An invitation from Lesley Grant, Qantas Customer Loyalty CEO

[thewinchester]

Been to tonight's meeting in PER. Complete waste of time. I guess if you have a few friends going for the free drinks among mates, it may be okay. Otherwise I suggest don't be bothered. Lesley delivered standard lines on QF-EK merger and hinted on Qantas Cash. Nothing new at all. Not sure why bothered with the meeting at all.

I kind of gathered it wasn't anything too big to write home about given the press release put out by QF this evening about the event:

Qantas expands Perth Qantas Club
Perth, 05 March 2013

Qantas today officially unveiled the expansion of the Qantas Club at Perth Airport, as part of a broader transformation of Western Australia’s main gateway.


The 400 square metre lounge expansion has increased the existing space by over 30 per cent, and can cater for an additional 140 people.

Visiting the new lounge, Qantas Loyalty Chief Executive Officer Lesley Grant said the increased lounge space would help contribute to Qantas’ status as best for business and premium travel.

...


Ms Grant was visiting Perth as part of a nation-wide road show to showcase new aspects of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. This includes the next generation Frequent Flyer member card, which will have inbuilt prepaid functionality called Qantas Cash. The new card will give customers the opportunity to earn and redeem points on the joint Qantas-Emirates network. The Frequent Flyer program recently reached 9 million members.

 

[HKGNZL]

Didn't even have a sample card to show. Just talk (10 min prepared standard propaganda). Nothing new on QF-EK alliance that we don't know. Food in lounge ordinary. I don't drink (and have to drive anyway) so free alcohol wasn't useful for me. No free questioning period. No discussion of other aspects of FF program. No attempt to take advantage of the occasion and establish an open forum... very disappointing.

COMPLETE waste of time... esp having had to battle rush hour traffic to airport, and then paid for airport parking to attend! Those invited to attend the eastern state gatherings should take note!

 

[Hopsta]

Been to tonight's meeting in PER. Complete waste of time. I guess if you have a few friends going for the free drinks among mates, it may be okay. Otherwise I suggest don't be bothered. Lesley delivered standard lines on QF-EK merger and hinted on Qantas Cash. Nothing new at all. Not sure why bothered with the meeting at all.

I have to agree, the meeting was a "non event". Arrived a few minutes after 5.30, stood around with about 100 people for 45 minutes, didn't know anyone else so chatted to another lonely soul. Seemed as thought there were many groups of people who knew each other. The speech was very general without any real substance or information that you didn't already know or had received via email. Did a quick set of door prizes, but didnt have a chance to add my business card ad neither did the guy next to me. Speech was all over by 6.45pm and then left to mingle on your own, with a few Qantas people walking around introducing themselves. Quite disappointing really. Will stick to going the invites I get to real events, such as cricket, theatre, etc.

 

[HKGNZL]

Unless they put on a different show in the east. Won't surprise me if they treat the FF better in the gathering in the Eastern states. It will just be consistent with the QF practice!

 

[Scrimo]

I have decided to pull the pin on this event after the feedback from Perth. I was hoping for something a little more insightful than a PR exercise for the new CEO of QFF

 

[Anna]

And here was I hoping that they would be announcing that due to overwhelming passenger backlash and lower than expected forward bookings on the "improved" Asia services, they had decided to reinstate direct international flights to Asia from PER and ADL

 

[simongr]

It's called the flying kangaroo not the flying pig

 

[Must...Fly!]

And here was I hoping that they would be announcing that due to overwhelming passenger backlash and lower than expected forward bookings on the "improved" Asia services, they had decided to reinstate direct international flights to Asia from PER and ADL

Excuse me they fly to Singapore from Perth!!!

/sarcasm

 

[HKGNZL]

And daily too! (More sarcasm)

 

[cosi]

I was also invited to the function in Perth but after due consideration, decline the invitation, for several reasons

1) The hassle of driving to the airport at 5pm from the city.

2) What, if any, "breaking news" announcements were they going to make.

3) I could not handle the constant B...S... spin QF constantly deliveries (improved Asia services but HKG now joins NRT in being axed from Perth)

4) I probably would have "let loose" , if questions were allowed, in my frustration with QF's commitment to Perth especially international.

After reading HKGNZL comments, I new I had made the right decision.

 

[HKGNZL]

I was also invited to the function in Perth but after due consideration, decline the invitation, for several reasons

1) The hassle of driving to the airport at 5pm from the city.

2) What, if any, "breaking news" announcements were they going to make.

3) I could not handle the constant B...S... spin QF constantly deliveries (improved Asia services but HKG now joins NRT in being axed from Perth)

4) I probably would have "let loose" , if questions were allowed, in my frustration with QF's commitment to Perth especially international.

After reading HKGNZL comments, I new I had made the right decision.

Wise move! I was stuck in traffic for an hour. I believed they did have some finger food served but nil when I got there. Just usual Qantas club cold ham etc. Had to pay for parking too... All in all wasted two hours of my time (really disappointed). How could they invite an elite group of customers to meet the new CEO and then not have a discussion, Q&A forum to listen to comments! Who advised them on their PR?!

 

[samh004]

How could they invite an elite group of customers to meet the new CEO and then not have a discussion, Q&A forum to listen to comments! Who advised them on their PR?!

Perhaps those who are going to the QFF lunch can point this out.

 

[cosi]

Perhaps those who are going to the QFF lunch can point this out.

Great idea and suggestion

 

[koro25]

So what were the door prizes

 

[scooby]

1st prize was 20,000 FF Points
2nd and 3rd were bottles of wine.

 

[bigjobs]

Myself and a mate are going to the BNE event tmw @ 1730. It's at the state library, no where near the airport. We saw the word 'coughtail' and were sold on the hope of some free booze better than whats at the QP.

I reckon, to make it a more authentic function and to give us the full QF experience, here in BNE they should gather all of us at the city side of the Victoria Bridge at about 1705 and have us walk around in a big circle for 20 mins before arriving at the state library venue. Then, once inside the venue, they should make us wait 20mins for our first drink.

This would nicely reflect QF's current service offerings into BNE and the experience of waiting for your bag.

Either way there is a great curry joint a couple of blocks away for afters.

 

[scooby]

I reckon, to make it a more authentic function and to give us the full QF experience, here in BNE they should gather all of us at the city side of the Victoria Bridge at about 1705 and have us walk around in a big circle for 20 mins before arriving at the state library venue. Then, once inside the venue, they should make us wait 20mins for our first drink.

This would nicely reflect QF's current service offerings into BNE and the experience of waiting for your bag.

Lol, now that is true!

 

[HKGNZL]

In PER the official start time was 1730 but it wasn't till 1830 that they had the speeches and prize draws. Then it's all over in 20 min

 

[Ansett]

Having attended the event I was pleased by the attentive service along with both food and beverages on offer.

I would like to thank qantas and the team that put the evening together.

Lesley spoke and spoke well without the usal corporate shall we say bias. It was also good in that the time afforded to staff and Lesley to talk to frequently flyers was more extensive than expected.

Personaly I was greatful and appreciative of the tine afforded to me by Lesley

part of the discussion was the change in JSA fron BA to EK and the loss of status credits when flying EK. In the previous JSA we still got same points and satus credits. Given that we can no longer achieve the same outcome in terms of EK V BA. What is the incentive to Fly QF EK to Eurpoean destinatins rather than through say AY where we can still earn both Stats and points? Seems to be some variation Between JSA here.

 

[JohnPhelan]

part of the discussion was the change in JSA fron BA to EK and the loss of status credits when flying EK. In the previous JSA we still got same points and satus credits. Given that we can no longer achieve the same outcome in terms of EK V BA. What is the incentive to Fly QF EK to Eurpoean destinatins rather than through say AY where we can still earn both Stats and points? Seems to be some variation Between JSA here.

You do get status credits when flying on EK, provided you book on the QF codeshare flight number.