A very long run comes to an end...

[TomVexille]

I also don't like the fact that SCs are not earned on EK flights - I don't know if this is a oneworld thing or a QF thing.

That's a QF thing as EK are not part of oneworld

 

[madmat777]

Not every supplier suits every customer, that's why 30 different car makes are available because one size doesn't fit all.

If you don't like QF they aren't holding a gun to your head, go elsewhere it may be better for you and for them. Then the complainants won't have to cough about QF on social media and QF won't have to listen to it, so everyone is a winner.

Me, QF ain't the best but they are the home team so I go with them.

Matt

I think this is why we are all so annoyed. My preference would be to stick with QF for life. They have been good to me in the past too. What most people here are saying is that the lack of LifeTimePlatinum is a glaring omission that could keep their highest revenue clients engaged.
I think others would agree that we want to support QF, that's why we write letters and make suggestions. We see a way that - at least from our limited understanding - would make their program much better. It is just really sad that they don't even respond to their clients who generate most of the revenue.

If QF would announce LTP, I'd be back in a heart beat and supporting them on. There is so much revenue that they stand to gain and the cost is minimal:
- A retired LTP traveler will not be using the lounges that much.
- After 20 years of flying, giving them priority bookings and upgrades is not a huge issue.
- What other costs are there????

With other OW partners offering LTP equivalents, it just does not make sense for QF to ignore this. My sincere hope is that someone from QF is reading this. Again, I think that is why so many of us have contributed here (I've not posted for years - this is one issue that I am passionate about).

Right now, if I book J or F, then I'll consider price above loyalty. Only if I was in Economy would I consider QF because of the lounge access etc. LTP attainment would change all of that.

All the best

Mathew.

 

[snabbu]

Interesting discussion.

LTP I'm not confident will ever happen however I hope some day it's implemented.

As for dropping down to LTG I still fear it for many reasons so I'll continue to maintain WP for the foreseeable future. As predominately a domestic and ATD flyer, QF is still generally the best option imo.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I don't see why it should be completely ruled out. If BA can do it then surely QF can. BAEC is much larger, many more top tier elites who fly 10x more than the top QF elites.

If LTP is a significant motivator, which I think it should, I would show my dissatisfaction with action and shift across to BAEC and do a couple of SIN runs to get the 4 qualifying flights per year. If you're concerned about points just make it up with CC offers.

 

[amaroo]

I don't see why it should be completely ruled out. If BA can do it then surely QF can. BAEC is much larger, many more top tier elites who fly 10x more than the top QF elites.

IMO way to many domestic warriors .... something BA doesn't have.

 

[Princess Fiona]

IMO way to many domestic warriors .... something BA doesn't have.

I think BA has a very high proportion of domestic warriors amongst their elites both UK domestic and Short Haul.

 

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

I was just reading these comments and the original post just after having another bitterly disappointing experience with Qantas. I am also a long time Platinum FF with Qantas and have been a loyal member with Qantas since 1992, despite a number of disappoints over that time. What I’ve found is that the disappointments with Qantas seem to be happening far more frequently. I think for me it seems to be more the indifference they show their loyal FF than anything else.

You can speak to one person in their priority call centre and receive great service and they go out of their way to sort out your dramas, then next time you get a person who doesn’t care at all and provides total inflexibility. Tonight was just one more of those poor examples. I was even put through to the supervisor on duty at their Tasmanian call centre who after keeping me waiting on hold for 15 minutes then just decided to interrupt me in the middle of my initial explanation of my issue (which he had been clearly briefed on by the initial Qantas employee I spoke to).

To date Qantas had always told me that as long as my wife and I were travelling on the same flight that she could obtain seat allocation free of charge (no matter what fare she had purchased) leveraging off my Platinum FF status. I was told by said Qantas supervisor that the policy had recently changed and this area was now being tightened up. He then told me that if I had been given this privilege before I had been decidedly lucky and fortunate.

He was not prepared to be flexible in any way. I stated that I was not aware that the policy had changed when I purchased this last round of tickets and he said well I’m informing you now and if you want seat allocations you’ll have to pay the fee.

The call then dropped out and to my amazement no none from the Qantas Premium call centre even bothered to call me back despite the fact they had all my details and contact numbers.

I’m done with Qantas this time. It’s just such a disappointment that they spend all this money on marketing and advertising trying to attract new customers who might fly once or twice a year and then treat the loyal FFs with rural apathy and contempt. I just keep shaking my head in disbelief.

Virgin provide far better value in most international sectors and most other carriers provide far better international business class seating with direct aisles access for all passengers. Qantas are so behind in so many areas that you start to wonder why you remained so loyal to them for this long.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I am a bit confused - were you and your wife on separate tickets or on the same booking?

 

[serfty]

I have been able to allocate seats for family member(s) traveling with me on the same flight but on separate bookings.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have been able to allocate seats for family member(s) traveling with me on the same flight but on separate bookings.

Sounds like that might be the bit that’s changed - surely they couldn’t change it for people with different status on the same booking.....

Anyway regardless of the problem, they should be courteous.

 

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

Yes same flight but seperate bookings. Normally Qantas link the bookings and there is no issue and seat allocations can be sorted without a drama. This time I’m told the policy has changed and even after the bookings are linked there is no latitude on seat allocations. To be honest I’m not sure if this is a change in policy or simply the fact i jagged the wrong person in Qantas Premium customer service .....

This is my issue more than anything else, the major divergence and inconsistency in the approach and service provided by Qantas customer service at their premium call centre. From my perspective the front line Qantas staff on their aircraft are generally very good to excellent, however those that hide behind the phones and don’t have to face their customers face to face tend to grow a level of arrogance that lets the Airline down big time.

 

[higheden]

After a 40 year relationship with QANTAS, I finally divorced them about two years ago. I had enjoyed top tier status with them many times over the years.

I didn’t divorce them without effort though and spent at least two years trying to get my concerns addressed by QANTAS, even to the point of submitting untold photos to support my concerns. The outcome was a lip service reply and nothing improved.

We also found travelling internationally on ONE World airlines offered us minimal benefits. We are now affiliated with AIR NZ and enjoy far better benefits when travelling internationally.

This year we have flown 52 flights so far with more to come, we enjoy top tier status and feel the benefits travelling on Star Alliance flights far outweighs those offered by QANTAS/One World.

We’ve lived overseas for some years and have flown extensively in Europe and North America during this time, it does matter how comfortable you are when flying, how clean the planes and particularly the bathrooms are. Air NZ and Star Alliance affiliates just seem to do it better.

However there are occasions when we need to flyQANTAS/One World so we took out QANTAS Club membership though AFF for these occasions.

So far we are very happy with our decision.

 

[RichardMEL]

higheden interesting post and view. I respect that and you're making choices based on your experiences and preferences - as we all should do. It doesn't always follow that the same will work for everyone.

I do find your preference for Star interesting as on one level OW trumps Star with the 3rd elite level (Emerald) with benefits over and above that of Sapphire (roughtly like Star Gold status) as in F lounge access, expanded baggage rights in the US etc. I have Star Gold with UA and have travelled on both alliances over many years and really one's milage will vary. For example, Star Golds get treated pretty poorly in SIN by SQ, while an OWE can use QF F or AA Flagship lounges when flying AA on domestic flights (as 2 examples).

Sure, if you're comparing Star Gold status with OW Sapphire (OWS) status then it's much closer.

Probably one's mix of alliance members use will also determine a subjective view... eg NZ run a very very good operation, F&B superb, the aircraft conditions are generally very good and so on. UA? Not so much (much like AA as you'd expect). AC experiences I've had have been better than I'd have expected and have been good to me as a UA*G. On par, CX and AY have been fantastic at OWE recogition.

Swings and roundabouts I guess, and everyone will have a different view based on their travel habits, patterns, status, budget, class of service and even coming down to personal experiences that can make or break a reputation with an airline or alliance

.. and we're all free (mostly) to vote with our dollars and head to what suits us better - at least until the ground rules change again.

Happy flying

 

[UP4014]

After a 40 year relationship with QANTAS, I finally divorced them about two years ago. I had enjoyed top tier status with them many times over the years.

I didn’t divorce them without effort though and spent at least two years trying to get my concerns addressed by QANTAS, even to the point of submitting untold photos to support my concerns. The outcome was a lip service reply and nothing improved.

We also found travelling internationally on ONE World airlines offered us minimal benefits. We are now affiliated with AIR NZ and enjoy far better benefits when travelling internationally.

This year we have flown 52 flights so far with more to come, we enjoy top tier status and feel the benefits travelling on Star Alliance flights far outweighs those offered by QANTAS/One World.

We’ve lived overseas for some years and have flown extensively in Europe and North America during this time, it does matter how comfortable you are when flying, how clean the planes and particularly the bathrooms are. Air NZ and Star Alliance affiliates just seem to do it better.

However there are occasions when we need to flyQANTAS/One World so we took out QANTAS Club membership though AFF for these occasions.

So far we are very happy with our decision.

That's good, that's finding a supplier who suits your needs. I used to me with Star Alliance but One World suits be better these days.

 

[drron]

The problem is the game keeps changing so we have to keep changing.I left QFF in 2006.
Took up with Aadvantage and have had a really good run until about 2 years ago.A slow divorce now in train.
Still being fickle.Have done well with Lifemiles but don't trust it to remain good value.
Next month going to see if I might start a relationship with BAEC.Should be able to get to gold on current flight patterns.
Important as mrsdrron will fall short of WP requal.Hoping for some love from QFF but not counting on it.

 

[Pleb Status]

Called QF this afternoon. No record of any card being sent, 21 days into my new year. An email has now been sent so someone else can order a new card and I may receive it in 10 to 15 business days. Quality service...

The 10 to 15 business days have now been and gone and still no FF card (and 41 days into the new year). Another pointless call the QFF service I suppose...

Luckily CX did not need it last month.

 

[UP4014]

The 10 to 15 business days have now been and gone and still no FF card (and 41 days into the new year). Another pointless call the QFF service I suppose...

Luckily CX did not need it last month.

You can use the old one, only the expiry year changes.

 

[dairyfloss]

The 10 to 15 business days have now been and gone and still no FF card (and 41 days into the new year). Another pointless call the QFF service I suppose...

Luckily CX did not need it last month.

So... are you looking forward to a ‘lifetime’ of this elite treatment yet, Pleb Status?

 

[Pleb Status]

You can use the old one, only the expiry year changes.

The old card is only useful for the membership number. It is completely useless for proving anything else.

Showing my VFF card would be just as useful...

 

[Pleb Status]

So... are you looking forward to a ‘lifetime’ of this elite treatment yet, Pleb Status?

Lovin' it. Just trying to get the card to prove it....

I am actually flying on QF next week which is really starting to worry me...