"Thats why I fly Qantas"

[Sprucegoose]

That's a matter of opinion - and yours is noted

I would say they do it (inconsistently) well - rock is going overboard, in my experience.

They get it right most times.

 

[djfuzz]

I've resisted posting in this thread because I saw that LiamR wanted serious answers, and to be honest, I needed time to recover from 'Because someone else is paying'.

As a child, I grew up flying TG and QF (including TAA and AA), so I have always had a natural affinity towards those airlines. While I was in primary school, a relative visiting from the US took me in to whatever the MEL QF lounge was at that time, and I was completely blown away by the fact that there was a secret hideaway (and it was relatively secluded and quiet then) where you could load up on free food, have a shower and have people give you as many lapel pins as you wanted (still have them lying around in a box somewhere).

I've also had friends and relatives work for Qantas at various times, and one of my childhood aspirations had been to be a pilot and work there myself, but I ended up going down a different path (seems I dodged a bullet there!). Qantas also indirectly contributed to paying my way through uni, so I do owe them a measure of gratitude. I've been a shareholder at various times, but sadly, without the dividend, the share has been a bit too much of a dog to hold on to for too long.

There was a period during which I flew only on Star Alliance carriers and DJ (guided by a fateful decision that was made for me by a TA), and because I wasn't particularly diligent with my QFF membership I ended up losing about 40,000 points to expiry (stupid, stupid negligence). However, thanks in part to AFF and changing work circumstances, I revived the QF flame and returned as a crazy FF status chaser (following a brief detour through AAdvantage). Had I known about points / status maximisation and CC earning / bonuses earlier, I would have been back on the horse much sooner - but that's entirely my own fault for not finding AFF years before I did (different priorities, I guess!).

Don't get me wrong - I hate the fact that they're enhancing away the benefits of status, and that they seem be offering targeted promos left right and centre that never seem to land in my inbox; it sh*ts me no end. I've certainly started spreading the love a little bit to DJ and am probably less inclined to fly OW exclusively internationally as a consequence - rationality has to kick in at some point when loyalty is abused.

But in a roundabout way, despite many ways in which they disappoint me, I fly Qantas simply because they're Qantas.

That may sound stupid, but as mentioned above, it is not just the brand in and of itself that is so valuable - it is the many and varied actions, initiatives and the large part which Qantas has played in my life (and those of many other Australians) that has created immense goodwill and esteem towards the company. To date, they still play such a role, however I do feel that it is becoming increasingly less significant as it is given lipservice rather than maintained through action. It would be a shame for current management to continue to take that trust for granted and whittle it away or, even worse, continue to replace the red roo with the orange pentagram.

 

[MatF]

Couldn't help it

View attachment 2791

My eyes are getting old and weak - I can't quite read some of that text.

Do you happen to have a much larger version?

 

[oz_mark]

My eyes are getting old and weak - I can't quite read some of that text.

There was text?

 

[samiam]

There was text?

O/T for a moment, but the above reminded me of the following:


Please feel free to move to humour thread to make it pc

O/T

 

[ajca]

I've resisted posting in this thread because I saw that LiamR wanted serious answers, and to be honest, I needed time to recover from 'Because someone else is paying'.

I don't think "Because someone else is paying" is a totally unreasonable response. No matter what people who have never tried it think, large amounts of work-related travel is not fun. And it invariably involves significant amounts of time away from home and very long days.

If QF offers a better overall experience and the employer is happy to pay for that experience then that seems like a reasonable deal. Otherwise we would all be flying Tiger...

Also often for international flights from Australia, QF has the only direct routing and it makes sense to choose that even if there is a much cheaper option. e.g. I flew QF from Sydney to Shanghai (direct) and back a few months ago. The Best Available Fare on the itinerary from Amex Travel was Singapore Airlines which was about $2500 cheaper, but involved a stopover in Singapore and added 6 or 7 hours of flying each way.

If I was paying for it myself and not in a hurry, I might choose the Singapore option. But when I'm on work time on a three day trip, and work puts a reasonable value on my time and sanity, it doesn't make any sense at all...

 

[LiamR]

But in a roundabout way, despite many ways in which they disappoint me, I fly Qantas simply because they're Qantas.

That may sound stupid, but as mentioned above, it is not just the brand in and of itself that is so valuable - it is the many and varied actions, initiatives and the large part which Qantas has played in my life (and those of many other Australians) that has created immense goodwill and esteem towards the company. To date, they still play such a role, however I do feel that it is becoming increasingly less significant as it is given lipservice rather than maintained through action. It would be a shame for current management to continue to take that trust for granted and whittle it away or, even worse, continue to replace the red roo with the orange pentagram.

I have to agree with you there djfuzz, I frequently say. "Its Qantas." thats why I fly them. Anybody who has been out to the Qantas museum at Longreach would agree that Qantas plays a huge part in the Australian community. I think Alan Joyce hit the nail on the head the other day when he talked about the fight to pick up stranded Australians at Egypt.

I do feel that current senior management don't understand their most important asset. The brand. It would be a shame to see this australian icon transformed into silver and orange stars.

I fly Qantas, because no matter where in the world I am, I feel at home, as soon as I step onboard.

 

[straitman]

I flew Virgin once...the inflight stuff you need to buy cost me more than the ticket, seriously!!!!

Is there anything you NEED to buy?

 

[kamchatsky]

I always get "consistent service" to be allocated at row 29 next to the toilet every time I check in to one of their domestic flights using OLCI at first availability without the hassle of presenting other choice for me, that's why I fly (?) Qantas.

 

[Vinny]

Over the last year I fly QF because OZ, Asiana don't fly to BNE so I need to connect in SYD. Otherwise I'm willing to fly QF to SYD for a MH flight if I can't get a connection from BNE. On most domestic flight's I'm now happy on DJ.

It costs nothing to change a frequent flyer scheme and often with much better results. If an airline wants my consistent business and money they should consider consistent service.

 

[JohnK]

Although their "enhancements" get harder to understand these days there are still a few reasons such as

- Global alliance
- better frequent flyer program
- better aircraft (yes would much rather fly the 767s on domestic and 747s or A380s on international)
- more earning partners

and most important of all

Because QF has more flights scheduled between CBR & MEL and is almost always cheaper than DJ for flights out of CBR on a Fri evening and back on a Sun afternoon (believe it or not). Also J lounge access is a big plus.

- the majority of the time QF is cheaper out of BNE on a Friday evening and back on Sunday evening.

P.S I am glad someone else has posted that VA is not always cheaper than QF....

 

[Sprucegoose]

Is there anything you NEED to buy?

Yes Bill, well here it is.From SYD to ASP for $48 tickets (i think this was a promo fare before they failed on the route) we needed to buy, coffees, breakfast, headphones, coloring in book, more coffees, sandwiches, some drinks, face paints.My daughter who was then 4 or 5 did Make the astute comment that we don't pay for anything on Qantas, and it has stayed with me until this day!

 

[extracta]

Although their "enhancements" get harder to understand these days there are still a few reasons such as

- Global alliance
- better frequent flyer program
- better aircraft (yes would much rather fly the 767s on domestic and 747s or A380s on international)
- more earning partners

and most important of all


- the majority of the time QF is cheaper out of BNE on a Friday evening and back on Sunday evening.

P.S I am glad someone else has posted that VA is not always cheaper than QF....

I thought you preferred the service you get from the cabin staff on the Asian carriers??

 

[medhead]

Yes Bill, well here it is.From SYD to ASP for $48 tickets (i think this was a promo fare before they failed on the route) we needed to buy, coffees, breakfast, headphones, coloring in book, more coffees, sandwiches, some drinks, face paints.My daughter who was then 4 or 5 did Make the astute comment that we don't pay for anything on Qantas, and it has stayed with me until this day!

Still I'm not understanding where the need comes in. Sounds like you wanted to buy or choose to buy. Where is the need especially for headphones (my personal headphones work fine with the DJ system, even through they give them out free these days) or colouring books and face paint? I just cannot imagine any circumstance on an aircraft in which I would need to buy face paint.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Still I'm not understanding where the need comes in. Sounds like you wanted to buy or choose to buy. Where is the need especially for headphones (my personal headphones work fine with the DJ system, even through they give them out free these days) or colouring books and face paint? I just cannot imagine any circumstance on an aircraft in which I would need to buy face paint.

This was about 2003?? Before I even purchased the first of my Bose. Facepaint - you got kids?Need is such a subjective term and this was my chosen description!Point is I don't fly DJ.

 

[medhead]

This was about 2003?? Before I even purchased the first of my Bose. Facepaint - you got kids?Need is such a subjective term and this was my chosen description!Point is I don't fly DJ.

Yeah we've got kids. But if they asked for face paint on an aircraft the answer would be no. I think it is fair to say that much has changed since 2003. My first DJ flight was about 2001, my second in 2010. Massive difference.

 

[markis10]

I fly QF because I like seeing the same thing in the IFE three times in a week for four flights, I love the beetroot chips on the last SYD-BNE flight each night, the cold breakfast that has past its best before date (twice) & the crowded lounges, ahh, the joys of full service .

I fly QFlink because I get two hot breakfasts on the one flight, the leg room in 1A on the 717 is amazing and the crew are always friendly, and on the Dash 8s the drink service makes up for the lack of IFE and the fact I always seem to get the prop view seat!

 

[coyote25]

Because when things go wrong they have looked after me above and beyond.

The Oneworld alliance including award RTW tickets.

Access to very good international lounges.

Safety first. Hint of a problem they turn back or don't take off. Pilot not management or customer call.

 

[Simsy85]

I fly QFlink because I get two hot breakfasts on the one flight, the leg room in 1A on the 717 is amazing and the crew are always friendly, and on the Dash 8s the drink service makes up for the lack of IFE and the fact I always seem to get the prop view seat!

I regularly fly the 717's to either ASP or CNS from DRW - Awesome aircraft, I agree - 1A rocks.

 

[browski]

Because I don't want to end up on one of those "no news" 6.30PM shows whining about how my flight was cancelled and and my grandmother has only got hours to live before I get married and I was charged $6 million for my suitcase because I didn't read the terms and conditions (the what???) and I have no where to stay tonight and I've been thrown out of the terminal and having some old fart like me shouting at the television................"WHEN WILL THESE PEOPLE EVER BLOODY LEARN????"

Been a member of the Qantas Club (in it's various forms) since January 1983. I only ever flew Ansett when Qantas booked me on an Ansett flight because they had to cancel their flight - for those who remember the days of parallel schedules and the ease of interlining. Never been inside a Virgin aircraft. Flew Star Class to HNL and return once linking up with AA "F" on a YUP. Oh, and I believe there is another airline flying somewhere in Oz. Sometimes!

I'm a Qantasophile from way way back and I'm not likely to change now.

FWIW

JB

Geez, get a room for christ's sake.