Future of Qantas

[kiwial]

Re: Qantas lets microchipped frequent fliers skip the queues

Doesn't NZ have a similar system?

I note in the SMH that Joyce has modified his 'World First' statement.
"The smaller rival, Air New Zealand, launched a similar service a year ago but Mr Joyce said the initiative was proof Qantas was ''at the aviation forefront''
Qantas and check-in | Alan Joyce | Airport of the Future | Australian Services Union

Yes, NZ were the innovator here with their ePass and QF have taken it one step further with the RFID bag tags. On NZ, you tag your own bags - details below.


ePass

If you are a Gold Elite, Gold, Silver or Koru member you will receive your own ePass. The ePass is an electronic tag that identifies you at our airport kiosks, boarding gates, and Koru Lounges.

When travelling within New Zealand, if you only have carry-on luggage, just scan the ePass at the gate when you go to board.

If you have bags, scan the ePass at a kiosk. Collect your boarding pass, attach the printed bag tags and drop your bags on the bag drop belt. Remember to make sure your bag weighs less than 25kg.

Stick the ePass to the back of your mobile or anything else you can be sure you'll have with you at all times. Your personal ePass works on a radio frequency and only contains one unique code, which we use to identify you.

We don't store any other information on your ePass so you can be confident all your personal information is safe.

 

[serfty]

Re: Qantas lets microchipped frequent fliers skip the queues

...
Yes, NZ were the innovator here with their ePass and QF have taken it one step further with the RFID bag tags. On NZ, you tag your own bags - details below. ...[/FONT]

Yep, I have one of these ... see my earlier post in this thread: The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - View Single Post - Future of Qantas

 

[drewbles]

Slightly O/T (and i'm sure I remember reading this in a thread here or somewhere on FT), but I read an article in one of the papers that said the NFC/RFID cards they will issue to FF'ers represent around 40% of their membership base (implying that 40% are QP/PS or above).

Does anyone have any source on breakdown of FF tiers and rough percentages of NB/PS/SG/WP? I'm assuming NB is going to make up a greater proportion than PS/SG/WP combined, but am curious myself as to what the percentages are.

I don't believe i've ever seen QF release numbers on this, but thought someone may have a 'source' for this...

Just to satiate my curiosity

 

[tuapekastar]

Slightly O/T (and i'm sure I remember reading this in a thread here or somewhere on FT), but I read an article in one of the papers that said the NFC/RFID cards they will issue to FF'ers represent around 40% of their membership base (implying that 40% are QP/PS or above).

Does anyone have any source on breakdown of FF tiers and rough percentages of NB/PS/SG/WP? I'm assuming NB is going to make up a greater proportion than PS/SG/WP combined, but am curious myself as to what the percentages are.

I don't believe i've ever seen QF release numbers on this, but thought someone may have a 'source' for this...

Just to satiate my curiosity

There have certainly been some figures posted here or on FT in the past (like 2 or 3 years ago).

Can't recall them and can't recall how reliable the source was.

If I can find them I'll link to them.

 

[dajop]

Good to see NZ getting some acknowledgement, IMHO they are the true innovators, QF just leverage (and in some cases improve on) the innovations. (eg the new 738's on trans tasman, that followed NZ's 320 upgrades).

Another quote:

We introduced our market leading Premium Economy in 2008

What makes QF's Y+ "market leading" and NZ's some years earlier not? (and then there's BA's WT+ ...)

 

[NM]

I don't believe i've ever seen QF release numbers on this, but thought someone may have a 'source' for this...

I expect that detail would be considered commercially sensitive and I doubt Qantas would be publishing such detail. Any information circulating about such membership levels would likely be speculation.

 

[serfty]

Plenty of speculation:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com.../how-many-passengers-gold-platinum-12967.html

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...flyer-program/number-of-qff-members-6134.html

 

[drewbles]

Plenty of speculation:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com.../how-many-passengers-gold-platinum-12967.html

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...flyer-program/number-of-qff-members-6134.html

Thanks serfty. They're the ones I seem to recall floating around

 

[Mal]

What makes QF's Y+ "market leading" and NZ's some years earlier not? (and then there's BA's WT+ ...)

"Market Leading" is just spin for being the best. Not the first!

 

[medhead]

More here on the new check in procedure.

Qantas to roll out faster check in technology | The Australian

This story isn't as full and descriptive as the version in the paper. Having read the description of swiping your card and scanning your baggage in, and having a floating staff member attend to any issues. I had to wonder if Joyce has tried the self service check out at the supermarket. Buy a special - Attendant required, move the shopping bag - attendant required, pay with a credit card - attendant required.

Gee that'll help reduce check in lines.

 

[docjames]

Buy a special - Attendant required, move the shopping bag - attendant required, pay with a credit card - attendant required.

Gee that'll help reduce check in lines.

And you've summed up exactly why i hate the self-checkout at the supermarket. :evil:


Seriously, by all reports the AirNZ one works, so QF should be able to manage it (emphasis on should)..

 

[NM]

More here on the new check in procedure.

Qantas to roll out faster check in technology | The Australian

This story isn't as full and descriptive as the version in the paper. Having read the description of swiping your card and scanning your baggage in, and having a floating staff member attend to any issues. I had to wonder if Joyce has tried the self service check out at the supermarket. Buy a special - Attendant required, move the shopping bag - attendant required, pay with a credit card - attendant required.

Gee that'll help reduce check in lines.

I am sure he has! That way he needs one attendant to service say 8 check-in machines/queues. So now we have the customer waiting for the attendant (to do the things that require an attendant) rather than the attendant waiting for the customer or doing the things that the customer could be doing themselves. No point paying attendants to do what the customer can do for themselves. Have the attendant just doing the parts that requires an attendant and moving between customers means maximum use of the attendant.

I suggest the driving force behind this is to reduce costs (less attendants required) and any improvement in the customer experience that can be added to the spin is a bonus for "selling" the concept.

Hopefully it results in a win for both side.

For those of us disloyal enough to fly Qantas regularly but using a FF membership from AAnother AAirline, hopefully the premium counter check-in queues will remain and become less congested.

 

[dajop]

"Market Leading" is just spin for being the best. Not the first!

Well vs NZ (744) that I would argue with as well.

But never mind, I took "market leading" as charging the most, and being first to increase fares.

 

[Lucky_man]

Slightly O/T (and i'm sure I remember reading this in a thread here or somewhere on FT), but I read an article in one of the papers that said the NFC/RFID cards they will issue to FF'ers represent around 40% of their membership base (implying that 40% are QP/PS or above).

Be careful with percentages here. Status passengers will make up a bigger percentage of the passengers on the plane than they make a percentage of the FF population (or customer base). This is because they fly more often.

So while I think the 40% is a high estimate as a percentage of the FF population it is likely that 40% of the passenger population on a given flight is QP/PS or above.

I have seen an estimate based on the revenue of the FF program. I don't follow the argument though. Has some one has assumed that the revenue for the program is all QP memberships but there are other revenue streams for the FF program (like those points you get from credit cards - the credit card companies have to pay for them!).

 

[serfty]

Frequent Flyer Qantas Annual Report 2009

Frequent Flyer Key Figures 2008/09

Revenue ($m)                  1,133
Underlying Earnings
Before Interest and Tax ($m)    226
Earnings Before Interest
and Tax ($m)                    310
Membership (millions)           5.8

OK, so if based on %age of members who have status then:

~2,320,000 PS/QP and above, leaves ~3,480,000 non status members.

Otherwise, if based on %age of fliers on each flight who have status then:

Operational Overview Qantas Annual Report 2009

• 334,000 flights over 530 million kilometres*
• 38 million passengers carried
• 36 million meals prepared
• 18 per cent more Frequent Flyer points redeemed
• 575,000 tonnes of freight handled
• 490,000 engineering tasks undertaken

Then:

• Average Pax per flight 115
• Average PS+ status per flight 46.

 

[Danger]

I suggest the driving force behind this is to reduce costs (less attendants required) and any improvement in the customer experience that can be added to the spin is a bonus for "selling" the concept.

I wonder how long before we see "Qantas slashes hundreds of jobs" in the headlines?

 

[medhead]

I am sure he has! That way he needs one attendant to service say 8 check-in machines/queues. So now we have the customer waiting for the attendant (to do the things that require an attendant) rather than the attendant waiting for the customer

I suggest the driving force behind this is to reduce costs (less attendants required) and any improvement in the customer experience that can be added to the spin is a bonus for "selling" the concept.

100% agreed that the point of this is to save money. But my customer experience at the supermarket when 6 customers are waiting for the attendant is a lot worse that my experience of just waiting my turn. IMO there is a big risk that customer experience will go down hill in spite of the hype.

 

[wandering_fred]

Average Pax per flight 115
Average PS+ status per flight 46.

I wonder if the QP membership is included - I can certainly imagine that ex PER domestic on a Friday well more than half the PAX on the planes would have lounge access.

TransPacific I wonder if they count the number of other OneWorld elite members. which would have a serious influence on the average status on those flights. And the J/F cabin probably would be 70-80% elite

Lies/damned lies/statistics - I think someone said something about that

In any case I doubt I will trade in my AA status for QF - even if SYD-MEL award tickets are cheaper with QF..

Fred

 

[NM]

Qantas plans 'Airport of the Future,' premium service upgrades

From ATW Daily News:

Qantas plans to introduce an Airport of the Future concept in major domestic markets next year that it said will reduce dramatically time spent at check-in and in security queues and speed baggage collection.

 

[pauly7]

We are planning to offer domestic advance seat selection by the end of the year .

FANTASTIC!! Finally.... that 2 week 'mistake trial' was great - hopefully its done before Xmas.