Maybe I'll give up the QFF points game altogether

[Anna]

Asia Miles is beginning to look ok to me for my flying habits. I can credit the domestic N/O fares to QF to get the 4 squiggles, and anything else to Asia Miles. Eg for an upcoming ADL HKG trip booked on CX on a V fare, Asia Miles would give me 8542 miles and to redeem the same route would be 45,000 return. Qantas will give me 4,256 points and 30 (!! :shock SCs and to redeem the same route would be 72,000 return plus the taxes.

 

[thommo50]

I feel like Qantas is dropping the ball as well. I'm a few point away from Plat 1 without using masa or whatever its called. No extra benefits for me except express check in. Lounges don't interest me much. Im gold with velocity as well. Thinking of just flying Singapore airlines, seem to get better everything there. I only use points for upgrades. The only thing stopping me is I trust Qantas pilots, their training and professionalism, maybe a silly reason to a lot of people but I like to know I'm in good hands.

 

[Anna]

I trust Qantas pilots, their training and professionalism, maybe a silly reason to a lot of people but I like to know I'm in good hands.

My last few CX/KA sectors have had broad Aussie accents doing the announcements from the coughpit

 

[Ansett]

My last few CX/KA sectors have had broad Aussie accents doing the announcements from the coughpit

And with a number of QF pilots facing the chopping block I would suggest a lot will be snapped up in Asia.

 

[missafternoondelight]

Yes, I think I've only had one pilot on a CX flight in the past few years who didn't sound Aussie (he was British).
Interesting comparison of CX / QF earn and reward, Anna.. thanks for sharing.

 

[RescuePilot]

My last few CX/KA sectors have had broad Aussie accents doing the announcements from the coughpit

As a person who loiters on the edges of AFF and having knowledge of the efficiency and safety of QF and CX tech crew i am in total agreement as to the safety competence of these guys (and girls)

I have a list of only 9 airlines that my children and family can fly and both QF and CX are on that list (And SQ, BA and several others as well!!).

For those in the know CX have announced major purchases of aircraft and have also stated in house that they are going to require over 200 additional pilots in the next 18 months.

Based on the decline in the number of QF sectors available I would suggest that there are openings in CX for QF tech crew as Aussie pilots (tech crew) are highly sought after due to their positive and active safety leadership on the flight deck and no BS approach to CRM.

Some of the recent sim sessions that I have attended as a check/auditor and other session videos that I have reviewed in studying CRM behaviour clearly demonstrate Aussie FO's and Captains clearly questioning and correcting incorrect decisions made by non-Aussie tech crew.

As QF's GM HSE Ken Lewis stated over 20 years ago "Give me and my family an experienced Aussie in either the left or right seats on any flight anytime"

Folks - feel free to come fly with CX, most of us on the flight deck are down to earth guys and are highly experienced and will look after you like our own families.

I am not condoning you deserting QF as this will affect the employment of fellow pilots however if you are looking for a change to a safe airline with the same maintenance and training then come on over

 

[horseman]

Yep I've canned them, will still collect points but going with better non qf credit cards and flying bfod now. Qantas aren't value for money anymore and the QFF program is rubbish

 

[Deleted member]

One suspects that the best way forward is to choose routes that work got points and suck it up for the rest!?

 

[yeahbut]

I have a list of only 9 airlines that my children and family can fly and both QF and CX are on that list (And SQ, BA and several others as well!!).

So, what's the complete list of "family approved"airlines, I am interested to know more...

 

[BD1959]

My last few CX/KA sectors have had broad Aussie accents doing the announcements from the coughpit

Ex-Neighbour of mine flies for KA.

Previously AN, then NH. Flew for JQ for a while but prefers flying for KA.

Regards,

BD

 

[Dr Ralph]

I don't know why anyone would use the points to purchase flights with QF. The taxes and fees are outrageous. I've always used the points to purchase gift cards, wine or exit row seats.

 

[Limewood]

I don't know why anyone would use the points to purchase flights with QF. The taxes and fees are outrageous. I've always used the points to purchase gift cards, wine or exit row seats.

From OZ yes but out of say HKG using on a OneWorld airline to affiliate very reasonable.

 

[Anna]

I've always used the points to purchase gift cards, wine or exit row seats.

Things are so dire I'm thinking of buying a toaster

 

[11sjw]

Tend to agree with the sentiment here. Currently just burning points on Grocery cards and will examine in the new year as I need to maintain my direct earn AMEX to keep the Platinum TI for Dec/Jan.

 

[casanovawa]

Things are so dire I'm thinking of buying a toaster

Don't do it, I have a toaster you can have if your up for a family transfer cuz....

 

[scaredeycat]

I won't be too worried about maintaining status with QF much longer. Any trip I do over 3 hours will be in J, so I'll be able to access lounges whichever carrier I use. I prefer to fly to Europe via Asia and if Qantas can't offer me that product then why would I choose to fly with them? The F lounge is nice, but certainly no deal breaker. I'm not convinced that lifetime status is worth chasing - if my pattern of flying stays the same it will take me about 5 years to reach LTG, and by then QF might not even be around.

 

[Limewood]

scaredeycat, exactly my sentiments, couldn't have put it better.

In my case being in CNS and loving HKG, its under 7 hours from here and award flights with points or purchased with miles are a so plentiful out of there to Europe and US, also airline charges are a pittance compared to OZ.

We two fly J long haul so most of the benefits are still there anyway.

 

[Anna]

Told the bank (which bank?) that I want to change to a no fee card due to QF enhancements. They couldn't have cared less and didn't offer me anything to stay with the hundreds-of-dollars-per-year-in-fees card. They didn't even point out that I get that card cheaper than other people do.

Told HSBC I wanted to change from the QF card, they immediately waived the annual fee (so quickly I wasn't sure I heard right) and also encouraged me to apply for their current special offer of platinum card no fee for life (that incidentally also earns Asia Miles, with a bonus for signing up).

Hmm, right now struggling to see why I would want to continue to help Lesley Grant out in her quest for QFF points to become Australia's alternative currency.

 

[medhead]

I don't know why anyone would use the points to purchase flights with QF. The taxes and fees are outrageous. I've always used the points to purchase gift cards, wine or exit row seats.

The nominal value of flights is still better per point than gift cards.

 

[JohnK]

I don't know why anyone would use the points to purchase flights with QF. The taxes and fees are outrageous. I've always used the points to purchase gift cards, wine or exit row seats.

QFF points appear to be great value when used on partner airlines intra-Asia.

Other than that I tend to agree they are not worth very much.