worrying news from the pages of Crikey!

[serfty]

According to an article quoting Simon Hickey, we can all rest easy:

Qantas points fly further | The Australian

...
The airline also said yesterday it had no plans to axe frequent-flyer points for Qantas discount tickets. Qantas offers a minimum of1000 points for discount economy trips, but an online survey led to speculation that it may be joining Jetstar by not offering points for its cheapest tickets.

 

[drron]

Nothing in that article about SCs on JQ.At present out of MCY DJ has cut services to 1 most days and are now usually~$100 dearer than JQ to SYD.Mrsdrron would love a few more SCs.

 

[notzac]

Edit: serfty already posted that article..

 

[bambbbam2]

Would be nice if we could transfer SC's like we can points..

 

[serfty]

Nothing in that article about SCs on JQ. ...

Nor would I expect it. From reading the media over the years, I find that SC's are almost never mentioned.

Even in 2004 when the last raft of QFF changes were announced, there was very little mention of the changes to status credits earning.

I believe the media feel that the average punter out there is more interested in QFF points and "free" flights rather than 10SC's here or 15SC's there. (Perhaps they think the mention of status earning may confuse some?)

Anyway the survey had several oblique questions/options in regarding the importance to the respondent of Status earning and flights.

 

[Flashback]

Would be nice if we could transfer SC's like we can points..

You can, sort of. Get WP PG and you can 'transfer' that SG to your partner

 

[pauly7]

Crikey..... used to be ok but now rates slightly above Today Tonight and ACA for the alarmist slanted negative angles they put on everything.

Just got sick of it!

Cleary its just a dipstick... we do them all the time too.

 

[serfty]

I forgot to mention the Carrot:

22 SEP 09    QANTAS SURVEY BONUS POINTS    22SEP09    -    -    -    1,000    0

 

[777]

Interesting area this. I've pretty much a DJ FF simply because you don't earn points OR status credits on discount JQ flights.

I've made more than 20 return Melbourne - Newcastle flights in the last 12 months and they come out of my own project budget so i don't spend more than i need to on them. QF have abandoned Melbourne - Newcastle as a route entirely to JQ.

If i fly DJ i get points and status based on a multiplier of how much i spend (which is quite good now i'm gold). If i fly JQ i can't get a single point or status credit unless i buy the most expensive ticket on offer. Even then i have turn up before the dreaded half hour deadline, get no priority boarding, get no lounge access or anything much.

As a result, i've switched 90% of my flying to DJ. I also have made about 30 or so full fare return flights MEL-BNE or MEL-SYD over the same period of time and a few more to ADL and PER. In that case, others are paying for them so i can actually pay full fare (or even premium economy with some clients).

I reckon i'm a classic example of where the two brand strategy is dangerous for QF. Self employed, budget conscious, very frequent flyer (nearly double gold on DJ -- shame there's no category for it) but half my flying is to a JQ only destination. I joined the QF program but i've barely used it - one aer lingus flight as i've switched my international flights to DJ partners (MH and EK) as well.

If Qantas would simply provide some recognition of the fact i fly jetstar quite a bit, it'd probably be worth my effort to switch more flying to them and chase some status. Until then i'll take my priority status, lounge membership, etc and stick with DJ.

777.

 

[dede]

Good point! I hope Qantas take note

 

[serfty]

... Even then i have turn up before the dreaded half hour deadline, get no priority boarding, get no lounge access or anything much. ...

Do you typically check luggage?

If not, JQ have Web Check-in, simply be at the gate for boarding.

As for 30 minutes, DJ have the same cut-off: Virgin Blue Check-in Times

 

[777]

Do you typically check luggage?

If not, JQ have Web Check-in, simply be at the gate for boarding.

As for 30 minutes, DJ have the same cut-off: Virgin Blue Check-in Times

Sometime yes, sometimes no -- i have priority boarding with DJ now which is another reason to go with them. Yes, i've used web check in on DJ and JQ and it works fine (although more on the way out than the way back as i don't carry a printer with me).

As for the cutoff, if you've flown both DJ and JQ often the difference in attitude is pretty obvious. DJ don't rigidly enforce the 30 mins. If they can get you on the plane, they'll let you on the plane. JQ the cut off is enforced to the second. I've seen people scream and cry about that on many an occasion. I feel very sorry for the JQ staff and even more sorry for their customers. You only need to spend a day or two at Newcastle airport to see the consequences of the dreaded cutoff.

In any case, it wasn't really my point but just another example of the general inconvenience that QF have created for me!

 

[pauly7]

DJ don't rigidly enforce the 30 mins. If they can get you on the plane, they'll let you on the plane.

This is not always true unfortunately. Certain DJ ground staff are very strict and you can absolutely not rely on getting on a DJ aircraft less than 30 minutes before. It is their policy and it does get enforced though sometimes selectively.

I do agree though that with JQ you have zero chance. Tiger, less than zero chance and QF are the best of course, esp if you have status.

 

[dede]

And people wonder whether status means anything?

 

[777]

This is not always true unfortunately. Certain DJ ground staff are very strict and you can absolutely not rely on getting on a DJ aircraft less than 30 minutes before. It is their policy and it does get enforced though sometimes selectively.

I do agree though that with JQ you have zero chance. Tiger, less than zero chance and QF are the best of course, esp if you have status.

Yes, i'm sure there are some who won't but as a general rule i've found DJ decide based on operational questions (how hard is it for them to do it?) rather than principle (30 mins means 30 mins!). As i said when i'm flying MEL-NTL, the choice is between DJ and JQ.

 

[pauly7]

Yes, i'm sure there are some who won't but as a general rule i've found DJ decide based on operational questions (how hard is it for them to do it?) rather than principle (30 mins means 30 mins!). .

I find myself sticking up for alot of ground staff of all airlines recently lol.... It's not actually a matter of principle in anyway swayed by a person - its company policy and its built into Jetstars system not to allow check in past this time.

They cannot actually process you even if they wanted to, from my conversations with Jetstar crew. It requires management overide within a certain time limit (again) and the circumstances pretty much have to be life and death (quote). Same with Tiger.

Clearly QF staff and the occasionally inclined DJ staff have the ability to circumnavigate this.

 

[777]

I find myself sticking up for alot of ground staff of all airlines recently lol.... It's not actually a matter of principle in anyway swayed by a person - its company policy and its built into Jetstars system not to allow check in past this time.

They cannot actually process you even if they wanted to, from my conversations with Jetstar crew. It requires management overide within a certain time limit (again) and the circumstances pretty much have to be life and death (quote). Same with Tiger.

Clearly QF staff and the occasionally inclined DJ staff have the ability to circumnavigate this.

As i said earlier "I feel very sorry for the JQ staff." Obviously it is hard coded into the system with them and it's not their fault. With DJ, in my experience it's never been a problem, but then again i have status with them as many of you do with QF. Maybe that's an apples to apples comparison? I've certainly not seen anything like the blow ups that are routine with JQ. That must be a cough job.

 

[simongr]

IIf i fly JQ i can't get a single point or status credit unless i buy the most expensive ticket on offer. Even then i have turn up before the dreaded half hour deadline, get no priority boarding, get no lounge access or anything much.


777.

Flying JQ all the time sufficiently to get status you would get lounge access. I assume you flew a fair amount of time with DJ on your way to gold status without their lounge access?

 

[777]

Flying JQ all the time sufficiently to get status you would get lounge access. I assume you flew a fair amount of time with DJ on your way to gold status without their lounge access?

You can't get status flying JQ on those tickets. That's my point.

You can only get SC or FF miles if you buy THE most expensive fare. In DJs case the more expensive fares also comes with priority boarding, lounge access, but there is no such thing with a JQ fare.

I bought DJ lounge access cheap when i hit silver. I accumulated most of the points to get to silver by flying MEL-NTL on flights that would have earned me no points or no status credits if i'd bought them from the Qantas group. Does that make sense?

777.

 

[oz_mark]

Flying JQ all the time sufficiently to get status you would get lounge access. I assume you flew a fair amount of time with DJ on your way to gold status without their lounge access?

If you use JetFlex fares, yes. If you fly Jetsaver fares, you will get nothing. DJ does offer points and SC's on each cheaper fares.