QANTAS/Emirates alliance - thoughts?

[medhead]

aashwin, suspect you will get contacted in the next few months and likely rebooked on syd-dxb-cdg, fra-dxb-syd

Why would a flight on CX be rebooked via DXB. That doesn't really make sense as nothing will change with CX.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Why would it do anything to oneworld?

Qantas works with Emirates who's flights won't be OW eligible. BA is rumoured to be bringing in Qatar (Qantas and Emirates to codeshare in first alliance shakeup of the season; next: Qatar into oneworld | CAPA - Centre for Aviation), and Air Berlin is part owned by Etihad. Not sure how this helps OW - three members pushing their passengers onto non-member airlines, and I'm sure Cathay will be considering their own options...

 

[DeKa]

It's interesting how on the QF website, the QF-EK alliance is right in the middle of the page, and yet on the EK website it's no where to be found. - Sorry, update that, I found a single news article hidden away on EK's website, but gee I had to look hard to find it.

It's there now - a box at the bottom of emirates.com

 

[Archphoto]

I found their statement regarding baggage allowance (point 8), rather interesting as it's one of my biggest bugbears when flying with other OW carriers; finally a "seamless customer experience"??

[h=3]Baggage[/h]8. Will frequent flyers be offered additional checked baggage allowances?
Yes. Qantas Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club Members will continue to benefit from extra allowances according to their membership status and cabin travelled when travelling on both Qantas and Emirates.

 

[timster]

My major reason for sticking with QF over the years has been the ability to stopover in SE Asia (SIN, BKK, HKG) on the way to Europe, and the JSA with BA giving easy access via LHR into all European ports (many not served by EK) combined with lounge access to QC members in most European ports (although that has been changing somewhat in the last year).

Direct access into a smaller number of ports on EK, avoiding LHR - where I usually wish to stop - is of limited interest. Usually I'd have to fly into LHR anyway and transfer to BA to get to non-EK European ports.

Dubai has nil interest for me, and lots of negatives.

So I'll being continuing to fly to Europe via my preferred SE Asian ports (SIN/BKK/HKG), hopefully on QF/BA codeshares. But if no longer available, and if lounge access in those ports evaporates, it's Star here I come.

 

[fairbasa]

This is the news I've been waiting to hear for a long time. Finally I'm not stuck with LHR or FRA stopovers. That was such a 90s setup for Qantas, having to fly to a hub like that. No one wants to fly to a hub anymore when you can fly direct to your destination of interest with only one stop! It doesn't matter if you're spending months in Europe, but when you only have a couple of weeks off work, that extra stop each way means you lose a day or so.

Hopefully there's still good connections in Dubai with Finnair as that's my usual entry point to Europe.

 

[Sprucegoose]

No one seems to lament the death of the QF BA relationship. After they wouldn't allow me in a F lounge as a WP, well nor do I!!

 

[here2go]

Hopefully there's still good connections in Dubai with Finnair as that's my usual entry point to Europe.

From what I've read, no. Finnair are focusing their efforts on Eastern Asia due to their northerly position. If QF rejig their timetable they are talking about, Finnair may force you to have a long stopover in SIN. Not a bad thing.

 

[smeacs]

This is the news I've been waiting to hear for a long time. Finally I'm not stuck with LHR or FRA stopovers. That was such a 90s setup for Qantas, having to fly to a hub like that. No one wants to fly to a hub anymore when you can fly direct to your destination of interest with only one stop! It doesn't matter if you're spending months in Europe, but when you only have a couple of weeks off work, that extra stop each way means you lose a day or so.

Hopefully there's still good connections in Dubai with Finnair as that's my usual entry point to Europe.

If this is the case why does Qantas push pax leaving Australia through Sydney and Melbourne?

From Adelaide This new EK deal will be great if you have any lasting relationship to Qantas, I am really keen to be able to get to the US with 1 stop and potentially avoiding LAX.

 

[simongr]

I am really keen to be able to get to the US with 1 stop and potentially avoiding LAX.

I just thought about for the first time. If flying syd-dxb-jfk your first entry point to the US is JFK and you don't have to fanny around with collecting and restowing luggage. Although I am not sure it will be worth the extra time in the air.

 

[smeacs]

Well I am planning a NYC trip so that is really good for me.

 

[Geegeela]

For me it causes an annoying re-think.

I usually fly Qantas to the UK.

I always stop-over in Singapore.

I do this to break the journey but above all to have a leisurely Singapore Sling and crack some peanuts with a Sampler Platter in the Long Bar at Raffles.

This gives me much pleasure and the anticipation of an enjoyable flight.

 

[timster]

For me it causes an annoying re-think.

I usually fly Qantas to the UK.

I always stop-over in Singapore.

I know a lot of people like us who always do a SE Asian stopover. So depending on the remaining advantages of BA flights (eg lounge access for QC members in Europe ?), it may be that we'll be flying to Asia with QF and then onto LHR with BA (incidentally this has been the only option for those flying via HKG and BKK since earlier this year when QF stopped flying onto LHR via these ports). I've done this QF/BA swap over in SIN or BKK several times already. QF are saying they'll re-time the arrivals into SIN, but if you're stopping over a tight connection is irrelevant. Always regarded QF and BA as much of a muchness.

 

[RWJ777]

For me it causes an annoying re-think.

I usually fly Qantas to the UK.

I always stop-over in Singapore.

I do this to break the journey but above all to have a leisurely Singapore Sling and crack some peanuts with a Sampler Platter in the Long Bar at Raffles.

This gives me much pleasure and the anticipation of an enjoyable flight.

A mocktail with some smokey baba ghanoush in Dubai wouldn't do the trick instead??!!

 

[Geegeela]

A mocktail with some smokey baba ghanoush in Dubai wouldn't do the trick instead??!!

Not for me.

My delight is colonial elegance and through the haze a glimpse of Somerset Maugham.

Not extravagant superficiality, lolly water and T.E. Lawrence.

 

[timster]

QC member lounge access outside Australia

From the Qantas FAQ here:
Qantas and Emirates partnership
"18. As a Qantas Club member will I have access to Emirates lounges worldwide?
If you are travelling on Qantas, your lounge access will remain unchanged. If you are flying with Emirates you will have access to the Emirates lounge in Dubai."

So no EK lounge access in Europe for QC members it seems (I don't actually know where EK has lounges in Europe). This is less than was available under the BA JSA.

And what lounge access will be available at LHR terminal 3 ? QC members flying BA or QF to Asia currently use the BA lounge. EK also flies out of terminal 3 I believe ?

"If you are travelling on Qantas, your lounge access will remain unchanged."
Does this mean that QC members on QF will continue to use the BA lounge in LHR terminal 3 ?

And will there continue to be any lounge access in LHR terminal 5 or continental Europe for those QC members flying on BA (QF codeshares or BA tickets) ?

 

[drron]

Re: QC member lounge access outside Australia

For me this is going to be a positive as long as OW does not move DXB from Europe to Asia.Will be able to do a DONE3.Proviso is they dont charge an arm and a leg for it.Should save a couple of thousand though.
I would guess though it will still be hard to get premium cabin awards to DXB.
Whilst looking up fares I noted that on a DONE4 it is nearly $5500 cheaper to start from AMM.Hmm.Might have to find a friendly TA there.

 

[anat0l]

Re: QC member lounge access outside Australia

For me this is going to be a positive as long as OW does not move DXB from Europe to Asia.Will be able to do a DONE3.Proviso is they dont charge an arm and a leg for it.Should save a couple of thousand though.
I would guess though it will still be hard to get premium cabin awards to DXB.
Whilst looking up fares I noted that on a DONE4 it is nearly $5500 cheaper to start from AMM.Hmm.Might have to find a friendly TA there.

I wouldn't get too excited yet about DONE3s from Australia. They might impose a compulsory "zone passing" rule that forces you to a minimum DONE4 anyway, e.g. like the rules on the late ORD/BOM sector (and another long sector which I can't remember). Or, they may just flat out say that there shall be no DONE3s from SWP - DONE4 minimum.

At best case, I'd say they'd be struggling to play catch up on rewriting the xONEx rules to suit (no doubt a few people booked on QF Kangaroo services that will be rerouted and possibly quizzing why they can't save one zone's worth of charge, so to speak).

18. As a Qantas Club member will I have access to Emirates lounges worldwide?
If you are travelling on Qantas, your lounge access will remain unchanged. If you are flying with Emirates you will have access to the Emirates lounge in Dubai."

So no EK lounge access in Europe for QC members it seems (I don't actually know where EK has lounges in Europe). This is less than was available under the BA JSA.

And what lounge access will be available at LHR terminal 3 ? QC members flying BA or QF to Asia currently use the BA lounge. EK also flies out of terminal 3 I believe ?

"If you are travelling on Qantas, your lounge access will remain unchanged."
Does this mean that QC members on QF will continue to use the BA lounge in LHR terminal 3 ?

And will there continue to be any lounge access in LHR terminal 5 or continental Europe for those QC members flying on BA (QF codeshares or BA tickets) ?

I'd say that right now it's safe to say that QF and EK have a lot to work out in terms of access for QP members.

The main bone of contention is that QF will be negotiating with EK who do not have a similar pay-for-lounge-access program (let alone the minor slew of other QP benefits). At least BA was dealing with it for a while before they did the rug pull and tightened the screws; EK will be dealing with this for the first time, and frankly I think they (and QF in any support or affirmative role) are sorely underprepared (both in DXB and outside it). I can also imagine there will be plenty of EK members who will be rather annoyed that access to their lounges can be merely bought - again, because it happened for the first time.

EK have some of their own lounges in Europe, but they also use plenty of third party lounges. BA had a similar issue (and QP members, when things were more relaxed, could only access BA operated lounges). So QP members will continue to have issues in this regard, but perhaps even further if the details don't exactly fall nicely in place with EK.

I wouldn't be surprised if QP access to EK lounges was restricted to QF marketed itineraries only.

I'd say the jury is out on QP access when flying with BA (i.e. either on QF codeshares (HKG/LHR, BKK/LHR, possibly SIN/LHR), or BA flights (same subset before, possibly some residual intra-Europe on codeshare), or at all).

 

[JohnM]

The opportunity to now be able to do a DONE3 from Australia has great appeal for me. The SIN transit causing the minimum DONE from Australia to be a 4 has always bugged me as I have no great interest in an Asian stopover. So long as there are no stings in the tail, this seems to be a great move for the xONEx traveller.


Sent from my iPad using AustFreqFly app

 

[samh004]

This will hurt JQ on the DRW-SIN route where they codeshare QF feeding into European markets ex SIN. While AY and BA fly into SIN, I reckon DJ / SQ will benefit most from this relationship up here!

About time Qantas stopped promoting JQ at the expense of the international arm… so will be interesting to see who they link up with now, and what happens their results show, but I think it’s about time they did it on their own (as part of the group), rather than being propped up.