QFF WP vs MPC DM

[yohy?!]

Having requal'd for WP already in this year (anniversary in Dec) now looking to 2014 to see what to shoot for.

I will make MPC GO for the first time this year also after being status matched to silver so there is an opportunity to go for DM next year rather than retaining WP again. Either way I will keep OWE - don't think I can face going back to J-lounges, especially between HKG and SYD!

Have been looking fairly closely at WP vs DM benefits and curious to get others thoughts on the comparisons also:

Criteria	QFF Platinum	MPC Diamond	Comment
Points Earning Status Bonus	100%	0	*QFF rewards/fines much higher than Asia Miles
Op-Up Criteria	Individual Rating	Status/BN
Guaranteed Seat	Yes	Yes	*MPC V class 24 hours out, QFF H Class midday day before
Oneworld Status	Emerald	Emerald
Extra luggage Int	50kg	20kg
Confirmed Int Upgrades	No	Yes	*QFF 24 hours prior to departure to clear
F Lounge Access	Yes	Yes
Travel On Other Airlines Lounge Access	No	Yes
Int Lounge Guests	1	2	*CX Guests Any Airline QFF OW/JQ only
Loyalty Bonus	Yes - 8,000pts	Yes - Upgrade*	*Not listed benefit but common place for birthday and membership milestones
Points/Status Earning Award Redemptions	Yes	No
Requal Requirements	1200SC	120k Miles / 80 Sectors

My priorities as a mainly international traveler would be:

-Availability of Op-Ups - CX would be the winner here for having a more achievable policy as opposed to QF's more commercially focused targeting of CLs and high commercial value pax

-Confirmed Upgrades - On one hand QF does not offer this internationally and on the other CX requires more expensive fares be purchased and currently only have 1-class upgrades (no Y to J except on non-PE metal) - although usually work buys upgrade-able fare classes.

-Anytime Lounge Access - Again CX ahead on this by allowing CX lounge access on any airline (also for guesting pax can be on any airline and 2 guests)

 

[opusman]

Table is a bit small

 

[vantage03]

This week I had my first experience with booking through the Marco Polo Club and it was nothing but excellent.

I am Emerald with both QF and CX, I have the free MPC Diamond membership as a perk of AMEX Centurion.

I was looking to book two return J class award tickets ex-HKG. The first flight had availability using both Asia Miles and QF FF points, however the price was 50,000 Asia Miles vs 72,000 QF FF points. There was no availability even through Asia Miles for the return leg.

I thought I'd give the MPC call centre a go, expecting nothing. The girl was great, she offered to request the 2x J-class seats on any flight I wanted on the day that suited, even though I had no Asia Miles in my account.

The requested seats were confirmed instantly, and she sent through a confirmed itinerary and just requested I transfer my points from AMEX within a week.

I couldn't have been more impressed. I know QF can do the same thing, however in my experience availability has become much lower over the last year or two - computer keeps saying no. That's happened a number of times this month for me actually. Additionally, my taxes were only circa $100AUD pp.

Also, I know this sounds lame, but she made me feel really special being Diamond... and there's nothing wrong with that.

I've been so impressed with this CX experience that I will definitely move more of my paid travel over to them.

 

[dk4]

Just want to point out that your comparison is contingent on QF and CX remaining FF program partners.

If you look at QAN's AGM presentation, the CEO makes it quite clear that he values the relationship with China Eastern on the same level as that of Emirates...this potentially gives some indication as to the possible future direction QF will take in Asia. (There is a risk that QF may no longer participate in oneworld, if it takes its strategic partnership with MU to the same level it has with EK.)

 

[roncritch]

Out of curiosity and sorry to take this OT, but what sort of costs does Qantas have for being a one world member either $ in or $ out??

 

[Awesom Andy]

Being in an alliance is like being in a family - you can't choose your family members, and you must obey house rules. However, when you head overseas, it would be like, by the way, my brother is staying there too. Drop by and he might look after you, and if you want to head elsewhere, I have brothers, sisters, and cousins in quite a few places as well.

Strategic partnerships are like friends - you choose them yourselves, and you work out your own set of rules. However, when you head overseas, it would be like, I've got this friend here, and I've got this friend there, but they don't know each other.

 

[chonetsao.co.uk]

In adult language (so this is not children suitable, anyone under legal age should ignore this post by looking away), alliance is like a swinger group. You have a go with each other and anyone in this group on total commitments and trust. Have multiple partners (like Etihad) is essentially, cheating. you have relationships in the same time with multiple partners, while cheat each one of them that he/she is the most valuable to you. You want to use him/her for a ride, but does not want give in too much nor promise marriage or committed relationship. It is so skilful that I doubt AJ has the guts.

I, clearly, prefer the commitment, although it is multilateral. Better than, cheating on many in the same time.

 

[JohnK]

If you look at QAN's AGM presentation, the CEO makes it quite clear that he values the relationship with China Eastern on the same level as that of Emirates...this potentially gives some indication as to the possible future direction QF will take in Asia. (There is a risk that QF may no longer participate in oneworld, if it takes its strategic partnership with MU to the same level it has with EK.)

Lets hope that does not happen as I would be looking to sell my points cheaply....

 

[samh004]

Just want to point out that your comparison is contingent on QF and CX remaining FF program partners.

If you look at QAN's AGM presentation, the CEO makes it quite clear that he values the relationship with China Eastern on the same level as that of Emirates...this potentially gives some indication as to the possible future direction QF will take in Asia. (There is a risk that QF may no longer participate in oneworld, if it takes its strategic partnership with MU to the same level it has with EK.)

There's a risk with anything.

I don't see the strategic partnership with EK being that all-encompassing and valuable though. It takes care of one major route, but they also have the route heading East that they do well on that isn't impacted by EK (other than NZ). Their domestic bookings probably aren't heavily influenced by EK either, as you can only earn on them if they're part of an international booking (while oneworld partners can earn whenever).

The issues between QF and CX should be resolved, but both sides need to work on that and I get the feeling CX doesn't want to, so if anything, they're the problem child who should possibly think about moving on. Welcome MU into the alliance instead (I'm not completely serious there by the way).

To put another way, if QF keeps making strategic international partnerships, then they need those partners to support it's domestic services. Currently I don't really see EK doing that, but other oneworld partners do.

Back to topic though, I think both programs are good in their own right, and both can lead to good service onboard, you just have to work out what's easier to credit points/miles to and where the best value redemptions (be it award flights or upgrades) are. One question I do have though, is how easy is it to get to the next level above Diamond (Invitation), with QF that could be similar to P1 or CL? I know someone with the lifetime version of it, and it works and doesn't at the same time. During the Icelandic volcano issues he was stuck in the UK and when services recommenced CX chose to fly kids home instead of high value customers. He flew with QF, who were happier to help him get home.

 

[SeatBackForward]

How beneficial would MPC be if you split your travel up between CX,MH and QF in equal proportions?

 

[zainman]

This week I had my first experience with booking through the Marco Polo Club and it was nothing but excellent.

I am Emerald with both QF and CX, I have the free MPC Diamond membership as a perk of AMEX Centurion.

I was looking to book two return J class award tickets ex-HKG. The first flight had availability using both Asia Miles and QF FF points, however the price was 50,000 Asia Miles vs 72,000 QF FF points. There was no availability even through Asia Miles for the return leg.

I thought I'd give the MPC call centre a go, expecting nothing. The girl was great, she offered to request the 2x J-class seats on any flight I wanted on the day that suited, even though I had no Asia Miles in my account.

The requested seats were confirmed instantly, and she sent through a confirmed itinerary and just requested I transfer my points from AMEX within a week.

I couldn't have been more impressed. I know QF can do the same thing, however in my experience availability has become much lower over the last year or two - computer keeps saying no. That's happened a number of times this month for me actually. Additionally, my taxes were only circa $100AUD pp.

Also, I know this sounds lame, but she made me feel really special being Diamond... and there's nothing wrong with that.

I've been so impressed with this CX experience that I will definitely move more of my paid travel over to them.

Very impressed. I don't think QF would release 2 J seats easily, let you book them without points in your account and let you pay for them in a week's time!!! Unbelievable!

 

[sparoz]

The requested seats were confirmed instantly, and she sent through a confirmed itinerary and just requested I transfer my points from AMEX within a week.

Just remember you have to reconfirm the ticket once your points are up. If your points not there, just give them a call and they will extend the deadline for you - I have two recent transfer and one took a whole week and another time took just two days.

I however found that not every staff will "chase" a seat for you. Recently I want a particular flight, but the person didn't offer to get the seats for me. However, it was the only time that wasn't offered and every other time they will ask the question to see if they will release seats for me. The fact now my daughter is 2.5yo makes it difficult to release three seats I guess. As far as I know from speaking with the staff recently, I had the feeling that there might no longer be a team who looks after Diamond, as they change their system recently so that they can see a Diamond is calling through. The advantage seems to me that now my call is answered within seconds. However, I found the service is no longer as impeccable as it was a few months ago. I have a A tickets for the family travelling to LA but they will not release the seats for me - there are 4 seats left, but looks like may be 2 seats are for transfer and I my ticket is ex HKG, so they will not release the ticket even though I am diamond.

Now, interestingly, with the new arrangement for Centurion, I will only requalify as Gold this year, or I can switch the points to QF and get Gold as well. Interestingly because of my 2.5yo daughter's membership year - she would be QF Platinum by the end of the year! What that shows is that if you have enough points, even with the recent changes it is still much easier to get to QF Gold, then equivalent MPC status.

 

[vantage03]

Ok I've had another experience this week, not as glowing as the last one (and more consistent with what sparoz has experienced) - but I still got the result I wanted.

I was looking for a J redemption seat on a particular flight SYD-HKG just over 2 weeks out. It became available on the Asia Miles website.

I called up the call centre and got a guy who would not hold the seats for me without the points being in the account. "Can not".
So, I transferred points over (interestingly the same seat was available through QF for 65,000 points, or through CX direct for 45,000 asia miles... typical).
The points took 4 days to move over from Amex, rather than overnight. I've been told they are sent Mondays and Thursdays US time, meaning they appear in our CX accounts Wednesdays or Saturdays.

By the time the points were in my account, the redemption seat had annoyingly gone, so I decided I'd call up and give it a go.

A lady answered and told me there was no availability that day, but she could book me the day before. I asked if she could release the seat and she said "can not".
To be fair, the loadings for the flight are pretty full, Economy in all fare buckets for the entire day (17 April) is completely sold out on all four CX flights.

So (Krisflyer style) I just decided to call again and get a different agent. This one also told me she couldn't release the seat, so I said "I am Diamond and you've done it for me before". Instantly, she said "Ok let me see what I can do, please hold". 3 minutes later I had the seat confirmed.

It seems as though it's a bit luck of the draw as to if you get a good agent or not, and you may have to push them to do it... but even when they say they can't, they can!

 

[sparoz]

I have a feeling that up to a few months ago we got a dedicated Diamond team. That is my only explanation of the drop in service level.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Interesting your references to "Can Not". From my time living in Hong Kong, i quickly discovered "can not" is often used in the place of "I don't know how", or less often "I don't want to".

 

[vantage03]

Interesting your references to "Can Not". From my time living in Hong Kong, i quickly discovered "can not" is often used in the place of "I don't know how", or less often "I don't want to".

I was using "Can Not" a bit facetiously, as in my experience the typical response in Hong Kong for any request outside of the normal process or 'could be bothered' zone seems to be "Can Not".