AFR's Joe Aston goes BAM!

[Ade]

Couldn't see it in any airport bookstores in Adelaide or Sydney.

My source tells me that the book is available for sale in SYD and CBR airports ... may be they didn't have it on display yet, but the stock has arrived definitely. I might ask for a prominent display at CBR, given the books' popularity

 

[Ade]

The QF WoAG rates are significantly discounted, usually QF and VA are within a few dollars of each other on major routes.

From personal experience - this is so true. Travel booked as APS around $600ish return CBR-ADL, same flights booked as a Contractor (via QF or external TA) $1000ish return.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just getting towards the end of the book and there’s a couple of nice stories about the new Qantas Chairman John Mullen who Aston had known for some years.

About 20 years ago when Mullen was running DHL express in Hong Kong, he flew down to Sydney to see then Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon. After being kept waiting for an hour Dixon’s secretary came out and said that he was too busy to see Mullen that day. .

Mullen gave up chairmanship of Telstra in preparation for joining the Qantas board. On the very day that Mullins’s appointment to the Qantas Chair was announced, he received an email from the Chairman’s Lounge saying, regrettably, that his membership was being withdrawn as the membership was attached to his position, not him personally.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

On the very day that Mullins’s appointment to the Qantas Chair was announced, he received an email from the Chairman’s Lounge saying, regrettably, that his membership was being withdrawn as the membership was attached to his position, not him personally.

I would presume that the Chairman of Qantas does have access to the Chairman's Lounge, as would the CEO? But I guess that begs the question who else at Qantas has access to the lounge? Would VPs or Directors? Also relatedly, if membership is attached to one's status (political, social, or otherwise) would anyone have lifetime Chairman's Lounge status? I presume not, but who knows. One things for sure, this Roo will be keeping his eyes on any pollies declaring Lifetime Chairman's Lounge membership as a "gift". Speaking of which, a friendly PSA from our friends at the national anti-corruption commission: "Don't get caught out - declare it. Declare any corrupt activity to avoid prosecution under anti-corruption laws. Even if it is a small regional flight on a billionaire's private jet - declare it. You will not be prosecuted for your corrupt activity if you just declare it!"

In any event, one thing I will miss now that Richard Goyder has been replaced as Chairman of Qantas is that I can no longer make Dick Goyder jokes anymore. No longer can I refer to the Chairman's Lounge as Dick Goyder's lounge.

 

[MARTINE]

Just getting towards the end of the book and there’s a couple of nice stories about the new Qantas Chairman John Mullen who Aston had known for some years.

About 20 years ago when Mullen was running DHL express in Hong Kong, he flew down to Sydney to see then Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon. After being kept waiting for an hour Dixon’s secretary came out and said that he was too busy to see Mullen that day. .

Mullen gave up chairmanship of Telstra in preparation for joining the Qantas board. On the very day that Mullins’s appointment to the Qantas Chair was announced, he received an email from the Chairman’s Lounge saying, regrettably, that his membership was being withdrawn as the membership was attached to his position, not him personally.

… It’s not you its me ….

 

[cove]

We have ordered the book but it has not yet arrived. Should see it this week. Mrscove loved reading that part of the Financial Review. Now that the Financial Review is only available in digital form in WA she is less interested.

 

[CaptJCool]

In any event, one thing I will miss now that Richard Goyder has been replaced as Chairman of Qantas is that I can no longer make Dick Goyder jokes anymore. No longer can I refer to the Chairman's Lounge as Dick Goyder's lounge.

IN SA
We always had a different view of Goyders…

Goyder's Line - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Crossing Goyder’s Line had real life implications

 

[moa999]

would anyone have lifetime Chairman's Lounge status? I

Possible some ex-PMs might.

As I understand with large Aus business the number of CL cards is often tied to spend.. so suspect someone (maybe the new Chair) wanted to be added to the list so someone else had to drop off.

 

[love_the_life]

How pathetic that the Left desperately tries to distract us from Albo's disgraceful conduct.

Methinks you are a tad prickly - it is a joke and I thought funny.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Political posts have been deleted.

Infraction issued.
[/mod hat]

 

[Mattg]

There appears to be a reference to AFF on page 122, in a section talking about the problems Qantas had during the ramp-up in 2022.

 

[djchuckles]

Those who want to read the book and also have ALL Platinum/Diamond - you'll have access to a 25 euro Rakuten Kobo gift card as one of the annual gifts in your ALL profile. The Chairman's Lounge eBook is available on the platform.

That’s the exact book I got! Shame the audio book was so much more

 

[kangarooflyer88]

That’s the exact book I got! Shame the audio book was so much more

In fairness you can get 50 Euros in Kobo credit from Accor if you redeem the Kobo credit from the year prior, then proceed to re-qualify for Accor Platinum and use the new credit they give you (i.e. you earn 25 Euros in Kobo credit each and every year you are Platinum/Diamond/Limitless). Key thing is to make sure you select your gift each and every year. Also whilst the voucher does expire if not redeemed by end of year, once it is deposited into your Kobo account the credit won't expire.

-RooFlyer88

 

[djchuckles]

In fairness you can get 50 Euros in Kobo credit from Accor if you redeem the Kobo credit from the year prior, then proceed to re-qualify for Accor Platinum and use the new credit they give you (i.e. you earn 25 Euros in Kobo credit each and every year you are Platinum/Diamond/Limitless). Key thing is to make sure you select your gift each and every year. Also whilst the voucher does expire if not redeemed by end of year, once it is deposited into your Kobo account the credit won't expire.

-RooFlyer88

I did the charity earlier in year. Just about to hit diamond though. Will I get another gift?

 

[Gold Member]

There’s a good read (listen) about Joe Aston over at Livewire:

How Joe Aston went from the back page to bestseller

Joe Aston transformed the Australian Financial Review's Rear Window from snippets of gossip to a hard-hitting, must-read business column.

www.livewiremarkets.com

 

[RooFlyer]

There’s a good read (listen) about Joe Aston over at Livewire:

How Joe Aston went from the back page to bestseller

Joe Aston transformed the Australian Financial Review's Rear Window from snippets of gossip to a hard-hitting, must-read business column.

www.livewiremarkets.com

Thanks. I see from the link to his own webpage that he’s going to start regular columns again next year. Doesn’t say where though, but you can subscribe to a waitlist - so maybe he’ll just do it on his own website via subscription.

 

[SYD]

Thanks. I see from the link to his own webpage that he’s going to start regular columns again next year. Doesn’t say where though, but you can subscribe to a waitlist - so maybe he’ll just do it on his own website via subscription.

Yes, his own blog.

Maybe he could rename it OCLaaT.

 

[AFF Editor]

Are you planning to write a review about it?

Here you go:

My Review of "The Chairman's Lounge" by Joe Aston

Former AFR columnist Joe Aston's new book, The Chairman's Lounge, covers much more than just the Prime Minister's relationship with Alan Joyce. Is it worth adding to your Christmas reading list?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

This is a bit of a long article, but it's a topic that is clearly of great interest to our community, and one that I obviously have thoughts on having also been covering Qantas extensively throughout the period covered in the book.

The article contains my opinion about the book and its contents, my personal insights on some of the issues raised, and some of the book’s key revelations that you might have missed. For example, I don't think it was widely reported that Qantas was preparing in 2022 for the very real possibility of Qatar Airways having them kicked out of Oneworld.

 

[RooFlyer]

One of the things that was news to me in the book was Aston's long-standing relationship with Richard Goyder, and how that tracked during the last few years.

Not news, but an informative part of the book too, is the ineptness of the Board and Joyce's capture of it.

 

[eastwest101]

Thanks for the summary, I have a newfound respect for the Editor of the AFR Micheal Stutchbury after reading about that.