QF's Asia announcement

[medhead]

QF to HKG and CX HKG-FRA

Yeah actually. My suggestion was stupid, since they'd have to fly to the east coast to get PE to DXB.

 

[thadius83]

Yeah actually. My suggestion was stupid, since they'd have to fly to the east coast to get PE to DXB.

I was going to say, didn't they can that flight as well..

I'd be happy with business class PER-DXB, and economy to Frankfurt on emirates, but I really don't see it happening..
I'll put money down that qantas will offer the above, except in economy, and refund some of the points.. 56,000 economy vs. 84000 PE

 

[dajop]

Have you? So your saying Jetstar Asia is comperable with Qantas full service flights?

Yes I have (to and/or from HKG, CGK, BKK, HKT, SGN, PNH, KUL). At least on the sub 2 hour sectors, if you include a plus package (meals, QFF pts/SCs, seat allocation), in flight I find them not terribly different to flying QF 737's domestically, or at least the older ones without PTVs. Slightly less legroom, slightly wider seats (being A320). On longer flights (eg SIN-HKG), the legroom can be an issues - but $30 for an exit row is a great solution.

Now obviously 3K has it's limitations. If you're travelling in J from AUS, you can't continue on in J. Handling of IRROPS is supposedly not fantastic (thankfully I don't have experience of that) and you won't get free luggage or a free meal, but on the flipside if you have included plus package you can get more than just a cookie on a 2 hr flight departing at 2pm. Also they're not comparable to QFi with widebodies, PTVs and complimentary food and drinks, so not good for the longer PER-SIN run. Also QP opening hours in SIN, and lack of QPs in some ports can be a problem!

But based on my experience I would rate 3K better than JQ (a backhanded complement perhaps?).

 

[codash1099]

Jetstar Asia is increasing services between Singapore and Perth

Hoo-Bloody-ray (NOT!)

 

[rakeman]

I was also booked on the SIN - FRA flights for July and August. I booked a ZASA (With the help of this community) with my final destination being LHR. I rang Qantas and was able to change my flights on to BA from SIN - LHR with no cost, also in PE. Only issue is that one of my flights is on the 744 which is the old PE. But I think some of them are getting an refit. The return leg is on a 777 which has the new PE seat.

 

[simongr]

QF to HKG and CX HKG-FRA

Sorry should have read CX all the way.

 

[ozmille]

I was also booked on the SIN - FRA flights for July and August. I booked a ZASA (With the help of this community) with my final destination being LHR. I rang Qantas and was able to change my flights on to BA from SIN - LHR with no cost, also in PE. Only issue is that one of my flights is on the 744 which is the old PE. But I think some of them are getting an refit. The return leg is on a 777 which has the new PE seat.

Did they confirm that the BA flights will still earn you SCs and miles?

 

[MarcB]

Did they confirm that the BA flights will still earn you SCs and miles?

At this point, the QFF T&Cs still indicate earning as per usual. On top of that, they also indiacte that the Status Bonus' will still apply to BA flight numbers. I assumed that was a JSA arrangement, so I guess we should watch this space on that one.

 

[TheEmu]

FWIW, the booking I have that's been affected now has me arriving into MEL at 11:35am and departing for HKG -35 minutes later at 11:00am.

Clearly a work in progress (I'll ring later today ...)

That connection can be a bit tricky, but as long as you get Dr. Who as your captain you'll be ok! :shock:

 

[rakeman]

Did they confirm that the BA flights will still earn you SCs and miles?

I actually forgot to ask that question, but I checked my fare class and it's W. Also checked the BA fare class and W is Full Premium Economy. Thus I assume I will earn points and SC as per the guide on the Qantas website for one world partner BA.

 

[ozmille]

At this point, the QFF T&Cs still indicate earning as per usual. On top of that, they also indiacte that the Status Bonus' will still apply to BA flight numbers. I assumed that was a JSA arrangement, so I guess we should watch this space on that one.

Cool, I have taken screenshots of my JASA from FRA in August just to have something in writing about the fare rules and points and SC earn.

no contact in regards to new flights yet but still 8 months before travel so not really fussed about that

 

[medhead]

Surely BA earning is already in the airline earning table. I'd expect the end of the JSA would see the line for earning on the "kangaroo" route, marked with a ^, to disappear.

That would leave GKLMNOQSV earning 0.25 points and SC. BHY as full economy.

 

[ozmille]

Surely BA earning is already in the airline earning table. I'd expect the end of the JSA would see the line for earning on the "kangaroo" route, marked with a ^, to disappear.

That would leave GKLMNOQSV earning 0.25 points and SC. BHY as full economy.

In this case I was just wondering how QF rebooked the OPs ZASA, as Z on BA is redemption code for First and an xASA on BA metal requires a ridiculous amount of points I wondered if they had changed it to a classic award instead...

 

[medhead]

In this case I was just wondering how QF rebooked the OPs ZASA, as Z on BA is redemption code for First and an xASA on BA metal requires a ridiculous amount of points I wondered if they had changed it to a classic award instead...

They don't mention the booking code. I wonder what it is? I suspect it'll be a classic award.

 

[comforttravel]

This is my first reply. As an Adelaidian (WP) I’m angry, Angry, ANGRY with this so-called QF enhancement. I’ve never seen so many views and replies to a topic so quickly, mainly against this rubbish that QF will “reach further and be more convenient” (QF email). There has been very bad publicity in Adelaide. Senator Nick Xenophon appeared on all TV news casts saying how angry he is and is going back to the ACCC about this QF/EK tieup. The radio newscasts progressed from the press release news to angry reports from callers. Qantas, you should realise that you haven’t been granted final approval at this stage and if so many pax will be disadvantaged, I hope you don’t.
Qantas, did you bury your head in the sand yesterday with your OOL promotion near the Sydney Harbour Bridge. If this is such good news, why didn’t the share price go up?
It reminds me when QF flew ADL-AKL 3x a week utilising a 737 that was going to sit on the tarmac overnight. It left at about 10pm for 4h to AKL (what a time to arrive in a city), turned around and arrived in ADL for its normal early am flt. NZ had 4 flights weekly in the late morning. QF gave up on the flt because they said of poor patronage so they withdrew the service. NZ immediately went to daily and haven’t missed a beat since. Sounds similar to the 3x flts ADL-SIN that QF want to drop while SQ have already gone from 7 to 10 and soon to 12 and possibly 14 pw midyear.
You’ve turned BA off-side who are now threatening to cease code-share flights with QF on Aus-Asia.
You’ve given a slap in the face to MH and Aus pax by non code sharing and very poor FFP.
Why should I be pushed onto EK flights to LHR with an inferior 77W product. If you travel Y class HKG/SIN-LHR, EK (via DXB or nonstop from ADL) seating is 10 across (3-4-3), while BA/CX 9 across (3-3-3). Thus a 10% narrower seat on EK to squeeze in an extra seat. Go to J class I hear you say; on BA/CX you get a horizontal lie flat seat vs an angled lie flat seat on EK (again an inferior product).
Those re-timed flts to asia are said to allow better connections to asia. I say it provides a longer transit time in SIN/HKG/BKK to connect with BA/CX late evening flts (around 23:00-00:30) to LHR, coercing pax to go with EK to DXB/LHR. And the EK flts Aus-Asia arrive too late to connect with OW flts to LHR). No wonder BA are fuming.
QF said in their submission to the ACCC that Australian pax would not be disadvantaged. Just read the 300 angry replies (with >12,000+ views) to this topic and see how people feel, all within 30 hours. That would severely persuade the ACCC to take another look at this QF/EK proposed partnership.
I didn’t want to get too angry with my first posting, I’ll do that when I get more used to postings. To try to appease QF FFs with a hastily produced announcement about lounges and Q-Eat servicdes won’t cut the mustard.
Adelaide used to have Emu Airlines flying to Kangaroo Island. Maybe the Red Kangaroo can make this their last route and rename themselves Emu Airlines . . . oops I forgot, emus can’t fly . . . oh well.

 

[Pushka]

Great first post. I agree and mentioned earlier that ACCC might look at their decision to stop all international flights from Adelaide and to a lesser extent Perth, as reducing competition for travellers leaving Adelaide. Leaving us to the pricing strategies of SQ. Dubai is not a compensation for Asia. What atlas does Joyce look at? He's not in Ireland any more. So much for an improved focus on Asia.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's kind of interesting. For the general occasional traveller - one or two flights a year o/s... who actually cares whether QF ditches ADL and Perth? They have better airlines flying with greater frequency and greater world coverage than QF could ever offer. And perhaps this end result is exactly the product of the capitalist market we live in. If QF could support a daily ADL-SIN, or double daily PER-HKG then they would, but with inferior products, and until recently, fairly high premium fares, people have already voted with the wallets. If you were a First or business class passenger it really doesn't make sense to still be flying with QF.

For the frequent flyer, what is the big deal with Qantas? inferior products (with the exception of the A380), poor networks and a very difficult FF program for redeeming premium seats combined with extraordinarily high redemption costs and fees. There are far better options out there. Hopefully the competition will be doing some active status matching in the near future.

If people still blindly stick with QF after these changes (if they are as bad as people say) then they can't say they haven't been warned to expect more of the same.

 

[Pushka]

SQ can support twice daily flights to Singapore from Adelaide. Are they better at business than Qantas? And I guess only someone not based in Adelaide or Perth could say, so what.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

SQ can support twice daily flights to Singapore from Adelaide. Are they better at business than Qantas? And I guess only someone not based in Adelaide or Perth could say, so what.

If you ordinarily provide someone with two options, and one is far superior in just about every respect, and the price is the same, they choose the better product. And if the inferior product goes then it's no great loss. QF is not serious about providing a decent service - their business class seats on their A330s are an example of that. It doesn't really make sense to mourn the loss of QF when there are better options waiting to be taken, and QF has made absolutely zero effort to try and keep your business. it's not even like they are trying their hardest and deserve loyalty.

 

[ajw373]

Why should I be pushed onto EK flights to LHR with an inferior 77W product. If you travel Y class HKG/SIN-LHR, EK (via DXB or nonstop from ADL) seating is 10 across (3-4-3), while BA/CX 9 across (3-3-3). Thus a 10% narrower seat on EK to squeeze in an extra seat. Go to J class I hear you say; on BA/CX you get a horizontal lie flat seat vs an angled lie flat seat on EK (again an inferior product).

What did you have before, umm yep 3x A330 flights to Singapore with QF then an Qantas A380 to LHR or BA 747/777. Alternatively a regional A330 or 777 to HKG. What do you have now, EK 777 to DXB and then 777 (newer) or A380 to London. So really don't think you are being that hard done by in THIS regard.

Those re-timed flts to asia are said to allow better connections to asia. I say it provides a longer transit time in SIN/HKG/BKK to connect with BA/CX late evening flts (around 23:00-00:30) to LHR, coercing pax to go with EK to DXB/LHR. And the EK flts Aus-Asia arrive too late to connect with OW flts to LHR). No wonder BA are fuming.

As mentioned above Qantas cannot win. They don't have the onwards carrying capacity to have multiple flights per day, which is why airlines like SQ and CX, can manage daily frequencies and often multiple daily frequencies. As far as Qantas is concerned if Europe is your destination then fly via DXB, but if Asia is your destination then they have re-timed perfectly for better arrival times in each of the 3 cities as well as better connections. Sure Adelaide has been shafted in this regard, but really no point whinging about connections to Europe as they and their partners are providing you with that.

The only thing that really surprises me is how Qantas sponsor MH into OneWorld but seem to be doing bugger all with them, especially in SE Asia. I have a trip with MH to SE Asia in 2 weeks time, will be interesting to see what it is like and how much MH has embraced OneWorld.