Passing of a good relationship

It is with great displeasure and a bit of sadness i have decided to part ways with QF. The reality of my loyalty hit home today and I am informing the world we have broken up!!

I have been a staunch defender of the Mighty Roo over the past 2 years , even though i came from a position of despise many moons ago. I even got to the point of tempering my words when discussing QF Management and AJ.

But the Enhancements have beaten me

Just today i booked another trip for work to the USA, i do it each month and look forward to heading back to work.

But this month was different. I searched on QF website for a suitable fare and surprised at the jump up from 4 weeks ago, up $1100 to 3K, so on the off chance i checked Matrix and Virgin were 2200, CX were 2500 , for my usual route.
just to dig a little deeper i found CX had a much better suited service from ADL to JFK for 2.2K return, but no i went ahead and booked QF for $2985, 

Then as usual to many of us, i went online and selected the best available seats i could find, in the past 8 flights i have been able to secure 32A-K, or 43A-K, plane dependent, this was a great (key) benefit of being WP. and making the regularity much more comfortable.
Now i booked on the phone as i could not get the exact flights i was looking for , but nothing major, and they even offered to waive the Booking fee, i was informed that my favorite seats were taken, (normally causing me to reschedule). i said to the Customer service Consultant on the Phone , don't worry about the seats i will do it myself.

That is where it all went to cough, online the seats were available but now i needed to pay $180 per leg for the bulkhead seat i earn't the right to enjoy. this is not an exit row, it is normally a platinum +, area of seat allocation. which it appears we now have to pay for!

a return call to the QF premium line , in essence confirmed that this has been the case for 6 months.
I responded that i have had 12 flights in 6 months and had those seat each time and never had to pay, even 3 weeks ago, so it must be an error. Not an error.
I was told that in future i would need to pay $180 x 4 legs($720) to get that seat. i respectfully declined and requested a complete refund of my ticket booked 20 mins earlier.

WP to me was all about SEAT selection, yes i enjoyed check-in and boarding privileges, even the f lounge was fabulous when i could find the time, but 15 hours as a WP (frequent traveller) in 76E or whatever was never going to be enjoyable.


It is with great sadness i have to say goodbye to the wonderful staff on the aircraft, they have been magnificent in every way. To the fantastic people at check in and everyone on the phone. i am sure i will miss your help and service.

But i will can not keep paying over and above to be loyal to QF and watch my benefits just get eroded away. I am protesting in the only way that matters

now have booked with CX saved $700 and have requested a status match.Thats another 60K in flights heading elsewhere.

just a shame!!

WP is the new Gold

opusman said:

WP is the new Gold

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Sadly I think it's eventually heading that way

I was very surprised when QF introduced additional seat selection charges applicable to WP. It's a great perk to offer your most loyal customers, one that doesn't cost them anything.

Even if it was fully sold on every flight for an entire year on the major ($180 routes), you are talking $1.05m in additional revenue for 5x daily flights to LAX, the onward to JFK, and 2 LHR flights (and then double for the return legs back) * 365. It's nowhere near that amount, as rarely can you not purchase exit rows for $180 the day before or at OLCI.

In business when positioning yourself to the market you'll achieve success because you're either the highest quality, full service - which people are happy to pay for - or discount/price based where people pay for every additional service outside the basics. Companies in-between often fail and disappear into mediocrity. I just wish QF would stop with the nickel and diming, particularly of their top tier customers.

michaele said:

Even if it was fully sold on every flight for an entire year on the major ($180 routes), you are talking $1.05m in additional revenue for 5x daily flights to LAX, the onward to JFK, and 2 LHR flights (and then double for the return legs back) * 365. It's nowhere near that amount, as rarely can you not purchase exit rows for $180 the day before or at OLCI.

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I suspect it's less about the direct revenue and more about giving WP1s as many privileges as possible to make that the new desirable level (i.e. WP1 is the new WP).

I am still a QF supporter - just. The sad thing is that over the last few years it seems like they are hell bent on doing everything they can to change my mind.

I understand your loss raleyoz

I understand, relationships can be hard work !

opusman said:

I suspect it's less about the direct revenue and more about giving WP1s as many privileges as possible to make that the new desirable level (i.e. WP1 is the new WP).

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I don't know that WP1 would get that $180 fee waived.....

edit: my bad. "new" benefit. I did not know that.

Complimentary Extra Legroom seating is at all times subject to availability of requested seats through Qantas Contact Centres and is not available online.

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Can I suggest that the chances of a P1 or a CL being in Y on a Long haul is next to zero, you can't realistically get that status from Y , so it is really a devaluation of WP benefits

I feel your pain and came to the same conclusion a couple of years ago - however not to cut my nose off to spite my face I alternated between QF and AC (oneWorld / StarAlliance) TPAC to get status on both, then I could really choose an airline on cost / convenience. Still doing it.

By the sound of it, you could probably do the same and get status on two alliances. (CX or QF / SQ?). I looked to join CX MPC but didn't like what I saw so stuck with QFF.

Or - how about looking at oneWorld Circle Pacific? Its often cheaper than QF straight across the Pacific and back (in J at least) so you might do CX Oz-HKG-USA and QF straight back, again, earning status on both, with enough flights.

Is it just extra legroom seats that require payment by platinum or all seats? Must say I had many words to impart on a recent survey about the legroom in 24J on a refurbed A330. I didn't have to pay for that, but noticed payment was required for 23A/C on the same flight as an exit row. It sure as hell ain't an extra legroom seat. Some one at Qantas needs their head read for charging more on those seats.

raleyoz said:

Can I suggest that the chances of a P1 or a CL being in Y on a Long haul is next to zero, you can't realistically get that status from Y , so it is really a devaluation of WP benefits

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Fair point. Certainly I haven't personally flown in whY long haul for many years (and I am SOOOOO thankful for this opportunity) however there may well be a case (rare, I grant) of a WP1 flying with family on an reward, or even with the 5 kids, wife etc who either can't, or elects not to (for whatever reason) upgrade to PE or J.

I do admit, even when I type I think "who are you kidding mate?"

but we do have members here who fly a HECK of a lot in Y and I'm sure some have made it to WP+/WP1.

Question for anyone interested:

Would it seem fairer (not simpler ) if QF adopted a discount system for status for payment of "extra legroom" seats in whY?

eg: 10% discount for Silver, 30% for Gold, 50% for WP and maybe even 60% for WP+?

I know, other airlines offer such seats to their elites (eg: AA/UA) as a matter of course for no charge, but it may make the blow a bit softer. If QF did something like this could the relationship head to mediation?

RichardMEL said:

Question for anyone interested:

Would it seem fairer (not simpler ) if QF adopted a discount system for status for payment of "extra legroom" seats in whY?

eg: 10% discount for Silver, 30% for Gold, 50% for WP and maybe even 60% for WP+?

I know, other airlines offer such seats to their elites (eg: AA/UA) as a matter of course for no charge, but it may make the blow a bit softer. If QF did something like this could the relationship head to mediation?

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I don't mind the fee that much. What I would like is for QF to release extra leg room seats in order of status, many people book Y flights a few days before travel. So for example P1 anytime, WP 7 days, SG 4 days, etc.

raleyoz said:

Can I suggest that the chances of a P1 or a CL being in Y on a Long haul is next to zero, you can't realistically get that status from Y , so it is really a devaluation of WP benefits

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Had a friend who was a CL - travelled in J when work paid for it. Travelled extensively with his family - always in Y..

defurax said:

I don't mind the fee that much. What I would like is for QF to release extra leg room seats in order of status, many people book Y flights a few days before travel. So for example P1 anytime, WP 7 days, SG 4 days, etc.

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I do mind the fee, $180 / leg of a 4 leg flight , that is half of the price of the normal ticket. And this trip it would add to the same price as a PE ticket,

For me, That is nearly 10k a year to select a seat, when A A , CX, to name a few give those seats to loyal customers. I already pay a premium just to fly on QF.
How many time do you need to get you pocket picked before you move your wallet?

Sadly I have to agree. Bulkheads and exit rows should be a free benefit of status.

This sign disturbed me earlier today in SYD domestic



The Gold belongs below the Platinum. Not same line next to Platinum.

RichardMEL said:

I don't know that WP1 would get that $180 fee waived.....

edit: my bad. "new" benefit. I did not know that.

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Not the first time you've been unaware of how "special" you are

Have to begin the climb of the VA and SQ ladders now then eh?
At least SQ still flies out of ADL to SIN which is much better than dom to int transfers in SYD.
CX still means points to QF though. Not so much your QF FF points. Or the bitter taste is there as both are linked in OW.

AustraliaPoochie said:

Have to begin the climb of the VA and SQ ladders now then eh?
At least SQ still flies out of ADL to SIN which is much better than dom to int transfers in SYD.

CX still means points to QF though. Not so much your QF FF points. Or the bitter taste is there as both are linked in OW.

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Pooch CX can also mean points to AA too you know.