As a long term WP all I have seen is a continual erosion of benefits, including ATA, which was a great benefit for seeing off or meeting friends / business clients, who had flown QF but did not have lounge status. As a WP who earns 2 to 3 x the WP retain SCs, I did in effect pay for my ATA use of the lounge and never consumed more than a hot shower and a few cups of coffee. I know others WP who also never abused ATA. We were all very shocked at QF removing the benefit with a weak QF excuse of abuse by a small number of WPs that were flying other carriers. If that was really the case, QF could have dealt with it in another manner than removing the benefit for ALL WPs. Sorry but it was just the start of WP benefits being slashed, which seems to have started in 2008 which was when AJ took over. For QF to now continue their naughty boy approach to their WP1s, is, well, almost beyond belief.
Bitter? No not really. Just sad to see a once great airline become what it is today. I still feel a pang of guilt when I step onto a VA aircraft, as if I'm being disloyal to all those years that my family, friends, employees and myself once flew QF and only QF unless QF did not fly to where we needed to be.
With the double VA SC offer, I will now be able to retain VA WP in the next 4 weeks (1 x Lax rtn in J). WP retain is done. Decision now is to go for WP1 or AA Exp. Probably not a hard decision? Wonder what DrRon would recommend?
