An Awful Qantas Experience That Must Be Shared.

[serfty]

locking thread for review

OK, thread gardening completed. Please post here specifically regarding the OP's complains.

If you want to discuss "Ranting", please go here (but stay civil!): Joing AFF to have a Rant? It happens!

 

[drron]

To the OP.I believe your account as I have experienced something similar.Posted on the other ranting thread as well.

A refurbed 333.We were in the middle seats Row 2.On boarding all the J seats had the duvet in place except mrsdrrons.The CSM came round giving plats a welcome except he gave it to me rather than mrsdrron who is the WP.She was ignored.This is par for the course on QF.CX and JL can get it right.Also again have to fill in your brekkie order before takeoff-not required on CX and JL.Finally did get a glass of champagne.
The CSM then came round taking dinner orders,mrsdrron was bypassed until the elites had ordered so I got to order before her.Now the ceviche dish looked interesting so I asked to start with the ceviche and then have the pork belly sliders.I was told in no uncertain terms that the ceviche was a main course and so I could only have 1 course and it was the pork belly.What wonderful J service.On top of that the only ceviche I saw being eaten was by a FA in the galley.

Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

 

[Vic]

Seen sale pricing Sydney to Jo'burg of $4500 return.

 

[JohnK]

Yes the OP infers he was ripped off, so until we know how much he may have in fact got a bargain.

I'm not sure that's relevant? It shouldn't matter if you've paid $10,000, a discounted $5,000, your employer paid for the flights or you used points from credit card churning.

You expect the airline to deliver what they promise to deliver.

 

[UP4014]

I'm not sure that's relevant? It shouldn't matter if you've paid $10,000, a discounted $5,000, your employer paid for the flights or you used points from credit card churning.

You expect the airline to deliver what they promise to deliver.

It's subjective as not based on measurable facts, of which one fact is the price.

Example, OP comment 'food is slop', 'food is health hazard' yet fact tell us there was no report of poisoning.

Based on the OP comments, price is very important as it is a known fact that puts perspective on the opinion and supply of facts would lend some sort of credibility to the post.

Like all insurance, you point it out yourself, it is a promise to do something not a guarantee.

 

[RooFlyer]

Example, OP comment 'food is slop', 'food is health hazard' yet fact tell us there was no report of poisoning.

Food being 'slop' and/or 'a health hazard' doesn't mean its poisonous. And an absence of a report that we've heard of doesn't exclude actual food poisoning on board (not that I'd expect there to be any).

Based on the OP comments, price is very important as it is a known fact that puts perspective on the opinion and supply of facts would lend some sort of credibility to the post.

We can all take whatever credibility we choose to assign to the OP. Unless it was just an invention, clearly the flight wasn't up to scratch. It's not the first report of such and I reckon it won't be the last. A major problem is the hype Qantas puts into its advertising and promotion. Not just that its going to be a wonderful experience with great food.

 

[p--and--t]

A rather disturbing post by the op.

I know the feeling of a bad flight when everything seems to go wrong a day the propensity to overstate everything in a moment of frustration.

I had one of those last year with Lufthansa on an A380 and they will not be getting a cent from me for years to come. Also a few years back on a NoStar flight to Vietnam and have never flown them internationally again.

It's been 5 years since I did the Sydney to Johberg return flight in premium economy and I while the fitout was blatantly tired I could not fault the service on board. The crew were outstanding on the way out and pretty good /comparable to many airlines on the return.

The cutlery choice, I agree is something I'll never understand. The icecream being hard seems to be similar on many carriers. But neither would wreck my holiday.

 

[jenaand]

Sorry to hear the OP had a poor flight. It's not great when expectations aren't met.

I haven't had the same experience fortunately. I do JNB-SYD 4 times a year. I'm usually in PE, (occasionally I'll use point to upgrade to J), and invariably find the crews to be incredibly consistent on this route. I always describe it as just a 'solid' flight.

I do agree that the old planes they use on this route can sometimes look a little tired, and the ice-cream is rock hard - but I'm always just so pleased to have a Weiss bar again that I'll happily wait the 5 mins until it's perfect. And yeah, the amenity kit is a little sad compared to others. The ground staff at JNB have usually been decidedly average, but the on-board crews I've had have always ranged from really good to great, and were very consistent.

If you go again, maybe consider CX via HKG if you need to stay within OneWorld. Have done that a couple of times. It's a LOT longer, but maybe worthwhile, especially if you fancy a stopover. They occasionally have nice sales ex RSA, and at least it means you won't have to fly SAA.

 

[laffer]

As this thread has been labelled “rant” I thought I would post a recent experience with QF here as I am not sure if I should rant.

Flying out of Syd on Q400 requires a walk along the tarmac. No worries. On Saturday it was absolutely teeming down with rain. The gate crew took no preventative measures to cover for the rain (I know they can’t control the rain but I would have thought they could mitigate the effects of it).

The only advice was the rain is heavy it’s a bit of a walk to the plane you might want to go one by one so you don’t queue outside to get on.

And that was it.

Passengers running across the tarmac with their bags in toe getting smashed and drenched with rain and entering the plane with wet clothes which we were forced to sit in for the duration of the flight.

Some of the later passengers onto the plane seemed to be drier so maybe QF organised umbrellas or jackets? There was no lightning.

Rain happens and I accept you will get wet. But am I being unreasonable thinking that QF could have pulled out some umbrellas and collected them at the plane to mitigate against the rain? It would not have been the first time this happened. Surely there are some mitigation strategies? Could you imagine the drama if someone slipped out on the tarmac trying to run for the plane to avoid the rain? Aside from the comfort issue I would have thought it was a safety issue more than anything? They knew it was not drizzle and was heavy.

I don’t know whether to raise it with QF? Just let it drop and put it down to my sensitive nature perhaps?

 

[serfty]

It does seems strange they had no umbrellas available.

I don’t know whether to raise it with QF? Just let it drop and put it down to my sensitive nature perhaps?

I would raise it - there seems to have been a failure somewhere here.

P.S.: If there had been lightning you would not have been boarding.

 

[TomVexille]

As this thread has been labelled “rant” I thought I would post a recent experience with QF here as I am not sure if I should rant.

Flying out of Syd on Q400 requires a walk along the tarmac. No worries. On Saturday it was absolutely teeming down with rain. The gate crew took no preventative measures to cover for the rain (I know they can’t control the rain but I would have thought they could mitigate the effects of it).

The only advice was the rain is heavy it’s a bit of a walk to the plane you might want to go one by one so you don’t queue outside to get on.

And that was it.

Passengers running across the tarmac with their bags in toe getting smashed and drenched with rain and entering the plane with wet clothes which we were forced to sit in for the duration of the flight.

Some of the later passengers onto the plane seemed to be drier so maybe QF organised umbrellas or jackets? There was no lightning.

Rain happens and I accept you will get wet. But am I being unreasonable thinking that QF could have pulled out some umbrellas and collected them at the plane to mitigate against the rain? It would not have been the first time this happened. Surely there are some mitigation strategies? Could you imagine the drama if someone slipped out on the tarmac trying to run for the plane to avoid the rain? Aside from the comfort issue I would have thought it was a safety issue more than anything? They knew it was not drizzle and was heavy.

I don’t know whether to raise it with QF? Just let it drop and put it down to my sensitive nature perhaps?

At LST the other week I happened to notice that there were umbrellas at the gate, presumably in the case of rain.

 

[Flying_man]

For me personally I like to board from the Tarmac so I can look at the plane up close from the outside. I am INTERESTED in planes. And sometimes it's NICE if it's raining because you get a very REFRESHED before the flight and feel cool and clean when you enter the plane. If they give an umbrella some passenger may STEAL it. Maybe they can provide umbrella for trusted PLATINUM passenger.

 

[Pushka]

For me personally I like to board from the Tarmac so I can look at the plane up close from the outside. I am INTERESTED in planes. And sometimes it's NICE if it's raining because you get a very REFRESHED before the flight and feel cool and clean when you enter the plane. If they give an umbrella some passenger may STEAL it. Maybe they can provide umbrella for trusted PLATINUM passenger.

I don’t really like being rained on. Makes me itch. If they make the brollies big enough then no chance of stealing.

 

[JohnK]

Rain happens and I accept you will get wet. But am I being unreasonable thinking that QF could have pulled out some umbrellas and collected them at the plane to mitigate against the rain?

There are usually umbrellas available when boarding via tarmac.

 

[kyle]

Another one?

Qantas flight fails ‘traumatised me’

 

[Milboo]

I saw that. Ted’s family flying business class are foolish for being under prepared for travelling with infants. What if their luggage had not arrived on the flight - how would have they fed and nappied their child then. Most parents I know travel with double what they need just in case.

 

[Pushka]

I saw that. Ted’s family flying business class are foolish for being under prepared for travelling with infants. What if their luggage had not arrived on the flight - how would have they fed and nappied their child then. Most parents I know travel with double what they need just in case.

Totally. Multiple bottles of formula and a small can of the powder. Multiple nappies. Snacks.

 

[MikeG]

Welcome to AFF.

Now that you've gotten that out of your system, can I suggest that you write QF some feedback detailing the shortcomings on your flights, but be clinical and use facts, take the emotion out of it.

QF can be very good, and pretty average, but so can many other carriers. QF are certainly not the cheapest, but they charge what people are willing to pay. I wouldn't say that's ripping people off if they willingly choose to pay it when there are other (admittedly indirect) options.

Back in 1999 when I was flying Qantas across the ditch every week, I sent Qantas a feedback letter outlining 35 unacceptable issues on one particular flight, including male steward pressing his crotch into the side of my head when standing on my seat to put away a passenger's bag, non working toilet, etc etc. I was issued with a travel voucher as compensation. The issues may not have been fixed as the aircraft used for my flight each week was different, but the rebate allowed me to fly for free for private travel which was enough for me.

Suggest you send Qantas a letter and give them first option to respond to your issue, rather than ranting on here. Only after they fail to respond to your issue, is it ok to lash out on AFF in my opinion. Forgive me if you've already taken this action, but from your posts this was not evident.

Just my 2c worth.

Yours sincerely,
M

 

[JohnK]

Totally. Multiple bottles of formula and a small can of the powder. Multiple nappies. Snacks.

We usually have 7-8 nappies, a couple of small bags of baby formula and some snacks. There is only so much you can fit into carry on.

But it sounds like this was a very poorly managed serious of events.

 

[Riaan De Jager]

OK, thread gardening completed. Please post here specifically regarding the OP's complains.

If you want to discuss "Ranting", please go here (but stay civil!): Joing AFF to have a Rant? It happens!

Thanks to all the positive response to my post and to those looking past the obvious exaggeration of the number of seats on QF 747 business class sharing two toilets (or as a friend recently called them "outhouses").

We eventually received a reply from Qantas via their facebook page. They committed to getting back to us within 15 days but that has now come and gone.

I noticed this article just popping up in my news feed today.

‘Sweating an aircraft fleet can prove devastating in the long-run’

In my opinion, it makes some really valid points.

Just returned from Europe ion Qatar. What an absolute pleasure from start to end on all four legs. And when I had feedback to give I felt like it was really being taken to heart and summarily dismissed.