Are you loyal to an airline?

[doctorj]

Is anyone here loyal to an airline anymore? Are there any decent FF programs left?

The 'new' QF program seems to be a devaluation by stealth - I'm sure the classic awards will gradually disappear and the multi-million point Anyseat will become the norm. Even upgrades are tough - Y fares are a good chunch of the way to business and even then you're lucky to score an up - and even more expensive cattle fares seem to book as N/O/Q.

Up to now I've been a fairly loyal QF/OW person but due to a change in circumstance I'll be taking a lot more international travel and a whole lot less Domestic. Is it time to give up status and jump to *A (SQ)? Qantas always seems to cost a little more and the service, well, varies...

 

[Broadside]

Is anyone here loyal to an airline anymore? Are there any decent FF programs left?

The 'new' QF program seems to be a devaluation by stealth - I'm sure the classic awards will gradually disappear and the multi-million point Anyseat will become the norm.

Up to now I've been a fairly loyal QF/OW person but due to a change in circumstance I'll be taking a lot more international travel and a whole lot less Domestic. Is it time to give up status and jump to *A (SQ)? Qantas always seems to cost a little more and the service, well, varies...

I have been more loyal to Qantas than they've been to me....service, reliability and continuous dilution of the frequent flier program have me looking around. As an airline, quality has been on the slide for some time.

 

[agro]

yes virgin blue because they are cheap

 

[bassmanpete]

No, I learnt my lesson with Ansett - 220,000 points down the tubes. But the employees, whose work practices,IMHO, were as much to blame for the collapse as management was, got their 'entitlements', and most of that was paid for by the $10 levy, just to rub salt into my, and many others', wounds.

 

[Caliente]

Qantas - the Spirit of Australia. All you other people are traitors

 

[Awesomandy]

It's generally the cheapest for me, but with my Hong Kong flights, I have a strong preference for Cathay Pacific. Check-in time is only 45mins before departure. There are 3 or 4 flights per day as well so I can most likely find a good time that suits me. Plus, they fly the A330-300, which I think is a big step forward from the 747-400 that Qantas operates - having only 2 engines are definitely quieter.

Well, I used to be loyal to Qantas. There was once when I was kicked out of my seat because they wanted a free row, and there was also the unforgettable attempted crash land in a cyclone in Tokyo. And, the next time I had to fly Qantas from Sydney to Canberra, the check-in didn't work, the boarding pass didn't work, and then the plane didn't work. Needless to say, I've never been on a Qantas plane after that. Nowadays, I would prefer to pay to fly with someone else than to use my 75k qff points.

 

[Stan 101]

Awesomandy, I'll take your 75k in points if you don't want them .

I'm also a fan of Cathay. Nothing seems to be too much trouble for them and even when I've flown enconomy long haul, they still do things like set up self serve snack trays with good variety.

I am loyal to Qantas due to the FF and qantas club perks. I've personally found qantas ground staff to be excellent and have gone over and beyond what is required of them so many times. Even today checking in a Cairns the check in lady was a gem.
An example is my Mum was heading over to the UK and it is a long trip for a woman her age. She had a 3 hour stop over in Singapore swapping from QF to BA. I mentioned this in passing to one of the Qantas Pub staff and she offered me two complimentry passes to give to Mum, totally out of the blue.

The Qantas pub has become a bit of a free for all in Brisbane Sydney and Melbourne, though.

Britsh Airways is on par with Air India. I've flown First and business with British airways and it was a truly ordinary experience.

With Qantas dropping domestic flights I will be considering joining Star Alliance membership. I clock up the majority of Flyer points on domestic flights and it looks like Virgin is going to be my best optin in future for domestic flights.


cheers,

 

[doctorj]

An example is my Mum was heading over to the UK and it is a long trip for a woman her age. She had a 3 hour stop over in Singapore swapping from QF to BA. I mentioned this in passing to one of the Qantas Pub staff and she offered me two complimentry passes to give to Mum, totally out of the blue.

I have an 10hr connection at Narita coming up between two Y flights and I won't have status by then... any tips to wrangle an invite? I was just going to pay for one of those Priority Passes....

 

[wildkactus]

Voted other,
as I am more loyal to the one world alliance then a single airline.
I find this program to suit my needs, they have got most places covered with good flights schedules.
On the points, I find it easier to use the points to book seat upgrades and hotel stays, you always seam to be able to do this.

some of the airlines in the program do need to upgrade there fleets like American, and BA. plus the service on these airlines is a bit average.

The two best airlines in the the alliance would have to be Cathay and Qantas, and Qantas is the only airline to have ever lost my luggage, to this day still has not arrived.

A couple of other airlines that have been good to fly with are Emirates and Virgin Atlantic, have used these when I haven't been able to get flights with a oneworld alliance partner.

so all the best on your travels.

 

[Bomba]

I am only loyal to the airline which will take me from A to B. I have flown with JAL, Malaysian, Viva Macau, Toyal Brunei, Thai, Air France. Only flown with QANTAS for domestic flights.

 

[Stan 101]

I have an 10hr connection at Narita coming up between two Y flights and I won't have status by then... any tips to wrangle an invite? I was just going to pay for one of those Priority Passes....

Just ask, Doctor, J...The other thing I've noticed is if you join AMEX and get a FF credit card, they give you a complimentry pass to the Qantas Pub. I don't know if it is only domestic or not.

http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/earningPoints/QFAmex
http://www.creditcardoffers.com.au/qantas-american-express.html


If you have 10 hours in Narita, I'd go into the old NArita town. That place is a hidden treasure of Tokyo. In the New town there are a bunch of great bars and restaurants and in the old town there are lovely gardens and temples. You could easily while away a day or night.
It's only 2 stops from Narita airport on the slow train line from memory.


cheers,

 

[tech/a]

Love Qantas long haul.
Virgin For domestic.
Un impressed with Emirates but their Staff were fantastic 60kg over weight from UK charged for 10Kg
Singapore Airlines were great.
Virgin Atlantic also excellent.
REX good for baby flights.
BA were average.
Air NZ were fine as was United in the US.
Hawiian Air was ok but very agricultural. Internal flights were terrific.

Loyalty---no Id say Qantas and virgin my prefered

 

[Beej]

Yea the poll is missing United - their Mileage Plus program was/still is the best FF program going around, as is the Star Alliance group in general. One World, which Qantas is in, is the minor group compared to Star Alliance globally.

Re loyalty, For 10 years as a frequent business traveler internationally, (which I don't have to do anymore) I was very loyal to United/Star Alliance (Singapore Airlines first preference to Asia/EU). I have over 700,000 *actual flown* miles with them (ie bonuses etc don't count). Reasons for my opinion? Fastest earning of miles, always had ability to upgrade class with minimal points (as a Gold status flier I could upgrade Econ->Bus for the same num of points I earned on the flight!), easy redemption for minimal miles with lots availability for reward flights (I flew my family to US and NA several times for free for skiing etc!). Qantas FF really sucks by comparison (even though I still have 300k plus miles with them from CCs etc no matter how fast I try and use them!).

Cheers,

Beej

 

[natashia]

After working in an Airport I know which airline I'd much prefer :-

EKA-Emirates
SIN-Singapore
MH-Malaysia and yeah flew with United several times and they were fantastic too....

:

 

[wayneL]

I've always enjoyed Singapore Airlines and use them whenever possible.

Hate BA & Qantas. Used United a couple of times and thought they were very good.

Cathay... meehh.

 

[Prospector]

It was Ansett, we lost so many points - around 500k I think. Their club was better too.

Qantas - they have yet to discover what service means; although now my partner is a Platinum member and he is personally greeted by the Chief Steward once he is seated. It also means he has access to first class lounges throughout the One World Alliances. Rather nice - the normal Qantas Clubs seem quite dowdy by comparison : And his flights have given me Business Club access throughout OneWorld.

But trying to get flights using his points is impossible!

Best airlines - Singapore is always my preference and recently flew on Cathay - they are good too. Believe it or not, Vietnam airlines have the newest planes I have ever flown on! We were expecting prop planes and elastic bands.

A few weeks ago Qantas simply cancelled a flight he needed to catch to make a business appointment in Melbourne. No reason other than the flight was not full enough. They rang him at 6.30am for a 9am flight, and offered him another flight which would have been too late. Got on the internet and quickly booked a virgin flight for 2 hours time; he made the flight, and the appointment and a new business venture was born.

The service offered by Qantas to Adelaide internationally is quite pathetic - no direct flights anymore. Singapore, Malaysian, Cathay, Air NZ all fly direct, but not our great Australian airlines - they have no loyalty to us people in SA, why should we be loyal to them

 

[Stan 101]

You pose some interesting points, Prospector. Being Platinum does have its perks! I also now know it means you miss out on a whole lot of living. Even gold means you are away from home too much.
The Syndney First Lounge is peaceful and reasonably endulgent. I wish to recreate one of their massage rooms with a living plant wall one day when I get a round Tuit!

As for the greeting from the Chief Steward, don't you find that patronising? I'm at a loss to find that real service. To me, real service is getting to an airport earlier than expected for the return flight, checking in and being advised they can slip you in on an earlier flight.
Arriving at the airport late on a friday afternoon and trying to check in knowing the plane is probably at taxi stage and they re book you on the very next flight without paying a cent and no questions asked when they have every right to charge you.
Calling Frequent Flyer because I can't find a flight I want with points and being told a few tricks to find seats in the old system for future reference, having the phone attendant finding and booking those flights, that to me is service.

But different strokes....


cheers,

 

[prawn_86]

Whatever is the cheapest for me. Being a student i cant afford the luxuries of being loyal to an airline.

Good to hear from P that Vietnam Air are good, i'll be flying with them this Sunday

 

[theasxgorilla]

KLM for the hostesses...I mean the good service and in flight magazine, ahem.

 

[Trembling Hand]

What I don't like is the poor jokes and forced humour on Virgin from the Orange people(flight attendants). Its just so old and painful.

Happy to pay more for Qantas just to avoid that torture!!:whip