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Keith T

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Posts posted by Keith T


  1. if Iberia is 3rd, than this gives quite a good impression of the research results.

    Iberia is probably the worst european non-low-cost airline. Unpunctual, unfriendly, no service at all on intra-european flights (not even a drink!).

     

    The survey was about the financial status of airlines, not their product.


  2. :rolleyes:

     

    I now know what I was doing wrong - and that was attempting to engage in a constructive and intelligent discussion with you. :D

     

    :rolleyes:

     

    Really don't know what else I can say and not sure if I can be bothered either - for dinner at Delizia Cucinia awaits. :drinks:

     

    factual inaccuracy - what is inaccurate with 2 at par contending airlines? hence the further question/explanation why involve airlines not in the same league for comparison. Perhaps a superior being feels he knows australasia has other airlines apart from QF and NZ. Eh Brother - a bit of mutual understanding on other people's posts here is appreciated rather than implying people do not know their geography/airliners can ah.....

     

    There are others apart from NH that is of the same fate. 100% equal footing on flight surveys, long haul/short haul difference is next to impossible.

    People don't need you point out how to select carriers of their choice by ignoring surveys which you so deem as thrash.

    Do you consider the masses that participated in skytrax's survey as junk? does that not qualify that they have experienced the airline? A passenger's experience with the airline even though one time/one off is not real life enough?

    surveys are designed to "general" experiences and not a one off, hence there is sampling size. If you put your one off/one time criterias in every survey then of course it does not work out. 1 negative out of 10 will already give you a good sampling. Given - A good survey with a one off submission will be considered inaccurate (of course its not for me to decide how surveys are run by skytrax)

     

    Marketing is a different ball game for discussion, basis is - who in marketing right mind will select an incompatible (mickey mouse) partner to work with, will SQ partner with a firm doing junk surveys (just an example-not that they do or that I know of) ?

    maybe donald duck or hello kitty company is a better option :lol:

     

    with this it implies that SQ must have Skytrax as a consultant for many years since they are in the winning team most of the time? I disagree - it's in my previous post.

    It is a well known fact that they do consultancy for airlines - if we are able to prove that they are one sided, with facts of course - then I will hand in hand thrash them "kau kau"(big time) also!!!

     


  3. Oh, I do not know that QF and NZ compare themselves with Air Tahiti Nui, Air pacific, Air Calin and Air Niugini. Are they of similar fleet size, legacy ratings, alliance(1world,*A), routes? From what I know QF has never compared their products with them? They are non contendors... unless they realize that 2 big boys in the game thats why they put in those airlines to look good. It is akin to SQ contending against Lion Air(heck even lion air is bigger than them), Adam air, kartika and carriers of that sort...

     

    There wasn't any of that implied - I was merely correcting a factual inaccuracy in the previous post (of which I should've also quoted), that there are only 2 carriers in the entire Australasian (haven;t seen that term for a while - South Pacific maybe??) region.

     

    Likewise there will be those who thrash QF as well as those who love QF wholly, however most people are guided by surveys and what not (a big majority), otherwise - go figure why skytrax results are highlighted by travel industry and some airlines year after year and is used as benchmarking in the industry ?

    Dubious - sounds too harsh, travel industry relates to their survey, airlines relates to their survey... what about the respondants all over the world - are they :blink: to participate in skytrax? your views undermined people right through to industry...

    although I am interested to read again about how flawed their methods are as highlighted by you.

     

    The only thing i see is it may not be 100% fair due to sampling size, location, nationality, DIFFERENCE IN OPINIONS(especially), etc.. but in general it works very well, otherwise industry wide and multi million/billion corp won't pay attention... otherwise your skytrash would have trashed long time ago and not flourish...

     

    Harsh but true. The methodology gives equal weighting to and makes no difference between first time travellers, infrequent travellers and frequent flyers. This means that one time experiences can have disproportionate influence over the overrall result of the survey. IF someone flies MH once on a 2hr regional short hop and just so happens to be unlucky to have a lacklustre crew that particular day vs someone who flies MH weekly on both long and short haul flights and who generally loves flying MH - obviously the latter's opinions are more accurate and reliable than the former, but skytrax's methodology gives equal weighting to both.

     

    And not to mention that Skytrax also operates a consultancy service for airlines - that in itself is a major conflict of interest. IF you've got time, you're going to have so much fun observing the correlation between advertising/sponsorship and results. Need I then also address your point about why such a mickey mouse of an organisation has prospered thus far?

     

    A v small example - NH isn't in the top 10, that in itself speaks volumes.

    And as much as i love Qantas - what on earth is the SYD QF First Lounge doing charting above the Lufthansa First Class Terminal?

     

    AS to why airline industry figures give so much weight to skytrax survey results - any marketing is good marketing no matter how shaky the foundations of such marketing are, and that is applicable to any industry.

     

    Anyway my earlier comment was directed at the doom and gloom style posts about MH underperforming on this particular survey - if MH works for you as a choice of carrier, then their performance on ANY KIND OF survey whether conducted by Skytrax or a far more reputable organisation really shouldn't matter how you personally as a consumer select a carrier. Real life experiences are far more helpful than junk surveys.


  4. there is only Air NZ to compete. to me its a non competition if only 2 major airlines compete :rolleyes:

     

    Air Tahiti Nui, Air Pacific, Aircalin and Air Niugini come to mind as other examples of Australasian carriers.

     

    And as I posted on SQTalk:

    Not getting into a "how can airline X be better/worse than airline Y" debate here. But I can't say that these surveys, whether they be conducted by Skytrax or any other organisation, are a significant influence on my decision making, if at all. I prefer to be guided by personal experiences, of both my own and others'.

     

    For instance I will continue to fly QF even if they never win anything as my own experiences (go to any of the oneworld TRs in my signature) suggest that they are the best airline as far as my perceptions and preferences are concerned. Different strokes for different folks - you can replace 'QF' with 'MH' or 'SQ' or 'BA' or 'CX' or 'UA', if a carrier works for you why would their performance on a survey, especially one conducted by an organisation as dubious as Skytrash with a badly flawed methodology, matter?


  5. 2. Bag marked 'BOMB' accepted by Qantas at Brisbane

     

    I wonder what kind of f*ckwit would consider this even remotely funny, if it'd been intended as a joke??!! Or perhaps a Bin Laden supporter doing a test run to see whether it'd go through.

     

    Anyway...

     

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...9-26103,00.html

     

    Special Qantas investigation launched

     

    August 03, 2008

     

    THE aviation watchdog has formed a special team to investigate Qantas amid growing public concern the airline's safety standards may have slipped.

     

    ...

     

    "I wouldn't say we're concerned about Qantas' safety at all. In fact, we've found no evidence of safety slipping within the airline or safety standards being allowed to drop at all," CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said today.

     

    "But we've got to be cognisant. If things happen we need to be flexible and proactive and respond to those (concerns) and that's what we're doing."

     

    http://www.theage.com.au/national/qantas-c...80803-3p3l.html

     

    Qantas crew demand briefing

     

     

    Qantas cabin crew are demanding a meeting with company officials after another of the airline's jets was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday.


  6. I've not flown LH JCL, only FCL. Whilst LH is fantastic in FCL - I've not heard good things about LH JCL.

     

    I've done LX JCL but only BKK-SIN - angled lie flat seats, good service, reasonably good food, fantastic wines if you're into Swiss pinot noirs. Many of my friends comment that it's their fave European airline.

     

    Would this be a bmi redemption? ;)

    If so... F isn't that much more on Miles and Cash if flying Europe 2 to North Asia (25k one way + GBP170 + tax).

     

    YGPM


  7. I read with concern the snipey posts that grossly overgeneralise Australia and Australians. Whilst I am sympathetic to some of the frustrations expressed in this thread, it is starting to get extremely weary to read post after post of Oz-bashing. If the subject of some of these posts were people from a minority group - it'd be considered racism. And sadly not the first thread either... All I'm saying is, please do not equate the Australian media and the Qantas unions to 'the Australians.'

     

    ...I do not think it is fair to generalise all Aussies as such.

     

    Thanks, Nik H.


  8. Got home on yesterday's (as in Sunday) QF30, was quite uneventful in comparison. ;) Talk on the plane was the QF30 decompression incident, seatmate's ex gf is a QF FA and happened to be working on that flight. They also handed out newspapers with the QF30 incident on the front page - i hope there weren't any nervous/first time flyers onboard.

    Sensational experience on QF as usual, will write more in my TR. Updates to continue within 24 hrs - promise!

     

    Anyway... the latest:

    http://www.theage.com.au/national/qantas-p...80727-3lqc.html

     

    INVESTIGATORS have found fragments from an oxygen bottle blasted throughout the baggage compartment on the Qantas Boeing 747 that was forced to make an emergency landing in Manila after a mid-air explosion on Friday.

     

    The discovery of fragments embedded in baggage and in the compartment's ceiling strongly supports the view that one of several cylinders exploded, tearing a three-metre hole in the fuselage and forcing the pilots to descend rapidly for thousands of feet.


  9. I believe you got the following fare?

     

    PQ 1  NCB                                                       
                                                                    
           BASE FARE     EQUIV AMT        TAXES          TOTAL      
            MYR3415      USD1046.00      257.40XT     USD1303.40ADT 
        XT      15.40US       5.50YC       7.00XY       5.00XA      
                15.60MY      38.90UB     170.00YQ                   
    ADT-01  VAPOW                                                   
    LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 03AUG/2359                                 
    KUL MH X/LON AA CHI M1048.18VAPOW NUC1048.18END ROE3.2579       
    VALIDATING CARRIER - MH                                         
    FEE APPLIES TO CHG/REFUND                                       
    01 O KUL MH     2Y  10AUG 1140P  VAPOW            10AUG10AUG    
    02 X LHR AA    99Y  11AUG  755A  VAPOW            11AUG11AUG    
         ORD                                                        
    VALIDATING CARRIER-MH

     

    Nice find! :good:

     

    Looks like MH ticket stock... meaning I'd not be able to throw an EVIP your way to upgrade the AA segment. :(

    (AA flights only upgradeable if plated on AA 001 ticket stock... as they need to fish out your ticket and change the booking class to upgrade you.)

     


  10. As a student, r u intend to travel a lot? From my perspective, if ur traveling only during the summertime, most you can do with the miles is an upgrade from economy to Biz or redemption for domestic flight. Of course u hv to stick to an alliance or airline program.

    Just my 2 cents worth.

     

    Or save up the miles towards a long haul premium award. Lots of FFPs including AAdvantage feature non-expiring miles so long as you have activity (either earn or burn) on the account every 18 months or 3 years.


  11. jani - do please consider AAdvantage. Or at least an FFP of a carrier that belongs to an alliance.

     

    You can then do the AAdvantage Gold or Platinum challenge (ow ruby and sapphire respectively). This is AA's shortcut way to elite status (alas there's no EXP challenge) - just 5000 elite qualifying points for Gold and 10 000 for Platinum on AA flight codes (including codeshares operated by other airlines) within 3 months. You do need to requalify the 'usual' way though. But even if you can't requalify you do get to enjoy at least a year of elite status which is most useful if traveling within the US - priority check in, boarding, upgrade certs, lounge access on international itineraries etc. Get Gold or Platinum after July 16 and your status is valid till Feb 2010. Simply call AAdvantage customer service to sign up and nominate a start date. (details on aa.com)

     

    I think your future travels back home should be done with CX instead of MH.

     

    CX gives zero miles to AAdvantage customers if booked in discount economy (anything other than YBH classes). But switch to the AA codeshare numbers on the same flights and watch your accrual transform to 100% in most discount economy booking classes. :)


  12. If you'd supply more info like your budget and/or dates, I'd be more than happy to suggest some hotels.

     

    Spring would be the optimum time to visit Melbourne, around October or so. Melbourne is beautiful in spring, and the warmer weather will allow you to enjoy our vibrant cafe and restaurant scene to the fullest as it won't be too cold dining alfresco. September is also nice but tends to be a little rainy.

     

    As for connecting flights, the airline must protect you in the event of a missed connection if you're booked on a single ticket, even onestar unless it is explicitly stated anywhere during the ticketing process that you're actually purchasing 2 separate tickets. I'm guessing your PEN-SIN will be on a separate tkt if with the JQ option? If so allow a generous connecting time in SIN or even overnight in SIN as the airline has no obligation to protect you on separately ticketed connections, and you might lose your entire fare on JQ.

     

    I'd go with MH or SQ for the peace of mind, and SQ would be better FFP-wise due to links with Star Alliance (meaning you can avoid Krisflyer and choose the best scheme out of the entire alliance).


  13. Mind telling which site you got this info from...seemed very interesting...thanks in advance

     

    I have access to Sabre, a GDS (Global Distribution System, or in plain English - computer reservation system). Got it mainly to book my own flights as I got sick of arguing with airline offices and travel agents, and it's much faster than coaxing fares out of websites.

     

    It's very technical, there are lots of formats to learn. But once I got the hang of it it's a breeze. Found the above with just a few simple keystrokes.

     

     

    @Keith, now thats some cheap prices. DL code-shares with MH from KUL to ICN, is that correct?

     

    Nope - they codeshare with KE.

     

     


  14. Found the following on DL KUL-LEX:

     

    PQ 1                                                            
                                                                    
           BASE FARE     EQUIV AMT        TAXES          TOTAL      
            MYR3146       USD962.00      185.50XT     USD1147.50ADT 
        XT      15.40US       5.50YC       7.00XY       5.00XA      
                 2.50AY      15.60MY     130.00YQ       4.50XF      
    ADT-01  MHAPBO                                                  
    LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 07AUG/2359                                 
    KUL DL X/SEL DL X/ATL DL LEX M988.99MHAPBO NUC988.99END ROE3    
    .1803 XFATL4.5                                                  
    VALIDATING CARRIER - DL                                         
    REF/CHANGE PENALTIES APPLY                                      
    01 O KUL DL  7912M  09AUG  115A  MHAPBO           09AUG09AUG    
    02 X ICN DL    92M  09AUG  605P  MHAPBO           09AUG09AUG    
    03 X ATL DL  5334M  09AUG  935P  MHAPBO           09AUG09AUG   
         LEX                                                       ‡
    VALIDATING CARRIER-DL

     

    According to XE that converts to approximately MYR3732 all in, and gets you all the way to LEX.

     

    UA:

     

    PQ 1  NCB                                                       
                                                                    
           BASE FARE     EQUIV AMT        TAXES          TOTAL      
            MYR2667       USD815.00      233.50XT     USD1048.50ADT 
        XT      15.40US       5.50YC       7.00XY       5.00XA      
                 2.50AY      15.60MY      13.00CN     165.00YQ      
                 4.50XF                                             
    ADT-01  HHEMYO                                                  
    LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 31JUL/2359                                 
    KUL MH X/SHA Q100.00UA X/CHI UA LEX738.60HHEMYO NUC838.60END    
    ROE3.1803 XFORD4.5                                             
    VALIDATING CARRIER - UA                                         
    NON END/CHANGE FEE APPLIES/CANCEL FEE APPLIES                   
    01 O KUL MH   388Y  10AUG  850A  HHEMYO           10AUG10AUG    
    02 X PVG UA   836Y  10AUG  355P  HHEMYO           10AUG10AUG   
    03 X ORD UA  5985Y  10AUG  750P  HHEMYO           10AUG10AUG   ‡
         LEX                                                        
    VALIDATING CARRIER-UA

     

    Approx MYR3413.35 all in.

     

    The UA fare can also be done KUL-SIN on MH, and UA the rest of the way via NRT/HKG etc.

     

    I've only searched on price. These are published fares you can get from any TA or the airline/airline GSA directly.

     

    The MH and SQ fares I found to LAX/NYC were similar to what you've posted.

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