I fully agree about OS. I was very impressed with their business class catering the other day. I also like LX short haul, especially in business class.
LH is usually better for ultra-cheap short haul flights though (LX is usually not *that* cheap for economy class, although their business class is good value).
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.
That is very disappointing. I wouldn't like that at all.
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.
I shall definitely have to try it. I have to go to NZ next year for a conference so that will be a good opportunity.
You should also look at AA.
I would if I did 4 sectors on AA a year - but I currently do zero AA, and my transatlantic sectors stand at zero as well! Almost all of my travel is within Europe or to Asia and Australia/NZ, so I would almost never get to fly on AA, making it very difficult for me to achieve status.
(That is, assuming AA enforces or plans to enforce the 4 AA sector rule.)
Also I'll almost certainly make BA GGL, because it looks like I'll be doing more Asia Pacific long haul in the future than I have been doing, plus European trips. GGL could be quite attractive for me.
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.
As a solo traveller most of the time, I think it will be difficult for me to utilise the companion awards, although it's good to know, thank you.
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....
LH permits small animals in the cabin too, although I am not sure if it is limited to cats, as I have seen cats in the cabin quite a few times but not dogs.
(I don't own a pet either although I do play with cats and dogs whenever I get an opportunity)
It's been a long time since I did AF long haul, and that's probably for a good reason. However, I would be somewhat curious to try their new premium economy product.
Now.... I think we have gone truly OT.
We have indeed!
Back to the topic, I still think it's a 'please bugger off' message. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of years. I am suspecting that they might "reciprocate" BA and start telling UK (or maybe even Europe-based) members that we'll need to join BAEC.
I could always move my QF address back to Australia if they kick me out of QF scheme for being Europe-based - we still have a house there anyway. But regardless, it makes me feel more unwanted by QF than I have already been feeling.
As you've said, QF seem to be 'downgrading' the treatment of WPs anyway, compared to before, regardless of where they are, although Australia-based ones seem to be still treated much better than those of us in Europe. I'm not impressed (although I have recently been hearing some poor treatment of BA Gold/GGLs by BA too, so maybe it's an industry trend).