The pointless pathetic penny pinching that pushes away customers thread

[amaroo]

In the time I've been a member of AFF I've seen quite a few examples of "gaming"....EDR, ATA, ASA, ATO, W'field Cards, etc

Why would this be any different?

Good point.

I used the lounge a few times on a Saturday night when I was not flying and my brother had a diet coke and I had a beer.

If I want to go back to SYD on a Friday night at 6:00pm then I will book the 5:55pm flight. There have been times when I wanted to go back at ~4:00pm-5:00pm but the flights are too expensive. There is no way I will book a 5:55pm flight for the next 3-6 months and turn up to the airport at ~3:00pm to try and get on a earlier flight.

Firstly I do not want to spend that long at the airport if flights were full and secondly I try to plan my week around the time I am leaving on a Friday. So today I worked close to ~11 hours. Tomorrow will be ~8 hours, Thursday will be ~7 hours and Friday will be ~4 hours and I will try to be at the airport ~4:45pm for a 5:55pm flight.

Maybe others are different.

I forgot the fellow (AFF member) that ripped into the ANZ bank with an absolute perfect gaming system! We even saw it on a small scale with the recent Amex shop small promo...

As soon as it was known that QF allowed "flight creep" it would be gamed beyond belief...

 

[serfty]

In the time I've been a member of AFF I've seen quite a few examples of "gaming"....EDR, ATA, ASA, ATO, W'field Cards, etc

Why would this be any different?

It is different because EDR, ATA, ASA, ATO &W'f were/are all available within the publicsally documented rules or T&C's that applied.

As such, none of these could be considered "gaming".

With VA, "Fly Ahead" has been publically documented for over a year. Qantas have no such documented process for restricted fare, although "standby's" are indeed a process for flexible fares - watch the gates at CBR on a late week afternoon evening when Parliament goes into recess.

"Gaming" indeed it is when purchasing the cheapest 'restricted' 9pm fare and trying to travel at 4pm at no additional cost.

 

[amaroo]

Sometimes JohnK, meetings interstate get cancelled. It's as simple as that.

As is pulling your wallet out!

 

[Happy Trails]

The tomato ketchup sachets are 50 cents each, maybe*

*Please accept my apologies for the pitiful attempt at humour driven by the similar sounding sauce and source.

True story: I recall once knocking back a purchase order that had been typed up for a "radioactive sauce".

 

[Newk]

This thread is a wonderful example of the human condition....some people will argue (OK I accept "vigorously debate" if you like) about anything and cannot countenance that they are anything but RIGHT.

IMHO the world would be a better place if there was a bit more:

"I can see your point"
"Good discussion all and I now have nothing more to say"
"I learnt that there is more than one/two sides to this argument"
You know, I might have been wrong...thanks for your thoughts"

etc etc

 

[amaroo]

It is different because EDR, ATA, ASA, ATO &W'f were/are all available within the publicsally documented rules or T&C's that applied.

As such, none of these could be considered "gaming".

With VA, "Fly Ahead" has been publically documented for over a year. Qantas have no such documented process for restricted fare, although "standby's" are indeed a process for flexible fares - watch the gates at CBR on a late week afternoon evening when Parliament goes into recess.

"Gaming" indeed it is when purchasing the cheapest 'restricted' 9pm fare and trying to travel at 4pm at no additional cost.

Some might call it gaming - Others might call it abuse.

Same result. Companies react and rules/offers/T&C's are changed.

 

[JohnK]

Sometimes JohnK, meetings interstate get cancelled. It's as simple as that.

I dont quite understand.

Are you saying a person had a booking for a 6:00pm flight and their 2:00pm appointment was cancelled? So they turn up to the airport early to try and get on an earlier flight? So they do this once and flights are full. And they do it again and flights are full. Next time they will think of something else to do before heading out to the airport for an early flight.

I like the current system. I have had mixed success. Perhaps this was due to status. I don't know. It is not a published benefit but is left to the discretion of the airport staff. Sometimes you can move to an earlier flight. Sometimes you can't.

But one thing is for sure and certain and that is I do not go out to the airport early thinking I will get a seat on an earlier flight.

 

[medhead]

Good point.

I used the lounge a few times on a Saturday night when I was not flying and my brother had a diet coke and I had a beer.

If I want to go back to SYD on a Friday night at 6:00pm then I will book the 5:55pm flight. There have been times when I wanted to go back at ~4:00pm-5:00pm but the flights are too expensive. There is no way I will book a 5:55pm flight for the next 3-6 months and turn up to the airport at ~3:00pm to try and get on a earlier flight.

Firstly I do not want to spend that long at the airport if flights were full and secondly I try to plan my week around the time I am leaving on a Friday. So today I worked close to ~11 hours. Tomorrow will be ~8 hours, Thursday will be ~7 hours and Friday will be ~4 hours and I will try to be at the airport ~4:45pm for a 5:55pm flight.

Maybe others are different.

I do exactly the same with my flights home. One week in 4 years that I work 13 hours on Monday and then 14 on Tuesday and suddenly I'm gaming the system. :?:

As for the other examples of allegedly gaming the system none of those seem to involve getting early flights. Some of them I'd challenge, eg I've never read anything here about gaming ata.

 

[medhead]

But one thing is for sure and certain and that is I do not go out to the airport early thinking I will get a seat on an earlier flight.

Oh I see you've also missed the point. I am reporting the advice that management has directed them to never again change a non-flexible flight for people using the business lounge. When the competition wi make such a change the point is then made that this puts them at a disadvantage.

It has nothing to do with one individual example or people turning up expecting to change flights. But the issue I. This one example, for about the 1000th time, was the rudeness not the refusal.

This tread is also about tracking all the other cost cutting measures. But obviously that is too complex. Happy for you lot to get hung up on the little things. I'm out. If you ever get beyond attacking me to the big picture I may bother with this thread.

 

[Pushka]

As is pulling your wallet out!

That's just a silly comment in relation to the topic in hand which is about customer service and maintaining relationships when there are no financial risks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Source...?

Airline meal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Pushka]

I dont quite understand.

Are you saying a person had a booking for a 6:00pm flight and their 2:00pm appointment was cancelled? So they turn up to the airport early to try and get on an earlier flight? So they do this once and flights are full. And they do it again and flights are full. Next time they will think of something else to do before heading out to the airport for an early flight.

I like the current system. I have had mixed success. Perhaps this was due to status. I don't know. It is not a published benefit but is left to the discretion of the airport staff. Sometimes you can move to an earlier flight. Sometimes you can't.

But one thing is for sure and certain and that is I do not go out to the airport early thinking I will get a seat on an earlier flight.

No JohnK. I'm saying that of say 10 trips flying interstate you attend appointments and arrive each time at about an hour before the flight and all is good and you take your booked flight home.

On the 11th trip your last appointment gets cancelled and you arrive very early and can see there's an earlier flight. You ask if you can be rebooked. You may not even have luggage. But you are told no just because that's the fare you booked, not because the flight is full because they don't even check.

Virgin at least checks and on the times flown Virgin, the request is granted.

And try stop making people sound like they are being difficult customers. As I posted above it's the manner in which the request is handled that makes ALL the difference and I believe is what got medhead riled in the first place. Not that he didn't get the earlier flight but that his request was answered in such an impolite fashion with nary a consideration of what might be possible.

As for the comments about gambling - just not the case.

Never thought I'd be agreeing with medhead ever, but I fully get what his gripe is here.

 

[UP4014]

QF checkin staff have offered an earlier flight without prompting in the past, no issues. Luck of the draw I guess.

I never expect it but a surprise bonus is good. I have even declined once or twice in 2013 so I could enjoy a relaxed beer rather than running for the gate.

 

[Pushka]

QF checkin staff have offered an earlier flight without prompting in the past, no issues. Luck of the draw I guess.

I never expect it but a surprise bonus is good. I have even declined once or twice in 2013 so I could enjoy a relaxed beer rather than running for the gate.

Well, according to others in this trip this offer should be stopped immediately.

If that is your experience then it's time that Q looked at their staff training.

 

[medhead]

Airline meal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

No where does that provide qantas meal costs. At least that I can see.

 

[Pushka]

Just to add. Our clients pay for our interstate trips. We fly the cheapest flight possible so that they don't incur significant extra costs. We aren't being cheap in booking discount, we just respect our clients financial concerns too.

 

[OATEK]

QF checkin staff have offered an earlier flight without prompting in the past, no issues. Luck of the draw I guess.

I never expect it but a surprise bonus is good. I have even declined once or twice in 2013 so I could enjoy a relaxed beer rather than running for the gate.

I was offered an earlier flight in the lounge once when I had a deep discount Y ticket, which I gratefully accepted. It moved me from a 737 to a 767 30 minutes earlier. It was a shame that catering and loading delays meant it left after the flight we were originally on!

Just to add. Our clients pay for our interstate trips. We fly the cheapest flight possible so that they don't incur significant extra costs. We aren't being cheap in booking discount, we just respect our clients financial concerns too.

A lot of my recent work travel has been for assignments with the aged care sector, where they are very cost conscious. So our choice is like Pushka's very much in recognition of the constraints of the client. But I must admit OI have not tried it on to see if I can get an earlier flight where my TCs don't allow. But being a person of much lower status than the OP, this is not about my circumstances.

I can't help but agree with the proposition that if QF argues it is a premium airline, then it needs to maintain that reputation by not allowing VA to get the jump on them in what has traditionally been QF ground - business travel.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No where does that provide qantas meal costs. At least that I can see.

no - but assuming QF pays the same or similar price to others, particularly in a competitive environment overseas.

i can't seem to find it but it there anywhere in the annual report that would state the total cost spend on food?

 

[amaroo]

That's just a silly comment in relation to the topic in hand which is about customer service and maintaining relationships when there are no financial risks.

Depends on your point of view. I've flown my fair share with QF and have never had an issue with being stuck on the ground on a non-flex ticket. The days/weeks where I think my schedule will be fluid I purchase a flexi ticket - simple stuff.

Most problems can be sorted with one's own wallet!

 

[serfty]

Of course an airline will "Flow Forward" when it suits them.