Qantas Introduces New Domestic Fares and Further Frequent Flyer Enhancements

[medhead]

What are other AFF community members experiences at ports that have NGCI, is it the way forward or are we going back to the stone age of customer service?

If carry on luggage only it is great.

Until you sit in an exit row. I recently had 3 flights in 2 days, Thursday night and 2 on friday. I selected an exit row for the last flight and I did the check in and got the can't print BP message. But then my FF card would no longer scan at the gate for the Thursday night and Friday morning flights. I try a couple of times to get removed from the exit row blocked list but the CSAs just printed me a paper BP. Rather annoying to be stuffed around for an exit row on non exit row flights flights.

I haven't used NGCI when I have checked luggage, using the service desk in BNE instead.

 

[anchew]

What are other AFF community members experiences at ports that have NGCI, is it the way forward or are we going back to the stone age of customer service?

I love NGCI. I find it very easy to use and very fast. The last time I had bag to check in when flying from MEL, from the terminal door to the security line took less than 2 minutes.

 

[spentan]

I love NGCI. I find it very easy to use and very fast. The last time I had bag to check in when flying from MEL, from the terminal door to the security line took less than 2 minutes.

Yeah, being an IT guy, I love NGCI, worked perfectly for me, I checked my bag in within a couple of minutes. I generally don't get good service from the counter girls anyway, I just go up to the QP and do my bargaining there (Exit Row or blocked seat next to me (6ft9in and 180kg, so flying economy is not so much fun for me).

But yeah, a big prop to NGCI. I agree for non-IT/Computer people it will be a bit tedious/hard to understand, but as I keep telling my mother, its a case of you don't want to learn, just because you're used to an old system. Fact is that if you learn how to use it, (read the onscreen instructions etc), its really not that difficult. Everything is prompted for you anyway.

As I said, I get most of my service in the QP or Business Lounge, so its not really a case of "customer service" for me.

As quoted from the website

Our Premium Service Desks are available to Platinum, Gold, Silver Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members and customers travelling in Business. If you prefer to check-in or drop off your baggage at the Premium Service Desk, you also have that option. Friendly, professional staff at our Premium Service Desks will also arrange your international connections, help you make changes to your journey and assist with any advice you may need.

 

[samh004]

Our Premium Service Desks are available to Platinum, Gold, Silver Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members and customers travelling in Business. If you prefer to check-in or drop off your baggage at the Premium Service Desk, you also have that option. Friendly, professional staff at our Premium Service Desks will also arrange your international connections, help you make changes to your journey and assist with any advice you may need.

I didn't realise they'd given premium checkin back to PS and QP, no wonder the lines are so huge.

 

[docjames]

4 words:

Thank You Virgin Australia.

 

[JohnM]

4 words:

Thank You Virgin Australia.

John Borghetti - Qantas CEO in absentia :mrgreen:.

 

[codash1099]

Disappointing!

Not the latest changes, but the attitude of some AFF members. When the "enhancements" are bad for us, fair enough to pick holes in them (within reason). But when they actually have the potential to do something for us, there are some who still feel the need to pick holes. Sure, they may not be all that we want, but they are a move in the right direction, so let's acknowledge that.

Well done, QF, and keep up the good work.

 

[yohy?!]

I didn't realise they'd given premium checkin back to PS and QP, no wonder the lines are so huge.

If you're in a NGCI port, I think the lines are also clogged with Exit Row, Special Needs and the Generally Confused Also

 

[markis10]

Disappointing!

Not the latest changes, but the attitude of some AFF members. When the "enhancements" are bad for us, fair enough to pick holes in them (within reason). But when they actually have the potential to do something for us, there are some who still feel the need to pick holes. Sure, they may not be all that we want, but they are a move in the right direction, so let's acknowledge that.

Well done, QF, and keep up the good work.

Question being, are the latest enhancements that, or is QF just returning back to the program attributes that used to exist when there was competition, before they bought in the piece system domestically, added & then increased change fees and introduced rededeals and fares that were not upgradable?

 

[UP4014]

Question being, are the latest enhancements that, or is QF just returning back to the program attributes that used to exist when there was competition, before they bought in the piece system domestically, added & then increased change fees and introduced rededeals and fares that were not upgradable?

Yes, certainly looks like a back peddle now DJ is ramping up the business offering.

 

[codash1099]

Question being, are the latest enhancements that, or is QF just returning back to the program attributes that used to exist when there was competition, before they bought in the piece system domestically, added & then increased change fees and introduced rededeals and fares that were not upgradable?

That may be the case, but it's still better than what we currently have. The reason is another thing entirely, and I agree that QF are being dragged along kicking and screaming.

 

[drewbles]

Yes, certainly looks like a back peddle now DJ is ramping up the business offering.

Definitely appears that way..

(does that mean anytime access will make a comeback? )

 

[JohnK]

What happens to the U inventory from 7th July? Will this result in less availability of J Classic Awards and /or JASA's due to flyers of any status on BFOD upgrading ?

Possibly. It will be interesting to see the results after a few weeks. I can just picture more threads appearing on AFF such as "What has happened to the availability of Any Seat Awards?".

Am I the only one debating backwards and forwards whether I should try upgrade my next flight after July 7, on July 7?

I would say you are more than likely alone!

Since WPs seem to feel they have missed out by all these changes maybe QF could provide them with 2 free Dom upgrades a year.

Or they could have left upgrade credits in place. I managed to sneak one in when I was still a Silver.

 

[Rono]

Qantas Update

Curious to hear what members make of Qantas lastest announcement, ie

•	Red e-Deal - our lowest year-round fares offering the best value for money
•	Flexi Saver - flexible fares offering a greater range of choice
•	Fully Flexible - offers complete flexibility with full refundability to provide the most choice for travel

[TD="colspan: 2"]The change above comes about because we are simplifying our domestic Economy fare families by reducing them from four to three:[/TD]

•	earning more Status credits on some fares;
•	all domestic Qantas Any Seat Awards are now upgradeable too;
•	less points are needed to request an upgrade award for some fares on domestic Qantas flights; and
•	Domestic Red e-Deals are now upgradeable with points.

[TD="colspan: 2"]
For you this means:[/TD]

 

[nlagalle]

Re: Qantas Update

It's all here!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ntas-introduces-new-domestic-fares-31004.html

 

[gpr49697]

really like the improvements or enhancements re SCs for Y.
must admit i am not clear on the upgrading, seems status level is less of an adavantage, domestically?
lot or recent comments re NGCI, i found this great so far, a little annoying when you have an exit row, that it cannot be confirmed, but have not found the wait too long for service.

 

[angusburns]

I am guessing that lots of businesses specify economy / BFOD for short domestic flights and suppose that this may lead to pretty full economy and relatively empty business class cabins.

If this is the current situation then the changes work for Qantas in a) moving people from economy to business, freeing up more economy seats to sell and b) burning up some of that ever-growing mountain of FF point liabilities that they have on their books.

This also works for the people who want to upgrade to business on domestic flights - I don't think it is worth it, except maybe for flights longer than 4 or 5 hours, especially if there are power points in business seats to power notebooks computers.

The upgrades changes look like a win-win change.

The status credits one looks like compensation for losing a booking class and/or response to Virgin. All good for us!

FWIW...

 

[sarvowinner]

From my point of view it is great news to be able to upgrade on red e-deals and the opportunity to earn more SC. I do like NGCI - very efficient. Last week did two flights in Exit Row. No problem, just picked up my BP in the QP. Can't see any issues, but maybe I'm lucky.

 

[medhead]

Last week did two flights in Exit Row. No problem, just picked up my BP in the QP. Can't see any issues, but maybe I'm lucky.

The issue is that I like to scan my QFF card at the gate when boarding not pick up a paper BP. Not to mention that boarding is way past the time to pick up a BP from the QP. I was checked in (OLCI) for 3 flights, the last one with an exit row. My QFF card would no longer work at boarding - error message was popping up on their screen. I suspect this was because of the exit row check in, as my QFF card worked again after I'd taken the exit row flight. (I probably didn't explain that well before)

 

[Princess Fiona]

OK I've only used NGCI once, and out of interest. I have to say that i was impressed at how fast and easy it was. no issues at all and my luggage arrived at my destination and was one of the first dozen out. I walked away happy. To me if it works like that everytime I consider it an enhancement.

Considering I try and avoid checked baggage where ever I can, I'd almost be tempted to use it more often.

Adding my experience to N = 2, was very impressed with NGCI SYD-PER this week. Did online check-in and used bag drop at SYD with Q Card scan at gate.
Bag was amongst first 10 off-loaded at PER.
Now if they could fix the J Catering to match the checkin