Is QF possibly the worst airline in the world?

[docjames]

Well that is your experience and nobody can change that. I have not personally flown QF21/22 or QF1/2 so can't comment on those specific flights. All my flights through NRT have been with CX or AA except for one NRT-BNE overnighter in J on a QF 763 which had no issues. And my flights through BKK have been with CX or BA (in F to SYD).
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My sample (n=1) for QF2 - service was fantastic in Y+ (both legs from LHR). Particularly given there were significant departure delay at LHR and BKK. And staff were very helpful to a mother travelling with two infants (they looked about 15mo and 3yo).

 

[notzac]

Interestingly enough, I flew QF94 the other day on the A380 - the staff were amazing! Are these even Qantas staff?

If I was a cynic, I'd suggest that the A380 staff tend to be newer and less jaded.
I've noticed the same thing myself...

 

[UP4014]

No where near the worst airline.

Just because some staff aren't smiling, how silly.

 

[Max Samuels]

Just because some staff aren't smiling, how silly.

Who said anything about smiling? The woman was a total b#$%h.

 

[MelUser]

This thread is getting out of control.

Yes - Melbourne Domestic Business Class Lounge has frightfully rude staff - that is something that many of us have encountered - BUT I think that they are just trying to keep out non entitled members/passengers.

Otherwise Qantas is a pretty good airline.

 

[Max Samuels]

Non-working IFE - $300 travel voucher delivered to my home address
Non working IFE - $50 in flight duty free voucher
Non-working IFE - $100 in flight duty free voucher

Have you actually ever used the travel voucher?? It is only able to be used through Qantas Ticket Sales, which means it cannot be applied to any internet fare (like a Red e-deal). So in fact it is a total false economy. I have bucket loads of these piled up after years and years of faulty AVOD systems on the A330.

Screw the voucher, I just want a system that works.

But.... on a positive note, I think the AVOD on the A380 is excellent. By far the best I have seen on airline in the past 12 months.

 

[Max Samuels]

Yes, CX is well known for being generous to OneWorld elite status members when it comes to operational upgrades. Qantas seems to get their yield management right more often than many other airlines, resulting in less need for operational upgrades and they will only give op-ups when necessary.

Really, I think you are letting them off pretty easily. One could also take the view that CX needlessly treats their FF PAX like people and that QF don't. But I think it is more an Austraylan thing. I have noticed that as an SPG Plat I always get upgraded to the best available room in the US and Asia (as per the conditions of the program). In Australia, I almost always have to ask. And that really ****s me because it is the job of the check-in person to offer. The only reason I stay in those particular hotels is because of the promised upgrade. I keep my end of the bargain so should they.

It's almost like Australians resent giving good service. And that would explain Qantas' attitude - I have solved my own riddle!

 

[dajop]

Yes - Melbourne Domestic Business Class Lounge has frightfully rude staff - that is something that many of us have encountered - BUT I think that they are just trying to keep out non entitled members/passengers.

Is the MEL domestic business lounge in the far corner of the QP at MEL we are talking about? I hardly ever use it, given that I hardly ever fly domestically within Australia anymore, BUT I visited this lounge three times in the last week (Thu, Sun, Tue) and the staff were friendly - welcoming with hellos and then goodbyes when I left the lounge. Anything but rude, maybe I was just lucky but they were different staff members each time.

 

[simongr]

In flight duty free vouchers used fully. Both travel vouchers used fully.

 

[straitman]

Is the MEL domestic business lounge in the far corner of the QP at MEL we are talking about? I hardly ever use it, given that I hardly ever fly domestically within Australia anymore, BUT I visited this lounge three times in the last week (Thu, Sun, Tue) and the staff were friendly - welcoming with hellos and then goodbyes when I left the lounge. Anything but rude, maybe I was just lucky but they were different staff members each time.

Max,

I am a very tolerant person but have no quarms in telling people if things are not up to the standard I expect.

Funny but as I read through this thread I was thinking the same thing as dajop.

Yesterday evening I entered the MEL J lounge to have a drink & use the computers (I was staying at the Hilton) and was greeted with a friendly smile and hello. I asked for some new baggage labels and received three with a friendly 'Is that enough?' Once inside I interacted with three different staff members and not only had no issues but was treated well by all concerned.

The lady at the door to the main QP was not quite so friendly but when I looked back on exiting I could see she was very tired and had enough for the day. She was still polite which is more than I can say for a few of the passengers I saw.

Overall a pleasant experience for me.

From my perspective QF are a long way from the worst airline around.

 

[N860CR]

The real problem is that QF ads makes them sound like a "super premium" airline, when in reality it is not. This is a problem because all of us looked at the ads, and think QF must be the best, when they are not the case.

My number one complaint as well, they set extreamly unrealistic expectations that they don't have the ability to meet.

I've found in the last 12-18 months my experiences with Qantas have been getting worse. While they have many excellent staff, they do seem to have an increasing number who aren't happy with their jobs and decide to take it out on their customers. While I've only had two worth complaining about (an Intl J FA and a call centre operator), I've lost count of the number of rude and unhelpful ground staff I've come across especially in BNE but the odd one or two in SYD too. I find it easier these days to just smile and walk away from them.

 

[mhen]

Definitely not worst.
Safety record is better than some other airlines, also seats, cleanliness, food, reliability. Service levels can be variable but for every grumpy CSO or FA I have encountered there have been twice as many who provided exceptional service and dozens more who have provided very good service. Definitely more pluses than minuses for me.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Max really................what a wind up.

 

[oz_mark]

I know that this is a topic done to death, but as a Plat FF I expect to be talked to like a person rather than a dog. Recently I was on Air Asia on a $10 fare in Malaysia... not status, no food, no nothing... but friendly smiley staff.

Granted that the staff in the Qantas Club don't smile as much, I don't recall being spoken to in anything other than in a friendly, professional manner.

Having seen what happens when things go wrong on both of these airlines, I will say that Qantas handles things much better.

 

[anat0l]

The best airlines in the world, in my opinion, are all in Asia. That'll never change. I think it's a cultural thing.

I haven't had very bad experiences with QF. Sure, the MEL lounge staff can be pretty indifferent at times. Not outright rude, though, just sometimes cold or emotionless. (The MEL T2 F Lounge staff, on the other hand, couldn't be any more pleasant! Well, that's my opinion anyway.)

QF is probably not the best airline in the world by long shot but to label it the worst? That's even harder to justify, even if you were to exclude all the airlines on the EU's no-fly list.

As another member said, why don't you fly Virgin Blue instead? They are the other option available to you for domestic travel if you truly believe QF is the worst airline in the world. And for those of you who say, "I don't have much choice" frankly aren't trying hard enough - honestly, stop living the life of a hypocrite and vote with your feet and/or your rights to legal recourse.

 

[bossreggie]

I want to comment on this.

I probably am a VERY small fish as far as QF is concerned. I am a WP through all self funded leisure flights. I have NEVER had a "terrible" staff member experience. I have always been greeted politely on entering the lounge. I have not even been asked for my boarding pass yet for DOM flights. I have just shown my WP card.

IME I have been treated very well by most QF staff. I have had the odd late night DOM flight where the FA's have not been as warm. I usually brush this aside with humour and a smile.

As for the worst airline in the world... A bit OTT when one considers what else is out there.

 

[anat0l]

I also have noticed that upgrades (unrequested) on QF are very very rare indeed. I have been upgraded on CX numerous times and I am not even one of their own FFs.

Really, I think you are letting them off pretty easily. One could also take the view that CX needlessly treats their FF PAX like people and that QF don't.

This is ridiculous.

Just because you get less operational upgrades on QF than on CX is no significant indicator that QF do not treat their FF pax well (or rather, as to paraphrase you, they treat them like dirt). Operational upgrades are just that - they are designed for operational reasons only, and then there is a certain black magic that occurs to determine which pax will be upgraded to make everyone fit. I don't know what CX's policy on operational upgrades are (although I'm not entirely sure of QF's either), and I'm sure you don't either, so don't start concluding that CX simply upgrade any FF pax operationally even if it isn't entirely warranted.

FWIW I've flown two sectors on CX were an upgrade for me was possible (i.e. I was in a lower cabin and there was a higher cabin available). I am a QF WP as well, but on neither sector I was op-upped. On the other hand, I had two op-ups with QF (both Y to J) - one was an international flight and another domestic - within the same ten day period that I was travelling. Now, figure that one out.


On another note, what is this topic doing in the "Introductions" forum? (Shall we welcome the OP then move the bulk discussion to another more appropriate forum)

 

[NYCguy]

I know that this is a topic done to death, but as a Plat FF I expect to be talked to like a person rather than a dog. Recently I was on Air Asia on a $10 fare in Malaysia... not status, no food, no nothing... but friendly smiley staff.

So why can't the Qantas Staff in the Melbourne Business Class (Domestic) Lounge manage to find a smile and speak to me politely?

How does one complain about this? I wanted to say something but was afraid I would be accused of terrorism and sent to jail...

One smiles sweetly and says "OK, let's start this conversation again, but this time you remember who has the boarding pass for 1K, and who is sitting behind the desk in a uniform. Is that clear?". Always maintain the smile through the delivery. I have found this approach perfect for slapping uppity lounge-dragons down to the ground, and it's particularly effective when there's an audience.

 

[notzac]

One smiles sweetly and says "OK, let's start this conversation again, but this time you remember who has the boarding pass for 1K, and who is sitting behind the desk in a uniform. Is that clear?".

GOLD! I probably wouldn't have the guts to say something like that, but it's awesome all the same

 

[Stealth]

Hilarious thread this! Full of people that have no comprehension or experience of international travel; small willies with big aspirations!

Qantas are without doubt one of the most consistently reliable airlines I have flown with. In years past it was BA (yes really!), but not any longer. SQ are great, especially at Y class, but struggle with round eyes at J or F class.

If you have QFF status at Gold or Platinum stick with your national airline!