Building a stronger Qantas

[samh004]

Please read my intro paragraph again. I stated it was my opinion, not substantiated with any inside knowledge or facts.

At first I was confused by your post, but now I understand, that you think it is what’s going to happen and the reasons behind it, which does make sense. Though if that’s the goal they’re going to have to increase NZ frequencies a lot to dispose of those B738

It’s sad that while I’d argue their number one focus is to their shareholders and making a profit, but if they’re trying to reduce costs, passing on the savings would also be nice, while still making a profit.

 

[oz_mark]

I did provide the quote, but to go over it again - just had to double check myself. The exact words are:

"Jetstar Japan, for example, will be allocated 24 Qantas aircraft, thus removing them from the Australian operator's balance sheet"

I suspect that it is just a poorly worded sentence. As far as I can see from the investor presentations, the 24 aircraft Jetstar Japan will be getting are from the non Neo versions of the A320 orders (see page 20). They aren't being removed from the balance sheet - they aren't there to begin with.

 

[gavinandraye]

I am going to adopt a "wait and see" approach with the changes although I am not sure that this will really build a stronger (better???) Qantas.

 

[ozmille]

I am going to adopt a "wait and see" approach with the changes although I am not sure that this will really build a stronger (better???) Qantas.

+1 on this one. I'm not too sure what to think of this yet (also all the conflicting media coverage isn't helping too much). Except that I won't be able to fly QF on my standard route SYD-BKK BKK-LHR anymore. Which is a bit sad... But I'm sure I will survive

Waiting for the "big" announcement next week

 

[RichardK]

There is nothing in the Qantas CEO's statement that addresses the core problem - the shocking decline of the Australian outbound market to 18%. No plans to address the reasons for this decline besides blaming the big ugly subsidised Middle-Eastern carriers. What about the generally very average QF in-cabin service and the long waits on hold (even though I am a 'valued' caller). What about the on-going reduction in destinations and now the snuggling up to One World partners so that we can change aircraft in the middle of the night. What about the premium we have to pay to enjoy the 'priviledge' of flying QF - a 3 star airline at the moment that is delusional in thinking it is 5 star. What about turning up at the airport and finding out that your QF flight number is really for a JQ aircraft.
The decline of Qantas International will continue until there are only a few routes operated - via Singapore to London; to LAX; to Tokyo and maybe one other mainline destination somewhere in China - this 'rationalisation' will be justified by noting the decline in their market share to less than 10%. All other routes will be operated by Jetstar or one of the One World pals.

And then there is the new to be premium airline somewhere in Asia to be equipped with aircraft that don't have the range to service Australia (not sure about the neo). Makes a lot of sense eh?

We can kiss QF goodbye in the next decade. Make sure you use your FF points and don't get stuck with a bundle like happened with Ansett!

 

[medhead]

I suspect that it is just a poorly worded sentence. As far as I can see from the investor presentations, the 24 aircraft Jetstar Japan will be getting are from the non Neo versions of the A320 orders (see page 20). They aren't being removed from the balance sheet - they aren't there to begin with.

Yeah that's what is so puzzling. An example about helping qantas capital when they weren't there in the first place. It's just strange.

 

[harvyk]

@RichardK

There is nothing in the Qantas CEO's statement that addresses the core problem - the shocking use of selected percentages to make up a figure of 18%, ignoring the fact that their own subsidiary is partly responsible for the reduced number of QF mainline flyers due to JQ being the only realistic QF option to many destinations previously serviced by QF mainline.

 

[mannej]

You can make stats say what ever you want them to. 18% does not really say much, so to me it would be interesting to see what the actual market share of the other majors into Australia is and their loads.

On another topic, Senator Xenophon has a fairly ironic name considering what he is going to stand up for

 

[Red Roo]

Red Roo,
When will QANTAS lift the suspension of PER-NRT and resume flying this route?
Why leave us in limbo on this suspension with nothing in today's announcement?
It is midwinter I want to plan my next skiing trip for January and need PER-NRT-CTS!

There is demand. Please see the following recent thread:-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....cussion/will-qantas-bring-back-per-31928.html

Regards
Captain Paul

Hi Captain Paul,

I have spoken to our North East Asia network team and unfortunately PER-NRT flights are suspended indefinitely. If I do hear of any further updates, I will be sure to let you know.

Red Roo

 

[Reggie]

Why is QFi doing so badly?

Well I would guess it has something to do withthe following. I am am a WP, PG, LTG with over 28000 LTSC's. I used to fly J exclusively on QF overseas and trans con domestic. REcently I have been flying DJ, EK, and NZ (not so much the latter anymore).

I want to go to MAN in MArch next year (+ Mrs Reggie and Reggie Jnr)
With Qantas, i can do the following
PER-SIN-LHR-MAN on points (classic) approx 400000points and wait for it :shock: $3000 in taxes:shock:
If I decide to pay cash for the same flights $6429.49 (approximately)

Now using another premium airline we know as SQ
PER-SIN-MAN is a grand total of $6009.00 and takes 3 hours less with no having to go through LHR

Using a third option we know as EK
PER-DBX-MAN is a grand total of $5796.68 and takes 5 hours less with no LHR.

Using my fourth option DJ
Well lets not go there, I ain't flying via SYD/MEL to get to MAN, no matter how good there priority boarding is for me as a gold.

What do I miss by saving myself time, money and going throuh LHR - lounge access, and with only 2 hours, I can't eat, drink, or shower that value.

As a premium pax I don't feel that QF is a premium airline, and don't think they are treating me as a premium customer. ($3000 in taxes/fines to use my points to fly to MAN is plane [yes I deliberatly spelt it this way] robbery.

 

[Pushka]

We can kiss QF goodbye in the next decade. Make sure you use your FF points and don't get stuck with a bundle like happened with Ansett!

Dont remind me, I had just booked four family Business class flights for our summer holiday. We lost everything. We had been saving them for a long time and it gave us some benefit for Hubby's prolonged travel that year. Still hurts.

 

[awilcockson]

($3000 in taxes/fines to use my points to fly to MAN is plane [yes I deliberatly spelt it this way] robbery.

Probably needs another thread, but I have to agree. I paid for a return Y BNE-HKG flight for my wife a year ago, cost 60K points and about $220 in taxes. I just priced up the same flight last week and it was 60K points and $600+ in taxes. That is downright ridiculous, when the Y fare can be purchased for $1200.

 

[markis10]

@RichardK

There is nothing in the Qantas CEO's statement that addresses the core problem - the shocking use of selected percentages to make up a figure of 18%, ignoring the fact that their own subsidiary is partly responsible for the reduced number of QF mainline flyers due to JQ being the only realistic QF option to many destinations previously serviced by QF mainline.

The core problem is RSKs and Freight, both of which were starkly absent in the announcement, put QF group together as one and leave the freight figures out and things look different:

[TABLE="width: 777"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Top ten airlines[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Share of passengers carried[/TD]
[TD]May-10[/TD]
[TD]May-11[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Share of freight carried[/TD]
[TD]May-10[/TD]
[TD]May-11[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Qantas Group
[/TD]
[TD]28.6%[/TD]
[TD]27.4%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Qantas Airways[/TD]
[TD]19.0%[/TD]
[TD]18.3%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Singapore Airlines[/TD]
[TD]9.0%[/TD]
[TD]8.8%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Singapore Airlines[/TD]
[TD]14.4%[/TD]
[TD]14.1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Emirates[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]8.7%[/TD]
[TD]7.7%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Emirates[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]9.8%[/TD]
[TD]10.1%
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Air New Zealand[/TD]
[TD]8.0%[/TD]
[TD]7.5%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Thai Airways International[/TD]
[TD]6.3%[/TD]
[TD]5.5%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pacific Blue[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]6.0%[/TD]
[TD]6.8%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Malaysia Airlines[/TD]
[TD]5.5%[/TD]
[TD]5.1%
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Cathay Pacific Airways[/TD]
[TD]5.2%[/TD]
[TD]4.8%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Air New Zealand[/TD]
[TD]5.4%[/TD]
[TD]4.9%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Malaysia Airlines[/TD]
[TD]3.8%[/TD]
[TD]4.6%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]United Parcel Service[/TD]
[TD]2.2%[/TD]
[TD]2.8%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Thai Airways International[/TD]
[TD]2.8%[/TD]
[TD]3.1%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Jetstar[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]1.9%[/TD]
[TD]2.4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AirAsia X[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]2.6%[/TD]
[TD]2.4%[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Etihad Airways[/TD]
[TD]3.0%[/TD]
[TD]2.3%
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


The tie up with MAS is good timing, the lack of attention to KUL by QF management is hurting on its own when you look at the top 10 city pairs as is DPS service with QF to PER.

[TABLE="width: 735"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 5"]Table I International Passengers by Uplift/Discharge City Pairs (a) [/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Foreign[/TD]
[TD]Australian[/TD]
[TD]Year ended[/TD]
[TD]Year ended[/TD]
[TD]Year ended[/TD]
[TD]% of[/TD]
[TD]% Change[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Port[/TD]
[TD]Port[/TD]
[TD]May 2009[/TD]
[TD]May 2010[/TD]
[TD]May 2011[/TD]
[TD]Total[/TD]
[TD]2011/10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Auckland[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1 240 270[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1 380 906[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1 407 186[/TD]
[TD]5.1%[/TD]
[TD]1.9%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Singapore[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1 075 911[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1 078 746[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1 114 856[/TD]
[TD]4.1%[/TD]
[TD]3.3%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Singapore[/TD]
[TD]Melbourne[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 864 960[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 904 545[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 980 942[/TD]
[TD]3.6%[/TD]
[TD]8.4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Los Angeles[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 542 795[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 840 741[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 962 978[/TD]
[TD]3.5%[/TD]
[TD]14.5%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Hong Kong[/TD]
[TD]Sydney[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 945 669[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 916 387[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 946 561[/TD]
[TD]3.4%[/TD]
[TD]3.3%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Singapore[/TD]
[TD]Perth[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 940 739[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 918 668[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 929 238[/TD]
[TD]3.4%[/TD]
[TD]1.2%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Auckland[/TD]
[TD]Melbourne[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 744 305[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 750 940[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 853 481[/TD]
[TD]3.1%[/TD]
[TD]13.7%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Denpasar[/TD]
[TD]Perth[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 309 805[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 602 685[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 768 647[/TD]
[TD]2.8%[/TD]
[TD]27.5%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Kuala Lumpur[/TD]
[TD]Melbourne[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 390 634[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 590 129[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 738 173[/TD]
[TD]2.7%[/TD]
[TD]25.1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Auckland[/TD]
[TD]Brisbane[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 829 372[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 728 683[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] 734 403[/TD]
[TD]2.7%[/TD]
[TD]0.8%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Top 10 City Pairs[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7 884 460[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8 712 430[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]9 436 465[/TD]
[TD]34.3%[/TD]
[TD]8.3%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Other City Pairs[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]15 590 122[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]16 647 440[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]18 052 559[/TD]
[TD]65.7%[/TD]
[TD]8.4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ALL CITY PAIRS[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD="align: right"]23 474 582[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]25 359 870[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]27 489 024[/TD]
[TD]100.0%[/TD]
[TD]8.4%
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


The other interesting stat is a breakdown of destinations comparing historical performance, HNL is clearly an issue for JQ apart from the obvious Japan impact:

[TABLE="width: 611"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD](%) of[/TD]
[TD](%)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scheduled Operators[/TD]
[TD]Country to/from[/TD]
[TD]2010[/TD]
[TD]2011[/TD]
[TD]TOTAL[/TD]
[TD]Change[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jetstar (f)[/TD]
[TD]Fiji[/TD]
[TD] 5 178[/TD]
[TD] 4 710[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]-9.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Indonesia[/TD]
[TD] 32 492[/TD]
[TD] 36 746[/TD]
[TD]1.8[/TD]
[TD]13.1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Japan[/TD]
[TD] 32 381[/TD]
[TD] 25 496[/TD]
[TD]1.2[/TD]
[TD]-21.3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]New Zealand[/TD]
[TD] 41 303[/TD]
[TD] 52 527[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]27.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Philippines[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD] 3 660[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Singapore[/TD]
[TD] 22 197[/TD]
[TD] 22 554[/TD]
[TD]1.1[/TD]
[TD]1.6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Thailand[/TD]
[TD] 10 796[/TD]
[TD] 13 222[/TD]
[TD]0.6[/TD]
[TD]22.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]USA[/TD]
[TD] 9 197[/TD]
[TD] 8 192[/TD]
[TD]0.4[/TD]
[TD]-10.9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Vietnam[/TD]
[TD] 4 191[/TD]
[TD] 3 522[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]-16.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jetstar[/TD]
[TD]ALL SERVICES[/TD]
[TD] 157 735[/TD]
[TD] 170 629[/TD]
[TD]8.2[/TD]
[TD]8.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jetstar Asia (g)[/TD]
[TD]Singapore[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD] 8 531[/TD]
[TD]0.4[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Qantas Airways[/TD]
[TD]Argentina[/TD]
[TD] 5 173[/TD]
[TD] 5 011[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]-3.1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]China[/TD]
[TD] 11 300[/TD]
[TD] 9 719[/TD]
[TD]0.5[/TD]
[TD]-14.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Germany[/TD]
[TD] 5 902[/TD]
[TD] 5 396[/TD]
[TD]0.3[/TD]
[TD]-8.6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Hong Kong (SAR)[/TD]
[TD] 39 824[/TD]
[TD] 41 708[/TD]
[TD]2.0[/TD]
[TD]4.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]India[/TD]
[TD] 1 333[/TD]
[TD] 1 582[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD]18.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Indonesia[/TD]
[TD] 6 115[/TD]
[TD] 5 162[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]-15.6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Japan[/TD]
[TD] 14 758[/TD]
[TD] 10 737[/TD]
[TD]0.5[/TD]
[TD]-27.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Korea[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Macau[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]New Caledonia[/TD]
[TD] 4 656[/TD]
[TD] 4 099[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]-12.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]New Zealand[/TD]
[TD] 83 212[/TD]
[TD] 84 788[/TD]
[TD]4.1[/TD]
[TD]1.9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Papua New Guinea[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD] 3 565[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Philippines[/TD]
[TD] 6 993[/TD]
[TD] 7 680[/TD]
[TD]0.4[/TD]
[TD]9.8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Singapore[/TD]
[TD] 70 126[/TD]
[TD] 76 923[/TD]
[TD]3.7[/TD]
[TD]9.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]South Africa[/TD]
[TD] 10 807[/TD]
[TD] 13 411[/TD]
[TD]0.6[/TD]
[TD]24.1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Taiwan[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Thailand[/TD]
[TD] 4 030[/TD]
[TD] 5 893[/TD]
[TD]0.3[/TD]
[TD]46.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Turkey[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]UK[/TD]
[TD] 29 561[/TD]
[TD] 33 665[/TD]
[TD]1.6[/TD]
[TD]13.9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]USA[/TD]
[TD] 86 873[/TD]
[TD] 88 985[/TD]
[TD]4.3[/TD]
[TD]2.4
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Vietnam[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[TD]..[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Qantas Airways[/TD]
[TD]ALL SERVICES[/TD]
[TD] 380 663[/TD]
[TD] 398 324[/TD]
[TD]19.2[/TD]
[TD]4.6[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


All figures from the May BITRE Airline Stats.

 

[serfty]

There is nothing in the Qantas CEO's statement that addresses the core problem - the shocking decline of the Australian outbound market to 18%. ...

That figure is incorrect as it excludes Jetstar international services. Include them and the figure is closer to 27%.

See here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../why-did-aj-exclude-jqi-32322.html#post477452

 

[docjames]

The main reason I will travel BNE-SYD(/MEL)-SIN-LHR-EU destination is I often fly Y+ and I can only fly Y+ ex-BNE to LAX. I can either choose to pay full Y+ fare and fly in Y BNE-SIN or put up with the transfer through SYD. I don't know if QF have become more flexible with this recently, but for our April trip, we couldn't do a combined Y and Y+ fare for the trip.

And I'm in the same boat. But I should be able to fly Y+ ex-BNE. You end up paying full fare Y+ for a Y leg to SIN. Whilst BNE-SIn is currently on 744, my gut feeling is they'll go back to 330. I cant fathom why Y+ isnt on the 330s (they could use the domestic "J" seats that are 2-3-2 for Y+ with the lie flat J seats and the standard 2-4-2 economy seating). How hard would an extra couple of rows and food served by a specific FA be?

My experience not helped by 45min delay ex-LHR on QF2 ("didnt load enough fuel due to thunderstorms over Poland"), followed by 2hr delay ex-BKK (aircraft wouldnt "reboot"), followed by having to change flights in SYD (despite allowing decent connection), causing loss of Y seat allocation (exit row) on SYD-BNE and then sitting there for 45mins due to engineering fault (problem with throttle control somethingy).

Whilst not debating I want the aircraft serviceable and safe and was happy to wear the delay, and we were accomodated despite the issues, by the time we hit SYD, I wish I was direct to BNE. But Y+ wasnt available.

Frustrating, and emblemic of the issues with QF at the moment - which management seem either clueless about, or unwilling to acknowledge and address.

 

[markis10]

And I'm in the same boat. But I should be able to fly Y+ ex-BNE. You end up paying full fare Y+ for a Y leg to SIN. Whilst BNE-SIn is currently on 744, my gut feeling is they'll go back to 330. I cant fathom why Y+ isnt on the 330s (they could use the domestic "J" seats that are 2-3-2 for Y+ with the lie flat J seats and the standard 2-4-2 economy seating). How hard would an extra couple of rows and food served by a specific FA be?

No Y+ in A330 because JQ dont do Y+, and they are are dual airline aircraft, like the 787, AJ has already stated his preference for new aircraft that can swap between JQ and QF at will.

 

[joshd]

It's nice to have official confirmation.

Just like we can assume that Qantas would position it for OW membership, but it's not official...

I have been poring over a map to try and figure where this new airline would be. Surely it wouldn't be where there are exisiting OW partners (remove Hong Kong, Tokyo, KL etc..). Would it be where OW are weak? e.g. Mainland China?

For myself, I would love it if OW had an airline in China using one of the main Southern cities as a base. Kunming would be an awesome place to start. Geographically very good as a hub, with a decent sized local population. Any other ideas?

yes, China would be good but my thinking is that it could be Vietnam - considering the minimal presence of VN in Australia and also the joint venture that Jetstar are now building there.

 

[orac]

We can kiss QF goodbye in the next decade. Make sure you use your FF points and don't get stuck with a bundle like happened with Ansett!

As a long term Ansett top tier flyer I well remember that period.

I used my considerable number of points up this morning and put one Europe and one USA flight for our family into the system for 2012

 

[connieguy]

Dont remind me, I had just booked four family Business class flights for our summer holiday. We lost everything. We had been saving them for a long time and it gave us some benefit for Hubby's prolonged travel that year. Still hurts.

Don't remind me as I had purchased Lifetime Golden Wings membership when it first became available and had a LOT of points or miles or what ever Golden Wings used. Was not a good experience. So today I share it around.

 

[Reggie]

Probably needs another thread, but I have to agree. I paid for a return Y BNE-HKG flight for my wife a year ago, cost 60K points and about $220 in taxes. I just priced up the same flight last week and it was 60K points and $600+ in taxes. That is downright ridiculous, when the Y fare can be purchased for $1200.

I was creating another thread, but wanted to include a note in this one, becuase I can't see how AJ can claim to be at the top of a premium airline with the best frequent flyer program, when this is what I/we have to put up with as premium pax.

Link to my thread:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/what-should-reggie-do-32323.html