The QFF CEO event thread (and AFF associated interactions)

[oz_mark]

Very true about km's travelled, but QF does have the minimum points guarantee! :mrgreen: mind you they were part of Ansett (or affiliated?) when I used to jump out of them..

Was part of Ansett, but the administrators found a buyer for it. It has been reported that Aeropelican and Brindebella are in the process of merging at the moment.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Was part of Ansett, but the administrators found a buyer for it. It has been reported that Aeropelican and Brindebella are in the process of merging at the moment.

When you fly on them you get a QF boarding pass, QF FF points and the pleasure of lounging at Hungry Jacks
OT I am reasonably hopeful that the responses given by Simon and Stephanie at the lunch suggest some movement towards rectifying this.

I was genuinely surprised at their candour and willingness to answer our questions. Initially the question and answers ( Stephanie asking and Simon answering ) seemed a tad scripted and rehearsed, but this soon gave way to a lively session with some robust debate and humour ( NPPP'S etc)
A great lunch and a terrific show of corporate hospitality.
Annual event maybe??

 

[simongr]

A great lunch and a terrific show of corporate hospitality.
Annual event maybe??

I am not attending unless I get my Hummer! It was 6 minutes' walk!

Also a slight delay getting home whilst I snoozed on the train...

 

[simongr]

It was raised as I think I asked the question about WPs getting screwed - a lot of you know my bugbear that other levels got extra benefits (higher status bonus and access to our award inventory) and we got diddly - someone else commented that our benefits had gotten worse as well with the removal of ATA. That is just for context and I personally have no interest in ATA as some of you know about

 

[medhead]

It was raised as I think I asked the question about WPs getting screwed - a lot of you know my bugbear that other levels got extra benefits (higher status bonus and access to our award inventory) and we got diddly - someone else commented that our benefits had gotten worse as well with the removal of ATA. That is just for context and I personally have no interest in ATA as some of you know about

[insert major funny bone]OMG!! :shock: I didn't realise you were one of those jealous, green eyed whinging platinums - like me.

 

[Scrimo]

A very good day indeed and very interesting. Thank you to QFF (Red Roo and all the team) for all the work in setting up such a professional lunch.

Just as a matter of interest there were potentially 2 new WP1 members that attended the lunch. We know that 1 has been conformed with esquire but any idea who the other 1 or 2 are?

I thought I may be close but some confusion surrounding the QF Code has me thinking that I am short. If you fly a RWT purchased through qantas do you only get the actual QF flight numbers credited to your 2700? That would seem unlikely as many international flyers can only fly the MEL-LHR or LAX-MEL legs on QF. Also I get a different impression on how year 1 WP1 members will be calculated. If I remember correctly (and I could be very wrong) it is taken from 1st October till your next renewal date??

Anyway I guess we will find out on Tuesday when all WP members will get an email to advise them of where they are in relation to WP1.

Cheers

 

[serfty]

...

I thought I may be close but some confusion surrounding the QF Code has me thinking that I am short. If you fly a RWT purchased through qantas do you only get the actual QF flight numbers credited to your 2700? That would seem unlikely as many international flyers can only fly the MEL-LHR or LAX-MEL legs on QF. Also I get a different impression on how year 1 WP1 members will be calculated. If I remember correctly (and I could be very wrong) it is taken from 1st October till your next renewal date?? ...

I would assume it relates to "Mr. Squiggle" (

) flights only ...

 

[drewbles]

I would assume it relates to "Mr. Squiggle" (

) flights only ...

Was confirmed to be any qf code and not only metal (although Simon jokingly said he'd prefer us to get it on all QF metal of course!). AONE4 or 5 on lots of QF flight numbers would work in your favour there for sure.

 

[esquire]

Princess Fiona,

I've done the CBR-NTL flight a few times (post ATA removal) - and have always managed to get into the J Lounge at CBR.... they even announce the boarding in there!

Seems like a very minor and easy concession to make considering checking in at QF, a QF boarding pass, QF bag tags, etc...


hopefully this one got through loud and clear yesterday!

 

[simongr]

It was definitely QF codes only not QF tickets.

The 1 October thing relates to the initial intake only. The idea was to have a fair way of working out the invites. From now on it will be tied to membership year. I think it will work like this, if you have a dec year end the flights you took nov 1 2010 to 31 oct 2011 will determine if you are in the launch group. Them if you have the required SC jan to dec 2011 you will be WP1 until 31 Dec 2012.

 

[Alanslegal]

I've done the CBR-NTL flight a few times (post ATA removal) - and have always managed to get into the J Lounge at CBR.... they even announce the boarding in there!

But that is abusing/gaming/cheating the system :!: Either QF reintroduces (limited) ATA or clamps down on this type of access. Its unfair for WPs and J flyers who play by the rules.

 

[jamesatfish]

Firstly, thanks to Red Roo, Steph, Simon and Terri (Rockpool) for a fantastic afternoon and some very open and frank discussions. Great also to meet some fellow AFFers and put faces to names and forum posts.


I won't cover things that have already been discussed in this thread, but here are some other tidbits from the conversations I had during the day that others might find interesting.




•P1 qualification levels and benefits seem to be set so they're not worth pushing for if you don't qualify through your normal flight patterns. Unlike SG or WP, where there are tangible benefits from gaming the system or doing SC runs to make the next status tier, P1 seems to be an offering that will be useful to those who qualify without changing their normal flying patterns, but not worth taking additional flights to reach. I suspect most P1 members will easily qualify rather than scrape in from year to year.


•QF are very happy with their current WP offering with particular regards to the status bonus when compared to the offerings of other airlines for their OWE members. There was a clear message that when the recent round of status bonuses were increased for PS and SG members, there was no need to increase WP given it was already a quality offering by comparison with other carriers. QF do not feel that the WP offering is diminished because it was not improved at the same time as improvements to the lesser tiers.


•The accumulative loyalty bonus was removed because it was determined that only a small minority of members knew about the benefit and/or appreciated it. QF advised that implementing the annual reset for loyalty bonus credits was a tangible saving to the business hence why it wasn't retained (the question asked was in regards to the 'once per year' flyer who ended up with a loyalty points bonus after 3-4 years of being 'loyal' to QF).


•In relation to the layout of the A380 First cabin, Steph advised that the reason for the very isolated cabin layout (ie no real provision for couples travelling in F as there is on the 747, or with Emirates or Singapore) is that more than 90% of F travellers are flying solo, or in non-social groups (for instance a celebrity travelling with their agent).


•The decision to swap Dom Perignon for Tattenger in the F cabin was made through a blind tasting panel, but now that the contract has been let to Tattenger there's no hope for the return of Dom any time soon.


•The presence of Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace in the QF Wine Guide is not a lie; there are indeed flights where these wines are served but sadly no way of knowing in advance which ones they will be. Needless to say there isn't a huge volume of those wines in the system so the odds of picking the flight when they are served are very slim.


•On a similar note, wines for each flight sector are selected by the ground catering staff at each port from a specified list of wines suitable for the current menu in each cabin. The beverage menu for each flight is printed on the basis of the wines selected by catering, not the other way around.


•The catering contract for the J lounges is soon to be up for tender, and there will be stricter food quality and service requirements placed around whomever wins the new supply contract. This should result in an improvement of the quality and consistency of the food offering in domestic lounges.

 

[reductionist]

The catering contract for the J lounges is soon to be up for tender, and there will be stricter food quality and service requirements placed around whomever wins the new supply contract. This should result in an improvement of the quality and consistency of the food offering in domestic lounges.

Ooh this is good to hear. I'm looking forward to seeing the improved offering.

 

[TonyHancock]

With a bit more information in from the AFF "gang of 16" I think QF deserve a "well done" for organising this event. I get the feeling that the AFF members were listened to and there was a good deal of interaction.

My major interest has been the new platinum one status and I think that the 3600 SC requirement is perfectly reasonable, and the 2700 QF element is quite rightly there to ensure QF is getting the business. From what I have seen so far I have not found the WP1 offering overly inspiring though. I'm looking forward to seeing the QF email next week.

I won't qualify immediately for WP1, but if current booked travel remains unchanged I'll get there in April, so should at least get a year to see what the benefits are, published and unpublished. I still have a fair bit of travel left to book over the next six months and if I needed the additional status credits to hit WP1 I'm not sure I'd be pursuing them. :-| (If my current travel plans do change I won't be too disappointed at not reaching WP1.)

If anything QF has made the situation much clearer to me now. My plan is to maintain WP level with QF and with VA/DJ. The proviso in all of this though is that I can maintain my J travel to Europe six times a year through a mix of paid and points flights.

The absolute maximum number of QF SC's to target is really 2400. That way I max the "bonus" SC's and grab 50,000 points. I still need to carry out a bit of research on this though to make sure I'm getting the best deal for me. I may be better just hitting the 1200 and then switching earning and or travel elsewhere.

The international points upgrade issue is still not what I would like, but I can understand the reluctance of QF to provided guaranteed upgrades at time of booking.

The real positive from the event has been QF's desire to listen and talk to AFF members.

Thanks to jetlag I was wide awake in the UK at the time of the lunch but was able to follow the event via thewinchester's live twitter feed, so a big thanks to him for providing this.

Hopefully QF will continue the interaction, I get the impression, from the attendees' posts, that QF did get some value out of listening to AFF members.

 

[medhead]

ATA - (dons hard hat).

RULES - don't shoot the messenger. If you wish to comment on the content here - post in the ATA thread. This is strictly "reporting on the discussion".

As a general comment I don't think reasonable person would shoot the messenger. We all understand you are just delivering a message. I think an inherent part of that role is that the messenger is not expected or required to defend the message if people post a negative response. Maybe if we add that to the ground rules - AFF16 are not required to defend the message?

Guest passes (either the old QP style, or the Silver comp. style were the notable suggestions.)

I really want them to go so much further with guest passes. The current guest situation of auto guest entitlements grossly devalues the guest spot. Do you think they had such a view? What would be the official QFF position on this? Are the guest passes just going to be a bandaid measure to shout up hard core whingers? Or perhaps a more integrated comprehensive change?

QF do not feel that the WP offering is diminished because it was not improved at the same time as improvements to the lesser tiers.

I really don't think anyone said it was diminished, because clearly the WP is not reduced. The issue is more about the incentive to get platinum over gold. It is about differential, which is important in an environment that has choice and you are trying to get people to fly with you more. They really need to consider how the package of changes influences customer behaviour. Sure platinum hasn't been reduced but I think the changes have definitely made people divert flying to the competition.

 

[drewbles]

•The decision to swap Dom Perignon for Tattenger in the F cabin was made through a blind tasting panel, but now that the contract has been let to Tattenger there's no hope for the return of Dom any time soon.

I somehow missed this one (I'm guessing this was during an informal 'table based' conversation rather than the Q&A session.

Personally, I find the Taittinger Comtes de Champagne is better than the Dom anyway, so when (if!) I get to F i'll be more than happy to relieve them of some stock whilst in-flight

I wonder if that means J will get the Taittinger Cuvée Presitge or just the regular Brut? Hopefully the former

 

[GoldenWinger]

Thanks for all the great info - really appreciate it.

Just still confused about the qualification - my anniversary is 30NOV by which time will have obtained around 3800 status (90% on QF and about 560 from double status credits) - but by 31OCT I will be at 3295 SCs. Would I still qualify for P1 as I reached the requirement in my membeship year?

Thanks!

 

[arrow]

Quick question - when do they plan to officially announce P1 & implement the changes to the upgrade system?

thanks

 

[jamesatfish]

I somehow missed this one (I'm guessing this was during an informal 'table based' conversation rather than the Q&A session.

I actually ended up missing my scheduled 4pm lift to the airport as I was caught up talking to Terri from Rockpool about the food & beverage offerings in-flight and in the lounges. The discussions about Epicure and the wine lists came from that chat.

The comment about the Tattenger contract was in the past-tense (based upon the change from Dom about 2 years ago) rather than in relation to a recent change that might reflect specifically on the offerings in J. Doesn't mean there won't be a change there but that wasn't something we discussed.

 

[dfcatch]

As a general comment I don't think reasonable person would shoot the messenger. We all understand you are just delivering a message. I think an inherent part of that role is that the messenger is not expected or required to defend the message if people post a negative response. Maybe if we add that to the ground rules - AFF16 are not required to defend the message?




I really want them to go so much further with guest passes. The current guest situation of auto guest entitlements grossly devalues the guest spot. Do you think they had such a view? What would be the official QFF position on this? Are the guest passes just going to be a bandaid measure to shout up hard core whingers? Or perhaps a more integrated comprehensive change?



I really don't think anyone said it was diminished, because clearly the WP is not reduced. The issue is more about the incentive to get platinum over gold. It is about differential, which is important in an environment that has choice and you are trying to get people to fly with you more. They really need to consider how the package of changes influences customer behaviour. Sure platinum hasn't been reduced but I think the changes have definitely made people divert flying to the competition.

I certainly emphasized to simon that IMO the issue wasn't the level of benefits, but if the marginal increase in benefits for platinum was commensurate with twice the SCs for gold.

I also made the point that I never fully used my 10 guest passes per year, and I almost never have a guest with me, but the once or twice a year I want to take my parents to the lounge, no access.

Simon fully acknowledged both these points and whilst not promising anything, he was very clear that the door is always open for "tweaking".

I was pleased with this view, and the opportunity to provide real examples of areas for such "tweaking".