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.
You highlight the reason for the decline so well. However how do they fix it? The answer is they can't. There is no way that Qantas can offer the multitude of destinations it's Asian and ME competitors can offer towards Europe, except by greater use of partners.
The problem with partners of course is one of their existing partners is at the far end of Europe, meaning you need to stop twice to get to anywhere but London or Frankfurt and in most cases change terminals at that horrid place known as Heathrow. At least with MAS joining there are a few more destinations in Europe that can be added to the list with 1 stop.
Is this situation Qantas's fault? Well not really, the blame lies with geography for placing Australia in the middle of nowhere, meaning we are not a natural hub location for anywhere, and blame it on the aircraft makers for making planes that can now fly so much further, meaning people want less stops, so tend to choose airlines that can realistically offer that.
However in Asia the situations is a tad different as it is closer to home. So aligning with MAS and creating their own new airline means people will now have a choice of flying a Qantas partner to more destinations in Asia, which is a growing economy, so plenty of growth too. It would be even better if they could sort their issues with Cathay out for better access to North asia.
