We really want to fly QF, but can't justify the price

[Flying mermaid]

Yeah, we decided to simply take the kids out of school for a couple of weeks. The way I see it, seeing the world has as much educational value as school.

I remember that my high school had a similar view when they organised a central Australia trip when I was in year 10. There was 30 of us out of a school of 800 who went on the trip (no pre-req with grades, just pony up the $$$), and we missed a week of school to do it and no they did not provide us lessons / homework on the bus / plane in it's place, they figured the educational experience of travel was the perfect classroom / teacher. Since then I see nothing wrong with taking the kids out of school every so often (say a week or two a year) for the purposes of travel.

We took our kids out of school all the time - quite long periods in Primary school, shorter in High School. Even in year 12, although that was harder to get permission for. Didn't make any difference to their educational outcomes or careers - oldest child is a doctor, middle one a software engineer with Google, youngest just finishing training to be a high school teacher. It has given them a great appreciation of other countries and cultures and we have no regrets!

 

[Isochronous]

Yeah, we decided to simply take the kids out of school for a couple of weeks. The way I see it, seeing the world has as much educational value as school.

I remember that my high school had a similar view when they organised a central Australia trip when I was in year 10. There was 30 of us out of a school of 800 who went on the trip (no pre-req with grades, just pony up the $$$), and we missed a week of school to do it and no they did not provide us lessons / homework on the bus / plane in it's place, they figured the educational experience of travel was the perfect classroom / teacher. Since then I see nothing wrong with taking the kids out of school every so often (say a week or two a year) for the purposes of travel.

Never let university or school get in the way of a child's education.

 

[timster]

The labour costs per employee for a range of carriers were submitted by Qantas to the ACCC in 2012 (sourced from Oxford Economics), for approval of the Emirates tie-up. See the largest / 3rd document, Figure 1, 25th page (page 10).
Qantas Airways Limited & Emirates - Authorisations - A91332 & A91333

In summary
"Labour costs averaged US$94,575 per employee for the first six airlines* from Europe,
Australia and North America, with labour costs averaging around half this amount for the
remaining eight airlines (US$49,510)."

*Lufthansa, Air-France/KLM, Qantas, UA, AA, BA (in descending order, with Qantas / UA / AA approx equal)

ie Qantas labour costs on par with other western airlines, but roughly double asian / middle eastern airlines.

 

[BD1959]

Thanks for that Timster.

An interesting group of companies for a comparison in relation to the QF/EK tie-up.

Considering the majority of stats relating to routes in the main submission focus on Australia-UK and Australia-NZ, we then have a comparison cost on labor bereft of Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic (they were flying UK-Australia in 2010, the year of the Labor costs). However, the labor comparison does include Air India, Jet Airways and Sri Lankan.

However, your point remains, QF is operating in a market where it has the third-highest in the list of selected carriers. Regardless, I accept QF is NOT significantly higher than UA (my post #56 point 1) - VA are not listed.

Back to GPH's post, based on these labor costs, I see little reason for UA and AA pilots to swap their wings to fly in Australia!!

Regards,

BD