What’s the point of being in a loyalty program with qantas?

[deebens]

Can't be a serious post and follow up, surely?

 

[edwina86]

Wow, this has been an entertaining read! Hopefully the OP now knows that when having trouble selecting a seat online, she could call the airline? Yes you might have to wait a while on hold (I recently waited over an hour to secure seats), but at least it's guaranteed and you don't have to throw a fit at the airport.

 

[mannej]

Wow, this has been an entertaining read! Hopefully the OP now knows that when having trouble selecting a seat online, she could call the airline? Yes you might have to wait a while on hold (I recently waited over an hour to secure seats), but at least it's guaranteed and you don't have to throw a fit at the airport.

Technically note guaranteed as other threads on here have reported - after all they are only a "request"

 

[mviy]

It's amazing how poor the websites of many airlines still are.

They could save themselves a lot of phone costs if they got their websites right, by making everything/most things you needed to do available to do online and in a reliable manner.

The call waiting times for QF for low status passengers could be a lot better if the website was improved so that most of them didn't need to call up just for basic things.

 

[RichardMEL]

Mara,

Suggesting posters who don't support your complaints outright must be employees of QANTAS or Emirates is pretty much a red rag to a bull around here. Recently it was suggested I work for QF PR which was hilarious, but I digress.

I think what you've exposed is a genuine misunderstanding of a sometimes complex system, specially when you mix partners such as Emirates into the equation. For example, you mentioned connecting to a "Qantas" plane at Dubai.. yet QF have not actually flown to Dubai since March - so unless your story is 3 or more months old then again it would have been an Emirates aircraft to Melbourne, but with a QF flight number (eg: QF8408 or similar). It can be confusing specially to those who may not be well versed in the intractacies of the QFF system, even with 15 years or more of membership. I do not mean this personally as many fall afoul of these things that many of us have become used to over time. For example, when flying on Emirates, to load the booking there to select seats and ensure one's FF number is in the system there.

You mention only having 1 upgrade in all this time. Many have interepted this to mean one "operational" or free upgrade.. Can you clarify do you mean you have applied for upgrades on QANTAS flights but not received them (using your points)? I'd note at this point that you can't upgrade Emirates operated flights using QF points.

I think some of us read your comments about the lounge staff in DXB calling security to mean you and your husband perhaps created some sort of fuss or perhaps may have seemed overly agressive or intimmidating to the staff there for them to take action. yes, I understand you are in your 60's, but that doesn't mean that folks over 60 can't be both agressive and intimidating specially when upset over an issue. It would be interesting to know more about exactly what happened.

Finally you've made some comments that express stereotypes that are unfair in my view: Poeple "at the back of the plane" being young implying they may have no status(like your Gold) or probably have paid less fo rtheir tickets.

To me, the price one has paid for a ticket is irrelevant, specially when involving connecting flights, sales or whatever. If they're in a certain class because thay have paid $100, $1000- or using points really has no impact on the experience in the cabin, and further is not relevant to any other passenger... I understand you feel you paid a fair amount for your tickets to/from ATH so why are you sitting down the back - specially with elite status. Well, it is more a function of you not selecting a better seat when you booked your tickets. There are plenty of examples of people buying a last minute, full fare, ticket and getting a middle seat down the back because there are no others left. It's not fair to assume or even judge what others' situations are. And as many have pointed out here, there are many on this forum in their 20's who hold much higher status than Gold.

I think the suggestions to educate yourselves on how to better make use of the program benefits are good ones, and this forum can provide useful advice based on years of experiences and knowledge of the quirks and glitches within the system to make the most of it. It can only benefi your future travel expeiences.

However, noting of taking copies of what are essentially anonymous forum posts and going toe media, or rerfusing to read responses that do not support your point of view fully may give some indication of the behaviour in Dubai that had security called and it's not a very useful response to give to people who are expressing viewpoints based on your own posts.. For a professional, well educated person, it's a rather imature response in my view.. but you're entitled to have it of course.

best wishes on your future travels and hopefully your time here has given you some pointers on how to make better use of the Status you have earned and managing experiences with QF, Emirates and other partners.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Not one positive response to me makes me very suspicious! I have now taken photos of all these responses and will post them in as many media outlets as I can.

LOL..either this is a pisstake or I can 100% understand now why security was called in the OP.

 

[jb747]

You aren't related to the bloke who claimed he was banned are you?

Disclaimer. I do work for QF, but nobody else in this thread does. Juddles may claim to be drunk, but he puts on a pretty good impression of sober if that is the case.

 

[Steady]

Recently it was suggested I work for QF PR which was hilarious, but I digress.

You don't

 

[RichardMEL]

You don't

Alan made me spin it that way.....

 

[mviy]

There's a lengthy thread expressing the disappointment that the QF Rep "Red Roo" was let go and the account is no longer used to post replies to help users on the community having difficulties. There are many who lament that QF no longer sees fit to actively participate in AFF.

AFF members include flyers who travel very frequently so it would be good for QFF to look after these and to gain valuable insights as to what improvements they could make cost effectively to improve the experience. QF is a premium airline and it's important that they provide the value to justify their premium prices.

I would be far more willing to fly airlines like CX, BA etc. if QF gave the same earn rates for flying them as for flying QF. I'm trying to get to LTG and if/when I reach that I'll be far more willing to try those other airlines.

 

[RichardMEL]

OT but...

I would be far more willing to fly airlines like CX, BA etc. if QF gave the same earn rates for flying them as for flying QF. I'm trying to get to LTG and if/when I reach that I'll be far more willing to try those other airlines.

And this is exactly why the earn table is the way it is

 

[TheRealTMA]

It did cross my mind.

Was just about to post something similar. Threads like these appear regularly on AFF. All very amusing. Someone’s having a lend.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry to hear about your seating issues @Mara.

As a Platinum when I book EK flights on a Qantas itinerary a seat is automatically allocated on the EK flights based on my aisle preference. Not usually in the front economy cabin but close to the front. I thought this would also be the case for Gold?

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

EK does have a guess but it can be a bit random. As a tip for those wanting to do EK seat allocations, they will do over webchat

 

[UP4014]

If you read my email all I wanted was to get a seat that wasn’t in the 2 back rows. And now I am beginning to think that all these responses are planted by the airlines to smear me. I will no longer read them! I am appalled about the drunken traveller who has been allowed to fly with qantas and emirates and not in relation to being upgraded. This is starting to look very bad for the airlines and you really need to stop this smear campaign. My family have been decent human beings and this is now quite ridiculous qantas and Emirates!

Isn't the above a bit pot kettle black after the comments on 20yo backpackers and people who perhaps didn't get to Uni. Just saying.

I don't work for an airline.

When I fly I know not everything will work perfectly every flight, if I get want I want some of the time that's great.

You say your in the medical field, without knowing which, say a patient dies or becomes worse as a result of treatment. Who is responsible for that, you as the medical service supplier or do you explain not everything works out perfectly. Just saying.

A seat on a plane isn't as important to me as fault free medical treatment, I'd be happy to visit you if I need the service you provide as we know it will be without error.

 

[Matt_01]

First post rant that turns in a tanty , love it.

 

[drron]

OT but...
And this is exactly why the earn table is the way it is

And exactly why we no longer fly QF out of Australia since mrsdrron got to LTG.

 

[travelislife]

i have been in the qantas frequent flyer program since 2003, as has my husband, we have been continuously at the gold status, travelling for both business and leisure. We undertake at least one overseas trip, sometimes 2 a year and several interstate trips. In that time we have only ever been upgraded once! Indeed in our last three trips overseas, we have left from Athens airport and have been seated, all three times in the second row from the back of the plane. Those sitting around us paid less for their ticket, were not frequent flyers and were in their early 20s - we are in our 60s. When we tried to change our seats in Dubai, at the lounge, we were made to feel like criminals and in fact they called the security guards, as I said we are in our 60s, professionals with post tertiary educations! Shame on qantas and shame on emirates. We no longer expect anything from these airlines! We leave from Athens tomorrow I am expecting a back row seat!

Do you expect something better for free when you buy from other businesses? I don’t expect to be given the merc S class next time I buy a C class even if I buy 5 C classes over 10 years!

You can go online and select your seats prior to travel like every other travelled. Nothing special here.

 

[eddie 73]

Surely somebody who has maintained SG, like Mara, for such a record-breaking stretch would be a far more ‘educated’ and seasoned seat selector?

 

[Deleted member]

And here I was thinking how dull and boring things were getting on AFF