Qantas answers questions on new routes

QANTAS responds to News Limited's reader questions on their new partnership deal with Emirates airlines.

* If I am a Platinum Frequent Flyer with Qantas can I request an exit row if I am flying on a Qantas-coded flight on an Emirates plane? When I called Qantas I was told exit rows were reserved for Emirates frequent flyers. Sam

All customers travelling on Emirates operated flights, including Qantas codeshare customers, are unable to pre-select exit row seats in advance. The request for exit row seats are managed at airport check-in, regardless of frequent flyer status. There is no prioritisation by frequent flyer tier in the allocation of exit row seats.

* If the BA Qantas London via Singapore route doesn't exist anymore what happens to my points? Shane

From 31 March 2013, Qantas will fly to London via Dubai (rather than Singapore) with flights from Melbourne and Sydney to London via Dubai approximately 30 minutes shorter than via the pre 31 March network. There will be no change to your current Qantas Frequent Flyer points balance, and you will be able to use points to fly on any part of the Emirates network (as well as the Qantas network) – combined total of more than 175 destinations. You will also be able to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points on both Emirates and Qantas Flights.

* Does this mean if I book a flight with Emirates I might end up on a Qantas plane? Tom

Yes. Emirates will also codeshare on Qantas operated flights. The airline that you will be flying with will be confirmed during the booking process as currently occurs.

* Will Qantas still fly to Asia? Sarah

Yes. Qantas flies directly from Australia to 10 destinations in Asia (including services operated by our partner airlines). In February, Qantas announced a series of changes to its Asia network that will deliver more dedicated seats, improved connections and a greater range of options when flying from Australia to Asia. The combined Qantas-Emirates network will offer double daily services to Singapore from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a new destination, Kuala Lumpur.

* Does Qantas still fly to Frankfurt? Mark

In light of escalating losses on the Singapore-Frankfurt route, Qantas will cease to operate these services on 15 April 2013. Since the launch of Qantas’ international turnaround strategy in August 2011, Qantas has withdrawn from unprofitable routes. The Singapore-Frankfurt service has been unsustainable for many years. The high cost of fuel, combined with the high cost of not having a geographic hub advantage, has impacted the performance of the Frankfurt services.
Qantas customers now have ‘one-stop’ access to Frankfurt on Qantas codeshare services with Emirates via Dubai, with three daily Dubai-Frankfurt services (for travel from 31 March 2013). Customers will also have one-stop access to an additional three destinations in Germany – Hamburg, Munich and Dusseldorf (for travel from 31 March 2013).

* What will happen to frequent flyer points already gained with both Qantas and Emirates? Ben

Qantas Frequent Flyer program points and Emirates Skywards program miles cannot be combined and points/miles are not transferable. Customers can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points on both Emirates and Qantas flights, and use their points to fly on any part of the Emirates network (as well as all of the Qantas network) – a combined total of more than 175 destinations.

* Will Qantas still be flying to Singapore on July 26? We booked our flight last October and we are connecting with Finnair for a flight to Manchester? Barbara

Yes. Qantas will continue to fly directly from Australia to Singapore and onwards to Helsinki with our codeshare partner, Finnair (AY), and then connect to Finnair flights from Helsinki to a number of destinations in Europe. There will be no impact to your existing booking to travel to Manchester in July. Refer to the terms and conditions of your ticket to see if you are eligible to change to a one-stop service to Manchester via Dubai.
The Qantas and Emirates partnership has also paved the way for the airline to significantly improve its services between Australia and Singapore. Through this partnership, passengers from Singapore will now have the choice of two daily flights from both Singapore to Brisbane and Singapore to Melbourne, split evenly between Emirates and Qantas. Qantas will operate a total of 35 services a week from Singapore to Australia, including its 14 services on these overlapping routes (as announced in February 2013).
 

View the original article here

Qantas answers questions on new routes

QANTAS responds to News Limited's reader questions on their new partnership deal with Emirates airlines.

* If I am a Platinum Frequent Flyer with Qantas can I request an exit row if I am flying on a Qantas-coded flight on an Emirates plane? When I called Qantas I was told exit rows were reserved for Emirates frequent flyers. Sam

All customers travelling on Emirates operated flights, including Qantas codeshare customers, are unable to pre-select exit row seats in advance. The request for exit row seats are managed at airport check-in, regardless of frequent flyer status. There is no prioritisation by frequent flyer tier in the allocation of exit row seats.

* If the BA Qantas London via Singapore route doesn't exist anymore what happens to my points? Shane

From 31 March 2013, Qantas will fly to London via Dubai (rather than Singapore) with flights from Melbourne and Sydney to London via Dubai approximately 30 minutes shorter than via the pre 31 March network. There will be no change to your current Qantas Frequent Flyer points balance, and you will be able to use points to fly on any part of the Emirates network (as well as the Qantas network) – combined total of more than 175 destinations. You will also be able to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points on both Emirates and Qantas Flights.

* Does this mean if I book a flight with Emirates I might end up on a Qantas plane? Tom

Yes. Emirates will also codeshare on Qantas operated flights. The airline that you will be flying with will be confirmed during the booking process as currently occurs.

* Will Qantas still fly to Asia? Sarah

Yes. Qantas flies directly from Australia to 10 destinations in Asia (including services operated by our partner airlines). In February, Qantas announced a series of changes to its Asia network that will deliver more dedicated seats, improved connections and a greater range of options when flying from Australia to Asia. The combined Qantas-Emirates network will offer double daily services to Singapore from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a new destination, Kuala Lumpur.

* Does Qantas still fly to Frankfurt? Mark

In light of escalating losses on the Singapore-Frankfurt route, Qantas will cease to operate these services on 15 April 2013. Since the launch of Qantas’ international turnaround strategy in August 2011, Qantas has withdrawn from unprofitable routes. The Singapore-Frankfurt service has been unsustainable for many years. The high cost of fuel, combined with the high cost of not having a geographic hub advantage, has impacted the performance of the Frankfurt services.
Qantas customers now have ‘one-stop’ access to Frankfurt on Qantas codeshare services with Emirates via Dubai, with three daily Dubai-Frankfurt services (for travel from 31 March 2013). Customers will also have one-stop access to an additional three destinations in Germany – Hamburg, Munich and Dusseldorf (for travel from 31 March 2013).

* What will happen to frequent flyer points already gained with both Qantas and Emirates? Ben

Qantas Frequent Flyer program points and Emirates Skywards program miles cannot be combined and points/miles are not transferable. Customers can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points on both Emirates and Qantas flights, and use their points to fly on any part of the Emirates network (as well as all of the Qantas network) – a combined total of more than 175 destinations.

* Will Qantas still be flying to Singapore on July 26? We booked our flight last October and we are connecting with Finnair for a flight to Manchester? Barbara

Yes. Qantas will continue to fly directly from Australia to Singapore and onwards to Helsinki with our codeshare partner, Finnair (AY), and then connect to Finnair flights from Helsinki to a number of destinations in Europe. There will be no impact to your existing booking to travel to Manchester in July. Refer to the terms and conditions of your ticket to see if you are eligible to change to a one-stop service to Manchester via Dubai.
The Qantas and Emirates partnership has also paved the way for the airline to significantly improve its services between Australia and Singapore. Through this partnership, passengers from Singapore will now have the choice of two daily flights from both Singapore to Brisbane and Singapore to Melbourne, split evenly between Emirates and Qantas. Qantas will operate a total of 35 services a week from Singapore to Australia, including its 14 services on these overlapping routes (as announced in February 2013).
 

View the original article here

Qantas answers questions on new routes

QANTAS responds to News Limited's reader questions on their new partnership deal with Emirates airlines.

* If I am a Platinum Frequent Flyer with Qantas can I request an exit row if I am flying on a Qantas-coded flight on an Emirates plane? When I called Qantas I was told exit rows were reserved for Emirates frequent flyers. Sam

All customers travelling on Emirates operated flights, including Qantas codeshare customers, are unable to pre-select exit row seats in advance. The request for exit row seats are managed at airport check-in, regardless of frequent flyer status. There is no prioritisation by frequent flyer tier in the allocation of exit row seats.

* If the BA Qantas London via Singapore route doesn't exist anymore what happens to my points? Shane

From 31 March 2013, Qantas will fly to London via Dubai (rather than Singapore) with flights from Melbourne and Sydney to London via Dubai approximately 30 minutes shorter than via the pre 31 March network. There will be no change to your current Qantas Frequent Flyer points balance, and you will be able to use points to fly on any part of the Emirates network (as well as the Qantas network) – combined total of more than 175 destinations. You will also be able to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points on both Emirates and Qantas Flights.

* Does this mean if I book a flight with Emirates I might end up on a Qantas plane? Tom

Yes. Emirates will also codeshare on Qantas operated flights. The airline that you will be flying with will be confirmed during the booking process as currently occurs.

* Will Qantas still fly to Asia? Sarah

Yes. Qantas flies directly from Australia to 10 destinations in Asia (including services operated by our partner airlines). In February, Qantas announced a series of changes to its Asia network that will deliver more dedicated seats, improved connections and a greater range of options when flying from Australia to Asia. The combined Qantas-Emirates network will offer double daily services to Singapore from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a new destination, Kuala Lumpur.

* Does Qantas still fly to Frankfurt? Mark

In light of escalating losses on the Singapore-Frankfurt route, Qantas will cease to operate these services on 15 April 2013. Since the launch of Qantas’ international turnaround strategy in August 2011, Qantas has withdrawn from unprofitable routes. The Singapore-Frankfurt service has been unsustainable for many years. The high cost of fuel, combined with the high cost of not having a geographic hub advantage, has impacted the performance of the Frankfurt services.
Qantas customers now have ‘one-stop’ access to Frankfurt on Qantas codeshare services with Emirates via Dubai, with three daily Dubai-Frankfurt services (for travel from 31 March 2013). Customers will also have one-stop access to an additional three destinations in Germany – Hamburg, Munich and Dusseldorf (for travel from 31 March 2013).

* What will happen to frequent flyer points already gained with both Qantas and Emirates? Ben

Qantas Frequent Flyer program points and Emirates Skywards program miles cannot be combined and points/miles are not transferable. Customers can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points on both Emirates and Qantas flights, and use their points to fly on any part of the Emirates network (as well as all of the Qantas network) – a combined total of more than 175 destinations.

* Will Qantas still be flying to Singapore on July 26? We booked our flight last October and we are connecting with Finnair for a flight to Manchester? Barbara

Yes. Qantas will continue to fly directly from Australia to Singapore and onwards to Helsinki with our codeshare partner, Finnair (AY), and then connect to Finnair flights from Helsinki to a number of destinations in Europe. There will be no impact to your existing booking to travel to Manchester in July. Refer to the terms and conditions of your ticket to see if you are eligible to change to a one-stop service to Manchester via Dubai.
The Qantas and Emirates partnership has also paved the way for the airline to significantly improve its services between Australia and Singapore. Through this partnership, passengers from Singapore will now have the choice of two daily flights from both Singapore to Brisbane and Singapore to Melbourne, split evenly between Emirates and Qantas. Qantas will operate a total of 35 services a week from Singapore to Australia, including its 14 services on these overlapping routes (as announced in February 2013).
 

View the original article here

10 mind-boggling Wall Street interview questions

How many tennis balls are there in New South Wales was a question an investment banking candidate was asked. Picture: File Source: news.com.au

• Investment bankers subjected to bizarre interview questions
• Makes you think creatively, show personality
• See 10 mind-boggling questions below
• Follow sarah_ocarroll on Twitter

IF you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and trapped in a blender, how would you get out?

Could you weigh an elephant without using a scale, guess the number of tennis balls there are in New South Wales, or bricks on residential buildings in Shanghai?

If so, you may have what it takes to be an investment banker.

These are some of interview questions potential investment bankers are asked - they are tough, very tough, and some even border on the ridiculous.

But there's method to the madness.

According to investment banking recruiter Jason Hutchins from Anton Murray Consulting investment banks are looking to determine three things about candidates:

1.    Are you smart enough
2.    Can you handle the work

3.    Do they like you

He said that while interviewers will of course focus on candidates technical ability, commercial awareness and previous experience they will also gauge their response to one or two more obscure questions.

"For example an associate interviewing with UBS was recently asked how many tennis balls there were in New South Wales," said Mr Hutchins.

"Whilst you can't be expected to know the exact figure, interviewers want to see what approach you'll take to answering the question, and what steps you'd take to reach this number."

A similar question asked in an interview with British bank Rothschild was: Why do you think only a small portion of the population makes over $200k per year?

"Not only does this test your economic understanding and thought process but could be an opportunity to gauge political views and dare I say it, any exaggerated self-opinions," he said.

"Whilst these may seem a little left field, they are in fact vital to understanding how you'll consider the different variances involved in complex valuations," he said.

Then of course there are the banking interviews questions that sound simply ridiculous.

US giant Goldman Sachs asked the question: If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and trapped in a blender, how would you get out?

"Bankers like these types of questions, as it makes you think creatively and shows them your personality, will you just be dismissive to the question or use it as a chance to show you're not just a number cruncher and have the sense of humour and quick thinking to fit in to the team," said Mr Hutchins.

Here are 10 mind-boggling questions investment bankers have been asked:

1.    If you had five red balls that contained four red balls and those red balls contained the original five red balls, then how many sets of sets of balls would I take to have a double set of red balls of varying sizes inside each next largest red ball?
2.    How many tennis balls are there in New South Wales
3.    Why do you think only a small portion of the population makes over $200k per year?
4.    If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and trapped in a blender, how would you get out?
5.    You have 2 buckets. One full of white marbles and the other full of black marbles. How do you allocate the marbles into buckets in a way that maximizes your probability of picking 2 white ones when you pick 1 marble from each bucket?
6.    Explain to me what has happened in this country during the last 10 years.
7.    How many bricks are there in Shanghai? Consider only residential buildings
8.    How do you weigh an elephant without using a scale?
9.    Using a scale of 1 to 10, rate yourself on how weird you are?
10.    And finally: You are given two eggs. You have access to a 100-story building. Eggs can be very hard or very fragile means it may break if dropped from the first floor or may not even break if dropped from 100th floor. Both eggs are identical. You need to figure out the highest floor of a 100-story building an egg can be dropped without breaking. The question is how many drops you need to make. You are allowed to break 2 eggs in the process.

Have you been asked a crazy interview question? Tell us below or @sarah_ocarroll on Twitter

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