The pointless pathetic penny pinching that pushes away customers thread

[Ansett]

Another example of cost cutting on QFi Y is the NON availability of Scotch Whisky amy more. Only choice is Bourborn or strangely enough Irish Whisky Both of which I dont like!

 

[vitagen]

If you are complaining of not getting unadvertised benefits and decide to move, I think you will be on the losing end of the deal. You have flown to get WP, to get the benefits you need to fly. If you don't use the benefits and cut off your nose to spite your face, then go for it, go fly VA and build up your status to WP and go enjoy the fly ahead with no J lounge or OWE.

Unfortunately you and most people with this excessive sense of entitlement needs to learn that you cannot have your cake and eat it too.

Its pretty simple, you want to have flexibility so either book a flexi, or cough up some dosh and book the more expensive flight leaving earlier.

 

[Falcs]

See this is what I knew would happen, people who think I'm complaining about not changing my one particular flight. Thank you for your input, now if it's ok with you, I'd like to put aside one single experience and discuss the big picture of what these types of things say about Qantas' direction as an airline. After all that is what I've been talking about.

I know it'll be hard for some to put aside their personal digs at me and discuss the big picture. But the rules have been mentioned by you all. well done.

Well in fairness, you (and others) went off that topic with examples related to bending the rules and comparing benefits vs the competition.

Similarly rude staff isn't a direct example of penny pinching although from observation and experience when a company is in "cost cutting mode", it has a tendency to permeate negativity through the company culture which staff then project onwards.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

i guess part of the issue with not allowing an earlier flight with a non-flexible fare is that those with a flexible fare might turn up and want a seat?

FWIW the only time I have been permitted to take anything earlier has been after an international connection (ex SYD). Same ticket was allowed to go straight away. Separate ticket and was denied.

 

[Pushka]

i guess part of the issue with not allowing an earlier flight with a non-flexible fare is that those with a flexible fare might turn up and want a seat?

FWIW the only time I have been permitted to take anything earlier has been after an international connection (ex SYD). Same ticket was allowed to go straight away. Separate ticket and was denied.

The request is usually done ( by us anyway, ) at the service desk on (early) arrival. So probably not so important to save seats for others. Yes, our tickets are the cheapest non flexible ones, as are the ones with Virgin. But lets just say the experience with Qantas is about what we have come to expect with regards to flexibility for people who fly with them a lot; the experience with Virgin leaves us with a smile on our face and we tell others. Isn't that priceless consumer advocacy?

 

[Scarlett]

Wouldn't it be ironic if there was someone in that very busy lounge, on that same day, complaining about how they couldn't get a seat and that the staff were struggling to keep up with the necessary level of F&B service? Sometimes you get the rub of the green, sometimes you don't. But what you've described is not penny-pinching, what you've described is a request to to be flexible with the rules and in this case, QF staff haven't. C'est la vie.

As for WP anytime access, you're absolutely right that there are probably very few people who would use it in the method you've described. However, there ARE plenty of people who would use it whilst already at the airport, primarily those flying another airline on that particular day. Easiest example: Buy cheap TT ticket - use QF lounge. Other example: Connecting on VA and already been to the VA lounge but want to try the Reds at the QP so just head in there. I can't see the business justification for anytime access.

There are usually two sides to every story...

Penny pinching will get Qantas nowhere.

I had a bad experience of penny pinching in the Perth Lounge Jan 2nd.

Eldest daughter was returning to CBR flying J on Jan 2nd this year. I knew that the rules said that she could only bring in 1 guest but as a WP1, a wife who is Gold and the fact that the two of us were flying J PER/MEL/AUK the next day I thought they might let us all in. In the good old days of anytime access this would have been a no brainer.

The lounge lady scanned my daughters BP and took and scanned my WP1 card so she knew we were flying the next day.

"Sorry Sir only one of you can come in as a guest of your daughter. We are very busy today"

Needless to say none of us used the lounge, instead enjoying a far better cup of coffee in the general terminal. I found out the next day when chatting to a lovely lounge attendant (different one obviously) that in their wisdom Qantas had decided to only open the upper part of the lounge and left the bottom floor closed - no wonder they were busy.

Now before I hear the howls of "Well you knew the rules" - yes I did, but what a great bit of PR for Qantas to let another family member in especially as that person was WP1. Funny thing is , if her flight had been a little later, wife and I would have been able to check in online and both be in possession of J boarding passes. Between us we could have then taken in 7 persons.

I never understood the decision to do away with anytime access - who is going to drive to the airport , pay the parking fee to have a couple of free beers . I would only use it once or twice a year to see a family member off .

Opportunity missed Qantas! Guess I am feeling totally underwhelmed re WP1 perks.

 

[ellen10]

Another example of cost cutting on QFi Y is the NON availability of Scotch Whisky amy more. Only choice is Bourborn or strangely enough Irish Whisky Both of which I dont like!

Ooh my hubby wont be happy!

 

[medhead]

I can't believe the lack of whiskey.

If you are complaining of not getting unadvertised benefits and decide to move, I think you will be on the losing end of the deal. You have flown to get WP, to get the benefits you need to fly. If you don't use the benefits and cut off your nose to spite your face, then go for it, go fly VA and build up your status to WP and go enjoy the fly ahead with no J lounge or OWE.

Unfortunately you and most people with this excessive sense of entitlement needs to learn that you cannot have your cake and eat it too.

Its pretty simple, you want to have flexibility so either book a flexi, or cough up some dosh and book the more expensive flight leaving earlier.

I'm already Platinum with Virgin. I think that addresses your point. My point is about Qantas encouraging me to pay more to fly with Qantas more than I fly with Virgin, or to even drop my virgin status and give Qantas more money. Perhaps you might like to move beyond the trite point about the rules.

As for being in the losing end, you are sadly mistaken. Qantas appears to be in the process of lowering standards to the level of virgin. I stand to gain financially by flying with Virgin via lower airfares.

Background: On a normal work week I have a choice of 5 flights to suit my needs, 2 in one direction and 3 in the other direction. I book so far in advance that the price of the alternative flights with the same airline is the same. No need to cough up extra dosh for the earlier flight, for a choice between 6pm and 8pm.

Wouldn't it be ironic if there was someone in that very busy lounge, on that same day, complaining about how they couldn't get a seat and that the staff were struggling to keep up with the necessary level of F&B service? Sometimes you get the rub of the green, sometimes you don't. But what you've described is not penny-pinching, what you've described is a request to to be flexible with the rules and in this case, QF staff haven't. C'est la vie.

The penny-pinching is the apparent instruction to no longer, never ever move people on non-flexible fares. It is not about one rejection but the advice that this is a blanket direction from management.

What would be ironic is if the F&B staff were actually able to keep up with the service in the SYD J lounge. Compared to mid-last year, it is an absolute shambles. I was particularly impressed that 50% of the beer glasses were dirty, with chunks of cough in the glass or around the rim.

 

[basso]

If you are complaining of not getting unadvertised benefits and decide to move, I think you will be on the losing end of the deal.

If it's not that unpublished benefit, it is the shadow seat.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Pretty sure the restriction on changing to an earlier flight is an Altea system restriction which doesn't allow the operator to do it unless "flow forward" delays are in effect.

The other stuff is either poor management, lazy staff, penny pinching, or any combination of the above.

 

[medhead]

If it's not that unpublished benefit, it is the shadow seat.

Really? The only time I complain about having someone in the middle seat is when they spill over into my seat forcing me to lean sideways into the aisle or try constantly pole me in the ribs with their elbow. As such, yes, I think quiet enjoyment of my seat and arriving without pain is an entitlement.

Otherwise it is a complete joke to claim I have an enlarged sense of entitlement. Such personal attacks only goes to show that you and vitagen have NFI about who I am. It also shows you haven't even bothered to consider the big picture. As such your trite opinion is noted for what it is.

Still this has nothing to do with the topic.

 

[flyingfan]

Pretty sure the restriction on changing to an earlier flight is an Altea system restriction which doesn't allow the operator to do it unless "flow forward" delays are in effect.

On the same note, maybe baggage allowance is also enforced by Altea - the system mightn't allow printing of boarding passes unless any overweight fees have been paid? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Was on a flight from BNE to SYD earlier this month. Came back with 2 suitcases.
It was a economy ticket so i know you are only allowed one. BUt as QC member im allowed an 32kg rather than normal 23k.
Both bags combined weighed 29kg. So i thought hey im within my allowance its got to be ok.
Got to checkin. The guy goes sorry one bag $40. IM like they are combined under my allowance (which is amazing since you got to figure a suitcase is still 5-6k empty). The guy still was "one bag".
Go to the sales desk and pay $40. You will get your baggage receipt and boarding pass once you pay. It was only $40 so i paid it but wasnt happy.

OK so i know the rule and that they moved to a piece system on domestic. But i thought there would be bit of leniency given im a QC and it was under my allowed weight.

 

[swilk]

Wouldn't it be ironic if there was someone in that very busy lounge, on that same day, complaining about how they couldn't get a seat and that the staff were struggling to keep up with the necessary level of F&B service? Sometimes you get the rub of the green, sometimes you don't. But what you've described is not penny-pinching, what you've described is a request to to be flexible with the rules and in this case, QF staff haven't. C'est la vie.

As for WP anytime access, you're absolutely right that there are probably very few people who would use it in the method you've described. However, there ARE plenty of people who would use it whilst already at the airport, primarily those flying another airline on that particular day. Easiest example: Buy cheap TT ticket - use QF lounge. Other example: Connecting on VA and already been to the VA lounge but want to try the Reds at the QP so just head in there. I can't see the business justification for anytime access.

There are usually two sides to every story...

What I have described is both.

The penny pinching was the decision to close half of the lounge and then tell people it is too busy. Why create an expanded lounge and then close half of it off? If it was really so busy that day then why not open up the downstairs part of the lounge? This was the opinion of the lounge staff I spoke to the next day - they couldn't understand...
1. Why half the lounge was closed on 2nd Jan
2. Why a WP1 would be refused a little leeway in the current bad PR climate Qantas is going through.

There is a simple solution to the anytime access issue. Introduce a quota system or a system that allows access a certain number of times/year if a family member is flying. That will stop the TT or VA flyers.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

On the same note, maybe baggage allowance is also enforced by Altea - the system mightn't allow printing of boarding passes unless any overweight fees have been paid? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

It's the same system. There are overrides available at the operators discretion when dealing with status pax apparently, and some of these automatically apply.

 

[CaviAck]

On the same note, maybe baggage allowance is also enforced by Altea - the system mightn't allow printing of boarding passes unless any overweight fees have been paid? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Don't know if it's for everyone but as a SG that had to pay excess luggage at CNS, the boarding pass, baggage tags and baggage receipt were all printed at once. Tags went on the bags, baggage receipt went to me and boarding pass went to the person I had to pay. Once paid the BP was passed to me.

 

[flyingfan]

Don't know if it's for everyone but as a SG that had to pay excess luggage at CNS, the boarding pass, baggage tags and baggage receipt were all printed at once. Tags went on the bags, baggage receipt went to me and boarding pass went to the person I had to pay. Once paid the BP was passed to me.

Oh I remember now - the boarding passes will be printed but any charges have to be paid otherwise the pass will be rejected at the scanner when trying to board, so that's how that's enforced.

So I guess there'd have to be a system-wide solution if QF wants to allow discretion for high-status/loyal passengers that it wants to look after.

 

[shearsense]

Attitude was the shock. There was actually a follow up late were I caught the desk supervisor having a laugh and a gossip with new desk staff about the person who asked to change their flight to ADL but got told no. Even if there was someone else who asked to change flights to ADL it is extremely poor form to gossip about customers in front of other customers.

:shock:. I think that would have annoyed me more than the original rejection

 

[shearsense]

There was a cost for 79 lounge visits. But that is factored into the margin on the fares as the cost exists regardless of changing flights. I'd even argue changing the flights saved them money.

I would suggest that for some of those here, getting PAX onto to an earlier flight to stop the Lounging/Drinking/Eating would be an enormous cost benefit to QF..........

 

[Ewing]

If you are complaining of not getting unadvertised benefits and decide to move, I think you will be on the losing end of the deal. You have flown to get WP, to get the benefits you need to fly. If you don't use the benefits and cut off your nose to spite your face, then go for it, go fly VA and build up your status to WP and go enjoy the fly ahead with no J lounge or OWE.

I have. I've started moving more and more travel to VA. I've already dropped to Gold on QF and will be WP on VA soon).

(Written from 1A on a QF 737 where the crew are seething with unfriendliness and we haven't even taken off yet).

 

[basso]

I would suggest that for some of those here, getting PAX onto to an earlier flight to stop the Lounging/Drinking/Eating would be an enormous cost benefit to QF..........

On the other hand, people booking cheaper later flights expecting to get moved to an earlier (more expensive) flight could be seen as representing a loss of revenue.