Hmmm. For me Qantas' strategy should be focussing on the more fundamental issues of customer service.

The oneworld alliance satisfies me in terms of market penetration, I wouldn't feel more inclined to fly Qantas simply because they flew to more destinations.

For me it all begins with the first phone call. Since dropping from plat I have noticed a marked difference when I need to ask a question. All of a sudden I am treated pretty much like a first time flyer on each and every call. It is patronising. For example I book an award flight and ask for my FF number to be put in only to be told 'you don't earn miles for the flight'.

You'd think as a gold I might realise that and want the FF number in there for the benefits status gives, points or not.

I have ongoing issues being told, for example, that 'it is the law' that tickets issued for travel ex BKK and China require the credit card to be sighted before a ticket can be issued. But this 'law' doesn't apply to CX, JQ or a host of other airlines. Then I find out in FT that it seems to be an issue with the GSA in those ports. Doesn't apply if I just book the ticket via expedia.

Which is all fine, but why charge me the assisted booking fee?

Then there is the service on board. You never do know really what you're going to get. Sometimes the service is ok, other times it is really sub-par and the crew look as if they really would rather be somewhere else.

Qantas persists with extremely slow meal services in economy class. Read skytrax and a number of other trip report sources and you'll see that a couple of hours to serve a meal on international economy is not unusual.

I can't get confirmed upgrades on international flights. The mileage redemption levels are quite high: 378k for a first class redemtion to Europe is pretty much up there.

And then there are program 'enhancemets'. The whole removal of the plat anytime access without the 6 month notification pretty much smacked of 'we don't care'. Or not interlining bags to non-oneworld carriers. Doesn't affect me most of the time, but on the odd chance I can save $$ by taking a cheaper alternative i get penalised and hence QF loses future revenue.

however - i don't expect QF to care that much. They have a captive market for business class travel with companies that pay for their employees. Passengers paying for themselves flying economy and are not chasing status are probably happy to continue to fly QF because of their excellent reputation for safety.

Many years ago I remeber reading comments by the then Lufthansa chief saying something along the lines of 'even our frequent First class passengers have to travel economy sometimes, so we make sure that EVERY passenger is treated with utmost respect'.

Nice philosophy which I would like to see copied at Qantas. It would make me fly with them again.