Have you Stuck with QF?

[TonyHancock]

I have been a member here for coming up to six years and there have been a few Qantas enhancements in that time. Removal of any time access, the death of the mASA, Simpler and Fairer, points devaluations, and probably some I have forgotten. Most have caused angst on AFF, but have you stuck with Qantas or left for greener pastures?

This is a binary question, and I am dealing in absolutes.

 

[Steady]

With only two options to choose from in the poll I had to go with "I'm with Red Roo through and through" having a regional airport (DPO) only serviced by QF makes QF a no brainer in my case.

I could go to a different airport (BWT) and fly REX then collect bags in MEL and connect onto VA...... or drive an extra 60 minutes each way to LST, pay 4 times more for parking and fly VA ......

I don't know what I would do if I lived near an airport serviced by both VA and QF, but if just VA I have no doubt I would fly them.

Grass is always greener, the same (usually) applies to the view you get when you cross over the fence and look back.

I feel it is best to make the most of what you are dealt, currently for me it is QF and via AFF

 

[medhead]

Not enough options. It's not a binary question, there is a probability distribution to the answer.
Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

 

[yohy?!]

stuck with them but weaned myself off WP, now only qualify SG on work travel - personal travel BFOD

 

[waltervp]

Same here. DPO! Hence Qantas. Every year i think of canceling the Q CLUB mship and each year I reluctantly renew. Maybe this August I'll bite the bullet and stop club mship.

 

[Mattg]

There needs to be a third option in the middle. That's where I would sit.

I still like flying Qantas, but I am not blindly loyal any more. If there is a better option out there, I will use it.

I've started using AAdvantage more and more, and look at other options and alliances if they provide a better schedule/price/etc. Heck, I'll even be Silver with VA next month. And I don't even fly them that much.

Loyalty is a two-way street. If Qantas hadn't "enhanced" so much over the past years, I might just show them more of it.

 

[JohnK]

The grass is definitely not greener on the other side. More like brown. Or as a good friend says too much lipstick on the pig.

Qantas thanks until another serious carrier comes along. The 3 LCCs competing against Qantas just don't do it for me.

 

[NZflygirl]

Just joined last year! I think I don't truly believe in loyalty - not when it's detrimental and I think FFP can be. FFPs make you put blinkers on and you can forget to look at the overall picture. Flying is about getting from A to B and either getting work done at Point B or having a fun trip at point B! (Yes it's a basic normal everyday world perspective, not a FF one). And one carrier may not be the best choice for all your flying.

When you get distracted by the FFP and that becomes the goal then I think people can set themselves up for disappointments because airlines can move the goal posts at any time and we know this. Accepting that may be another story for some people.
I prefer to keep the perspective that I'm getting something for free eg I don't have to pay for club membership due to the FFP and that's a bonus on top of getting to point B. I'd be superbly angry if I was "loyal" to an airline to the point of not flying another carrier when a sale fare was on and booking with my FFP instead.

I've only used upgrades on 2 flights since joining QF. The lounge and 2 bags I've used much more.

And then you put your FF hat on and start thinking "oh I can pay for that on points" "oh the surcharges are ridiculous I might as well buy it and earn the sc!" And you can spend literally hours trying to reroute yourself to earn sc and cheaper pricing etc.

Meantime a beautiful sunny day might be passing one by..... Not really a trade off I enjoy!

In summary I don't feel angry about any changes that have occurred or will occur. I need a domestic Oz carrier and I'm not convinced VA are the definition of "greener pastures" although I certainly don't consider myself "with red roo through and through" either. I am not important to the airline. They will not go out of business without my contributions. My travel options however may be more limited if I exclude a FFP or carrier and this hurts me.

i am probably more partial to QF but it has nothing to do with the FFP. I don't think I'll vote as I don't fit either.

 

[dfcatch]

I have been a member here for coming up to six years and there have been a few Qantas enhancements in that time. Removal of any time access, the death of the mASA, Simpler and Fairer, points devaluations, and probably some I have forgotten. Most have caused angst on AFF, but have you stuck with Qantas or left for greener pastures?

This is a binary question, and I am dealing in absolutes.

I answered the poll incorrectly - I read the first option and thought - "yep, just like Red Roo i'm done with QF".

Didn't read the second option......

 

[TonyHancock]

The death of the mASA combined with the status credit earn enhancements on other OW carriers were the killer blows for me. My long haul travel has predominantly gone to BA, my domestic has been mainly VA since Alan Joyce grounded the fleet back in 2011.

Bizarrely I still finish up on QF flights to SIN and HKG but as BA codeshares. My QF SC earn will be 250 for my year ending July this year. (120 of those were from a JQ flight to BKK and 10 were a crediting problem I didn't bother to follow up.)

.......now the thing is I don't think QF will miss me at all. Like many here I want to find the best deal. I was fortunate enough to benefit big time with Long Haul FASA's and then even more from P1 status earned from them.

No doubt my particular golden goose and its inexpensive ex EU pricing will come to an end and I'll have to find something else...but for the time being it is all about making hay whilst the sun shines. I have long since given up believing in loyalty. I have a budget and my intent is to get the best premium travel I can.

 

[TonyHancock]

I answered the poll incorrectly - I read the first option and thought - "yep, just like Red Roo i'm done with QF".

Didn't read the second option......

Excellent :-D

 

[NZflygirl]

This is a binary question, and I am dealing in absolutes.

Just like a FFP ... you've adjusted the rules already!

Hmmm....guess I'll have to go with being "with red roo through and through".

See? My loyalty has made me unhappy already!

 

[TonyHancock]

Just like a FFP ... you've adjusted the rules already!

Hmmm....guess I'll have to go with being "with red roo through and through".

See? My loyalty has made me unhappy already!

Simpler and Fairer

 

[Pushka]

Really no choice as Virgin do not have schedules from Adelaide suitable for usual business travel. Virgin lounge there is awful and which means that Qantas can get away without a business lounge in Adelaide. The best way to improve service is to have an excellent competitor. In Adelaide, we don't. We dont even have any lounge at all after immigration.

 

[pjm99au]

Last year I decided early on to pass on retaining P1 as in true DYKWIA fashion I felt under valued by QF and decided to go QF WP and VA WP.

This year I haven't flown VA at all as I was disenchanted with a lack of a VA shadow, poor seating and poor inflight catering so I'm back to flying QF exclusively to re-attain P1 but I haven't had a QF shadow all year, my back hurts from the economy seating and I only eat the cheese and crackers.

I'm so confused

 

[OATEK]

There certainly are shades of grey in answering this question. I can say I have stuck with QFF, and last year earned my highest tier rank. Paradoxically, I earned most of the SCs on non-QF metal, and not on codeshares, so simpler fairer held me back. But in the end I have stuck with Redroo both in terms of FF membership, and for the majority of domestic flights.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Some services on the "other" option as in airline (NZ) trans Tasman does not have business class, and even if they do have a J class, are prone to equipment swaps to planes that do not have a J class.
VA asks a tonne for the J or sublclass of it.
I sometimes like to go up the pointy end, and with QF prices so cheap, ala now Aud$500 SYD - AKL, NZ and VA have never had J or sublcasses of it so cheap.
Easier to climb the status ladder with QF too.
19 odd years with QFF now, and am stuck with her.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Not enough options. It's not a binary question, there is a probability distribution to the answer.
Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

There's a fair few people who think the Sith *do* run the company.

 

[cjd600]

1.3m QF handcuffs

 

[wandering_fred]

Actually I made the decision rather more than 6 years ago...:shock: And my "lifetime status" isn't with QF.

But a lot of changes have been made to FF programs in the intervening years. Depending on what you want in a FF program QFF could very well be (even in its fairer and simpler form) the best deal. Programs where you can earn reasonably on long haul Y (and Y+) are disappearing rapidly.

In the end it may be the service levels that the airline provides (at least at one end of the trip) with your "normal airports" will be the deciding factor. QF still has a long way to go to be of attraction to a lot of Perth (and WA) travelers.

So while I haven't "cut up my QFF card", the option of "elite" status with QFF has remained optional. And it appears for all the ups and downs, one of the easiest of the One World airlines to get (the elite status). And the nuances of QFF remain reasonably well known to dedicated AFFers if not to the QF business analysts

The answer to the poll? I need a third option...

Happy wandering

Fred