Go for Qantas flights or other cheaper airlines?

[DrGonzo]

I'd like to fly Qantas and receive frequent flier points, other airlines are several hundred dollars cheaper. What would a return flight from Melbourne to London get me in terms of what I use the points for on a future flight? Also I am also paying for my 2 adult sons, would i receive the points on their flights?

 

[Dave Noble]

a r/t to London would accrue around 20,000 points. 18,000 is enough for a one way trip to Perth in economy

The 2 other passengers can accrue miles in their own names and then use them for their purposes subsequently if they have accounts; they cannot just be accrued directly to your account

If other flights are several hundred dollars cheaper, then I would take the cheaper flights

 

[Mwenenzi]

Qantas does allow family transfers

Frequent flyer programs are best for frequent flyers. If only one trip need to consider if QF if worth the extra $. You can also get QF freg flyer points via Woolworths and other partners

 

[harvyk]

Me personally, I'd go the QF option, but that's simply because I like flying the red roo.

Apart from being 21,012 points, it's also 140 status credit's (based on discount Y, full Y and it's 280 SC's) which will take you a long way towards going up a level (eg NB to PS, PS - SG, or SG to WP)

Add in SYD (so MEL - SYD - SIN - LHR - SIN - SYD - MEL) and you'd get 160 SC's for discount Y, or 320 for full Y, pretty much the the same price. (Plus 22,610 points) So full Y will just about take you all the way to the next level.

Just something else to think about.

 

[JetLagged]

Me personally, I'd go the QF option, but that's simply because I like flying the red roo.

+1, though at times Qantas could respond to some great deals from other full-service airlines to ensure loyalty and gain new support.

 

[oz_mark]

+1, though at times Qantas could respond to some great deals from other full-service airlines to ensure loyalty and gain new support.

I think, in a lot of cases, Qantas have found they don't need to respond.

 

[JetLagged]

I think, in a lot of cases, Qantas have found they don't need to respond.

Mark, in many ways you are right as Qantas does offer a quality service (OK, ready to receive the flaming from some) - but if significant flying opposition offers a long-term sale of seats on long-haul flights (i.e. direct competititon to Qantas from other full-service airlines) and Qantas doesn't respond (either immediately or even within 6 months of the alternative), then they can't expect to maintain total loyalty indefinitely.

One point in question: last years Singapore airlines had a marvellous fare sale in both business and First during the busy summer season, yet Qantas didn't respond at all. OK - they had a 2-1 sale over the European winter period. A friend of mine worked with Qantas at the time and he said they were trying to make management see the need, but very senior decision-makers said: 'Well, people fly with us regardless of the cost, so we don't need to". Not sure if this make either shhort, medium or long-term corporate sense - or is it rather corporate heads-in-the-sand?

 

[Dave Noble]

'Well, people fly with us regardless of the cost, so we don't need to". Not sure if this make either shhort, medium or long-term corporate sense - or is it rather corporate heads-in-the-sand?

While people will fly with them regardless they won't see a need to drop them.

I would just take a few hundread dollars ( or in case of 1st class ticket just purchased last night, 2 thousand dollars) saving over FF miles.

 

[JetLagged]

While people will fly with them regardless they won't see a need to drop them. I would just take a few hundread dollars ( or in case of 1st class ticket just purchased last night, 2 thousand dollars) saving over FF miles.

I have to admit that I probably do to, Dave - mind you - I'd still prefer to be able to both save $ and also accrue FFM on the roo - call me silly, call me patriotic - but if there is a quality alternative, I too look for cheaper at same level of quality service and comfort.

Sleep well in F on your lambswool - where r u flying to, and with whom?

 

[harvyk]

While people will fly with them regardless they won't see a need to drop them.

I would say that the formula for working out if they will drop prices to respond to a competitor is far more complex than you or I would know.

I expect it works out to what ever way they think will give them the highest profit, and there would only be a few in the company to have such a complete picture which they can make the decision.

For example, if they already had 80% utilisation over the competitors sale period, they may decide that they will still sell enough of the remaining 20% of tickets at the higher price that dropping the price to match the competitors is not worth it.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have to admit that I probably do to, Dave - mind you - I'd still prefer to be able to both save $ and also accrue FFM on the roo - call me silly, call me patriotic - but if there is a quality alternative, I too look for cheaper at same level of quality service and comfort.

Sleep well in F on your lambswool - where r u flying to, and with whom?

FF miles arnt worth that much ; jam today is far better than potential jam tomorrow imo

doing a europe-AU r/t on EK in F .. v good fare and a far far better quality imo than QF ( plus QF would have been $2000 more expensive and not have included car transfers) . also doing an AU-US in business class; this is on AA since they were significantly cheaper than any other option I could find for the places I need/want to go to. The only fare I could find close was DL but (a) they were not good for all locations I want to go to plus (b) they didnt have any daytime flights to UK that I could use for returning

doing them in a few weeks

 

[JohnK]

I'd like to fly Qantas and receive frequent flier points, other airlines are several hundred dollars cheaper.

Which airlines? Etihad and Emirates? I would spend the extra money and take the Qantas economy product and service anyday.

 

[Archphoto]

It all depends on what you mean by a "Cheaper Airline".

If it's one of those that you have to pay for just about everything extra - it won't really be all that much cheaper, and on a longhaul flight would you want to be caught out sitting in a cheaper airline's seat that won't recline? (The AirAsia KUL-LHR from memory was dirt cheap, but none of the seats reclined.)

For me - I look at QF, then every other OW airline; whoever is cheapest will win out. I'm patriotic, but the service I get on CX is a hell of a lot better at times than QF.

It all comes down to what do I get for what I pay for - I now fly CX rather than 3K for any BKK-SIN flights. It's cheaper when you compare apples for apples and a hell of a lot less stressful. (Add to that lounge access out of the question for Gold FF - loyalty has to go both ways.)

 

[JetLagged]

For me - I look at QF, then every other OW airline; whoever is cheapest will win out. I'm patriotic, but the service I get on CX is a hell of a lot better at times than QF.

I was looking at CX for a trip to LHR - but after reading the reviews here of CX's herringbone J seat arrangement - even the $$$ didn't entice me to buy a ticket. Still looking, but likely with use QAN flight booked from Sydney for the SYD - SIN on a Y+, then a J ticket from SIN to LHR, booked through the SIN site - about $2,000 cheaper.

 

[Archphoto]

Is that the "private" compartments description?

I have used it when I've flown alone - best business class sleep I have ever had: totally flat bed - I am too short for QF business class and spend the entire time sliding down the seat and bracing myself on the footrest. Not at all comfortable on either a shorter haul (BKK-SYD) or long haul (BKK-LHR). Usually end up just reclining the top half of the seat and forget about the bottom after the first 3 hrs or so.

But if you are flying with a partner it's not so nice, although I'd rather fly CX in this arangment than BA facing complete strangers with their ditzy little "fan" partition.

I guess to each his own. . . . . .

 

[JetLagged]

A number of reviewers here said that if you are a tall person (I'm not that tall, only 180cm) but also somewhat wider shouldered or elsewhere - then they felt really cramped when lying down: fine when just steated. Also they felt as if the air didn't circulate well and they got hot and stuffy. Not good scenario for arriving fresh and relaxed and ready to drive etc.

 

[dajop]

Which airlines? Etihad and Emirates? I would spend the extra money and take the Qantas economy product and service anyday.

What do you base that statement on? Maybe Etihad?

For me - 3 times each in the last 12 months SIN-MEL return on Emirates and Qantas. I would rate the "product" and "service" generally better on Emirates. Certainly the newer version of the EK ICE product (IFE) leaves "on Q" for dead, although I think the A380 QF IFE is pretty good as well. BUt I am sick of that attitude you get from QF flight attendants if you dare ask for something outside of their service patterns, and it's all too common for them to be downright rude. Recent trip mother travelling alone with two toddlers and one of them started wandering in the aisles while mother attended to other. FA response come charging down the aisle yelling "baby in the aisle, baby in the aisle" What the? Help the mother rather than being a total a#s about it. Rude to the mother whole trip, yet fawning over someone they knew (handing out bottles of wine etc) in the row behind her. Enough to put me of QF.

Anyway end of rant, back on topic, to the OP,go with your gut feel, if you are not swimming in cash, save the dollars and go with the alternative and save that money now. THe only reason to pay extra on QF over a lot of airlines is for the FF points, but then again you may score some points in some shape or form on the alternative. By the way, who are the alternatives, that may help, if it was, say, AIr China, perhaps stick to QF. If it was Emirates or Singapore Airlines I'd have no hesitation in recommending them.

 

[dajop]

A number of reviewers here said that if you are a tall person (I'm not that tall, only 180cm) but also somewhat wider shouldered or elsewhere - then they felt really cramped when lying down: fine when just steated. Also they felt as if the air didn't circulate well and they got hot and stuffy. Not good scenario for arriving fresh and relaxed and ready to drive etc.

Load of cough. I'm 183cm, broad shouldered had the herringbone on 16 hr flight to NYC and the 12 hr from SFO-HKG got off the plane feeling absolutely fine. It may not be the best completely flat product in the sky due to the faults mentioned, but I would take it anyday over the angled flat seats (eg QF Skybed MKI aka "Skyslope"). On CX you are still lying completely flat, I had no dramas with airflow or anything like that, and whilst it was narrow, I sleep on my side so that wasn't an issue. And no issues around a neighbour and aisle access, everyone has access to the aisle.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'd like to fly Qantas and receive frequent flier points, other airlines are several hundred dollars cheaper. What would a return flight from Melbourne to London get me in terms of what I use the points for on a future flight? Also I am also paying for my 2 adult sons, would i receive the points on their flights?

Dear Dr,

Will you be doing alot of flying, is this a one-off, does status and convenience mean alot to you? Are you self funded or is BHP backing you?

Chasing conveneience other than flying at the pointy end does take time to accumulate and some $$$$. It is also a passion and a disease, insidious at times!!!

Weigh it all up. You can fly to perth for $250 on the points you make. Is that important to you? Are future upgrades important to you?

Hope I have given some perspective along with all the other great family members on AFF.

Cheers

SRUCE :mrgreen:

 

[straitman]

A number of reviewers here said that if you are a tall person (I'm not that tall, only 180cm) but also somewhat wider shouldered or elsewhere - then they felt really cramped when lying down: fine when just steated. Also they felt as if the air didn't circulate well and they got hot and stuffy. Not good scenario for arriving fresh and relaxed and ready to drive etc.

Load of cough. I'm 183cm, broad shouldered had the herringbone on 16 hr flight to NYC and the 12 hr from SFO-HKG got off the plane feeling absolutely fine. It may not be the best completely flat product in the sky due to the faults mentioned, but I would take it anyday over the angled flat seats (eg QF Skybed MKI aka "Skyslope"). On CX you are still lying completely flat, I had no dramas with airflow or anything like that, and whilst it was narrow, I sleep on my side so that wasn't an issue. And no issues around a neighbour and aisle access, everyone has access to the aisle.

dajop,

I find your 'Load of cough' comment inappropriate and unnecessary. :evil: I have no qualms with the rest of your post as you are entitled to your opinion but so are others.

The post from JetLagged simply stated 'A number of reviewers here said' which is true. There have been reports to that effect.

Just because you have had a good experience does not make it wrong that they have had a bad experience and just because they have had a bad experience does not make it wrong that you have had a good experience.

We each have a different perspective and the answer is subjective and that is why this and similar forums are interesting and relevant.