QF/EK FF benefits revealed

[JohnPhelan]

If everyone else is happy to accept points only, good for you. I'm disappointed. It could have been so much more.

I'm not accepting points only, I'm accepting status credits as well. That's because I'm booking EK flights with the QF codeshare flight numbers (all EK destinations in Europe, Middle East, northern Africa). It's not a difficult concept.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I'm not accepting points only, I'm accepting status credits as well. That's because I'm booking EK flights with the QF codeshare flight numbers (all EK destinations in Europe, Middle East, northern Africa). It's not a difficult concept.

Anyone who thought they'd get SCs on EK flight numbers was clearly dillusional.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Yes, unless you are ex-SYD, there are no flat bed J seats into Asia (on QF metal).

Not right on that, at least as things stand - QF 51 and 52 between BNE and SIN are scheduled to continue as 744 services and generally seem to have the refurbed 744s.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Anyone who thought they'd get SCs on EK flight numbers was clearly dillusional.

No, not delusional - they just didn't read the very clear info distributed by QF at the start of the whole deal ages ago, when it was clearly stated that to get SCs, you would need to fly on a QF flight number. Equally clear was that flying on an EK flight number would get you points, but not SCs. You can hardly blame QF because people didn't read the available information, and then because of that, jumped to an incorrect conclusion.

 

[BindiBratz]

I'm not accepting points only, I'm accepting status credits as well. That's because I'm booking EK flights with the QF codeshare flight numbers (all EK destinations in Europe, Middle East, northern Africa). It's not a difficult concept.

The concept is actually very basic, I'm sure we all get that, it's the amount they want for the priviledge that is totally absurd and that's where many of us are balking..!!!

 

[katiebell]

After 17 years of QF flying......I'm thinking QF is not for me

Near extinction of F
Flat J replaced with sloping J
Aligning themselves with a non - OW partner
Reduction of baggage allowance
Elimination of Asian stopovers
Re-timed flights that take the joy out of the flying

There is more.....but whats the point!

Agree completely. If BA flew to MEL I would be booking only them & CX. Sad to see a great Autralian company falling to pieces.

 

[JohnPhelan]

So no status credits unless the flight has a QF number. Question : Are flights from Dubai to New York going to have QF numbers?

No, the material from QF says there are codeshares on EK flights to Europe, Middle East and northern Africa. America is excluded, because this is covered by the JSA between QF and AA. If you want status credits for DXB-JFK, you'll get them by flying QF or EK or BA to LHR, and then either BA or AA to JFK.

 

[katiebell]

Hi Tony

With all due respect

Whilst I have never used the entire baggage allowance it is for me a matter of principle in that QF have quoted that the highest benefit would be the common benefit adapted by both airlines. This is clearly not the case here.

I do not see how QF can make a statement so clearly then not deliver what they committed to and not get backlash from its customer

QF have a long track record of fantastic promises that are just that: fantasies. How many other nehancements have they made???

Personally, I am really upset by the massive reduction in luggage from 4x32kg to 70kg. Like others I need the allowance for travel: papers weigh a lot! And I liketo take presents to the family abroad and bring backl presents for the family here and for me: all the things that AUstralian retailers do not sell and those abroad will not ship.

THis is another massive decrease in benefits.

For the record, I did not think the original change from weight to piece would be good but is was great: at no time did I have a lesser lugage allowance and having an extra case has not been an issue.

I was reading the EK chauffuer drive terms: they restrict the number of cabin and checked bags severely. From their website:

Maximum capacity per sedan is two adults, with a total luggage limit of two suitcases plus one carry-on bag. Additional charges apply if a larger vehicle or child or infant car seat is required. (my emphasis).

How ridiculous when the actual allowance on board is higher.

Now that the full extent of the QF/EK alliance has been revealed, as a PER based WP, I can definitely say that I am worse off. All QF have done is use the cover of the alliance to actually cut my WP benefits and no new WP benefits have been added (at best they are replacements).

• No new flights/destinations are available, as I could of flown EK before if had I wanted to (and have). EK have not added any new flights due to the alliance.
• No status credits or status bonus on EK flight numbers. 0.5pts/mile earn in most Y classes. Forced to pay the ludicrous QF codeshare price (which in some cases is thousands of dollars more in J) just to get the SC and points that I earned before the change (on QF or BA via SIN or HKG).
• I cannot fly to Europe on QF at all (except by backtracking 5 hrs to the east coast) and even Asia is now limited to a single flight to SIN a day (any bets on when that will be changed to JQ/3K?).
• Being forced to fly on EK, even as a QF codeshare passenger, I cannot upgrade for any amount of points. Any op-ups etc will be given to Skywards members before QF FF so there will be no chance of getting an upgrade of any sort.
• I now have the benefit of ~50% less baggage allowance.
• I have F lounge access in SIN or HKG. I was happy with this. Giving it to me in DXB is not an increase in benefits.
• The comfort of sitting in the luxury EK 10Y seating arrangement.
• No chance of flying in PE (but saying that QF could not be bothered offering that all the way to Europe either).
• It is undetermined if the Any Seat Rewards on EK flights (or QF codeshares) will be available at Classic rates or only at the 'million point' rates that QF generally offers on all non-QF metal J/F flights. Completely useless to most FF if they are at the 'million point' rates.

If I was able to vote on it, the EK/QF alliance would be history. Only if you live in SYD or MEL can you call the alliance a 'benefit'.

I agree with the above except that I do not see any benefit for those flying from SYD or MEL (like me).


CX are you increasing capacity to Aus???

 

[katiebell]

Will QF pax who currently have access to the BA T3 spa still get this after 31st MArch? If not this is another QF-style enhancement i.e. another loss of benefits.

Overall whether the changes are good or bad depend on what each person values and uses. For me the changes are bad (luggage, route, EK and, I expect, downgrading of benefits on BA now that JSA is ending).

 

[wassie]

Additional charges apply if a larger vehicle or child or infant car seat is required. (my emphasis).

Did PER-DUB at Christmas with EK and the additional cost oneway for the baby car seat (bigger car) was $36 paid direct to the driver as they were a contractor. Had a trailer so plenty of luggage room. As for the weight I couldn't agree more about being disadvantaged. People who cant see the problem I highly doubt have ever travelled with kids before at Christmas!

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

People who cant see the problem I highly doubt have ever travelled with kids before at Christmas!

For which I am thankful

 

[shifty]

Now that the full extent of the QF/EK alliance has been revealed, as a PER based WP, I can definitely say that I am worse off. All QF have done is use the cover of the alliance to actually cut my WP benefits and no new WP benefits have been added (at best they are replacements).

1. No new flights/destinations are available, as I could of flown EK before if had I wanted to (and have). EK have not added any new flights due to the alliance.
2. No status credits or status bonus on EK flight numbers. 0.5pts/mile earn in most Y classes. Forced to pay the ludicrous QF codeshare price (which in some cases is thousands of dollars more in J) just to get the SC and points that I earned before the change (on QF or BA via SIN or HKG).
3. I cannot fly to Europe on QF at all (except by backtracking 5 hrs to the east coast) and even Asia is now limited to a single flight to SIN a day (any bets on when that will be changed to JQ/3K?).
4. Being forced to fly on EK, even as a QF codeshare passenger, I cannot upgrade for any amount of points. Any op-ups etc will be given to Skywards members before QF FF so there will be no chance of getting an upgrade of any sort.
5. I now have the benefit of ~50% less baggage allowance.
6. I have F lounge access in SIN or HKG. I was happy with this. Giving it to me in DXB is not an increase in benefits.
7. The comfort of sitting in the luxury EK 10Y seating arrangement.
8. No chance of flying in PE (but saying that QF could not be bothered offering that all the way to Europe either).
9. It is undetermined if the Any Seat Rewards on EK flights (or QF codeshares) will be available at Classic rates or only at the 'million point' rates that QF generally offers on all non-QF metal J/F flights. Completely useless to most FF if they are at the 'million point' rates.

If I was able to vote on it, the EK/QF alliance would be history. Only if you live in SYD or MEL can you call the alliance a 'benefit'.

perfectly summarised. i think us PER customers really need to consider our options.

 

[Happy Trails]

Not right on that, at least as things stand - QF 51 and 52 between BNE and SIN are scheduled to continue as 744 services and generally seem to have the refurbed 744s.

Let's hope they last longer than QF35/36.

 

[anat0l]

Will QF pax who currently have access to the BA T3 spa still get this after 31st MArch? If not this is another QF-style enhancement i.e. another loss of benefits.

Well as it stands, I don't know what the official entitlement on the Elemis spa at T3 is (except that if you are a BA Gold or Club or First Class passenger, because BA's website says so). All I know is that last time I used the BA lounge at T3, I had access to the lounge on account of being a QF Platinum, at least according to the spa receptionist. I can't find this written anywhere on the web, so for all intents and purposes, it was as good as an unofficial / unwritten benefit. So I would not go crowing from the rooftops saying that you've lost a benefit, because unless you can get it in black and white then you have no basis.

Besides, the spa was underwhelming. I had a 15 minute session last time I used the Elemis spa, and most of the work was done by a robot chair. Big <expletive> deal - do it well or don't do it at all. If I wanted a robot to do the job then I'll use that lousy seat feature on board the aircraft.

In any case, if you were on a QF operated flight, you still have access to the BA lounge at T3 anyway, by virtue of the oneworld access rules.

In conclusion, by going on your feedback, I think we will be seeing you on another airline anyway, so bon voyage.

 

[anat0l]

I have F lounge access in SIN or HKG. I was happy with this. Giving it to me in DXB is not an increase in benefits.

And you still have access to the F lounge in HKG (and whatever lounge QF or BA stick in SIN). It's not like that was taken away (a lounge in SIN was taken away, sure).

The comfort of sitting in the luxury EK 10Y seating arrangement.

How do EK still keep filling up those 777s if this is such a sin.

I'm not saying it's necessarily comfortable, but if it were that bad and if EK were supposedly a much better company than QF then "logic" would say that they would stop doing that config, right? Not every company is like QF who keeps disappointing its customers and can't organise a piss up in a pub, right?

We can say the same thing for NZ (on their new 77Ws) and AC (on their new 77Ws). The latter is already precarious; by your prediction, they should probably be headed quickly for the garbage heap.

It is undetermined if the Any Seat Rewards on EK flights (or QF codeshares) will be available at Classic rates or only at the 'million point' rates that QF generally offers on all non-QF metal J/F flights. Completely useless to most FF if they are at the 'million point' rates.

I don't get this. People all of the sudden now say that if there's no ASAs then there are no awards, period. For the love of <deity>, there are Classic Awards there for a reason, and for WP members you can request these (yes, even non-Qantas operated flights). Yes, you don't get SCs or miles; yes, they are not as good as Any Seat Awards in the regard; but for bl**dy heaven's sake - that doesn't mean there are no awards. It doesn't even mean that whatever awards exist are rubbish.

I don't know about others, but if I really wanted to fly F, I'll stump up for an award available that doesn't earn SCs or miles rather than go without just because I won't earn said credits. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite the face.

Personally I'm hoping that if an award is redeemed on an EK operated flight, there will be no YQ payable. If I didn't mind / really wanted to fly EK F, and if this were true, then I'll gladly handover for a Classic Award and forgo SCs and miles.

If I was able to vote on it, the EK/QF alliance would be history. Only if you live in SYD or MEL can you call the alliance a 'benefit'.

Have you considered shifting to Skywards, then?



TBH I'm not necessarily enthralled for PER either, let alone ADL. I think they're probably more suited to switching to Skywards (if you do enough long haul travel), then perhaps a lower status for QF on domestic, or shift domestic to VA. Does the neglect and contempt shown to Perthites and Adelaideans amount to a sentence for AJ to be hung out on the gallows to bleed and dry? Let you be the judge, though from where I'm reading the outrage, I can see the gallows...

 

[katiebell]

Well as it stands, I don't know what the official entitlement on the Elemis spa at T3 is (except that if you are a BA Gold or Club or First Class passenger, because BA's website says so). All I know is that last time I used the BA lounge at T3, I had access to the lounge on account of being a QF Platinum, at least according to the spa receptionist. I can't find this written anywhere on the web, so for all intents and purposes, it was as good as an unofficial / unwritten benefit. So I would not go crowing from the rooftops saying that you've lost a benefit, because unless you can get it in black and white then you have no basis.

Besides, the spa was underwhelming. I had a 15 minute session last time I used the Elemis spa, and most of the work was done by a robot chair. Big <expletive> deal - do it well or don't do it at all. If I wanted a robot to do the job then I'll use that lousy seat feature on board the aircraft.

In any case, if you were on a QF operated flight, you still have access to the BA lounge at T3 anyway, by virtue of the oneworld access rules.

In conclusion, by going on your feedback, I think we will be seeing you on another airline anyway, so bon voyage.

They have a book with who is entitled to the spa: at present BA or QF flights J or F or WP. Not vaild if WP flying CX. I agree re the chair (bad bruising on my back last 2 times) but did like the facial (& no allergic reaction unlikethe payot stuff used by QF).

Yes I will still get intot he lounge but I suspect not the spa

 

[katiebell]

interesting looking at hte QF/EK site:

Our Fleet: QF following EK

Our Network: actually EK network

Who is the dominant partner in this alliance?

BTW what happens if approval is not given for the deal?

 

[ajw373]

Codeshares have already been setup for DXB-SIN/KUL/BKK. Haven't tried running it through the online booking engine though.

I have for LHR-BKK, but noticed that you need to put in the specific routing of LHR-DXB and DXB-BKK otherwise it was showing a BA codeshare at a cost of $13000 for economy and no other options. Do note last time I tried LHR-BKK direct was late last week so hopefully things have changed.

Of one word of warning, even though I specifically selected LHR as my origin the booking engine was brining up LGW flights as the cheapest option, have no great issue but people need to really look because you would think if you specifically selected London (Heathrow) they would be shown first with Gatwick as options.

 

[ajw373]

Maximum capacity per sedan is two adults, with a total luggage limit of two suitcases plus one carry-on bag. Additional charges apply if a larger vehicle or child or infant car seat is required. (my emphasis).

How ridiculous when the actual allowance on board is higher.

What would you have done before? Got two taxi's? I mean to say the 'limit' is a physical limitation of the car boot. I have absolutely no doubt if you had 4 small bags and they fitted in the boot they wouldn't care, all the two bags is trying to show is how big the boot is.

 

[travelislife]

It wil be interesting to see which 'higher standard' is applied with regard to YQ (aka fuel surcharge) on award tickets. Currently Emirates doesn't charge it whilst Qantas is bordering on extortionate. I have a feeling because we will be redeeming on QF codes obviously that it will be the latter!