Qantas survey -leaving Oneworld?

[esseeeayeenn]

I just received an invitation to complete a survey "about your QFF programme" the survey asked two questions: what was my current status, and which OW airlines had I flown in the last 12 months.
Is Qantas considering leaving oneworld?

 

[Himeno]

I hope not.

They do tend to ask what partners you've flown on in many of their surveys.

 

[RichardMEL]

I hope not.

They do tend to ask what partners you've flown on in many of their surveys.

'

Which seems rather odd. If you're a QFF member and you're flying on a OW partner, in theory you're applying those flights to QFF so they know what OW airlines you're flying

therefore the questions must be designed to ask which OW airlines you're flying but NOT crediting to QFF (and one would wonder why? I'm talking "normal" pax not the AFF folks with multiple memberships and mixed agendas and the like)

at any rate those questions aside, I don't see the link between asking what partner airlines one flies and a consideration to leave OW.

Now if they asked about other airlines with an emphasis on EK or even competing airlines that aren't specifically aligned, or offer competition on specific routes or areas, then that may make some sense.

Anyway I don't think it means anything re OW

 

[drron]

Well I am a QFF member.Fly a lot on other OW airlines.Mostly QF will not have a clue that I have flown them as I routinely credit to Aadvantage.

I have thought for some time that QF may leave OW.Just a feeling.

 

[williamsf1]

I just received an invitation to complete a survey "about your QFF programme" the survey asked two questions: what was my current status, and which OW airlines had I flown in the last 12 months.
Is Qantas considering leaving oneworld?

These surveys are normally from a 3rd party company and are normally general in nature . These surveys are also normally dynamic based on your answers. For example you say you are a Platinum member , The next question might be – Is your travel mainly domestic or International , If you say International , the next question might be – How many OW airlines do you use , then next question probably related to Benefits and service . You need to look at the survey as whole, and not read too much into individual questions ... some people might only get 2 questions, others 20+ based on what they are after.

 

[VPS]

Yep - I just got it as well

 

[RichardMEL]

Curious in how it would benefit QF to leave a global alliance such as OW? QF/EK is not enough IMHO so what would they do? Where would they get feed in Europe or the US or even connections in Asia (non JQ) or South America?

While Star would probably love QF (NZ/SQ not so thrilled ) and they're too good for Skyteam..... they need some sort of network of partners to feed them - moreso since pulldown in Europe, Asia etc of QFi metal

Apart from domestic ops which are very good, I think QF needs OW as much as if not more than OW needs them.

Still not sure why QF would want out of the world's secnd biggest alliance.

just my 2 cents

 

[mick]

I got the same survey - it was weird that they listed Mexicana as a choice, despite it having ceased operations in 2010! :shock:

 

[La Mouette]

Did anyone get any questions beyond which OW airlines you have flown in the last 12 months? If so, what did you answer in the initial questions? I said P1 and QF only, then it abruptly ended.

 

[dajop]

Curious in how it would benefit QF to leave a global alliance such as OW? QF/EK is not enough IMHO so what would they do? Where would they get feed in Europe or the US or even connections in Asia (non JQ) or South America?

They can do more bi-laterals, just stay one step of their most direct competition (VA). US = AA partnership. South America = LATAM partnership. China = China Eastern partnership these exist already. Europe = Emirates and go tie up with the Lufthansa group for intra-Europe (who certainly do seem to be doing deals outside star alliance).

To be cynical, and somewhat of a devil's advocate, at some point some highly renumerated aviation analysts on Wall St will decide that alliances are not worthwhile and costing DL/UA/AA too much money and will pressure them to withdraw, and within less than 2 years, all three will have withdrawn from their respective alliances and chase strong bilaterals, and it will be game over. QF will be in a great position. (and to be even more cynical, 5-10 years later a new group of analysts will decide that alliances are a good idea and it will all start again, but by then UA will have absorbed Alaskan and Jet Blue, and DL and AA will have merged, so it will only be two alliances)

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Well that was the strangest survey I've taken in many a moon. What's Your Status and What Airlines Have You Flown In The Last 12 Months are both questions answerable with an SQL query for members who record flights to QFF. Or perhaps the IT Team is too busy trying to sort out DSCs crediting correctly?

To be cynical, and somewhat of a devil's advocate, at some point some highly renumerated aviation analysts on Wall St will decide that alliances are not worthwhile and costing DL/UA/AA too much money and will pressure them to withdraw, and within less than 2 years, all three will have withdrawn from their respective alliances and chase strong bilaterals, and it will be game over. QF will be in a great position. (and to be even more cynical, 5-10 years later a new group of analysts will decide that alliances are a good idea and it will all start again, but by then UA will have absorbed Alaskan and Jet Blue, and DL and AA will have merged, so it will only be two alliances)

Not cynical, it's the natural way of things and prevalent in industries such as banking and finance.

 

[RichardMEL]

It seems like the survey (which I have not seen or received to be fair) may come out of marketing or some other dept and not QF Loyalty (who would know better your habits, at least QF/OW wise). Probably different objectives ....

re bi-lateral agreements.. sure QF could do that but it sounds pretty coughbersome from an arrangement that (seems to) work pretty well for QF.. and in many markets QF is already aligned with fairly dominant carriers... In the USA, American - you wouldn't gain any more from going to UA or DL(who are tied up elsewhere anyway).. in South America LATAAM are bigger(I think) than Avianca as the main rival and in europe you have coverage via BA/IB/AY/AB. Sure they could tie up with LH if they wanted I suppose and shift services to FRA/MUC, but that would also upset the traditionalists in SYD with their LHR focus.

Besides, look at the mess VA has got for itself with it's hodge bodge of partners? lounge shienanigans post NZ share sale, massive surcharges on EY, differing levels of recognition etc etc....

It seems the EY model of building stakes in "partner" carriers has not been that great of a success - AZ is still a basketcase, SriLankan adds very little to them, AB already causing issues hence deal with LH etc.

So what are the other options? QF are not big enough to "go it alone" and what if EK divorced them? Costly.

No doubt the world of alliances will change with more consolidation of major carriers likely though I still can't see how not being in a major alliance is at all in QF's interests. Even if OW has fragmented feelings (we all know CX and QF do not exactly have a loving relationship, and BA post JSA are unhappy with the EK tie up and QR definitely don't like it) it's still better than probable alternatives....

I suppose QF/JQ/LY/WS/AM/SK could be a world beater

 

[Mattg]

QF would have to be nuts to leave oneworld. The number one reason that I can't take Virgin and Velocity Frequent Flyer seriously is their haphazard airline partnerships, where status recognition is inconsistent and many of Virgin's international partner airline staff have never even heard of the airline.

I don't seem to have any of these problems when flying with QF's oneworld partner airlines overseas. This is a huge reason for me to remain loyal to Qantas and why I personally value QF Gold status above VA Platinum.

 

[dajop]

re bi-lateral agreements.. sure QF could do that but it sounds pretty coughbersome from an arrangement that (seems to) work pretty well for QF.. and in many markets QF is already aligned with fairly dominant carriers... In the USA, American - you wouldn't gain any more from going to UA or DL(who are tied up elsewhere anyway).. in South America LATAAM are bigger(I think) than Avianca as the main rival and in europe you have coverage via BA/IB/AY/AB. Sure they could tie up with LH if they wanted I suppose and shift services to FRA/MUC, but that would also upset the traditionalists in SYD with their LHR focus.

Leaving oneworld doesn't mean leaving the alliances with American and LATAM though, they are stronger than relationships with other oneworld carriers (as is the relationships with EK and MU). Also tie-ing up with, for example the LH group wouldn't mean moving away from LHR, many carriers focus on LHR irrespective of relationships, it's the place to fly to in Europe.

Besides, look at the mess VA has got for itself with it's hodge bodge of partners? lounge shienanigans post NZ share sale, massive surcharges on EY, differing levels of recognition etc etc....

This is one reason why QF could consider it - it only has to be one step ahead of VA and not streets ahead. Leaving oneworld could also allow it to award status credits on other partners (such as EK, MU).

Don't think it will necessarily happen, unless there is a wholesale move away from alliances globally, but a case for them leaving the alliance can be easily constructed.

 

[JohnPhelan]

There is no way in hell QF will be leaving oneworld.

As for people thinking QF marketing already have access to each member's flight records for non-QF oneworld carriers - you have a grossly-exaggerated opinion of QF's IT systems and the interchange of data between different departments!

 

[eminere]

Leaving oneworld could also allow it to award status credits on other partners (such as EK, MU).

They don't need to leave OW though to award status credits on non-OW airline flights.

 

[JohnK]

It would be a silly decision to leave Oneworld.

 

[nlagalle]

It would be a silly decision to leave Oneworld.

Yup.. unless they were shifting to Star Alliance but I just can't see it..

My guess is they are trying to gauge how people's crediting habits have changed since Simpler and Fairer..

 

[RichardMEL]

NZ/SQ would block any effort to get QF into Star. UA too probably. Next.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

I'm not sure how anyone could have drawn a conclusion from the survey that QF might be leaving OW.

The question would have been asked because they want a sense whether you fly other OW airlines but credit those flights to AAdvantage, Executive Club, Enrich, Asia Miles etc.

My sense is that since they slashed point and SC earn on partners, the number of QFF members crediting flights from OW partners to their QFF account has dropped off dramatically. QFF's systems would have no way of knowing this, so they are trying to see if they can get any intelligence from a customer survey through an agency.