If you were going to ditch QF

[NM]

Basically only 1 major choice-stick to OW or switch to another alliance.

If buying premium cabin tickets, I believe there are plenty of alternate options. Status means a lot less when purchasing premium cabin fares - you still get the priority baggage, check-in and boarding, you still get lounge access etc. So if remove the FF status side of the equation, there are several carriers operating to/from Australia offering superior hard products and often reported superior service for what is often a considerable cost saving. Those cost savings can be put to good use to purchase a lounge membership for domestic flights and likely also fund the purchase of tickets quicker than the QFF program will provide a "free" flight etc.

I understand it may be a foreign concept to many AFF members but some people can travel in comfort, receiving excellent service for less cost than those caught in the FF addiction.

 

[drron]

If buying premium cabin tickets, I believe there are plenty of alternate options. Status means a lot less when purchasing premium cabin fares - you still get the priority baggage, check-in and boarding, you still get lounge access etc. So if remove the FF status side of the equation, there are several carriers operating to/from Australia offering superior hard products and often reported superior service for what is often a considerable cost saving. Those cost savings can be put to good use to purchase a lounge membership for domestic flights and likely also fund the purchase of tickets quicker than the QFF program will provide a "free" flight etc.

I understand it may be a foreign concept to many AFF members but some people can travel in comfort, receiving excellent service for less cost than those caught in the FF addiction.

Cant possibly be so!:shock::shock:

 

[arraitch]

If buying premium cabin tickets, I believe there are plenty of alternate options. Status means a lot less when purchasing premium cabin fares - you still get the priority baggage, check-in and boarding, you still get lounge access etc. So if remove the FF status side of the equation, there are several carriers operating to/from Australia offering superior hard products and often reported superior service for what is often a considerable cost saving. Those cost savings can be put to good use to purchase a lounge membership for domestic flights and likely also fund the purchase of tickets quicker than the QFF program will provide a "free" flight etc.

I understand it may be a foreign concept to many AFF members but some people can travel in comfort, receiving excellent service for less cost than those caught in the FF addiction.

Hmm ... let's see now, to take an example of some personal but also regional interest:

Option 1
PER-MRU return in J on MK for ~$3K. No QFF points or SCs. ~8 hours each way; no stopovers. Not a LCC, not exactly renowned for cabin service, but quite acceptable IME.

Option 2
PER-JNB-MRU return in J on SA (QF codeshare)/BA for ~$8K. QFF points and SCs. ~16 hours out and ~35 hours return, including o/night in JNB.

Option 3
PER-SYD-JNB-MRU return in J on QF/QF/BA for ... nah, let's not go there.

Is MK a no-brainer? Well from where I sit - yes. Can the foregone points and SCs be worth that much to anybody? Mind, I have spotted PER-JNB J ASAs for ~80K points. There's always another permutation to consider!

 

[hollydavid69]

I know this is going slightly off topic, but maybe you should ditch the Cats as well while your at it, as they had a bad day at the office last week.

But for what's its worth my team (Melbourne) didi't even make the finals again :shock:.

 

[MelbMan]

I can't complain about QF. Most of my FF come from credit cards. We go o/s once a year. Normally it's LCC to Asia and then either some tickets bought there and maybe a one way free ticket on QF home. A few years ago I'd have preferred a BA flight over QF.

I've totally given up on Kris Flyer and Emirates. Can't stand Emirates IFE. 1000 programs and nothing to watch. Too much Bollywood and Arabic, no arthouse. One flight back from Europe was watching repeats of Top Gear. Qantas IFE by comparison is terrific. For us we're always in economy. Generally have had some luck with either exit row or aisle seats with plenty of empty seats next door despite flying May/Jun.

Kris flyer and the Westpac SQ Amex/Visa CC was the end for me. A promised discount on redemptions you had to wait 12 months for turned out to be a redemption limited to Jul-Dec 2010 which doesn't suit me. A lot of these Asian/Arab airlines seem to think travelling is fun. On top KFF has expiry dates on points. The only good destination for KFF might be NZ and the Pacific lslands through Air NZ and Star Alliance.

Otherwise for us it's normally Jetstar or VB domestically, Qantas if they are competitive. Will not travel Tiger domestically or internationally again even if they were to give me the tickets. 2011 we're trying out Air Asia and booked one way to London in May. My current favourite flight has been Malaysian Sin-LHR, probably followed by Qantas and Singapore. But for me I've given up on Star Alliance. We have flown to NZ a lot but none of the Air NZ cheaper flights garner points. I won't pay extra for flights with FF and find it hard to appreciate flights to get status pts. I think it's fair to say some of the romance has gone out of air travel but perhaps in airport restaurants like at LHR and Sydney International make up for some of the shortcoming inflight.

Have had some great meals on Qantas, 2005 to Chile and back. Air NZ used to be great but in economy they are barely a snack these days. I've enjoyed working my way through the Ryanair menu in Europe but of course their weight limits and new fixed luggage costs are a joke.

One other way into QFF might be to join some of the American programs and CC programs like offered by Alaskan Airlines in the USA. But do some domestic travelling in the USA in May and Jun and it made me realize we are still reasonably well off here.

I should clarify flying economy to and fro to Europe we always break our journey in Singapore (or somewhere similar) both ways. Generally at least one night on the way over and 2 days coming home. Sure it costs a little more. I factor this in against the LCC airfares combined with some FF seats. My wife can't travel straight through. I'm sure in a flat bed going straight through is relatively painless. I can't justify spending $3000 or 4000 in Premium Economy or more in Business class. I'd rather have the money to spend on the ground. Qantas have always been excellent in cashing in points for seats even at very short notice. So I can't really complain.

Good luck!

 

[TheFergus]

Check out Emirates.

But I say this from a redeeming points pov, not a flying/service pov.

Look for two first class fares on an A380 to Heathrow - won't find it on Qantas. Cost 3m+ on Singapore. Could fly tomorrow, or probably any day on Emirates. Go figure.

They partner with Virgin and I've heard great things about VAustralia.

 

[PineappleSkip]

A thought provoking thread. Many of the FF benefits are very marginal, and getting more so (I'm thinking QF seat selection for all and ability to buy exit rows)

There are some totally ordinary lounges out there. The Plaza Premium Lounge in SIN and the executive club lounge in POM come immediately to mind as places where I have made the call at both to spend a modest sum to drink much better coffee elsewhere and pay $. Lounges such as these don't justify spending $$$ to access.

The other total disadvantage of loyalty programs is that if you stay loyal they truncate your options. Do I stay at the Holiday Inn Outer Nowhere just to get some PC points and ensure I keep getting room upgrades and free papers next year, or do I stay at the X Hotel Very Central this time with the great rooms and top location.

I admit to having got excited in the past on requalifying QF SG and thinking 'great now I can try some different airlines and get cheaper fares'. The thing I value most is seat selection and you can do that with so many airlines with no status at all. OK your seat might be ten rows back from those with status but that will still get you off the plane maybe a minute after the status people.

Just a moment of cognitive dissonance. Now back to tallying up those SCs

Cheers skip

 

[Postcode]

Just want to say a huge thanks to all who took the time and effort to post advice on this thread. It's the kind of help and interest in each other that makes this a community.

So much good advice to sift through and see how it could fit in with future plans.
I've been quite happy using CX. I fly often in paid J with them. I have had my last 6 flights with them that were in paid Y or on Y class frequent flyer points upgraded at checkin to J. My kind of airline. Also flying to Europe via HKG is excellent for a few days stop over.

You stated that you fly J o/s a few times per year, and are not happy with QF, why even bother chasing status at all? In J or F class, you get 90% of the benefits anyways - lounge, extra luggage, priority boarding and bonus points if enrolled in a program which earns points.

Well said and that's what I've been thinking. Frequent flyers is probably not what it's cracked up to be and perhaps not worth the cost considering what's on offer with other airlines.

What do you want from a program to replace QF?

A couple of people here really like EK whilst others think that Asiana with their two year status period is the way to go.

Personally I would have trouble looking outside of a OW FF program in this country. Personally I would fly and credit QF domestically and then AA internationally especially if you are flying in J and complete a Plat Challange.

The other option that has been suggested is that you don't worry about a FF program at all. Just use the carrier that is cheapest on the day. You will also find that you may save some money covering any potential loss through minimal points gain. Malaysian, Thai, JL and others are pretty competative in J ex Australia.

Asiana looks very promising and am still wading through the info there. Thanks. Looking at transferring all my already made bookings from QF frequent flyer to AA. It would just take an email to my TA. Flew MH internationally and domestically in June/July and was so impressed. MH will also credit DJ flights not that I've flown DJ before. :shock:

If buying premium cabin tickets, I believe there are plenty of alternate options. Status means a lot less when purchasing premium cabin fares - you still get the priority baggage, check-in and boarding, you still get lounge access etc. So if remove the FF status side of the equation, there are several carriers operating to/from Australia offering superior hard products and often reported superior service for what is often a considerable cost saving. Those cost savings can be put to good use to purchase a lounge membership for domestic flights and likely also fund the purchase of tickets quicker than the QFF program will provide a "free" flight etc.

I understand it may be a foreign concept to many AFF members but some people can travel in comfort, receiving excellent service for less cost than those caught in the FF addiction.

That's exactly how I feel. I pay a sh*tload to QF and am really wondering why after
recent experiences. That's why I rarely use them, but fly mainly OW carriers to keep status.

I know this is going slightly off topic, but maybe you should ditch the Cats as well while your at it, as they had a bad day at the office last week.

But for what's its worth my team (Melbourne) didi't even make the finals again :shock:.

Go hang your head in shame! Love the Cats.

Anyway thanks again for everyone's imput. It's food for thought and perhaps for a few other readers here as well. Not sure what way to lean yet but am off to Paris on CX and AY in the pointy end in just over a week. The beauty is it cost me just a bit over $6 000 which is way less than QF would try to gouge for indifferent customer service. And retain a blue oval on my FF card if it's worth anything at all.