Ok, so why does everyone continue to bag Qantas?

[NM]

Ta NM, more here ...

• Ability to request Pre-allocation of exit rows on International Flights (or 34H)
• Access to AC's in LOTFAP when flying US domestic itinerary
• Ability to get FF points including applicable status and cabin bonus when flying JQ
• Access to additional Elite WHY award class on QF Operated flights.

Of course, if one has achieved QF Life Time SG these become less of an issue.

Indeed. Just remember that its not just a one-way street. The AA EXP gets some benefits the QF Plat does not, and these may be valuable to some people. These include:

• 8 eVIP upgrade certificates
• 4 x 500 mile upgrades per 10,000 qualifying miles
• Better access to BA economy award seats
• Ability to earn AA miles from flying partner airlines that don't acrus to QF, such as AS, JAL (though about to change when they join OneWorld)
• Less likelihood of getting SSSS on AA boarding passes when travelling in the LOTFAP

 

[NM]

I rang them about this, and they seem to add them up.

3 pc for J, 1 extra for Paid QC (even though it is suspended) and 1 extra for WP.

That is why I don't pay. So if I was AA OW Emerald. I would have to pay $40 (Expired QC and no WP) per flight. That is not so bad I guess.

There may also be a chance they could waive it every now and then seeing I am a OW Emerald with another OW airline. What are the chances of that do you guys (gals) think?

So it depends on how often you do that trip. $40 is less than the saving on fuel fines for a return domestic award flight.

 

[simongr]

Ta NM, more here ...

• Ability to request Pre-allocation of exit rows on International Flights (or 34H)
• Access to AC's in LOTFAP when flying US domestic itinerary
• Ability to get FF points including applicable status and cabin bonus when flying JQ
• Access to additional Elite WHY award class on QF Operated flights.

Of course, if one has achieved QF Life Time SG these become less of an issue.

And dont forget that if you arent crediting to QF - you wont make LTS/LTG

 

[NM]

And dont forget that if you arent crediting to QF - you wont make LTS/LTG

But is acruing to AA you are earning towards Lifetime Gold and Lifetime Platinum status.

Swings and roundabouts.

 

[simongr]

I agree - you will be accruing to LTG/LTP on AA - which gives you lounge access etc. when flying QF - I just wonder if QFLTS/G is better than AA and also easier to achieve?

Given my planned itinerary next year of approx 5 rtws (say minimum 700SCs each) and my existing 1700SCs and if I credited the remainder of the year to QF (about 800SCs) - I would be at 6000SCs this time next year - which is pretty close to LTS - whereas I will in fact have about 170K miles flown crediting towards LTG on AA. Mind you I need to check whether LTG/P on AA is based on miles flown/points/qpoints...

As you say its swings/roundabouts - Given I dont plan to retire for at least another 20 years I probably would be pretty much guaranteed LTG on QF - which would mean I can access the QP (if it still exists) when I am retired and touring the world at my leisure

Edit

Hmm from this source it is miles earned from any source which I assume means that if I am flying J with Plat/EXP status and getting 2.25 points per mile flown - then my 130K miles flown next year will be roughly 300K miles earned - but still a long way off being LTG.

Note - I am not complaining about this just noticing the difference - sadly I think I wont need LTG/LTP for the rest of my career as I reckon I might be flying enough to qualify each year whilst working so LTG/LTP will only be useful for me when I retire...

 

[NM]

I agree - you will be accruing to LTG/LTP on AA - which gives you lounge access etc. when flying QF - I just wonder if QFLTS/G is better than AA and also easier to achieve?

For some people Lifetime status on Qantas will be more valuable, for others the AA lifetime status may be better. And the ability to achieve the status will vary too.

Hmm from this source it is miles earned from any source which I assume means that if I am flying J with Plat/EXP status and getting 2.25 points per mile flown - then my 130K miles flown next year will be roughly 300K miles earned - but still a long way off being LTG.

With AAdvantage, all miles count towards Lifetime status. So spend a million US$ on a AA miles earning card (that transfers at 1:1) and you instantly get Lifetime Gold status. Do that twice and you get Lifetime Platinum.

 

[Alan in CBR]

Indeed. Just remember that its not just a one-way street. The AA EXP gets some benefits the QF Plat does not, and these may be valuable to some people. These include:

• 8 eVIP upgrade certificates
• 4 x 500 mile upgrades per 10,000 qualifying miles
• Better access to BA economy award seats
• Ability to earn AA miles from flying partner airlines that don't acrus to QF, such as AS, JAL (though about to change when they join OneWorld)
• Less likelihood of getting SSSS on AA boarding passes when travelling in the LOTFAP

(my bolding)

Exec Plats do not earn 500 mile upgrade "stickers". They do however get space-available free upgrades on US domestic flights.

 

[simongr]

Strange that I might earn fewer points as an EXP than I would as a Plat - what a strange little quirk.

Is that miles flown (base miles) or miles earned?

 

[NM]

Strange that I might earn fewer points as an EXP than I would as a Plat - what a strange little quirk.

Is that miles flown (base miles) or miles earned?

Its Elite Qualifying Miles. They are the AAdvantage miles earned by flying on qualifying flights. So it does not include non-flying miles such as car rentals, hotels, credit cards etc.

 

[Dave Noble]

Strange that I might earn fewer points as an EXP than I would as a Plat - what a strange little quirk.

Is that miles flown (base miles) or miles earned?

A slight quirk but does make some sense. Since EXPs are given domestic upgrades for zero Upgrade credits , it makes sense that they are not actually awarded them

Dave

 

[garyjohn951]

This following comment is not bagging Qantas but does relate to the Sydney Sydney, Sydney orientation that Qantas has.
Flew back from JNB and went right over MEL on the way to SYD. Asked the cabin crew, is this the normal flight plan, reply, yes, due to getting into the roaring 40's stream.
Why not stop at Melbourne !!!. Off load the non-melbourne people onto domextics from there. Look at the fuel savings, the wear and tear, plus the less congested airport. I counted at least 30 people get onto my MEL flight from SYD afterwards and they made a special announcement at the Flights transfer to ECON people that they would be on the 4.00pm not 3.30pm to MEL.
Again why don't they think that the only airport is Melbourne......................

 

[Dave Noble]

This following comment is not bagging Qantas but does relate to the Sydney Sydney, Sydney orientation that Qantas has.
Flew back from JNB and went right over MEL on the way to SYD. Asked the cabin crew, is this the normal flight plan, reply, yes, due to getting into the roaring 40's stream.
Why not stop at Melbourne !!!. Off load the non-melbourne people onto domextics from there. Look at the fuel savings, the wear and tear, plus the less congested airport. I counted at least 30 people get onto my MEL flight from SYD afterwards and they made a special announcement at the Flights transfer to ECON people that they would be on the 4.00pm not 3.30pm to MEL.
Again why don't they think that the only airport is Melbourne......................

Probably because the believe that they can maximise the revenue and profit out of Sydney rather than Melbourne. If Melbourne was the more profitable place to operate it from, I suspect that they would

Dave

 

[wandering_fred]

Probably because the believe that they can maximise the revenue and profit out of Sydney rather than Melbourne. If Melbourne was the more profitable place to operate it from, I suspect that they would
Dave

Profitable for QF or personally

If the management "team" has grown up in a city, I suspect it would take more than "hell and high water" to move to a somewhat more profitable city for the company but would cost them perceived "lifestyle"

It's a bit like the perennial question of centralization in government. The pollies "like" the lifestyle of the city even though developing other centers might actually have lower costs and better access.

I have recently seen some newspaper articles on the historical baggage in our governments and companies.

I'll quit now.

Fred

 

[maninblack]

Whilst the potential for Australian based out bound traffic from Melbourne probably equals or exceeds Sydney I think that it is the inbound traffic that keeps Qantas so Sydney-centric.

Sydney airport is a bit of an embarrassment as the main entry point to the country though.

Qantas has neglected Melbourne travellers for a long time. Don't worry competition will grow, Qantas will have to change its ways...nah, actually I doubt it.

 

[munitalP]

Profitable for QF or personally

If the management "team" has grown up in a city, I suspect it would take more than "hell and high water" to move to a somewhat more profitable city for the company but would cost them perceived "lifestyle"

Off the record, I have delt with SCAL on an engineering level, I wonder how SCAL manages to keep any contract in place... Go Melbourne - God's gift to mankind - become Australia's hub airport - you have my vote...!

Gordon

:evil:

 

[Altair]

I counted at least 30 people get onto my MEL flight from SYD afterwards and they made a special announcement at the Flights transfer to ECON people that they would be on the 4.00pm not 3.30pm to MEL.

Hmmm 30 people out of a 747? I do not think that makes a good case for having that particular flight originate and terminate in MEL.
There were some rumours that *A would have a flight from JNB to NZ via MEL. This was to be a codeshare SA/NZ operation. However I doubt this now considering that NZ have leased out a 747 (to whom I have no idea) and QF/SA still keep their SYD codeshare operating.
SYD may not be the most efficient international airport but I have seen and been in much worse, LAX comes straight to mind.

 

[Yada Yada]

SYD may not be the most efficient international airport but I have seen and been in much worse, LAX comes straight to mind.

And MEL is no better than SYD. Both international arrivals halls look like something from the 1960's, and the customs/immigration staff attitudes are poor too. As you say, the USA is worse. The large Asian airports and their staff leave Australia in the dust.

 

[wandering_fred]

OTOH the walk from MEL international to MEL domestic is a whole lot more useful than the b*s in SYD or the train in BNE.

And in PER the whole transfer is even worse.

I haven't been to the new ADL terminal but it might be the most useful.
DRW is small enough I would think the transfer would be easy.

Happy wandering. though Ozzie airports sure seem to make the trip as long as possible from international to domestic.

Fred

 

[garyjohn951]

The 30 people were those on the 3.30 flight to Melbourne, all those behind us were being told they would be on the 4.00pm, the line snaked a long way back. I only got on the 3.30 pm because I was J. The guy in front was Plat.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

OTOH the walk from MEL international to MEL domestic is a whole lot more useful than the b*s in SYD or the train in BNE.

And in PER the whole transfer is even worse.

I haven't been to the new ADL terminal but it might be the most useful.
DRW is small enough I would think the transfer would be easy.

Happy wandering. though Ozzie airports sure seem to make the trip as long as possible from international to domestic.

Fred

CNS and MEL are okay. SYD, BNE and PER - yuk.

Mind you some overseas airports are no walk in the park to transfer if you happen to get the wrong combination of terminals (eg certain transfers at LHR & LAX where you need to allow 2 hours minimum).