Heads up about program changes

[mannej]

Ha ha ha!

Minor incidents?

Minor f'ing incidents!?

AIRCRAFT AT 700 FEET DESCENDING ON APPROACH WITH THE GEAR UP BECAUSE THE CAPTAIN WAS PLAYING WITH HIS MOBILE PHONE AND THE F/O WAS IN LA LA LAND!

AIRCRAFT ALMOST PLANTED INTO THE RUNWAY AT MELBOURNE ON GO AROUND, BECAUSE THE PILOTS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET FULL POWER!

FLAPS FULLY RETRACTED ON GO AROUND AT CAIRNS!


The incidents indicate a pattern of general pilot incompetence, unfamiliarity with the aircraft systems and stress caused by over work.

Then the chief pilot tells anyone that complains to "Harden up Princesses".

Wonderful.

2 incidents don't indicate a general pattern in the grand scheme of things. Very ease to lose sight of perspective by highlighting what you have highlighted.

It is your prerogative if you don't want to fly JQ, but there are other airlines who seem to have greater issues than JQ.

 

[Newk]

I am a Platinum and have been since it started and a lifetime Gold. Living in Adelaide there aren't and haven't been for quite some time international QF flights. Am booked business on Malaysian to go KL/Paris on the 26th June returning 21st July. So split SC's ? and what do I lose on the return leg ?....can anyone tell me ?
Also what is the best OneWorld associate to request a Status match with ?

hello JJ flyer. sorry I cannot answer your question and slightly off topic, but welcome from another Adelaidian. We are moderately social so keep an eye out

 

[JJFlyer]

Thank you Newk....I don't think there is a simple answer. Anyway I think QF is dead in Adelaide, need to make sure I keep my VA Plat and another One World card. I fear QF will soon be using Qantas Link to service us domestically. At least we are getting good international service !

 

[civinod]

I have made it to P1 last year and about to qualify this year.

This process has been through lots of discount Y flights as well as use of MASA tickets both local and overseas. The double SC offer at the end of last year helped as well.

I have enjoyed my time as a P1 and hopefully will for the next 12 months.

In saying all this I have found it increasingly difficult to find a way to use my FF points on QF. Most of my international is now on SQ in F at pretty much the same rate as QF in J. The big difference being that seats are easier to find with SQ. Virtually impossible with QF (up to 4pax) to the few international locations it still has.

With the changes to the earning rate for SC and no more MASA flights I dare say that QF is going to be limited to domestic only at best and as many have said it will be more of a price comparison now than it was before. I dare say VA must be rubbing their hands at this latest piece of loyalty tweaking.

The argument that QF are giving away J and F seats with MASA tickets really doesn't gel with me. It's not as though the points they charge are low I resent the argument that QF are giving away seats. Points cost us all money one way or another.

You really have to question how long the current board and executives have got left. The Emirates partnership is already fraying at the edges (comments from EK this week would indicate tension is brewing). And that is from the EK point of view. I dare say the QF haven't improved the bottom line with this move. The reality of the situation is that most people would prefer to transit through Asia rather than the deserts of the middle east (one trip for the novelty would be enough I think).

Please oh please Qantas give me a reason to keep using your services. I am finding it increasingly difficult to justify.

I fear we will see Qantas morph into a domestic only business before long. How about some vision rather than cut cut cut.

 

[boomy]

Ha ha ha!

Minor incidents?

If you dig deep enough, you will find many famous full service airlines that had much worse safety issues then a small LCC carrier such as JQ.
If you classify any incident as catastrophic then maybe you should consider stop flying because no airline is perfect.

 

[Ansett]

I have said enough of QF and my disappointment and have voted with my feet just booked 4 J return flights on SQ MEL-LHR.

Loss to QF Circa $28K plus

I agree with the comments from Rupert Hogg of CX

people want to go through Asia, and will continue to travel with the Asian carriers,’’ he said. “People also still want the choice of a stop over.’’

For me a stop over in Asia is much better and also for my Parents travelling from UK to OZ they need a stop over and will NOT EVER stay in the middle east so NO QF flights for them.

In another loss for QF Daughter is getting married was going to be in Greece but has been changed to OZ now (phew much easier on mum and I) as such we have approximately 25-30 people coming over from Europe and UK and all now have Been advised NOT to use QF. Loss probably in the region of $50-60K

QF Loss in Bookings Revenue Circa $78-$88K.

Did they really think that screwing over FF's would have no impact on Revenue ??????

 

[StatusRunner]

I dont understand why QF are trying to make their most profitable part of the business, more profitable and whilst the important part, flying, is bleeding money left right and center.

I travel to Asia a lot ex Perth and now have no QF metal option, hence upgrade points are useless and I am not going to use their rip of ASA's

I will book enough MASA's to burn all my points and requal for WP and then spend the next 2 years flying CX into Asia and when I drop back to Silver, so be it. No more flight lounges and no more going out of my way to spend with QF once I drop out of frequent flyer royalty.

 

[ian_baker58]

Please oh please Qantas give me a reason to keep using your services. I am finding it increasingly difficult to justify.

I fear we will see Qantas morph into a domestic only business before long. How about some vision rather than cut cut cut.

Wow - 1000+ posts in the space of 48 hours, and still running hot...:evil:

Seems the QF FF gang have really hit a raw nerve here and no amount of spin doctoring will suppress the anger...

While I haven't read all 1000+ posts, clearly a recurring theme seems to be that very loyal QF FF's are pretty hosed off with the way QF is treating them - many of them loyal over many years (like me - Gold/Platinum for around 20 years - that's a LOT of revenue Mr Joyce!), and many looking seriously at other options going forward out of frustration...

My loyalty to QF over 20 years has not been easy (navigating corporate executive travel policies, typically paying considerably more for J class flights than credible competition, seeking out One World partners wherever possible to earn SC's, even paying for my own upgrades and or flights to scrape over the line to re-qualify in some years). I made lifetime Gold some years ago, and have been able to (just) keep WP since 2008 but will likely fall off the perch later this year as I'm not flying as much these days.

I just hope there is an international QF business going forward so I can actually get some rewards for all those years of Gold/Platinum...

Nothing I've seen from the current board or CEO fills me with any confidence, and if I was a shareholder, I would have bailed out a long time ago...

Hopefully Red Roo (and others at QF) are getting some flavour of the undercurrents from 1000+ posts in 48 hours...

I think the fallout will be far greater than QF management has counted on, and sadly, reality will not become apparent for some months until after many current (loyal) QF FF's have burned much of their point holdings and voted - with their feet...

 

[ian_baker58]

I still remember when I got on to the Skybed Mk 2 after a few CX new J flights, I was extremely disappointed by what QF has on offer. I can't even begin to imagine how I would react if I had the Skybed Mk 1 instead.

Just found out that QF pulled the 744 MKII from the SIN-BNE overnight route (we're booked 01AUG14) - replacing it with A330 and so called SKYBED MKI in J...

Not a happy camper at all... :evil:

That said there a lot of very hosed off people who've booked and paid Y+ and are being downgraded to Y (and supposedly a refund of fare difference) - or offered the opportunity to pay more and upgrade to J on the A330!

The consolation prize is: "We're upgrading our A330 fleet to Skybed MKII by the end of this year - we regret any inconvenience - The Qantas Team" :shock:

Apparently QF is ripping out 744 aircraft and disposing of them ASAP to reduce the fleet size and presumably cost - and using A330's as part of their 'network review' - meaning there's less people flying QF - because there are better alternatives on some of these routes....

Pity - as I've flown the 744 MKII SYD-LAX-JFK return a couple of times and the upstairs J is a BIG improvement on the old MKI fit-out...

 

[DaveB]

[FONT=&amp]I posted these figures a month or so ago but an opportune time to revisit them. The unravelling of QFi as a going concern has occurred during a period of unprecedented growth in outbound tourism from Australia. Based on Tourism Research Australia figures, annual trip figures ending June 30 being are as follows:

2000 - 2.99 million passengers;
2008 - 5.14m;
2009 - 5.24m;
2013 - 7.46m representing 149% growth since 2000 and 45% over the past 5 years.[/FONT]

The tenuous OW alliance with CX was probably the only thing preventing a total rout of QF for Europe bound passengers. Short overnight eastbound flights are a bugbear of mine so I avoid them from Singapore in particular and also Hong Kong when having the choice. My last JASA QF82 in January was a 'never again' QF flight experience in so many ways.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

If anyone here finds an Aussie branded AA credit card, that can credit directly to the AA program, l'll jump ship from QF to AA immediately.

One of the biggest draw backs is that I have my QFF number/profile with my WOW EDR CC and Westpac Earth CC all linked to earn points.

With all this hoop-la going on with QF, l'm thinking of ditching the WOW EDR CC and Westpac CC, and getting one CC (like Citibank), where I can warehouse the points and use at my discretion on a number of airlines (trying to find J or F on QF vs SQ is like apples and oranges). Sometimes you just have to cut the cord and get out of there, and start fresh.

 

[Troppo]

2 incidents don't indicate a general pattern in the grand scheme of things. Very ease to lose sight of perspective by highlighting what you have highlighted.

It is your prerogative if you don't want to fly JQ, but there are other airlines who seem to have greater issues than JQ.

Go back and read my original post - there are many more than 2 incidents.

If you lot are mad enough to fly with DeathStar, by all means, go your hardest.

Mainline QANTAS are excellent operationally - for now. Because they have vastly experienced pilots, who are regularly checked and who operate in a proper safety culture.

If Joyce has his way, this will all change. He wants makey-learney pilots in the RH seat - who are cheap. He tried to get pilots operating QANTAS NZ to pay for their own training...and was sprung by the regulator.

Inexperience and stress were the prime cause of the Deathstar incident in Cairns, when the inexperienced FO dumped all the flaps when the aircraft was going round - something that pilots are taught never to do, from the start of their training.

QF32 didn't turn into a pile of smoking aluminium because of the skills of the extensively experienced flight crew. Of course, QANTAS don't want you to know that.

 

[mannej]

And many of those incidents were normal operational incidents that you placed to try and prop your argument up, hence why I removed them from my response.

I do concede that the 2 incidents are worrying, however statistically you can not infer that there are serious issues. I also note you forgot to mention the QF 767 who forgot to lower their landing gear and had to go around due to the fact about 18 months ago.

I would rather step onto a JQ flight compared to some other airlines.

However this is OT, so enough unless it gets moderated out.

 

[TheEmu]

.

The decision has now been made to discontinue “MASAs” as they represent a short cut to tier status and add a significant cost without the revenue in return.

Seems fair to me. I've never used or knew about MASAs and have always been able to retain platinum or near platinum1 status over the years. So does this mean there will be less platinum FF`s?

Wait... Ill get my back ready for all the knives about to be thrown at me.

No knives thommo, but if short cuts to status were such a significant burden to QF why (frequently and sometimes quite broadly) offer Double SCs - the last one so recently, open to all?
It all reeks of desperation from a clueless crew on a rudderless ship - what is next week's strategy going to be?.
Joyce is Qantas' Captain Smith shifting the deckchairs around as the band plays on...

 

[shambles]

This has been an interesting couple of days digesting all these changes and the plethora of comment/opinion.
First up though, fair play to RedRoo for throwing him(her)self to the sword and giving the AFF community the heads up. I guess the only constant in life is change, and when we've had it pretty sweet by global airline program standards it's always gonna piss us off when mum & dad take some of the toys out of the playroom

I for one have made a decision about my flying plans, I'll use the next 15 months to enjoy my WP1 status and all its trimmings, and the following 12 months with my "soft drop" (I hope!) to WP to start clocking up sectors under my new FF program as I am now on day one of my new life as a AA Advantage member.

For some reason though, sitting in the J Lounge at Tulla with noice F&B while I wait for my $90 Red-e deal flight to Syd for the footy, doesn't seem to have the same feeling as the McDonalds I sat in when I was a QFF newbie all those years ago.

 

[whatmeworry]

This has to be one of the greatest own goal's in QF's history.

Devaluing points earnt on most flights, devaluing SC's earnt and killing off ASA's.

 

[Troppo]

And many of those incidents were normal operational incidents that you placed to try and prop your argument up, hence why I removed them from my response.

Oh dear...keep digging, the hole is getting deeper.

Tell me, what constitutes a "normal operational" incident? I've never heard of that category in my 32 years of piloting.

Is stuffing up an approach through fatigue/lack of skill "a normal operational incident"?

Everyone forgets to put the wheels down on a RPT jet full of passengers now and again! Those text messages on my mobile were pretty important, you know.... No worries.

Can't get full go around power with the aircraft about 5 seconds away from hitting the runway? She'll be right.

Breaking lowest safe altitude into Queenstown because you can't figure out how to configure the autopilot for the right descent mode.....easy done!

Taking off from Hobart with no runway lights because you can't figure out the automatic activation sequence.......we had to get home, the Captain was on a promise!


It seems that the ATSB have changed their criteria for incident and accident reporting and not told anyone....


Yep - Deathstar sounds like the way to go, for sure.

Go your hardest.

 

[Ansett]

This has been an interesting couple of days digesting all these changes and the plethora of comment/opinion.
First up though, fair play to RedRoo for throwing him(her)self to the sword and giving the AFF community the heads up. I guess the only constant in life is change, and when we've had it pretty sweet by global airline program standards it's always gonna piss us off when mum & dad take some of the toys out of the playroom

I for one have made a decision about my flying plans, I'll use the next 15 months to enjoy my WP1 status and all its trimmings, and the following 12 months with my "soft drop" (I hope!) to WP to start clocking up sectors under my new FF program as I am now on day one of my new life as a AA Advantage member.

For some reason though, sitting in the J Lounge at Tulla with noice F&B while I wait for my $90 Red-e deal flight to Syd for the footy, doesn't seem to have the same feeling as the McDonalds I sat in when I was a QFF newbie all those years ago.



View attachment 26696

And the sad thing is the SC and points paid out by QF to AA will probably cost QF more ....... If wrong I apologise

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

You're pretty close to requalifying so that sounds like the best option to me. Even if you do no or minimal travel with Qantas or OneWorld that year, you'll soft land to Gold the year after that (assuming soft landings aren't enhanced away), giving you the flexibility to explore other non-OW airlines while still enjoying OW Sapphire perks for those times you do travel on a OW carrier.

Though, if most of your travel is in Business anyway, how much extra do you get from your Sapphire status?

EXACTLY !!!! and possibly all the more reason just to get Classics unless they get ENHANCED TOO !

As I said earlier, maybe they are doing us all a backhanded favour and making us take a step back and focus on value rather than a few extra points we chase for quasi Status. If you book a J class seat you still get into the Business lounge whether you pay in full, buy an ASA, do a Points & Pay or just do a Classic fare IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER YOU ARE BRONZE OR PLATINUM ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am currently PLATINUM and have had trips each year towards the end purely to maintain that platinum Status, I don't intend to spend my money doing that anymore in future and other than the loss of points for Status I don't really see how I will be worse off give I use points sometimes and pay in full other times. in all likelihood my dollar contribution to Qantas will drop by half.
I am also going to reveiw my credit Cards and look at leaving the points in AMEX REWARDS or CITIBANK REWARDS and retain choice of which airline I transfer to. Am I going to be the loser ??? I don't think so.
I wonder if there will be any backlash from the C/card Companies specifically WW QFEDR maybe we will see a WW VEDR card soon ?? when John Borgetti takes advantage of this huge p**s off of loyal customers ??

 

[JJFlyer]

Where does the new zoning of cities put Adelaide on the SC/points table. Qantas deserted Adelaide a long time ago so I guess they have now made it official.