Qantas Frequent Flyer - Qantas budget operation Australian Airlines takes off

Qantas budget operation Australian Airlines takes off

Qantas Airways' new international budget carrier, Australian Airlines, launched its inaugural flight today from the Queensland city of Cairns bound for Nagoya in Japan.

Qantas is hoping cheap flights aboard the new, kangaroo-festooned airline will tempt Asian holidaymakers back into the air after a recent slump.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-27oct2002-84.htm

Qantas' bright orange hope

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2367225.stm

I wouldn't exactly call these flights 'cheap'. I was planning to go to Taipei in the coming months and their 'special' price from CNS-TPE ($1700 or more) is more than the cost of a fare from SYD-EUROPE on most full service airlines where u can earn miles. Even their 'launch specials' of $1300 or more these werent exactly the most awe inspiring.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kawoh:
I wouldn't exactly call these flights 'cheap'. I was planning to go to Taipei in the coming months and their 'special' price from CNS-TPE ($1700 or more) is more than the cost of a fare from SYD-EUROPE on most full service airlines where u can earn miles. Even their 'launch specials' of $1300 or more these werent exactly the most awe inspiring. </font>
Remember that Australian Airlines is not supposed to be a no-frills operator. It is a full service operation (meals, IFE etc) with a single class economy cabin, but has been targetted for a specific market and as a way of reducing operating costs compared to the QF product. By setting it up with some independence from QF, their cost base can be lower due to special deals with the unions, base location etc. This means lower costs for the operation and hence a better bottom line which is not necessarily passed on to the ticket prices!

Also remember the target market is not Australians travelling to Japan and the other published destinations. The target market is wealthy (in Australian terms) Asian holiday markers coming to Cairns and Gold Coast (their favourite destinations).

Of course, the downside for Australian wantint to travel to these source destinations is that the standard QF services will no longer operate on these routes. So they have us by the short and curlies. But the only things different to a regular QF service are:

1. no FF points earned http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
2. lower FA to pax ratio
3. no business class

Personally I think they should fix point 1. Since they only offer discount Y seats, the cost of FF points and status credits on these flights must be very low, and not an issue for the majority of their target market (Asian holiday makers). But it would make the fares somewhat more bearable for Australians who need to travel the routes and don't want to connect through BNE or SYD when starting in CNS in order to be loyal to the QF brand and the FF program. Of course there is the fact that connecting via BNE or SYD means more more points and status credits than the direct flight from CNS http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.

What is the airline code for Australian Airlines?

Now that Australian Airlines is expanding its route network, I wonder if any consideration will be given to being able to earn some sort of frequent flyer miles with them, either QF miles or their own programme?

Since CO flies GUM-DPS and GUM-CNS, Australian Airlines might not be my natural gateway airline, anyway, but I hate to think of any flights going to waste!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SPN Lifer:
What is the airline code for Australian Airlines?
</font>
AO. They lost TN which was a real pitty. Perhaps AA might be available soon (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum71/HTML/014858.html)?


[This message has been edited by NM (edited 02-25-2003).]

NM, great reply to kawoh's post. Are you trying out for some flame-proof boxer shorts??

No, in fact, I thought I'd try them on for size. Wonder what kind of response I'll get to this post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum71/HTML/014858.html) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by QF WP:
NM, great reply to kawoh's post. Are you trying out for some flame-proof boxer shorts??</font>
Who says I wear underwear? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

Golly...didn't even need any retardant...no flames, not even a flicker. Maybe they think it's a fait acompli that Qantas will pick up AA out of Chapter 11 ??

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif NM, out of the gutter please and back on topic (somebody would think I'm a defacto Willyroo). That's something very personal that you should refer to Mrs NM...but heh, if it takes your fancy http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by QF WP:
Golly...didn't even need any retardant...no flames, not even a flicker. Maybe they think it's a fait acompli that Qantas will pick up AA out of Chapter 11 ??</font>

Yeah, they have become decidedly tame over on the AA board of late - can't understand why, I have been doing my bit to constantly prod them about how they are a third world airline - did you like my trip report (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/003454.html) where I did my best to goad them (and it sort of worked).

But lately, they have been as lame as the Carlton Football Club (alright, that was a low blow, I concede that, even AA devotees could not be that low, but you know what I mean).

Dave

Yup - Seat 2A took the bait from you , NM and kpc then really let fly. Not much back-up.

I think they are worried that AA might actually go into Ch 11 (and are worried about all their saved miles), Qantas might buy it for a song and then really SCREW them.