QF-EK broken promises

[medhead]

I'm waiting for the first airline to announce Pokemon Go spawning in flight and everyone rushes to rebook on that airline.

It's a location based game. The pokemon would spawn and the aircraft would be 800 km/h away from it before anyone could do anything.

 

[TheRealTMA]

It's a location based game. The pokemon would spawn and the aircraft would be 800 km/h away from it before anyone could do anything.

And phone GPS won't generally work inside a passenger aircraft.

 

[medhead]

And phone GPS won't generally work inside a passenger aircraft.

Seems to work ok on the ground, with heaps of drift. In the air you'd need to have the phone right on the window, but I doubt that'd work due to the limit visibility of network towers.

 

[Quickstatus]

And phone GPS won't generally work inside a passenger aircraft.

I can use the compass app on the iphone inside the aircraft and it also has an altimeter which works off a barometric sensor, though my popping ears tell me we are descending.

Would like to compare the cruising altitude barometric pressure of an A380 compared to a B787 but have not had the opportunity yet.

 

[medhead]

I can use the compass app on the iphone inside the aircraft and it also has an altimeter which works off a barometric sensor, though my popping ears tell me we are descending.

Would like to compare the cruising altitude barometric pressure of an A380 compared to a B787 but have not had the opportunity yet.

Works in Airplane mode?
Sorry if this is an obvious answer. I assume yes...

 

[Quickstatus]

Works in Airplane mode?
Sorry if this is an obvious answer. I assume yes...

Yes it does and its accurate during the landing phase - the compass reading lines up with the runway heading, and during descent the altimeter reading descends as well

 

[Daver6]

Seems to work ok on the ground, with heaps of drift. In the air you'd need to have the phone right on the window, but I doubt that'd work due to the limit visibility of network towers.

Its probably calculating your location based off phone tower triangulation and possibly wifi access points at the airport.

 

[harvyk]

Just some of my personal thoughts on the matter.


1. Best TT product on the market. As a QFFer I can access J and F awards. I highly doubt I'd have experienced the EK F any other way (or tried the shower).

2. I like pork, I like bacon, and whilst Turkey Bacon doesn't quite cut it (it's what the EK lounge offers), I can go a couple of meals without feeling the need to eat a pig.

3. Likewise with Alcohol. Yes I like a drink, and quite like booze mixed in with my food, but provided something that tastes half decent is provided I'm happy, I don't care if it has alcohol or not.

3. QF / BA's falling out happened well before EK entered the mix*. It was at this point in time QP's became no longer welcome at BA lounges. SG's / WP's / P1's are only still welcome thanks to OW obligations, otherwise I guarantee the status'd guys would be sitting outside the door as well. *- It might have been because BA got wind of QF's discussions, don't know.

4. I've done transits in DXB / HKG / SIN (although only in DXB as part of a LHR trip). All three airports seemed to be ok for transits. I wouldn't consider DXB better or worse than either SIN or HKG.



I guess quite a few of the other complaints (eg check bag weights) don't apply to me, I typically do HLO, and even when I do check bags it never even remotely close to the limits.

There are no direct QFi flights from CBR (as far as I'm aware - ever), so going via SYD or MEL (or BNE) was always mandatory.

The lack of QP access on an EK flight isn't a big one either, as a QP member you kinda get used to lounge access being a special thing rather than a right, since unlike SG / WP / P1, QP access only provides a very limited number of lounges, mostly in Australia, and typically only when flying QF (and AA, provided you are not flying from an associate lounge location)

 

[Himeno]

It's a location based game. The pokemon would spawn and the aircraft would be 800 km/h away from it before anyone could do anything.

There have been people catching pokemon on aircraft (inc midflight on a VA BNE-WLG).

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Its a business and March 2013 is over 3 years ago. The world is a different place.

I don't accept that.

If you cannot trust the statements and commitments made by the CEO of a large Australian business that many people have a very personal connection with and who employs thousands of Australians then that is a major issue.

Simply advising to 'take your business elsewhere' misses the whole point of this thread which is not titled 'broken promises so I am taking my business elsewhere'.

 

[Pushka]

I don't accept that.

If you cannot trust the statements and commitments made by the CEO of a large Australian business that many people have a very personal connection with and who employs thousands of Australians then that is a major issue.

Simply advising to 'take your business elsewhere' misses the whole point of this thread which is not titled 'broken promises so I am taking my business elsewhere'.

Did I say to take your business elsewhere? I am just reflecting that business environments change significantly in 3 years and what was achievable then may not be now. Business has to make decisions all the time just to maintain a semblance of profitability. Any business that doesn't change in 3 years would be unusual.

A lot of this thread has been about food - bacon. Was there a promise on that food item? If so and its now been 'broken' then surely just evaluate if you can live without it.

I think a lot of the angst here has little to do with broken promises but more to do with a dislike of Dubai. Which is fine if you dislike it but I happen not to.

 

[serfty]

Maybe it's time to revisit the OP:

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

 

[dajop]

So it is perfectly legitimate to express dissatisfaction on occasion.

Agree. Sometimes though the best way of expressing it though is not complaining on online forums, whilst continuing to fly QF (of course noone on AFF does that ) but instead take the business elsewhere.

 

[Pushka]

I would now like to see the actual 'promises' rather than a list of things that have changed. I dont have access to a 2013 article. Or was it a generic type promise of better service that is hard to quantify.

 

[roncritch]

I don't know if this is classified as a broken promise...but AJ stated at the start everything would be interchangeable but we cannot use points for upgrade. This is particularly galling for Perth and Adelaide people as we do not have the choice. Having said that, don't mind utilising EK to Europe, DXB transit always been OK for us.

 

[Conrad_S]

Where are these promises?

Qantas Airways Limited & Emirates - Authorisations - A91332 & A91333

 

[Pushka]

Where are these promises?

Qantas Airways Limited & Emirates - Authorisations - A91332 & A91333

Thats it? No bacon?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Did I say to take your business elsewhere?

I wasn't referring to a particular comment by yourself rather the general feeling in this thread that if QF does anything to disadvantage customers then they should simply fly elsewhere regardless of how many years, points and status earning many have already invested in the airline thereby making such a choice not exactly simple.

Quoting from the QF media release regarding the partnership I am interested in what expanded opportunities and unprecedented benefits QF frequent flyers have received;

The Emirates and Qantas frequent flyer programs will be aligned, giving customers expanded opportunities to earn and redeem points. Emirates and Qantas will provide reciprocal access to tier status benefits including end-to-end customer recognition, lounge access, priority check-in and boarding and other exclusive services.
.....
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the partnership would deliver unprecedented benefits to Qantas customers and mark a decisive step forward in the Group’s strategy.
.....
“Together with Emirates, Qantas will provide a unique ‘one stop’ hub service, as well as deeply integrated frequent flyer and customer benefits"

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Quoting from the QF media release regarding the partnership I am interested in what expanded opportunities and unprecedented benefits QF frequent flyers have received;

The Emirates and Qantas frequent flyer programs will be aligned, giving customers expanded opportunities to earn and redeem points. Emirates and Qantas will provide reciprocal access to tier status benefits including end-to-end customer recognition, lounge access, priority check-in and boarding and other exclusive services.
.....
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the partnership would deliver unprecedented benefits to Qantas customers and mark a decisive step forward in the Group’s strategy.
.....
“Together with Emirates, Qantas will provide a unique ‘one stop’ hub service, as well as deeply integrated frequent flyer and customer benefits"

The media release doesn't exclude disadvantages though!

In terms of advantages... connections to dozens of cites through dubai - all with the ability to earn points. Access to world-wide lounges. Much greater award availability in first and business class. The partnership on that level works well if you like the Emirates product and transit in Dubai.

In terms of loyalty and 'simple' choices. The decision to leave an alliance is the hardest part. Once you leave and the status isn't important, a whole new world opens up. Accrued points? Well a year or two of flying will usually get rid of those.

 

[junbugging]

Quoting from the QF media release regarding the partnership I am interested in what expanded opportunities and unprecedented benefits QF frequent flyers have received;

The Emirates and Qantas frequent flyer programs will be aligned, giving customers expanded opportunities to earn and redeem points.

The earning hasn't entered into it for me, but I've redeemed a lot of QFF points for EK F at the same cost as if I were doing it on QF, with waaaaay more route options for doing so. And something like ADL to CPH in F on QF in less than a day? That was never going to happen.

I haven't flown QF metal nearly as much as I did, but I don't begrudge QF that.