Federal Government Status Match 2018

[ksthommo]

Sent mine in last night, just checked my Velocity account online, red to gold, expiry 06Jul19. Thanks for posting Stevo.1702

 

[Pleb Status]

That's one route. On many routes Qantas is cheaper. In fact I believe Virgin makes a lot of money out of people assuming they are cheaper than Qantas without checking. Sometimes when I've checked Virgin can be almost double Qantas - this is especially true when Virgin has a smaller market share on the route, and/or competing with Qantas & Jetstar (ie, fewer flights means the cheap fares sell out quicker than Qantas).

To prove my point, I just did a random price comparison for SYD-BNE next Friday between 1800-2000. Cheapest on Virgin is $369 - Cheapest on Qantas is $263. Jetstar is $199. So yeah, this very much depends on routes, times and dates. I'm sure we can get plenty of examples either way.

I also get almost half of my SCs on non-Australian airlines (mostly AA or BA). I've flown with about 7-8 oneworld airlines in the last 5 years, it's great knowing I have the same benefits and I don't have to worry about booking with QF codes. I know Virgin has it's patchwork alliance but it's neither extensive nor reliable (looking at you Air NZ).

My almost $30k saving by flying VA (and partners) since early 2015 would tend to provide strong evidence to the contrary.

I assume it does not matter as much to those who fly far less however.

I do note that you will not earn a single SC whatsoever, no matter what fare class/cabin you book into, if you book direct with the largest alliance partner of QF. The SC earn on all of the main VA alliance partners (DL, SQ and EY etc) is the same if you book direct as if you book on the VA codeshare...

 

[Stevo.1702]

A few things in my personal experience that leads to Qantas flights being booked far more commonly than Virgin. Destinations I need to go to not serviced by Virgin (Horn Island, Wagga). Additionally, international destinations where Qantas has far greater coverage.

And I'd suggest that with regards to the cost per flight quoted in the SBS link above that because Qantas may have a significantly larger percentage of the international segments that the average cost per flight is dragged up slightly.

 

[Stevo.1702]

A few things in my personal experience that leads to Qantas flights being booked far more commonly than Virgin. Destinations I need to go to not serviced by Virgin (Horn Island, Wagga). Additionally, international destinations where Qantas has far greater coverage.

And I'd suggest that with regards to the cost per flight quoted in the SBS link above that because Qantas may have a significantly larger percentage of the international segments that the average cost per flight is dragged up slightly.

Just today I've had to request flights from Townsville to Wagga then onwards to Darwin. No doubt Qantas will be booked and that is minimum 5 flights with near no competition.

 

[justinbrett]

I do note that you will not earn a single SC whatsoever, no matter what fare class/cabin you book into, if you book direct with the largest alliance partner of QF. The SC earn on all of the main VA alliance partners (DL, SQ and EY etc) is the same if you book direct as if you book on the VA codeshare...

Who are you talking about? Emirates? They're not an alliance partner. I wouldn't want to fly with them anyway. You get QF SCs on all oneworld partners, inc BA, AA, CX, QR - it's a big list.

 

[Pleb Status]

Who are you talking about? Emirates? They're not an alliance partner. I wouldn't want to fly with them anyway. You get QF SCs on all oneworld partners, inc BA, AA, CX, QR - it's a big list.

QF and EK believe they have a very large and important alliance. They certainly advertise it enough...

QANTAS AND EMIRATES TO EXTEND PARTNERSHIP

"The first five years of the Qantas-Emirates alliance has been a great success. Emirates has given Qantas customers an unbeatable network into Europe that is still growing. We want to keep leveraging this strength and offer additional travel options on Qantas, particularly through Asia."

A very big exclusion one might say. I believe the only VA partners that do not generally earn SC when you book directly are AC and to some extent NZ.

Not all fare classes on some OW airlines earn SC/FFP either (CX, MH and QR cheap fares for example).

 

[serfty]

I am very price sensitive.

You can use specific routes etc. to illustrate price etc. if you have a specific POV to promote.

I generally book well in advance and take the most cost effective option.

I am WP with both QFF and Velocity and am free to choose.

My next 7 flights booked are all on VA ...

 

[justinbrett]

QF and EK believe they have a very large and important alliance. They certainly advertise it enough...

QANTAS AND EMIRATES TO EXTEND PARTNERSHIP

"The first five years of the Qantas-Emirates alliance has been a great success. Emirates has given Qantas customers an unbeatable network into Europe that is still growing. We want to keep leveraging this strength and offer additional travel options on Qantas, particularly through Asia."

I realise that is an alliance by Virgin's definition - but I was referring to the actual airline alliance (ie oneworld). Spin it any way you want it, but the SC earning options for QF members far exceed that of VA.

You've effectively lost Air NZ as a partner when you stopped earning status on trans pac / Europe - and now the plug has been pulled on the trans-tasman alliance, what's left? That's my biggest concern about VA, there's a level of security in being in a formal alliance.

So in fact QF members will be able to fly on Air NZ, receive lounge access and earn SCs (if booked as QF codeshare).

 

[Pleb Status]

I realise that is an alliance by Virgin's definition - but I was referring to the actual airline alliance (ie oneworld). Spin it any way you want it, but the SC earning options for QF members far exceed that of VA.

You've effectively lost Air NZ as a partner when you stopped earning status on trans pac / Europe - and now the plug has been pulled on the trans-tasman alliance, what's left? That's my biggest concern about VA, there's a level of security in being in a formal alliance.

So in fact QF members will be able to fly on Air NZ, receive lounge access and earn SCs (if booked as QF codeshare).

The QF/EK alliance has been deemed to be an alliance by QF (as per my link), VA has nothing to do with that. QF would most likely say it is one of their most important alliances as well.

At the end of the day, feel free to spend far more to get less. Three years of meticulous research (and flying) has proven that beyond doubt. I suppose QF record profits have got to come from somewhere.

It should also be noted that with WP retain at 800SC (vs 1200SC), there is no need to chase every single SC and this alone would offset a 'perceived' lack of SC earning partners with VA.

 

[justinbrett]

The QF/EK alliance has been deemed to be an alliance by QF (as per my link), VA has nothing to do with that. QF would most likely say it is one of their most important alliances as well.

At the end of the day, feel free to spend far more to get less. Three years of meticulous research (and flying) has proven that beyond doubt. I suppose QF record profits have got to come from somewhere.

It should also be noted that with WP retain at 800SC (vs 1200SC), there is no need to chase every single SC and this alone would offset a 'perceived' lack of SC earning partners with VA.

Funny I've never seen the Emirates logo on the door of every Qantas aircraft? Seems to just have the oneworld alliance logo...

You're playing a silly game of semantics. Media alert aside, their website refers to it as the "Qantas/Emirates Partnership" - and a follow up media alert AFTER the one you posted does the same - let's just say I'm referring to the "big a" Alliances, oneworld/skyteam/star alliance, which is what most people refer to when they say airline alliance - as opposed to a "small a" alliance meaning a unilateral partnership.

As for the price/value - I've already shown you that this is highly dependant on individual travel patterns. Neither is categorically cheaper than the other. Certainly for the WoAG fares (back to the OT) they are often about the same.

 

[Danger]

As this status match could very easily be considered deriving a personal benefit from Commonwealth employment, I'm surprised it's being allowed by the government. When Qantas grounded the fleet a few years back and then gave impacted travellers a free flight, my colleagues and I were expressly prohibited from taking up the offer because we were only being offered it because of our employment (i.e. our work travel was grounded). It's the same with the stupid no FF points policy. The idea is you're using those for your own gain.

 

[RoMambai]

As this status match could very easily be considered deriving a personal benefit from Commonwealth employment

I see your point. However, public servants currently accrue status points when they travel on Government fares and that's been occuring for years without a problem. Select senior officials also get invited to the CL and its Virgin equivalent so there must be some leeway apportioned for personal benefit while travelling on the public purse.

FF points are an entirely different order of benefit and are rightly not allowed.

 

[justinbrett]

As this status match could very easily be considered deriving a personal benefit from Commonwealth employment, I'm surprised it's being allowed by the government. When Qantas grounded the fleet a few years back and then gave impacted travellers a free flight, my colleagues and I were expressly prohibited from taking up the offer because we were only being offered it because of our employment (i.e. our work travel was grounded). It's the same with the stupid no FF points policy. The idea is you're using those for your own gain.

As stated, commonwealth employees are permitted to earn status credits but not frequent flyer points. I'm not sure about the other departments, but Defence used to pay for lounge membership if you could demonstrate you flew for duty often enough. I think the theory is now, if you fly often enough for duty you'll earn enough status to get lounge access, so they no longer pay for it directly.

This offer is targeted to Qantas frequent flyers with status, who happen to be commonwealth employees. It's the Qantas status is what is being valued here, not the employee status. There could be many employees who have achieved their status solely on personal travel (my status is about 25% duty and 75% personal). Most commonwealth employees won't be eligible.

And more generally - many places give Defence discounts - I understand that's not WoAG - but there's no restrictions on members taking advantage of them.

 

[davidj]

As for the price/value - I've already shown you that this is highly dependant on individual travel patterns. Neither is categorically cheaper than the other. Certainly for the WoAG fares (back to the OT) they are often about the same.

Correct. There was a time when VOZ was cheaper but more recently I'm no longer surprised when VOZ costs significantly more than QFA.

 

[davidj]

Sent mine in last night

What did you send? Just front scan of card, or PDF print of QFA member page?

 

[RoMambai]

I'm not sure about the other departments, but Defence used to pay for lounge membership if you could demonstrate you flew for duty often enough.

IIRC up until the mid to late '00s, a subsidiary company called Qantas Defence Services had the contract as the in-house travel provider for the Department and not surprisingly steered nearly all of Defence travel needs through Qantas. I think it was also around this time that lounge membership was virtually de rigeur. A cosy relationship indeed.

 

[ksthommo]

What did you send? Just front scan of card, or PDF print of QFA member page?

Front of card only, expiry date was end of July 2018

 

[coyote25]

If interested attached is the PDF offer from Virgin Australia, they also promote the benefits available from the offer at the different levels like:

• Lounge access
• Fly Ahead to your destination
• An annual family trip, guaranteed to be at Economy Reward Seat pricing

 

[Danger]

As stated, commonwealth employees are permitted to earn status credits but not frequent flyer points.

The rules that I've seen simply say you "do not earn frequent flyer points", not that you could not earn them, nor that earning them was prohibited. That may well vary by department or EBA.

This offer is targeted to Qantas frequent flyers with status, who happen to be commonwealth employees. It's the Qantas status is what is being valued here, not the employee status.

I strongly disagree with you on that one. Commonwealth employees are being specifically targeted.

 

[justinbrett]

The rules that I've seen simply say you "do not earn frequent flyer points", not that you could not earn them, nor that earning them was prohibited. That may well vary by department or EBA.



I strongly disagree with you on that one. Commonwealth employees are being specifically targeted.

First point - probably by department. Expressly prohibited in Defence for APS and ADF. If they accidently get credited you have to call Qantas and get them removed (it's happened a few time to me on Jetstar).

Second point - think what you like. But there's nothing wrong with an offer being made to you based on being a commonwealth employee (refer my previous example of Defence discounts at hundreds of places). You are getting this based on your Qantas status - if you have no Qantas status you don't get anything. They do status matches from time to time for non-employees.