Crikey its Plane Talking.... well perhaps....

[ozavanti]

I've been reading the Crikey blog by Ben Sandilands of late and am wondering if people could answer something for me...

Is it my somewhat overactive imagination that detects a very strong anti-Qantas bias in his posts?

I don't want my question to be a character assassination, but would like to know if I need to read the blog with a grain of salt where Qantas is concerned.

Many thanks

Ozz

 

[nlagalle]

I've been reading the Crikey blog by Ben Sandilands of late and am wondering if people could answer something for me...Is it my somewhat overactive imagination that detects a very strong anti-Qantas bias in his posts?I don't want my question to be a character assassination, but would like to know if I need to read the blog with a grain of salt where Qantas is concerned.Many thanksOzz

I think it is well known Ben has an axe to grind with QF. I generally take Ben's articles with a grain of salt.

 

[docjames]

He seems very anti-Qantas (which I'm sure he'd deny) but seems to particularly turn on the vitriole and selective reporting for QF.

 

[UP4014]

And I tend not to read them at all.

 

[Blackadder]

Having a axe to grind against QF seems to be a pre-requisite for "Journalists."

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I've been reading the Crikey blog by Ben Sandilands of late and am wondering if people could answer something for me...

Who is Ben Sandilands?

 

[pauly7]

Who is Ben Sandilands?

I wish I didn't know.

He is such a waste of time, so far off the mark and so biased I am bemused why Crikey keeps him on....

Unless they are getting kickbacks from Virgin per QF bashing article he writes...

 

[ajw373]

Is it my somewhat overactive imagination that detects a very strong anti-Qantas bias in his posts?

No your imagination is not being overactive on this subject, you read it right.

 

[Noob]

I thought the same at first as well, but when I read it again he seams more anti the direction qantas is moving more that the qantas brand, which I think most people can relate with. He definitely does not like QF management that is for sure. I doubt anyone hates, or dislikes the Qantas brand more the people that are running it and how they are running it.

You should read what pilots and cabin crew think of Qantas on pilot forums.....And these people don't dislike Qantas, they dislike how it is changing and the contrast between what it was and what it is becoming.

 

[ajw373]

You should read what pilots and cabin crew think of Qantas on pilot forums.....And these people don't dislike Qantas, they dislike how it is changing and the contrast between what it was and what it is becoming.

That of course is natural, however they fail to realise that Qantas MUST change, it cannot go on as is otherwise they will all be out of jobs.

 

[munitalP]

I thought the same at first as well, but when I read it again he seams more anti the direction qantas is moving more that the qantas brand, which I think most people can relate with. He definitely does not like QF management that is for sure. I doubt anyone hates, or dislikes the Qantas brand more the people that are running it and how they are running it.

You should read what pilots and cabin crew think of Qantas on pilot forums.....And these people don't dislike Qantas, they dislike how it is changing and the contrast between what it was and what it is becoming.

Try reading the last 300 piles of tripe Ben Sandilands has written and you will change your story

 

[Nigelinoz]

He can't be that bad,after all he reads AFF.
Qantas CEO gets Bastille Day letter from frequent flyer site | Plane Talking
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Will]

Interesting. I don't get take a 'dislike' of Qantas from his articles. I get the impression of someone who cares a lot but is pretty disappointed at the moment.

Kind of like how your mum is always the first to have a go at you.

 

[Noob]

That of course is natural, however they fail to realise that Qantas MUST change, it cannot go on as is otherwise they will all be out of jobs.

Cost cutting at the expensive of crew and passengers is what got them into their current mess, so it is what is going to get them out? :-|
Maybe they don't do as well on international routes because they don't offer a product of the standard of their competitors or at competitive prices? Honestly, direction can be changed without punishing the staff, who are QF most important asset.

 

[mannej]

Cost cutting at the expensive of crew and passengers is what got them into their current mess, so it is what is going to get them out? :-|
Maybe they don't do as well on international routes because they don't offer a product of the standard of their competitors or at competitive prices? Honestly, direction can be changed without punishing the staff, who are QF most important asset.

You highlight cost cutting, and then competitiveness in the same post.
It would be interesting to compare the costs of the likes of SQ, MH and EK compared to QF. Would be interesting to see what they have to pay their staff for the same type of work.
If you want to bring in cost cutting, how about Pacific Blue? It would seem from information that is available, they are paid lower than their Jet Connect counterparts, but that point is not really relevant is it?

What people seem to forget is that QF is a publicly listed company. As much as customer service is great, it can also cost a fortune. So there is the need to find that middle ground. However it could be argued that AJ and the current board go too far the other way.
What are QF doing differently to when they were top 5(?) in Skytrax awards 5 years running? Yes they finished 8th this year, but some may see that as a downward slide.

Is Ben's journalism great? More than likely no, however is there any aviation related journalist in Australia that can be called. Apart from one, probably no not really.

 

[nlagalle]

Cost cutting at the expensive of crew and passengers is what got them into their current mess, so it is what is going to get them out? :-|
Maybe they don't do as well on international routes because they don't offer a product of the standard of their competitors or at competitive prices? Honestly, direction can be changed without punishing the staff, who are QF most important asset.

Have you also noted what backing EK SQ etc have (government backing)? They have a big advantage over QF in this respect. I'm betting some asian carriers wages cost will be well under QF's. If all carriers had a level playing field, I'm betting there would be a number of changes from the other airlines.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Have you also noted what backing EK SQ etc have (government backing)? They have a big advantage over QF in this respect. I'm betting some asian carriers wages cost will be well under QF's. If all carriers had a level playing field, I'm betting there would be a number of changes from the other airlines.

...And LH...??

I would say that LH and QF are very similar, yet LH is 'expanding' while QF is 'contracting'.

 

[ajw373]

You highlight cost cutting, and then competitiveness in the same post.
It would be interesting to compare the costs of the likes of SQ, MH and EK compared to QF. Would be interesting to see what they have to pay their staff for the same type of work.

I did that on the YSSY message board a while back. Out of Emirates, Qantas and Cathay, Qantas had the highest staff costs as a % of total operating costs, coming it at 1/4, which was just slightly higher than their fuel costs which when rounded also came out at 1/4. With Cathay and Emirates their labour costs were 1/6th of total operating costs with fuel at 1/3. Speaks volumes I think.

This info can be found in the respective annual reports for each company, which can easily be found by goodling.

What people seem to forget is that QF is a publicly listed company. As much as customer service is great, it can also cost a fortune. So there is the need to find that middle ground. However it could be argued that AJ and the current board go too far the other way.
What are QF doing differently to when they were top 5(?) in Skytrax awards 5 years running? Yes they finished 8th this year, but some may see that as a downward slide.

Is Ben's journalism great? More than likely no, however is there any aviation related journalist in Australia that can be called. Apart from one, probably no not really.

Your right that many forget Qantas is a public company. The way the industrial campaign is carrying on one could be mistaken to think that Qantas was an Australian benevolent society. As for trusting journalists, think any of the dedicated aviation journalists in this country are pretty fair, understand the issues and pressures and are on the money.

 

[ajw373]

...And LH...??

I would say that LH and QF are very similar, yet LH is 'expanding' while QF is 'contracting'.

In which geographic direction is LH expanding? Bet it isn't towards their south or east (of Germany), which is where the bulk of the hub carriers that cruel Qantas are located. Bet it is more towards the west where they are on an equal footing with their European and American competition. Just like when Qantas flies to our East, which has always been their strongest market.

So point being different market and competition.

 

[pauly7]

What are QF doing differently to when they were top 5(?) in Skytrax awards 5 years running? Yes they finished 8th this year, but some may see that as a downward slide.

Is Ben's journalism great? More than likely no.

I actually don't understand why people think skytrax is really that great anyway!