It is amazing to still see the difference in the quality of the lounges - Emirates and Qantas. Qantas serve Lindaur champagne or similar, while Emirates serve Verve. Wonderful exotic food at Emirates same old stuff at Qantas.
If I had a lot of frequent flyer points I would be cashing up quick. I find the best way to use the points and still do bookings through Qantas. Is to book on the Qantas site, but use the Emirates flights - best of both worlds. Better food, better service, better champagne. The one flight that I do find fun with Qantas is the Trans Tasman flight where they use a Qantas plane with a NZ based crew. What this crew lacks in finesse they make for in helpfulness and service with a smile.
One way to look at it is "would you buy Qantas shares" if the answer is yes then you are optimistic enough to hang on to your points.
I do not think that aligning themselves with Emirates has done any good at all, other than show them up. Qantas Frequent Business flyers will think they are in heaven if they use the Emirates code share flights.
Guess flying these days is like a lottery - between flat seats, flight entertainment, food, lounges - it is hard to know who to fly with. Take into consideration the huge variety of fares e.g. Brisbane to Heathrow. Do you lose a bit of quality when you pay $2,000 less. It still beats Economy. Qantas can no longer go on and about their safety record, it is time they had something else to boast about.
This is just the opinion of one very senior citizen who is not flying on a business account.
Hmmm, I spent 22yrs of my life flying as Cabin Crew on QF Long Haul. I started in 1970, just before delivery of the 747/200's. I rose through the ranks and was made redundant in 1992 when QF in their wisdom changed the configuration in F/C from 32 to 16 and decided that the most Senior Cabin Attendant would run First Class, instead of having a Chief Steward. The management now in Cabin Crew Training feel it is their duty to have new Cabin Crew members report to them, any incident involving senior crew, no matter what the incident, is it any wonder that there is no loyalty either to their companions or to the passengers. We fought for many years to build an airline that Australians would be proud to call their own, we suceeded, as was evident when up the track pax would say on boarding, "Good To Be Home". I refuse to fly QF, never have since I left in 92, preferring to spend my money with airlines that care. Until they get rid of money grabbing "Board Of Director Members", QF will end up as a sticker on the side of someone else's metal.
