What takes people from Qantas ?

[Flying mermaid]

For us it is about value for money. We have always paid our own airfares and I loved Qantas, so we pretty much just flew them and BA. I even did some really strange back tracking, like Crimea - Istanbul- London-Singapore just so I could fly predominantly those two airlines.

Mr FM tried for years to get me to move as he thought Qantas had deteriorated and he quite disliked BA F. In the end I had to admit he was right. We are now flying whatever we think is best for the route and don’t worry about sticking to any alliance. We only fly F or J which means we get lounges anyway even with no status (although we have LTG). I still like Qantas staff, but it is stupid to pay for an inferior product.....

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

7 years ago, when VA and (Air)NZ tied in, I had plans to try the Koru lounges, have tried several of them now... but, they have now broken up their relationship, and VA have no lounges at international airports, they used to use Koru, but after 28 Oct, who knows which lounges they will put their premium passengers through...
So looks like I am back to flying QFi solely Au - NZ again!
Since 1997, I have flown QF a lot, and AN (Ansett), then Ansett went belly up.
So it was QF only, then VA and (Air)NZ, now, back to QF.
**Why hello QF, how have you been? I know I haven't flown you a lot lately, but I am back to you again**.

 

[downgraded]

Price does it for me. QF PE and J are often so far over the going rate that it's a no brainier to use another carrier.
I also hate the pace of international QF J service. I know the flights can be long, but it's no excuse for dinner taking an hour between courses. I don't get to fly them often but invariably end up asking whether they forgot to serve my main, only to be told it is still coming. And don't get me started about when a famous face or friend is traveling in the cabin what that does to the service...

 

[davidj]

I've often been stumped at the level of QFA loyalty here, but quickly came to the realisation it was mostly due to people gaining status from flying domestically, then feel 'locked in' flying QFA internationally (a big win for QFA - QFF actually works for them).

While I can concur that QFA is king domestically, there are so many better options flying internationally. Personally, status is a 'meh', good to have, but my primary driver would value for money, service, and the product itself. Obviously this is not the case for some people.

Interestingly, most high end flyers don't even belong to a frequently flyer program! Service and experience is key.

What ever floats your boat, or flies your plane.

 

[amaroo]

Having hit LTG 5 years ago, and maintaining Plat status for the past 7 years as a leisure flyer - I've been outright slack investigating other options. With some pushing and prodding from another AFF member, I've rearranged my affairs and will be testing the waters with "supposedly" superior airlines .... we shall see.

I like Qantas, but TBH they are mediocre with many aspects of their onboard quality .... First Class and F&B offer, etc, etc

If they offered LTP, I'd probably be reluctant to change. But since that's not an option - I'm taking myself and family away from Qantas, and we may never come back!

 

[cgichard]

For several consecutive years I had to fly to the UK on Christmas Day. Originally with Qantas but hated their silly Santa Claus hats and relentless "Ho!, ho! ho!". Then on two successive flights they assumed I was with the person sitting next to me and and asked that person what I would like to eat/drink. That did it!

 

[pauly7]

My story of QFi losing some share of my wallet and my business partners wallets all started when Frankfurt was exited.

QF lost a bit of leverage with AU corporates when they closed their EU business. To compensate the EK deal was stitched up and QF cut a deal (with at least some) corporates to continue to earn rebate / structural discount on connecting ex Dubai flights to the continent. But after a while they started to drift and EK started picking them up direct.

I see as QF starts reopening EU markets with 787 / Project Sunrise metal, there will be a big new push from them to stitch up more corporates that have EU presence, just like they have done successfully with the huge expansion in Asian flying. The Perth / London service is vacuuming up premium pax and corporates and expect the same for the next France / Germany / Italy routes.

I agree with the others though QFd really has it nailed locally though.

 

[Pleb Status]

An actual case study from an ex QF P1 who may not set foot on a QF aircraft in 2018.

Flight was PER-SYD-MEL in Y last Saturday.

1. VA was more than $300 cheaper and booked into a slightly more flexible fare class (Elevate vs Red eDeal).
2. VA and QF offered the same aircraft on both sectors (73H).
3. VA WP are provided with extra leg room YX seats on both sectors at no extra charge and prior to payment.
4. Due to the Sydney trains issues on Saturday, I decided to fly ahead to MEL. As I was travelling on an Elevate fare, the fly ahead request was processed without question and I was on my way to MEL about an hour later. Even though the new flight was reasonably full, VA WP YX access allowed the preallocation of an extra legroom seat (with a empty middle) an hour from departure.

The above case study is the norm and not the exception. I may have possibly received a slightly better meal if I travelled on QF. I may have possibly received a slightly better lounge experience (if I travelled as a WP, which I am not) on QF. However, I would not pay a single cent to receive these possible 'benefits'.

Domestically, I cannot see why I would want to fly QF again as I can go elsewhere and fly for less and in greater comfort.

The only drawcard QF has is the OW alliance. If I was flying to South America etc, I can see the advantage. But as I do not, I am happy to go elsewhere and pocket tens of thousands in savings....

 

[Andz]

Love Qantas! Flew with them this past weekend return Perth to Brisbane on points and they treated my two young children extremely well. Flying J to Auckland tomorrow for Bledisloe, go Aussies!!!!!

However I got shafted 5 years ago and I have a elephant memory. Went through numerous arbitration to try get back 50,000 points QF stole from me 2 months (when I had earned enough points) after I got a gate upgrade in LAX. Gave up when I had to go to court.

I fly anything now with the shortest duration and cheapest price. Lounges and priority are nice perks however there are 4 of us now and everything is four times more expensive.

From Perth:
No direct flights to Africa
No direct flights to Bali
No direct flights to Asia, except SIN (Not flying Jetstar Asia....)

 

[sudoer]

The only drawcard QF has is the OW alliance. If I was flying to South America etc, I can see the advantage.

It's not what the thread asked for, but this is what keeps me with Qantas. The bulk of my international flying is to Japan, in a mix of Y and J, where QFF Plat is far more valuable than VA Plat.

For direct flights I have options with QF ex SYD/BNE/MEL to HND/NRT/KIX, or JL ex SYD/MEL to NRT. The diversity of routes means good domestic connection options in Japan, and excellent service recovery during IRROPS. CX and MH provide solid alternatives for flying indirectly into HND/NRT.

Whichever route I pick, I can access some of the best lounges in the world in SYD, MEL, NRT, HND and HKG. KUL and BNE aren't too bad either.

Within Japan my status is recognised by JL (domestic First lounges at HND/ITM/CTS/OKA) and I can even fall back to JQ Japan if desperate to earn some SCs or squiggles, albeit without lounge access.

Comparing this with VA Plat I'd have no direct flight options, no domestic status in Japan, and no lounge access in Japan unless flying a premium cabin. So in short, I'm stuck with Qantas until VA join *A or form a partnership with ANA, and both seem unlikely any time soon.

 

[Quickstatus]

BFOD

For most the determinants for BFOD are
Price
Price
Price
Price
Price
Number of stops to destination.
Choice of departure time

Think of airlines as a commodity and the answer will be clear.

Safety comes way down the list

 

[Silvia]

I have considered for a while between VA and QF Plat, and what keeps me? One world alliance for sure. Also, the perks of VA Plat are not as what you would get QF Plat. After trying economy x with VA and not even having the overhead bin respected, it really pushed me away from VA which doesn't cut it with such a patchy intl network.

 

[drron]

It's not what the thread asked for, but this is what keeps me with Qantas. The bulk of my international flying is to Japan, in a mix of Y and J, where QFF Plat is far more valuable than VA Plat.

For direct flights I have options with QF ex SYD/BNE/MEL to HND/NRT/KIX, or JL ex SYD/MEL to NRT. The diversity of routes means good domestic connection options in Japan, and excellent service recovery during IRROPS. CX and MH provide solid alternatives for flying indirectly into HND/NRT.

Whichever route I pick, I can access some of the best lounges in the world in SYD, MEL, NRT, HND and HKG. KUL and BNE aren't too bad either.

Within Japan my status is recognised by JL (domestic First lounges at HND/ITM/CTS/OKA) and I can even fall back to JQ Japan if desperate to earn some SCs or squiggles, albeit without lounge access.

Comparing this with VA Plat I'd have no direct flight options, no domestic status in Japan, and no lounge access in Japan unless flying a premium cabin. So in short, I'm stuck with Qantas until VA join *A or form a partnership with ANA, and both seem unlikely any time soon.

Well our International flying is also first to Asia.2-3 times a year to SIN,BKK and NRT.
However I can get all the benefits you talk of being OWE on AA or BAEC.
Yes nothing on JQ Japan but better earning if I decide to fly to Asia on CX or JAL in more comfort than QF.

 

[Chalkie]

What drives me away from Qantas is price and lack of routes. I am stuck with QF for business travel until the end of the year. After that I am flying JL and CX (mostly; QF from SIN on the way home) on an Asian trip, and then QF/AA to YVR (via LAX) in May. Beyond that it will switch to best value for money for F or J, and availability of routes.

I suspect in retirement QF will still be part of my travelling plans, but it will be because they've won on the fares and routes, not because I am blindly loyal to them.

 

[ausfox]

I have my WP locked away for next year so when a friend wanted to go to SFO at the best price it was via NZ. Saved a couple of thousand dollars and apart from going via Auckland the service was as good as or better than QF. Maybe no more status runs but best price available in the near future. The dining in the F lounge is good but it is a very expensive meal.

 

[Scr77]

Our family was loyal to QF until poor reward seat availability forced us to try other airlines for OS travel. Now we realise how much better other airlines can be!

 

[jase05]

Domestically I’d estimate 90% of our flights are with VA, very rarely do I use QF and as such I only crack WP every couple of years if we use a OW member for our international trips. I would estimate it’s been around 3 years since my last international flight on QF metal and don’t see that changing anytime soon as their pricing is just far too expensive for the quality of service they provide.
Most of our travelling abroad in the last couple of years has been on Skyteam members or VA partners and their price and service leaves QF for dead IMO. It will take me forever to reach QF LTG so I’m not even chasing it as most of our flights are in J anyway so we get the J perks.
People often laugh at us and look at us strangely when we mention how often we use GA or CI but both have offered us decent service everytime and often at nearly half what QF charges

 

[smlynarz]

Interesting article. We are a sports club/State program who flies semi regularly. We were trying to negotiate a better deal as we can only buy group tickets as we travel in groups of 14-140. The groups and QBR would not come to the party despite spending over 100k a year (for effectively no points etc) for the last 3 years. I had my credit card out to buy 140 return domestic seats, and 62 international to USA. Unfortunately the fine lady at Qantas said that "I don't care if you don't book with us"... Virgin and Delta got the business, with a handy financial saving too. So far Virgin have come to the party doing anything they can to help with our sports tours! We will see if we go back to Qantas... Loyalty goes both ways, probably more cost effective to get a new customer than retain (like the banks)!

 

[danielt25]

As a mainly domestic flyer, slowly switching back to VA. (QF P1 status runs out October 2019!).

Virgin travel bank trumps QF individual voucher system when flights are cancelled.

Changing my QF flexible domestic J fares online for some reason now does not even offer me an option to switch into another domestic J fare ( only offers red e deals or flexible economy) ... defeats purpose of being fully flexible. IT issue I imagine. (This used to work, BTW.)

Cancelling flexible domestic J fares and requesting refund has taken me over a month (on 2 separate occasions) and numerous phone calls to get it moved along through the system.

Hence my support of the hassle free VA travel bank.

Plus VA a lot cheaper on the route I travel 99% of the time.

 

[Quickstatus]

Loyalty goes both ways,

In an ideal world. It seems to be one way with FF programs