QF/EK FF benefits revealed

[ReLoad]

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.

We are a family of 4, we simply get a maxi taxi, cost is the same as a normal cab and we can take as much luggage as allowed by the airline.

 

[geordieladinoz]

Who is the dominant partner in this alliance?

If anyone ever thought the answer to this question was QF they are clearly deluded.

Baggage allowance aside, for me this is proving to be a great partnership and I am looking forward to April and the many QF/EK flights we will take in the future!

 

[Fruitcake]

Who is the dominant partner in this alliance?

My hunch is that the partner with 194 international widebody aircraft and 129 destinations might be the dominant one .

The only compelling reason I've seen for Emirates wanting to partner so tightly with Qantas was the mention in the ACCC interim approval that QF might operate routes out of DXB into markets with governments that are unfriendly to EK expansion, such as Germany.

 

[browski]

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.

Actually, IMO the best OW service between DXB and JFK is the Royal Jordanian offering:
DXB 8:00AM AMM 10:30AM 3h 30m Airbus A321 Layover in AMM 1h 15mAMM 11:45AM JFK 5:30PM 12h 45m Airbus A340

QR will also be a better option than transiting via London.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Actually, IMO the best OW service between DXB and JFK is the Royal Jordanian offering:
DXB 8:00AMAMM10:30AM 3h 30mAirbus A321 Layover in AMM 1h 15mAMM11:45AM JFK 5:30PM12h 45m Airbus A340

QR will also be a better option than transiting via London.

The RJ J product looks a little sub-par, how is it in reality?

 

[simongr]

I wouldn't fly RJ again if you paid me.

The tipping point for me was the cabin crew taking photos on taxi with a pax's iPhone and when I pointed out the "no electronics" rule they said that was just a requirement for flight mode - it didn't need to be switched off. This was the CSM talking just after they had said all devices needed to be switched off.

In terms of hard product the short haul product compared favourably with QF dom J - in fact a little better. Long haul is pretty much equivalent to Skybed. Soft product is underwhelming. AMM airport is a cough hole. Lounge in AMM is below the standard of a QP (no F lounge as no F product I guess) and I had to ask the lounge manager to close his office door as the cigarette smoke from his office was making the lounge stink.

 

[browski]

The RJ J product looks a little sub-par, how is it in reality?

Notwithstanding Simongr's critique, the J product was fine. At the end of the day, it is better than BA, it is quicker than BA and compared to Heathrow, Amman airport has a much better likelihood of getting your luggage to its destination. It also (IMO) has a far better departure/arrival time than anyone else. No brainer really, unless the lounge quality is absolutely critical for the 75minutes you will be on the ground.

 

[PLC]

The RJ J product looks a little sub-par, how is it in reality?

I have only flown RJ J between BKK and HKG in a new A330, and it was fine. The hard product was nice and fresh, the food and drink was ok, but the service was a little cool (except for one really nice FA in the J cabin).

I will be flying RJ BKK-HKG again in March, and I suppose I would give long haul J a try if the price was right.

 

[legroom]

I wouldn't fly RJ again if you paid me.

The tipping point for me was the cabin crew taking photos on taxi with a pax's iPhone and when I pointed out the "no electronics" rule they said that was just a requirement for flight mode - it didn't need to be switched off. This was the CSM talking just after they had said all devices needed to be switched off.

In terms of hard product the short haul product compared favourably with QF dom J - in fact a little better. Long haul is pretty much equivalent to Skybed. Soft product is underwhelming. AMM airport is a cough hole. Lounge in AMM is below the standard of a QP (no F lounge as no F product I guess) and I had to ask the lounge manager to close his office door as the cigarette smoke from his office was making the lounge stink.

Never thought I would trust my life to RJ to start with.

You were adventurous, simongr !

Glad to read such a forthright review of a OW partner.

 

[Awesom Andy]

The only compelling reason I've seen for Emirates wanting to partner so tightly with Qantas was the mention in the ACCC interim approval that QF might operate routes out of DXB into markets with governments that are unfriendly to EK expansion, such as Germany.

And to make life a little bit harder for QR trying to get a stronger foothold in Australia.

Speaking of QF might be operating routes out of DXB... really? The only thing they've done is cutting routes or swapping them. Long-haul fleet size is shrinking as well. Although, if QF has a wet lease agreement from EK, would they be allowed to operate into those "unfriendly" countries? All those new 77W's need to go somewhere...

 

[legroom]

Where have they replaced a flat J bed with a sloping? They have replaced sloping J with flat bed J in the 747's...

No, QF did not replace flat with sloping J bed AFAIK.

However, the limited QF2 service compelled me to take an EK flight back to Oz in a 777 - with a sloping J bed (luckily with a QF number, so some SCs to compensate for my sore back)

To wait for QF2 with its flat J bed would mean hanging around DXB for 10 hours or more.

Yeah, and there was no A380 EK flight either for my trip.

Just bad luck, I guess

Blaming QF for everything is not entirely right. They are just so limited in choices for the paying customers.

 

[simongr]

Browksi is right though the lounge shouldn't be an issue for a shortish transit and a much shorter connection is better. I know the CSM taking a few pics doesn't mean the aircraft is likely to fall from the sky - I just didn't feel comfortable.

 

[legroom]

... 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.

Only if / when you could afford to do so.

Some of us can / will not do so. And that's is also not a difficult concept to grasp.

Currently, the $ difference for a J return (SYD AMS) is approx $4,000 more if you choose QF codeshared EK flights.

For Y, it was $400 (and 96,000 QFF points) more than the same EK flights (SYD AMS return) - using ASA.

 

[JohnPhelan]

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.

Katie, this will depend on your oneworld status. If your oneworld status is either Emerald or Sapphire, you get access to oneworld airlines' lounges, so you're fine to use the BA T3 lounge - provided that BA continues to have a lounge in T3.

 

[Ansett]

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.

Katie, this will depend on your oneworld status. If your oneworld status is either Emerald or Sapphire, you get access to oneworld airlines' lounges, so you're fine to use the BA T3 lounge - provided that BA continues to have a lounge in T3.

Hi John and apologies as this will be OT but I went through LHR on Saturday and had a good chat to the Lounge Angels and it appears that QF will still have access based on OW status. I was also informed that it looks like MH will be using this terminal now along with the Lounge so it will definitely be around. In addition the Miami flights will be moving from T5 to T3 so the lounge may even be a much busier place than ever before.

 

[richie9x]

Katie, this will depend on your oneworld status. If your oneworld status is either Emerald or Sapphire, you get access to oneworld airlines' lounges, so you're fine to use the BA T3 lounge - provided that BA continues to have a lounge in T3.

I would have thought the answer would be depends. The oneworld rules are the flight must be both marketed and operated by oneworld airlines. Therefore a QF ticket on a EK marketed flight would not get you access to a BA lounge. However a QF ticket on a QF flight would be ok.

 

[legroom]

EK LOUNGE ACCESS

What are the rules for EK J lounge access in DXB for guest(s) ?

I have been looking for an answer.

? Same as the rules for QF : one guest allowed if travelling on the same flight

EK does not mention any guest on its page.

"... higher benefits apply...." as per AJ's speech ???

I'm SG with a QF J ticket.

 

[anat0l]

I would have thought the answer would be depends. The oneworld rules are the flight must be both marketed and operated by oneworld airlines. Therefore a QF ticket on a EK marketed flight would not get you access to a BA lounge. However a QF ticket on a QF flight would be ok.

And there will still be QF2 and QF10 operating from LHR T3, so this is still possible.

I suppose now QF elites now have a larger selection than before for lounges in LHR T3 - BA, AA, CX and EK. Not that they really needed much more choice than they already had - it's almost ridiculous to have that much choice! Not even sure which lounge of that lot is actually superior to be honest. (I know that the BA lounge is nothing to write home about, rather drab inside, but it is comfortable enough).

Naturally if you are on a EK operated flight, you'll have to use the EK lounge.

 

[anat0l]

EK LOUNGE ACCESS

What are the rules for EK J lounge access in DXB for guest(s) ?

I have been looking for an answer.

? Same as the rules for QF : one guest allowed if travelling on the same flight

EK does not mention any guest on its page.

"... higher benefits apply...." as per AJ's speech ???

I'm SG with a QF J ticket.

The lounge access rules haven't been updated yet. I wouldn't be on it; instead, rely on the FAQ (or AFF ).

As a SG on a QF J ticket, you'll have access to the EK Business Class lounge in DXB. You may bring one guest.


Essentially, anyone who has access to a lounge can have one guest, who must be travelling on the same flight as you.

 

[legroom]

The lounge access rules haven't been updated yet. I wouldn't be on it; instead, rely on the FAQ (or AFF ).

As a SG on a QF J ticket, you'll have access to the EK Business Class lounge in DXB. You may bring one guest.


Essentially, anyone who has access to a lounge can have one guest, who must be travelling on the same flight as you.

I tend to agree with you, but the point is whether anyone has seen that sentiment in writing anywhere yet considering that EK does not mention "guest" on its page.