QF and EK re-Signing their deal?

[wanderer_au]

It appears EK is keen.... ($ paywall for the Oz)

I know that for many this is a good thing but I loathe it.

1. If I go to Europe, it's usually to the UK/Ireland, with bits of the Continent stuck on (bits of Italy, a weekend in Paris, etc). Yes this might sound a little old-fashioned, but I'm a traditionalist in most things and so my holiday options are a bit same-same. Too bad. :mrgreen:

2. This mightn't be particularly PC to say, but I'm a bit funny about having to go anywhere near the Middle East for security reasons.

3. I love SIN and HKG as destination cities, and their airports are great too.

4. I like flying BA (it makes me feel like my holiday starts the moment I board!) and I miss the BA/QF codeshare that made it attractive, if you're chasing SC/points.

I suspect the ACCC will wave through the deal if both parties are keen. I just hope QF isn't. I miss the traditional kangaroo route, and I don't really care if that inconveniences people who don't want to go through LHR.

At the very least I'd settle for a restoration of the QF/BA codeshare on that route. But that's precisely what EK WON'T want.

 

[JohnK]

About time but not holding my breath.

Sorry for those that would loathe the decision but it may mean more flights to Asia and then Europe instead of the middle eastern transit.

And for some of us that may mean a little more award availability to/from Asia which would appear to have disappeared around the time of the Emirates partnership.

 

[medhead]

QF and EK resigning their deal?

When you say the traditional kangaroo route do you mean Singapore Columbo, Dehli, Karachi, Ramardi, Cairo, etc.? Or perhaps the kangaroo route I flew as a child in the 70s via Singapore and Bahrain?

The filters applied when we say tradition are always interesting.

 

[Isochronous]

They need to be able to codeshare with AY from Asia to Europe to cater to businessmen and other pax who want to fly to Europe via Asia.

Also bring back SIN-FRA!

 

[dajop]

About time but not holding my breath.

Sorry for those that would loathe the decision but it may mean more flights to Asia and then Europe instead of the middle eastern transit.

And for some of us that may mean a little more award availability to/from Asia which would appear to have disappeared around the time of the Emirates partnership.

I think the mods need to update the title, as the article is about "re-signing" not "resigning". There's a bit of a difference between the two. JohnK, I am sure you wouldn't say "about time" to re-signing.:shock:

 

[wanderer_au]

I think the mods need to update the title, as the article is about "re-signing" not "resigning". There's a bit of a difference between the two.

Quite right - fixed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It appears EK is keen.... ($ paywall for the Oz)

I know that for many this is a good thing but I loathe it.

1. If I go to Europe, it's usually to the UK/Ireland, with bits of the Continent stuck on (bits of Italy, a weekend in Paris, etc). Yes this might sound a little old-fashioned, but I'm a traditionalist in most things and so my holiday options are a bit same-same. Too bad. :mrgreen:

2. This mightn't be particularly PC to say, but I'm a bit funny about having to go anywhere near the Middle East for security reasons.

3. I love SIN and HKG as destination cities, and their airports are great too.

4. I like flying BA (it makes me feel like my holiday starts the moment I board!) and I miss the BA/QF codeshare that made it attractive, if you're chasing SC/points.

I suspect the ACCC will wave through the deal if both parties are keen. I just hope QF isn't. I miss the traditional kangaroo route, and I don't really care if that inconveniences people who don't want to go through LHR.

At the very least I'd settle for a restoration of the QF/BA codeshare on that route. But that's precisely what EK WON'T want.

All of your concerns are very easily solved. Just don't fly QF/EK to Europe. Plenty of other options via SIN, HKG, HND, USA...

If passengers keep flying QF/EK, those airlines will think everyone is happy with the arrangements.

 

[wanderer_au]

When you say the traditional kangaroo route do you mean Singapore Columbo, Dehli, Karachi, Ramardi, Cairo, etc.? Or perhaps the kangaroo route I flew as a child in the 70s via Singapore and Bahrain?

The filter apply when we say tradition are always interesting.

Excellent point - and I was conscious of it when I said what I did. Yes, I'm thinking the route I know. Australia to London, via Hong Kong or Singapore.

If there's a (flimsy) defence, it's that I think Australians are accustomed to transiting the way I suggested (and the ones you suggested too) because that path was made, passing through points of past British influence - and while things have changed, I think there was a time that if you were heading to Europe, you mainly meant to the UK. Even after the end of Empire I think the thinking was reinforced by the "rite of passage" of living in London in your twenties. Even this is changing now of course, what with the GBP earning less for a young traveller, visa options in the US, more Australians with EU passports other than UK/Ireland, etc. I'm in my forties, but I know fewer twenty-somethings who do it. When I was in my twenties, *everyone* did it. (Or maybe that is a comment on my contemporaries and social circle, not sure.)

When my great-grandmother would take a cruise ship to Europe in the late forties and fifties, she would go through Aden, which I guess was the SIN or DXB of the day.

 

[wanderer_au]

All of your concerns are very easily solved. Just don't fly QF/EK to Europe. Plenty of other options via SIN, HKG, HND, USA...

If passengers keep flying QF/EK, those airlines will think everyone is happy with the arrangements.

Yes, I know - but the kicker I put in was "...if you're chasing SC/points".

The reality is that as a semi-regular QF traveller for business, with use of the QP as SG, I value the lounge access when I travel abroad. I totally get that I have choices, within Oneworld, but I"ll never accumulate the SCs and points with a non-QF carrier. So I'm left, hoping QF does what I want, but feeling as though I don't really have a lever to influence their decisions.

 

[JohnK]

I think the mods need to update the title, as the article is about "re-signing" not "resigning". There's a bit of a difference between the two. JohnK, I am sure you wouldn't say "about time" to re-signing.:shock:

See what a hyphen can do?

I should have read the OP again as they are not for the re-signing either.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: QF and EK resigning their deal?

When you say the traditional kangaroo route do you mean Singapore Columbo, Dehli, Karachi, Ramardi, Cairo, etc.? Or perhaps the kangaroo route I flew as a child in the 70s via Singapore and Bahrain?

The filters applied when we say tradition are always interesting.

I feel disappointed and sad that I could not fly on the Sunderland flying boats from Sydney to London. But probably I could not have afforded it.

(Father flew them in Australian crewed coastal command 461 squadron in UK during WWII.)

But nostalgia aside, being from BNE, EK one stop in J and F to Europe (Vienna, Venice, Milan, Glasgow etc) is a bonus rather than having to fly to SYD and catch QF or BA then hub in LHR. (Yes one can stop in SIN but I don't want stopovers on outgoing trips.)

It is just a pity we can't earn SCs on EK flights to all destinations or have QF code share to all EK destinations. ( Don't really care about the points.) As a result, it means that we've now achieved EK platinum and our QF WP status is waning...

 

[moa999]

Re: QF and EK resigning their deal?

It is just a pity we can't earn SCs on EK. ( do t care about the points.) The result of this means that we've now achieved EK platinum and our QF WP status is waning...

You can book the code share.

Certainly know some Perth based flyers who love PER-DXB-MAN on QF codeshare versus PER-SIN-LHR-MAN on the old QF system (which they had ditched for other airlines)

And similar one stop savings from SYD and MEL.

But agree that not as good for those wanting to fly via SIN or HKG.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: QF and EK resigning their deal?

You can book the code share.

Certainly know some Perth based flyers who love PER-DXB-MAN on QF codeshare versus PER-SIN-LHR-MAN on the old QF system (which they had ditched for other airlines)

And similar one stop savings from SYD and MEL.

But agree that not as good for those wanting to fly via SIN or HKG.

Yes I know but not all EK destinations are available as QF code shares.

If one wants to fly HKG, SIN, BKK one can still do that on other one world airlines or even QF (SIN on EK) but surely this is more an historical artefact... I'm more with Paul Keating on that one, unless I actually want to go to Asian destinations, otherwise I want to get to Europe, USA, CANADA etc.

 

[Willie]

Re: QF and EK resigning their deal?

Hello,

I remember flying this QF route on a B707 VJet... as a young frequent flyer in the late 60s....and I kid you not... I have the QF Junior Vjet Club book as my stupid interest in flying!

LHR, FCO, TEH (honestly), DEL, HKG, MNL, DRW, BNE, SYD and then transferred to a Lockheed Electra 188 (turbroprop) SYD, WLG.... Sighhhh

Those were the day my friends....

Ooh ROo

Willie

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Wouldn't it be nice if two of the best airlines in the world actually worked together? I'm talking about QF/CX of course

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: QF and EK resigning their deal?

Certainly know some Perth based flyers who love PER-DXB-MAN on QF codeshare versus PER-SIN-LHR-MAN on the old QF system (which they had ditched for other airlines)
...
But agree that not as good for those wanting to fly via SIN or HKG.

Alas it seems the CX connection PER-HKG-MAN only works on Mon/Fri/Sun.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Isochronous]

Re: QF and EK resigning their deal?

Yes too many EK routes that still don't have QF codeshares on them. HKG-BKK is one that should get it in particular!

 

[andye]

Yes, I know - but the kicker I put in was "...if you're chasing SC/points".

The reality is that as a semi-regular QF traveller for business, with use of the QP as SG, I value the lounge access when I travel abroad. I totally get that I have choices, within Oneworld, but I"ll never accumulate the SCs and points with a non-QF carrier. So I'm left, hoping QF does what I want, but feeling as though I don't really have a lever to influence their decisions.

If lounge access is a priority, it might be worth looking at BAEC-you might find you would achieve OWS with them. That offers the ability to earn full SCs on the carriers that do the kangaroo route (as well as QF).

You would also need to fly 4 BA sectors per year and borrow a non-Au address. Would have been more attractive prior to the points devaluation this week (although the reward flight savers that would suit your trips to the continent are unaffected).

 

[wanderer_au]

You would also need to fly 4 BA sectors per year and borrow a non-Au address.

I like your thinking re: BA. Using a UK address isn't a problem, but the "fly BA four sectors a year" is. I'm going to Britain (on QF1) on Wednesday, for the first time in almost six years. Most o/s travel I do is for work - either in the Pacific, or to the US. All my domestic travel is exclusively with QF.

Thanks for thinking of me though!

 

[samh004]

Also bring back SIN-FRA!

I'm waiting for them to get some new metal, be it A380's or 787's or whatever, and open a new route through DXB. Where to? I'm not sure as yet. Plenty of options though.

It appears EK is keen.... ($ paywall for the Oz)

I know that for many this is a good thing but I loathe it.

1. If I go to Europe, it's usually to the UK/Ireland, with bits of the Continent stuck on (bits of Italy, a weekend in Paris, etc). Yes this might sound a little old-fashioned, but I'm a traditionalist in most things and so my holiday options are a bit same-same. Too bad. :mrgreen:

2. This mightn't be particularly PC to say, but I'm a bit funny about having to go anywhere near the Middle East for security reasons.

3. I love SIN and HKG as destination cities, and their airports are great too.

4. I like flying BA (it makes me feel like my holiday starts the moment I board!) and I miss the BA/QF codeshare that made it attractive, if you're chasing SC/points.

I suspect the ACCC will wave through the deal if both parties are keen. I just hope QF isn't. I miss the traditional kangaroo route, and I don't really care if that inconveniences people who don't want to go through LHR.

At the very least I'd settle for a restoration of the QF/BA codeshare on that route. But that's precisely what EK WON'T want.

1. I get that you're a traditionalist, but surely backtracking all the time eats up valuable time, while flying to Italy, working your way through Europe and then home from Ireland would make more sense, especially compared to continually transiting London.
2. I would've thought that considering everything that goes on to do with the Middle East, they'd be less likely to (generalising and stereotyping here) shoot down one of their own planes. After all, if you're going to play that card, they're not after their own kind. Regardless, I think of DXB and other ports in the area as just as safe as Asian ones.
3. If you're after SIN and HKG as a destination, there's no reason you can't fly there at other times?
4. No reason you can't fly BA either, you just wont earn as much as you used to. You have to work out what your priorities are, are they SC/points or comfort?

I've only flown through DXB twice (once in each direction) and found it a lovely experience.