Qantas apologises to frequent flyers with status extensions, lounge passes, points & more reward seats

[nerdag]

3. Improve J domestic catering! VA absolutely slaughter QF.

Absolutely. I am so done with gourmet cheese toasties.

 

[servicerequired]

Absolutely. I am so done with gourmet cheese toasties.

Urgh I had it today!

 

[ferntree]

Reduce the carry on allowance for entry level fares.

As far as I am aware there has been no change to Qantas carry on baggage policy since pre-pandemic.

I therefore still struggle to see how this can be a cause of the problem.

I for one would totally stop flying with Qantas if this was implemented.

 

[servicerequired]

As far as I am aware there has been no change to Qantas carry on baggage policy since pre-pandemic.

I therefore still struggle to see how this can be a cause of the problem.

I for one would totally stop flying with Qantas if this was implemented.

Its a suggestion to improve boarding efficiency.

 

[ferntree]

Its a suggestion to improve boarding efficiency.

I don't know of any airline in the world which adapts this policy but am happy to be enlightened.

(at least not on 717s, 737s, A320s and similar)

 

[justinbrett]

I don't know of any airline in the world which adapts this policy but am happy to be enlightened.

(at least not on 717s, 737s, A320s and similar)

Spirit, Frontier, United…

 

[turtlemichael]

I’m LTG do the status extension means nothing. And visit to the domestic business lounge really? I’m in there for 10 or 15 minutes before a flight. Now an F lounge pass I’d appreciate.

Same with me. But then again, as I will become best fare of the day when my points are burned, I doubt Joyce is aiming this "initiative" at me.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Anyone think that QF has analysed how many people will fall off status due to reduced work travel (amongst other reasons), and therefore dressing up status extensions as an apology?

I've seen data from airlines that have 95% of elites not being able to retain status on merit. While I doubt QF is that high, it gives you an idea of the challenges airlines globally are facing.

How other airlines have addressed this problem is by running a status match. Replace the 'elites of 2019' with 'elites of 2022 - who are active and flying with competing airlines'.

Agree 100%! When it suits Qf, it is the national carrier....if I were in charge of Va, I would be calling Qf out on this point!

If you were in charge of VA you'd probably be doing whatever your sugar daddy shareholders tell you.... sadly

That is one thing I miss about the VA of 2010++ era.... they were at least willing to be bold, try new things and do whatever they could NOT to be another Qantas.

Do a quick LinkedIn search for all the folks in decent roles at VA. All ex-QF.

 

[TheInsider]

You are correct - it doesn't degrade their service ... it does however indicate what issues they are focused on, rather than the basics.

You know they can focus on more than one thing. It's not just one person running the airline. Multiple different departments doing different things.

 

[ketsuzei]

Not sure how to handle Lifetime plus a year.

Go hard, go early. You don’t want to risk a last-minute Downgrade or Cancellation.

 

[mviy]

2. Ditch all of this woke input! Ditch the welcome to country on every single flight!

Whilst I agree, I don't think it's indigenous people from the area the flight is taking off delivering that on most flights, so it's probably acknowledgement of country not welcome to country. I don't like hearing political statements over the PA on every flight. I'd prefer that QF took a politically neutral stance and focused on delivering service to its customers.

 

[jakeseven7]

You know they can focus on more than one thing. It's not just one person running the airline. Multiple different departments doing different things.

Yes agree… and umm loving the casual racism in this thread… some repeat offenders. Lovely.

 

[Seat0B]

Why the Dickens would anyone in Qantas think it necessary to have the IT in synch with what the CEO announces? That would imply there was some planning and coordination within the airline

Ok so I’ve panicked too early then

 

[MEL_Traveller]

1. Sort out the call centre - for all tiers! Every single customer, regardless of whether they're even a QFF member deserve decent customer service.
2. Ditch all of this woke input! Ditch the welcome to country on every single flight!
3. Improve J domestic catering! VA absolutely slaughter QF.
4. Ditch the status extensions - people should already be out and about - devalues the entire program.
5. Return our local QF Link hosties to their local service again! QF Link seem to prioritise crewing ex Melbourne and Sydney with kids that have zero experience! The local crew, based here locally in Mildura absolutely kill it - but its clear that they're now third rate and just filling the gaps!
6. Get rid of Swissport! It's not the outsourcing that's the issue - it's the culture of the operator! Look at how much better Menzies do it. IMHO Absolute inappropriate people working for Swissport in Melbourne and Sydney! No wonder they can't get the job done properly.
7. Sort out carry on baggage - this is a massive time waster when a flight is full! Wheelie bags can be checked in! The crew spent 20 minutes playing Tetris with bags on today's flight ... and hence delayed departure 20 minutes! Cut it to 'no wheelie bag' for Red-e-Deal fares! This will improve OTP.
8. Sort out flight credits! I have countless lost flight credits that just disappear into limbo - the only way to retrieve is via the useless call centre!
9. Sort out the website and app - it needs to actually function. You can't implement everything that QF is attempting to implement (no service counters in airport, less staff, self serve) if you can't get your tech right!

Rant over.

2. is really no different than saying ‘welcome to sydney’ or whichever other city you happen to land in.
7. can be easily solved by spending a bit of money on the new overhead bins that can accommodate multiple large-sized cabin bags when standing them on their sides. The US airlines have invested in them, QF could too.

I guess airlines have done the math but I really can’t see the advantage of airlines wheeling stairs to the rear for boarding and deboarding? It saves a minute or two? Yet everyone has to sit and wait while two or three ground staff push the stairs up, put out all the protective barriers, and then let people off.

Given the stair-placers are all security cleared, couldn’t they be employed to do other tasks which might get the plane away on time?

 

[Tropic]

And a properly functioning Qantas website.

But hopefully dont fix all the bits that actually are valuable...

 

[AIRwin]

This has now popped up on my QF app:

 

[Vic]

$50 voucher - you're twice the price of the competition. I can buy business on Virgin cheaper than flex economy on Qantas saving more than $50.

Lounge passes - I've got 3 already that I cant use. Sure given me another one that can't use.

oh yeah, and I've got 1030 status credits this year, 3 qualifying flights for the status support extension. How TF is another status extension going to help? Will I have platinum until 2024?

 

[AIRwin]

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/member-offers/thank-you-from-qantas.html

 

[encryptededdy]

Status Support | Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas is offering eligible Frequent Flyer members additional support including a 12-month status extension and the ability to rollover Status Credits to help with maintaining their tier. Details here.

www.qantas.com

Eligible members with a status end date between 31 January and 30 June 2023 and are unable to earn the Status Credits needed to retain their status will receive a 12-month status extension.

Looks like this has been updated. Sadly my status ends October 2023, given I just achieved it

 

[mviy]

So we’re back in the situation where there is uncertainty whether status will be extended or we’ll have to do it the hard way again. Though I had thought now that everyone will have had a year to fly again by the end of 2022 that the status extensions would have stopped.