Lunch with Lesley

[amaroo]

Maybe the lucky punters will now move over to Bridge Street and get to experience the real diamond in the RP crown? Rockpool Restaurant Review | Sydney NSW | Good Food

 

[QF WP]

Hope that Rockpool can recover -shocking news

 

[Mr_Orange]

I'd settle for the QP

FLounge at least, surely?

 

[UP4014]

They can't simply shout every AFF member lunch, there has to be some way to choose who gets to come and who doesn't, so it makes sense to base it around questions you'd like to ask, then you're on the right page going into it and not likely to just shoot your mouth off because LTG and 10 years of WP didn't mean squat at some stage for you

All opinions above expressed as a happy member of AFF.

No, but there are other ways to interact with customers rather than a preplanned question and answer lunch.

I was sitting in the SFO AA lounge once and a well dressed man in his 60's walked up an introduced himself as a senior VP and asked how I thought they were going with their loyalty scheme, I explained I was with QF and he sat down for 10 mins and asked some questions as an outsider how I thought AA was. He made a couple of notes and continued to the next person.

I said it was great to see management out and about and he said when out if he had a little time he would try to chat with the customers around the lounges.

A lesson could be learned here I think for airline senior management in Aust.

Matt

 

[Clivem]

I believe they will exit OW yes...

Any time frame ??? ... Best estimate/s ?

 

[JohnK]

Question when the 'lunch n learn' get sorted - Is Qantas looking to exit OW - in the short / medium terms (18 month outlook tops)

That is one of my 3 questions.

It is a possibility but the EK partnership hasn't exactly set the world on fire either.

 

[samh004]

No, but there are other ways to interact with customers rather than a preplanned question and answer lunch.

I was sitting in the SFO AA lounge once and a well dressed man in his 60's walked up an introduced himself as a senior VP and asked how I thought they were going with their loyalty scheme, I explained I was with QF and he sat down for 10 mins and asked some questions as an outsider how I thought AA was. He made a couple of notes and continued to the next person.

I said it was great to see management out and about and he said when out if he had a little time he would try to chat with the customers around the lounges.

A lesson could be learned here I think for airline senior management in Aust.

Matt

That happened to a degree at the AGM in Feb, there were senior staff on hand to really discuss things.

There's been a track record of these lunches though, they have worked well, and suddenly everyone is up in arms about this one because of recent changes. Assuming Qantas is taking small steps into this arena, do we really want to tell them to pack up and stop... I'm sure with continued negativity they'd be inclined to think they shouldn't bother.

 

[zainman]

Any time frame ??? ... Best estimate/s ?

No idea but they will eventually.. That's what the changes to OW partners earning hint towards anyway..

 

[UP4014]

That happened to a degree at the AGM in Feb, there were senior staff on hand to really discuss things.

There's been a track record of these lunches though, they have worked well, and suddenly everyone is up in arms about this one because of recent changes. Assuming Qantas is taking small steps into this arena, do we really want to tell them to pack up and stop... I'm sure with continued negativity they'd be inclined to think they shouldn't bother.

It's good they did it at the AGM, but that's still the shareholder going to Management, I'm talking getting management out to visit the customer.

They are big people, paid the big bikkies and shouldn't need anyone to tell them, any business who thinks they shouldn't be bothered to engage with customers is doomed for a downward run.

As for the continued negativity, wow, if management is wondering how that happened then it is certainly time for them to be out and about to find out what customers don't like and think about fixing it or putting back what people liked.

Matt

 

[Princess Fiona]

It's good they did it at the AGM, but that's still the shareholder going to Management, I'm talking getting management out to visit the customer.

They are big people, paid the big bikkies and shouldn't need anyone to tell them, any business who thinks they shouldn't be bothered to engage with customers is doomed for a downward run.

As for the continued negativity, wow, if management is wondering how that happened then it is certainly time for them to be out and about to find out what customers don't like and think about fixing it or putting back what people liked.

Matt

Sam is referring to the Flyertalk AGM.

 

[samh004]

It's good they did it at the AGM, but that's still the shareholder going to Management, I'm talking getting management out to visit the customer.

They are big people, paid the big bikkies and shouldn't need anyone to tell them, any business who thinks they shouldn't be bothered to engage with customers is doomed for a downward run.

As for the continued negativity, wow, if management is wondering how that happened then it is certainly time for them to be out and about to find out what customers don't like and think about fixing it or putting back what people liked.

Matt

Sometimes what people like isn't always what's profitable.

As for the AGM I was referring to, I meant the social event organised by FT every year in the BNE QP. There was certainly no requirement for Qantas to provide the people they had there to talk to customers, but they went above and beyond.

 

[Craigie]

QF have noticed there is a group of people(AFF) that know their(qf's) product better than most and want to get up close and personal with a representation of that group on a semi regular basis. Not only to gauge reactions to changing products but engage in meaningful discussion in person. They could send a bunch of survey forms and get feedback that way but that's not a discussion and can achieve less IMO. To me a lunch like this says "we appreciate AFF as a serious enough community to listen to and we want to show that appreciation by providing some great hospitality and a continuing invitation for you to lay out exactly what you think about us, warts and all."
Why people insist on seeing this as sinister attempt to buy out a select few people is outside my understanding. Screening people to only pick good questions is counter productive on so many levels. QF know they're in trouble and no doubt elements within are really trying to take the initiative to do what they can to improve it. And every one of them have a boss and that boss is setting a bunch of limits and budgets which they have to work within and still deliver. Well done I say, for those doing what they can.

 

[drewbles]

I believe they will exit OW yes...

Qantas are a founding member of Oneworld. IMHO, they're very very very unlikely to depart it (where would they go? But that's a topic for a different thread..).

 

[drewbles]

No idea but they will eventually.. That's what the changes to OW partners earning hint towards anyway..

The changes are more likely designed to drive more revenue from partners. Remember, when you earn points or SC's on a Oneworld partner, QF are paid for it. Changing it is quite clearly designed to bring more cash into their coffers.

 

[boomy]

Whilst I am negative about it it is only because in my opinion nothing will change. QF have seen and heard enough feed back both here and in the general media to understand that it has not gone down well. It doesn't require a meal to understand the feelings and potential impact of these changes.

I agree with you and I will also add that all the thousands of posts written here on AFF will probably have little to no impact at all on QF decision making but attending a lunch at rockpool will at least guarantee a good meal and the privilege to meet some fellow AFFers. I can't find anything negative about that.

 

[Simo]

Hope RP is not closed for too long.

 

[Deleted member]

Hope RP is not closed for too long.

Are you a regular ?

 

[Deleted member]

Hope that Rockpool can recover -shocking news

Its amazing what they can do with a bit of paint and building materials these days

 

[markis10]

Message from NP, no word on Spice Temple.

The Rockpool Group has confirmed that there was an incidence of fire damage at Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney at approximately 8.30pm last night.
More than 200 guests and staff were evacuated immediately from the restaurant and no one was injured.
The cause of the fire is unknown at the moment and the Fire Brigade is currently assessing the damage.
Neil Perry said, “We are very pleased that no one was hurt and everyone was evacuated safely. We’re not sure where the fire started or what caused it but we should know more in the coming days when the full extent of the damage is assessed.
"I’m currently in Hong Kong until Friday morning, and while I wish I was there to support the team, they have done an amazing job in managing the whole situation."

 

[JohnPhelan]

I believe they will exit OW yes...

More chance of Richard Branson joining the QF Board .....