Have you Stuck with QF?

[Ausbt]

Switched in the great status match of 2011 at SG. Made WP with VA the following year, retained SG with Q for a little while but now at PS (they comped me) and expect to be NB this October. Do not miss Q and would not have made WP with them had I stayed until, well this year in fact (I can offer companion SG to a family member this year). Virgin's upgrade system just works better for me. Still have some Q points I could burn in Y but the taxes are unattractive, still burning them is an excuse to go somewhere.

 

[timster]

Been mostly gone to greener pastures for a few years now. EK/DXB was the straw that broke my camel's back, on top of a long list of other annoyances ...

QP value decimated for international Y flyers
Sydneyfication of QFi
Loss of international routes (esp to Europe via Asia)
BA divorce
EK marriage
DXB
OW devaluation
Paid exit rows
Y seat pitch (less than most Asian airlines ... seriously ?)
Old planes on some routes (underseat VOD boxes ... seriously?)
Pricing (bar the odd sale)
Award availability
Taxes on awards
Jetstar (need I say more ?)
A ridiculous FFP that awards its 10million members for farting as much as flying

The "vibe" - that QF corporate has zero interest in its pax except as self-loading cargo (exhibit 1: Emily's Parents / compensation policy) ... or its workforce.

 

[cgichard]

Still have a few now useless QFF points, but always fly SQ. Gave up on QF years ago when I regularly flew out of Australia on Christmas Day: couldn't stand the Santa hat and relentless Ho ho ho! down the aisles, and double turkey and Xmas pud on longhaul to LHR. That and having the stranger next to me being asked what I would like to drink.

 

[Pleb Status]

I think the answer to the question is mostly related to where you live, who is paying and/or if you are LTG.

If you are SYD, MEL or to a lesser extent BNE based and your company is paying for your flights, I assume you are sticking with QF as QF actually services your port and you do not care how much extra you are paying over the competition.

If you are based elsewhere and/or you are self funding your flights, I assume you are more likely to be (and should be) looking elsewhere.

Being PER based, QFi actually gave up on us for a while, so we were forced to look elsewhere if you wanted to fly anywhere west or north of PER. Even now QFi are back (sort of), they offer a lower quality, low frequency service compared to the competition (generally SQ at the top end and 3K/TZ at the low end). Domestically, QF and VA offer flights within 45 minutes of each other on my most popular sectors to/from PER, so there is no real difference there.

Being primarily self funded, QF have not been equal or lower in price on any flight I have booked since instituting my personal BFOD policy at the end of 2014. This statement is without exceptions. Any QF flights I have booked were more expensive than VA, but I booked them to use up QF gift vouchers that were going to expire or to allow J points upgrades at the time of booking (to burn points). Although the on board service is marginally better in QF dom Y (equal in J), this cannot offset the thousands of dollars I have personally saved implementing BFOD.

So in my case, going 'purple' has been a no brainer and I am actually a bit disappointed that I let myself be 'blinded' by my past 'loyalty' to QF. Knowing that I have LTG in the bag is also good if circumstances change in the future. I get equal frequencies domestically on the sectors that I fly, I can actually fly full service to South Asia (and beyond) and all at lower cost and with greater flexibility on the partner airlines (you earn full FFP and SC if you book direct on SQ/EY unlike EK).

 

[Skyring]

I'm sticking with QF. I'm LTS and approaching LTG, so that's an incentive. Out of Canberra, it's VA and QF (though SG comes online in September).

QF is a known quantity for me. Maybe there is better value elsewhere, but in roaming the world, I feel at home, at ease on QF. They may not sparkle like some, but nor do they shave too many pennies on safety. Every time jb747 - veteran pilot - mentions mandatory sim sessions and safety procedures, I feel better about QF. Far too many airlines just show a video about safety, but I watch the QF FAs every time they put on their lifejackets. I can just see myself getting tangled up in the thing if I have to do it for real in a hurry.

I was dubious about the EK thing, but taking QF1 or QF9 to DXB and then EK onwards saves a lot of time and hassle as opposed to making a transit through LHR and flying an elderly A320 back to where I really want to go. Besides, the lounges at DXB are awesome, especially compared to those available at SIN.

 

[Foreigner]

For domestic, I'm stuck more to QF.

Experienced, mature staff preferred to VA's fresh recruits. The occasional, friendly-natured banter between cabin staff sounds good, even on full flights in Y.

 

[burmans]

Agree with those in the middle. QF has its time and place but I'm certainly mixing it up a lot more these days.

 

[love_the_life]

Skyring, do you mean SQ rather than SG comes on line in Sept or is something new happening that I don't know about?

 

[Skyring]

Skyring, do you mean SQ rather than SG comes on line in Sept or is something new happening that I don't know about?

Of course. This probably explains why my trip to SFO ended up SFA.

 

[NZflygirl]

I believe there is a distinct differentiation between airline loyalty and frequent flyer program loyalty.
If recognition upgrades are keeping you loyal to the airline then the FFP is working perfectly to keep *you* spending.

If 2x upgrades a year is what it takes to keep your business (don't tell the airline this!) - one could crunch a few numbers to work out the opportunity cost of not crediting to another FFP by calculating the number of points you're effectively losing, which may well outweigh the RUs.

This is exactly why Qantas FF represents terrible value compared to other programs for certain customer segments.
Air NZ may well work out best for you and if you're in a happy place there's no reason to bother analysing anything.

However it never hurts to take inventory of your business so you can maximize the opportunities.
After all - airlines need you more than you need them.

I don't consider it airline loyalty though. If I had all the money in the world or had no FFP and flew infrequently, Air NZ would remain my preferred = favourite carrier because I like what they do, which is not the same as loyalty. If you choose a business partner, you do so because they're good, not because you're loyal to them. For other routes I may have a different favourite carrier. That is not loyalty - they are just the best perceived carrier for value on the route. "Emotionally" I am loyal to NZ. But it is the brain that rules the wallet which ultimately weighs up the $$ and perceived value. Had I been loyal to NZ I would not be flying or crediting to QF and VA etc even on TT or WA legs.


Interestingly it is these "loyalty programs" which make me switch carriers and add in FFPs. Without FFPs I would just fly my preferred carrier for that destination.


p.s. There is more to NZ than 2 RUs. I'd have to earn 156000 QF points in a yr to meet maybe the equivalent in upgrades from Y to PE, I could get on Air NZ in a year of flying. I'm pretty sure flying to 1200 on QF won't get me 156,000. And we are talking pure flying, this excludes credit cards. You'd need promos and even then I think it's still a stretch. At least that's what the QF calculators tell me. In some ways it's a bit irrelevant as I don't fly long haul that often on a personal level to use it all...currently.

P.p.s I need the airlines. Kayaking isn't an option.

 

[Awesom Andy]

A rather timely thread for me... this weekend, I took my first paid SQ flight in 5 years.

 

[marki]

Been mostly gone to greener pastures for a few years now. EK/DXB was the straw that broke my camel's back, on top of a long list of other annoyances ...

QP value decimated for international Y flyers
Sydneyfication of QFi
Loss of international routes (esp to Europe via Asia)
BA divorce
EK marriage
DXB
OW devaluation
Paid exit rows
Y seat pitch (less than most Asian airlines ... seriously ?)
Old planes on some routes (underseat VOD boxes ... seriously?)
Pricing (bar the odd sale)
Award availability
Taxes on awards
Jetstar (need I say more ?)
A ridiculous FFP that awards its 10million members for farting as much as flying

The "vibe" - that QF corporate has zero interest in its pax except as self-loading cargo (exhibit 1: Emily's Parents / compensation policy) ... or its workforce.

I am sure your name is JB and no not Hifi more VA, but I agrees with u

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

I am a best deal on the day type person and lately that has been leaning towards VA.. But looking at the Roo tails at LAX.. I felt quite homesick and realised how sad I would be if they were no longer there so next time I will be leaning towards Qantas.. And not just because they fly direct to melbourne

 

[timster]

I am sure your name is JB and no not Hifi more VA, but I agrees with u

LOL. It took me a moment to figure out who I think you are referring to. Still guessing somewhat, but I could only guess at all as a result of coincidentally currently reading Matt O'Sullivan's book "Mayday. How Warring Egos Forced Qantas Off Course." The JB I think you are referring to obviously features there.

Anyway, an interesting - but incorrect - speculation. As my list indicates, I'm mainly a Y flyer, so that presumably doesn't fit.

Also, VA would be part of *A in a second if I had any say in the matter. Then I could dispense with QFd too. Until then, I still use QF domestically as there is no incentive to do otherwise.

 

[marki]

John Borghetti ,

I understand.

LOL. It took me a moment to figure out who I think you are referring to. Still guessing somewhat, but I could only guess at all as a result of coincidentally currently reading Matt O'Sullivan's book "Mayday. How Warring Egos Forced Qantas Off Course." The JB I think you are referring to obviously features there.

Anyway, an interesting - but incorrect - speculation. As my list indicates, I'm mainly a Y flyer, so that presumably doesn't fit.

Also, VA would be part of *A in a second if I had any say in the matter. Then I could dispense with QFd too. Until then, I still use QF domestically as there is no incentive to do otherwise.

 

[samh004]

I've stuck with them, but my flying has dropped off a cliff!

It's not so much the earning that has upset me, nor the burning as I do use Classic awards a lot now (whereas before they were mASA's)... but it's the fact the prices have risen so much I simply can't afford it anymore.

When I started to enjoy flying and in my best years, there were regular QFLink deals around the $59-$79 mark one-way. Now a ticket to my favourite destination has just risen from $181 to $215!! I make the same amount of money, so I'm not a fan of this inflation thing

 

[Deleted member]

Reading more posts has reminded me that having made my decision, it doesn't hurt to consider the alternatives. What is apparent is that there are often seemingly small benefits that dictate which program one chooses. A change in circumstance might change that . For now it is expedient to stay QFF. But one never knows what's around the corner.

 

[maninblack]

Yes. When you put aside occasional annoyances and deficiencies, that you will encounter with any airline, the whole package is quite good and frankly if you do a mix of international and domestic then there isn't much of an alternative.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I'm still firmly In the "stay with QF camp".

A few weeks ago I took both a QF domestic flight on an outbound sector whilst taking a VA domestic flight on the return sector on the same day.

The hard and soft products on VA left me extremely underwhelmed and VA still has some way to go to be on the same level as the Red Roo IMHO.
Whilst QF has reduced their international footprint over the last 5-10 years particularly from MEL, the VA options ex MEL to fly international on VA metal are worse still.

I agree that many of the enhancements made to the QFF have benefited very few, although I hardly see Virgin velocity as being a superior loyalty program either with the points required for short haul domestic flights redemptions being 200 points less than a QF flight redemption where the product offering is far stronger on the red roo.

VA needs to work on providing better flight times suitable for working professionals looking to cater for weekend getaways ex MEL particularly on the NTL & HBA sectors that I frequent before I would be prepared to give them a go more frequently.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Been mostly gone to greener pastures for a few years now. EK/DXB was the straw that broke my camel's back, on top of a long list of other annoyances ...

QP value decimated for international Y flyers
Sydneyfication of QFi
Loss of international routes (esp to Europe via Asia)
BA divorce
EK marriage
DXB
OW devaluation
Paid exit rows
Y seat pitch (less than most Asian airlines ... seriously ?)
Old planes on some routes (underseat VOD boxes ... seriously?)
Pricing (bar the odd sale)
Award availability
Taxes on awards
Jetstar (need I say more ?)
A ridiculous FFP that awards its 10million members for farting as much as flying

The "vibe" - that QF corporate has zero interest in its pax except as self-loading cargo (exhibit 1: Emily's Parents / compensation policy) ... or its workforce.

Totally on point. With the current dining bonus, for a $46 meal for two I earn about 4 x as much as for an upcoming intra-Europe flight on BA.

My SMFFF (Self Managed Frequent Flyer Fund) has been looking a lot better since dropping a focus on earning QFF points.