No more QF chauffeur drive to LAX and DFW

[Spongbob]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

From the PoV of QF, did CD place any obligations on the pax? If a pax did not use CD at all - or booked it but failed to use it - could QF argue the pax has failed to satisfy their contractional obligations and then not fulfil their obligation to carry / fly the pax? I guess it is similar to seat selection: it is a benefit QF offer, but they have no obligation to actually supply a pax with their selected seat.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

From the PoV of QF, did CD place any obligations on the pax? If a pax did not use CD at all - or booked it but failed to use it - could QF argue the pax has failed to satisfy their contractional obligations and then not fulfil their obligation to carry / fly the pax? I guess it is similar to seat selection: it is a benefit QF offer, but they have no obligation to actually supply a pax with their selected seat.

Oh, c'mon. Your analogies are completely erroneous.

A pax buys a service - or a bundle of services. If they fail to take up the service (or part of it), Qantas still has the money so is not disadvantaged.

The only analogy with seat selection would be if the limo supplied was different from that booked. The seat equivalent of withdrawal of CD after you booked it, under what QF is doing, would be the withdrawal of the seat entirely (ie kicking you off the flight) - without ANY substitution or compensation. "Too bad, no flight, we aren't doing anything".

 

[medhead]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

From the PoV of QF, did CD place any obligations on the pax? If a pax did not use CD at all - or booked it but failed to use it - could QF argue the pax has failed to satisfy their contractional obligations and then not fulfil their obligation to carry / fly the pax? I guess it is similar to seat selection: it is a benefit QF offer, but they have no obligation to actually supply a pax with their selected seat.

If a service is purchased there is no obligation to actually use the service.

 

[eastwest101]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

Yes I am not affected, but it seems to me that Qantas's reasons provided for ending CD are disingenuous and specious. More puzzling and disappointing though, is the expectation that they can just remove a service or benefit from some customers whom have paid a lot of money for a premium service without any apology or providing for the existing bookings, or indeed having a plan that if they are not going to honour existing bookings, that some form of compensation or service recovery is warranted. The amounts of money involved in honouring the existing CD bookings or compensating with vouchers for a taxi/limo service would be quite trivial and would have almost entirely deflected/disarmed the negative perceptions from the removal of CD.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

Emal from AusBT this morn: Qantas axes chauffeur drive service for Los Angeles, Dallas flights - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Love this bit:
"Chauffeur Drive in the US has had relatively low take-up, so rather than persist with the overheads of keeping the service on offer we're removing it will reinvest in things that are of more value to our customers" a Qantas spokesperson told Australian Business Traveller.

However, the spokesperson declined to detail how Qantas would accommodate first and business class passengers booked on flights beyond June 30, saying only that "Customers with existing Chauffeur Drive bookings after 30 June 2014 can contact Qantas directly to discuss the options that are available to them."

 

[Danger]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

I'm with the group who believes Qantas handled this poorly.

However, I think the issue with honoring existing bookings would be that Qantas has to have a contract with a provider in order to make it cost effective to them. So, for example, they might be, as a figure, $500 a month to a provider who wins the contact, then $75 per booking on top of that. Without the base contract, the per booking rate might have been double or more, and created a greater administrative burden.

That said, I also agree with the suggestion that Qantas should provide a voucher or points in lieu.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

Emal from AusBT this morn: Qantas axes chauffeur drive service for Los Angeles, Dallas flights - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Love this bit:
"Chauffeur Drive in the US has had relatively low take-up, so rather than persist with the overheads of keeping the service on offer we're removing it will reinvest in things that are of more value to our customers" a Qantas spokesperson told Australian Business Traveller.

However, the spokesperson declined to detail how Qantas would accommodate first and business class passengers booked on flights beyond June 30, saying only that "Customers with existing Chauffeur Drive bookings after 30 June 2014 can contact Qantas directly to discuss the options that are available to them."

Probable:
ME: Hi QF, what's my options?

QF: a) suck it up Princess
b) Unfortunately we have no other options available at this time, but please be assured that your custom is valued. Did I mention a)?

 

[Spongbob]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

Thanks to you all for your take on my seat selection analogy. I am not defending what Qantas has done (its stated reasons are at best confusing - a service that does not cost much is axed because it does not cost much), but merely to contribute to the part of the thread's discussion that CD is somehow a contractual issue. CD is a complimentary service introduced without asking for any additional "consideration" from pax. But, the T&C use the word "entitled" (para 7), so what can you make of that?

Also, the T&C clearly state: 21. Qantas reserves the right to withdraw the Chauffeur Drive product or to amend its terms and conditions at any time. This right is not intended to limit or exclude any rights that you might have under any applicable laws, including consumer laws, which will depend on the relevant jurisdiction.

I agree with all the comments that Qantas should supply adequate alternatives to those would booked with QF with the anticipation of using the CD service.

 

[legroom]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

Emal from AusBT this morn: Qantas axes chauffeur drive service for Los Angeles, Dallas flights - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Love this bit:
"Chauffeur Drive in the US has had relatively low take-up, so rather than persist with the overheads of keeping the service on offer we're removing it will reinvest in things that are of more value to our customers" a Qantas spokesperson told Australian Business Traveller.

However, the spokesperson declined to detail how Qantas would accommodate first and business class passengers booked on flights beyond June 30, saying only that "Customers with existing Chauffeur Drive bookings after 30 June 2014 can contact Qantas directly to discuss the options that are available to them."

I have !

Still waiting for a reply though.

It was 2-3 days ago.

I would allow 7 days before my next step - AJ's office.

 

[Nizar]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

I'm with the group who believes Qantas handled this poorly.

Is there any other group on this thread lol

 

[dajop]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

However, I think the issue with honoring existing bookings would be that Qantas has to have a contract with a provider in order to make it cost effective to them. So, for example, they might be, as a figure, $500 a month to a provider who wins the contact, then $75 per booking on top of that. Without the base contract, the per booking rate might have been double or more, and created a greater administrative burden.

At the LAX/DFW end, at the Australia end, I don't think it would be much of a burden given they provide services to Europe bound pax - or did they have a separate contract to cover LAX/DFW bound pax as it is not part of the EK deal?

I was discussing this with someone last night, really two scenarios -
1) People who have made eligible flight booking but not yet CD - well tough I guess, bad luck.
2) People who have already made CD booking - they should honor it at the Australian end , and provide some form of compensation (as a minimum QF vouchers) to cover the LAX/DFW end.

 

[Himeno]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

I'm with the group who believes Qantas handled this poorly.

Is there anything Qantas hasn't handled poorly recently?

 

[blackcat20]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

How hard would it be for them to provide cab charges? A little bit of goodwill goes a long way.

 

[Airline Hub Buzz]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

CD was a great option but it still should have been honoured for existing bookings.

 

[codash1099]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

How hard would it be for them to provide cab charges? A little bit of goodwill goes a long way.

I no longer have any expectations of QF, goodwill or otherwise.

I no longer believe that the management cares about its customers or employees.

We may whinge, complain, write letters, threaten - they just don't care.

They have even ceased making public announcements about changes (CD for example) and I presume that red roo is under instructions not to enter into any discussions..

 

[Princess Fiona]

No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

I'm with the group who believes Qantas handled this poorly.

However, I think the issue with honoring existing bookings would be that Qantas has to have a contract with a provider in order to make it cost effective to them. So, for example, they might be, as a figure, $500 a month to a provider who wins the contact, then $75 per booking on top of that. Without the base contract, the per booking rate might have been double or more, and created a greater administrative burden.

That said, I also agree with the suggestion that Qantas should provide a voucher or points in lieu.

For the ex-Australia bookings it shouldn't have been an issue at all. All are mainly handled by Brunel. Presumably they don't know or care whether or not the passenger is off to LAX or Timbuktu. Passengers with existing bookings at LAX/DFW should have a voucher or re-imbursement of their taxi fares at the very least I think.
Link to the latest Chauffeur Drive Info for TA's
https://agent.custhelp.com/ci/fatta...ame/ChauffeurDrive-TravelAgentFAQs-260514.pdf

 

[Pleb Status]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

For the ex-Australia bookings it shouldn't have been an issue at all. All are mainly handled by Brunel. Presumably they don't know or care whether or not the passenger is off to LAX or Timbuktu. Passengers with existing bookings at LAX/DFW should have a voucher or re-imbursement of their taxi fares at the very least I think.
Link to the latest Chauffeur Drive Info for TA's
https://agent.custhelp.com/ci/fatta...ame/ChauffeurDrive-TravelAgentFAQs-260514.pdf

Reading the QF attachment in the post above, has anybody received a CD vehicle in Australia above the 'minimum' Holden Caprice? I have used CD in Australia six or seven times and got a Caprice every time.

 

[Robert K]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

I no longer have any expectations of QF, goodwill or otherwise.
I no longer believe that the management cares about its customers or employees.
We may whinge, complain, write letters, threaten - they just don't care.
They have even ceased making public announcements about changes (CD for example) and I presume that red roo is under instructions not to enter into any discussions..

Qantas is a business. it's not here to make you happy.

They have their reasons for making the decisions. Whinge complain and threaten all you like. It won't make a difference. Just like it won't matter how much uni students protest, the federal budget isn't going to change. It's all done for a reason.

 

[11sjw]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

Qantas is a business. it's not here to make you happy.

They have their reasons for making the decisions. Whinge complain and threaten all you like. It won't make a difference. Just like it won't matter how much uni students protest, the federal budget isn't going to change. It's all done for a reason.

QF will listen if people vote with their wallets.

As for the budget, doesn't it have to get through the Senate?

 

[oz74]

Re: No more QF chauffer drive to LAX and DFW

QF will listen if people vote with their wallets.

As for the budget, doesn't it have to get through the Senate?

Agree on both counts there.