Join AFF to have a Rant? It happens!

[eric2011]

Join today, rant today. How good is this forum.

I'll bring the popcorn can someone get the wine

 

[Riaan De Jager]

Strip away the emotive language and I think the OP makes some valid points that QF needs to consider.
The cutlery is appalling - it is like a camping kit.
The content of the amenity kit is minimal and for business it doesn't compare with the competitors.
Staff service on QF is not consistent, in recent times I have had exceptionally good QF crew, but in the past I have experienced off hand and rude crew members.
The food can also be variable in quality, although I have not experienced anything a poor as was described by the OP, I have had meals that I have asked to be reheated and some that I just couldn't eat.
The 747s are definitely showing their age.
The number of toilets is inadequate.
Snacks outside of meal time are limited - on my last flight the only thing they could offer me was chocolate. I said that I didn't want anything sweet and was given another packet of pretzels and cashews.
Inflight entertainment screens offer a fairly poor quality viewing experience.

Join today, rant today. How good is this forum.

I'll bring the popcorn can someone get the wine

Wow. Ok. How long does one need to hang about before ranting is allowed?

 

[eric2011]

Wow. Ok. How long does one need to hang about before ranting is allowed?

until one gets credence to what one is saying and is an objective post and not just a first time cough session. IMHO

 

[Happy Trails]

Well, I quite enjoyed reading the rant, even if it was a little over-egged.

 

[Pushka]

Join today, rant today. How good is this forum.

I'll bring the popcorn can someone get the wine

Often a first timer will post a rant because they’ve just had a bad experience and googled about what to do about that. Where it’s a once off post then I tend to ignore but the OP has been back a couple of times to address the issues raised. I don’t necessarily dismiss a first time poster as we oldies can get a bit jaded and it’s good to hear something from fresh eyes.

Certainly I’ve experienced poor issues in Qantas J. But also in Emirates J. Will be trying out Qatar in a few months time.

 

[Deleted member]

Wow. Ok. How long does one need to hang about before ranting is allowed?

It is seen as being somewhat impolite to just turn up and throw a hissy fit. As it has been mentioned before up thread. Keep it unemotional, stick to the facts and don’t exaggerate. The cutlery is woeful, God only knows who allowed that to happen. The food can be hit and miss. But how do you know how old it is? The seats are / we’re fine last time I was on a QF 747. Maybe something has changed? I have to say that in my experience, QF cabin crew are a direct reflection of me and how I behave. ..... as for the PJ’s. Not too many airlines even offer them to J pax if memory serves me correctly. But you are entitled to your opinion and as suggested up thread. Vote with your feet and fly with one of the Chinese airlines you mentioned. I agree about the ice-cream. But then I guess it’s better than warm and runny.

BTW. Can someone tell me the difference between pre booking and booking? Is there a secret booking process I’m unaware of?

 

[love_the_life]

It is seen as being somewhat impolite to just turn up and throw a hissy fit. As it has been mentioned before up thread. Keep it unemotional, stick to the facts and don’t exaggerate. The cutlery is woeful, God only knows who allowed that to happen. The food can be hit and miss. But how do you know how old it is? The seats are / we’re fine last time I was on a QF 747. Maybe something has changed? I have to say that in my experience, QF cabin crew are a direct reflection of me and how I behave. ..... as for the PJ’s. Not too many airlines even offer them to J pax if memory serves me correctly. But you are entitled to your opinion and as suggested up thread. Vote with your feet and fly with one of the Chinese airlines you mentioned. I agree about the ice-cream. But then I guess it’s better than warm and runny.

BTW. Can someone tell me the difference between pre booking and booking? Is there a secret booking process I’m unaware of?

I agree in most areas but I can see how the OP could have been so pi**ed off to post a rant. It's a pity it is their first post but as mentioned maybe they did a bit of a Google search and this site came up. I don't care about the PJs and usually don't take them (to come clean I am short and a bit tubby so need a largish size which then drag on the floor ) and know that QF is one of the few that provide them in J. It is the service levels that tend to get up my nose if they are poor and then I vow not to fly QF.....until the next time that is.

 

[RooFlyer]

I appreciated RdJ's post - and welcome to AFF. Hang around the forum and you'll learn lots - not just how to avoid QF, but to do it cheaper and easier. Look at my name here. I Used to fly Qantas all the time, now it's hardly ever.

I still enjoy the occasional rant here .

But there are Qantas fans here too and a ranting newbie usually gets some blowback. Normal.

You might like to go to the trip report section on AFF and post one of the flight and maybe more. Pictures are always good to get your point across.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wow. Ok. How long does one need to hang about before ranting is allowed?

you're fine

I took '35 rows' of business class for '35 passengers' - which still isn't quite right but getting closer!

On a serious note, much of what you describe is not new. Individually all the things you mention - crew, seating, food quality, amenity kit - have all been experienced by most of us. Sometimes a couple of those affect each flight. But you got the jackpot with it all happening at once. In that sense it's not unbelievable.

The reason they continue to get away with it is because many people are shackled by status.

 

[opusman]

Always love a good rant.

I doubt anyone could argue QF have a below-average J product with above average prices. At the end of the day it's your choice whether to fly them or not.

 

[Denali]

Wasn't there a destination thread to Santiago by Flying Mermaid, with lots of comments about the tired 747 and trying to avoid it?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Join today, rant today. How good is this forum.

I'll bring the popcorn can someone get the wine

IIRC my first post or at least one of the first few posts I made was a rant about poor service in QF F and I’m still here and alive

 

[eric2011]

IIRC my first post or at least one of the first few posts I made was a rant about poor service in QF F and I’m still here and alive

OK PF, have a dig at me, thats fine. LOL. At least you have been here for coming up to 9 years and have contributed with more than 9000 posts but at least I have never known you to exaggerate. You have the credence I mentioned earlier on.

 

[boomy]

IIRC my first post or at least one of the first few posts I made was a rant about poor service in QF F and I’m still here and alive

I had similar experience as newbie posting a rant about QF customer service but luckily I have thick skin and no issues dealing with random keyboard warriors. The problem is other newbies may take offence and not post anymore.

To the OP, please don’t pay attention to negative comments made mostly by posters who only like to attack others and make no real contribution to this forum. They are small minority and most regular posters here are nice and helpful. It makes absolutely no difference if it’s your first or 1000th post as long as your comments are legit. As someone who flys QF very often I can validate most of your comments.
QF service is a hit and miss and you were unlucky to experience exceptionally bad service which definitely can happen BUT it’s rare, usually service on QF is Ok. Food on QF, compared to other airlines in J is under par, no doubt about that but at least the wines are nice. Now to the hard product, you flew on the B747 which is a nice plane, from the outside. If you will consider giving QF second chance you should fly either A330 or B787 and avoid A380 / B747 because some of the seats in J tend to drop. I’ve been bitten on both aircrafts and learnt my lesson. Yes, I know not all seats drop but why take the chance if there are better options.

 

[harvyk]

IIRC my first post or at least one of the first few posts I made was a rant about poor service in QF F and I’m still here and alive

I have to admit, I don't remember why I joined, but I didn't take this place too seriously at first.

That changed when I stopped always walking past the J seats on my way to the back of the bus.

 

[juddles]

I agree that when the first appearance a poster makes is a massive attack (whinge) gives ride to the possibility of attack. But I also understand very clearly that it could be such a negative experience that drives a person to actually post. IMHO there are very few on this forum that seek to "attack". But like me, they get sensitive to the realities of travel, and so may not have such a positive reaction to an initial "tantrum" thread....

 

[eric2011]

I agree that when the first appearance a poster makes is a massive attack (whinge) gives ride to the possibility of attack. But I also understand very clearly that it could be such a negative experience that drives a person to actually post. IMHO there are very few on this forum that seek to "attack".

+1

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree that when the first appearance a poster makes is a massive attack (whinge) gives ride to the possibility of attack. But I also understand very clearly that it could be such a negative experience that drives a person to actually post. IMHO there are very few on this forum that seek to "attack". But like me, they get sensitive to the realities of travel, and so may not have such a positive reaction to an initial "tantrum" thread....

It might be worth considering that the OP is also a seasoned traveller, 'sensitive to the realities of travel', and felt strongly enough that they needed to post.

As a reader you have options... including to stop reading, or to refrain from replying.

If' I'd just bought a car for $20K - perhaps the same price the OP paid for three tickets to JNB - I'd probably also write a stern review if there were half a dozen issues cropping up in about the space of 12 hours.

 

[RooFlyer]

I recall one of my early posts was a rant about AA, and I definitely recall people piling into me (fortunately I don't remember who ).

I distinctly remember writing " I'll never fly with them again". That, of course, was before I discovered buying AA miles with bonuses when the dollar was at parity and Saaver Awards

It doesn't have to be an ' attack' eric2011, just snide remarks about a newbie or put downs etc.

Give new comers a break, and welcome them into the forum.

 

[eric2011]

It is so obvious that they have cut costs in every conceivable way. Il-fitting pajamas that make everyone look like inmates of an insane asylum

My daughter had a vegetarian option which can only be described as an inedible health hazard.

Her "starter" consisted of some chopped up old carrots and celery, wilted lettuce and a bendy cucumber wrapped in plastic.

The veggies were days old,

-My chicken entree looked like the worst microwave meal you could buy in a supermarket. Inedible.

My wife's Kingklip fish would bounce at least two meters high if you dropped it on the floor, Both our courses were ice cold.

The veggies were cooked days in advance and inedible. The starter shepherd's pie was like cat food, gristly, brown slosh salty.

You sit having to look at the wilting and congealing food in front of you.

-

I don't think these are just snide remarks, In these days of mobile phones and photos everywhere, I think they are a unjustified attack. If you are going to come up with this rubbish, prove it!

Oh and somewhere back towards the start the OP admits they exaggerate. They may well live in fantasy land ?