Building a stronger Qantas

[TheInsider]

Typical, no actual NEW information.

 

[Red Roo]

Just was reading the executive summary around fleet ...... no mention of the 787 up to FY20 ???? have they decided to cancel the order ? or did i miss something ?

Will be interesting to see how JAL look at Jetstar into Japan .....

The 787 orders have not been cancelled, however like all aircraft orders, they'll be reviewed as required.

 

[awilcockson]

Oh dear, I even signed up to coughter so I could follow the announcement.

Found this exchange interesting:

@jimmyaus James OBrien

I get the feeling from the wording of the @QantasAirways FF improvements (Silver & Gold bonuses) that Platinums might be devalued (hope not)

@QantasAirways Qantas Airways
@jimmyaus We'll always look after our Platinums

Why to I always get a tight feeling in my nether regions when QF mention Platinums like that ... if they are planning on "looking after us" the way they have with recent enhancements, I'm very concerned.

 

[QF WP]

Damn, ABC24 just stopped the cross. Sorry, their business reporter is pretty but she's poor.

Gateways & hubs in each continent....an interesting thought, but not a new one.

 

[medhead]

Thanks for being here to keep us informed. I fully appreciate the effort

This new Qantas will be strong, dependable and profitable now and into the future. And it will bring you an even more rewarding Frequent Flyer program, including more ways to earn and redeem points.

However, I feel compelled to say that some of the message sounds like the sort of thing you say to shareholders rather than frequent flyers. Recognising the need for a consistent message in saying that.

Another impression is about this remaining Australian owned message, it seems a bit incongruous with putting all the capital expenditure into Asia based airlines.

But great to be informed here. Thanks.

 

[Nam Taf]

Why to I always get a tight feeling in my nether regions when QF mention Platinums like that ... if they are planning on "looking after us" the way they have with recent enhancements, I'm very concerned.

That's one hell of an enhancement lined up if I ever saw it!

 

[obrienja]

Glad you found it interesting... it was one of the things that stuck out for me reading the email / microsite. Better for silver & gold... no mention of Platinum - seemed odd... however as RedRoo said above there'll be PlatOne announcements in Q4 so perhaps they're saving something up for then.

Oh dear, I even signed up to coughter so I could follow the announcement.

Found this exchange interesting:





Why to I always get a tight feeling in my nether regions when QF mention Platinums like that ... if they are planning on "looking after us" the way they have with recent enhancements, I'm very concerned.

 

[wandering_fred]

Thoughts on the announcement.

QF is still SYD-centric. Other airlines will continue to take passengers away from QF because of the lack of balance in QFs (ex)Australian international route structure. Departure points as well as destinations. I acknowledge the Perth airport setup for connecting flights is perhaps a deterrent to its use for such purposes.

As long as Jetstar is not an affiliate (in Qantas One World membership) its route structure is of interest only if you have no interest in accruing miles. Using it to replace QF routes will direct many passengers to other airlines (flights and FF programs).

Looking at PER-SIN over the holiday period many days the JQ flights are actually more expensive than QFs. QF depends on the lack of initiative on the part of many of its passengers in finding the best deal - even within the group.

MH cannot join One World soon enough. It's a pity that CX has H class fares ex-USA at reasonable prices, but not so much inter-Asia. CX V and L class fares (and the trivial everyday rewards) are the main reason I keep the QF FF account.

But I wander a different road to most of QFs market.

Fred

PS
That was my reading of the the speech text (pdf)

 

[yohy?!]

QF metal to terminate at HKG & BKK. Will need to use the BA codeshare to continue to LHR.

Ouch - looks like the end of the LHR Base then? (or at least a significant reduction in headcount with the loss of 2/3 of it's destinations)

 

[QF WP]

Just got the email times to go our after the news conference:

Hello Lindsay

As one of our most valued customers, I want to share with you our commitment to building a stronger Qantas. A Qantas that will be better for you.

Since 1920, Qantas has represented the best of what air travel can be. A pioneer that introduced flying to a young nation, carried generations of Australians to meet the world, and became one of the world's great airlines.

Now the times have changed again and Qantas is changing with them.

The new Qantas will take on our global competitors with a spirit that will make Australians proud. An airline that builds on our unrivalled safety record and over 90 years of experience. That offers Australians more choices through new gateways to more destinations around the world. A state-of-the-art fleet with the best comfort, service and entertainment in the sky. An airline that will be strong, dependable and profitable now and into the future.

Of course, as we build a stronger Qantas, some things will never change.

We will always be owned by Australians. We will always be proud that the vast majority of our operations are based in Australia.

We will always call Australia home.

For further information visit our dedicated microsite at qantas.com/anewspirit. You can also keep up to date on other Qantas business issues at qantasanswers.com.

 

[markis10]

The 787 orders have not been cancelled, however like all aircraft orders, they'll be reviewed as required.

They are featured on the investor preso re Fleet

 

[nonpop]

Dear Qantas,

If you expand your code sharing agreements, please look to ensure that when I book I can then select my seats online as normal. Please make sure Qantas systems 'talk' to the other airlines systems.

Don't make me have to ring a call centre who then give a message that they too can only select Aisle or Window but to "not worry as a WP I'll be assured a good seat". But then only to find I'm up the back somewhere next to the toilet. I also like to look for better seats as they become available. I also like to ensure the aircraft type hasn't changed at the last minute.

To me seat selection is important. I fly Qantas when Qantas fly end-to-end (or the majority of the route). Where Qantas doesn't I now use an airline that does. Failing that, I fall back to Qantas.

Personally, I hate code share. Typically I often find my WP benefits don't seem to carry across or don't carry the full "value" with the other airline.

So I have no issue with code sharing. Just make it transparent to me. Make it look like Qantas. Make it look like what I'm used to using. Don't make me have to learn something else when I just want to get somewhere.

May be I've just been unlucky.

 

[milehighclub]

Ouch - looks like the end of the LHR Base then?

No, they will continue to operate the sectors to and from SIN.

 

[nlagalle]

Ouch - looks like the end of the LHR Base then?

No.. they will still via SIN, and as mentioned their current slots will be retained.

 

[harvyk]

QF metal to terminate at HKG & BKK. Will need to use the BA codeshare to continue to LHR.

Will BKK still be QF1 \ 2 or will they now route QF1 \ 2 via SIN?

 

[yohy?!]

No.. they will still via SIN, and as mentioned their current slots will be retained.

Hadn't had my morning coffee and forgot SIN

Updated my post, lucky the slots will be retained(although I'm assuming QF won't be flying empty jets to keep them and will do some kind of arrangement with another carrier to 'borrow' them):!:

Hopefully the Crew at LHR who are surplus will be offered positions back home.

 

[jamesatfish]

My personal take on the announcement:

Good:
•A proper First lounge at LAX. Hopefully there's some money left over after hiring Marc Newson to pay for a decent internet connection.


Bad:
•Fewer QF flights from Australia to LHR = potentially fewer (classic) award opportunities, significantly fewer upgrade opportunities as you can't upgrade on a codeshare flight.

•No mention of improvements for Platinum FF members, and still no announcements with regards to P1, leaving me in limbo as to a decision for my preferred carrier when my current FF year expires on 30 Sept.


I do find it interesting that "as one of our most valued customers" (quoting from the mass FF email) there was no mention of any changes (good or bad) that are actually targeted at the top FF tier - and in the absence of any mention I'm be inclined to think the worst.

 

[harvyk]

Any talk on when the B744's will be retired? (Just noticing the "early retirement" of B744's \ B763's and B734's)

 

[VHOEJ]

1000 jobs is interesting - given the unions at the moment, thier members will be first on the chopping block. They were never going to win that war.........

 

[markis10]

Any talk on when the B744's will be retired? (Just noticing the "early retirement" of B744's \ B763's and B734's)

4 to go this year.