Suggestions for Qantas

[lsmi4126]

To some extent I agree with anat0l, purely from observing the (frequent) flying of a CL member - long-haul QF flights are a rarity. When one has the wealth to find oneself with a CL membership, the overall travel experience is far more important than what CL adds to a QF flight.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I think the consistency of service would go a long way as well. While it can be difficult to roll out the latest and greatest hard product across the entire fleet in a short period of time, if I know that I'm going to be well looked after every time, and that I'll start getting the new hard product next year, I doubt I would go to a competitor (especially if I have some levels of status).

And doing this is probably the cheapest way to improve the overall product. Having flown on 3K on quite a few occassions (I'm now based in SIN), I find the SIN-based crew to be highly consistent. While they are not going to bend over backwards to resolve your needs, I know that virtually every time I step onboard a 3K flight, I'll get consistently reasonably ok services, which, I would rate higher than some Y QF SIN-SYD/MEL flights I've taken in the past.

Of course, for J and F, higher levels of services are required, but if Jetstar Asia can get the basics right, surely, QF can do the same across their 4 cabins as well.

 

[Archphoto]

And another call for WP boarding priority.

When flying domestic in Japan I enjoyed the following priority:
Children and people needing assistance and first class (if applicable).
One World Emerald,
Business Class, and then the rest.

Easy to follow with large signs which are flipped over as people are called forward. If you attempt premature boarding you are politely reminded that your turn has not yet been called.

Worked well, of course it is helped by people actually checking in luggage and having the bare minimum carry on.

Yes, Asia has it right with their boarding signs; I've flown with several: Bangkok Airways, AirAsia and Jetstar in the past 4 weeks, and they actually enforce their boarding sequence.

Saw many customers who were trying to jump the queue sent back to wait; seriously it's not difficult to enforce - just be polite, but firm that" .... your seat number is XX and we are calling YY."

And they do this on both domestic & international flights - hmmm anyone at Qantas listening??

 

[BVT]

There is one CL that I reasonably suspect got it by flying a lot in premium class. But the point is that qantas has done the numbers they have a criteria. Just because they don't advertise it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I think that your premise is correct.

I know of two current CL members, neither of whom are in a position to influence the travel spend; both of them only fly J domestically and F internationally. Both are in the QF top 10 list of FFlyers.

 

[medhead]

I think that your premise is correct.

I know of two current CL members, neither of whom are in a position to influence the travel spend; both of them only fly J domestically and F internationally. Both are in the QF top 10 list of FFlyers.

And I'm sure the mortals could not make their extended financial commitment to that flying. Hence publishing what it takes to get in the top 10 seems pointless.

 

[harvyk]

Maybe, but I'll stand by my statement that there is one CL that I reasonably suspect got it by flying.

Ah, but if that person flew enough to change numbers on QF's bottom line, then I'm sure that would be looked at kindly towards CL membership. Especially if that person was taking a couple of people with them each time, was flying full fare J or F and very frequently.

 

[Jobu]

Well lah-di-dah sorry for my contribution in retarding the development of your benefits

Sorry I did not mean to sound contrite or offend you.

Just saying that your suggestion of how others will feel reminds me of an old joke where a farmer uses mules to farm. One day God says to him "you have been working hard, how can I reward you?" and the farmer asks for a tractor, which God grants to him. When God approaches his neighbour and also offers him a new tractor, his response is "no thanks", and God says "well how can I reward you instead?", the farmer replies "I would rather my neighbour lost his tractor".

I personally think that the creation of new levels is useless. Create benefits for targets beyond Platinum, but not a whole new level above Platinum.

I don't really care if it's either, but make it something.

If you add a level above Plat, do you really think it will give some an incentive to go for it?

Yes.

Those people who currently draw in that many SCs probably do so already.

In which case they will be rewarded for their loyalty, and others will be incentivised to achieve those levels.

Would it give you an incentive, or would you simply jump on the bandwagon that will surely manifest itself on this forum expressing their right-royal sour-grapes outrage of being "deprived" of such higher-level benefits?

Yes, it would give me an incentive. I'm testing the theory of "unpublished benefits" this year by diverting my other flights to QF, otherwise I will be flying where I feel my patronage is valued.

As for CL... CL is invitation only - it is not in itself an incentive that one aims to get from QF but rather almost QF's way of actively headhunting for those who they want business of.... And if that makes you less loyal to QF then so be it.

Well CL was only an idea given it is a level above WP that already exists... call it whatever you want (e.g. BA's Premier vs Concorde levels.)