Why stay loyal to Qantas...

[samh004]

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

I would imagine this has been long coming, and the writing is on the wall for this to happen to triangle flights at some stage too... but do think they could do their frequent flyers a favour by offering a tiered discount scheme with respect to ancillary charges.

P1/CL = free
WP = 50% off
SG = 25% off
PS/QP = 10% off

Something like that would keep those loyalty customers happy, and could be applied to all sorts of services, from extra baggage charges at checkin to selecting an exit row seat.

 

[Deleted member]

If demand wasn't there, the price wouldn't be there either.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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.

The charges were introduced following customer demand. If we hadn't requested it, it wouldn't have been introduced!

 

[Alanslegal]

I would imagine this has been long coming, and the writing is on the wall for this to happen to triangle flights at some stage too... but do think they could do their frequent flyers a favour by offering a tiered discount scheme with respect to ancillary charges.

P1/CL = free
WP = 50% off
SG = 25% off
PS/QP = 10% off

Something like that would keep those loyalty customers happy, and could be applied to all sorts of services, from extra baggage charges at checkin to selecting an exit row seat.

That tiered discount would definitely 'help' and keep some frequent flyers happy. Not that it matters to me as I'm a Qantas Nothing Bronze and would pay for exit/bulkhead/more comfy seats anyway (even though I dislike paying a surcharge for things which I see as nickel and diming eg. paying for a beach chair at a beach resort even). Also there is consumer demand as MEL suggests.

The charges were introduced following customer demand. If we hadn't requested it, it wouldn't have been introduced!

 

[exceladdict]

That tiered discount would definitely 'help' and keep some frequent flyers happy. Not that it matters to me as I'm a Qantas Nothing Bronze and would pay for exit/bulkhead/more comfy seats anyway (even though I dislike paying a surcharge for things which I see as nickel and diming eg. paying for a beach chair at a beach resort even). Also there is consumer demand as MEL suggests.

Demand established, it's even more of a blessing to their loyal flyers to forego revenue and gift them popular seats.

Or, it's more of an offence to say "we'd rather make money than keep you happy".

And treatment of customers is exactly what makes me loyal or not.

 

[Kefci2000]

Unfortunately as competition lessens, these things creep in and as one airline drops a perk, the other follows

I used to have fly forward guaranteed by VA until they realised I always purchased the $99 fare at 10pm but rocked up at 6pm....

Yes I am sorry it is all my fault

 

[Gold60]

I think after reading this and other threads recently, due to my lack of regular flying, I will stay with the BFOD routine. It will make life so much easier lol