Stay with QF or move to another airline

[GoldCanyon340]

Assuming you have friends in Australia, the 4 flight rule is irrelevant. As long as Qantas don't check for ID when flying with carry-on only, ticket the fare with your name and QFF number. Just make sure it's the right gender...

I do do this for all sorts of family and friends for domestic flights. They get the benefit of Platinum status (biz lounge and seating), I get the SCs/points.

Sounds Simple and Fairer to me.

This is a serious offence and, most likely, fraud.

 

[Jaryd]

Last time I checked, you can't fly around Europe and the UK on Emirates, or Qantas, on either code. They don't operate short-haul intra-europe flights.

Best check your facts before posting them

How does the Emirates/Alitalia buyout work now... Are there QF codeshare flights which may come up on Alitalia flights? Given that Emirates are planning to use Alitalia as an inter-European airline.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Isn't it a Etihad Alitalia deal?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Isn't it a Etihad Alitalia deal?

Yes, it is Etihad.

 

[andye]

EU flights would accrue QFF SCs at pre-"simpler & fairer" levels but the burn rates are poor compared to BA. Unless you were within spitting distance of LTG, would definitely change from QF

With the priorities you mentioned BA would almost certainly be the best bet.
Status is easier to attain than AA (which would also require 4 AA flights). Economical short-haul redemptions. Plenty of points-earning opportunities with supermarket spend and credit cards (once you have enough residency to get approval for the most lucrative ones) Benefits of the home FF programme (eg upgrades). Potential for discounted premium fares by flying ex-EU.

AA does have the advantage of a more generous long-haul redemption table and much lower taxes than QF and BA but more difficult to rack up points in UK.

 

[Mal]

Generally BA is a better offering, the earns in Europe crediting to qf are very poor.
If sticking with Qf, then you can do a run to Dubai from a limited number of cities in the UK /Europe which still have qantas codeshares. This is how I maintained my 4 sectors when still crediting to qf.

 

[Formal Hall]

BA has just announced the biggest devaluation in Britain since Harold Wilson was Prime Minister.
Earning on most economy fares on BA's own metal down from 100% to 25%.
Off the top of my head redemption costs increased by approx 33% for First, 50% for business, up to 140% for premium economy!
Best strategy now would be AA, or perhaps some clever use of Air Berlin as your main programme.

 

[JohnK]

And also highly illegal. By posting this you've opened yourself right up too, i'd be suggesting not posting things like this.

Do *not* fly under someone elses name.

Not saying it's right or wrong but if airlines allowed name changes then people wouldn't feel the need to do it. You purchase a flight and then cannot fly. Bye bye money?

By the way it takes less than a minute to update a record in a database. Perhaps a minute or 2 to read and digest the request.

 

[RichardMEL]

Oh, getting someone else to fly under your own name is absolutely fraud in the strictest sense. The fact that in Australia ID's are not checked (photo ID's) means you can do it. Woe behold the one time, one agent, or lounge person who asks, or maybe recognises the name and thinks "I don't think that's him/her" and makes an issue and I suspect saying "I'm flying for my cousin who lives in europe and needs 4~" is going to cut it with the AFP who will be thinking much more sinister motivations for such activities. Just sayin' - you'd also suspect the airline would be well within their rights to cancel the FF membership involved, forfeit all status and points and the like should they so choose. Likely to be picked up? No. Possible.. absolutely.

(posted from someone who has had friendly one on one time with the AFP in the past - not for this kind of thing but for flying to a certain asian city for a day over Christmas many moons back and the flags that got from customs and then the AFP... convincing them I needed status miles before Dec 31 was... interesting. All good in the end when they decided I really WAS just a harmless av geek, but I was facing some interesting examinations in the meantime... of course that was international travel so a whole other kettle of fish)

 

[snabbu]

BA has just announced the biggest devaluation in Britain since Harold Wilson was Prime Minister.
Earning on most economy fares on BA's own metal down from 100% to 25%.
Off the top of my head redemption costs increased by approx 33% for First, 50% for business, up to 140% for premium economy!
Best strategy now would be AA, or perhaps some clever use of Air Berlin as your main programme.

In case anyone hasn't already seen the discussion over on FT.

Executive Club Changes - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[drron]

BA has just announced the biggest devaluation in Britain since Harold Wilson was Prime Minister.
Earning on most economy fares on BA's own metal down from 100% to 25%.
Off the top of my head redemption costs increased by approx 33% for First, 50% for business, up to 140% for premium economy!
Best strategy now would be AA, or perhaps some clever use of Air Berlin as your main programme.

As I said upthread there have been major devaluations in the AA program.These changes at BA may mean premium cabin sAAver awards disappear on BA.They have already disappeared on AA metal internationally.

 

[legroom]

Not saying it's right or wrong but if airlines allowed name changes then people wouldn't feel the need to do it. You purchase a flight and then cannot fly. Bye bye money?

By the way it takes less than a minute to update a record in a database. Perhaps a minute or 2 to read and digest the request.

A change fee would be in order, too.

Win Win solution IMO

 

[JohnK]

A change fee would be in order, too.

Win Win solution IMO

Don't disagree with a token change fee. At the moment you cannot change names.

And no charging $88 to change an $85 ticket is not a token change fee.

 

[dajop]

Best strategy now would be AA, or perhaps some clever use of Air Berlin as your main programme.

Maybe best strategy now is to stick to BFOD. BA program still sort of OK if not travelling on BA in discounted economy fares. Whilst AA is still an alternative, I am sure BA's new earn rates (for discounted economy) will soon be reflected there as well, before the start date for the reduction in BA.

 

[andye]

Even after the enhancements, I still suspect you would be better off with BA than QF (but choosing BFOD/most convenient route if it is your own money) particularly if you are going to be based in London/South-East

 

[Flashback]

Agree completely andye​.

BA has just announced the biggest devaluation in Britain since Harold Wilson was Prime Minister.
Earning on most economy fares on BA's own metal down from 100% to 25%.
Off the top of my head redemption costs increased by approx 33% for First, 50% for business, up to 140% for premium economy!
Best strategy now would be AA, or perhaps some clever use of Air Berlin as your main programme.

The sky's falling in, the sky's falling in. No, it's not. The majority of economy fares already earn 50% of TP (not 100%), e.g. 10 TP for disc whY 20TP for full whY. They will now earn 5. Unless you're relying on these for status it's not a huge dent. Club Europe (J) fares are still pretty darn cheap and a good way of earning/retaining status e.g. £250 return in J LGW-MLA for 160 TP.

Maybe best strategy now is to stick to BFOD. BA program still sort of OK if not travelling on BA in discounted economy fares. Whilst AA is still an alternative, I am sure BA's new earn rates (for discounted economy) will soon be reflected there as well, before the start date for the reduction in BA.

Indeed - keep in mind that a lot of redemptions on AA also attract surcharges if BA flies the same route, e.g. if you redeem AA miles for BA LHR-BOM it'll cost you a pretty penny. If you use AA's partner EY, then there's a saving to be had.