Why stay loyal to Qantas...

[ozbeachbabe]

I have a dilemma. A bucket load of points and I am having great difficulty redeeming them for what I want.

So the next dilemma is what to do about travel to Thailand. Picking a random month of September when i want to go next and there are a few options.

Qantas sale currently ~$700 BNE-CNX return (~$900 outside sale) and will earn me as a Platinum around 10,000 QFF points. My gripe with Qantas is that I am not able to preselect bulkhead seats so need to pay $180 extra to sit in exit row. Still a good deal and I get some points.

Singapore Airlines is $1100 BNE-CNX return to be able to credit either on KrisFlyer or Velocity. And that does not solve the bulkhead/exit row situation either.

Thai Airways is $1100 BNE-CNX return to be able to credit to KrisFlyer. And again that does not solve the bulkhead/exit row situation either.

I can wait for Thai or Singapore to have a sale but their sales are few and far between and that gets us closer to September and the less likelihood of finding the right availability at the price I want to pay.

There are other options such as Jetstar, Scoot, Air Asia etc but with luggage, golf clubs, seat selection etc the cost comes close to $700 if not more so no point torturing myself if I am not able to save anything.

I would love to find a cost effective alternative but in my situation everywhere I turn and that answer is still Qantas. I keep thinking I am missing something but everywhere I turn the answer does not change. Not that simple for all.

JohnK have you signed up to AV LM yet do you can pounce on a 100% bonus miles offer when they are released?

You could then redeem a one way J award BNE or SYD to BKK on TG then book a return in whY on QF ex BKK to SYD or BNE & 'nest' the return.

Seeing as though you make several trips each year to Thailand it's likely you'll know the return date you want ex Aust to BKK at the time you book thereby avoiding change fees down the track.

Instead of TG outbound you could always buy a sale fare on JQ in whY or Star Class MEL/BKK or SYD/HKT & then buy a separate ticket to CNX from there. I think I know what your answer to that option will be!

 

[RichardMEL]

That's not the case.

The simple facts for BNE-CNX return in September is Qantas airfare ~$800 with all the trimmings including QFF 100SCs and QFF points.

The next best is Thai airfare ~$920 with only BKK-CNX earning miles.

If you had no status which would you choose? With status (including Lifetime Gold) it is extremely difficult to move away.

And I'm sure this doesn't work out in Qantas' favour on every route.

But this is exactly my point. WITH no status, then the question becomes what's worth more - the extra $120 (or so) to fly TG *without the stop in SYD* (eg: BNE-BKK-CNX) vs the saving of $$ but the extra connection via SYD. Some will want the more direct routine saving I presume at least 3-4 hours(?) on the total journey time - it may even offer better connection/schedule times. Sure, BFOD principle says go QF anyway based on price, and for a leisure trop that's probably fine, but some people will do anything to avoid the pain of dom->int transfers at SYD (which I am doing myself in a couple of days as it happens - it doesn't bother me that much) and some will just look at total journey time.

What I was trying to say is that the benefits of your QFF status, even if you weren't WP but your LTG status, and the addition of 100SC's and QFF's are absolutely attractive to you in this situation plus the benefits of lounge access and the rest (potential upgrades and so on). By this nature, it is keeping you loyal.

The real question would be if TG was $800 and QF was $920, would that extra $$ equate to the loyalty benefits? Only you could make that call. Let's say you decide the extra is worth it, then where do you say "no, it's not worth it"? $1k? $1100? I don't know. That's one that every person has to decide for themselves.

In a sense this is an example of "keeping the loyal customer" with little effort. QF is setting their pricing for their own reasons, sometimes more, sometimes less... the sweet spot for the loyalty types is where they (QF) can extra a higher yield out of as a loyal customer because there's little incentive to go elsewhere, so you may pay that $920 vs $800 because of your place in the QFF scheme. I'm no expert, but I think for every person who WILl pay that premium (again I am saying in the case where QF is more expensive, not this particular example you cite) then for those that choose to pay the extra BECAUSE of QFF... those are the people for who the system has "worked" (from a QF objective point of view).

And as you say in this case it seems like a no-brainer for you to go QF but there are obviously plenty of examples where the reverse would be true.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's not the case.

The simple facts for BNE-CNX return in September is Qantas airfare ~$800 with all the trimmings including QFF 100SCs and QFF points.

The next best is Thai airfare ~$920 with only BKK-CNX earning miles.

If you had no status which would you choose? With status (including Lifetime Gold) it is extremely difficult to move away.

And I'm sure this doesn't work out in Qantas' favour on every route.

I agree with you. Friend of mine is flying to USM and Qantas happens to be the cheapest fare.

throw in any sort of status (even silver) and why wouldn't you fly with them?

Qantas isn't a *bad* airline. It's just sometimes their whinging, complaining, spin, petty penny pinching, and let's-blame-everyone-but-ourselves mentality, means they aren't as good as the premium prices they demand for the privilege to fly with them.

have fares at competitive levels and their product is perfectly fine! (cabin crew inconsistency aside)

 

[burmans]

I agree with you. Friend of mine is flying to USM and Qantas happens to be the cheapest fare.

throw in any sort of status (even silver) and why wouldn't you fly with them?

Qantas isn't a *bad* airline. It's just sometimes their whinging, complaining, spin, petty penny pinching, and let's-blame-everyone-but-ourselves mentality, means they aren't as good as the premium prices they demand for the privilege to fly with them.

have fares at competitive levels and their product is perfectly fine! (cabin crew inconsistency aside)

While I like SQ I agree, at $700 vs $1100 for the aforementioned route I'd be going Qantas. If course Qantas are not the only company to have sales from time to time.

 

[wandering_fred]

Loyalty?

Let's reverse WA's situation.

Would you be loyal to QF if they didn't fly internationally from BNE/SYD/MEL and you had to make a connection in ADL/PER to go to SE Asia?

From the east coast, QF's major value is their NETWORK of flights. Maybe some marketing types forgot that when looking at Perth. While they flew PER-SIN, QF at least generated some interest. And I had an opportunity to earn some relatively cheap USA SCs. And will happily use the QF lounges for a while.

Happy wandering?

Fred

 

[JohnK]

JohnK have you signed up to AV LM yet do you can pounce on a 100% bonus miles offer when they are released?

You could then redeem a one way J award BNE or SYD to BKK on TG then book a return in whY on QF ex BKK to SYD or BNE & 'nest' the return.

Seeing as though you make several trips each year to Thailand it's likely you'll know the return date you want ex Aust to BKK at the time you book thereby avoiding change fees down the track.

Instead of TG outbound you could always buy a sale fare on JQ in whY or Star Class MEL/BKK or SYD/HKT & then buy a separate ticket to CNX from there. I think I know what your answer to that option will be!

You well know the answer to the Jetstar question. I've held off so long.

Funny you mention airfares ex-BKK. I have been researching airfares from CNX/BKK in April and September/October and surprisingly they are not that cheap. Not as cheap as ex-SIN or even ex-HKG.

And Qantas has sneakily added seasonality to airfares purchased outside Australia to coincide with school holidays in Australia. This was not the case in the past.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

You well know the answer to the Jetstar question. I've held off so long.

Funny you mention airfares ex-BKK. I have been researching airfares from CNX/BKK in April and September/October and surprisingly they are not that cheap. Not as cheap as ex-SIN or even ex-HKG.

And Qantas has sneakily added seasonality to airfares purchased outside Australia to coincide with school holidays in Australia. This was not the case in the past.

Not sure if you've got Amex points warehoused that you could tsfr to SQ KF or Velocity points to tsfr to SQ KF but if you do why not book a KF award ex Aust/xSIN/CNX then either as one way award CNX/SIN or a paid fare - whichever is cheaper.

Then book a QF fare SIN/Aust/SIN nesting the return sector for your following trip.

 

[timster]

I realized with the EK deal that QF no longer fits my needs well and I needed to broaden my options. In fact with most of my flying to/via Asia from MEL I probably should have realized that when QF dropped MEL-BKK a decade ago .... plus the ridiculous quest for QFF points with exorbitant award taxes ... no more free exit rows to tall pax ... QP now useless in Europe.

Made *G via A3 with one TG return flight to Europe in Y before A3 changed the rules. Now I mainly fly TG. They give exit rows to tall people for free, and their regular Y seats have better pitch than QF anyway. I'm not a sardine anymore (or a non-sardine paying $360 dollars extra for something I used to get for free) ! *G gets me into any *A lounge as long as I'm flying *A.

TG's sale fares direct out of MEL are no-brainers for me. Sometimes take the higher mileage accrual fare to maintain my *G.

Domestic is a minor problem, but most of my domestic flights were QF to/from SYD to connect to QF international. I'll probably never do that ever again ... and If I never see the SYD QP and the transfer bus again I'll be happy.

 

[JohnK]

Not sure if you've got Amex points warehoused that you could tsfr to SQ KF or Velocity points to tsfr to SQ KF but if you do why not book a KF award ex Aust/xSIN/CNX then either as one way award CNX/SIN or a paid fare - whichever is cheaper.

Then book a QF fare SIN/Aust/SIN nesting the return sector for your following trip.

I have got points coming out of my ears in lots of programs.

I have been researching SIN-BNE return on QF. With my golf commitments I have a limited window to travel and the seasonality now in ex-SIN fares kills it for me.

Believe it or not QF airfares ex-Aus are relatively cheap. Book those when available and use points for peak/high season trips.

 

[JohnPhelan]

It's just sometimes their whinging, complaining, spin, petty penny pinching, and let's-blame-everyone-but-ourselves mentality........

Sorry, are you talking about QF itself or some of its passengers ??

 

[exceladdict]

Sorry, are you talking about QF itself or some of its passengers ??

Add sweating, racism and sexism to that list and you've got my over-talkative neighbour on my last QF Y flight.

 

[JohnK]

The real question would be if TG was $800 and QF was $920, would that extra $$ equate to the loyalty benefits? Only you could make that call. Let's say you decide the extra is worth it, then where do you say "no, it's not worth it"? $1k? $1100? I don't know. That's one that every person has to decide for themselves.

Some good points but this one is interesting to me.

There was a time where I would pay a premium to fly Qantas. The recent changes hurt a little and then further changes of paying for bulkheads hurt even more.

I am not sure now what I would pay to fly Qantas. If I could get an SQ airfare with VA codeshare or full earning KrisFlyer for around $920 then I would gladly pay it as I could still use the lounges, earn VA/KF points which are probably worth more than QF and earn VA status at the same time.

I will research each trip and make a decision on which carrier/alliance when I feel the time is ready to book. The planned November trip I can see that Qantas is going to be expensive. It will be a combination of KrisFlyer award and Qantas award from HKG on 747.

Not that easy and as I said earlier change for change sake is just silly.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Add sweating, racism and sexism to that list and you've got my over-talkative neighbour on my last QF Y flight.

Dare I ask what sector you were flying? :shock:

 

[exceladdict]

Dare I ask what sector you were flying? :shock:

MEL-PER on a weekday afternoon flight. Thought my journey in the exit row was going to be a fair bit more pleasant, especially after getting no sleep on QF94 from LAX.

They also questioned the sexuality of the FA who was clearly within earshot. I must say, the way the FA handled it couldnt've been more professional. I wrote to QF complementing the team.

 

[opusman]

MEL-PER on a weekday afternoon flight.

Perth, say no more

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry, are you talking about QF itself or some of its passengers ??

Actually there are a few QF passengers I'd like to meet... namely the ones who:

• demanded the end of any-time-access
• demanded the introduction of cafe breakfasts
• demanded 'simpler and fairer' SC and points earn
• demanded charging for exit rows and bulkhead seats

 

[opusman]

Actually there are a few QF passengers I'd like to meet... namely the ones who:

• demanded the end of any-time-access
• demanded the introduction of cafe breakfasts
• demanded 'simpler and fairer' SC and points earn
• demanded charging for exit rows and bulkhead seats

Plus the ones who complained about ASAs being a shortcut to status. coughs.

 

[JohnK]

Plus the ones who complained about ASAs being a shortcut to status. coughs.

Hey I resemble that remark! :mrgreen:

 

[monoccular]

My longstanding loyalty to the QF brand is being tested. For many years, sometimes to my disadvantage, I have chosen QF and have been Platinum for a few years.

Now the penny pinchers have decided to charge $60 for an exit seat on MEL PER sectors for all comers. I feel it is a sign of disrespect towards their proven loyal customers to do this.

it does make me think hard about picking a more convenient schedule for some of my flights, rather than remaining loyal

 

[exceladdict]

My longstanding loyalty to the QF brand is being tested. For many years, sometimes to my disadvantage, I have chosen QF and have been Platinum for a few years.

Now the penny pinchers have decided to charge $60 for an exit seat on MEL PER sectors for all comers. I feel it is a sign of disrespect towards their proven loyal customers to do this.

it does make me think hard about picking a more convenient schedule for some of my flights, rather than remaining loyal

Even AA, who charge plebs for bags, give free MCE to one world ruby.