AFR's Joe Aston goes BAM!

[TheRealTMA]

Extremely doubtful of this figure - where did you see/hear it?

Post automatically merged: Nov 2, 2024

Never mind, I found the quote - it's over 6000 flights lifetime.

Anthony Albanese says he didn’t seek flight upgrades from anyone at Qantas

Prime minister’s office says it took six days to respond clearly because they had to check decades of communications between Albanese and airline

www.theguardian.com

I’m not surprised on this figure over so many years. They spend half their lives on planes. So 22 upgrades out of 6000 for any LTP member is actually very poor performance by Qantas.

 

[jase05]

I noted commentary that the PM has made more than 6000 flights in the last decade,

I know he flies a lot but 600 flights per year sounds impossible.
I’m thinking it’s a typo

 

[DejaBrew]

I know he flies a lot but 600 flights per year sounds impossible.
I’m thinking it’s a typo

I read this as 6000 flights across all airlines rather than it just being Qantas. So considering hitting the campaign trail, various connections from point A to B etc etc over that time, I can certainly see him hitting 600 flights per year on average.

 

[justinbrett]

I noted commentary that the PM has made more than 6000 flights in the last decade, for any flier, that would get the airline cosying up, regardless of duty statement.

The bulk would be on RAAF

 

[Bundy Bear]

Currently out of stock despatched in 1 to 2 months

 

[p--and--t]

I’m not surprised on this figure over so many years. They spend half their lives on planes. So 22 upgrades out of 6000 for any LTP member is actually very poor performance by Qantas.

I thought the same. Id be p….d if I only got 22.

Ive flown around 1/2 that and had a lot more upgrades (in the good ol days).

 

[Pushka]

Yes closer scrutiny should be applied if the person in question is a direct decision maker in the respective party in airline policy or the head of the party or there is a lack of transparency

And that is exactly what this is about. Not the upgrades. Pretty much everyone here has received one. Last time I checked my CV I don’t seem to have any influence over their operatilons. Nor expected return favour. Which is the differentiator. The pertinent negative.

 

[love_the_life]

Given just about all of the CBR pollies are frequent fliers and a large percentage would be plats from their travel then as a natural course they would come to the attention of any airline that they frequented and get various perks offered. We all seem to get upset becaue its a pollie getting a perk but not if the plat FF (incl AFFers) has a different career.

Yes closer scrutiny should be applied if the person in question is a direct decision maker in the respective party in airline policy or the head of the party or there is a lack of transparency but otherwise IMHO its just par for the course for FFers.

I noted commentary that the PM has made more than 6000 flights in the last decade, for any flier, that would get the airline cosying up, regardless of duty statement.

Edit: correction- as noted by @sudoer its lifetime count.

agree - how many people here for example have had free upgrades, including me? I seem to recall hearing about a lot over the years. IMO it is a beat up - if upgrades were not solicited from the head of the company as stated why is it such a big deal if pollies or senior APS get upgrades from time to time? I am sure other business or well known people have experienced the same. All this ranting about the cesspool of Canberra.
First and last comment - bored now.

 

[Sprucegoose]

<redacted>

<redacted>

While you may harbour personal reservations about the book's author, it's undeniable that his work has compelled several cabinet members, the Prime Minister, and the opposition to revisit and address the initial claims. His writings have also sparked renewed scrutiny of Qantas' management practices and the ineffectiveness of its governance and board processes.

I hope this scrutiny will enhance government decision-making transparency regarding airline policy and related approvals. If that can be achieved the author has truly made a difference.

 

[sudoer]

I’m not surprised on this figure over so many years. They spend half their lives on planes. So 22 upgrades out of 6000 for any LTP member is actually very poor performance by Qantas.

6000 flights after 30 years in politics is plausible. I was questioning the post suggesting 6000 flights in 10 years.

 

[p--and--t]

I know he flies a lot but 600 flights per year sounds impossible.
I’m thinking it’s a typo

Corrected - it was a lifetime count.

However bsck in the day I used to do around 300pa in the normal course of business. Sometimes 8-9 a week (and I wasn’t in the APS and I wasn’t campaigning)

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm about half way through the book. I suggest the sceptics here have a read - there is quite a bit of new and interesting stuff. Such as, Aston's positive relationship with Goyder over the years, and the conversations between them after the various crises; also between Joyce/Goyder and the AFR editor at the time. And how a newspaper piece by Vanessa Hudson finally made up Aston's mind to go after Qantas properly.

 

[drron]

The interesting thing is that if you are a Senator you don't have to declare any membership of an airline lounge as it is available to all members. They changed their own rules in 2019.

There is no need to include entertainment or benefits received in common with significant numbers of other senators or other persons, such as
a reception or dinner hosted by a High Commissioner or Ambassador, or access to airline lounges

In point 12 here.

https://www.aph.gov.au/-/media/Committees/Senate/committee/interests_ctte/explanatory_notes.pdf?la=en&hash=446DC8E3C092430D7C27DF619CECF973BE3A8A8B

As Clive Palmer got mentioned here courtesy of the ABC he re released his media comment from the time he was dis -invited.

Qantas Chairman’s Lounge used to punish or reward politicians: Palmer - United Australia Party

Clive Palmer, whose political party used its Senate power to save Qantas from foreign ownership, has called for the airline to immediately abolish its controversial Chairman’s Lounge. Mr Palmer said the lounge was a disgraceful perk used to reward or punish politicians, and as a haven for...

www.unitedaustraliaparty.org.au

It raises 3 interesting points.
1. He says AJ was trying to realise the aims of a former CEO.
2. He was dis invited but the Shadow Minister for Transport who also voted against the same bill wasn't.
3. Why is it that a lot of airtime given to the 2 major pollies who have been dis invited. Could it be they were both members of the Senate cross bench who actually do have a lot of influence.

 

[stm1sydney]

Clive Palmer is the only person who has come out of this with his reputation enhanced. Joe Aston as well, obviously.

 

[justinbrett]

It raises 3 interesting points.
1. He says AJ was trying to realise the aims of a former CEO.
2. He was dis invited but the Shadow Minister for Transport who also voted against the same bill wasn't.
3. Why is it that a lot of airtime given to the 2 major pollies who have been dis invited. Could it be they were both members of the Senate cross bench who actually do have a lot of influence.

Who was the second person? Lambie?

If so she didn’t get uninvited. She had a temporary security ban of 6 months for verbally assaulting staff. Not of the chairman’s lounge but even flying on QF group aircraft (which is much worse).

For all the talk of QF influencing MPs, handling this incident like they would for anyone else is exactly what they should be doing.

And for the record Lambie’s incident got a stack of airtime, she was doing interviews on all the networks and accepted responsibility for it.

 

[drron]

The AFR has an account of the number of QF execs and senior staff who have worked for politicians of both sides. staggering numbers.

Inside Qantas’ revolving door with Parliament House

The flight upgrade saga engulfing politics this week has shone a light on the grey areas in which political staffers, lobbyists and government regulations executives operate.

www.afr.com

PS I got the whole column by googling the title. and there is also 12ft.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The AFR has an account of the number of QF execs and senior staff who have worked for politicians of both sides. staggering numbers.

Inside Qantas’ revolving door with Parliament House

The flight upgrade saga engulfing politics this week has shone a light on the grey areas in which political staffers, lobbyists and government regulations executives operate.

www.afr.com

PS I got the whole column by googling the title. and there is also 12ft.

Paywall.

 

[drron]

Though I gave ways to get around it. though I looked up my history and my Google search was - qantas staff who have worked for politicians. The AFR was the top hit and still gives me the whole article.
To any one who thinks one side is better than the other read about Andrew Parker's house warming. A QF exec who worked for Kevin Rudd and then Emirates and then back to QF. His house has a sign up it has been reported that says this house was opened by Anthony Albanese and Gladys Berejiklian. Always good to see bipartisan co operation.

 

[CaptJCool]

The AFR weekend suggested the travel industry has the view the VH Charm offensive is over and that free upgrades have gone the way of the DODO

 

[sudoer]

the travel industry has the view the VH Charm offensive is over and that free upgrades have gone the way of the DODO

Was there any further context before/after the snippet posted?

It doesn't read like there's any reference to the last 6 months of WP/P1 comp upgrades on Qantas, but rather suggesting the semi-regular comp upgrades seen 10+ years ago industry wide are gone.

Also Steve is hardly an impartial industry figure - his entire business is selling points strategies to business owners and execs. Of course he's going to be encouraging people to book/upgrade with points instead of hoping for a comp upgrade...