Left Qantas FF and Haven't Looked Back

[Jahxrzzv]

Ditched Qantas FF after 30 years of being a loyal customer. Was 18 months away from Gold lifetime membership.

In 2022 Qantas cancelled QF1 on me 3 times, resulting in a 24 hour delay to the departure out of Sydney each time, and a number of expenses incurred which Qantas refused to reimburse me for. On the final occasion I had to spend $95 to stay in Sydney the extra 24 hours because the taxi vouchers do not cover the trip to the hotel in the city, or the cost of food. The customer service agent advised me that Qantas was in no way responsible for those costs, to which I replied: "well I guess you can keep your $95 and I'll take my company's $20k annual travel spend to the competition.

Been flying with Virgin ever since and have not been happier. They do exactly what they say they will: fly the flight you booked. Thanks Virgin for reaffirming my confidence in the Australian aviation industry.

 

[p--and--t]

There might be just a small problem catching a Virgin flight to London.

Suggest you buy a lottery ticket with the alleged faultless service

Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

Perth based AFFer mannej made the excellent suggestion that new threads should be commenced to discuss delays and cancellations affecting passengers of airlines other than QF. With VA, the scheduled 1000 from MEL to CHC (VA150) has been delayed until 2215 this evening, thus turning it into an...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Jahxrzzv]

Well of course I now fly with Singapore on international legs. What was remarkable to me was that the SQ bog standard economy service was easily equal to the "premium" Gold service I had with Qantas - with the only exception being the reduced baggage and lack of free booze in the lounge. But I'm able to live with that.

 

[Prof Henry]

Haven't left QF yet but am giving the prospect increasing attention. Have felt patronised ever since the former CEO memorably alleged that some of our passengers aren't "match-fit", when it was his airline that had lost its mojo!

I'm heartily sick of the 8 days of emails telling me how to prepare for a flight from BNE-SYD (I've been Plat for approx 15 years and I know how many pairs of socks I need) Just now I got the one email that is actually useful, remonding me that

Check-in for your flight is now open​

Save time and check-in online

I click through the usual 3 or 4 pages I don't need and as I approach the final step, I get:
"QF539 operated by Qantas: online checkin is unavailable for this flight. Please checkin at the airport"

 

[stm1sydney]

There might be just a small problem catching a Virgin flight to London.

Nice try. As a VFF, there are many excellent options to fly to London, including SQ, QR, EY, NH and UA. All offer better products than Qantas, and usually at lower prices.

 

[stm1sydney]

lack of free booze in the lounge

Well, as soon as you get to VFF SG (which will be soon, from the sounds of it), you can enjoy the lovely (but sometimes very busy) SQ lounges including the free booze!

 

[serfty]

I'll take my company's $20k annual travel spend to the competition.

Have you registered for "Business Flyer". Reach $2K in spend on eligible travelled flights in the first 3 months and you can have two "pilot gold" accounts.

 

[p--and--t]

Nice try. As a VFF, there are many excellent options to fly to London, including SQ, QR, EY, NH and UA. All offer better products than Qantas, and usually at lower prices.

I believe I was 100% correct. VA do not fly to LHR. If the reference was a preference for Velocity earnings & redemptions over QFF rather than VA to QF, then I accept the commentary.

 

[Seano987]

Haven't left QF yet but am giving the prospect increasing attention. Have felt patronised ever since the former CEO memorably alleged that some of our passengers aren't "match-fit", when it was his airline that had lost its mojo!

I'm heartily sick of the 8 days of emails telling me how to prepare for a flight from BNE-SYD (I've been Plat for approx 15 years and I know how many pairs of socks I need) Just now I got the one email that is actually useful, remonding me that

Check-in for your flight is now open​

Save time and check-in online

I click through the usual 3 or 4 pages I don't need and as I approach the final step, I get:
"QF539 operated by Qantas: online checkin is unavailable for this flight. Please checkin at the airport"

And then the follow up notification from the Qantas App still urging you to do the impossible check-in!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Been flying with Virgin ever since and have not been happier. They do exactly what they say they will: fly the flight you booked. Thanks Virgin for reaffirming my confidence in the Australian aviation industry.

Errr….

Having done around 90 flights on VA in the last year I can tell ya that the grass is NOT greener on the other side.

Roughly a third to a half of all flights were delayed, some cancelled. Alternative flights hours away. IFE working maybe 2/3rds of the time. Wifi, maybe 20-30%? Non-existent customer service… 8 calls and 6 emails to get a refund I was entitled to under consumer law. Finally admitted I was entitled to a refund, as outlined on their website, but then added ‘we’ll change our website’ (they haven’t).

VA has two advantages. ‘Fly ahead’ by calling anytime during the day, and low-priced fares, Although the latter is becoming less of a differentiator given QF is down to $450 on the major trunk routes, and ZL is as low as $249!

 

[kpc]

As much as I dislike lots of things about Qf, I wont cut my nose off to spite my face...if it suits me to fly Qf I will; if not, I will fly Va and vice versa

 

[Forg]

Is it wise to leave Qantas FF (“La Famiglia”) without looking back?
Unless you can get into WitSec … ?

 

[Steelo]

I always consider QF as part of a package - incorporating Oneworld and Jetstar. As you move through life your flying needs and expectations change and grow according to employment, lifestyle and income. Having earned lifetime gold - it provides me with a basis to choose from QF / Oneworld / or even Jetstar when the occasion arises or the price allows. Having flown many European airlines and North American airlines - I don't think we have much to complain about with QF or even JQ for that point. There are always somethings that will annoy us about any airline - but its up to the individual to assess the overall benefit that they derive from the package. While, like many, Alan Joyce annoyed me - but I certainly do not allow the personality of a CEO to dictate how I travel.

 

[SYD]

Alternative flights hours away.

Yep, this often negated the benefit of this…

’Fly ahead’ by calling anytime during the day.

When I was VA WP, free Economy X seating was nice but crowded VA lounges and limited schedule between several city pairs was/is still a limitation.

 

[Daver6]

And then the follow up notification from the Qantas App still urging you to do the impossible check-in!

Don't forget the notification telling you that boarding has commended....once you're already sitting on the aircraft!

 

[JohnK]

At least you guys aren't me. Both QF and VA delay and cancel my flights without prejudice.

In saying that I've come to the realisation that QFF program is not for my family so our flying has moved to SQ with credit to VA. It's not that SQ is better than QF. They're not. I miss Qantas but flying SQ and crediting to VA gives both wife and I Gold status each year so 3 of us can use lounges.

I've now got 800,000+ QFF points and close to 300,000 Velocity points and find them difficult to use for anything other than domestic flights. When 7 year old daughter becomes a teenager wife and I can take turns flying to Thailand outside of school holidays so maybe we can use those points then if they haven't been too badly devalued.

 

[RooFlyer]

As much as I dislike lots of things about Qf, I wont cut my nose off to spite my face...if it suits me to fly Qf I will; if not, I will fly Va and vice versa

That's the way to go. In spite of my regular diatribes against QF, I still fly them when necessary - such as intl to Chile & Sth Africa and AY to Europe, using QFF Plat status.

I don't fly the golden triangle much, so haven't suffered the VA cancellations that others have.

 

[tmdl]

Ditched Qantas FF after 30 years of being a loyal customer. Was 18 months away from Gold lifetime membership.

In 2022 Qantas cancelled QF1 on me 3 times, resulting in a 24 hour delay to the departure out of Sydney each time, and a number of expenses incurred which Qantas refused to reimburse me for. On the final occasion I had to spend $95 to stay in Sydney the extra 24 hours because the taxi vouchers do not cover the trip to the hotel in the city, or the cost of food. The customer service agent advised me that Qantas was in no way responsible for those costs, to which I replied: "well I guess you can keep your $95 and I'll take my company's $20k annual travel spend to the competition.

Been flying with Virgin ever since and have not been happier. They do exactly what they say they will: fly the flight you booked. Thanks Virgin for reaffirming my confidence in the Australian aviation industry.

I started flying more and decided to go with Virgin, I do only wish that platinum/gold had some more perks such as early access to redemption flights or say access to etihad business/ first beyond 30 days?

 

[levelnine]

arly access to redemption flights or say access to etihad business/ first beyond 30 days?

Unfortunately that's controlled by the partner airlines, not Virgin.

 

[Ade]

Don't forget the notification telling you that boarding has commended....once you're already sitting on the aircraft!

Or in my example, last week MEL-CBR, the inbound flight has not reached the gate yet, got the "Boarding Now" notification on the app and on the screens in the terminal. Go to the gate only to find the 220 just pulling up, pax not deplaned yet, cleaning to be commenced etc.