QF Creating F+

[connieguy]

The numbers I do swallow are that employee costs for QFi are higher (in many instances) than the costs incurred in other countries. However they slice and dice the overall figures that wont change unless the employee cost base is changed or moved.

What amazes me is that my son was ready to sign up with CX as a right seat pilot (was the senior RAAF Orion pilot) for a ultimate 747 captain's pay of ~A$350k because QF 747 captains only got paid ~A$250k. Where is the QFi costs are too high there?

I suspect this QFi loss is more about getting around the QF sales act and setting up Qantasia.

As far as QF offering F+ and a private jet feel, well it may look good on paper but will it sell?

 

[oz_mark]

What amazes me is that my son was ready to sign up with CX as a right seat pilot (was the senior RAAF Orion pilot) for a ultimate 747 captain's pay of ~A$350k because QF 747 captains only got paid ~A$250k. Where is the QFi costs are too high there?

Have exchange rates moved since then?

You get different comparitive answers now when the AUD is high, compared to where it was, say 5 years ago.

 

[connieguy]

Have exchange rates moved since then?

You get different comparitive answers now when the AUD is high, compared to where it was, say 5 years ago.

CX pilots are mostly ex RAAF Orion pilots. There is a high degree of contact and my son maintains the relative differential still exists today. The GFC and the downturn in demand for pilots killed him working for CX. He now flys a desk in RAAF Command.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

CX pilots are mostly ex RAAF Orion pilots. There is a high degree of contact and my son maintains the relative differential still exists today. The GFC and the downturn in demand for pilots killed him working for CX. He now flys a desk in RAAF Command.

SO ran into a former colleague who is still in the RAAF & whenever referring to the economic downturn, he calls it the EFE - excuse for everything.

 

[JetLagged]

Sorry, priority boarding is only reserved for the F++ passengers. You know, the ones who are graciously escorted to the aircraft via the secret doorway.

Don't know about secret doors, but have been escorted through baording right onto the plane by the F Manager at Heathrow!

 

[rechoboam]

I was escorted to the gate by a service desk agent from QF after I slept in and missed my flight (I'm a but blasé sometimes especially when the SO not there to help). They put me on the next at no charge despite it being the cheapest ticket possible. It was also about to leave so they ran down with me. I was very impressed.

 

[Flying Fox]

Could QF put individual cubicles/suites down one side of a narrow body with the isle down the opposing side?

 

[djfuzz]

Could QF put individual cubicles/suites down one side of a narrow body with the isle down the opposing side?

Very interesting idea - almost train like! Certainly fits the description of the 'private jet'-type feel.

But I keep coming back to the original idea - is this kind of service really going to be profitable for QF / Qantasia, given their current views on QFi and championing of the LCC model in Asia?

 

[Justchecking]

The thing is, those who can afford a private jet experience fly on private jets strangely enough. Those that fly commercial can't afford it. SQ discovered this with their private suites, too expensive for their customer base and not exclusive enough or the next level of customer.

 

[NM]

CX pilots are mostly ex RAAF Orion pilots. There is a high degree of contact and my son maintains the relative differential still exists today. The GFC and the downturn in demand for pilots killed him working for CX. He now flys a desk in RAAF Command.

Have you compared the cost of buying a house in Hong Kong vs say Sydney or Melbourne? While food and public transport of veyr cheap in HK, purchasing a decent house/appartment in a decent area involved rediculous numbers of zeros on the end - and that is after conversion to US$ or A$.

So of QFi pilots gets say 250K vs CX 350K, a decent house could be had within reasonable transit of SYD or MEL for say 3 to 4 times annual salary. But in HK it would likely be more like 8-10 times annual salary. Obviously the style of housing available is very different in the two locations, as is the overall lifestyle involved.

Oneo of the things that makes it attractive for professions like pilots to be based outside Australia is the killer taxation rates in Aus. That can make a huge difference to the value of the salary, and Aus taxation systems makes other locaitons look much more attractive. Income tax rates in places like Singapore and UAE often mean that even that same salary package results in very different take-home pay.

Its just so difficult to compare when we need to consider exchange rates, taxation, housing and other living costs, and of course the most important consideration is where the person actually wants to live.

 

[russ]

The thing is, those who can afford a private jet experience fly on private jets strangely enough. Those that fly commercial can't afford it. SQ discovered this with their private suites, too expensive for their customer base and not exclusive enough or the next level of customer.

When I use a private jet, a big part of the reason is avoiding the terminal and knowing that the aircraft will wait for me - something a suite on regular public transport can't offer. If you have a few people going with you, it doesn't cost much more than F.

 

[straitman]

What amazes me is that my son was ready to sign up with CX as a right seat pilot (was the senior RAAF Orion pilot) for a ultimate 747 captain's pay of ~A$350k because QF 747 captains only got paid ~A$250k. Where is the QFi costs are too high there?

How long ago was that :?:

Those type of rates applied to the older 'A' scale but not the much newer 'B' scale from what I hear from my mates in CX.

CX pilots are mostly ex RAAF Orion pilots. There is a high degree of contact and my son maintains the relative differential still exists today. The GFC and the downturn in demand for pilots killed him working for CX. He now flys a desk in RAAF Command.

I would agree that many CX pilots are ex RAAF P3 pilots but certainly not most.

 

[connieguy]

How long ago was that :?: Those type of rates applied to the older 'A' scale but not the much newer 'B' scale from what I hear from my mates in CX.

3 - 4 years ago.

I would agree that many CX pilots are ex RAAF P3 pilots but certainly not most.

Was told CX is like a RAAF P3 retirement club with many pilots putting in applications 2 - 3 years before their min service requirements are completed. My son was accepted but declined to take up the offer as he fell in love and is now flying a desk in RAAF command.

 

[Flying Fox]

The thing is, those who can afford a private jet experience fly on private jets strangely enough. Those that fly commercial can't afford it. SQ discovered this with their private suites, too expensive for their customer base and not exclusive enough or the next level of customer.

So are you saying that SQ's R class (I think that's correct for the SQ A380 suites) are not making SQ as much profit or aren't as popular as expected? Hence have their prices been reduced?

 

[Justchecking]

They've cut those suites by 50% on some routes and I think I read they are considering removing them altogether. Don't get excited because even at half the price they are still ridiculously expensive.

 

[Noob]

Maybe they will start offering limo trips to and from the airport

Kind of like Domestic J on VA?

It is kind of annoying that they are apparently giving their new asian based brand a better hard product in Business and First - why are they not investing this in Qantas?

 

[Justchecking]

What worries me about this (and by worried I mean, suspect it's not very well thought out) is the rationale doesn't add up.

Long haul is too expensive for us, we need a lower cost base....ok
So let's move operations to somewhere in SE Asia.....ok
Let's run small jets in ultra low seating capacity around asia....hmmm
Let's charge a packet for it, in fact well have to because we wont have load factors that will cover costs....right.
Let's hope we sell all the seats because each seat now needs to pay a proportionately higher level of fixed costs....
But it's ok because we only pay our hosties $10k a year......but you're still paying the same fixed costs in aircraft fit out, maintenance and leasing so I doubt docking a hosties pay is really going to make up the difference. :-|

 

[connieguy]

They've cut those suites by 50% on some routes and I think I read they are considering removing them altogether. Don't get excited because even at half the price they are still ridiculously expensive.

The Emirates A380 F suites are as nice and as private as the photos / videos I'm seen of the SQ F suites. Plus you get a shower and bar with Emirates and none with SQ. And the cost of the Emirates F Suite is less than QF F. To me this would suggest Emirates may have won a lot of the F Suite business away from SQ and may be the real reason SQ may be ditching their F Suites.

All this for less than QF F:
http://www.emirates.com/english/flying/cabin_features/first_class/first_class.aspx

Emirates has won me for any F flying I will do.

 

[shearsense]

My son was accepted but declined to take up the offer as he fell in love and is now flying a desk in RAAF command.

something more important than flying? :shock: Young people today..............

 

[docjames]

Whilst I think the article linked in the OP is putting 1+1 and getting 6.5, maybe QF are considering a setup similar to BA's LHR-JFK with all J seating. Given they're orderging all those A320s, the product alread exists that is suitable as BA use an A318. It wouldnt tak emuch to add a few more to fill an A320 and the range isnt required presumably.