Hi there,

I thought my recent experiences might be of help for someone (like me) who travels a lot between EU and OZ (5 times since last may) and obviously tries to maximize money, comfort and service could be of help. Particularly if you still have to choose from one of the two one world members.

As a start, I need to say that I am a loyal QF FF Silver member (more than 140k miles). Despite being a student on a scholarship, since 2013 I am taking each and every opportunity to get QF miles here and there including credit cards, rentals, flights, etc.

Last week I came to Brisbane airport to see my booking Emirates flight (BNE-DXB), booked on an EK number by mistake by my agent, canceled. I was pleasantly redirected in business the next day, arrived in DXB and upgraded again to business on my way to Milan. Obviously very happy.

A few days ago, I have received by email the 50% additional status credit offer and considering my Silver membership level with QF will end this July, I started to check my options. In order to keep my level, it wouldn't be enough for me to book my return to OZ with QF and fly a few other flights within EU even accounting for the extra status credit offer. But since I have already booked a flight BNE-LAX for the 4th Aug (4 days after my level will be downgraded), I thought to call up customer service and give it a try.

As an additional info, since I have arrived in EU, I have flown and booked an additional intra-EU BA flight using a QF FF number. Flights which are obviously much more expensive than the ones offered by EU low cost carriers. These, together with the BNE-LAX, appear on my QF FF profile which customer service can clearly see... so they can verify I am not bluffing.

I explain the situation to the agent and add that I am ready to buy a return to OZ on QF and additional flights within the EU on One world partners, if they could be flexible with regards to the 4 days, so that I could keep my silver level... straight answer no!

Considering that my return to OZ on QF costs 100$ more than on EK, and considering the 'business level' treatment given me by Emirates a few weeks ago. I know the airline I will choose from now on.

Thanks Qantas for reciprocity on my loyalty.

M

An interesting episode and I can understand why QF is not your favourite carrier right now.

On the specific matter of 'flexibility', I think it's difficult for any airline when asked to bend the rules. There will, in fairness, be countless cases such as your own (ie people just failing to maintain their status level), and for the most part it makes commercial sense for the rule to be applied uniformly so that everyone knows where they stand from the start.

The harsh reality is that there is no airline, or other travel supplier, that can be guaranteed to meet all your expectations throughout the entirety of a relationship. There is no shortage of evidence here on FT that loyalty is fickle on both sides ; the best you can hope for is that whichever airline you choose to spend your money with will keep you happy most of the time.

Safe travels

There is no such thing in the airline industry as loyalty - and it goes both ways: Qantas won't show you any flexibility on their requalification requirements even though you go out of your way to earn points and your loyalty can be bought with 100$ and a couple of op-ups.

I think the thing here is simply to choose which carrier meets your needs with advertised products rather than rely on any goodwill gestures to tip the decision one way or another, that way you will escape any avoidable disappointment!

Thanks

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