Building a stronger Qantas

[el_rooto]

That is not what the Qantas press releases say.

Firstly in the release about the A320 order

About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases

and in the release about Jetstar Japan



About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases

Plans can mysteriously 'change' due to 'unforeseen' circumstances.

 

[dk4]

If I were going to base new joint-venture(s), premium-airline-brand hub(s) somewhere, it would have to be an off-shore location(s) with a SYD/MEL-standard First lounge! And Qantas has advised those will be at SIN, HKG & LAX.

 

[ajw373]

Plans can mysteriously 'change' due to 'unforeseen' circumstances.

Isn't that how life in general works, I mean to say this is a plan with events to happen in 2020, so clearly things will change. Personally I would love to see an A320 or 50 painted in Qantas colours. I would also like to see the Jetstar aircraft painted in Qantas colours, but being a realist I understand why Jetstar is a necessity in the Qantas group.

 

[Red Roo]

The big question is, 'How much 'extra' will it cost for points and SC's on-top of the base fare? I guess it will similar to the new JQ model + be a minimum of a few hundred (ie, $500+++).........


Quick Question to Red Roo.
Many of us AFF members here put forward some time ago (re;recent 'enhancements' thread) that we are sick to death of seeing JQ results pop up when searching for QF flights, on the QF website. Will this now mean that the new airline will pop up along with JQ results? Can there please, please be a box to tick that is something along the lines of - QF flights only/exclude JQ*/^......?????

Yes, the new airline will pop up along with Qantas/JQ results. Basically if you are searching for a flight from Sydney to Singapore, qantas.com will show you all the airline options available to book on Qantas.com which do include JQ, BA etc. While it may not be ideal for all users of qantas.com, showing all airline options gives all the customers the most choice.

 

[Red Roo]

Hi Red Roo, I was actually wondering about the full benefits of Platinum status such as the Platinum international baggage allowances (64kg) etc would be available on the new Asian carrier to WP's?

The exact details for the new airline are still being worked out but the plan is for QFF benefits to carry across.

Cheers,
Red Roo

 

[Leumas]

I might have said it here or on FT, but I suspect we've a vastly different definition of 'premium' than what QF have in mind.

QF calls itself a premium airline now, it flies plenty of 737s and A320s now - it's difficult to say how many aspects of QF domestic can be called 'premium'. 'Premium' just means it'll automatically have a higher fare price than others, tangible differences may be far and few between.

 

[oz_mark]

Yes, the new airline will pop up along with Qantas/JQ results. Basically if you are searching for a flight from Sydney to Singapore, qantas.com will show you all the airline options available to book on Qantas.com which do include JQ, BA etc. While it may not be ideal for all users of qantas.com, showing all airline options gives all the customers the most choice.

While it does provide the most choice, I think what people want is a way of filtering out the JQ options.

 

[Red Roo]

I just remembered something I forgot to post earlier. With the re-align of the South American route to connect better with LAN, does this mean for certain that LAN’s merger with TAM won’t result in them leaving OneWorld? Because if they did, it’d really all be for nothing with no connections.

LAN and TAM have applied for regulatory approval to merge but this process is not over yet. Therefore an alliance decision can not be made until that application is or isn't approved.

I know that does not answer your question but we do not actually have this information yet.

Cheers,
Red Roo

 

[lsmi4126]

Yes, the new airline will pop up along with Qantas/JQ results. Basically if you are searching for a flight from Sydney to Singapore, qantas.com will show you all the airline options available to book on Qantas.com which do include JQ, BA etc. While it may not be ideal for all users of qantas.com, showing all airline options gives all the customers the most choice.

Thanks Red Roo.

While you make a valid point, the scenario that makes qantas.com frustrating for me is when I'm booking flights based on date AND price. I don't want to fly J* (or partners necessarily), and I also am not also firmly decided on a date. If I want to use the 'flexible dates' option to find the best priced day, I have to look at each day individually to see whether the 'best price' is actually a QF flight, or a partner flight.

I don't mind if all partner airline flights come up on the first search, however I would enjoy a checkbox being added to the left side of the result box called 'Show Parnter Airline Availability'.

 

[ajw373]

I might have said it here or on FT, but I suspect we've a vastly different definition of 'premium' than what QF have in mind.

QF calls itself a premium airline now, it flies plenty of 737s and A320s now - it's difficult to say how many aspects of QF domestic can be called 'premium'. 'Premium' just means it'll automatically have a higher fare price than others, tangible differences may be far and few between.

You clearly haven't flown too many other airlines on short haul routes. What Qantas offers on it's 737's around Australia is vastly superior to any other major airline that I know of or have flown. Take BA, AF, BD for example, see what you get on a 2 hour European flight compared to Qantas, especially down the back of the bus.

 

[markis10]

Both the AFR and Oz had some cartoons today I thought interesting:

 

[Leumas]

This post is not having a dig at QF, nor do I confess to be an aircraft expert. Imagine me to be a QF shareholder...

With yesterday's announcements, it seems to me it's an implicit acknowledgement that QF has got their aircraft strategy wrong in the past few years (AJ has effectively admitted to that in the 730 interview last night). The A380 has been repeatedly reconfigured and delayed, how the 787's fit in remains unclear, and now we're talking about the A320neo (and we don't even know for sure when they will appear). In addition, the manufacturers aren't exactly known for their on time delivery.

Given this less than stellar track record, as an investor, why should I believe QF is making the right call with these A320's? Yes, I understand the market and many factors play into this, but there aren't many airlines that always sign on to be early adopters?

 

[Leumas]

You clearly haven't flown too many other airlines on short haul routes. What Qantas offers on it's 737's around Australia is vastly superior to any other major airline that I know of or have flown. Take BA, AF, BD for example, see what you get on a 2 hour European flight compared to Qantas, especially down the back of the bus.

When you're relatively better than 'bad', it doesn't automatically make you 'good', let alone 'premium'. It just makes you 'less bad'.

QF calls itself a premium airline. With domestic flights, the major differences in the air compared to Virgin or Tiger is included checked baggage (to an extent), a bit of food and some drinks (not all is free).

When people here are doubting how QF can deliver a 'premium' airline on narrow body planes, I'm saying QF is already saying it's doing that now, so don't expect anything more than what we have now. Of course, QF can prove me wrong, but I'm setting my expectations low.

Lastly, I don't see telling people how and where I fly proves anything.

 

[medhead]

QF calls itself a premium airline now, it flies plenty of 737s and A320s now -

I presume there is some confusion between QF and qantas group here. But I'm pretty sure QF does not operate any A320s. Those are all with jetstar? Given the silo mentality over capital and profit from management I think it is extremely important that we recognise the difference between QF, jetstar and QF group. Qantas is clearly playing winners and losers with the various parts of the group.

Edit: oh forgot, qantas are not yet claiming jetstar is premium, at least from what I've noticed.

 

[Leumas]

I presume there is some confusion between QF and qantas group here. But I'm pretty sure QF does not operate any A320s. Those are all with jetstar? Given the silo mentality over capital and profit from management I think it is extremely important that we recognise the difference between QF, jetstar and QF group. Qantas is clearly playing winners and losers with the various parts of the group.

Didn't they use to fly some to PER, or were they A330 (at least in the early days when they first arrived)? I can't remember now... Either way, they've plenty of 737's to keep them busy for a long time...

Told you I'm not an aircraft expert...

P.S. When I write QF, I mean the airline, not the group.

 

[medhead]

Didn't they use to fly some to PER, or were they A330 (at least in the early days when they first arrived)? I can't remember now... Either way, they've plenty of 737's to keep them busy for a long time...

Told you I'm not an aircraft expert...

P.S. When I write QF, I mean the airline, not the group.

Probably A330. I know the WP in the office next to me is always flying to Perth on "A320s" with qantas but I'm sure he means A330.

On your point about delivery of the new A320s. I recall there being a mystery order for A320s at the Paris airshow. I also thought it was for 110 aircraft. So I'm wondering if that was Qantas group. Just on the order as well 78 are NEOs so I assume that the other 32 will be delivered first. Should be enough to get a start?

 

[goldy]

You clearly haven't flown too many other airlines on short haul routes. What Qantas offers on it's 737's around Australia is vastly superior to any other major airline that I know of or have flown. Take BA, AF, BD for example, see what you get on a 2 hour European flight compared to Qantas, especially down the back of the bus.

Have you flown AF recently??

I did in Feb and on the LHR-CDG sector got a hot breakfast. Wasn't fantastic, but much better IMHO than BA or QF!

 

[oz_mark]

Didn't they use to fly some to PER, or were they A330 (at least in the early days when they first arrived)? I can't remember now... Either way, they've plenty of 737's to keep them busy for a long time...

Told you I'm not an aircraft expert...

P.S. When I write QF, I mean the airline, not the group.

I don't believe Qantas, the airline, has ever operated A320's.

 

[harvyk]

Yes, the new airline will pop up along with Qantas/JQ results. Basically if you are searching for a flight from Sydney to Singapore, qantas.com will show you all the airline options available to book on Qantas.com which do include JQ, BA etc. While it may not be ideal for all users of qantas.com, showing all airline options gives all the customers the most choice.

The thing I object to is then JQ options are mixed in with the other options. A little orange star looks very similar to a little red triangle when presented with so few pixels inside a large list. But that little orange star represents that I will get nothing (not even FF points). Price is not always different either, I have seen many times where the QF option costed $150 and the JQ option costed $150, also remember that whilst a JQ only booking directs a person to the JQ site, a mixed booking (which every CBR booking is as JQ don't fly here) books directly on the QF site.

Furthermore if your wanting to open a can of worms based on having everything on the one site, lets talk about managing a JQ booking made via the QF website... That is a near impossible feat, and QF's answer - speak with JQ, JQ's answer - speak with QF.

When Qantaisa is launched will you guys have any one customer service rep who will have the authority to do things for both QF and Qantaisa bookings? Or will we be forced to deal with the one company only when it suits policy for even more flights which used to be under the QF banner?

 

[awilcockson]

Furthermore if your wanting to open a can of worms based on having everything on the one site, lets talk about managing a JQ booking made via the QF website... That is a near impossible feat, and QF's answer - speak with JQ, JQ's answer - speak with QF.

When Qantaisa is launched will you guys have any one customer service rep who will have the authority to do things for both QF and Qantaisa bookings? Or will we be forced to deal with the one company only when it suits policy for even more flights which used to be under the QF banner?

I wish there was a "like++" button.