Qantas / Emirates tie up (Partnership inc. Codeshare, Status)

[Oneworldplus2]

Can anyone put some truth to this???
l read on FT recently that the EK J Lounge in Dubai does get under very, very heavy load at times.
With the influx of QC members, SG and WP's, this should be interesting. Oh, and l also read that there were only 4 or 5 toilets for such a huge lounge.

 

[simongr]

Hopefully they will eventually draft an agreement where each FFP's members can earn points and status irrespective of whoever markets the ticket.

That said, as alluded to by JohnK, the problems will be consistency of earn. For example, Class Bonus is currently at 50%/100% extra for J/F on QF (marketed) services only (not BA and AA); going on the same trend suggests that EK would also "miss" on this Class Bonus and use the more default 25%/50%. Status Bonus is currently only earned on QF, JQ, BA and AA services; once again, a guess may suggest that EK services would miss out on Status Bonus, unless they are "close" enough to QF in this agreement to be included in that subset of airlines.

Cabin bonus is only 25/50% in J/F cabins on all OW carriers.

Completely independent of the JSA.

Also to another poster - why should the status bonus end on BA? Th is no JSA between QF and AA and you get status bonus on AA. Saying that I wouldn't be surprised to see it go.

I am very happy with this change. My JED trip in February will now likely be on EK metal of preferably QF metal with hopefully jb747 in the pilot seat and an OpUp to F.

The. Pmmenst about Aussies switching to avoid DXB are pretty funny given how popular EK already is into and out of Oz and given how this will open up Europe and avoid LHR I can only see this swinging people to QF.

One observation, when I transit DXB to JED I do not need to disembark during transit. I think this could be a further selling point as I tnk people would prefer to stay on board. Obviously it is only a very light load DXB-JED and DXB-LHR is more likely to have a greater proportion of pax transiting so it might not actually be an option.

I think CX are the biggest losers in this deal.

 

[simongr]

You are assuming that BA will continue to use the Qantas lounge, afterall the lounge is part of the current JSA. So who knows post 31 March BA may find themselves in the CX or SATS lounges.

In SIN isn't the lounge a jointly funded BA and QF lounge not a QF lounge that BA are allowed to use. In any case even if it was a QF owned lounge status pax on OW could use the lounge when flying BA. EK pax might now be allowed to the lounge as well...

 

[Simo]

I am looking forward to seeing EK services.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Red Roo - with all the changes and announced QF codeshares on EK services to DXB ex BNE (assuming to SIN as well before continuing to DXB), are there any plans to upgrade the "F lounge" in Brisbane once QF codes start appearing on services with F cabins?

 

[coolumbla]

so if we're not going through Sin much anymore will emeirates take over the newly refurbished F lounge?
The emirates lounge is nothing great

Trying to figure out how to get to sri lanka without overflying it first!
Un;ess i go via HKG

But i like emirates!

C

 

[sarvowinner]

I've just trawled through 70 pages so have gleaned lots of info, I am very happy that I will not have to transit via LHR en route to Italy where we run cooking schools in Tuscany. My question is what access do QP and or QF Gold members have to lounges at the European airports when flying QF codeshare on Emirates?

 

[coyote25]

The saving on the taxes you incur going via London are the extra on top of being able to avoid having to backtrack to the rest of Europe via current arrangements.

 

[eastwest101]

Overall a good thing for QF. But like others I detect that if you read through all the spin that QF management may have been dragged kicking and screaming into the negotiations.

After all a deal with Emirates made no sense in Sept 2009 according to Alan Joyce. The only things that have changed since then are:

QF share price now in the toilet
QF business now making losses rather than profits (disregarding all "cost shifting" arguments about different QF/JQ divisions)
QF now has a proper competitor in the domestic market whom are also code sharing with a Middle East airline

Thats about all that has changed.

But the re-arranging of the fleet still doesn't completely make sense (retirement of B747s, delay of B787's and going to JQ) as QF will still have 12 x A380 Hub Busters aircraft but with reduced services to the LHR hub. Hubbing to LHR was always a bad idea. Ditching Frankfurt may free up a few aircraft but their fleet planning means that they are a bit snookered if QFi and QFd want to expand of re-open markets that the previously left. Once QF high value PAX see the Emirates product compared to the QF product they will have some questions, but hubbing through DXB is eminently sensible for connections to all of Europe, the ME, Africa etc. The F Lounge in Singapore not looking like a good return of investment now.

 

[scwappy]

I'm still yet to see comment from EK flyers and what they think.

Here's one
I actively fly (or flew) EK to avoid the 'premium' QF experience. Will have to see how it pans out. But my concerns would be regarding lounges (EK are far better in my view) and the car service.
I feel from a business sense EK may increase their market presence and share down here, but at the expense of former EK flyers, but the devil will be in the detail. They are a business after all looking to maximise profits, not make me happy.

 

[Birdblack]

Are you referring to pork or halal meat? If the latter then I become a vegetarian....

Just wait until he finds out Vegemite is halal...

 

[ajw373]

In SIN isn't the lounge a jointly funded BA and QF lounge not a QF lounge that BA are allowed to use. In any case even if it was a QF owned lounge status pax on OW could use the lounge when flying BA. EK pax might now be allowed to the lounge as well...

If I am not mistaken the lounge in SIN and the one in BKK are a core part of the JSA. The one in SIN is more or less Qantas owned and managed hence the Qantas feel to it and the one in BKK managed by BA.

 

[TheInsider]

Here's one
I actively fly (or flew) EK to avoid the 'premium' QF experience. Will have to see how it pans out. But my concerns would be regarding lounges (EK are far better in my view) and the car service.

From a staff Q&A sheet, Qantas will now also offer a car service for eligible business and first customers. The product will not be downgraded, which ever airline has a better servivce, the other airline will also offer this under the agreement.

 

[scwappy]

From a staff Q&A sheet, Qantas will now also offer a car service for eligible business and first customers. The product will not be downgraded, which ever airline has a better servivce, the other airline will also offer this under the agreement.

I look forward to seeing the new bars put into the QF A380's

 

[Timba-Jet]

Wow, lots to read before I can even post. Overall this seems to have merit.

A true partnership with EK with reciprocal FF benefits (granted not all details) known. Plus improved schedules into SIN and maybe HKG.

My personal preference is a stopover in Asia, it's culture, food etc. So will need plan around CX and MH or AU connections.

 

[Kaldemir]

I think it's a slight touch of xenophobia, especially in our unfortunately growing Muslim-phobic society.

I'm with JohnK here. I'm gay and won't be transiting through Dubai out of principle.

 

[fresherbill]

For my specific circumstances, these changes are a very good thing and I am excited and optimistic about them. I fly almost exclusively to SE Asia, which for many years has had the stench of neglect hanging over it. Trying to get anywhere through Singapore was (and for now, still is) frustrating because of timing that is completely LHR-centric. The lounge opening times at SIN are a great example of this. Hopefully with greater frequency to SIN, more evenly spread loads and better timing the lounge will become a nice place to be… and my transit hotel bills will be a thing of the past.

I don’t know anything about QF aircraft rotations and availability but one would hope that the A330 fleet coming back from J* next year will be spruced up to meet the challenge posed by other carriers flying to SIN and KUL on similar equipment. I love the 747s and A380s but if smaller aircraft are needed to boost frequency, I will happily fly them - especially if they get the upgrades that the 747s are getting.

I shall now turn my optimism knob down a little.

 

[Birdblack]

I'm with JohnK here. I'm gay and won't be transiting through Dubai out of principle.

Singapore isn't exactly a champion of gay rights either...

I find all this posturing rather ridiculous when you won't be even leaving the airport.

 

[TheInsider]

Singapore isn't exactly a champion of gay rights either...

I find all this posturing rather ridiculous when you won't be even leaving the airport.

Considering the amount of gay male cabin crew that work for Emirates too, this just seems stupid.

 

[drron]

In 2009 the deal that made no sense to AJ was with Etihad not Emirates.

PS-I also am unlikely to transit through DXB.But I have stayed in Dubai once and it just doesn't appeal to me.Give me BKK or SIN any day.