Lunch with Lesley – Attendees

[LA10]

Thanks to attendees for great reporting back and good pictures! Looks like a good lunch was had by all, and it certainly does remind me of the Rockpool lunch I attended last year. Thank you.

 

[hossein_au]

LOL - They have already crunched the numbers, and feedback isn't going to change a thing! Numbers will continue to fall on routes and they will continue to cry poor.

I doubt anything will change except the sale of the FF program in the next 12-18 months

I am DEFINITELY with you on that prediction (well, it is not a "prediction" per se, rather writing on the wall...)

 

[Paddy55]

The first QF lunch I've attended and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as much to meet fellow AFFers as to talk to QF.

IMHO a percentage of the questions resulted in "Corporate Spin" type responses, and to an extent is reasonably to be expected. I suspect some of the questions about Acquire might not have come from AFFers given the opportunities they presented for some marketing hype to be trotted out also

Having said that, there were a fair few good questions that had the QF folks making notes and showing real interest in the questions themselves. One example during general Q&A, and followed up with Justin afterwards is making Award (J & F ) availability a couple of months out more visible to FF members so that available inventory can be used up. I don't know what will become of that, however I really felt a desire to engage with AFFers on a no of issues, and I appreciate that.

 

[Deleted member]

I see what QF mean by fairer , for those who are FP ( as Benmay coined tonight) Faux Platinum ( like me) we will struggle under the new rules. The true FF who gets status through serious milage these "enhancements" will be fairer to them. I really can't complain. Unless I spend the cash for premium seats or fly dizzying amounts in Y , I shan't see a platinum card again.
But I have enjoyed the ride.
Thanks to the qantas loyalty team for a great day and it was great to make new friendships and renew others.
Thanks to everyone who made the day a success

 

[Red Roo]

Thanks for a great afternoon. It was lovely to put some faces to avatars.

I appreciate your ongoing support, and glad that you found today's lunch valuable. I know Lesley and the team certainly did.

 

[amaroo]

(my bolding). Sharp observation by Steph.

hahaha gave me a chuckle too

 

[Dmac6345]

Thanks Red Roo.
Lunch was delicious and it was a great afternoon had by all.
Now Red Roo, get to bed.
AJ won't have allowed for your overtime in his cost cutting.

 

[kevrosmith]

I suspect some of the questions about Acquire (sic) might not have come from AFFers given the opportunities they presented for some marketing hype to be trotted out also

I know I at least asked about Aquire as I wanted to know more about it and how I can make use of the features it offers for me as an SME. I'll certainly be watching how it progresses and what partners it continues to add.

It was a great lunch and appreciated meeting again some familiar faces and meeting new(er) members of the forum. I certainly appreciate that the staff at Qantas Loyalty take the time out of their busy work schedule to engage with our community in such a direct way... some people may have strong opinions one way or the other about that (and perhaps their motives), though ultimately, they don't have to, and they choose to do so.

It was great to meet some of the Team from Qantas Loyalty also, and it does give an appreciation that some of the challenges they face as a Business are similar to ours: the interactions with the various parts of the large Qantas organisation (e.g. getting award seats released, improvements to the website via the .com team etc.).

 

[samh004]

Now Red Roo, get to bed.

To misquote, "can't a Roo browse in peace"

 

[anat0l]

Fantastic reporting samh004, appreciate your sharing with us.

 

[samh004]

Now that I'm finally home and can see who formatted my posts, I'd like to thank QF WP!

 

[Rebekkap]

Now that I'm also back home (and tucked up in bed wearing my Qantas PJs of course!) I just also wanted to say it was really great to put faces to names/handles!

I hope oped there will be a Melbourne catch up soon.

 

[amaroo]

View attachment 27095

The top main - is that from Darling Downs ........in NSW?

LOL anyone heard the expression "Gone to Gowings" classic Aussie slang Gone to Gowings meaning | Australian Slang/T/84

Perfect venue for a QF function

Definition Of:Gone to Gowings

[TABLE="class: dict-name, width: 0"]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Australian Slang[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
used as an intensifier for any slangy sense of the word “goneâ€, as specifically: 1. deteriorating financially; 2. ill, especially with a hangover; 3. failing dismally, as of a horse in a race, a football team, etc.; 4. left; departed hastily or without a specific destination in mind; 5. drunk; 6. insane; idiotic (from an advertising slogan of “Gowing Bros Ltd†- a Sydney department store)

 

[medhead]

Yes someone did ask about the soft landing. Answered by Steph who said that we seem to know more about this than the average person but that Qantas was well aware that loyalty doesn't just exist over one year. There is a range of things they look at when deciding whether to renew status.

Except for loyalty bonus, that loyalty only exists for one year......

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for keeping this thread updated. I appreciate your time and effort.

While it was good to get some honest answers, there were however a few things I disagreed with, such as:

AFF Q: Diminishing network on own metal?

QF A: Disagree. Restructured Asia and put more capacity into SIN & HKG. Where we don't have metal on routes we do have a partner than can take you there. We want to be into the hubs of our partner airlines to take our members into every part if the world.

They must be kidding if they think that Qantas's routes aren't shrinking!!

Let's have a look at Singapore, for example. A few years ago Qantas operated flights to Singapore to/from:

Sydney: QF1/2 (foremerly 31/32) - A380 and QF5/6 - 747
Brisbane: QF51/52 - 747
Melbourne: QF9/10 - A380
Adelaide: QF81/82 - A330 (3x weekly)
Perth: QF71/72 & QF77/78 - 2 x A330s
London: QF1/2 & QF9/10 - 2 x A380s
Frankfurt: QF5/6 - 747
Mumbai: QF51/52 - A330 (3x weekly)

Pretty soon it will look more like this:
Sydney: QF5/6 & QF81/82 - 2x A330s
Melbourne QF35/36 - A330
Brisbane: QF51/52 - A330

How is that more capacity into SIN??

That's just one example. The fact is that you don't fly everywhere Qantas, and even if you do have a partner airline which can take us where we need to go, apparently you don't want us flying with them anyway as you have just halved the reward for doing so...

And when you have a look at what's happening with the Qantas fleet, it would appear the network is only going to diminish further in the future.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks for keeping this thread updated. I appreciate your time and effort.

While it was good to get some honest answers, there were however a few things I disagreed with, such as:



They must be kidding if they think that Qantas's routes aren't shrinking!!

Let's have a look at Singapore, for example. A few years ago Qantas operated flights to Singapore to/from:

Sydney: QF1/2 (foremerly 31/32) - A380 and QF5/6 - 747
Brisbane: QF51/52 - 747
Melbourne: QF9/10 - A380
Adelaide: QF81/82 - A330 (3x weekly)
Perth: QF71/72 & QF77/78 - 2 x A330s
London: QF1/2 & QF9/10 - 2 x A380s
Frankfurt: QF5/6 - 747
Mumbai: QF51/52 - A330 (3x weekly)

Pretty soon it will look more like this:
Sydney: QF5/6 & QF81/82 - 2x A330s
Melbourne QF35/36 - A330
Brisbane: QF51/52 - A330

How is that more capacity into SIN??

That's just one example. The fact is that you don't fly everywhere Qantas, and even if you do have a partner airline which can take us where we need to go, apparently you don't want us flying with them anyway as you have just halved the reward for doing so...

And when you have a look at what's happening with the Qantas fleet, it would appear the network is only going to diminish further in the future.

I don't think you are alone in that. There were a few comments and questions from the floor regarding reduction of QF metal.

 

[Ric]

Thanks to all for keeping us updated throughout. Special thanks to samh004!

Now was that a free lunch?? My ex boss in (my earlier corporate life) told me that there's no such thing! :mrgreen:

 

[amaroo]

SMH reporting that QF9 & QF 1 are being trimmed in May due to lack of passengers.......

 

[ermen]

Why was this meeting mentioned in the AFR?

Qantas defends frequent flyer changes

 

[Reggie]

Yes someone did ask about the soft landing. Answered by Steph who said that we seem to know more about this than the average person but that Qantas was well aware that loyalty doesn't just exist over one year. There is a range of things they look at when deciding whether to renew status.

That someone was moi but it was more related to 3 year average and comp. I sat next to Steph at lunch (Hi Steph, I now know your there , thank you for a great lunch and your open dialogue at the table) and discussed that with her. Steph stated that when my question came through to Redroo they went back and had a look at why it was set at three years as they were unsure. Anyway as I explained to Steph I knew it was a question of many AFFers, but also a personal one for me as my 3 year average will fall below 1200SC's next year, yet my 5, 10 and membership lifetime average is substantially higher than 1200SC's.