Qantas Mobile

[Stevo.1702]

Hi all,

Thought I'd share this. Completing a Red Planet survey it appears Qantas may be interested in introducing a mobile phone service. It indicates it will utilise the Optus network.

Assuming 15 Qantas points per dollar (or around 1,000 pts per month) would you be interested?

My work requires a large amount of travel internationally and to regional locations (perhaps a little less of late) so I would stay with Telstra.

Hope you are all safe and well.
Stevo

 

[Stevo.1702]

For those interested. The survey talked about a range of incentives including:

• Qantas Wine Vouchers
• Qantas Flight Vouchers
• Qantas Hotel Vouchers
• Bonus points on sign up
• Bonus points each month
• Discount on points required in the rewards store
• Loung invites

 

[henrus]

Tell em they're joking...

I'm on a historical Optus plan and pay $40 per month for 80GB data (excess data shaped at 1.5mbps) + Unlimited calls/texts in AU + Unlimited calls/texts to 35 countries + 4GB roaming data for use overseas in Zone 1 countries (most of Pacific/Asia/North America/Europe) + Unlimited roaming calls/texts both to make/receive in Zone 1 countries.

The current Optus plans are just as good with $65 for 500GB + same inclusions as above except with 10GB roaming data. The new plan is valid for 12 months and again no excess data fees in Australia and a reasonable $10 per 1GB whilst roaming in Zone 1 countries.

Unless Qantas can match this sort of value from Optus or provide a significant enough benefit to be locked in for 24 months then forget it I'll be staying with my current plan.

At two points per dollar, you'd be looking at 90 to 170 points per month. Even at 10 points per dollar, it's still bad value given you're looked into a rip off plan for 24 months. I struggle to see what value they can offer that others can't and whilst I get it times are tough, I think airlines/banks etc should stick to what they do best instead of trying to become a telco (looking at you failed Bendigo Bank Telco).

 

[Stevo.1702]

Tell em they're joking...

I'm on a historical Optus plan and pay $40 per month for 80GB data (excess data shaped at 1.5mbps) + Unlimited calls/texts in AU + Unlimited calls/texts to 35 countries + 4GB roaming data for use overseas in Zone 1 countries (most of Pacific/Asia/North America/Europe) + Unlimited roaming calls/texts both to make/receive in Zone 1 countries.

The current Optus plans are just as good with $65 for 500GB + same inclusions as above except with 10GB roaming data. The new plan is valid for 12 months and again no excess data fees in Australia and a reasonable $10 per 1GB whilst roaming in Zone 1 countries.

At two points per dollar, you'd be looking at 90 to 170 points per month. Even at 10 points per dollar, it's still bad value given you're looked into a rip off plan for 24 months.

Good point. The survey talked about 1,000 points per month. I'll update my original post to reflect something closer to that.

 

[Mattg]

If Qantas wanted to launch its own mobile plans, it could be an opportunity to offer a unique product that frequent travellers would value, e.g. good international call & global roaming options as well as good mobile coverage in regional areas (if it's using the Optus network, that might be unrealistic).

I'd consider using Qantas Mobile (or whatever they decide to call it) if the points on offer are attractive, but I wouldn't take out an overpriced plan that doesn't meet my needs just for some points. And I certainly am not interested in using Qantas points to pay for my mobile phone usage!

 

[Daver6]

Unless anything offered could compare favourably with the Vodafone plans in terms of international calling and $5/day international roam like home, then no chance. The total convenience of being overseas and not having to ever worry about data allowance or call minutes is just too convenient.

 

[Townsend]

I live in county NSW and the Optus coverage is very poor when compared to Telstra. As much as I love collecting Qantas points, there is no way I would change to Optus until the coverage improves.

 

[DC3]

Optus network. Sorry, but that’s a definite NO. Use the Telstra 4G network, like Boost Mobile, for example.

 

[Gold Member]

Good chance Qantas will rely upon their customers’ ‘trust’, supposed relationship and naivety contrasted with a carefully crafted marketing and PR campaign calculated to steal an exorbitant margin akin to the Frequent Flyer Program. I expect that any offering will be uncompetitive compared to well established and trusted mainstream providers who struggle to make a buck in this ultra competitive environment. Qantas will simply be piggybacking off a mainstream provider (Telstra/Optus/Voda) while adding another layer of margin and complexity while collecting and selling your data and usage.

Consider the current Qantas Customer Service you receive; wait times for a Bronze/Silver (99% of all members) of several hours reported - good luck with that. Or would they simply hand that off absolve themselves of all responsibility? Most likely.

I realize this may all sound sound negative and cynical for an offering that hasn’t even been released yet. Or perhaps call me a seasoned Qantas member familiar with their business operations and economics.

I don’t blame Qantas for exploring and trying to extend their reach to diversify the revenue mix in the current economic environment. This initiative would be just another extension to harness their extensive customer base. But Qantas has a track record of not providing much value to their customers in these peripheral offerings, so if anything does come to fruition I urge caution before jumping in blindly.

 

[moa999]

So many MVNOs these days. Can't see Qantas offering much different. Their high value customers will want 5G and high speed which none of the MVNOs can access, as well as decent roaming offers.

I've been with TPG (once Optus, now Vodafone) for ages and it's decent enough for me. Went with them at the time as they were one of the few MVNOs with international roaming (and at the time a lowish $129 deposit, now $550).
More recently I've been using Flexiroam on a 2nd SIM.

Recently moved my low data usage parents to Woolworths (Telstra) on their $60 12GB 6 months plan. With the monthly 10% off vouchers they basically get paid to have a phone.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Optus network. Sorry, but that’s a definite NO. Use the Telstra 4G network, like Boost Mobile, for example.

Indeed, Boost has been great value for me - $150 for 12 months and 80GB. Fully acknowledge some may need more data but it's amazing how little you use when you're not aimlessly watching YouTube or other streams because, well, you have the data on your plan and it would otherwise go to waste.

 

[k_sheep]

No chance for me, no way I'm going Optus (not living in a capital city)

 

[kamchatsky]

Indeed, Boost has been great value for me - $150 for 12 months and 80GB. Fully acknowledge some may need more data but it's amazing how little you use when you're not aimlessly watching YouTube or other streams because, well, you have the data on your plan and it would otherwise go to waste.

I am also on Boost Mobile, on their 240Gb plan for 365 days. Great value and I am not worried about

They also offer free international calls which is also a plus. I used this feature to call overseas call centres (BA, AA etc)

 

[Must...Fly!]

I am also on Boost Mobile, on their 240Gb plan for 365 days. Great value and I am not worried about

They also offer free international calls which is also a plus. I used this feature to call overseas call centres (BA, AA etc)

It's not suitable for all but given it is full retail Telstra coverage, is value for money.

I guess Qantas could try and enter as an mvno.... But really, how much money would really be made in such a competitive environment? Offering a few points per dollar at a reputable incumbent as they have been seems like a wiser idea

 

[sudoer]

Would never consider porting to Optus or an MVNO using their network.

I would certainly consider some more cheap handsets with bonus points though.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Horses for courses. I live in a rural area and generally get much better bandwidth on optus than on woolworths/telstra (dual SIM phone so can directly compare, and hook up to Telstra if Opyus unavailable). Last I checked Optus roaming was also cheaper in the Zone 2 countries I frequent (but still a gouge).

In terms of coverage out here in the boonies it's a lottery. Generally telstra network better, buta couple of nearby towns only have Vodaphone towers

My correct answer to the survey would have been "maybe", want to see any total offering before making any commitment

Cheers skip.

 

[henrus]

Would never consider porting to Optus or an MVNO using their network.

Not an attack or anything but just curious... is there a reason why? Quite a few people in this thread have said no Optus but don't specify why (coverage/speeds etc).

I'm with Optus and struggle to see why people would be with Telstra unless you travel proper bush. I've recently been all through the NT and on major roads down to Kathrine and then to Litchfield, the Optus coverage matched Telstra and in some areas within the national park was even better. Likewise last year I drove from Brisbane to Townsville and again both Optus/Telstra coverage matched each other. I'm easily able to make this comparison as I've got a dual sim phone with a Telstra $5 5GB data sim in it which I've only had to use twice in the past 12 months (200km South of Broome) and out near Cooinda, NT - both of these sites were only Telstra 3G to give you an idea of the remoteness.

 

[sudoer]

Not an attack or anything but just curious... is there a reason why?

Mostly past experience. Was with Optus, Exetel and Amaysim (Optus MVNOs) from 2010-2015 and had:

- consistent reception issues where I lived around inner west Sydney. Ended up finding a workaround which involved turning off the UMTS 2100 band entirely through my Galaxy S2's modem service menu and only ever using UMTS 900. This sacrificed bandwidth for usable signal and fewer dropouts
- consistent network performance issues anywhere near a large groups of people - live events, train stations during peak hour, etc. My memory's a little hazy on this, but I think the UMTS 900 trick helped with this because many phones at the time preferred the more congested UMTS 2100 band where possible. In some cases the network got bad enough that I'd turn off 3G entirely and switch to GSM just to make a phone call
- consistent cell handover problems, catching the train into the Sydney CBD on weekdays there were two dead spots around Everleigh and Ashfield/Croydon where the cells seemed incapable of handing over 1000+ handsets (on a full train) simultaneously. Calls would drop and data connections would freeze for 60-90 seconds, could be manually reset by flicking aeroplane mode on and off. Interestingly this didn't happen during uncongested periods which is why I think it would a network capacity issue.
- zero reception in most multi-story building basement carparks

The only reason I stuck with Optus was state of the Vodafone network (at the time) and the $30-40/month premium on Telstra. That premium has since dropped quite a lot.

I ported to Telstra in 2015 (new job covered my phone bill) and all of these problems went away. Having been on Telstra for nearly 6 years now, if work stopped covering my bill costs tomorrow I'd almost certain stick with Telstra and wear the cost, or possibly consider Vodafone if I was going to be roaming a lot. The Voda network has improved significantly since those times.

I'm with Optus and struggle to see why people would be with Telstra unless you travel proper bush.

I don't think you need to go 'proper bush' to see the difference. I did the Evans Lookout walk in the Blue Mountains late last year - it's in a valley about 10km from Katoomba as the crow flies. Friends on both Voda and Optus lost reception entirely at the car park where the hike starts, yet I had 3/4 bars 4G on Telstra. Plausible that Voda and Optus lost a tower in the bushfires and hadn't yet reconstructed it, but it had been 9 months so

 

[Daver6]

I think it's also important to distinguish between coverage and performance. For example I'm with Vodafone. Their coverage around the Margaret River area is decent. However performance (in terms of data speed) is really poor.

 

[Danger]

Call me crazy but I'd love it if Qantas Airways got the airways part right first before whoring the name across a host of entirely unrelated products.