in Asia, and in premium cabins I'm struggling to find a reason why you would maintain P1 with QF. It might be worth maintaining WP for domestic travel, depending how much you do and which class you fly.

Unless you are flying the A380 on a regular basis QF does not offer much in comparison with other Asian carriers. The beaten up A330's are not exactly the most comfortable mean of getting into Asia. :-(

Most of my travel is QF1/QF9/QF2/QF10 so I at least see some benefits from P1.

 

[RooFlyer]

One BIG reason to stick with QF : their pilots. Lord knows I have found many reasons not to fly with QFi, however soft product comes and goes with every airline, but when the poo hits the fan (or has the potential to) I like a QF pilot in the drivers' seats.

 

[drron]

Certainly not in your situation but hopefully a decision to be made in the next couple of years.I jumped to AA in 2006 and very happy that I did.Mrsdrron has remained with QFF for the status as we do like Flounges.However we have begun diversifying with awards on SQ (via Amex and DC points) and via Avianca awards.
As to SQ v QFF redemptions we have just booked J awards SIN-BNE next January.SQ-93500 + $S490,QFF-120000 + $S575.
So if you wont miss Flounges and would easily get PPS if switching I would certainly strongly consider SQ.

 

[Mwenenzi]

....As to SQ v QFF redemptions we have just booked J awards SIN-BNE next January.SQ-93500 + $S490,QFF-120000 + $S575..

How many paid SIN-BNE flights would you need on SQ/QF to earn those miles/points with say mid teir status? Earn to burn is important for many, but many ignore the earn.

 

[drron]

How many paid SIN-BNE flights would you need on SQ/QF to earn those miles/points with say mid teir status? Earn to burn is important for many, but many ignore the earn.

Don't know.All my points come from Amex or DC.Much better value for them with SQ rather than QFF.

 

[maninblack]

Any thoughts? Anything someone can think of to change my mind.

Nope, not me

 

[harvyk]

Looking for reasons to stay with Qantas? There is a really simple reason, you've posted this thread.
Basically you've posted this in a hope that you can feel justified in your decision. If you really no longer wanted to fly with them then you would have simply stopped booking with them end of story...

 

[eastwest101]

Looking for reasons to stay with Qantas? There is a really simple reason, you've posted this thread.
Basically you've posted this in a hope that you can feel justified in your decision. If you really no longer wanted to fly with them then you would have simply stopped booking with them end of story...

Agree with your summary there, what the OP is posting is simply the last gasp of the "golden handcuffs", being LTG it is a total no brainer to look at other FF schemes now, even if the OP continues to credit to another OW frequent flyer scheme....

The OP has answered their own question as they think that the product (for them) sucks, compared all of QFs competitors regarding soft and hard product, frequency, cost, earn to burn, lack of F options so I don't know what is holding them back except maybe they don't want to start all over again with SQ or VA. Possibly the OP has quite a bit of other travel and some must be Australian Domestic so that may enter into the equation.

I guess its really a question more along the lines of "What could Qantas possibly do to me being a LTG, or what benefits will I lose by flying and crediting to SQ or even AA?"

Good points from other members here about earn to burn ratios, so depends on whether the OP may want to acumulate or burn points and whom with. Sure they may earn a lot of points on QFF but what do they use those points for? Buying toasters or upgrading classes on once-a year holidays? Lounge and status implications, if the OP is staying with non-A380 J class flying mostly in Asia then maybe point maintaining QF WP if the OP still can use the QF Business Lounges? Or simply stick with QP being LTG anyway, is a decision to be made. Its possible that QF could enhance their LTG membership away in the future, but highly unlikely, QF could of course enhance themselves out of existence entirely in a few years time. It all depends on your timeframe. :shock:

I am assuming that the OP is also SYD based as they imply, so if QF can't keep a long term P1 flying mostly business class with LTG living near their SYD hub doorstep as a loyal customer, then the question really is - who the heck can QF keep?

 

[TonyHancock]

Agree with your summary there, what the OP is posting is simply the last gasp of the "golden handcuffs", being LTG it is a total no brainer to look at other FF schemes now, even if the OP continues to credit to another OW frequent flyer scheme....

It's not always a no brainer. It would make no sense for me to switch my earning to, for example, AA.

Also not everyone wants to earn and burn points. Sometimes it is about the travel itself.

 

[maninblack]

Also not everyone wants to earn and burn points. Sometimes it is about the travel itself.

What? Heretic!

 

[froggerADL]

How about patriotism?

 

[Mwenenzi]

There is a difference to travelling on Qantas & using the Q freq flyer program, or another ffp, to collect miles/points from QF flights & other carriers who are QF partners

 

[Kefci2000]

I can't think of any reason

Just bumped from 23e on 767 as a platinum to 23e on a 737

Middle row at the back, thanks a lot

Just about to book my next RTW J class, hello Star Alliance

 

[ReLoad]

I can't think of any reason

Just bumped from 23e on 767 as a platinum to 23e on a 737

Middle row at the back, thanks a lot

Just about to book my next RTW J class, hello Star Alliance

Enjoy the UA flights......

 

[Kefci2000]

I will fly Air NZ via auckland

 

[pleffer]

Thanks to those who have responded so far with their opinions, a couple of responses from my point of view.

- Yes I reliase that QF are upgrading their A330 fleet with the new J product,but I will be surprised to see it this year.
- Tony Hancock hits on a good point, it is not always about earning points, it is about the flight as well, and the SQ product is hard to beat, there is a reason why they are 5 star airline versus QF 4 star.
- yes earn rate is lower, but so too is burn rate, its not a direct comparison. Just booked some economy flight SYD-SIN QF was 60,000 points, SQ was 42,750 both "extras" aroung the same
- somebody made the point re QF pilots, totally agree, SQ are good, but 100% agree, in a crisis i would want a QF pilot up front