Qantas Loyalty SYD lunch (04SEP13) attendees thread

[JohnK]

Sydneysiders must be a quiet and reserved lot!

Extremely quiet and shy....

 

[serfty]

Cool, thanks for the recap

Used to be the QP!

 

[markis10]

Used to be the QP!

Yep, don't remember it looking like it does though, quite a sanctuary.

 

[im.daniel]

Just got back to TSV - it's been a long day! Thank you for organizing everything today, Qantas - it was a wonderful event, and the team really took brilliant care of us; I'm sure the other attendees would agree.

It was a pleasure meeting every one of you there, and good putting faces to names for the first time. Even though I might not exactly fit the demographic of a 'typical' AFFer, I was warmly welcomed into the group and didn't feel out of place at all. Looking forward to meeting more faces the next time!

 

[Brettmcg]

The food was excellent and the company was even better! QF really know how to look after us!

Aside from the QF cash questions there was discussion around MASAs, the EK-QF partnership and the DXB experience, the JQ proposition in terms of loyalty to the entire QF group, the addition of other OW partners into the award booking engine and also the recent changes to the QF website.

Based on the statements made by the QF panel the inclusion of all OW partners into the award booking engine is currently being worked on - for example the intention is to have QR in there from their launch in OW.

I'm sure there were lots of other great questions asked in the discussions at each table and it was a great opportunity to exchange opinions and get a little bit of inside information, for which I am very grateful to the entire QF team.

I look forward to the next opportunity!

 

[kpc]

Some pics of lunch today...

​

 

[grussellt]

Thanks Red Roo, other QF staffers and Rockpool for a wonderful affair. The food was lovely, the conversation was lively and a good time was had by all. Great to meet the AFFer's I spoke to and look forward to the next time (hint!). I'll be glad to see if Qantas cash works on LDH next week!

 

[Mal]

Thanks Redroo (and Qantas) for arranging these lunches. I'm not the most avid Qantas supporter at the moment (based on living in the UK and my perception of the lack of Qantas care for overseas members) but I do think these types of lunches are very beneficial to both Qantas and the many thousand of people who read this site.

 

[QF WP]

Is Lesley Bauer the same person as Lesley Grant?

No, they aren't. Lesley Grant is currently in DXB and is the Program Head of QFF. Lesley Bauer is the Manager of QF Loyalty

 

[dfcatch]

No, they aren't. Lesley Grant is currently in DXB and is the Program Head of QFF. Lesley Bauer is the Manager of QF Loyalty

And who was in MEL?

 

[Limewood]

T

Aside from the QF cash questions there was discussion around MASAs

and what as said about this subject?

 

[serfty]

And who was in MEL?

Lesley Bauer, the Manager of QF Loyalty

 

[markis10]

Wine was popular yesterday!

 

[medhead]

No, they aren't. Lesley Grant is currently in DXB and is the Program Head of QFF. Lesley Bauer is the Manager of QF Loyalty

Whoops. I asked the wrong person to ADL drinks and dinner. Doesn't matter I suppose, they're still welcome.

 

[Deleted member 9370]

I can see most of the QF contingent:

Stephanie Tully - Chief Marketing Officer, Qantas Loyalty
Amanda Bolger - General Manager, Corporate Communications, Qantas Loyalty
Rob
Ryan De Boer - Head of Prepaid Solutions, Qantas Loyalty




Can't see Lesley Bauer or Red Roo there. Stephanie said there was going to be a slight change in QF personnel today.

Can somebody please get me Rob's name ??

It's Rob Colwell - Chief Commercial Officer, Qantas Loyalty

 

[Brettmcg]

and what as said about this subject?

Pretty much that they are still under review but there is next to no chance of them returning to the website in the near future.

 

[medhead]

and what as said about this subject?

Pretty much as per the report from the MEL lunch. MASA will stay on the phone system. I think I came in at the end of a conversation to hear that there is low usage of MASA via the phone.

Other snippets of information:

1. They are investigating options to recognise loyalty on classic awards and with JQ. But very early stages for this investigation, so just to know something is being considered.
2. JQ seem to be the sticking point to loyalty recognition. I made the point that without such recognition JQ is just any other airline. It seems JQ don't care that QFF members might take that view.
3. In flight wifi - significant cost of equipment, extremely low take up during the trial (a number was given but I'm not sure about repeating it) - hence it was cut.

Finally I was very naughty when the 80% of passenger leave Australia on another airline was mentioned. I raised the point that 8% of that other 80% was on JQ. The response was fair and reasonable, but it did reinforce that QF and JQ really are 2 separate airlines despite both contributing to the group.

They really need a CEO who is going to make both airlines work well together. IMO.

 

[sweens]

Thanks QF Loyalty for organising a great day...very informative , the food and beverage was excellent!

It was the first AFF event that I have attended so it was nice to meet up and get to know some fellow AFFers.

Also managed to share a few sherbets after with Medhead & DeKa...all in all a very nice day.

 

[Anna]

there is low usage of MASA via the phone.

Why am I not surprised?

I bet close to 100% of the phone usage is by AFFers. The general FF public have mostly never heard of ASAs and if they have, they think they cost a million points each so they aren't interested in booking them whether online or by phone.

 

[EmilyHoward]

A big THANK YOU to Qantas, its staff and staff at Rockpool for such an excellent lunch and the conversation today. It was a priviledge to be invited and a nice surprise to finally get into the CL before boarding the flight to Perth.

EH