Qantas brand badly tarnished

[Ade]

Certainly interesting that SQ tops the list though.

I think I have a theory as to why SQ is at the top of the list of international flights out of AU. SQ provides services to a variety of Asian destinations, including India. Majority of the IT companies based in India & Asia prefer to book tickets on SQ. When I first arrived in AU, my company booked me on SQ. And every year when I travelled for work, always SQ, not MH, not QF, not CX. Always SQ.

This is because of the consistency of the service SQ provides. Majority of the travel agents who act on behalf of the IT companies have got strong ties with SQ. There is also the fare component that plays a major role. If I had to fly ex-IN to AU, Air India would have been expensive because of the direct DEL-MEL/SYD route. MH could have been an option, not sure why it was never explored. However, SQ, hits the spot. You depart MAA/BLR/DEL/BOM around 11:30 PM IST on a Saturday and you are in SYD/MEL around 6 PM AEST. Ready to get into a hotel, rest, bright & ready to go to the client's office on Monday morning.

Similarly, travelling ex-AU to IN, depart SYD/MEL around 11 am, you are home by 12 am same day. QF/UL combo couldn't do that. CX did it, but any flights via HKG were expensive, so no organisation looked into this.

SQ also services more ports directly (with a one stop in SIN) in Asia/India. As an example, I could fly SYD-SIN-MAA on SQ. The same trip on QF/OW would be SYD-SIN-CMB-MAA or SYD-DXB-MAA or SYD-DEL-MAA (with random PCR tests, when enforced in India, it is a risk I don't want to take. Test positive and quarantine in DEL for 14 days, I rather fly into MAA and quarantine there, I need to)

When I raise a travel request, out of the 4 options I received, 3 are from SQ, varying departure & transit times. Even when I travelled ex-AU to India for work, I was booked on SQ, not QF, CX or QR

The majority of the migrant workers, travellers, who frequent between AU and Asian countries have dwindled down due to CoVID. Now, with the restrictions lifted and SQ is starting to regain what it had lost due to CoVID. I think SQ will remain on the top of this list for a long time. QF might play catch up with it's direct services to DEL/BOM/BLR, but I wouldn't think QF will overtake SQ. At best, will be on par with SQ.

 

[RichardMEL]

I too have experienced recent flights with various crew announcements (twice from Captains) both apologising for and explaining delays and problems, and leaving nobody in any doubt about who and what they blamed. Definitely exasperation in the voices. In fact very surprising the nature of them to be quite.. forthright.

I really feel for the front line staff who would cop so much rubbish for things so outside of their control and many (no, not all) have pride in what they do and WANT to deliver a good service, or the best they can, and see things happening that screw that up and totally out of their control yet some choose to reflect that back on them (eg: tech crew of a flight delayed because of a lack of bag handlers, or a missing tug, or whatever). Now most of us who fly a lot know the deal and don't kick the front line staff but we all know of joe public who sees a uniform and takes it out on them - fairly or otherwise.

 

[NamarrgonFlyer]

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Yep, we're angry alright!

 

[Rangalad]

I too have experienced recent flights with various crew announcements (twice from Captains) both apologising for and explaining delays and problems, and leaving nobody in any doubt about who and what they blamed. Definitely exasperation in the voices. In fact very surprising the nature of them to be quite.. forthright.

I really feel for the front line staff who would cop so much rubbish for things so outside of their control and many (no, not all) have pride in what they do and WANT to deliver a good service, or the best they can, and see things happening that screw that up and totally out of their control yet some choose to reflect that back on them (eg: tech crew of a flight delayed because of a lack of bag handlers, or a missing tug, or whatever). Now most of us who fly a lot know the deal and don't kick the front line staff but we all know of joe public who sees a uniform and takes it out on them - fairly or otherwise.

1000%

 

[Ewing]

I too have experienced recent flights with various crew announcements (twice from Captains) both apologising for and explaining delays and problems, and leaving nobody in any doubt about who and what they blamed. Definitely exasperation in the voices. In fact very surprising the nature of them to be quite.. forthright.

I had a flight recently (won't say the date just in case someone is watching) where the CSM made an announcement:
"We're so sorry but these are the cards management have dealt us and we're doing the best we can."

 

[straitman]

I guess I am unlikely to hear these announcements as for the moment I have pretty much given up on QF.

 

[JohnK]

I guess I am unlikely to hear these announcements as for the moment I have pretty much given up on QF.

I'm seriously starting to worry too.

It's like customer focus has been pushed to the back and their main focus is how big a bonus the execs will get on the way out.

Sad really because I have had faith in Qantas for a long time.

 

[Doctore1003]

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Yep, we're angry alright!

Doozy of an article. Surely will make the execs squirm given it’s a respected publisher.

 

[straitman]

Doozy of an article. Surely will make the execs squirm given it’s a respected publisher.

Considering their ongoing head in the sand attitude I am not sure if anything much will make them squirm.

 

[Basalt]

It's like customer focus has been pushed to the back and their main focus is how big a bonus the execs will get on the way out.

This exactly - I don't believe the current situation is even about genuinely saving money but it looks to me like an on-paper P&L improvement exercise to make the execs look better - the reason I suspect this is examples like the unlawful* sacking of those 2000 baggage handlers and aircraft towing and ground crew, which could well be a financial zero sum game given the resultant increased costs from delays, from accounts moving to Virgin & Rex, from call center staff and back office staff and ground staff required to divert time to lost baggage, delayed flights and a litany of other downstream issues caused by inadequately trained and motivated staff. Yes, granted all these individually are minor or negligible costs, but they mount up, especially the opportunity costs, which can have a coughulatively significant affect on a large and lumbering company.

*Qantas loses appeal over ‘unlawful’ sackings during pandemic

 

[dajop]

Ok to present an opposite point of view, a storm in a teacup. Qantas is Teflon coated. And the executives know it. Time and time again you read of people locked into Qantas thanks to QFF program, status handcuffs and their better partners and better network. You only need to read about the gushing when Qantas starts or restarts a route. And the excitement generated by all sorts of marketing nonsense. And let’s not forget the F lounges and the sort of dishes you can get from plenty of restaurants or cafes for $20 or so, but have people hooked because they are free and airside.

Hands up whose going to give up their WP status until they have had a bad experience with QF themselves? Until then business as usual and it’s a numbers game. There won’t be that many that actually have the bad experience.

Qantas still will be seen as fantastic, and these are just some minor hiccups.

Ok I’m exaggerating a little, but still think the Qantas brand can withstand a bit of tarnishing and AJ and his team know it. VA2 are l focussed on their own profitability unlike VA1 who were trying to play in the same space as QF. And it’s not as if Rex are going to take Qf down.

 

[straitman]

Ok to present an opposite point of view, a storm in a teacup. Qantas is Teflon coated. And the executives know it. Time and time again you read of people locked into Qantas thanks to QFF program, status handcuffs and their better partners and better network. You only need to read about the gushing when Qantas starts or restarts a route. And the excitement generated by all sorts of marketing nonsense. And let’s not forget the F lounges and the sort of dishes you can get from plenty of restaurants or cafes for $20 or so, but have people hooked because they are free and airside.

Hands up whose going to give up their WP status until they have had a bad experience with QF themselves? Until then business as usual and it’s a numbers game. There won’t be that many that actually have the bad experience.

Qantas still will be seen as fantastic, and these are just some minor hiccups.

Ok I’m exaggerating a little, but still think the Qantas brand can withstand a bit of tarnishing and AJ and his team know it. VA2 are l focussed on their own profitability unlike VA1 who were trying to play in the same space as QF. And it’s not as if Rex are going to take Qf down.

I guess I/we are locked in as LTG.

Having said that every flight we have booked going forward (rough count 23) is on SQ, FJ or VA. Their prices and reliability don't cut it for my any more. For example I looked up a flight today and the Qantas code share was nearly double the FJ fare on the same flight.

 

[justinbrett]

If AFF is representative of the wider community and all of these people vowing never to fly QF again actually follow through with that, then these capacity issues will naturally resolve with the reduction of pax.

But we all know that’s not going to be the case.

 

[AIRwin]

Hands up whose going to give up their WP status until they have had a bad experience with QF themselves?

Hands up who is going to give up their WP status even though they have had a bad experience with QF themselves?

 

[Franky]

I'm seriously starting to worry too.

It's like customer focus has been pushed to the back and their main focus is how big a bonus the execs will get on the way out.

Sad really because I have had faith in Qantas for a long time.

So did many of us, but the heirarchy have lost the plot I'm afraid...

 

[drron]

Ok to present an opposite point of view, a storm in a teacup. Qantas is Teflon coated. And the executives know it. Time and time again you read of people locked into Qantas thanks to QFF program, status handcuffs and their better partners and better network. You only need to read about the gushing when Qantas starts or restarts a route. And the excitement generated by all sorts of marketing nonsense. And let’s not forget the F lounges and the sort of dishes you can get from plenty of restaurants or cafes for $20 or so, but have people hooked because they are free and airside.

Hands up whose going to give up their WP status until they have had a bad experience with QF themselves? Until then business as usual and it’s a numbers game. There won’t be that many that actually have the bad experience.

Qantas still will be seen as fantastic, and these are just some minor hiccups.

Ok I’m exaggerating a little, but still think the Qantas brand can withstand a bit of tarnishing and AJ and his team know it. VA2 are l focussed on their own profitability unlike VA1 who were trying to play in the same space as QF. And it’s not as if Rex are going to take Qf down.

Though anybody who really thought about it realised there are better OW loyalty programs out there than QFF.
I first jumped to Aadvantage. I could get more points.cheaper awards with lower taxes and actually recognised as being elite.

In recent years I have switched to BA where I find it easier to reach OWE with BA than msdrron does with QFF. And I earn a lot more points on partner airlines with BA than with QFF.
For all those young Frequent Flyers I believe easier to earn LT Gold on BA than LT plat with QFF. Haven't really studied it as out of the question for me.
The 4 sectors with BA was no problem as paid BA F SYD-SIN with added Asian sectors was cheaper than QF J. An absolut no brainer for me.

 

[JohnK]

Though anybody who really thought about it realised there are better OW loyalty programs out there than QFF.
I first jumped to Aadvantage. I could get more points.cheaper awards with lower taxes and actually recognised as being elite.

Only on AFF. People out there do not switch programs that often if at all.

I could not earn much on Aadvantage when I was commuting can you imagine someone that flies 2-3 times a year. Why would they bother with anything other than Qantas or Virgin. It's just not worth it

 

[justinbrett]

Only on AFF. People out there do not switch programs that often if at all.

I could not earn much on Aadvantage when I was commuting can you imagine someone that flies 2-3 times a year. Why would they bother with anything other than Qantas or Virgin. It's just not worth it

Not to mention if you are AAvantage you don’t get lounge access in the US on domestic trips there, nor access to Flagship lounges unless on an international trip.

The grass is always greener and there’s pros & cons for each program.

 

[drron]

Only on AFF. People out there do not switch programs that often if at all.

I could not earn much on Aadvantage when I was commuting can you imagine someone that flies 2-3 times a year. Why would they bother with anything other than Qantas or Virgin. It's just not worth it

It really isn't that hard for people if they are interested. Plus I was answering an AFFer who was tied to QFF because they are WP. Many on here saying the same thing. Just pointing out that you really aren't tied to QFF as a WP.

Not to mention if you are AAvantage you don’t get lounge access in the US on domestic trips there, nor access to Flagship lounges unless on an international trip.

The grass is always greener and there’s pros & cons for each program.

Though I had LTQP from the time I thought I would be wedded to QF. And when flying through somewhere that had a flagship lounge I was virtually always on an International trip.

Plus there were the advantages back then. Upgrade certificates which got me into the domestic F cabin many times probably in front of some QF WPs.
Then the SWUs which I never wasted on pure domestic trips but could be used as part of an international trip with up to 3 sectors.

Much better than a QFF WP is treated and in only one year did I make EXP.

 

[JohnK]

It really isn't that hard for people if they are interested. Plus I was answering an AFFer who was tied to QFF because they are WP. Many on here saying the same thing. Just pointing out that you really aren't tied to QFF as a WP.

Who though @drron? There are ~90,000 AFF members and lurkers.

People try to get value out of the airfares. Collecting anything other than QFF points on cheap economy airfares makes no sense. Even for me it makes no sense.

200 AA miles or 400 AA miles or 800 AA miles for each flight is going take a long time to accumulate a one-way to Asia in business. That's good if you're alone. If you're a family forget it.

And unless you can push business credit card expenses through your credit card AA miles even harder to come by.

Aadvantage works for some on AFF. Not many.