Heads up about program changes

[JohnPhelan]

If QF hate OW so much, why would they start a DFW service to feed into AA?

You've hit the nail on the head there - for QF, the whole purpose of OW is the American routes - both for getting Americans who fly to Australia, and for Australians who fly to and within America.

QF will not be exiting OW, because the American market is way too important.

The EK alliance basically covers Europe and Africa; Asia is a bit of a mish-mash of QF/JQ and others; and America is OW.

 

[ozdunker]

Qantas points are almost as worthless as the delta sky pesos. The international fuel surcharges are a joke. The credit card earn rates in Australia are also terrible compared to overseas.

 

[JohnPhelan]

It may be a benefit for you, but not for me as I've never flown Jetstar and have zero plans to.

So that's not a benefit.

Not a benefit to you. Fair enough. But others may well find it a benefit and won't appreciate your total lack of consideration for anyone else!

 

[JohnPhelan]

Hopefully you are driving a Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon or a Toyota Camry only.

Yes I am, and have bought only Australian-made cars for the last 30 years. I will be very sad in a few years time when I can no longer buy an Australian made car.

If more Australians were prepared to buy Australian-made cars, and fly on Australian-based airlines, then a lot more of our fellow Australians would have jobs. But the whiners would all go on and on about having to pay more.

 

[codash1099]

Not sure. My best guess is status abuse. Isn't QF regarded as the easiest OW airline to gain status?

But for overseas flyers, it's not so easy to get the 4 magic "~"

 

[dajop]

Isn't QF regarded as the easiest OW airline to gain status?

In premium cabins. In economy, the mileage based status earning programs seem to be easier than QF,particularly for longer haul travellers.

 

[cmon0005]

You've hit the nail on the head there - for QF, the whole purpose of OW is the American routes - both for getting Americans who fly to Australia, and for Australians who fly to and within America.

QF will not be exiting OW, because the American market is way too important.

The EK alliance basically covers Europe and Africa; Asia is a bit of a mish-mash of QF/JQ and others; and America is OW.

There is also LAN/TAM in South America.

Whether QF realise it or not QF need oneworld, however I've said it many times they need to embrace their partners more. Like BA and QR, CX and QR, MH and CX, etc

 

[BD1959]

You've hit the nail on the head there - for QF, the whole purpose of OW is the American routes - both for getting Americans who fly to Australia, and for Australians who fly to and within America.

QF will not be exiting OW, because the American market is way too important.

The EK alliance basically covers Europe and Africa; Asia is a bit of a mish-mash of QF/JQ and others; and America is OW.

So what would stop QF exiting OW and forming an North American Alliance with AA similar to the Dubai Alliance with EK?

QF obviously have issues with CX and MH, they've obviously fallen out with BA and have never been seen to embrace IB or RJ. There's a passing nod to AY and JL, but I can't see them ever cozing-up to QR or UL.

For an Alliance - it's a very strange relationship.

Regards,

BD

 

[cmon0005]

QF obviously have issues with CX and MH, they've obviously fallen out with BA and have never been seen to embrace IB or RJ. There's a passing nod to AY and JL, but I can't see them ever cozing-up to QR or UL.

For an Alliance - it's a very strange relationship.

QF would get a lot of business from OW partners connecting onto qf domestic services, there are lots of BA, AY, AA, JL codes on some qf domestic flights + you have cx and MH in most aust international ports now contracting qf lounges.. Eg qf extended mel intl business lounge opening hours from 18:30 till 23:30 recently specifically for Cx/MH, confirmed by redroo in another thread.

So it's not just flying that qf benefits from OW its lounge contracts and access that it generates $ from too.

 

[serfty]

So what would stop QF exiting OW and forming an North American Alliance with AA similar to the Dubai Alliance with EK?

QF obviously have issues with CX and MH, they've obviously fallen out with BA and have never been seen to embrace IB or RJ. There's a passing nod to AY and JL, but I can't see them ever cozing-up to QR or UL.

For an Alliance - it's a very strange relationship.

Regards,

BD

Remember, Qantas courted MH for *O until EK intervened.

 

[woodborer]

Any suggestion that SC earns on Jetstar will now be automatic and not available at some crazy additional cost? The information I read said SC would be earned on Jetstar flights. That would at least be one benefit if that has changed.

From my reading, you still need to purchase the add-on pack. Starter Plus isn't that bad in a lot of cases.

 

[OATEK]

I am not a frequent flyer these days, but when I last flew with QF shelled out $14k. I recently booked my first JASA, as much for the fun as anything as only PS. And when I look at the changes for my flight to HKG in a week or so, then nothing in SC or pts about new or old rates is a worry. My main focus for travel is international and here I have a preference for QF and CX. So before these changes I was already moving towards CX for value and service, and nothing in these changes sway that one way or the other.

 

[Jack_OC]

Re OW, don't forget the RTW factor. I have flown with QF intl in J several times with work, but only on RTW tickets. Literally every time that I have done a straight rtn to Asia or EU, it has been with another carrier, as other carriers are almost always cheaper. But when it comes to RTW fares, the OW option is often the best value.

There is a lot of business RTW travel from OZ, so if QF left OW, I suspect they would lose big time in that market.

 

[Austashes]

So, if I transfer to another airlines program and fly both international (4-6 mostly to US) and domestic (20-30) Qantas flights per year. I fly flexi-economy and do my status the hard way - never done a MASA.

Question: As a current Platinum in QF: If I book a QF flight, put my frequent flyer EK membership, can I still access the QF Business lounges both domestic & international?

Question: Am I better off booking with other OW airlines international, even if it ends up as a code share QF flight?


I have looked at the new system and overall do not see any advantage with the new QF system.

 

[Jack_OC]

So, if I transfer to another airlines program and fly both international (4-6 mostly to US) and domestic (20-30) Qantas flights per year. I fly flexi-economy and do my status the hard way - never done a MASA.

Question: As a current Platinum in QF: If I book a QF flight, put my frequent flyer EK membership, can I still access the QF Business lounges both domestic & international?

Question: Am I better off booking with other OW airlines international, even if it ends up as a code share QF flight?


I have looked at the new system and overall do not see any advantage with the new QF system.

It sounds like you will be better off under the new system if you stick with QF, as you fly flexi-economy. Why do you think you will be negatively affected?

 

[Austashes]

I should have said that my US trip frequency is about to increase so I was looking at a reduction of 5K points per trip. I could easily swap airlines as previously went Qantas only because of my status. If I went AA then I would start from scratch but should move up fairly rapidly while mp QP runs out.

 

[footy99]

Sorry haven't followed this whole thread so not sure if it has been discussed but Oneworld awards (140K/280K/420K) appear to have disappeared.

Can anyone confirm this either way?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Sorry haven't followed this whole thread so not sure if it has been discussed but Oneworld awards (140K/280K/420K) appear to have disappeared.

Can anyone confirm this either way?

What do you mean?
The Award chart is still on Qantas.com
http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/usingPoints/pointsTables

 

[MarcB]

I for one am loving the "simplicity" of the new system.

For example, a Premium Economy fare in T class, is also apparently a Flexible Economy fare. That's so much simpler, especially when I'm using the points calculator and I know to pick Flexible Economy because that's what I booked...oh hang on, no it's not I booked Premium Economy.

I mean, c'mon QF, who came up with this?? PE is PE!!!!

 

[footy99]

What do you mean?
The Award chart is still on Qantas.com
Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Partner Classic Awards - Points Tables

I'm not 100% but I couldn't find it in the award booking section where it used to be and my dummy booking which used to be 140K came out at 235K.

Will keep trying. May be OK...