After the recent announcement of yet another QF enhancement on EK flights I started thinking of all the other things that either failed to happen or have been withdrawn after AJ's grand announcement that the EK-QF partnership would bring us the best of both airlines. This has, sadly, not been the case with far too many QF enhancements and failure to implement. It would be interesting (to me at least) to create a list of what has been gained and lost. All the more so as it is my understanding that the ACC allowed the partnership on the basis that the best of both would be offered (happy to be corrected if this is not the case). Regardless AJ put it in print in the in flight mag that we would always get the better deal.
Herewith the start of the list:
1 55% decrease in checked baggage allowance: was 4 x 32 kg, now 60 kg (J & WP)
2 loss of common-rated destinations when travelling via LHR (yes I know some do not like LHR but I need to stop in London so this is real downside to me)
3 loss of BA JSA
4 no premium economy on EK
5 loss of QFi metal from PER, ADL, BNE etc
6 loss of stopover in HKG, SIN, BKK w onward flights direct to Europe using QFi or QF codeshare
7 massive loss of SC & FF points when flying partner airlines (& loss of codeshare on these flights)
(some might argue that 6 & & 7 are not EK-QF partnership issues but the loss of the BA JSA, the CX codeshare etc followed on from this)
8 no pork (e.g. bacon) on QF1, 2, 9, 10 (a cooked breakfast without bacon???)
9 no alcohol in the food (so how can it be called a trifle?)
10 progressive winding back of QFF earning on EK flights
11 increase in prices (there were some great deals immediately after the tie up but these are just a distant memory)
12 CD: great if flying Aus-LHR but we were promised progressive roll out on all long haul routes.
13 loss of QFi to FRA
I think you are using the EK tie up as an excuse here. So lets go through some of the points:
1. luggage AFAIK was never 4 x 32kg. It was 3 x 32kg, and it had been up and down well before the EK tie up. Personally I would never use 60kg let along 96kg.. Have you ever used that much luggage?
2. which destinations?
3. the JSA was going to end regardless. QF filled what would have been a void. Lets no forget BA diluting QP privileges well before the JSA ended.
4. was PE on EK ever promised?
5. QF didn't have the capacity to meet the needs.. of course they could have still pulled out and there would be no other options right? Don't blame the JSA for them pulling out. They simply needed to focus on routes that were more profitable.
6. how many codeshares into Europe were there before? really CX was the only hub and how many codeshares did they have already? not many. really only AY and BA. AY is still there. Sure i miss them as a stopover but still flew to LHR via HKG in 2014
7. has nothing to do with the EK tie up.. that was a separate decision.
8. meh, as much as i love my bacon I can live without it on a flight. and as you've said you don't eat bacon so I don't see the point. They also don't serve port on the CGK routes either.
9. Can't say I've ever had trifle onboard.. but really if i want alcohol, i'll get a drink..
10. I can't recall what changes were made on EK flight numbers.
11. airline prices ALWAYS fluctuate. so how is that a broken promise?
12. didn't EK roll it back too? mind you was CD there before the EK tie up?
13. the talk about that stopping was well before the EK tie up too. low yields so why keep it flying? should they lose money on a route to keep you happy?
I'm sorry but your broken promise list isn't really that at all.. It's really just a list of gripes.
