Loyalty to one airline. A thing of the past?

[MarkD]

So I have been looking at booking several overseas trips (Asia and Europe) for later this year and early next year. Being WP with VA I obviously want to credit there if possible, however I am increasingly finding fares from the likes of China Southern Etc, where I can Fly PE or J for the same fare as Y on VA or a VA affiliate. Obviously, J has all the same benefits of WP, including lounge access, priority everything, and the randomness of the seating is eliminated due to being paid J. I am seriously considering just using whoever is cheapest now for J and ditching loyalty programs all together. In reality though, 3 trips with China Southern (2 to Europe) and I would have Status with them anyway for less than equal costs with VA. (Enjoying J rather than Y long haul..

The obvious hole in this theory is that domestic flights would have no lounge access or priority anything as there is no reciprocal access and I only ever fly Y domestic unless Im comp'd. The main benefit to me of having status is the priority security, boarding and checkin, sometimes I don't even use lounge on domestic.

Thoughts?

 

[JohnK]

I think your assessment is spot on if flying in premium cabins especially business class and first class where lounge access and seat preselection is included.

If flying economy as I choose to do then loyalty is a must. Lounge access is important and seat preselection is definitely important. I am lucky with my flying to maintain status on Qantas domestic and some international and maintain Virgin Gold status flying regional SQ in SE Asia cheaply.

 

[NZflygirl]

Could you keep VA gold instead with family pooling? You'd keep the airport benefits.
alternatively if you get a bag tag with QF then check in is speedy in the major centres anyway.
Certainly gives you freedom not being loyal but the flip side is I might feel a bit unloved without some benefits. I wouldn't exactly miss lounge food but admit I do plan meals around it just from a cost saving perspective (and the lack of dishes to tidy up)

If you're picking up a car etc I usually just go straight to that then come back and pick up bags so doesn't matter if it's priority or not, it's usually out by the time I get back.

I definitely have my favourite carriers but am also price sensitive so I'll fly the other carriers if it's a good deal. Which is what you've been presented with - a good deal. I think I looked at VA through AUH to FCO in J compared with EY in Y then bidding for an upgrade on the long haul leg as I don't much care about short haul Y...(care a bit about medium haul) but I think that's a better deal if paying cash than upgrading to J on VA with points from PE with a cool experience (a gamble but I'm optimistic). SQ and NZ can be pricey but if I have to get to Asia I'll probably take NZ on sale to SYD then scoot biz via VA points converted to KF miles and redeemed for vouchers on scoot, could use an Amex for lounge in SYD. Just depends on where prices are at at the time. It's good to think outside the loyalty box and have options.

I don't think I've ever regretted flying based on price. Especially long haul! Money in the back pocket is more important to me so I'd go the cheaper flight in J where you get some comfort and savings. Consider the family pooling and status runs for VA gold, and QF bag tag for speedy check-in on domestic. You could just jump in QFs priority queue along with everyone else that does anyway.

If you can hang on to a little bit of loyalty for domestic then fly whomever internationally then I think you'll get the best of both worlds. Otherwise my choice would be to fly on price.

 

[MarkD]

I am a usual Y flyer as well JohnK, but some of the recent flights I have seen on China Southern are very hard to go past. J fares for 3400 China Southern vs VA/Etihad to London of $2200. PE is same as (Even under depending on where booked) VA Y fares. Similar EY fares are around 6k for J class. It would be worth the extra amount to pay for lay flat /J seat. Everyone is different obviously, but J class would certainly be an affordable luxury at these prices

 

[esseeeayeenn]

So I have been looking at booking several overseas trips (Asia and Europe) for later this year and early next year. Being WP with VA I obviously want to credit there if possible, however I am increasingly finding fares from the likes of China Southern Etc, where I can Fly PE or J for the same fare as Y on VA or a VA affiliate. Obviously, J has all the same benefits of WP, including lounge access, priority everything, and the randomness of the seating is eliminated due to being paid J. I am seriously considering just using whoever is cheapest now for J and ditching loyalty programs all together. In reality though, 3 trips with China Southern (2 to Europe) and I would have Status with them anyway for less than equal costs with VA. (Enjoying J rather than Y long haul..

The obvious hole in this theory is that domestic flights would have no lounge access or priority anything as there is no reciprocal access and I only ever fly Y domestic unless Im comp'd. The main benefit to me of having status is the priority security, boarding and checkin, sometimes I don't even use lounge on domestic.

Thoughts?

Just be careful to read the fine print of discount business fares on Chinese airlines - within China at least.
A lot of them are special offers which they describe as business class "in flight".
They do not make you eligible for business class privileges on the ground.
So no lounge, no premium check in, no express path through security and/or immigration.
I am curious as to how their service will compare with your expectations.

 

[bad]

Yep, I will agree with this. With economy flying you need loyalty as it eases the pain of travel as Johnk mentioned, like with seat selection.

I think your assessment is spot on if flying in premium cabins especially business class and first class where lounge access and seat preselection is included.

If flying economy as I choose to do then loyalty is a must. Lounge access is important and seat preselection is definitely important. I am lucky with my flying to maintain status on Qantas domestic and some international and maintain Virgin Gold status flying regional SQ in SE Asia cheaply.

 

[bsb]

Just be careful to read the fine print of discount business fares on Chinese airlines - within China at least.
A lot of them are special offers which they describe as business class "in flight".
They do not make you eligible for business class privileges on the ground.
So no lounge, no premium check in, no express path through security and/or immigration.
I am curious as to how their service will compare with your expectations.

Who knew????? that's a great tip although I have really got past 'thinking' about that option and always revert to UL or Finnair out of Asia with JQ J up and back. Works out (with a good sale) in the +/- $4k with lots of status credits.

 

[CaptJCool]

It's very hard to remain loyal when benefits are withdrawn or reductions made and the house interior design is out-of-date. and fares increased even though what's on offer has been diminished. Worse is when as Australian we are price gouged on premium tickets as compared same flights from the opposite direction are half or more cheaper..... Unless of course the business is playing. Other people's money is such a Fine way to do it
there ought be no loyalty just to one airline however, it makes some sense to be loyal to a bevy of airlines which credit to the same account.

Say for example, Once lifetime gold is accomplished are people too rushed and rusted on to bother to switch ?

 

[JohnK]

Say for example, Once lifetime gold is accomplished are people too rushed and rusted on to bother to switch ?

Why switch once Lifetime Gold? Why not utilise the benefits of the status unless of course you already fly enough to earn status in 2-3 different frequent flyer programs.

 

[straitman]

Say for example, Once lifetime gold is accomplished are people too rushed and rusted on to bother to switch ?

I always look around. I use of my LTG is available at reasonable prices then I use it. IF I can get a much better deal elsewhere then I go elsewhere.

 

[serfty]

Travelling economy, status is very useful - it does not always help though.

I endeavor to retain high status in the airlines I am most likely to travel (and their partners).

If I am in a situation where none of that may assist I do try to ensure I travel in as premium a cabin as possible.

 

[bad]

I agree it can be useful but at times you can be completely ignored

 

[serfty]

If you can keep human intervention out of it an automated systems are working such problems are generally minimised.

 

[dfcatch]

So I have been looking at booking several overseas trips (Asia and Europe) for later this year and early next year. Being WP with VA I obviously want to credit there if possible, however I am increasingly finding fares from the likes of China Southern Etc, where I can Fly PE or J for the same fare as Y on VA or a VA affiliate. Obviously, J has all the same benefits of WP, including lounge access, priority everything, and the randomness of the seating is eliminated due to being paid J. I am seriously considering just using whoever is cheapest now for J and ditching loyalty programs all together. In reality though, 3 trips with China Southern (2 to Europe) and I would have Status with them anyway for less than equal costs with VA. (Enjoying J rather than Y long haul..

The obvious hole in this theory is that domestic flights would have no lounge access or priority anything as there is no reciprocal access and I only ever fly Y domestic unless Im comp'd. The main benefit to me of having status is the priority security, boarding and checkin, sometimes I don't even use lounge on domestic.

Thoughts?

Good thinking and theory..... except that you'll be flying on China Southern....

Have you ever flown on a Chinese airline???

 

[NZflygirl]

I've been thinking a bit more about this
- I reckon short haul go for price
- med haul go for the sale fare in PE
- long haul go for laundering points through SPG and AMEX or book a reward through buying points on a partner airline like AA or Avianca.

problems with reward bookings are finding availability so need to book basically a year out or if using AMEX and SPG you could use less points if going for an upgrade but presumably flying midweek if possible and aiming Y to PE even is still possible with no status.

Flying EY where you can pay to upgrade one long leg, then fly Y the shorter leg.

You could break the trip up into smaller segments so Y is more tolerable? Have stopovers?

Or fly a carrier with cheaper fares. Or LCC to position to wherever has the sale fares on. I figure the ME3 should have sales on somewhere around Asia and pacific rim given they are more of a transit point than end destination like NZ where sales change destinations then you have to wait for the next one. I'm thinking to just get the route maps out for the airlines I want and see where the overlapping transit point is to get to the sale fare?

No loyalty needed!

I havent really looked into buying miles from partner airlines as that's just a whole other level but I'm about to and it excites me! However SPG and AMEX provide flexibility and ease. I think I'll sign the partner up to SPG to launder also. Really hoping AMEX add QATAR once they start flying to NZ. I hope they're still coming!!!

My randomess

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

My needs for flying fit nicely into QFi. Based in Brissy, I have work commitments in Singapore, Tokyo, LA and San Francisco, with family in LA and Hawaii. We have no issues planning awards in advance, wife and adult kids use points for holidays.

QFi tends to hit my sweet spot, I'm a pretty easy going traveller, been doing this for years so expectations are relative to past experiences.

Domestically I stick w Qantas, book my exit row and chill out, I also check baggage so no need to be first off the plane.

Cheers
BF

 

[bad]

Good thinking and theory..... except that you'll be flying on China Southern....

Have you ever flown on a Chinese airline???

Dfcatch ..... What are you trying to suggest here ?

 

[dfcatch]

Dfcatch ..... What are you trying to suggest here ?

I'm just saying that if you've never flown on a Chinese airline - then you're not comparing apples with apples.

Or lavatories that are usable vs ones you'd rather hold it till you land.....

 

[clifford]

Or lavatories that are usable vs ones you'd rather hold it till you land.....

I know exactly what you mean, and that's why I'll never fly another Chinese airline, no matter how cheap.

 

[MarkD]

Good thinking and theory..... except that you'll be flying on China Southern....

Have you ever flown on a Chinese airline???

No i havent. However have read plenty of reviews and reviews have similar positives and negatives to other airlines. Im prepared to try anything once and hopefully im not disapointed ðŸ