Scathing Qantas Article

[gmartin010]

Absolutley scathing Qantas article on SMH today. Alot of unhappy members judging by the comments.

Frequent flyers baulk at the cost of Qantas redemptions

 

[Dmac6345]

Was reading the article this morning. The worst part is, that its all very very true. However it's not just recently, it's been like that for years. Maybe worse now!!

 

[gmartin010]

Was reading the article this morning. The worst part is, that its all very very true. However it's not just recently, it's been like that for years. Maybe worse now!!

Yes very good point

 

[medhead]

That was posted on SMH yesterday.

 

[gmartin010]

That was posted on SMH yesterday.

Wow that change the whole relevance of the article

 

[simongr]

I read it as a scathing article on FF programs in general. It highlights some real underlying reasons for why enhancements to the programs are needed to maintain the profitability of the airlines. The GFC really did a number on the airlines and they have barely started to recover.

 

[gmartin010]

I read it as a scathing article on FF programs in general. It highlights some real underlying reasons for why enhancements to the programs are needed to maintain the profitability of the airlines. The GFC really did a number on the airlines and they have barely started to recover.

Yes true. Although most of the comments are from disgruntled Qantas members and former members.

 

[Pushka]

Ouch. Last week my WP partner flew Virgin for a change. He is Gold courtesy of status match. He arrived early and was immediately able to switch to an earlier flight. Qantas never does that.

 

[smit0847]

Qantas bashing in main-stream media seems to be a national sport. Even positive articles are followed by hundreds of misspelt, uniformed morons insulting Alan Joyce and demanding QF provide an A-class product and service at a bargain basement price. Half the readers say they've already made the switch to VA, CX, AA, EK or SQ, the other half just enjoy complaining about the situation without doing anything about it. I particularly enjoy those who 'fly all the time' yet spell Qantas with a 'u'. Interestingly 'quantas.com.au' automatically redirects to qantas.com.au - I guess they knew a certain portion of their customers can't spell.

Of course FF programs are poor value if you don't know how to use them properly. Buying a house can be expensive if you don't know what you're doing either. If you are paying $200+ in annual fees each year just to put $500 a month through your card to redeem for a $50 petrol voucher then of course it's poor value. On the other hand we know how to absolutely max the hell out of our cards, offers and programs so receive incredible value.

 

[Noob]

...hundreds of misspelt, uniformed morons insulting Alan Joyce and demanding QF provide an A-class product and service at a bargain basement price.

^ This is so true. I think this is the case in every industry

Constant discounting & sales doesn't help anyone in the long run, it just creates unrealistic expectations...

 

[turtlemichael]

...misspelt, uniformed...

Not that I am one to talk

 

[gizzard]

Ouch. Last week my WP partner flew Virgin for a change. He is Gold courtesy of status match. He arrived early and was immediately able to switch to an earlier flight. Qantas never does that.

My partner always flies QF domestically, nearly always get the cheapest ticket which, should not be transferrable, and is often moved to an earlier flight even during the SYD-MEL "rush hour" and has SG.

 

[casanovawa]

Doh, the curse of the spelling naz_...

It doesn't help to partner with an airline that shows up how much extra you like to fleece your valued customers... Maybe they should have thought up a solution to this fuel charge difference before they unleashed the obvious differential on their members??? Or maybe there is no solution and they are just going to have to wear it... And fly a few planes a bit emptier....

 

[nlagalle]

Ouch. Last week my WP partner flew Virgin for a change. He is Gold courtesy of status match. He arrived early and was immediately able to switch to an earlier flight. Qantas never does that.

You've taken one occurrence with VA. To date I have not been able to fly ahead on VA once. Yes have been asked countless times on QF. As always YMMV and there are took my variables such as loads to say one doesn't offer it and one does.

 

[Pushka]

You've taken one occurrence with VA. To date I have not been able to fly ahead on VA once. Yes have been asked countless times on QF. As always YMMV and there are took my variables such as loads to say one doesn't offer it and one does.

When he has been refused by Qantas the reason given is the fare structure. Flight loads seem to have nothing to do with it.

 

[markis10]

When he has been refused by Qantas the reason given is the fare structure. Flight loads seem to have nothing to do with it.

Qantas won't allow such changes unless they are in flow forward mode, which happens a lot during peak times but rarely outside of them (read mid week non FIFO and weekends), it also depends on who you ask as at different times they have different permissions to do such a thing. When there is not an unusual event on I have had a lot of luck with Virgin, less so with Qantas. It's always a bonus and not to be counted on regardless.

 

[madrooster]

Qantas never does that.

I've flown on earlier flights on red e-deals with QF quite a few times. All I had to do was enquire about it. I've even asked to be pushed back to a later flight than initially booked, upon arriving at the airport and that has been granted too (from a mid afternoon flight to an early evening peak hour).

Been offered it by the CSA quite a few times too but usually the times that they have offered it, I'm not actually wanting to fly earlier... eg. due to having row 4 secured.

 

[DeKa]

I've flown on earlier flights on red e-deals with QF quite a few times. All I had to do was enquire about it. I've even asked to be pushed back to a later flight than initially booked, upon arriving at the airport and that has been granted too.

Same here, and I can be fairly sure flow forward wasn't in action as the weather was perfect in both locations.

 

[usgallagher]

I thought the article was spot on. Unfortunately, I have lost my gold status with Qantas earlier this year as our company has moved all travel to Virgin. As a Virgin gold member, I feel as though they treat me much better than Qantas did in recent years. I have always been given consideration to board an earlier flight, if available. This is a welcome change from the Qantas policy, which never allowed a flight change in my five years of Gold. (The only exception being on a r/t MEL-BNE on a Saturday that I purchased myself just to extend Gold in 2012. I was in the lounge and asked if I could be sent on a sooner flight back to MEL and, of course, give a flat "no." That's no problem, I told the Customer Service woman, let me get settled for five hours of ravaging the food and drink at the lounge. Believe it or not, I got a page offering me the next flight back).

Virgin has it shortcomings--the flights are uneven and less reliable and the lounges can't compare to Qantas. But, the attitude and energy is much better. At least they seem to care about their premiere flyers. With Qantas, it seems the staff is entrenched in old habits and policies.

As a comparison, by the way, the United FF program allows MEL-LAX for 80k points and about $100 in taxes. I know United is pretty average, but there are amazing differences in FF reward redemption schemes.

 

[markis10]

Same here, and I can be fairly sure flow forward wasn't in action as the weather was perfect in both locations.

Its not always weather that is a factor, it can be an impending cancellation upstream thats known but not published.