How QF might make us fly EK by improvements not enhancements

[Anna]

It seems to me that one aim of the recent enhancements of QFF is to make us choose EK over OW. So I'm starting a thread to see if the collective brainpower of AFF can suggest some improvements that might make us want to fly EK, rather than being forced into it via enhancements. Who knows, QF and EK might even listen.

My suggestions would be:

- get EK to introduce PE for the great Australian and European middle class that it currently doesn't properly cater for

- allow QFF points to be used for points upgrades on EK

- make pricing to DXB more attractive for people who just want to go there to have a look at the place for a mini-break rather than as part of a longer journey. The current pricing rules it out as a self-contained mini-break destination.

Go for it AFFers.

 

[harvyk]

QP members get access to EK lounges whilst flying EK (or at least a guarantee of access to the QP if one exists)

 

[mannej]

QP members get access to EK lounges whilst flying EK (or at least a guarantee of access to the QP if one exists)

Not always though. Just look at the European access rules.

 

[ReLoad]

It seems to me that one aim of the recent enhancements of QFF is to make us choose EK over OW. So I'm starting a thread to see if the collective brainpower of AFF can suggest some improvements that might make us want to fly EK, rather than being forced into it via enhancements. Who knows, QF and EK might even listen.

My suggestions would be:

- get EK to introduce PE for the great Australian and European middle class that it currently doesn't properly cater for

- allow QFF points to be used for points upgrades on EK

- make pricing to DXB more attractive for people who just want to go there to have a look at the place for a mini-break rather than as part of a longer journey. The current pricing rules it out as a self-contained mini-break destination.

Go for it AFFers.

Points for upgrades for me is the big one. Its great QF have a truckload of codeshares on EK metal, but lets treat them like the full QF experience.

 

[Barks]

All suggestions made so far sound good to me, especially EK introducing Y+.

The main issue for me is, currently (at least), you can't earn SC's with QFF on flights with an EK flight number. I can't see how this would change as long as QF is a member of oneworld and EK isn't.

 

[BD1959]

The main issue for me is, currently (at least), you can't earn SC's with QFF on flights with an EK flight number. I can't see how this would change as long as QF is a member of oneworld and EK isn't.

No issue with earning SCs on JQ or FJ at QF's discretion ... EK not being part of OW shouldn't be an issue if QF don't want it to be.

Regards,

BD

 

[markis10]

All suggestions made so far sound good to me, especially EK introducing Y+.

Unlikely given QF are reducing their aircraft numbers that have PE.

The main issue for me is, currently (at least), you can't earn SC's with QFF on flights with an EK flight number. I can't see how this would change as long as QF is a member of oneworld and EK isn't.

I dont see any inpediment to SCs being earned just because its non One World given FJ earns SCs.

 

[Barks]

No issue with earning SCs on JQ or FJ at QF's discretion ... EK not being part of OW shouldn't be an issue if QF don't want it to be.

Regards,

BD

True, you and markis10 are correct. SC's are given at QF's discretion, not oneworld's... silly me

 

[Anna]

Unlikely given QF are reducing their aircraft numbers that have PE.

Not sure why what QF are doing makes it unlikely that EK would do something?

The PE market is a market that EK are missing out on, and they are leaking business to OW because both CX and BA have it ex-Aust. Not everyone wants the choice between cheap Y crammed in 10 across or expensive J, but that is the choice that EK presents for people. No middle ground.

 

[UP4014]

I have nil intention of flying EK.

 

[markis10]

I have nil intention of flying EK.

The better timing of flights ex Asia compared to compulsory red eyes with QF already saw me taking 5 EK flights in the past year.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I have nil intention of flying EK.

Dare I ask your reason for this? I find their seats are better and flight timings for many routes superior to QF.

 

[dajop]

The better timing of flights ex Asia compared to compulsory red eyes with QF already saw me taking 5 EK flights in the past year.

Going the other way for someone based in SIN, travelling to/from MEL, EK flights have better timing for me also. I simply feel like I'm wasting a day of my valuable time in Australia if I take a 11am flight on QF vs 6 or 7pm flight on EK. And even with the dreaded red-eyes from SIN, the later departure on EK allows me to sleep a bit better (than an earlier departure on QF) as straddles more of my normal sleeping time. So I've given up on the QF flights, just taking the QF codeshares on EK. Plus EK IFE on 77W is better than QF A330 IFE and I don't feel any difference with seats in Y (both rather narrow). Of course if price weren't an obstacle it would be SQ every time!

So for me all the "enhancements" to QF (schedule, product) on the route last April made me fly EK over QF!

 

[Mr_Orange]

Nothing they could do would make me want to fly EK. The whole deal is a shambles, with the incompatible products, lack of SC earning and the seemingly free reign that EK has to add flights wherever it wants. I cannot see what QF has gained from this deal. Another idiotic decision taken by the management.

 

[Alanslegal]

I have just a bit over 300,000 points that I need to use up so will be looking at redeeming either a F classic award to DXB or LON one way flying EK metal. Yes I want to try having a shower on board just for fun. And then come home with SQ in one of their Suites. I do not want to fly Qantas, I have made a decision not to fly with them in protest of their recent enhancements which they 'spun' as being positive. My last Qantas flight was January 2013 and since then I have flown 38 sectors and 88,xx_ miles.

 

[harvyk]

Nothing they could do would make me want to fly EK. The whole deal is a shambles, with the incompatible products, lack of SC earning and the seemingly free reign that EK has to add flights wherever it wants. I cannot see what QF has gained from this deal. Another idiotic decision taken by the management.

Actually I think the original idea for the join was a good one... QF making a hub from which to connect to the rest of Europe without needing to fly over the whole continent to then back track by many hours... LHR whilst still the "motherland" is not exactly a good location to put a hub in for an AU airline...

 

[JohnPhelan]

Nothing they could do would make me want to fly EK. The whole deal is a shambles, with the incompatible products, lack of SC earning and the seemingly free reign that EK has to add flights wherever it wants. I cannot see what QF has gained from this deal. Another idiotic decision taken by the management.

* Many QF customers have got one stop flights to continental Europe, instead of two stops with QF. Big advantage for those people.
* QF customers travelling to London have additional frequencies and can choose between LHR and LGW (if choosing to fly on the QF codeshares, for which we receive full QF SCs)
* Many QF customers prefer EK's seating and on board entertainment
* Many QF customers now have an easy option to visit the Middle East (that wasn't so easily reached previously)

You're fully entitled to not want to fly on EK, but there are numerous upsides for many QF pax - myself included - and to call the arrangement a 'shambles' is certainly not accurate.

The main disadvantage is the lack of Y+ on EK. That certainly is a disadvantage for people wanting to fly Y+. But they can stay on QF to LHR if travelling to Europe, then have a short sector on BA in either Y or Club Europe.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Get EK to block out the 'good' seats like QF do.

 

[mushez]

I just love sitting back watching the QF fan boys scrap it out about products/services they have never tried.

Keep up the good work lads.

 

[harvyk]

Not always though. Just look at the European access rules.

Exactly my point...