If qf offered a status match would you jump ship?

[bullerdude]

Now thinking of it a little more, what major advantages would Qantas Plat offer me over Virgin Plat...

- First lounges
- One World Recognition

 

[pauly7]

Except to BNE !

Virgin have loaded Tiger onto that route, what are you moaning about

 

[Hvr]

Now thinking of it a little more, what major advantages would Qantas Plat offer me over Virgin Plat...

- First lounges
- One World Recognition

Life time status

 

[hummel]

Currently VA WP and *A Gold and if the offer was there I would jump at it.

Actually have my first QF (EK Metal) J flight booked in a few weeks as I've been unimpressed with VA offerings of late.

 

[erkpod]

I would take it up , whether I could maintain it , i doubt it . As Im currently a self funded flyer , I find it much easier to maintain Gold with VA than with QF . I would love to get back on the QF A380's internationally , but in saying that I have grown an attachment to the VAi service across to LAX , where most of my international travel has been over the last 3 years.

I don't mind the 380 so I'm flying one on SQ in February LAX - NRT - SIN - SYD.

That way, I can keep points/SC in the VA universe & still fly the 380. Sadly, I don't see VAi expanding their long haul services on their own metal or getting their own 380.

 

[JohnK]

Now thinking of it a little more, what major advantages would Qantas Plat offer me over Virgin Plat...

- First lounges
- One World Recognition

- International flights on own aircraft to a few more destinations
- With one world recognition there is the possibility of round the world award itineraries
- better chance of upgrades on international routes as well as partner upgrades
- lifetime status

 

[maninblack]

I posed the initial question over on the QFF thread because I found a bit of irony in a few 'landmarks' that arose in the recently. One was that I am now a Oneworld Emerald through another program but will re-qualify in Feb with Status credits I will earn on a rare Qantas flight I just booked. Another was that 2 years ago I had barely stepped on Virgin plane, just a few flights ever. I'm not sure of my exact numbers but on a quick reckoning I think I recently clocked up flight number 50 with VA since the status match lured me over. Those flights have all been PE/J.

So VA's ploy lured a slightly unhappy/disenchanted customer to give them a go. Well that's simple good business on their part. Since the status match nearly all my international flying has been with other airlines too but that was already generally the case. Qantas for their part have not provided me with a single reason to ever go back.

I have never fully understood the status game. If an airline drops my status I am less likely to be loyal to them and more likely to look elsewhere but until VA started to offer a premium product QF was the only game in town on domestic. Not so now. Qantas needs to wake up and needs to do so fast.

So I got to thinking, would something like a status match potentially lure passengers like me back (presuming that they are not currently OWE elsewhere...or even if they are) I have never really found VA to be anything special. QF though have always had a tin ear when it comes to listening to customers and I don't think anything has changed.

 

[hgwells01]

Nope I'd stay with Virgin, they treat me well, I jumped across on the status match as Gold and made WP and retained it. I fly int with SIA usually and do Virgin for Dom and they bought J class to NTL so I can avoid jet*

 

[grubbidok]

Tough to say. QF really hasn't impressed me for some time and I find the VA experience way above and beyond what QF have given me previously. VA seems to be getting better and QF seems to be getting worse.

My only qualms with VA are:

- not enough international routes on VA metal (though at the rate QF is going they may be even soon!)
- dogged refusal to join an alliance (IMHO if VA joined *A or even ST it would be a major major blow for QF and a major major boon for VA)
- large holes in their alliances (Notably Europe - their half-a***ed AB thing just doesn't cut it - Sth America and Africa. An alliance would fix this pronto)
- lack of lounge access in some ports (again, an alliance would fix this pronto)
- lack of LTS

The biggest probs with QF are:

- new Dubai deal. As a Y-only business traveller I refuse to go on a cramped 3-4-3 to Europe when SQ do so many A380 on those routes.
- terrible QFF earn and burn (compared to VA, hard to see on points alone, but very apparent when taxes and charges get bunged on at the end)
- The orange cancer takeover of routes (take note VA - TT will not be tolerated!)

Like most I'd probably dabble, and if treated well and QF changed its negatives would possibly jump ship. If the VA factors (esp long-hinted at LTS and alliance membership) I wouldn't even bother considering though. Most of my OW travel (which I often have to use in the VA 'holes', or get booked by a 'helpful' corporate travel agent who assumes they are doing me a favour booking domestic on QF instead of VA) has been credited to AA (for cheap Sth American or PER/NZ/Pacific redemptions) or IB/BA (for Oz or NA redemptions) for some time now.

 

[Kieran2274]

I don't mind the 380 so I'm flying one on SQ in February LAX - NRT - SIN - SYD. That way, I can keep points/SC in the VA universe & still fly the 380. Sadly, I don't see VAi expanding their long haul services on their own metal or getting their own 380.

Agreed, I like the extra space J/F get on the A380 - especially the toilets, which are worlds away from the 747 sizes.

And I reckon you are right on the money regarding any VAi expansion. All the money is in the domestic market, and I think VA is only willing to service those international routes where it knows it'll make good revenue (not wanting to get into a Qantas situation). Still the network VA cobbled together isn't a bad one, and came with decent status recognition on non-VA tin.

Where Qantas really has VA is the lack of own uber-lounges (even though most QFFers never step into them) at MEL & SYD international airports. Maybe Etihad could cover this in future (through a joint arrangement) - they can do a very nice premium lounge.

 

[notzac]

Where Qantas really has VA is the lack of own uber-lounges (even though most QFFers never step into them) at MEL & SYD international airports. Maybe Etihad could cover this in future (through a joint arrangement) - they can do a very nice premium lounge.

..which is coming (sometime this year I believe?) when EY open combined J/F lounges in SYD and MEL.

 

[Kieran2274]

..which is coming (sometime this year I believe?) when EY open combined J/F lounges in SYD and MEL.

If it's anywhere near as good as the ME Pearl Lounges we'll be spoilt

 

[notzac]

If it's anywhere near as good as the ME Pearl Lounges we'll be spoilt

I think it'll be more in line with the lounges at DUB / LHR / MAN etc.. - pretty excellent lounges, perhaps not quite to the standard of a QF First lounge but definitely nothing to sneeze at.

My only concern is whether they'll make them big enough / allow pax on tasman and south pacific flights inside.

 

[Kieran2274]

I think it'll be more in line with the lounges at DUB / LHR / MAN etc.. - pretty excellent lounges, perhaps not quite to the standard of a QF First lounge but definitely nothing to sneeze at. My only concern is whether they'll make them big enough / allow pax on tasman and south pacific flights inside.

Yes, the Emirates lounges used to be quite nice but are so busy now thanks to the hordes of QFF Golds and Platinums in them (although in SYD & MEL most Plats go to the Qantas FLounge instead). My view is it's better in SYDi/MELi to have one large lounge (whether J&F or separate ones for each) that cover all the current network partners, managed by just one airline. Not only is it more cost-efficient, it frees up space given there is always one lounge people will flock to otherwise (case of too much of a good thing).

 

[robd]

I'm currently VA Plat but will not retain it this year . Had it all mapped out to retain, but the Almighty had a different plan unfortunately. I have really enjoyed the Plat. status benefits and will hope to re-gain perhaps next year. In the meantime, I would love a status match from QF. I have just ticked over 500,000 QFF points and they're burning a hole in my pocket (enhancements).

 

[Shudai]

I would accept the card, of course, but doubt that I'd move from VA domestically....they've made me a fan. Access to OneWorld internationally would be attractive to me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Doesn't take a SM for me to jump ship, it's already done. I must admit, the term "jumping ship" does not accurately describe my travel methods. I've returned to whichever suits me best on the day. Whilst I've still got VA status that gives lounge access (for the next 2 and bit years at least) VA will most likely retain the larger share of my travel and in the last quarter it was 60/40 to VA with QF picking up the rest.

Now if they were to SM, like others have said, I'd have my hand out!

 

[fantasy86dj]

No I would not jump back to QF. I have only just came over to VA intending to take the odd flight on QF metal but buy the tickets as AA so my points dont expire

 

[nlagalle]

The biggest probs with QF are:

- new Dubai deal. As a Y-only business traveller I refuse to go on a cramped 3-4-3 to Europe when SQ do so many A380 on those routes.

Umm. SQ's A380's are 3-4-3 as well so it's the same on both A380's. Or are you referring to the 777's on EK?

 

[grubbidok]

Umm. SQ's A380's are 3-4-3 as well so it's the same on both A380's. Or are you referring to the 777's on EK?

Yep.,it's the 777. The trip to UAE may be alright but no-one deserves the indignity of a EK (or EY for that matter) sardine can onwards after the layover. I'll stick with SQ.

In fact, if VA try to pull the same ME-focused stunt as QF I'll be transferring everything to *A.