QANTAS are driving me into the open arms of their competitors...

[Troppo]

Good morning all.

Firstly, a bit about me. I have been a (very) loyal customer of the Mangy Roo for nigh on 40 years.

I'm lifetime Gold and have been Plat continuously for 10 years. The better half just made Plat.

We recently flew CNS-BNE-LAX-JFK. I have to do the same trip again in about a month. Checked on the website and the fare has increased by $3000....from 6K to 9.5K.

Rang the Plat FF desk - sorry, too bad, can't do anything....get stuffed, basically.

OK, my recent flight was a special...but, really....a 50% increase in a month!?

Cathay are $1500 cheaper - yes, the sector is longer, but the Cathay J class long haul cabin leaves the QANTAS 380 product for dead...let alone the tired old 747....

Virgin are about $3000 cheaper.....

Given the pressure QANTAS are under, this is hardly the way to treat loyal customers.....

I have emailed the CEO of loyalty programs. Interested in her reply.

Rgds from the tropics.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm in the same position as you. Lingering loyalty, with status on QF, but getting annoyed by blatant price gouging and better quality on CX (and others).

My solution was to use a One World 'Circle Pacific' fare (assuming you are doing round trip) - it was cheaper by a worthwhile margin than straight up QF (I only went as far as LAX) and you get to go CX one way.

Maybe out on QF to LAX-JFK, back on CX via HKG (overnight stop required). You could do it the other way of course. Unfortunately with a CNS origin, there would be some backtracking (unless CX services CNS ).

Hard to find on the QF web site, but get it either via a TA or even the 1W web site.

 

[smit0847]

I'm not sure why you wouldnt just be using CX anyway? 1 stop to JFK from CNS, PER and ADL is a fantastic advantage and they have the worlds best business class.

 

[markis10]

I'm in the same position as you. Lingering loyalty, with status on QF, but getting annoyed by blatant price gouging and better quality on CX (and others).

My solution was to use a One World 'Circle Pacific' fare (assuming you are doing round trip) - it was cheaper by a worthwhile margin than straight up QF (I only went as far as LAX) and you get to go CX one way.

Maybe out on QF to LAX-JFK, back on CX via HKG (overnight stop required). You could do it the other way of course. Unfortunately with a CNS origin, there would be some backtracking (unless CX services CNS ).

Hard to find on the QF web site, but get it either via a TA or even the 1W web site.

Imagine if the OP compared FJ fares on the route and discovered they were 50% cheaper again :mrgreen:

 

[Troppo]

I'm in the same position as you. Lingering loyalty, with status on QF, but getting annoyed by blatant price gouging and better quality on CX (and others).

My solution was to use a One World 'Circle Pacific' fare (assuming you are doing round trip) - it was cheaper by a worthwhile margin than straight up QF (I only went as far as LAX) and you get to go CX one way.

Maybe out on QF to LAX-JFK, back on CX via HKG (overnight stop required). You could do it the other way of course. Unfortunately with a CNS origin, there would be some backtracking (unless CX services CNS ).

Hard to find on the QF web site, but get it either via a TA or even the 1W web site.

Hello there fellow mangy Roo victim.



Thanks very much for the info - will dig. CX services CNS (another plus...).

Rgds

 

[Troppo]

Gee, the QANTAS email system must be down....no reply from loyalty....

 

[smit0847]

Gee, the QANTAS email system must be down....no reply from loyalty....

With all due respect, the head of QF Loyalty has far more important things to do than consider if your particular fare is overpriced. People are deserting QF in droves and Loyalty does nothing to stop them!

 

[Troppo]

It was just a little tongue in cheek....

Having said that, how hard would it be for a person in the loyalty section to send me a quick reply? People expect a reply to their email these days, even if it is a "holding" reply.

Unprofessional.

Perhaps Mr. Joyce has sacked them all?

 

[maninblack]

Just fly CX and don't worry about it. That's what you guys up in FNQ normally do isn't it? Don't worry about it I mean

 

[Troppo]

Just fly CX and don't worry about it. That's what you guys up in FNQ normally do isn't it? Don't worry about it I mean

I intend to. Just would be nice to hear back from QANTAS.

 

[cmon0005]

We recently flew CNS-BNE-LAX-JFK. I have to do the same trip again in about a month. Checked on the website and the fare has increased by $3000....from 6K to 9.5K.

In about a month is the Easter period, and QF always raises it's fares during this time and also services are normally quite heavily booked during these few weeks.
I have a QF Economy flight SYD-HKG during easter with connecting CX/KA flights on the single ticket I booked a month ago, it cost me an extra $350 per person to book this itinerary during easter than if I did it the month after, the flight I am on is heavily loaded already in all classes.
Not saying this is an excuse for high prices but could be a reason why you are seeing high prices.

If in doubt just go the CX option.

 

[mannej]

I intend to. Just would be nice to hear back from QANTAS.

Well if you did contact them via their website, you'd normally receive the holding email you are after.

As for the pricing, as others have alluded to their may or may not be reasons as to why the jump in price, however that price doesn't seem unusual for QF on that route.

All this talk about QF not altering prices for members is silly, in the scheme of things QF do alter prices for their most valuable customers (I.e corporate contracts etc)...

 

[Katie]

We recently flew CNS-BNE-LAX-JFK. I have to do the same trip again in about a month. Checked on the website and the fare has increased by $3000....from 6K to 9.5K.

Rang the Plat FF desk - sorry, too bad, can't do anything....get stuffed, basically.

OK, my recent flight was a special...but, really....a 50% increase in a month!?

I would regard $9.5k or thereabouts as the "normal" price for J Trans-pacific with QF. I would not expect to get $6k fares unless there was a special, and would rarely expect to get them around holiday periods, unless offered through a special well in advance.

I'm not saying it's not right or wrong, just those are my expecations.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

9.5k AU-JFK sounds about right. I've done this route before and paid more than this and though the value was certainly still there.

From a brand marketing POV - if $6K (which is insanely cheap for any airline) is acceptable and yet $10k is not - then perhaps you're not really in Qantas's target audience anyway?

Remember - loyalty implies you'll fly QF no matter what the circumstances or how difficult it may be.
It's a marketing program mate - not a lifetime binding commitment to QF.

CX seems like a no brainer!

 

[drewbles]

9.5k AU-JFK sounds about right. I've done this route before and paid more than this and though the value was certainly still there.

From a brand marketing POV - if $6K (which is insanely cheap for any airline) is acceptable and yet $10k is not - then perhaps you're not really in Qantas's target audience anyway?

Remember - loyalty implies you'll fly QF no matter what the circumstances or how difficult it may be.
It's a marketing program mate - not a lifetime binding commitment to QF.

CX seems like a no brainer!

Why anyone would fly QF's J product over CX is beyond me. The hard product leaves QF for dead, and the soft product isn't far behind. I did JFK-HKG-MEL a few years ago in J, and there's no way i'd fly QF J by choice again.

 

[amaroo]

Another CX buyer here....

 

[JohnPhelan]

The OP originally got a sale fare, and now is unhappy that he/she can't get the same price when there's not a sale on.

That's why it's a sale ............

 

[Robert K]

not sure what you want the loyalty department to do about fare prices. Last time i checked, platinums didn't get discounts on tickets.

What could they possibly say to make you happy anyway. And it took you 40 years to figure out QF is more expensive?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Called it two months ago...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....sale-companion-travel-57099-5.html#post974988

- When prices jump back to 'normal' levels, nobody (aka: those who would usually buy under a 2 for 1 deal) will want to purchase because they're perceived as too expensive. Other airlines look attractive because their standard pricing looks reasonable.
- When premium bookings fall as a result of this in 6-12 months, people try other airlines, other FFP and ultimately will like a competing product.

 

[Troppo]

9.5k AU-JFK sounds about right. I've done this route before and paid more than this and though the value was certainly still there.

From a brand marketing POV - if $6K (which is insanely cheap for any airline) is acceptable and yet $10k is not - then perhaps you're not really in Qantas's target audience anyway?

Remember - loyalty implies you'll fly QF no matter what the circumstances or how difficult it may be.
It's a marketing program mate - not a lifetime binding commitment to QF.

CX seems like a no brainer!

Yes, there is loyalty, and then there is madness/obsession...:mrgreen:

CX is a no brainer.... as others have said, their J product leaves the Mangy Roo far behind - particularly if you are travelling solo. There is just no comparison...and $1500 seals the deal. You would be utterly insane to fly QANTAS under those conditions.

I have already voted with my feet (wallet), but it is sad to see the lack of a response from the company - I'm not expecting the CEO of Loyalty to visit my office with a bottle of champagne and a box of chokkies, but a reply email from someone in her department would have been nice.

Oh well...the F lounge at HKG is rather good, so I will just have to suffer....