Move over Sid, @QantasAirways has a new kid in town, Megan!

Those of you who are familiar with my ramblings have found the saga of my mate Sid, former Head of Loyalty Operations rather amusing,  The feedback for some quarters has been down right flattering!  Well I got a new email today, personally signed by Megan Whitlocke-Jones with the whole enchilada marketing signature.  Qantas have replaced my mate Sid (figuratively speaking) and to top this off, Sid has updated his Linked In profile.  It would appear that Sid did work at Qantas, he just got some what confused between 2010 and 2012.  I have a created a new medical condition for this.  It is called Temporal Displacement Syndrome or TDS for short.  This is where individuals get confused about what they were doing and when.  This is not to be confused with Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson, who got disoriented about the Degree he obtained or not as the case may be.  Check out Sid’s new and improved Linked in page.

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But since Sid has moved on, so should we, sorry Sid.  So onto my newest mate, Megan.  My other mate Bruce (I do not have many!) is rather annoyed that he did not get the double status points offer.  Two months later he is still dirty and I have not let him forget it either.  I would phone you (Megan) personally to plead Bruce’s case but I feel that you would not take my call and who can blame you and that would be a bit pathetic.  And anyway, I would not want me to call me so accordingly Bruce can fight his own fights.

Back to Megan’s signature.  Now for those of you how like the full enchilada marketing signature, here it is in it’s full glory complete with flourish’s:

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So until next week or the week after depending on how eventful my travel is, voyages heureux.

@AmericanAir have hit the jackpot (not) but the customers love them!

Airline’s fury as travellers live it up in first class, for life

  • Airline bled dry after offering unlimited first-class flights
  • Lucky travellers snapped up the deal for $200,000
  • Airline seeking legal action in a bid to ground them

American Airlines

IT’S the holy grail of air travel – unlimited first-class flights.

Back in 1985 when American Airlines offered the enticing proposition for $US250,000 ($245,000) – and an extra $US150,000 ($147,000) for a travel companion – they never imagined how much trouble it would land them in.  Eager travellers snapped up the deal and have been living the high life ever since, bleeding the airline dry and forcing it to hire private detectives and pursue legal action in a desperate bid to ground the passengers once and for all.

“We thought originally it would be something that firms would buy for top employees,” Bob Crandall, American Airlines’ chairman and chief executive from 1985-98, told the LA Times.
“It soon became apparent that the public was smarter than we were.”

These travellers would fly to Japan for lunch and back to the US for dinner that night, with one of them costing the airline more than $1 million a year.  Steven Rothstein and Jacques Vroom were among the lucky few who secured unlimited flights but they have gone from being treated like kings by the airline to being the targets of much ire.
Unwilling to let the good times end, the duo fly whenever they feel like it and for however long they like. And with a deal like that who needs a house?  They sat in the most comfortable airline seats, enjoyed the best meals and entertainment, bypassed long queues at the airport and never had to worry about cancellation fees.  The “fliers who flew too much” put George Clooney’s adventures in the 2009 movie Up in the Air look pitiful. While the superstar’s character was showered with attention after reaching 10 million miles (16 million kilometres), Mr Vroom, 67, has logged nearly four times this amount.  That’s equivalent to a staggering 1606 trips around the world.
Unsurprisingly, the airline has discontinued the lifetime pass.

This article was originally posted at news.com and can be seen here: http://shar.es/2xI67

The @QantasAirways mob are usually an astute bunch but this #frequentflyer deal ….

I was having a look at the Frequent Flyer Reward flights and found what can only be a stuff up on behalf of Qantas.

The people who run Qantas despite what I may have to say about them are a very astute group of people.  You may not always agree with them but the airline, despite my ramblings, is a slick operation.  The international side needs some finessing but by and large, they get by.

Back to the Frequent Flyer redemption search.  I was able to select a flight from London (LHR) on QF2 to Sydney and then domestic through to Melbourne.  If I book the Economy option all the way, the cost is 64,000 points and about half the cash fare again in tax’s and surcharges.  I works out to be a 66% discount with no status credits or ff points.

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This is where the problem is!  If you book the Business Redemption flight, you are charged 128,000 points but and this is a monster BUT, the leg from London to Sydney on QF2 is in Economy.  Hold the phone.  For an hour and a half in a 767 that is most likely older than your Great Grand Mother you get to pay an additional 64,000 points for 1/25th in domestic business and a glass of OJ before you take off in Sydney.  Just to put your mind at reat that this is no joke, the same let from Sydney to Melbourne on QF429 in Business is 16,000 points.  By splitting up the return leg, you can save your self 48,000 points.  They think we are fools!

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As I said earlier, they are a smart mob at Qantas but some one has been out for a very long lunch and probably should not have come back to the office that afternoon!  Maybe this was Sid’s parting gesture!

@QantasAirways are now trying to set political correctness agenda.

The complementary WIFI in the Qantas lounges is setting the political correctness agenda and I am not talking about adult content!

I was sent a link to web site a few days back about a guy who was asked to judge a chili (food) competition in Texas.  The story was a joke and a very good one at that.  When I finally got around to reading it, I was nearly ill with laughter.  Try reading it to a group of people!  But when trying to open the website in the Qantas Lounge, I received a redirect to the Optus security gateway aka the profanity filter.  I had hit upon a “restricted category”, humor!  Now I wonder how the likes of Kevin “Bloody” Wilson, Eddie Murphy and Will Anderson cope!

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I fired off a unblock request and Optus got back to me in a very prompt time frame, so human actually looked at my request!  I have been unfortunate enough to have had the horror of dealing with Optus and can say with a 100% confidence that an Optus operator CAN NOT respond in 4 minutes.

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Now Qantas seem to think that this type of humour is unacceptable and the following is what upset the good folk in the Qantas/Optus profanity department – you be the judge!

The following content was originally found at http://www.rollitup.org/toke-n-talk/27344-substitute-texas-chili-judge.html

Substitute Texas Chili Judge

Frank: “Recently, I was honoured to be selected as a judge at a chili cooking contest. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge’s table asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (native Texans) that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted.” Here are the scorecards from the advent:

(Frank Judge #3)

Chili # 1 Eddie’s Maniac Monster Chili…

Judge # 1 –! A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.

Judge # 2 — Nice, smooth tomato flavour. Very mild.

Judge # 3 — (Frank) What the hell is this stuff?! You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put out the flames. I hope that’s the worst one. These Texans are crazy!

Chili # 2 Austin’s Afterburner Chili…

Judge # 1 — Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.

Judge # 2 — Exciting BBQ flavour; needs more peppers to be taken seriously.

Judge # 3 — Keep this out of the reach of children. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich manoeuvre. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.

Chili # 3 Ronny’s Famous Burn Down the Barn Chili…

Judge # 1 — Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Needs more beans.

Judge # 2 — A bean less chili, a bit salty, good use of peppers.

Judge # 3 — Call the EPA. I’ve located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now.

Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I’m getting pie-eyed from all of the beer…

Chili # 4 Dave’s Black Magic…

Judge # 1 — Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.

Judge # 2 — Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish, or other mild foods; not much of a chili.

Judge # 3 — I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the barmaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-lb. woman is starting to look HOT…just like this nuclear waste I’m eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?

Chili # 5 Lisa’s Legal Lip Remover…

Judge # 1 — Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.

Judge # 2 — Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne ! peppers make a strong statement.

Judge # 3 — My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead, and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I’m burning my lips off. It really pisses me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks.

Chili # 6 Pam’s Very Vegetarian Variety…

Judge # 1 — Thin, yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.

Judge # 2 — The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb.

Judge # 3 — My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulphuric flames. I pooped on myself when I farted and I’m worried it will eat through the chair! No one seems inclined to stand behind me anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.

Chili # 7 Carla’s Screaming Sensation Chili…

Judge # 1 — A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.

Judge # 2 — Ho-hum; tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress, as he is cursing uncontrollably.

Judge # 3 — You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn’t feel a thing. I’ve lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they’ll know what killed me.

I’ve decided to stop breathing; it’s too painful. Screw it; I’m not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I’ll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.

Chili # 8 Karen’s Toenail Curling Chili…

Judge # 1 — The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold, but spicy enough to declare its existence.

Judge # 2 — This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild, nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge # 3 farted, passed out, fell over, and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself.

Not sure if he’s going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he’d have reacted to really hot chili?”

Judge # 3 — Oh God………