Torn between VA and QF FF

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random111

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Hi guys

So I'm in a bit of a dilemma at the moment.

I've been working very hard to keep flying with VA, as my employer prefers QF and get's discounted rates that make QF very attractive. I've been doing that as I had a large balance of points with VA that I wanted to grow for a big international trip and to maintain the status I earned through my efforts.

I've got at least 5 trips coming up for work in the coming two months, with more down the track but not confirmed as yet. I haven't booked the flights and I'm tossing up between staying with VA or going over to QF. I travel 2-3 times per year to NZ and have the option to fly Air NZ as well, however due to the discounts my employer gets with QF, they are generally better priced than VA/AirNZ. Any other Int country I don't have an option, its QF first priority or cheapest reputable J ticket available if no QF or big price difference. I generally won't need to do this but once a year is a possibility. Company policy for domestic travel is that is no travel in J unless there are no other tickets available, tickets are mix between disc economy and Y.

I've been disappointed with VA's offering lately. The on board meal choices annoy me, amongst other things. The Mel & Syd lounges are good, I haven't had a chance to go in the Bri one, I'm always just on time for my flights there, but the others were disappointing. Singapore and Air NZ partnerships are appealing, but not as appealing as OW for int travel. I understand VA is still trying to sort out their offer but I'm thinking long term and about my future holidays where every extra bit of comfort will come in handy. The best points for me re VA are:
  • Partner status e.g. hilton and europcar
  • anytime lounge access
  • credit card transfer bonus points
  • my int economy flights with them have been excellent (MEL - LAX and MEL - HKT)

Things re QFF that are appealing to me:
  • JASA tickets
  • more domestic lounges and clarity around int lounge access/use
  • more ways to earn points
  • Hot meals at dinner time make a huge diff to me after a 12 hour day on the go

I'm only a bronze QFF but 140 sc's off silver and depending on what kind of travel I have down the track, mixed with my leisure travel I should get to gold.

I'm happy to cancel credit cards etc and sign up to QFF ones.

My ultimate goal is to have all the creature comforts of gold membership on our int trip, which will hopefully be a mix of J and Y. Granted J tickets will already have all those but for the Y legs I would like lounge access etc. Trip will be to SE Asia + Europe.

What would you guys recommend? Shall I continue my fight to maintain loyalty to VA and hope that things get better? Or shall I make the move the QF?

PS I know what the differences are between the two programs, I'm not talking about that, I imagine there are a few people out there with the same dilemma and want to know the reasoning behind their decisions as well as opinions on which program will better suit my travel levels and travel plans.
 
Short version, yes things will get better at VA, but that could be months or years....

What annoys you about the MEL lounge with Virgin ?

The future for Qantas is not very bright, the future for Virgin is very bright.

Depending on how long you want to keep building up FF points for is a consideration!
Short/Medium Term - Qantas is good
Longer term - Virgin is good

This is simply based on the future of Qantas international! In about 5 years I have doubts that Qantas International will be flying at all, it will be all Jetstar.....

When is your SE Asia/Europe trip planned for ?
 
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It may seem a bit strange..... However I am facing the same dilemma..... Particularly with DOM flights.

I have the highest status with QF and I'd put my spend at around $200k per annum DOM.

My main issue with VA is their international partnerships. I want seamless transfers and I also want my family and my PA to have top status.

I guess that's where QF is able to retain my business.

I'm simply not prepared to "start again".... It just will not happen.

I will be "trying" VA over the next couple of months.... I want to see how they perform. I won't be doing trip reports, however.... Based on my personal experience..... I will decide which airline gets my business.

Boss
 
I tried DJ J for the first time Mel-Per and it was very good, food was the best i've ever eaten on a Dom flight and the staff are very very friendly. Although I was spoilt with their brand new A330 with the flat bed, I could not fault the flight at all. Since you fly heaps anyway to make WP many times over anyway, I have a feeling once you try the DJ J product, you will probably end up only flying international with QF.

I also found the ambience of the DJ lounge in Mel alot better compared to the QP/J lounge.

I will be definently flying DJ more often now on.

With the QFF vs DJV debate, if I were flying all domestic it will be DJV definently. However with your mix of international legs (NZ and asia) I think QFF Gold will benefit you more.
 
If VA were with *A I'd probably jump ship.........but, not before!
 
vitagen said:
I tried DJ J for the first time Mel-Per and it was very good, food was the best i've ever eaten on a Dom flight and the staff are very very friendly. Although I was spoilt with their brand new A330 with the flat bed, I could not fault the flight at all. Since you fly heaps anyway to make WP many times over anyway, I have a feeling once you try the DJ J product, you will probably end up only flying international with QF.

I also found the ambience of the DJ lounge in Mel alot better compared to the QP/J lounge.

I will be definently flying DJ more often now on.With the QFF vs DJV debate, if I were flying all domestic it will be DJV definently. However with your mix of international legs (NZ and asia) I think QFF Gold will benefit you more.
Click to expand...



I did read your comments re VA, and to be fair, I actually put some credence on them as you do not come across as a fanboi.

Thanks for your honest, and (apparently) unbiased opinion.

Boss
 
bossreggie said:
My main issue with VA is their international partnerships. I want seamless transfers and I also want my family and my PA to have top status.

I guess that's where QF is able to retain my business.
Click to expand...

That is the absolute key advantage that the formal alliance (ie QF as part of oneworld) has over VA's 'virtual network'.

VA has been able to pull together a network with reasonable route structure. But what they can't offer is any consistent cross-alliance status recognition (ie status perks, especially outside of the lounge - priority checkin, boarding, immigration express passes etc.). NZ gives you most of the status perks you'd expect (extra luggage, better seat selection, priority services), whilst DL gives you none. SQ and EY are somewhere in the middle.

Having said that, I'm with VA because my travel patterns would be lucky to get me silver on QF whereas I can comfortably hold down Velocity gold.
 
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lovestotravel said:
What annoys you about the MEL lounge with Virgin ?
Click to expand...


Nothing, I was referring to others e.g. adelaide and perth.

lovestotravel said:
When is your SE Asia/Europe trip planned for ?
Click to expand...

At the moment around easter next year, however I can't commit until at least november this year as the mrs' is changing professions and may not be free. I wouldn't have enough points to use QF by Nov this year but will have enough on VA. I'm happy to keep my VA points though for the future, in case things do get better! Would maybe look at upgrades on QF as a possibility?
 
amaroo said:
If VA were with *A I'd probably jump ship.........but, not before!
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As would I!

That would make it worthwhile.

Has anyone had a look at flying DJ but sending points to AirNZ to get *A gold as well as gold benefits in Aus through DJ?
 
serfty said:
That's why NZ Airpoints status should come in handy ... ;) ... for both NZ and DJ ... (and SQ and UA and US and LH and OS and ...).
Click to expand...

The back door (so to speak) route:D
 
It's good to know I'm not the only one in this pickle!

I see a good future for VA, but in the short-medium term not sure if it's worth waiting around for it. I don't believe giving them my loyalty over that time will make anything better for me down the track as well, so I'm focusing on what will be the best for me every year and not just down the track. Hence the need to question where my business should be given.

Having said that I think QF would be beyond arrogant and negligent to think they cannot improve their overall offer and maintain their hold on the corporate market. As an investor I don't go near QF as I think its a poor investment. From the above feedback I think a few of you have the same opinion. However If I make the switch over, I hope their management can prove me wrong and actually improve the company as they are planning to, over the next five years. Or else I will have quite the regret!

Boss, what is really making this so difficult is the starting over process!! However for you I imagine you would be a DJ WP anyway?

I'd be going from DJ Gold to QF nothing! I guess I can still use my DJ gold to get into lounge etc until I reach some sort of status!

Or QF can get off their high horse and status match me!...hahaha I'm dreaming!
 
random111 said:
...
Has anyone had a look at flying DJ but sending points to AirNZ to get *A gold as well as gold benefits in Aus through DJ?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, you need NZ flight numbers to get any Airpoints status for travel on DJ operated flights.

However, the Airpoints system is a little like Qantas for Status earn in regard to LOTFAP YUPP type fares and unlike *E, there's no NZ Metal/Flight number requirement for *G. US$1500 would come close to doing the trick.
 
serfty said:
Unfortunately, you need NZ flight numbers to get any Airpoints status for travel on DJ operated flights.

However, the Airpoints system is a little like Qantas for Status earn in regard to LOTFAP YUPP type fares and unlike *E, there's no NZ Metal/Flight number requirement for *G. US$1500 would come close to doing the trick.
Click to expand...

Too bad i'm not going to the US anytime soon! Thanks for the info regardless

I am attempting to get a status match from CX to get access to QF lounges etc just in case, however its a tough choice!

350 sc's to retain gold on VA or 540 or so to obtain gold on QF

VA promising future, QF not so

VA poor clarity and ease of use of Internatinal benefits, QF...OW

VA mixed opinions about dom offer, QF same boat I'd say

VA good award availability but some are expensive, QF JASA

conclusion...still just as torn!!
 
Random 111

If your flights are more than just the BNE-SYD-MEL triangle I would suggest moving to QF, based on the fact that most of your travel is domestic (and NZ) Y.

I have been trialing DJ during their double SC promo to make WP (and I will make QF P1 again). I am sorry to say DJ has been disappointing.

VA has A LONG way to go when it come to on-board Y. Every flexi meal I have had has been revolting (and hardly ever changes) and there is no alternative but to pay up (which means more work receipts). And when you have been working all day this is not what you feel like having to do.

If you are doing regional travel or connections SC earn is in fact much easier on QF than DJ. Don't forget that some routes also earn less SC with DJ (in particular to/from ADL and TSV).

Also some of DJ connections (and with less flights per day) have caused me to cancel bookings at last minute - I travel PER-CBR-PER regularly (as well as the rest of Australia, sometimes at last minute or with regular changes). DJ just changed a number of their flight times in June for the Melbourne connections to more than 3.5 hours... and upped the price.

Short flight connections are important to me. Some reason DJ think I have plenty of spare time to go from PER to CBR via BNE... This week in the lounge they couldn't even check me in to another flight I had that day (booked separately -(two different clients paying)) which was connecting to the one I was on!
 
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