QF complain about competition but forget about customer

[garyjohn951]

We have had Alan Joyce complain lately about the competition from Middle East airlines flying to and from Europe.
I am now one of QF WP people about to jump ship because AJ only cares about the bottom line and doesn't care at all about what the customer wants.

Let me explain.
If a pax was wanting to fly LHR-MEL he had two daily choices [1] via SIN leaving approx 22.00 in the evening or [2] via HKG, leaving approx 12.30 during the day. Ie if already in London, could check out of hotel, and depart midday or if flying from Europe, fly in and depart that night. MY SORT OF CUSTOMER CHOICE.

HOWEVER now both planes leave within an hour of each other in the evening as do the Sydney planes, thru SIN and BKK.

What a laugh.....................

 

[TonyHancock]

Has there been any explanation why QF30's departure times are changing.

The 12:30PM departure time from LHR suited me. I do the route six times a year and typically depart LHR on a Saturday getting me into Melbourne on a Sunday night.

 

[garyjohn951]

No reason given, but I think it could be

As all our planes now depart with 3 hrs of each other we ONLY need one set of staff, ie WE SAVE MONEY, bugger the customers.

 

[anat0l]

For a title such as what you've created I think you could've quoted a far better example than what you put. Either that or created the topic with a more useful title.

I thought you were about to go into one of those rants which is supposed to inspire all of us to remember why AJ's existence is the only reason why God is not perfect.

 

[JohnK]

I agree.

I have been complaining about QF departure/arrival schedules for a long time and it does not appear to be getting any better.

My gripe? From the East Coast I cannot get to SIN early enough to make connections that night so most times requiring an overnight stay. The only possibility would be QF077 PER-SIN which gets into SIN at ~5:15pm. At one stage QF5 used to arrive in SIN ~3:00-4:00am which was almost perfect for connections that morning but that was changed to an arrival of ~10:00pm.

It is the same getting into BKK very late with the only option SYD-BKK which often means I am not at my destination until ~1:00-2:00am. Forget about making any connections that day.

I think HKG is OK with one arrival SYD-HKG getting there early in the morning but that is not quite enough from a so called premium airline like Qantas.

The sad part is watching all the 747's and A380's parked at SYD airport for ~8 hours a day doing absolutely nothing between the early arrivals into SYD and then the late afternoon departures from SYD.

 

[milehighclub]

Maybe Qantas did listen to it's customers and maybe they wanted an overnight flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne instead and as such were able to adjust the QF30 to suit this....

No reason given, but I think it could be

As all our planes now depart with 3 hrs of each other we ONLY need one set of staff, ie WE SAVE MONEY, bugger the customers.

Whatever the reason, it is certainly not this

 

[elbarto]

Maybe the majority of customers wanted this flight change? Or, maybe another airline offered QF a bucket of cash to swap slots.

 

[pauly7]

Maybe the majority of customers wanted this flight?

I think it's hilarious how people automatically assume if doesn't suit
their specific circumstances it must be wrong...

 

[TonyHancock]

I did a little digging around on the QF30 schedule change. (There is an AFF thread here, but not a lot of info in it.)

Most speculation seems to be around QF picking up more trade into NZ/AUS from HK.

I'll certainly miss the 12:30 timing out of London.

 

[pshepvic]

The sad part is watching all the 747's and A380's parked at SYD airport for ~8 hours a day doing absolutely nothing between the early arrivals into SYD and then the late afternoon departures from SYD.

I guess that's how they're going to be able to use the 744's on the SYD-PER route to compete with DJ's A330s. They did mention that the aircraft are not being taken off international routes, just being used during downtime.

 

[Standby]

I guess that's how they're going to be able to use the 744's on the SYD-PER route to compete with DJ's A330s. They did mention that the aircraft are not being taken off international routes, just being used during downtime.

I think the logic is that most business types dont want to fly during the day so they can "hit th ground running" on arrival at the most common end point ie London (or connect to first wave of outbound European services) .Ex London when I'm working the only flight possible is the evening,although on a couple of leisure trips the midday departure suited better to minimise the jetlag .
I do agree there should be a daylight option northbound,even with smaller A330-200 or such as at the moment all they are doing is handing business to SQ. Ex Sin southbound there is a morning and multiple evening options.Perhaps the review of the Int network will resolve some of these issues

 

[garyjohn951]

Maybe Qantas did listen to it's customers and maybe they wanted an overnight flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne instead and as such were able to adjust the QF30 to suit this....




Whatever the reason, it is certainly not this

And your PROOF is..........................................................

 

[medhead]

I think the logic is that most business types dont want to fly during the day so they can "hit th ground running" on arrival at the most common end point ie London (or connect to first wave of outbound European services) .Ex London when I'm working the only flight possible is the evening,although on a couple of leisure trips the midday departure suited better to minimise the jetlag .
I do agree there should be a daylight option northbound,even with smaller A330-200 or such as at the moment all they are doing is handing business to SQ. Ex Sin southbound there is a morning and multiple evening options.Perhaps the review of the Int network will resolve some of these issues

It is interesting that you mention taking the midday flight for leisure trips. Perhaps that is the thinking behind JQ7/8 with Qantas Leisure. certainly going to SIN this is about a midday departure.

In terms of making evening connection there seems to be the flights from PER, QF81 or Jetstar from MEL, that might be suitable

And your PROOF is..........................................................

as good as any of the other speculation in this thread. The statement you quoted started with the word "maybe", I certainly didn't expect any proof to be presented.

 

[anat0l]

And your PROOF is..........................................................

As much proof as you provided of your comments.

 

[straitman]

And your PROOF is..........................................................

There is no proof, just as there is no proof that the schedule was changed for any other reason :!:

It is pure speculation in both directions.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Some paying passengers seem to think airlines are a private charter service for them.
A common theme of some forums on FT.

 

[TheInsider]

Lets put it this way. QF29 still same time pretty much MEL-HKG-LHR with this flight you can get connections off inbound domestic and trans-tasman flights (and NAN)

QF30 now arrives at 2145, not possible for any onward connection at all (excl NAN), and because of this you have a smaller market. With the earlier arrival (morning) you can utilise all other domestic connections within the QF network via MEL.

As for using less staff, that is just rubbish. You still need staff to do the arrival of the aircraft, the dispatch of the aircraft. Ramp staff loading and unloading of cargo/baggage, re-fuelers, tech/cabin crew etc etc. Would now have extra passengers, therefore needing more agents to check-in (that's if more flight are departing around the same times.)

One part where you may be correct is that there would be less staff at MEL due to an arrival not coming in. Although this may be 1-3 people at most (for ground crew), and also hours wouldn't be cut down becuase this is Australia and people are on part-time/full-time contracts as part of their EBA.

 

[garyjohn951]

Solved the problem for me anyway. Changed the QF flights for May and June to CX252/CX163. Travelling J.
Saleswoman at QF didn't want to make the change and told me the changes were for operational reasons. Said I now had more time to shop in London!!!!!

Probably do this for remainder of year. Still get SC's, just QF don't get the bookings.

Also touched base with an allied firm woring in Guanzhou who always come home to base in Melbourne on QF30. They are changing the 26 flights they have out of HK in May/June for their personnel to CX 163.

 

[pshepvic]

Solved the problem for me anyway. Changed the QF flights for May and June to CX252/CX163. Travelling J.
...
Still get SC's, just QF don't get the bookings.

The downside with CX is you don't get the status points earn bonus - I guess depends on how important those points are though

 

[anat0l]

The downside with CX is you don't get the status points earn bonus - I guess depends on how important those points are though

When you're a business person and talking business, of course schedule is very important. When it comes to points and status, it's mostly best not to let the boss know about it...