Qantas, Etihad to code share on selected flights

[Flying Fox]

Soon to be able to earn QFF Points direct to the middle east -

Qantas, Etihad to code share on selected flights | The Australian

About time QF or One World got a middle eastern partner of size

 

[UP4014]

Soon to be able to earn QFF Points direct to the middle east -

Qantas, Etihad to code share on selected flights | The Australian

About time QF or One World got a middle eastern partner of size

I think from what I understand about Etihad I think I'll give their flights a miss, don't need the points that badly.

 

[2muchplastic]

I think from what I understand about Etihad I think I'll give their flights a miss, don't need the points that badly.

Don't blame you. I had a LHR-AUH-(SIN)-BNE-(SIN)-AUH-MAN-AUH-(SIN)-BNE set of flights with them over 4 weeks about 18 months ago. They are pretty high on my "not to be experienced again in a hurry" list.

 

[Flying Fox]

Are they really that bad an airline (I have never used them)?

 

[2muchplastic]

Are they really that bad an airline (I have never used them)?

Bad? Not really bad, it's just that there is better that fly that route. The biggest problem with them is they're based out of AUH, which is an atrocious airport (though should be better when they open the new terminal later this year).

I flew Emirates on the same route earlier in the same year (though via DXB not AUH) and found them to be quite a way ahead in terms of equipment, service, catering and airport facilities.

 

[anat0l]

This will make the AU-SIN routes very interesting....

 

[Flashback]

This will make the AU-SIN routes very interesting....

There may be a condition on the fare saying it can only be booked as a through fare.

 

[Dave Noble]

Etihad looks like it has a pretty decent 1st class

Wonder whether QF codeshare ticketholders will get the chauffeur drive though

Dave

 

[MelUser]

2 points:

(1) Hopefully QF codeshare passengers aren't treated like that poor family mentioned earlier today;

(2) Does anyone know how QFF points/Status credits will work - ie will they be obtained? I remember someone a couple of weeks ago upset that she didn't QFF points while flying codeshare on South African Airways?

 

[NM]

(2) Does anyone know how QFF points/Status credits will work - ie will they be obtained? I remember someone a couple of weeks ago upset that she didn't QFF points while flying codeshare on South African Airways?

QFF member using the QF flight number will earn FF points and status credits.

The example I remember reading recently involve QF/SAA codeshare was a UA member being denied UA MP miles when using the QF flight number operated by SAA.

 

[Zulaiha]

Currently living in Saudi made us an Etihad and (used to be) Emirates frequent flyers.

To ME, Etihad is not bad at all, they have excellent customer service compared to the snob Emirates. I decided a year ago to NEVER fly Emirates again unless I had no other choice.

Having said the above, I will say Etihad can have some improvement in their economy class on board services. Althought their Business and First class serivces are much better than Emirates.

 

[oz_mark]

(2) Does anyone know how QFF points/Status credits will work - ie will they be obtained? I remember someone a couple of weeks ago upset that she didn't QFF points while flying codeshare on South African Airways?

According to Qantas, yes:
About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases

Members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program will be able to earn points on all Qantas codeshare services covered by the agreement.

 

[Dave Noble]

2 points:

(1) Hopefully QF codeshare passengers aren't treated like that poor family mentioned earlier today;

Do remember that there are 2 sides to every story. So far there has been 1 sides views only

Dave

 

[docjames]

About time QF or One World got a middle eastern partner of size

Well RJ arent small, the problem from Australia is you have to get to AMM to get to just about anywhere else.

Also, with CX you can route AU-HKG-DXB (3 flights/day HKG-DXB & vv)

 

[tgh]

It is ..(or maybe should be) surprising that the "cultural" (sic) differences are not considered when dealing with some of these airlines.

Many airlines function in an environment where "rights" ... bite.. (Au,US,EU...)
Other Airlines are affected by the culture of their origin.

I would be happy to fly J with Etihad .. and I would expect to be cared for .. In Y .. wellI might have to take my chances

 

[PaulZ]

I don't understand why everyone is so critical of Etihad...

I flew them in Feb 08 and they were absolutely fantastic.

Everything went perfectly and they easily changed my return flights even when they were paper tickets, all without a hassle or fee.

Mind you, I was travelling in First Class - but the service on the ground and in the air was fantastic.

Can anyone explain why when I pay $14,000 for a First Class Airfare on Qantas they cannot offer me a Limo transfer? Etihad gives you one whenever you get off their plane.

It cost me $8328.00 from Sydney - Abu Dhabi (First)... Abu Dhabi - Milan (Business)... London - Sydney (First)...

I couldn't even get to Dubai in Business class with Cathay pacific for that price, let alone all the way to Europe.

The seats on the plane were comfortable, the food was fantastic...

For those that do suffer poor customer service at times, perhaps that is because they have grown too quickly... However I never had any problems with them.

I would definitely fly them again.

I looked at some flights a little while ago to NYC... I can get to NYC with Etihad for 11000 in First Class... Compared to the $24,000 available at the moment from Qantas. Certainly it is a longer flight... maybe an extra 8 hours... but so what.. it is less than half price..

And the frequent flyer program they have isn't too bad either for redemptions and status...

 

[pblackm]

Well I'm thrilled. With new clients in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, the joy of flying to AMM and then flying back in the opposite direction for a couple of hours is lost on me. I did this a couple of years ago on a DONE4 and to get to Vienna for meetings, I had to fly to LHR and then back again, and then at the end of it all, fly back to LHR for the next stage. Good for the SC's but not so good for a tight schedule. I'm up for it and promise a TR to make up for my sloth.

 

[browski]

Great stadium, great airline. It would be unaustralian not to fly Etihad since they sponsor our Home of Football (Docklands)

For Qantas to have 0 flights to DXB, is surely akin to cutting your nose to spite your face. So, a codeshare service to AUH is a wonderful face-saving way for Qantas to continue to pretend that Dubai does not exist but still sell some seats to this market. There are (at least) 6 daily EK flights from Oz direct to DXB and a couple on EY to AUH. Let alone all those EK flights from Oz to DXB via SIN/BKK. You'd think Qantas could fill one plane a week at least, but alas no.

IIRC a taxi (or shuttle bus) from Mall of the Emirates (MOE), Jebel Ali or Dubai Marina to AUH airport would be not much difference in time than one to the Deira airport - especially in peak hours. I'm guessing a taxi would cost less than AED 200 and take about 50 mins. Clearing immigration (inbound) at AUH is far, far quicker that the average times in DXB T1.

For QFFlyers another point to consider is that AUH airport also services these Qantas partners/cities:
British Airways - Muscat and London
Royal Jordanian - Muscat and Amman
Jet Airways - Mumbai and Delhi
and now...Etihad codeshare with Qantas to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Singapore, Bahrain, Amman and Beirut.

DXB airport services these Qantas partners/Cities:
Cathay Pacific - Mumbai, Bahrain, Hong Kong
British airways - London
Japan Airlines - Tokyo
Jet Airways - Delhi, Mumbai
Royal Jordanian - Amman

And on a nice big A340 as well.......

 

[jakeseven7]

i haven't flown ethiad but will be interested to see the price difference between the qf codeshare and ethiad own...

have only heard really good things about their premium cabins from friends. no reports from Y to judge.

 

[JohnK]

About time QF or One World got a middle eastern partner of size

Didn't QF codeshare with Gulf at one stage?

Unless specifically going to the Middle East for work I would prefer to transit SIN/BKK/HKG on the way through to Europe.