Qantas bashing - is it justified? I would say no.

[Fantic125]

I've travelled with Q for 15 ~ 20 years. During this time I haven't seen any significant fluctuations in their service for the average traveller.

Their on time performance? Pretty good.
Their in flight service? Not too bad.
Their safety performance? Pretty good.

There are many other airlines that perform much worse than Qantas.
So why are they always targeted in the media?

 

[JetLagged]

- Tall poppy syndrome?
- Cultural inferiority - if its an Aussie icon, bash it!
- Increased media control or influence by other parties aligned with alternative travel interests?
- Improved PR departments of rivals - and improveed clout?

A few possibilites, none of which are mutually exclusive. Take your pick! Add others!

 

[PineappleSkip]

how often does Telstra get bashed? How often optus?

 

[el_rooto]

The only point worth bashing them on is the removal of anytime access.

But I have a case of being the biggest fan means you're also the biggest critic.

 

[drewbles]

Qantas take a lashing from various sources, some justified, others not so IMHO.

Take the media bashing of late. Te media never let the truth get in the way of a good story. "QANTAS FLIGHT PLUMMETS/ENGINE EXPLODES PASSENGERS SCREAM FOR THEIR LIVES" will unfortunately sell more newspapers than "ROLLS ROYCE ENGINES FAUTY - EXECS YET TO EXPLAIN/SHARE PRICE PLUMMETS". QF have done the right thing in this incident, but the media still take it to the extreme.

As for the level of service on QF, they do have themselves to slightly blame for the bashing we give them here on AFF. QF made a huge hoo haa when they launched their customer service training centre a few years back, saying it would bring all staff up to an exceptional level of service. IMHO, its done squat with CS staff on flights. Largely indifferent I'd say 90% of the time. It's about consistency and QF are lacking this. Im in the middle of a lot of flying on AA in the USA an the customer service staff have been totally brilliant in every situation, on board or on ground. QF is very hit and miss. The exceptional staff are truly exceptional, the rest, borderline passable.

Of course you'll always have different people with different opinions. If we didn't, this forum would be damn boring

 

[Flying Fox]

When Ansett was around I used to complain all the time about QF.

I then flew some really rubbish airlines overseas and realised I should stop my moaning about QF. I have learned that I took too much for granted and that on a world stage QF is a good well serviced airline.

 

[oz_mark]

Take the media bashing of late. Te media never let the truth get in the way of a good story. "QANTAS FLIGHT PLUMMETS/ENGINE EXPLODES PASSENGERS SCREAM FOR THEIR LIVES" will unfortunately sell more newspapers than "ROLLS ROYCE ENGINES FAUTY - EXECS YET TO EXPLAIN/SHARE PRICE PLUMMETS". QF have done the right thing in this incident, but the media still take it to the extreme.

You mean 'PILOT DOES HIS JOB - NOTHING HAPPENED' wouldn't sell newspapers? :mrgreen:

 

[TonyHancock]

I think Frequent Flyers feel they have a right to do a little bashing of "their" airline...but woe betide any "outsider" who bashes Qantas.

In my view Qantas is a decent airline. The Ansett collapse was the making of Qantas in the 21st Century. Whilst airlines all around the world struggled after 9/11 Qantas was left as the only full service airline in a country dependent on air travel. It has been able to invest in newer aircraft and keeps turning a profit.

I have flown BA, Y+, a couple of times this year and whilst OK I think Qantas is a fair bit better. The AA aircraft I flew within the USA were appalling, although customer service was good.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Of course it's justified-when they stuff up-just as it's fine to criticise any other airline when they get things wrong,where I take issue is when an airline ,and that includes DJ,JQ or Tiger, is blamed for things that they don't have control over,and when they are the victims of media beat ups and poor journalism.

 

[ajw373]

When Ansett was around I used to complain all the time about QF.

I then flew some really rubbish airlines overseas and realised I should stop my moaning about QF. I have learned that I took too much for granted and that on a world stage QF is a good well serviced airline.

So true, on the world stage what we have domesticly is miles ahead of almost everywhere else I can think of.

Internationally they are not the best, but IMO top 10 not too bad for an airline that relativly speaking is not all that big on the world stage.