Question for Lesley 2014 Melbourne

[Sequel]

Wow! It took weeks to come up with those answers? Many are just a rework of the program T's & C's, which most on this board are already acutely aware of.

 

[MelUser]

I actually appreciate QF in providing answers. Even if I don't like the answers - eg I would like 150SCs for my First Class JFK to LAX so don't quite get the rationale to downgrading it to 120SCs.

Can you imagine asking Coles or Woolworths all these commercially sensitive questions and getting an answer - I don't think so.

Thanks QF.

 

[Sequel]

But Coles and Woollies don't put themselves into the situation of offering to answer questions, building an expectation that they will be answered, and the providing nothing answers.

 

[RooFlyer]

The Qantas response was a disgraceful waste of electrons and is nothing but a contemptuous raising of a middle fingers by Qantas 'loyalty' in the direction of AFF members / readers. Thanks for nothing Lesley Grant (assuming she takes responsibility for Qantas Loyalty).

For those who think the 'answers' were reasonable, or thankful that they were brought forth, consider:

Q2: QF has a higher points burn rate with OW airlines than with QF yet it has slashed the earn rates when flying on OW airlines. When one is trying to redeem, it seems easier albeit more expensive to do so on OW airlines versus QF why is that and how is that simpler and fairer?
A: For travel from 1 July 2014 changes to Partner airline earn applied to Status Credits only.

Answer in no way addresses the question - not even close eg question is about redeeming, not earning; question is about QF Vs OW redeeming, not QF earn. {deleted, on reflection}

Q3: Given QF is a founding Member of OW, why do you penalise members for flying OW especially where QF has no flights i.e. International out of Perth or Adelaide?
A: Members have the ability to fly on Jetstar, oneworld and Qantas marketed Emirates operated services to/from Perth and Adelaide. In addition to these services, Qantas codeshares on services operated by China Southern to/from Perth. Minor changes applied to Status Credit earn were as a result of transitioning to a zonal framework. We introduced a new earn category on the Qantas and Jetstar earning table from 1 July 2014 that provides higher Status Credit earn rates for more flexible fares including a new earn category, Economy Saver. Members flying from Perth and Adelaide can earn more on Qantas marketed flights this way.

The question was about OW earn in general, with an example of Perth and Adelaide . Answer was specific to Perth and Adelaide. Qantas loyalty aren't dumb; conclusion? Deliberate obfuscation to cover for no reasonable response.

Q7: Given what was considered to be a relatively small uptake of MASA in the grand scheme of things why did QF remove this feature which was considered by many to be the best feature of the program? Would it not have been better to simply manage this via Yield management or perhaps reprice the monetary contribution?
A: We launched the new qantas.com booking engine in June 2013 which offers Members the ability to compare and book Classic Awards and other fares. This change made it impossible to continue to offer MASA online. The change to the booking engine was a result of feedback received from Members wanting Qantas Frequent Flyer to improve visibility and use of Classic Awards. We understand a small number of members have been negatively impacted by the change whilst the benefits of our new booking engine are benefiting our broader base.

Question was about MASAs in general. Answer was about MASAs on the booking engine. Conclusion? Evasion because no reasonable answer to the general question available.

Q15: Is QF considering selling S/C as an additional revenue stream either direct by way of additional cost on Classic awards as per say a JQ Bundle or perhaps indirect via Credit Card Promotions such as VA has done?
A: There are currently no plans to sell Status Credits as an additional revenue stream.

See? Straight answers are possible when it suits; although I note "current" means that answer is redundant as of today, and going forward.


I suppose Qantas 'loyalty' is only returning the open contempt as I at least have for them. I suppose that's 'simpler and fairer'.

 

[OATEK]

There is no doubt some of the QF answers resemble those at Question Time in Parliament - where a straight answer to a question is a very rare event.

It seems to me there are two key areas where QF could have said more than just the platitudes, and they are in relation the QFF earn and SC on routes that QF have chosen not to fly (Q3 in particular). I get the idea of trying to fill up QF 127/128 and similar, but to offer a pittance for flights from Asia to Europe for example (BKK-FRA, HKG-HEL), has certainly upset many here. The other area brushed aside is related, and that is the whole "Simpler, fairer" change (Q5 for example) that has in fact made something simple into something hugely complex. I can't believe QF doesn't collectively blush every time they have to defend it.

But however disappointed I might be that QF do not seem to be responsive to AFF members concerns, I do not blame the spokesperson.

 

[RooFlyer]

There is no doubt some of the QF answers resemble those at Question Time in Parliament - where a straight answer to a question is a very rare event.

<snip>.

In Parliament, a questioner at least has the right to protest "Relevance! Madam Speaker!" Although methinks that entreaty would get the same short shrift here as it does in parliament :mrgreen:

 

[boomy]

Thanks Ansett for asking the questions and no thanks to QF for the mostly generic answers. I learned nothing new.

 

[clazman]

A $900 fare doesn't mean anything without any context (I.e what route you were flying to, what class you were in).

Domestic flight perth - Newman - Economy

 

[amaroo]

Thanks Ansett. Given the answers - I imagine the internal discussion went something like this...

[video=youtube;hbmPhba--No]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbmPhba--No[/video]

 

[JohnK]

Thanks for the detailed response Red Roo!

What do people expect Qantas to do? Make the recommended changes desired form a few on AFF?

Qantas has chosen to go a down a path to try and keep the airline afloat. I don't necessarily agree with the changes but at least they are trying.

Attaining status easily is not and should never be the by-product of frequent flyer changes.

Perhaps Qantas should just bring back Double SCs and marginal Any Seat awards to create more Golds, Platinums and Platinum Ones so hard earned status means less and less.

Yes that will keep a few on AFF happy and ensure the airline remains afloat.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for the detailed response Red Roo!

What do people expect Qantas to do? Make the recommended changes desired form a few on AFF?

<snip>

Aw, c'mon JohnK! I'm not sure about others, but what I "expect Qantas to do", when they are good enough to take a number of questions from AFF, put in a orderly and considered way by Ansett, is to give AFF and its members the simple professional courtesy and respect of answering the questions honestly and in a straightforward way. How about that?

That doesn't mean giving the answers people might want. If an AFFer wish is X, but that's not commercially attainable, then why not say so? If a query is a "cute question", just address it and bat it back in a professional way.

If you look at my post above, it is clear that in a number of cases, QF, after due consideration, didn't even try to address the actual question. Qantas loyalty is a large and successful part of Qantas, so why do you think that was, JohnK?