What If.....

[oz_mark]

While it is a hypothetical situation - it is a situation that may have already come to pass had Dixon had his way with selling out to private equity, loading the company to the gills with debt etc. So, the sitaution cannot be ruled out.

From an international perspective, probably not a huge problem, as their are lots of alternatives. Their might be some short term capacity problems, but no doubt these would be filled in by the international airlines.

Domestic flights would be more of a problem, and I would expect that some of the international airlines that have domestic legs would be able to carry purely domestic passengers.

I suspect, however, that it is likely that some overseas airline, or the Australian government itself, might step in to bolster the airline.

Keep in mind, that from a domestic perspective, prior to Ansett going under, it was generally the preferred dometic airline, with Qantas ranked second. I remember people who refused to fly Qantas due to Ansetts better service etc etc.

 

[Nigelinoz]

On the topic of what may happen in aviation in 2011 there are some interesting predictions in Crikey's Plane Talking blog this week.
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2011/01/08/eleven-reluctant-predictions-for-2011/

 

[dk4]

What would happen if Qantas went belly up?

I would assume that Jetstar would rise out of the ashes.

But it is hard to discuss, without knowing the reasons why such a thing might happen? (oz_mark gives a possible scenario... and still quite viable - sell off the bits, laden the parent with heaps of debt, pocket the profits and watch what's left; struggle then collapse.)

The government would be hard placed justifying to taxpayers that it needed propping up (after Ansett was let go)... however Qantas seems to posses an enviable influence within powerful circles.

 

[BVT]

I'd be remembering the line "down the rails, not across the tracks"

The thought of having to fly DJ all the time would be enough to committ FF suicide. I'd actually consider flying international out of Australia and back in to avoid flying them permanently.

Say what you want about DJ, but I have the displeasure of flying them now and again for auditing reasons (that's as much as I can say about it, please don't enquire further).

You can bemoan QF as much as you like, but give me an airline with a global alliance with truckloads of FFP earning options, priority baggage, well trained staff, a catering operation that doesn't come across like a canteen, and lounges with real food (not something prepared by the same on-board school canteen).

On the earning question, I could credit all my flying to VS - but the earning rates required to retain top tier (Gold) simply aren't attainable for someone on my flying (~16-20 sectors/year, mainly dom). And ODU's aren't available, let alone a DOM class to ODU into that would make the option worth it.

And on-board is enough to make me scream. The cabin staff are generally sub-standard, aren't anywhere near as professional as they should be, and quite frankly make me want to scream. This is not withstanding there's no consistent availbility of AVOD, fleet with the majority of 737s which I absolutely loathe flying on, and the quality of the passengers on board make me want to remove my eyes from my skull.

Yes, that may have been a little snobbish of me that last line - but every dammed time I'm on a DJ flight I can't help but notice the absolute bogans and dregs of society on board. People who wear thongs on board, need a good wash, or think a tank top showing off all their tatoos, and disgusting habits (behavoural and personal) who all think this is perfectly acceptable for onboard a plane around other people.

And as for TT, gag me with a spoon. Seriously, if any of the above actually happened the flying game in Australia could be likened to Soviet and eastern block carriers many moons ago, and to a lesser extent the state of the Chinese domestic market and carrier quality today.

We'd become an aviation backwater quality wise, and I dare say there would be a number of large private and institutional investors with serious coin who'd pony up the coin to keep QF flying and fix whatever possible imagined scenairo might take the red roo out of the air - hopefully learning from some of their current and future mistakes/misdeeds to make it a better company, specially in terms of their customer focus.

Sorry, that was a bit of a mouthfull - but DJ drives me absolutely nuts. Flying them is my personal equlivilent of 17th century torture minus the horses pulling you limb from limb.

+1

Try living on the GC and having to fly with JQ and DJ - only when I am forced to. That's why it's the Airtrain and QF for BvT. Ones fellow passengers!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

What if.....

John Borgetti does actually wave that magic wand which we are all hoping he does and he can really create a strong viable quality integrated alternative to QF - like rolling VA, DJ, VP etc all into one entity - developing a rewards program that is attractive and advantageous and delivers real and meaningful rewards to it's members - develops a network of lounges that offer a level of comfort and service equal or superior to Qantas - and in general turns the ugly duckiling we now know as DJ into a world class modern airline to compete vigourously with QF on ALL levels?

Hey I would much rather look at a half full scenario than half empty any day.

 

[samh004]

+1

Try living on the GC and having to fly with JQ and DJ - only when I am forced to. That's why it's the Airtrain and QF for BvT. Ones fellow passengers!

While you wouldn’t earn on JQ flights, as a WP you have free access to the JQ lounge at OOL and I quite like it. The same can’t be said about the AirTrain

 

[BVT]

While you wouldn’t earn on JQ flights, as a WP you have free access to the JQ lounge at OOL and I quite like it. The same can’t be said about the AirTrain

Well, obviously I like the Airtrain. Although sometimes, pound for pound one's fellow travelers are little better than at the Airport. I stare through the window and think deep thoughts (sometimes) or play on my iPad or even read and arrive at the Airport relaxed and ready for lounging.

I fly JetFlex, so I get air miles and the all important SC's. I have a STRONG preference for QF and am prepared for some minor inconvenience for the indulgence. On the other hand if QF starts flying from OOL again ....

 

[Postcode]

Another question to add to the what ifs..

What would happen to award bookings already made on QFF points on Oneworld airlines with fuel fines, taxes etc already paid? Would they honour them?

Did any *A airlines honour booked award flights when Ansett folded?

 

[samh004]

Another question to add to the what ifs..

What would happen to award bookings already made on QFF points on Oneworld airlines with fuel fines, taxes etc already paid? Would they honour them?

Did any *A airlines honour booked award flights when Ansett folded?

I think there are stories about flights being honoured, as they were already ticketed I guess. I think a few members here got lucky redeeming shortly before the collapse!

 

[equus]

Did any *A airlines honour booked award flights when Ansett folded?

Yes they did.

Was in the UK half way through a return SQ F ticket booked on AN points - and no issues whatsoever getting home.