AFR's Joe Aston goes BAM!

BAM1748 said:
I've said previously and say again.

While some here hate AJ and QF and keep repeating themselves in multiple posts about the same thing, as CEO AJ fronts the media himself and takes all questions. I have a certain respect for that. People on AFF bashing AJ don't even put their real names to it.

AJ fronting the media himself is more than many big business of this size do, look at banks as an example, rarely does a bank CEO, a religion and in the smaller range eg aged care provider CEO front the media and take all questions, they "issue a statement" and run even after a Royal Commission.

While I don't agree with all QF actions they are no better or no worse than other businesses I deal with and the boss takes the credit but also fronts up and takes the heat.

Matt
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Agree and I just am unsure what they think they are achieving 😂 and if you even point out one fact, or even an opinion that contravenes the mass market manufactured opinion going round at the moment then the rabid frothing commences 😂. This opinion piece ‘journalist’ is the same, unfortunately because I don’t think he’s that bad, about 1 in 50 ‘articles’ are actually ok but it’s getting a little weird now…
 
This post may well belong on the other thread relating to the Qatar Airways decision (rather than this one about Joe Ashton's piece).

This brouhaha is certainly blowing up the media. About a third of my Facebook News feed is articles and editorials related to this decision.

The elephant in the room is what does this really all mean for Qantas.

Decreased business? A substantial fine? The majority of the workforce resigns? Protest strikes? Qatar goes for the throat?

Everyone goes on and on about the reputational damage; unless that translates to real shift in market, what is the point? A bit like modern politics in a way.

I think history has shown that big airlines have done some horrible things and yet they come out fine - at least, financially - in the end, maybe with a CEO or two being fired or moved on, but that's about it. Qantas would probably have to have a fatal crash before it sees a very big mark on its profitability due to reputational damage. (Note: this is not to wish for a crash, if that's what you're thinking)

Then there are the shareholders. I've said it often what I think about them. Part of me thinks that the company would be doing wrong by its shareholders if it didn't (fervently) oppose the QR application, closing off a threat to the company's profitability even if it was reputationally damaging. It's amazing what can go on when the only yardstick is increasing profit.

Sure, when the red roo goes foul in ways, it seems to cough up a peace offering. The last memorable such time was the fleet grounding.

Those who oppose cancel culture would probably really like to see that kind of effect work right now.

To bring it all back, though, of course, just because there are no negative consequences doesn't mean one should do the wrong thing! That's your civics lesson for today, kids; legal and business students, you may excuse yourselves.

My personal opinion is that it was a dumb decision to say no to QR. Unless it could be argued that QR could have destroyed the Australian market (highly unlikely), then what's the big deal granting the extra rights. Call Qantas an Australian icon, treasure or whatever you like - they're a private company so they can live and die on their own steam. If it lowered fares, great; if it didn't, then where was the bad anyway.
 
the contradictions

despite all the brotherly hijinx, people have voted with their wallets and keep buying QF tics

sure an element of this is all the flight credits that were already paid in and I would suggest there is some softening of forward bookings given the base Red-E deal prices on popular routes have dropped

this isn't the case on routes with less flights or for that matter anything Canberra, where supply is more aligned to actual on-going demand
 
CaptJCool said:
despite all the brotherly hijinx, people have voted with their wallets and keep buying QF tics
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I was looking at my 2023 travel statistics and realised for the first time since I became a "Frequent Flyer" in 1994, I have flown less with Qantas than than several other airlines.

Why? Basically in flight product, price and overall value.

In those nearly three decades, have flown over 2000 RPT segments with more than 1200 being on the red roo.
 
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anat0l said:
This brouhaha is certainly blowing up the media. About a third of my Facebook News feed is articles and editorials related to this decision.
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Do remember Facebook is an echo chamber, it tracks you everywhere, sees what you pause on/see/read, tweaks its algo and keeps shovelling you what it thinks you want.
 
stm1sydney said:
So the argument is that, because I can find some people who don't like other airlines like SQ and NZ, then QF is A-OK and let's give them a free pass.
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I don’t see that argument being presented anywhere…

And I would say Qantas gets less of a free pass in many areas compared to overseas ‘national’ airlines if you compare them one by one, but that would be extremely off topic :)
 
stm1sydney said:
So the argument is that, because I can find some people who don't like other airlines like SQ and NZ, then QF is A-OK and let's give them a free pass.
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No, it's that people complain about the dominant player.

I travelled with a friend who lives in the UK to Germany for Oktoberfest last year (met him in the UK before we flew to MUC). I had to drag him kicking and screaming to fly BA, with all the media coverage over there against BA - he really didn't want to (and he's not normally picky with airlines).

In the end we both really enjoyed the flights. The LHR F lounge was a bit disappointing though.
 
jrfsp said:
His latest piece today really went for the jugular
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Oh, thanks!

Interesting little snippet:

On Thursday, Qantas advised the Senate that the outstanding balance of credits is $570 million, a full $200 million more than the number Joyce had been using.
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They suddenly found the abacus!
 
I have posted a couple of links from the AFR on QF in the Aviation Review thread. Stuff there that should give Joe Aston at least a couple more columns.
 
I read todays AFR
AND some other directly related articles
No one’s rejoicing

These Gems

“He was only a small leap from suggesting Qatar sells two tickets per seat and asks passengers to sit on each others’ laps. It was beneath the office of prime minister.

AMP of 2023. They can’t run now. The misjudgment is spectacular.

What happens when you adhere doggedly to an implausible position is that your credibility collapses. The credibility of Qantas has collapsed in the public’s eyes, it really has. Now, as a result of its comical inability to explain the Qatar decision, the government’s credibility is in the process of collapsing too.

Blowing up Juukan Gorge was legal and so is trying to finish the year with half a billion bucks of expired flight credits – but both badly fail the pub test.“
 
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Today's (actually last night's) instalment, for those following along.

Paywalled:

www.afr.com

Qantas board microdosing reality, freebasing delusion

Public goodwill has its limits, which Qantas has burned right through. It’s not a bin fire, it’s a peat fire, and they just don’t go out.
www.afr.com www.afr.com

Flipp'n hell. Some good links to a lot of Qantas history, there.
 
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While Aston is dismissed as having a vendetta, what about the ABC? Holy moly! (Originally published before his early departure)

The never-ending spin that protected Alan Joyce and Qantas from reality has started to unravel​


www.abc.net.au

The never-ending spin that protected Alan Joyce and Qantas from reality has started to unravel

Alan Joyce will leave Qantas after 15 years with $125 million, while the airline's operations have suffered and its reputation has been trashed, writes business editor Ian Verrender.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au
 

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