Dear Mr Joyce...

[gumpy]

Just reading this thread has brought back some good memories of the good old days... my dad use to always bring me back a deck of playing cards... some of them like KAL ones were fully plastic and thus were fantastic...

As a kid I flew JAL and other airlines to Korea. They would always give me some toys... i loved them... And I also remember stealing my mum's soba noodles because they were so tasty=). Ah the memories...

Back to the thread, I think most airlines have cut back on this stuff. I was shocked that I couldn't get a razor in J from AKL to LAX in QF. The CSM kindly told me to complain to QF. No sarcasm here, he appologised, said that he didn't know why they cut it out and told me it was legitimate feedback.

I really hope they replace Joyce soon and get someone in that tries to generate profits via excellent service and care not via cost cutting...

On a side note I've never asked for playing cards ever... because I have about 6 decks left at home but I might tried to day, flying to NAN in J but I don't think they have playing cards...

 

[dfcatch]

I agree with everything the OP said.

To those comparing QF with overseas airlines - it's the wrong comparison.

You only have to compare QF now to QF a few years ago.

That's where my gripe is - QF not-that-long-ago actually provided decent meals, good service, didn't gouge customers for every red cent LCC-style which itself devalues the brand.

AJ - wrong man for a "premium airline".

The CEO is responsible for the direction and corporate culture of the organization. The buck stops with him, and the sooner AJ goes back to a LCC the better for everyone, including him.

 

[serfty]

... Honestly, the more strong players in the Australian airline market the better for everyone. Frequent flyers, leisure flyers, business flyers, staff and shareholders. Competition is great, Qantas was only great "back in the day" because of competition from an equally great Ansett. ...

Except that there was no "Competition"!¹

There was a great big regulated slough of revenue from which entities grazed to their full. (The phrase "Pigs at the trough" comes to mind.).

Back in the mid 80's the cheapest AN/TN return fares between SYD/MEL were a little over $200, required a Saturday night stay and had to be purchased 21 days in advance.

No, there was plenty of $$$ to splash around and all parties ensured they received their piece of the action, including but not limited to (in no particular order) shareholders, baggage handlers, flight crew, LAMEs, QP members, etc.

If you think the QP catering is poor these days, you would have been aghast at the cr@p that was proffered in the years shortly after Ansett's demise .:-|

¹ This was the case until deregulation occurred in the 90's.
² That $200+ went a lot further back then than it does now.

 

[yo yo ma]

Before bagging QF service I would suggest that a trip on European or American carrier be taken. Ive done a lot of flying in the past few months here in Europe, mostly in BA and I can tell you QF are nautical miles ahead of all of them.

Why is the share price been on a downward trend over the last 6 months when the ASX 200 has been relatively flat

Excellent points... to confirm this, since 1 January 2011 the ASX200 has dropped 5% (4720 to 4485) while Qantas has dropped 28% ($2.50 to 1.80). It should be noted however, that the whole airlines sector that has fallen significantly. Examples are REX falling 20% (1.12 to 0.90) while Virgin Blue has dropped 32% (0.43 to 0.29).

 

[yo yo ma]

Back in the mid 80's the cheapest AN/TN return fares between SYD/MEL were a little over $200, required a Saturday night stay and had to be purchased 21 days in advance.

Exactly... you get what they pay for. Sure the quality of food can be improved in the QP but are people prepared to pay more to get it?

 

[schmorandom]

Exactly... you get what they pay for. Sure the quality of food can be improved in the QP but are people prepared to pay more to get it?

A big problem is that when food gets better, people suddenly get more hungry. So you need more food as well.

What about corporate rates? They seem too cheap - if you do 15 return flights a year, that's ~$7 per Qantas Club visit.

On the other hand, I suppose they don't want to dissuade those who just join for their 1-5 trips/year; though these type of people would probably happily pay the full fee anyway.

 

[harvyk]

Before bagging QF service I would suggest that a trip on European or American carrier be taken. Ive done a lot of flying in the past few months here in Europe, mostly in BA and I can tell you QF are nautical miles ahead of all of them.

Yes, everytime I see someone bagging QF on nonews saying how terrible they are (especially when they then talk about how great Y flying is in the US) I do laugh a little...
I would hate to see the domestic flying situation in the US be replicated here...

Buts you can see that the current management is taking them in that direction.

Yes, and that's the problem... To me it seems QF dom are trying to head in the AA direction... Having a CEO that comes from an LCC background, who is focused on the bottom line only is not helping the situation...

 

[samiam]

Give me a proper aeroplane to Perth. Not like the one I just got off, a 737-800 with 3 abreast in economy for a 4 and a bit hour trip.

Give me a real airbridge - not an airstair like the one I just clambered down in the semi-dark.

Haven't been on QF773 before- and unlikely to again - glad I wasn't paying for J on this trip.

Thanks AJ.

 

[oz_mark]

Give me a proper aeroplane to Perth. Not like the one I just got off, a 737-800 with 3 abreast in economy for a 4 and a bit hour trip.

Give me a real airbridge - not an airstair like the one I just clambered down in the semi-dark.

Haven't been on QF773 before- and unlikely to again - glad I wasn't paying for J on this trip.

Thanks AJ.

You need the weekday version of QF773 - that gets you the 333


There's not that many 737's on the MEL-PER runs now, but they are there!

 

[samiam]

You need the weekday version of QF773 - that gets you the 333

Addendum to above- not flying to Perth on a Sunday night again

 

[oz_mark]

Addendum to above- not flying to Perth on a Sunday night again

or pick a different flight!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Give me a proper aeroplane to Perth. Not like the one I just got off, a 737-800 with 3 abreast in economy for a 4 and a bit hour trip.

Give me a real airbridge - not an airstair like the one I just clambered down in the semi-dark.

Haven't been on QF773 before- and unlikely to again - glad I wasn't paying for J on this trip.

Thanks AJ.

I did similar last year, SYD-PER on a 737, NEVER AGAIN!

 

[samiam]

Will have to remember to click on the flight for the A/C type next time!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

The problem l faced, it was the most convenient departure time for a Sunday evening.

 

[cove]

The 747-400 that came from international is the best so far for PER-SYD-PER and a really good idea.

 

[willjd]

Back on topic!

As a Y passenger flying MEL - LHR twice a year all i really want is a smile and service onboard. I wont list my wish list as that would be pointless.

I am 6ft 4 so the seats are bad enough for room but from check in things go down hill, the check in staff make you feel like a 2nd class customer which is techinically true, however a smile and small talk would start things off on the right foot. These are the people who have the first contact with passengers so no matter what class you are flying this is where standards should be set.

The fare structure is ridiculous for economy. For economy passengers i would guess (i am sure people will tell me i am wrong though) we book the cheapest ticket for our trip. To then restrict upgrades based on the ticket you bought as it wasnt expensive enough seems pointless. For example on Day x the cheapest return economy ticket MEL LHR is $2000. To buy a upgradeable fare would cost $3800 - $4000 at which point you might as well buy a premium economy ticket anyway.

Seat sizes. Thai airways, Malaysian airlines and other Asian airlines have a seat pitch of 34 inches. Qantas has 31. Even on the A380.

Premium economy is twice the cost of economy and the same cost of some other business class seats. Example the current "special" has seats for $4500 to London return in low season, high season is $6000!

Another gripe is hearing Qantas and AJ talking about low passenger numbers. In all my trips to London i have never been on a plane with more than 5 - 10 economy seats free. This may be true for other routes though.

Business Class - AKA Staff class. The one time my numbers came up in the upgrade lottery i was surrounded by staff travelling. Do Qantas turn down upgrade requests so that Staff can travel to London $100 instead??

Headphone sockets. Why anyone would choose the 2 pin (or 3 pin) socket instead on the single pin is beyond me. This is even on the A380 i believe.

Allow upgrades on your website for cash. Actually show how much to upgrade your seat to PE, J or F, you never know we might actually pay it. (BA actually have this regardless of fare code)

 

[schmorandom]

Headphone sockets. Why anyone would choose the 2 pin (or 3 pin) socket instead on the single pin is beyond me. This is even on the A380 i believe.

You can buy an adapter for $1.98 off ebay, including postage

 

[willjd]

You can buy an adapter for $1.98 off ebay, including postage

But why?? Other airlines have the single PIN, its stupid annoying things like this which should have been changed with the A380.

 

[oz_mark]

The 747-400 that came from international is the best so far for PER-SYD-PER and a really good idea.

It's starting to look as though VH-OJD's sole purpose in life now is to fly between SYD and PER :shock:

 

[medhead]

But why?? Other airlines have the single PIN, its stupid annoying things like this which should have been changed with the A380.

And throw away headset compatibility between aircraft types? So buy a whole new lot of headsets, then add in the requirement to hold extra stock, not to mention the extra logistical requirements. Finally, there would be the complaints when a port runs out of single pin headsets and pax miss out.