I'd like to close this thread out from my point of view with my final coments.

For the 12 months ended 30 June 2011, I flew 98 international flights in J and F with flight times between 5 and 11 hours. This has been my pattern for a few decades (since 1987) & likely to continue for at least another decade or two.

I do try to limit my frequent flyer programmes, but even with the best of intentions I do end up being top tier in several.

It might be difficult to say that I'm not an experienced flyer.

Only this once have I encountered such nonsense with QF MEL-SYD transfer & I'm genuinely surprised that this forum is so insular in their collective vehemence.

I shan't post here again, I'm clearly not in this forum's class.