An Open Letter to my fellow AFF members - External Influence on this website

[UP4014]

I think this thread has bought out the deep plants from Virgin, Singapore, Emirates, who else.........

 

[RSVKanga]

@Gold Member I have an honest question for you

What was the main intention behind this thread if it wasn’t to paint anyone who supports Qantas as an alternate account, paid shill, external influencer, manipulator or propagandist?

I could also counter argue that the Qatar Airways are also trying to influence this website with a high amount of pro-QR comments criticising Qantas, Catherine King, Anthony Albanese etc, and we all know about Qatar Airways’ activities when it comes to the internet (most recent example is unsuccessfully persuading Google to remove a damaging YouTube review and comments about Qatar Airways before proceeding to bribe and ban that content creator from flying Qatar again after Google and the content creator rejected their bribery). I’m not suggesting anything, but I could also argue the opposite here.

 

[Daver6]

Well if anything, this thread has been honey to the QF haters with over the top exaggerated remarks IMHO not based on reality.

I am a non-statused passenger on all airlines and largely airline agnostic and look for fares and itineraries that suit my needs rather than allegiances. I will admit I have travelled a bit more on OW than *A due to the points accrued through supermarkets and other CC transactions but will travel on any airline that suits my proposed itinerary. I travel OS more often than domestically.

I'd be the first to admit, QF is certainly not what it once was, but I have been on a number of the airlines raved over in these forums in glowing terms and found the service very variable. i.e. my flight (hard and soft product) QF J to HKG was streets ahead of my sector in nearly all aspects on QR J from HKG to DOH.

Of the 7-8 sectors I have had in (mainly Y) on EK in pre-covid trips to Europe middle east and Africa, I would rate EK below similar sectors flown on QF.

Domestically only a small sample in the last 2 years, JQ was far superior to my experiences on VA in Y. There wasn't a big difference between JQ and QF except for inclusions.

I wonder if part of the gripes people have with QF is more driven by the level of service falling. Mainly around saving a dollar. Things pax once received they no longer do. Eg, PDB, the quality of wine in J etc. All that really hurts when QF is generally more expensive than the competition.

Just a thought.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I want what this dude is smoking. Qantas are terrible, overpriced, barely offer service, have a monopoly over the business sector and they know it.
Bring on regulation like the EU regs and watch them finally offer service.

I don’t know how successful that will be.
It hasn’t really worked for BA

 

[Pushka]

I think this thread has bought out the deep plants from Virgin, Singapore, Emirates, who else.........

I guess that's an easy way to dismiss other peoples ideas hey?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I think this thread has bought out the deep plants from Virgin, Singapore, Emirates, who else.........

I haven’t even posted yet

 

[AIRwin]

I haven’t even posted yet

Welcome aboard!

 

[UP4014]

I guess that's an easy way to dismiss other peoples ideas hey?

How do you argue the other side of the story, for every QF supporter there is someone rubbishing them telling us how much better airline XX is over QF.

Don't forget the old three versions of every story saying.

 

[Pushka]

How do you argue the other side of the story, for every QF supporter there is someone rubbishing them telling us how much better airline XX is over QF.

Don't forget the old three versions of every story saying.

Well, yes, but the rubbishers may just experiment with other airlines and well maybe they speak the truth of a rather large number of them?

 

[p--and--t]

I don’t know how successful that will be.
It hasn’t really worked for BA

OMG. BA EuroJ is the pits and my BA J from Nairobi to LHR would have to have been the worst J experience on any airline in the last 30+ years - the cabin crew were abysmal and the food utter cough - stale sandwiches for dinner service. Not too dissimilar to BA J HKG to LHR - abysmal lazy crew and soso food.

 

[cjd600]

OMG. BA EuroJ is the pits and my BA J from Nairobi to LHR would have to have been the worst J experience on any airline in the last 30+ years - the cabin crew were abysmal and the food utter cough - stale sandwiches for dinner service. Not too dissimilar to BA J HKG to LHR - abysmal lazy crew and soso food.

I actually had a very enjoyable BA JFK-LHR J flight last year. Stacked up fine against others on our OWA, being JL, AY as well as QF
(And I'm not a BA plant lol)

 

[elanshin]

I feel as a more aviation focused group, its much harder to influence here than in other places (not impossible). People here often fly a lot more than the average joe and that means many can form their own opinions about QF or any other airline.

On the balance of things overall, QF has its place and value to some people and their circumstances and so do other airlines. No matter how much you try and shill, at this point I would argue almost all Aussies are aware of what QF is like and have a more informed opinion (negative). It's hard to have your head in the clouds about QF in 2024 given everything that has happened last year.

 

[p--and--t]

I actually had a very enjoyable BA JFK-LHR J flight last year. Stacked up fine against others on our OWA, being JL, AY as well as QF
(And I'm not a BA plant lol)

And thats exactly why the “absolute “ statements made by many in these forums by certain individuals are just ludicrous.

Every flight is different, the weather is different, the crew usually different, sometimes the aircraft and fitout different, the passengers different and the frame of mind, status, previous experiences and expectations of the people reporting it are different.

To label any airline as being total cough as an absolute is utterly ludicrous. Some flights will be good, some average and some less than acceptable - and every airline has them.

 

[cjd600]

I feel as a more aviation focused group, its much harder to influence here than in other places (not impossible). People here often fly a lot more than the average joe and that means many can form their own opinions about QF or any other airline.

On the balance of things overall, QF has its place and value to some people and their circumstances and so do other airlines. No matter how much you try and shill, at this point I would argue almost all Aussies are aware of what QF is like and have a more informed opinion (negative). It's hard to have your head in the clouds about QF in 2024 given everything that has happened last year.

Hhhmm...but you are trying to influence here by stating that an informed Aussie opinion of QF should be "negative", lol

 

[RSVKanga]

No matter how much you try and shill, at this point I would argue almost all Aussies are aware of what QF is like and have a more informed opinion (negative). It's hard to have your head in the clouds about QF in 2024 given everything that has happened last year.

Is this not anti-Qantas attempted influence? Doesn’t matter whether if this is simply an individual opinion or Qatar Airways affiliations are behind this, but this post is communicating that the informed opinion on Qantas must be negative.

What you’re saying is

“If your opinion on Qantas isn’t negative, then it isn’t informed”

Nice try. Like I said before I’m not sure whether an “external party” like QR is behind posts like these but it certainly is an attempt to influence.

 

[justinbrett]

While I’m not specifically named in the allegations, I can safely assume from OP's past posts they are meant to include me.

If I understand it correctly from the thread title, the allegation is that I am employed by QF or its agent to post here and sway opinion in favour of QF.

Quite laughable. Several mods know my actual profession, and anybody following me for my 18 years on this site can work it out (especially from my very early posts before I learnt to shut my mouth about work). I have never worked for QF or any airline, I don't own any shares of QF or any airline, I've never worked in any capacity for a company that has a commercial relationship with QF or any airline. The closest interest I have to declare is that my Grandfather was a Catalina, DC3, Constellation and B707 pilot for Qantas but sadly he's been dead for over twenty years. Whilst he was alive I'd never flown QF as I was an NZ Air Points member and flew NZ internationally and AN domestically. So my sentimental attachment to QF is probably about the same as most people on this board.

Are there agents (of any airline) on AFF? Maybe, and I've suspected and even reported a few. But always newish accounts with small post counts. It's idiotic to accuse longstanding members of this practice, with most revealing enough of their identity over the years to discount such silly allegations. I mean really, 18 years and 8000 posts? Qantas must be playing a very long game!

Frankly this is an ugly thread that is putting one group of AFF members against another, and possibly members should consider their own behaviour that requires constant moderation before accusing others of - what was it - "morally wrong" posts.

I guess that's an easy way to dismiss other peoples ideas hey?

Exactly my thoughts, but from the other side.

Well, yes, but the rubbishers may just experiment with other airlines and well maybe they speak the truth of a rather large number of them?

As I have done, and for those who bother to read would know. I haven't qualified for the QF loyalty bonus in about a decade.

 

[pauly7]

I think this thread has bought out the deep plants from Virgin, Singapore, Emirates, who else.........

Please do not even mention Qatar or the flames will really begin

 

[RSVKanga]

Frankly this is an ugly thread that is putting one group of AFF members against another, and possibly members should consider their own behaviour that requires constant moderation before accusing others of - what was it - "morally wrong" posts.

It indeed is an ugly thread. It’s quite arrogant of OP as well to suggest that me and you and a couple of other accounts are the same person just because we share a couple of common views, and I continue to hold the belief that silent majority of Australia view Qantas in a positive manner.

 

[Pushka]

While I’m not specifically named in the allegations, I can safely assume from OP's past posts they are meant to include me.

If I understand it correctly from the thread title, the allegation is that I am employed by QF or its agent to post here and sway opinion in favour of QF.

Quite laughable. Several mods know my actual profession, and anybody following me for my 18 years on this site can work it out (especially from my very early posts before I learnt to shut my mouth about work). I have never worked for QF or any airline, I don't own any shares of QF or any airline, I've never worked in any capacity for a company that has a commercial relationship with QF or any airline. The closest interest I have to declare is that my Grandfather was a Catalina, DC3, Constellation and B707 pilot for Qantas but sadly he's been dead for over twenty years. Whilst he was alive I'd never flown QF as I was an NZ Air Points member and flew NZ internationally and AN domestically. So my sentimental attachment to QF is probably about the same as most people on this board.

Are there agents (of any airline) on AFF? Maybe, and I've suspected and even reported a few. But always newish accounts with small post counts. It's idiotic to accuse longstanding members of this practice, with most revealing enough of their identity over the years to discount such silly allegations. I mean really, 18 years and 8000 posts? Qantas must be playing a very long game!

Frankly this is an ugly thread that is putting one group of AFF members against another, and possibly members should consider their own behaviour that requires constant moderation before accusing others of - what was it - "morally wrong" posts.



Exactly my thoughts, but from the other side.



As I have done, and for those who bother to read would know. I haven't qualified for the QF loyalty bonus in about a decade.

Actually in the past I did think you were very much unwilling to hear anything that Qantas may do wrong even when it was obvious that was the case, however just recently I've noticed that you seem more open. And obviously all that is just my interpretation. And I don't think you were being referred to here. You've been around a while and I think this reference was to newer people. And while I've not agreed with some of your posts they certainly aren't hostile or anything.

 

[robbo135]

To be honest, this thread is much ado about nothing.

If there are indeed 'external influences' on this site but there are only "small number of users on AFF" that fit this 'profile', then those posters are punching well above their weight if their posts have the effect of having such a pervasive impact on the entire forum that warrants the mods to have to take drastic action. I'm not suggesting there aren't 'foreign actors' here on AFF, the reality of a public forum is that you have people from all walks of life able to post whatever they feel like, so it's a given you will have the odd bad apple.

I think the vast majority on the forum are intelligent enough to recognise what is a genuine opinion vs a concocted viewpoint, so the suggestion that AFF members are being influenced and misled is little bit disrespectul IMHO.