Should I jump ship to Qantas?

[JohnK]

I do wonder if QF will stay in OW. If it leaves the alliance then a lot of the int. benefits will go.

It would be a brave decision to leave Oneworld.

 

[moa999]

Why do you wonder this?
I think QF realises the benefits it brings, particularly in the AA relationship.

If anyone is likely to leave it is CX.
This is due to the Air China ownership, and the recent tone shift in press from the like of SCMP. I would not be surprised if this is part of a plan to see Swire exit and Air China take control, moving to Star.

With AA recently approved for a 2% stake in China Southern, it would be the likely move to oneworld

 

[JohnK]

Why do you wonder this?
I think QF realises the benefits it brings, particularly in the AA relationship.

I don't think Qantas would even for a minute consider to leave Oneworld.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

If anyone is likely to leave it is CX.
This is due to the Air China ownership, and the recent tone shift in press from the like of SCMP. I would not be surprised if this is part of a plan to see Swire exit and Air China take control, moving to Star.

With AA recently approved for a 2% stake in China Southern, it would be the likely move to oneworld

SCMP is anti-CX in general. Peter Guy is on a rampage and clearly didn't get compd free Diamond this year.

I don't see how or why CX would leave. From my perspective, there is very little commercial logic and close to no upside by being in *alliance.

For starters, SQ would block CX being in star. There are policies and agreements which differ between alliances and CX would get caught in it.
Rejigging codeshares and partnerships, rebranding, customer re-education, loss of traffic, potential loss of banking partners to Asia Miles, HKG-AKL/WEL agreements would instantly be revoked as the competitive landscape would change, lounge changes, staff re-training, loss of business intelligence and MH would pickup all the regional business furthering to CX detriment, and this is what I've come up with in only a few minutes.

Nobody is leaving Oneworld.

 

[yohy?!]

CX ain't going nowhere, they've got invaders from the north and need all the through traffic and differentiation they can get.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Long story, as to why QF is better, an Aust based QF CSA person, which is better than trying to speak to an overseas based person, so maybe as a QF SG, its better to be with QF, but I still say, up to the OP if they want to start from the bottom of the status ladder.
So, had made that gift voucher purchase, got the originating email, thought I had kept it, but the email disappeared.
Ok, as a QF SG, I thought, maybe ringing up 131313 could solve the problem.
YES, it did.
I had the 081 booking code and from this, the QF CSA was able to make the booking one, from her accent, she was Aussie! No background noise too, which was good. 45 mins wait time.
And the telephone booking fee was only $40, bought the voucher for $150, and this would be my first flight on the 787.
VA's partner (A)NZ tends to swap planes from 787/777 to the 737 across the Tasman, without business class seating, which is a downside.
So, QF +1, VA at equilibrium.

 

[katiebell]

It would be a brave decision to leave Oneworld.

I wouldn't be the forst brace decision by QF management.

Lots of speculation re the EK deal when it was well known that Qatar were joining OW

 

[Rotation]

I recently made the switch from VA Gold to QF, but I think my reasons were a little more... fickle, I suppose, in some eyes.

a) I only ever got VA Gold because I could pool SCs from my partner, so I definitely won't be able to get it on QF in my own right which has a higher threshold to hit and maintain. If family pooling is important to you, keep that in mind that it's not quite the same with QF.
b) I switched because I also liked that QF fly their own metal to virtually everywhere I would want to go, and where they don't, I like the OW network airlines that do.
c) Qantas Club virtually gave me all the benefits I'd be looking for, though there are a couple of nice Gold benefits (priority boarding, baggage etc) that I'll miss.
d) Rightly or wrongly, I feel like VA's network/frequent flyer program is always changing and it was getting frustrating. eg. trying to figure out which VA-partner lounge you can access when, depending on where you're flying, who you are, the moon phase, current financial situation in Ghana etc...
e) Almost everyone in my company flies QF, and I was getting sick of "not wanting to inconvenience them" so always got earlier flights outbound and later flights inbound which was impacting my own work/life balance.
f) Lifetime recognition, though I may never actually hit LTS, is still a nice ambition and I like that it's offered (though regrets for the last 4 years of not building that total...).
g) My bank offers a credit card that earns QF points and works with Apple Pay, but doesn't have a card that earns VA points.
h) I'm a real sucker for the Australiana that QF plays up so well . Also recently when work flew me QF when I wanted VA/NZ (pre-switch), I was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism, quality, service of the crew and then the safety video showing places from around Australia really made me feel like I was 'going home'. It's soft, it's a bit of a toss, but I found it a really nice touch and it spoke to me.

Certainly not the biggest reasons in the world to jump ship, but they're a few of the things that I took into consideration

 

[Spacetravel]

I recently made the switch from VA Gold to QF, but I think my reasons were a little more... fickle, I suppose, in some eyes.


b) I switched because I also liked that QF fly their own metal to virtually everywhere I would want to go, and where they don't, I like the OW network airlines that do.
d) Rightly or wrongly, I feel like VA's network/frequent flyer program is always changing and it was getting frustrating. eg. trying to figure out which VA-partner lounge you can access when, depending on where you're flying, who you are, the moon phase, current financial situation in Ghana etc...

This.. these are what irk me about VA. On VA metal in the sky, things are great. Its everything else, like getting on VA metal, playing musical lounges etc that leave a bad taste in my mouth. Its funny, almost every day my mind swings back and forth.

I think I have come to the conclusion, I have a couple flights booked and another couple pending which after I will re qual for VA plat once more. After this I will do some QF trips, try and get a status challenge and see how I feel. I think its the only way I will really know what its like.

 

[katiebell]

It seems that 'loyalty' program benefits are better when there is real competition and are 'enhanced' (i.e. reduced or removed for those from VA in case trhis is a QF FF term) when the competition is poor. From what is being written about VA it seems that the consistency of the QF product, incluiding own metal flights put it in a better position. The imporevements we did get were when VA was actively challenging the QF product: now they are not QF is enhancing its offering. The same happened not long after IAG (BA) swallowed BMI and there was not real competition on most UK-hubbed flights

 

[tea&coffee]

I switched most of my travel last year from VA to QF using a Platnium status challenge. Benefits in my opinion are:
1. QF Buisness Lounges domestically are much better then VA Lounges which are normally packed and offer no differentiation for Platnium members,
2. QF have much better recogination on board,
3. QF have much better on board product including hot meals for dinner and access to herbal teas
4. As OWE you have recogination and access to great products across OW airlines - I now fly CX a lot for example where the HKG F Lounges are great and there's good recogination on board
5. EK alliance works well - I've had multiple upgrades

Ive found the whole QF experience to be professional, easy and consistaent recognition of my status which is opposite to my VA experience.

 

[JohnK]

I wouldn't be the forst brace decision by QF management.

Lots of speculation re the EK deal when it was well known that Qatar were joining OW

True but I think QF management are fully aware that Oneworld is their lifeline. Move out of Oneworld and they would lose some domestic share on connecting flights.

 

[serfty]

I switched most of my travel last year from VA to QF using a Platnium status challenge. Benefits in my opinion are:
1. QF Buisness Lounges domestically are much better then VA Lounges which are normally packed and offer no differentiation for Platnium members,
2. QF have much better recogination on board,
3. QF have much better on board product including hot meals for dinner and access to herbal teas
4. As OWE you have recogination and access to great products across OW airlines - I now fly CX a lot for example where the HKG F Lounges are great and there's good recogination on board
5. EK alliance works well - I've had multiple upgrades

Ive found the whole QF experience to be professional, easy and consistaent recognition of my status which is opposite to my VA experience.

1) All VA & QF (QP and J) domestic lounges get really crowded and often. Yes the QF J lounges offer a better soft product but that's the only real difference, to me generally beaten by price.

2) As a VA and QF WP I have never seen this tangibly one way or the other. I regularly receive recognition as with a verbal thank you on both.

3) Sure, but IME VA flights at about 15% cheaper - and the 'food' offered by Qantas is not really that good. (MEL-ADL lunch last weekend was about 70gm of "Chicken and Chorizo wrap" - more like a pancake waved in the general direction of a chicken taco.).

4) Did you fly much in Asia on SQ under VA? I found it pretty good. Also DL recognition of VA elites is up there with AA's for respective partner elites.

5) Recently? Or do you fly on flexible fare buckets? In the early days I was about 80%, recently 0%

 

[NZflygirl]

NZflygirl I DID say you need to be flying QR F and yes it is a fair comparison because if the OP is switching alliances, they will have the opportunity to experience this. Please read posts properly and think about what people's intent is before you jump in a add a statement that is boring and ill considered.

QR J and F lounges are irrespective of any alliance/loyalty whereas VA Plat you get F lounge at AUH with EY even if flying Y J or F. If you're considering which alliance is better for you then it does come down to the finer points. QF gold and plat would still give some access if flying QR Y to their lesser loved lounges and EK would give them EK J and F access depending on status irrespective of cabin. Unfortunately VA Gold I think only gets the Al Rheem Lounge at AUH rather than the EY J Lounge. (It is hard keeping up with VA's changes - I believe they have adjusted LA lounge access for VA too recently).

 

[cove]

With VA A330 J suites being more available for redemption bookings from Perth to Melbourne or Sydney I just transferred a pile of Citibank points to Velocity. I am not desperate enough to fly via Adelaide using Qantas points.

 

[oliverd]

Interesting discussion and a dilemma I have every year... for the last two years I've worked out that QF Gold + VA Platinum is the best attainable outcome (can't reach QF WP with my level of flying, but family pooling makes VA Plat achievable).

My overall experience:
* VA wins hands-down for domestic - can usually get row 3 seats, slightly cheaper dates, same or better earn (compared to QF) on non-discount fares - and a few free upgrades as a Platinum

* QF marginally better internationally as their own coverage + network is much better. But this is offset by coughpy earn on partner airlines. So you end up paying a lot more for your loyalty.

* QF ahead by a whisker on redemptions, mainly because MH is fantastic when you want 4x J seats for a Europe family trip!

 

[siri]

What ever the issues with Qantas, there are no comparison to VA and QFF since QFF is a better global product , QFF got better support and nicely supported by the One world alliance... QFF is a 5 star product and VA is a 3 star product ...

 

[AnthFlyer]

I'm VA Plat, and have been treated particularly well in Etihad. The top lounge in Abu Dhabi is available to VA Plat, same in Melb. Both are awesome, with a la carte meals. On Singapore still only get the ordinary lounge. That sucks.

 

[Rotation]

On Singapore still only get the ordinary lounge. That sucks.

Yeah - nothing quite prepares you for the SIN Gold lounge... Was definitely a letdown. Not like, a dive or anything, just underwhelming in virtually every respect.

Also disappointing was when flying SQ from KIX, as a VA Gold - no lounge access. Had it flying MEL-SIN, and SIN-HND - but not KIX-SIN as SQ don't operate their own lounge in KIX. However, if I was say QF Gold flying a OW airline, I would have had lounge access. It was just little things like that that made me consider/take the switch.