Why doesn’t Alliance Airlines use QFF?

[RSVKanga]

Is there anything preventing Alliance Airlines from adopting Qantas Frequent Flyer for regular/FIFO flights that are purely Alliance (not other charter or QF/VA wet leased)?

VA has not only poached FlyPelican but also Link Airways in adopting Velocity in recent years. And that’s without VA holding any stakes in those airlines. Qantas however has a 20% stake in Alliance and yet QQ doesn’t use QFF.

So why can’t/why doesn’t Alliance use QFF? I think it would be a great benefit for people flying on their FIFO services in particular

 

[opusman]

I imagine Qantas would want to pay them such a low rate for award seats that it wouldn't be worth their while.

 

[antycbr]

Is there anything preventing Alliance Airlines from adopting Qantas Frequent Flyer for regular/FIFO flights that are purely Alliance (not other charter or QF/VA wet leased)?

VA has not only poached FlyPelican but also Link Airways in adopting Velocity in recent years. And that’s without VA holding any stakes in those airlines. Qantas however has a 20% stake in Alliance and yet QQ doesn’t use QFF.

So why can’t/why doesn’t Alliance use QFF? I think it would be a great benefit for people flying on their FIFO services in particular

I’m sure the mining companies are keen on paying QQ more for their services to pay for FF points.m

Indeed they probably resent paying for FIFO ops anyway so they can take the MinRes path and start their own in-house airline - definitely no points or SC then!!

 

[#flying]

Qantas still competes with Alliance for charter work (notwithstanding that it owns a minority stake in the company). It wouldn't make much sense for them to hand their key competitor what is probably one of their major selling points - the ability to earn QFF points.

 

[RSVKanga]

With the news today that Alliance has emerged as a likely bidder for Rex, they could and should replace the Rex name with their brand and adopt Qantas Frequent Flyer as an FF program if the acquisition is successful, considering they'll be operating many commercial routes after previously being mainly a charter/leasing corporation. Regional customers will appreciate it. Qantas should use their stake in Alliance to make it happen.

Airlines that VA doesn't even have a stake in (Link, Pelican) have adopted Velocity. I'd be very surprised if Alliance doesn't adopt QFF if they acquire Rex.

 

[elanshin]

Is there anything preventing Alliance Airlines from adopting Qantas Frequent Flyer for regular/FIFO flights that are purely Alliance (not other charter or QF/VA wet leased)?

VA has not only poached FlyPelican but also Link Airways in adopting Velocity in recent years. And that’s without VA holding any stakes in those airlines. Qantas however has a 20% stake in Alliance and yet QQ doesn’t use QFF.

So why can’t/why doesn’t Alliance use QFF? I think it would be a great benefit for people flying on their FIFO services in particular

Because QFF isn't free? It'd cost alliance.

 

[RSVKanga]

Because QFF isn't free? It'd cost alliance.

VFF 'costs' Link and FlyPelican. Virgin don't even have a stake in those airlines.

Qantas has a major stake in Alliance. Of course they could and should make it happen.

 

[elanshin]

VFF 'costs' Link and FlyPelican. Virgin don't even have a stake in those airlines.

Qantas has a major stake in Alliance. Of course they could and should make it happen.

Yes and if you make a business choice that you think the cost of paying VA the cost to join velocity is worth it for your business, then thats a business decision.

Just like you can choose not to adopt QFF if it costs you money and you don't think you can make it back. It's not a one sided benefits only situation.

 

[dajop]

Qantas has a major stake in Alliance. Of course they could and should make it happen.

QF owns 19.9% according to Wikipedia. ACCC watching closely. And on compete routes like MQL, BWT, DPO, DBO etc, it perhaps wouldn't be in QF's interest, levels the playing field somewhat if your main competitor is part of QFF as well.

 

[elanshin]

Also don't forget the upfront capital cost to integrate. Depending on how compatible/ not compatible this may not be a small cost.

 

[RSVKanga]

Just like you can choose not to adopt QFF if it costs you money and you don't think you can make it back.

Alliance, if they successfully acquire Rex, will become a commercial regional airline competing against not one but two other main regional airlines that have an FF program. IMO it wouldn't make sense for them not to have loyalty benefits. It could be harmful to them long-term if they stay 100% utilitarian.

QF owns 19.9% according to Wikipedia. ACCC watching closely. And on compete routes like MQL, BWT, DPO, DBO etc, it perhaps wouldn't be in QF's interest, levels the playing field somewhat if your main competitor is part of QFF as well.

One of the ideas floated in The Australian a couple of weeks ago is that Rex under its new owner should focus primarily on monopoly routes and destinations rather than routes/cities where Qantas competes with them to maximise profit. Alliance could and should just adopt that idea if/when they buy the carcass Rex and rebrand/revitalise it. QF codeshare and QFF for Narrandera, Parkes, Moruya, QLD milk run destinations, Albany etc while the flights are operated by Alliance on Alliance metal. Qantas always has its boardroom influence to make things like this happen; they're the largest shareholder.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yair, they would probably want to and but it would likely be foul of the Corporations Law. Of course with Qantas’ track record, this needn’t be a problem.

 

[33kft]

They would acquire rexflyer. I suspect they'd just use that?

 

[dajop]

One of the ideas floated in The Australian a couple of weeks ago is that Rex under its new owner should focus primarily on monopoly routes and destinations rather than routes/cities where Qantas competes with them to maximise profit. Alliance could and should just adopt that idea if/when they buy the carcass Rex and rebrand/revitalise it. QF codeshare and QFF for Narrandera, Parkes, Moruya, QLD milk run destinations, Albany etc while the flights are operated by Alliance on Alliance metal. Qantas always has its boardroom influence to make things like this happen; they're the largest shareholder.

There is probably a reason why those compete routes were sustained profitably over decades, and could be argued have provided the cash to support the lower demand (but monopoly) routes. Core routes like MEL-MQL, SYD-DBO, SYD-ABX and SYD-WGA have sustained two competitors for decades, and in the case of SYD-ABX and MEL-MQL also had VA on the routes for considerable lengths of time. BWT and DPO used to be monopoly routes for ZL and QF respectively, not sure if they are sustainable with competition.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

They should adopt BA Avios.

 

[justinbrett]

I would think an interline agreement would be the first step. As far as I’m aware, they have none.

Getting carried away talking about loyalty programs.

 

[RSVKanga]

I would think an interline agreement would be the first step.

And with Alliance Regional using the Qantas terminals at SYD, MEL and PER.

 

[tdimdad]

Why go to QFF when there's already RexFlyer available for easy adoption? Rebrand and start enhancing the program.

 

[RSVKanga]

Why go to QFF when there's already RexFlyer available for easy adoption? Rebrand and start enhancing the program.

Small independent FF programs simply don’t work in 2024. Why did Fiji Airways a couple of months ago decide to adopt AAdvantage rather than enhance/expand their own Tabua club? Small, new and/or unrecognised FF programs don’t get enough air time against the large and well established schemes.

The safest option would be for QQ to pay the price for long term-gain by adopting QFF. Lounges, partner airlines, partner businesses, redemptions, rewards store and everything is instantly sorted out. No need for QQ to start from scratch.

Or it could be that QQ acquires RexFlyer, rebrands it and then adopts an Everyday Rewards-style feeder system that has the option of converting and transferring to QFF. (eg: 1000 Alliance Points = 2000 Qantas Points). But even that requires a lot of self-planning and marketing when the FF part can really be looked after by QFF while QQ focuses on Saab replacements and profits. Short term price QQ have to pay for long-term gain.

And Link/Pelican adopting and paying for Velocity doesn’t seem to have caused any trouble over at those airlines, so I think any comments that QQ adopting QFF will be financially detrimental are overblown.

And of course Qantas should be interlining, code-sharing on Alliance monopoly routes and giving QQ access to QF terminals.

 

[RSVKanga]

Yair, they would probably want to and but it would likely be foul of the Corporations Law

Link Airways (seperate to VA) uses Velocity.
FlyPelican (seperate to VA) uses Velocity.
BWS (seperate company to Woolworths) uses Everyday Rewards.

But Alliance (partly owned by QF) using QFF is somehow 'illegal' in your world?

[You're] <redacted> trying to push an anti-Qantas agenda, <redacted>. Alliance acquiring Rex, rebranding it and adopting QFF will be fantastic for regional Australia.