Qantas is sorry (again)

[DC3]

Which is probably why they are making it hard for us to redeem on flights and would prefer for you to redeem them for gift cards and hotels where they can make some decent $$

Toasters, anyone?

 

[Lynda2475]

And no, not ridiculously priced any seat awards. I'm talking about if there's a seat available for sale then let someone book that seat for the classic award rate.

No airline does this.

If QF just guaranteed a certain # of seats in each class at classic award rate on every flight, released at a set time period then everyone can plan accordingly. They can of course drop extra seats if flights are very under booked closer to the time.

In the mean time if they offer any award seats and people are silly enough to book those at the inflated price then there is obviously a market for it. Some people (not me) are absolutely swimming in points because they run business expenses through points earning cards, so may not care.

 

[levelnine]

If QF just guaranteed a certain # of seats in each class at classic award rate on every flight, released at a set time period then everyone can plan accordingly.

No chance of it happening. Might as well hope for a unicorn to deliver you a pot of gold.

The post pandemic period has shown Qantas there is tremendous public relations value in holding back award seats and releasing them in a big batch when they need a good news story.

VH is following in AJ's footsteps by promising a big release of frequent flyer seats to distract from Qantas' woes.

Indeed, it makes no commercial sense for Qantas to release seats at the end of schedule in a reliable pattern. It decreases revenue bookings by allowing people who are organised to avoid having to pay cash for flights. And it denies them the opportunity to save up all those seats for a big news splash when they need it.

If you want to 'plan accordingly', buy a cash ticket. That will be Qantas' view.

 

[Lynda2475]

No chance of it happening

It has previously and worked well.

It decreases revenue bookings by allowing people who are organised to avoid having to pay cash for flights.

Not necessarily, as if they cant get reward flights they may just fly other airlines. It is in QFs interest for customers to burn points not hoard them on the books, as they still make revenue from award flights via surcharges and may end up buying positioning flights.

 

[KSC]

It has previously and worked well.



Not necessarily, as if they cant get reward flights they may just fly other airlines. It is in QFs interest for customers to burn points not hoard them on the books, as they still make revenue from award flights via surcharges and may end up buying positioning flights.

Not sure if the trend is the same for Qantas, however the percentage of sold premium seats by US carriers with cash is at its highest ever percentage. I’m sure Qantas is selling allot of the premium seats with cash as-well, thus the hold off.

I also preferred the older months in advance award tickets. However nothing stopping Qantas doing a split strategy both releasing a bunch of seats early and also some earlier to the travel date.

They could do an ‘Award Anytime’ rate which goes for double the amount of regular points for a segment, which would bode well with people with an abundance of points however want the ultimate flexibility.

 

[levelnine]

It has previously and worked well.

Qantas never had a seats guarantee like other airlines, but in any case they've discovered a new system that works better for them.

Not necessarily, as if they cant get reward flights they may just fly other airlines. It is in QFs interest for customers to burn points not hoard them on the books, as they still make revenue from award flights via surcharges and may end up buying positioning flights.

That's a risk with all release strategies. Releasing predictably at calendar open alienates 95% of customers who aren't organised enough to know their travel plans 12 months in advance.

Releasing seats in batches makes excellent business sense for Qantas and is why it will almost certainly continue.

It returns the frequent flyer program to its roots — a mechanism for selling seats that would otherwise go empty. It's why most programs operate that way. And it's even more important for Qantas at the moment, because big batch releases generate positive headlines when they desperately need them.

 

[Lynda2475]

I also preferred the older months in advance award tickets. However nothing stopping Qantas doing a split strategy both releasing a bunch of seats early and also some earlier to the travel date.

Agree and I said as much earlier. Some other OW carriers do guarantee minimum award seats per flight.

They could do an ‘Award Anytime’ rate which goes for double the amount of regular points for a segment, which would bode well with people with an abundance of points however want the ultimate flexibility.

They already do this, but only the clueless would spend 1million points on an anytime award when the same seat as a classic award is 1/10th the cost.

 

[Lynda2475]

Qantas never had a seats guarantee like other airlines, but in any case they've discovered a new system that works better for them.

I never said they did, but they did previously reliably release seats 330 days out; then add extras for undersold routes 1 month out.

big batch releases generate positive headlines

And also negative headlines if not any released on popular routes or people still miss out.

A move to guarantee a minimum number of award seats in each class on every flight could also give positive headlines and better ongoing PR than random drops on only some routes. It means the most loyal customers have certainty and the lower status have a aspirational goal.

But clearly people want to see what suits their own needs best.

 

[levelnine]

But clearly people want to see what suits their own needs best.

That is absolutely the case with some people in this thread.

But I couldn't care either way. Platinum release gets me what I want.

I'm simply identifying what makes most business sense for Qantas.

A move to guarantee a minimum number of award seats in each class on every flight could also give positive headlines and better ongoing PR than random drops on only some routes. It means the most loyal customers have certainty and the lower status have a aspirational goal.

It would give a one-off headline that can never be repeated. Qantas have already gotten multiple positive headlines this year alone from doing batch releases.

The most loyal customers are already accessing the award seats they want — for WP & P1, seats are only a phone call away.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Toasters, anyone?

And also depends on how scrupulous the delivery person is, as to if the toaster will arrive safe and well, and in one piece. and not broken/destroyed in the delivery process, also so long as the toaster is not "taken" from your "doorstep" without your persmission/authority/ie we all know there are people who are taking, ie stealing other people's packages.
===
So, VH has been ordered to appear before the Senate committee, (or is it the High Court case), and QF might be up for compo for the "illegally" sacked workers.
Millions, ?

 

[pagingjoan]

Here is a new one!

Text:
<Your flight QFxx_ from Sydney has changed and is now departing on …. at …..
Please monitor your flight departure time on qantas.com….
To view your new flight details or to defer your travel, check qantas.com/….. or the Qantas App for updates or options available (including a Flight Credit or refund).>

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For Pagingjoan, have they changed your date of flight?
If so, that is bad, esp if you have something to do, or another flight to catch on the cancelled date.

 

[Lynda2475]

But I couldn't care either way. Platinum release gets me what I want.

Luck has been on your side, there are plenty of cases of WP seat release requests being denied on these forums. It is possible but by no means guaranteed.

 

[levelnine]

Luck has been on your side, there are plenty of cases of WP seat release requests being denied on these forums. It is possible but by no means guaranteed.

So is what you're proposing.

Pretty much no airline guarantees award seats on every flight. Even those that have consistent release schedules have black out dates.

You're chasing a unicorn that Qantas has no business interest to offer.

 

[clifford]

VH is following in AJ's footsteps

Same animal.

 

[pagingjoan]

For Pagingjoan, have they changed your date of flight?
If so, that is bad, esp if you have something to do, or another flight to catch on the cancelled date.

Just a delay for a domestic flight this evening.
Mind you, the boarding time has shifted four times, during our wait in the Lounge.
One of “those” creeping delays.
There may be several more before the actual Boarding call.

 

[drron]

So is what you're proposing.

Pretty much no airline guarantees award seats on every flight. Even those that have consistent release schedules have black out dates.

You're chasing a unicorn that Qantas has no business interest to offer.

Though in April BA said they would have a minimum of 12 award seats on every short haul flight and 14 on every long haul flight. No mention of black out dates.

 

[KSC]

Agree and I said as much earlier. Some other OW carriers do guarantee minimum award seats per flight.


They already do this, but only the clueless would spend 1million points on an anytime award when the same seat as a classic award is 1/10th the cost.

What I’m proposing is different from the current low value Points Plus Pay. Paying double the normal rewards rate is allot more reasonable.

 

[TheInsider]

Here is a new one!

Text:
<Your flight QFxx_ from Sydney has changed and is now departing on …. at …..
Please monitor your flight departure time on qantas.com….
To view your new flight details or to defer your travel, check qantas.com/….. or the Qantas App for updates or options available (including a Flight Credit or refund).>

What's new?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just a delay for a domestic flight this evening.
Mind you, the boarding time has shifted four times, during our wait in the Lounge.
One of “those” creeping delays.
There may be several more before the actual Boarding call.

Aye, and the last one, horrible if you hear this for the last flight of the day to your desto, (We regret to inform you that QF xx_ has been cancelled).
I got that on JQ a few years ago now, MEL - ADL.
They wanted to put onto the next day's first JQ flight, but I had to work first thing.
So, went to the QFd desk at MEL T1 and bought a fleyY tix for the 3nd last flight of the day, MEL - ADL.
QF issued the SC for the seat I took, and JQ also issued the SC for the next days flight.
I rang JQ to explain, after I got back to ADL, that I could accept their next day flight offer.