Building a stronger Qantas

[TheInsider]

Also, a special announcement for the AFF community - I am also pleased to advise that Qantas Frequent Flyers will be able to earn and redeem QFF points on the new premium airline based in Asia, as well as earning Status credits. Cheers, Red Roo

Wouldn't really call that a surprise though? Seems pretty obvious that, that would be the case :shock:

 

[Danger]

I don't think it's been covered up-thread but one of QF's ASX announcements states BA will discontinue BKK-SYD-BKK. I think that means BA's presence in Australia will be down to the bare minimum.

 

[QFMEL]

Pity they won't shut up about the 1000 jobs. Don't expect too much about the actual changes, is my guess.

As most of the coverage today has demonstrated, there are pitfalls in assuming that those who cover news/caff or business news in the abstract will have anything other than superficial grasp of what is a very nuanced business. It's not Leigh Sales' fault if Leigh Sales is the one that ponies up to intv AJ, but nor is it QF's fault that a generalist is sent in to ask the questions someone with an aviation background should be asking.

On the point of the jobs, it's difficult for that not to be the takeaway point for most MSM.

Slightly tangential, but here it goes- other than airline staff I suspect I'm more sympathetic than most to the concerns of ALAEA, the TWU, and to a lesser extent, the ASU when it comes to pay and conditions for QF staff.

The only play I've seen made for my loyalty as a punter is an announcement or two from the flight deck of a 763 and a Q400 asking us to support pilots in their campaign for better conditions. I've asked no less hardworking FAs whether they'd ever heard pilots support them or ground staff in a similar way. The answer is no.

Coverage across different unions and professional associations with competing agendas and allegiances is deleterious to the interests of staff, even at different levels, trying to bargain collectively. Their ships all need to sail in the same direction.

How does this relate to 7.30 and jobs? At the margins, most of the recent coverage on pay disputes and Qantas has been about pilots. People think they're paid way more than them and live in squillion dollar houses, when they're not busy quaffing Dom (nay Taittinger) in insert-port-here. People don't necessarily think of an early year FA employed by QF mainline or, better yet, a contractor or shell company with pay and conditions that don't match that.

So, AJ gets a couple of short balls on jobs and comfortably plays them away for four off the back of ill-defined rhetoric on a higher cost base/EK's govt handouts/SQ's capacity to depreciate a/c more quickly, repeat as necessary.

Punter thinks well, that doesn't sound so bad, keep calm and carry on. If QF staff across their unions and professional orgs could present a clear, concise, and above all, unified narrative, these sorts of interviews would be a lot more interesting.

 

[simongr]

BA exiting Oz has been around as a rumour for years.

 

[Red Roo]

I appreciate what your saying Red Roo, but look at it from a WP point of view.

Change before last took anytime access from us.

Last change gave us nothing, but Silver and Gold Benefitted.

This change, gives Silver and Gold something again, but not WP

You keep talking about the release of WP1, but by QF own admission, this is essentially another level and out of reach for the majority.

So my question is, if QF is so good at looking after its loyal customers (which by the current definition WP most certainly is) what are you doing for us. What reason are you giving us to keep flying QF?

I booked a flight last night DRW - BNE and I god to honest have no reason to fly QF now and that makes me very sad.

The changes Alan referred to this morning regarding Gold and Silver bonuses is referring to the changes that were made in May. We are not making any further changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program as a result of todays announcements. Apologies if this caused any confusion.

Generally Platinum members fly in the premium cabins more than anyone else and therefore the May changes (PY 25-50%, J 50-75% and First 50-100%) were designed to be of benefit to our Platinum members.

Plus, a big benefit to Platinum members and First class travellers, we will be establishing Marc Newson First lounges in LA, Singapore and Hong Kong . And the combined size of our First and Buiness lounges in LA will be three times bigger than today.

Also, as I just mentioned in a previous reply, Qantas Frequent Flyers will be able to earn frequent flyer points and status credits on the new premium airline based in Asia and redeem these through the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. So this will give Platinums a whole new opportunity to earn points and Status credits when they travel.

I hope the above makes you feel better about travelling Qantas as we would hate to lose you.

Cheers,
Red Roo

 

[awilcockson]

Any Seat Redemptions will be available with over 43 airlines, and Classic Awards with 26 partners.

Let's hope CX and BA are on the list!

 

[farmer]

Hi Farmer,

It is true that Qantas International is reducing some services as has been outlined today.

However, there'll also be some new opportunities for earning and using points to get to more places. With Malaysia Airlines joining OW, the KL hub will provide a new way to get to different parts of Europe. In addition with all of our deepening alliance relationships, Any Seat Redemptions will be available with over 43 airlines, and Classic Awards with 26 partners.

Also, a special announcement for the AFF community - I am also pleased to advise that Qantas Frequent Flyers will be able to earn and redeem QFF points on the new premium airline based in Asia, as well as earning Status credits. Cheers, Red Roo

Red Roo,
I don't want to fly with Malaysian Airlines or British Airways. I want to fly Qantas premium services on anoverseas network. Qantas international is being reduced to a rump.

It appears if I want to chose the premium airline I want to fly with it better be Singapore , Emirates etc. who can get me all the way to my destination. Not off loading me to someone else halfway.

I am afraid after being a Qantas FF since 1991 I am going to have to finally revaluate my strategy for accumulating points for premium flights. Qantas is not going to be a premium airline with a network that can satisfy frequent flyers offshore.. It is going to end up coloured orange and not crewed by Australians .

It has carried me countless miles all over the world but not for much longer.

Farmer

 

[kezsco]

Wouldn't really call that a surprise though? Seems pretty obvious that, that would be the case :shock:

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?

 

[kamchatsky]

As a lowly Bronze I am also got one of the most valuable email from QF today.

Whilst not everybody like the idea of change I actually think it is not bad, especially that they need to answer to shareholder first and foremost. Positioning themselves into Asia makes perfect sense. Afterall, no matter how many Plats are there in Australia, Australia only has 20 million people. Whereas in Asia there is a few billion people living there. Where is the biggest opportunity? Of course Asia!

Now the challenge is for QF to actually execute this well, and it would be hard considering there is already a lot of airlines operating in the region. So whilst from strategy point of view it is fantastic but it is also high risk to pull it off, but with experience in Asia using J* I think they can do this properly.

Note: I don't own any Qantas shares.

 

[sergeyvzn]

why not just cut the patriotic bulls**t about "growing Qantas", "still call Australia home" etc...

all have already understood that Qantas international operations are being slowly wound up and will be replaced by JetStar, codeshares and the new Asian offspring - just say so, yes, QF International does not bring profit, we'll get rid of it and replace it with something that does even if it's Asia-based and not Australian

I don't like to be told that something is not what it seems to be but rather something else just because it may offend my patriotism

 

[awilcockson]

Plus, a big benefit to Platinum members and First class travellers, we will be establishing Marc Newson First lounges in LA, Singapore and Hong Kong . And the combined size of our First and Buiness lounges in LA will be three times bigger than today.

Glad to hear that this isn't a Platinum benefit that is looking to be removed.

Also, as I just mentioned in a previous reply, Qantas Frequent Flyers will be able to earn frequent flyer points and status credits on the new premium airline based in Asia and redeem these through the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. So this will give Platinums a whole new opportunity to earn points and Status credits when they travel.

To be fair though, this is a benefit for all FFers, not just Platinums.

 

[connieguy]

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?

Malaysia? Maybe it is a JV between QF and MH? With the JQ base in Sin and JQ Japan, that would give the QF group 3 bases to attack into the growing Asian / China market.

 

[nlagalle]

However, there'll also be some new opportunities for earning and using points to get to more places. With Malaysia Airlines joining OW, the KL hub will provide a new way to get to different parts of Europe. In addition with all of our deepening alliance relationships, Any Seat Redemptions will be available with over 43 airlines, and Classic Awards with 26 partners.

Red Roo, you mentioned the KL hub, are there any details on this? will QF be flying to KL and if so from which places in Aus?

 

[kezsco]

Malaysia? Maybe it is a JV between QF and MH? With the JQ base in Sin and JQ Japan, that would give the QF group 3 bases to attack into the growing Asian / China market.

They wouldn't put a new premium airline in Malaysia to compete with MH - new OW entrant and all. Surely it wouldn't be in Korea either even though OW isn't represented there. Can't see Korea growing like China would. Asiana and Korean Airlines are very well entrenched there as well.

I can't see it being in Vietman either, not with the problems they had with authorities and the Jetstar asia staff there.

Assuming the new carrier (with new name etc) is basically Qantas trying to re-assign The kangaroo route from QF metal to 'new airline' metal to reach multiple destinations in Europe using a very low Asian cost base... then it could really only be SE Asia or Southern China...

Happy for people to correct me if I am wrong. It's all speculation.

 

[medhead]

As an aside: the "As one of our most valued customers" bar is pretty low!

I just got the email from AJ and i'm QF bronze and have caught exactly one Qantas flight in the last year (plus a few J* due to my frequent MEL-NTL trips and a few CX flights credited to QF).

Still it's good to know i'm one of their 8million or so "most valued customers." Would be slightly more honest to address me as "As someone who occasionally uses our airline."

You must be valuable. I haven't got the most valued customer email, yet. Just to confirm what i already knew.

Was your one flight F to LAX?

 

[TheInsider]

Red Roo, you mentioned the KL hub, are there any details on this? will QF be flying to KL and if so from which places in Aus?

Sydney of course! Where else?!

 

[TheInsider]

What will be more interesting is that "tie" up between AirAsia and Malaysian, especially since JQ have a deal with AK and now QF's deal with MH. Seems to be getting a little bit of inbreeding going on!

 

[connieguy]

They wouldn't put a new premium airline in Malaysia to compete with MH - new OW entrant and all...

I'm assuming the new QF group airline will be like JQ Japan, a LCC. If so and if located in KL it should not cause MH any grief as it would target the lower side of the market and would keep MH as the new and only OW entrant in the region.

Or maybe a JV between JQ and AirAsia?

 

[Red Roo]

Red Roo, you mentioned the KL hub, are there any details on this? will QF be flying to KL and if so from which places in Aus?

Hi there, I just mean with Malaysia joining oneworld, there'll be more opportunities for earning and burning QFF points with them throigh KL.

 

[Kendall Roy]

From PPRuNe

"The London based cabin crew will do all SIN-LHR flights as well as SIN-FRA.

Gone are the days of having an Australian
crew on 'The Spirit of Australia' to Europe. What a sad state of affairs.

"
-----
Will be some p***ed off CC I'd imagine.