Is Qantas diluting the benefits of status?

[Amberlower]

Qantas has been getting meaner and meaner with its 'perks', although offering an upgrade or business class seat in an almost-empty cabin should be mandatory, given how they push people to join their FF club with endless of promises of free flights. I think it verges on fraud -particularly when I have been denied a seat time and again, in, as I said, an empty business class cabin; and hold an Emerald level membership. A lot of these times I have been with my parter, also Emerald, who has held a fully paid business fare. I can't understand the mentality of this behaviour when, instead of offering a seat and winning the customer over, (the seat is empty anyway) they cause friction and resentment. Who's in charge of customer service there? Oh that's right - a computer!
On a happier note, several times when this has happened, the cabin crew decided it was a ridiculous situation and upgraded me anyway - free of charge. MUCH better! So THERE Qantas!
My partner, being a big person has 'aisle' seat on FF profile; recently, though was given a centre seat on several flights, with aisle seats available all over the plane. I think this reflects a real laziness in approach to customer needs. Indifference has unfortunately been a trademark of Qantas for some time.
It is so refreshing to be able to book a last minute FF business seat on BA and see a full plane on boarding; unlike Qantas, who seems to like flying empty planes. No wonder that oxygen cannister blew through the business class cabin without hitting anyone. Perhaps that's their insurance.

 

[moa999]

Some years ago when travelling frequently my husband paid a very substantial amount for 'life time' membership of the frequent flyer program. It's now worth almost nothing - the only benefit he receives is access to the lounge. Start getting accustomed to Qantas quietly eroding your benefits - it's nothing new.

In fact your husband got a great deal - life membership of the QPs are no longer available (apart from those qualifying for QF FF Life Gold) and the amount he paid is probably less than a 2-yr membership for the average punter.

 

[moa999]

Amberlower - welcome to AFF

Qantas has been getting meaner and meaner with its 'perks', although offering an upgrade or business class seat in an almost-empty cabin should be mandatory,

As an Emerald I would have though perks have been enhanced in recent years - Syd/Mel First lntl lounges, Syd/Mel/Bne/Cbr Business Domestic lounges.
Qantas has never been generous with respect to upgrades from my experience
Only recent 'mean' part is the taking away of the benefit to pre-book international exit rows

given how they push people to join their FF club with endless of promises of free flights.

I don't see how this relates to lack of upgrades. Potentially you could have booked a Business award on this flight, rather than an upgrade?

I think it verges on fraud -particularly when I have been denied a seat time and again, in, as I said, an empty business class cabin; and hold an Emerald level membership. A lot of these times I have been with my parter, also Emerald, who has held a fully paid business fare.

This comes down to Qantas yield management stratefy and is why they are a (barely) profitable airline, whilst other are loss making. eg a number of American airlines have a big problem due to their generous FF programs that frequent flyers don't book premium fares as they have an expectation of being upgraded.

Who's in charge of customer service there? Oh that's right - a computer!

No comment

It is so refreshing to be able to book a last minute FF business seat on BA and see a full plane on boarding; unlike Qantas, who seems to like flying empty planes.

In my recent experience QF planes have been much fuller than BA.

No wonder that oxygen cannister blew through the business class cabin without hitting anyone. Perhaps that's their insurance.

Actually blew through near the crew seats in what was I believe the economy cabin.

 

[pauly7]

Its kinda funny reading some peoples posts here, being a lowly SG I don't really care and think its good you can secure them for sure.

I think the problem QF has was that they were giving it to the WP's as a 'bonus' which was lapped up by probably a small amount of people, certainly ppl on here.

The problem is that they have withdrawn the 'bonus' which was never really concrete anyway and now some people are distraught and threatening to move (to other airlines which mostly charge anyway haha).

To be honest, I think QF probably should never have extended the bonus to WP's.... If I was a WP I'd be thankful I had a free ride for so long and get over it . But I do understand that some people tend to dwell on these kinda things a bit more.

Regarding the last couple of posts - me thinks some trolls have risen up haha

 

[anat0l]

No wonder that oxygen cannister blew through the business class cabin without hitting anyone. Perhaps that's their insurance.

Are you suggesting that it would have been more proper for someone to have been hurt by that incident, perhaps even killed?

Rather misplaced statement if I ever saw one.

 

[N860CR]

The one very positive thing I can always say about Qantas is that they don't just upgrade people for the hell of it. The J and F cabins are there to be paid for ($$$ or points) and it dilutes their value if people are just upgraded because there are empty seats.

I recall when I flew PEK-SYD last year and the economy section was 99% full, however I was one of only 4 people in J, and I witnessed a heated arguement between a checkin agent and a WP fighting for a free upgrade (as he'd exceeded his economy baggage allowance... I didn't see his logic but whatever). I have to credit QF for not upgrading him when I'm sure many of the "upgrade-friendly" US airlines would have.

That said... I would prefer a system where one can confirm a points upgrade before travelling.

 

[oz_mark]

I recall when I flew PEK-SYD last year and the economy section was 99% full, however I was one of only 4 people in J, and I witnessed a heated arguement between a checkin agent and a WP fighting for a free upgrade

I have often witnessed WP's pull the DYKWIA argument when justifying some perk they think they are entitled to.

 

[anat0l]

I have often witnessed WP's pull the DYKWIA argument when justifying some perk they think they are entitled to.

Same here - quite a few times. And how sick I am of hearing the ol' "I'm a WP, cut me some slack" argument.

Even though I am a WP now, it's behaviour like that that makes me sick.

 

[pauly7]

I recall when I flew PEK-SYD last year and the economy section was 99% full, however I was one of only 4 people in J, and I witnessed a heated arguement between a checkin agent and a WP fighting for a free upgrade (as he'd exceeded his economy baggage allowance... I didn't see his logic but whatever). I have to credit QF for not upgrading him when I'm sure many of the "upgrade-friendly" US airlines would have.

Yes +1 and well done to the poor check out staff member dealing with a true WP....

 

[Grooba]

I recall when I flew PEK-SYD last year and the economy section was 99% full, however I was one of only 4 people in J, and I witnessed a heated arguement between a checkin agent and a WP fighting for a free upgrade ...

Yes I have seen this also, it makes me sick.

Comp upgrades are not something to expect when WP - sure it's nice when it happens but sheesh it almost makes me violent when I see another WP being just that, a complete wanker.

 

[N860CR]

I nearly went to buy this poor lady flowers! The checkin staff in PEK were always pretty poor... except for this one Qantas rep (the only actual QF staff member) who always did a wonderful job. She certainly held her own in the midst of a few class attacks by said WP

 

[JohnK]

I think the problem QF has was that they were giving it to the WP's as a 'bonus' which was lapped up by probably a small amount of people, certainly ppl on here.

The problem is that they have withdrawn the 'bonus' which was never really concrete anyway and now some people are distraught and threatening to move (to other airlines which mostly charge anyway haha).

To be honest, I think QF probably should never have extended the bonus to WP's.... If I was a WP I'd be thankful I had a free ride for so long and get over it . But I do understand that some people tend to dwell on these kinda things a bit more.

Hmm.... There are a few threats to leave Qantas in these threads if the privilege for pre-allocating exit rows is removed for Platinums. I actually think most of the reasoning put forward by most of the posters is quite valid.

My story. Why would I remain loyal to Qantas is if I cannot pre-allocate a complimentary exit row from Qantas anymore and I am sitting in the 5th or 6th row of WHY and Emirates or Singapore has an airfare $300-$400 cheaper than Qantas and I can sit in the 5th or 6th row of WHY? I still have QF business lounge access as a Platinum and I could easily maintain QF Platinum status on airlines other than Qantas....

 

[anat0l]

Hmm.... There are a few threats to leave Qantas in these threads if the privilege for pre-allocating exit rows is removed for Platinums. I actually think most of the reasoning put forward by most of the posters is quite valid.

I think there is a lot of big talk but no walk on this board. Threats schmets....

True, the complaints are probably valid, but if you're going to complain then stop sitting on a high chair making noises and actually put your money where your mouth is - literally. We don't live in a communist state and it's a free market out there. So make a choice.

Sheesh - is it really that difficult? Especially since, as JohnK precisely points out, you can bag some fares out there anywhere between $300-$400 cheaper than the red rat?




.......That was the long way of saying I think this issue is being blown out way too far.

 

[JohnK]

Sheesh - is it really that difficult? Especially since, as JohnK precisely points out, you can bag some fares out there anywhere between $300-$400 cheaper than the red rat?

Going off-topic here but this may well be a blessing in disguise. I need to start planning a way to get to SE Asia cheaply and get more SCs than is currently achievable with travel on QF.

A couple of thoughts are Air Asia OOL/MEL-KUL return with a JL KUL-SIN return in J and a CX SIN-BKK return in J for 200 SCs at a cost of ~$1,500 possibly a little more.

Or a SQ SYD-SIN return in WHY and a CX SIN-BKK return in J for 120 SCs at a cost of ~$1,700. Also a chance to earn some SQ miles that can be topped up with Amex MR points to redeem an award flight SYD-BKK return.

I am sure there are better examples that some people can come up with for their favourite destination.

.......That was the long way of saying I think this issue is being blown out way too far.

I do agree that we have taken the issue too far but Qantas started it by taking away the privilege....

 

[dajop]

Also a chance to earn some SQ miles ....

Be very careful with that. Increasingly difficult to get reasonably priced miles earning fares on SQ. Unless you want to pay 30% more than their sale fares or the competition. I'll confess I'm not sure (as a PPS and QF WP) who's the worse of the 2. Great service, great airlines = dilution of FF program.

 

[tsultrim]

Either I am having extreme bad luck or there is something seriously wrong with Qantas or the new seating allocation system (ALTEA) that has been in place for ~12 months has been tweaked again recently.

I could not get past 29J until I got to the airport this morning. Still only 2 other seats vacant so check-in and go to the lounge. Could not access OLCI again as it is now <1 hour to the flight. I waited until almost everyone had boarded and asked at the Customer service desk if there was an aisle seat further forward. She looked and looked and gave me a boarding pass for 28B.

After I boarded I noticed vacant seats at 23E (aisle), 26B, 26F, 26J, 28J, 29J, 30JK and 5 other middle seats that were not available earlier. There was even a frail old buddhist monk seated at 26D and I do not believe he had any status. What is going on? And this time it is not last minute op-ups or upgrades to business class that freed up those forward aisle seats.

Qantas is playing games and I do not expect it to get any better....

JohnK, I think you need to have a good hard look at yourself if you believe you have higher status than a Buddhist Monk.

 

[wijomas]

JohnK, I think you need to have a good hard look at yourself if you believe you have higher status than a Buddhist Monk.

I'd bow down to the mighty JohnK before I did so to any Buddhist monks. :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, I think you need to have a good hard look at yourself if you believe you have higher status than a Buddhist Monk.

Of course you are right what was I thinking.

 

[2muchplastic]

JohnK, I think you need to have a good hard look at yourself if you believe you have higher status than a Buddhist Monk.

That's right JohnK, didn't you know they give out Chairman's Lounge when you get your robes now. :mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[wijomas]

That's right JohnK, didn't you know they give out Chairman's Lounge when you get your robes now. :mrgreen::mrgreen:

The exit-rows are gonna be full of guys in JQ colours! :shock: