Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
From what I read here, WPs based in Australia seem to be still treated quite well.
To a large extent I agree. As other family members are WPs, I do get the impression that FFs are not treated quite as well as in previous years.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
I fully agree. It's rather lamentable. I'll keep using my QF credit card in Australia (mainly because I can't think of anything else to do with them) but I am looking forward to changing my programme once I qualify for LTG.
Likewise. When in Oz, I use my QF card, but overall I am not a frequent spender with the QF programme. That said, my BD balance is doing very nicely.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
Absolutely. I am definitely sticking to BD until the scheme is swallowed into M&M.
I mentioned Aegean or ANA as possibly something to credit to once BD is no more (I think M&M's redemption is not as generous, although I am not sure), but not before it is scrapped.
M&M is ok if you are a SEN as companion awards are reduced substantially bring many awards down to the same or below that of BD awards. The big shift however is the lack of cash+miles.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
I came to rather like LH short haul. I like the fact that they give you a sandwich, albeit a small one, even on a short sector in Y. I just do not care for those crackers and chocolate bars that BA gives out in Y, so I am mainly flying BA for longer short haul (you still get a hot breakfast for Band 4 in Y) and short haul J.
LH is ok, but other LH group carriers are better, namely LX and OS. OS in particular has extremely good catering.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
As for QF long haul, pity about the A380, as I do not mix well with QF 747 sloped bed. I'm fairly short, which makes you more prone to sliding down, and I travel in a lined skirt which makes me very prone to sliding down.
I find trousers uncomfortable (probably just not used to them), so this is leaving me in a bit of a pickle for trips to Australia on OW.
I can deal with the 744 only due to height, but I agree that the 388 product is significantly better. This however is the case in all classes probably with the exception of PE where both are about equal.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
I've never flown NZ long haul but I have been meaning to try it because I keep hearing good reports.
I am disappointed to see the new TT services which have been announced as they smack of low cost. Removing J is pretty bad, especially if coming off a long haul flight from Europe and getting stuck with an A320.
NZ long haul though is a class act. Very impressive on most areas. It's not perfect, but I think pretty close to top of the pack of carriers offering a truly world class J product.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
My plan for 2011 is to maintain OWE and Star Gold, and stick to those two. Once I qualify for QF LTG, I'll be with BAEC.
You should also look at AA. BA is great if you can get the BA Amex which actually makes their programme very competitive. If not, look at AA as even with the recent BA changes, AA is more competitive if the credit card is not put into the equation.
Also if you qualify on EQP rather than EQM (as I suspect you would), AA will treat you very well. My partner has always qualified on EQP over the last couple of years, and we regularly get invited by the airline to various movies, theatre, dance and other productions. Onboard your unlikely to notice much, but certainly on the ground, AA marketing here in London seem to lavish their top tier elites - even if much of their revenue is generated on partner airlines!! Many friends who only qualify on EQM don't get these "hidden" benefits.
Those EVIPs can also be useful for any TATL travel.
Despite us travelling on many of the same routes in similar fare classes, QF never offers me any of the perks above, despite the odd paid QF F flight.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
From what I read here, WPs based in Australia seem to be still treated quite well.
To a large extent I agree. As other family members are WPs, I do get the impression that FFs are not treated quite as well as in previous years.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
I fully agree. It's rather lamentable. I'll keep using my QF credit card in Australia (mainly because I can't think of anything else to do with them) but I am looking forward to changing my programme once I qualify for LTG.
Likewise. When in Oz, I use my QF card, but overall I am not a frequent spender with the QF programme. That said, my BD balance is doing very nicely.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
Absolutely. I am definitely sticking to BD until the scheme is swallowed into M&M.
I mentioned Aegean or ANA as possibly something to credit to once BD is no more (I think M&M's redemption is not as generous, although I am not sure), but not before it is scrapped.
M&M is ok if you are a SEN as companion awards are reduced substantially bring many awards down to the same or below that of BD awards. The big shift however is the lack of cash+miles.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
I came to rather like LH short haul. I like the fact that they give you a sandwich, albeit a small one, even on a short sector in Y. I just do not care for those crackers and chocolate bars that BA gives out in Y, so I am mainly flying BA for longer short haul (you still get a hot breakfast for Band 4 in Y) and short haul J.
LH is ok, but other LH group carriers are better, namely LX and OS. OS in particular has extremely good catering.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
As for QF long haul, pity about the A380, as I do not mix well with QF 747 sloped bed. I'm fairly short, which makes you more prone to sliding down, and I travel in a lined skirt which makes me very prone to sliding down.
I find trousers uncomfortable (probably just not used to them), so this is leaving me in a bit of a pickle for trips to Australia on OW.
I can deal with the 744 only due to height, but I agree that the 388 product is significantly better. This however is the case in all classes probably with the exception of PE where both are about equal.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
I've never flown NZ long haul but I have been meaning to try it because I keep hearing good reports.
I am disappointed to see the new TT services which have been announced as they smack of low cost. Removing J is pretty bad, especially if coming off a long haul flight from Europe and getting stuck with an A320.
NZ long haul though is a class act. Very impressive on most areas. It's not perfect, but I think pretty close to top of the pack of carriers offering a truly world class J product.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
I already credit to M&M those ultra-cheapo flights that do not get anything on BD, so unless I find Aegean and ANA are substantially better, I may well just stick to M&M for Star Alliance.
M&M is definitely the way to go here. BD is really only good for long haul and on particular carriers. Despite the usual BD mob banging on about how good the programme is, it has lots of shortcomings.
This year I would have easily made SEN, yet credit the same flights to BD's DC, and whilst I made the 55K programme, it was definitely not 100K miles.
Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
It's all a bit of an amusing juggling act. I'm thankful that I am not really keen on SkyTeam carriers overall (although AF short haul catering is better than BA's and so are the catering on others), or I'd be juggling three programmes.
AF is an interesting carrier. Decent short haul, bad long haul. Will be interesting to see where they go.
So far the only benefit I can see to flying them is that they will allow small dogs in the cabin. Beyond that....
[I should point out that I don't own a pet]
To get to family in France still requires me a CDG connection, and generally the timings are better through BA. No prizes for getting who get's this business. That said, LH is seeing the odd flight here and there.
Now.... I think we have gone truly OT.