Qantas to spend $80m on more frequent flyer seats, upgraded meals

Every journey starts with the first step and Venessa has one big journey ahead of her.

Little things like the removal of these petty fees will certainly help. They also need to fly with competitors so they get a dose of reality that their business class is just not up to the standards of service of the other majors.

I wish her luck, she will need it.

Qantas execs need to go back to the article linked above and just read the comments, there are so many ways the airline can get back to the Qantas it used to be and what we all want it to be again. A lot of them are small changes too, not major undertakings. Good to hear that Hudson wants to 'empower' the front line staff to fix things for passengers too. This is all a good start and I wish her and the team well.

what about not suspending accounts for family transfers - then asking to prove a relationship (anyone in receipt of a document that says this person is your cousin)?.  The 'suspend first, ask questions, waste your time later' part is criminal.

Just remove the family transfer rules or cap it!

Business Class Catering really needs a review.  It is definitely an area that can make or break a good trip.

I admire her for taking ownership of the numerous issues, given the total mess she's inherited from Alan Joyce. The proof will be actually seeing and experiencing these changes. That's the massive challenge ahead for her, and all the Qantas team.

There is so much they need to do - I think from a passenger perspective - first cab off the rank is to fix their call centres.

Also I think they should look at Qantaslink as their staff offer a far better level of service than the "main" Qantas (both in the air and at the regional airports). They actually appear to be enjoying their work.

And that is nationally whether it's SA , NSW or QLD Qantaslink are so much better it's sometimes hard to believe they are the same airline.

Not only should the board be made to travel in QF economy once in a while, but also on overseas travel, a seat in QR business to experience what the front end in-flight experience should be.

I know that there are many bigger issues but its extraordinary how sometimes the smallest things make the biggest differences. I remember being able to check in your baggage at the Valet parking in Sydney and then someone monitoring access for the platinum and gold passengers at the priority security line. That just doesn't exist anymore but that seems like a quick fix to me and surely not cost a lot of money

Please replace ‘even more’ with ‘some’ in the title of this article!

I’m hoping this is a step in the right direction and not just some nice words. Time will tell but I’m hopeful.

I havent got a compaint. Ignoring domestic and based on economy Qantas do deliver. Points redemption has never been better and reward eats easiest even seen. I dont understand some complaints. Just booked rewards seats Syd-Lax return short notice inc partner us flights. Offerred PE on points or upgrade on top. Comp lounge tick. Chose upgrade on points and that had no issue.  Bronze. Never so essy. Have found same last 18mth domestic snd intl.  No vompaint. I think too many are Karens

Qantas has been releasing frequent flyer award seats as "events" rather than following an understood process (ie the 350- somwething-day rule)  While this creates some good will, I don't plan travel at short notice and can't particapate.  I expect there are many that feel the same way.  Before Covid I could reliably get business class awards to Europe and the US.  My one success since Covid haa been to abandon leaving Oz on an classic award and pick up a BA business class award flight from Singaopre onwards.

Little thing…can I buy a beer or wine onboard after 12md please. Of course keeping the post 4pm complementary offer is as important. 

look forward to a review of business class catering - the offerings on long distance domestic services and international ones is still pretty crook!

Great to see lovers of vegetarian meals , plant based offerings and the over spicy Asian food looked after by Qantas but what about those of us who enjoy a decent steak , or pasta apart from Mac and Cheese  or something like a Caesar Salad.

I now fill up in the lounge or at home prior to domestic J flights as I am just sick of sausage rolls or some dilute soup !

Vanessa should maybe fly with the opposition just to see how far behind Qantas J cabins are falling behind!

More award seats? I wish to believe!!! Currently QF is MOST difficult company to acquire classic award seat using QF points!!!

Example of small and easily fixed issues in long haul flights - bigger socks as they use to be. Too small for size 11 feet. Sealed toothpicks with meals. AirLink in South Africa does for economy flights.

Senior executives should see a summary of top 20 daily complaints and who is doing what to fix.

Improvements to Inflight Catering.

Not before time.
Travelled to Melbourne back in late May.
What a cheap and nasty mess the food was.
For what is supposed to be a full service airline, this was absolutley the pits.
Finger food that just all fell apart and not a serviette in sight at all to clean ap.
What a joke.
Pathetic.

Bravo Executive Traveller by outlining that significant improvements will no doubt will be welcomed by "Passengers" who have been loyal and tolerant for a long period of time in having to put up with well below standard and unacceptable meals particularly in the QF Business Class. 

It is well beyond time for Neil Perry 'to say a goodbye'. 

Over the next few months, many "Passengers" will be watching a number of spaces to see if the 'Talk is in fact Walked'.

But will it be too little, too late. Us disaffected pax have been saying for a while "enough is enough" and Virgin have been raking in the bookings. I've only flown 4 sectors on QF since May 2022 (when I felt enough was enough) - versus 42 sectors on VA.

No wonder Velocity had it's highest new FF memberships in the week that Alan Joyce left.  Has the exodus begun?

When are they planning to actually add more award seats? The last time they did a big release, their website crashed - Australians who relied on the Qantas website got stuffed,  people living overseas used partner airlines to book everything out, and Qantas execs walked away patting themselves on the back for a job well done even when Australians lost out. 

$80M doesnt seem enough when underlying profit was $2.47bn. The proof will be in the pudding when seeking upgrades and or Busines Class award flights to LHR in the next 12-24mths. USA is not a desired destination at this time.

The continual boast is how profitable the QFF program is, which is understandable when redemptions are limited to beads and trinkets.

I want to believe it, I have to believe it, with more than 1M points accrued over a very long period of loyalty. I hope to get a Business Class seat to London before I die.

For me the first priority to address would be "fly your planes on time".  30 something flights this year to date and on time is a rare luxury whether it be Sydney to Melbourne or long haul international.

does this mean they're getting rid of the inedible Neil Perry 'inspired' meals?

Just returned from RTW trip in BC with One World and the Qantas leg to the US was very disappointing. The service was just ok and the food was disgraceful. The heads need to try out Qatar and Emirates and look and learn.  Suites are now looking to become the norm for BC travel and Qantas need to consider this also. They also need to make FF rewards in BC within Australia more accessible as they’ve REALLY been minimised as far as I’m concerned. I’ve moved to Virgin for interstate as their BC prices are basically half of Qantas. Not good Qantas!! Looking for alternatives for One World for next years trip. 

Doesn't Qantas - like many other international carriers, purchase it's fuel on 5-year "futures" contracts?

Great for all of those with lots of points earned through non-travel activities, but this will create even more upgrade demand for the J and F seats, because while people will grab the extra FF seats, they don't want to travel in the cramped economy seats so will bid for upgrades.   Qantas seems to be focused on the relationships where people shop with partners and partners give them points towards award flights.

Funny thing is; awards for what?  The loyal long-time travelers again get nothing.  Seems Qantas has forgotten them and is only pandering to those who generate points through partnerships.  We've seen this with handouts to help non-flyers maintain status, but nothing for the loyal fliers.  Seems they are taken for granted as remaining loyal, whatever gets served to them.  

Those flying J you will get the same rubbish food, the same faulty seats, more QFF members insisting on equal rights; basically nothing in recognition of the loyalty and $$$ spent on flights.  Maybe the new Qantas CEO with a bean-counter background knows how to fly aircraft profitably without fare paying passengers, but I doubt it.  As very loyal passengers once more see they have been passed over, I suspect many will take their proven loyalty and switch.  Loyalty only goes so far before you tire of being everyone's subsidy.  Other airlines will find it easy to do status match with this new model and can even add icing to the offers, especially as they will be courting real revenue generating passengers who have shown their loyalty to an airline.

Email received this afternoon with more Classic Reward seats:
- Economy only
- Asia Pacific and USA only (although not Singapore/Bangkok/Santiago)
- flights February to June 2024

They need to look at their award chart and bring it in line with aeroplan, AA and alaska mileage plan. Too expensive currently. Also are they planning to release more J awards or Y awards? There’s a difference there.

Would be great if there was some kind of additional benefit for LT Gold, perhaps better access to Classic Reward flights, a couple of passes to the BC Lounges . It took SO much flying to get to 14000 SCs, there should be some reward for long term loyalty!

Vanessa does have a big job ahead of her and she needs to do a lot to earn back good will of loyal members. Let's not forget she was CFO during the Joyce years so she was either complicit with the choices made that have left Qantas in the state it is in today, or she was a silent objector which doesn't give me too much confidence. Time will tell.

I am a LTG member with a bucket load of points but like most have commented next to no J class redemptions out of Australia. Now that my rusted on hand cuffs are off I am crediting my points on International long haul to BA Avios,  which I hope to transfer to QR and then also top up via Amex. No brainer really QR points to Europe significantly less and better availability for preium cabins. 

I also noticed some inconsistencies where AA/Alaskan get better availability. For instance Syd to HNL in J class. I was playing round on Seats.aero and AA/Alaskan gave the option of non stop service ex Syd at around 55K Qantas  option via Lax at over 100K points for redemtion. 

I am running down my points held in QF FF and with my Amex they will go to anything but QF! I think our Loyalty has been taken for a good ride over the last 15 years. I dont see much long term change as new CEO was partly responsible for the last 15!

I see Vanessa has promised more FF award seats but as some have already mentioned nothing in premium cabins. (There was always seats in Y) so this is really puffery!

A game changer would be if VA/Velocity joings Aeroplan...like many other non alliance mebers have.  Given it being an excellent program the option to redeem on SA without being SA member would tip the play in VA's court. Also the points need for redemption and is quite reasonable and the ability to have stop overs another bonus. VA would have to work with Aeropplan/Credit card issues to make it a transfer partner. On a side note  in my opinion the Velocity program has greatly improved over the last 18 months or so.

Removal of petty fees sounds good, example - if you are going to keep the rewards booking, then change fee from “per person” to “per booking”.

Hopefully investment in a better functioning website/app so more changes can be made online negating the need to engage with call centres.

Or perhaps complicated changes you initiate communication via live chat of what you are looking to do and then you receive phone call from suitably skilled call centre staffer to make the change.

It’s good to see so many supportive comments here.  

I too welcome these efforts to improve what has become a mediocre flying experience in business and economy classes.  On a recent trip from Adelaide to Brisbane my points upgrade to business did not go as planned.  After I requested my upgrade the plane was changed to a smaller type (from 3+3 to 2+2) meaning my business class experience was not what I expected.  There was no adjustment of the upgrade points required for this lesser offering.    

My pet peeve is the food - in any class. Neil Perry and his Rockpool need to go, and fast. Would what's served on planes be served in his restaurant(s)? Doubt it, otherwise customers would be out the door quick smart. Can't do that 35,000 feet in the air so there's waste.

Over the last 15 years what's been served on all QF routes is appalling and no passenger should gripe to the cabin staff. It's not their fault. They get the same stuff.

PLEASE get rid of those 'garnish' quality 'salads'. They are embarrassing to look at.

I always suspected that Qantas' focus on 'lighter' and 'healthier' meal options was just spin on their cost cutting in onboard catering.  Given that Emirates and Qantas'  (and Qatar, if you are lucky enough to be able to get a flight) prices for first and biz classes are somewhat comparable, Qantas should be embarrassed by its obscenely underwhelming offerings.  

With the sensible changes coming in under Vanessa Hudson, it we be great if Qantas considered starting Lifetime Gold FF’s with 700 status credits each year. This would give incentive to actually fly QF after reaching this milestone. At the moment, lifetime golds start with zero status credits each year, it makes no sense - and actually makes me less loyal to the airline.

They may wish to start by upgrading domestic meals.  Providing a semi-packaged  meal in business flying across the continent is gross, similar to some LCC carriers.

It would also be of some interest to be advised which airline QF execs fly on, I suspect it is not always  their own.

I remain unconvinced of a return to the quality airline it was 40 years ago.

In the last 10 years I would have flown over 500 International sectors........and only one of them on Qantas.  The reason: with a few exceptions, the staff are the rudest people I have probably ever met.   Compare their attitude to that of Thai or SQ.  If they fixed the ATTITUDE of their staff towards their customers, they would go a long way towards fixing the airline.