Calling Qantas using Skype

[Zulaiha]

Yesterday I just spent a lot of time calling Qantas.

As we are living in Saudi, and calling Australia is approx AUD3 a minute on landline (yet we got not much better connections compared to using Skype) plus with no status with Qantas, we opted to call using Skype.

The ladies on the phone were great and helpful, but everytime they put me on hold, the line either cut off, or best yet, they could not hear me while I still can hear them.

After 7 calls, I beg the lady to never put me on hold, that was when we actually can finished done all the 3 set of bookings against our credits.

This obviously is a known problem, as she straight away knew that I am calling them using Skype.

So here is an advice for those like me, who is calling Qantas using skype, do beg them to never put you on hold, it does help.

 

[SnowYeti]

When I am in Canada, and need to ring, I don't ring the 13 numbers, they cost too much.

Also calling the North American ones do not help, nobody picked up, or I got an answering service.

I rang Qantas Club or Customer Care on a +613 or +612 number and asked them transfer me, I never had any problems then ! That is my trick for calling QF from overseas .....

It really is hit and miss if they keep putting you on hold. Sometimes you get experienced people who don't ever have to put you on hold as they can bring up / change info quick.

(Understand your frustration too with drop outs, it happened after 50 mins when I was connecting to a phone contract after speaking to 10 people, literally!!!)

 

[Zulaiha]

Thanks SnowYeti for the new trick, the question is will +613 or 612 can be contacted after office hours?

 

[Techie]

You may want to try some other voip client next time, e.g. voipcheap.com. Calls to AU are free, but no 13/1300 numbers.

 

[SnowYeti]

Thanks SnowYeti for the new trick, the question is will +613 or 612 can be contacted after office hours?

Good point, I can't remember when I was calling but got through everytime

Qantas Club Sydney T3 61 2 9952 9516

Lounge contacts Fly - The Qantas Club - Lounge Locations - Australian Domestic

 

[Zulaiha]

You may want to try some other voip client next time, e.g. voipcheap.com. Calls to AU are free, but no 13/1300 numbers.

Techie, thanks for that link, anything free is worth trying

Good point, I can't remember when I was calling but got through everytime

Thanks SnowYeti, I will try using voipcheap tonight

 

[NM]

you should be able to get to the same places as 131131 using +61396585302.

I just tried it now calling from the USA and it worked a treat to get to the :If you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer ...." message just as you would expect from calling 131131 from Australia.

 

[jingles]

If you are making calls to Australia semi frequently you might want to look into getting an Australian voip account.

Most offer a BYO poption where you do not need any hardware and you can use a 'spftphone' (something just like skype) to make calls.

These calls will be of a higher quality than skype and as the voip service is located in Australia you will only be charged at the rate of a local call which originated within Australia (Around AUD$0.1)

 

[wijomas]

I use a service here in NZ called 2Talk. I think it costs me about $30 NZD per month, for unlimited calls to most Western countries (excluding mobiles in NZ and Aussie). I also get a local NZ number included in that - so as long as my laptop is on and my headset is plugged in, people can call me on my regular number no matter where I am, for free.

Similarly, I can make calls for free - and the quality is as good as it is from a regular landline (providing I have at least a halfway decent internet connection to use).

 

[moa999]

This site uses a similar backend to voipcheap (both use betamax), but has cheap rates to Aussie mobiles and a great web service - very useful for hotel phones.


Webcalldirect

 

[Zulaiha]

you should be able to get to the same places as 131131 using +61396585302.

Thanks NM, I have the number now at my contacts!

If you are making calls to Australia semi frequently you might want to look into getting an Australian voip account.

Most offer a BYO poption where you do not need any hardware and you can use a 'spftphone' (something just like skype) to make calls.

These calls will be of a higher quality than skype and as the voip service is located in Australia you will only be charged at the rate of a local call which originated within Australia (Around AUD$0.1)

I tried to search many of them, but somehow I have got the local UK,USA or France only? Never seen one that offered Australian local number, I wonder if you have their address or at least name for it?

I use a service here in NZ called 2Talk. I think it costs me about $30 NZD per month, for unlimited calls to most Western countries (excluding mobiles in NZ and Aussie). I also get a local NZ number included in that - so as long as my laptop is on and my headset is plugged in, people can call me on my regular number no matter where I am, for free.

Similarly, I can make calls for free - and the quality is as good as it is from a regular landline (providing I have at least a halfway decent internet connection to use).

Unfortunately I am not a phone person, I only use phone if I have to, and that is not too often. I prefer "talking" via emails. With time difference etc, it is really hard to talk on the phone these days

This site uses a similar backend to voipcheap (both use betamax), but has cheap rates to Aussie mobiles and a great web service - very useful for hotel phones.


Webcalldirect

Hey, thanks for that link, I downloaded the VoipCheap to find their trial is useless as it only limit me to 1 minute, and if I want to use them I have to top up my account first This one at least I do not have to download anything for 60 days and 60 minutes a week free trial.

 

[jingles]

I tried to search many of them, but somehow I have got the local UK,USA or France only? Never seen one that offered Australian local number, I wonder if you have their address or at least name for it?

I am with a company called mynetfone.

If you are only calling Australia on a few occasions their Whirlpool Saver plan would be suitable, this would see you pay AUD$0.10 to call an Australian land line.
https://www.mynetfone.com.au/offers/whirlpool/whirlpool-plans/whirlpoolsaver-plan/

Their service is a pre paid service, the minimum amount is AUD$20, so you would be charged $20 to your credit card and then each call you make would be deducted from the $20 credit.

The service comes with no Australian phone number which means people cannot call you on the service however for AUD$5/year you can have an incoming number. This is only needed if you want people in Australia to be able to call you for the cost (to them) of a local call.

There are other companies in Australia who offer a $0/month service however i am a happy customer of mynetfone so have not looked into other companies.

The service is not limited to calling within Australia, you can also use it to call any other country and the quality should be better than skype https://www.mynetfone.com.au/residential-voip-solutions/international-rates/

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You could also try the voipbuster free service Voipbuster | Free calls and nearly free sms worldwide !
Down the bottom right type in your personal phone number and the phone number for qantas
The voipbuster service will call your phone and once you answer it voipbuster will then call qantas.

As it is free the quality might not be fantastic however its free so worth a try.