Qantas Bashing - what do you make of it?

[ChrisCunard]

It seems that Qantas is always under fire, from oven malfunctions to engine shut downs to industrial disputes and everything in between it seems that Qantas is always in the news - for events that happen to all airlines, and yet it only seems to be Qantas that is reported on with such regularity.

It really bugs me, that the media seem determined to damage Qantas.

What do you make of it all? Will this kill Qantas?

 

[lovestotravel]

What will kill Qantas is Jetstar

Nothing more
Nothing less

 

[drron]

What will kill Qantas is Jetstar

Nothing more
Nothing less

Carbon tax.
GFC part 2.
Unions.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

There was a good one today.

Qantas plane with 'fuel leak' lands safely at Sydney Airport

A Qantas passenger jet which took off from Auckland, New Zealand, was forced to make an emergency landing at Sydney Airport today after it experienced a fuel leak and reported engine trouble.
The Qantas plane, with 130 passengers aboard, landed safely after requesting priority landing.QF50 from Auckland to Sydney landed safely and without incident at Sydney Airport after requesting priority landing," the airline announced in a tweet.

And a response on FT, Number_6

Must be a slow news day, an AKL-SYD flight lands at SYD. Pilot did not declare an emergency, technically it was not an emergency landing but a priority landing; nice way to jump the queue. Not sure of CASA regs, but in US the paperwork for an emergency is much more burdensome than for a priority landing so it is an important distinction. Also the pilot did not judge the situation to be serious enough for an emergency.

LOL

 

[clifford]

Carbon tax.
GFC part 2.
Unions.

What you're saying is the Australian Govt will kill it. Quite right.

 

[LiamR]

I still still a warm feeling in my hard when I'm overseas and see the red roo. It is a part of our nation. Their brand is something Virgin will never be able to match.

They aren't a perfect company, but I still consider them to be one of the best out there.

It seems the media, particually no news limited, is very good at taking incidents from Qantas, and making a big deal out of it, when other airlines, who have had worse problems, get ignored. It frustrates me a bit.

 

[Pleb Status]

We live in a society with a relatively free press so companies like QF etc have to undergo some scrutiny.

As long as the media does not broadcast 'lies', then it is up to the consumer to make their mind up on how important the information provided by the media is.

I have not read too much that has been completely over the top. Obviously, QF apologists may think otherwise.

 

[Sifor]

What will kill Qantas is Jetstar

Nothing more
Nothing less

Sorry but I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion:

Continuously profitable since 2004 start-up
Underlying EBIT up 22% to $131m
Underlying unit cost down 2% (down 5% sector length adjusted)
14.6 million passengers – up 36%
Capacity up 28%

After the GFC many individuals and companies decided to forgo full service flights for simple low cost. Jetstar contributed significantly in helping Qantas stay afloat during the GFC and it continues today to remain a critical part of the Qantas Group.

I'm not sure if people here realise, or are at least open to, the prospect that Qantas is passing more and more routes onto Jetstar. Qantas will eventually become just a holding company. Why? Because of the employment agreements with pilots - they are way too lucrative and are driving Qantas into the ground. All new pilots under Jetstar are given a substantially reduced package compared with existing Qantas pilots. Eventually all routes will be flown by Jetstar under the new agreement. Obviously Jetstar will move to become a full service airline to ensure Qantas does not lose customers. I have a family friend who is a QF 767 captain and confirms this is the case. Take it or leave it, whatever.

QF Flight Attendants were also a big headache for them too. My Aunt was a flight attendant a few years ago for QF, left on a very generous severance package to make way for new attendants. All new flight attendants are, like the new JQ pilots, on a lower wage.

People here seem to absolutely despise Jetstar. I have flown with them, amongst other Airlines including QF and DJ, and have found them to be fine. I don't need a meal or a drink for a SYD-BNE trip. Maybe this thread should also include "Jetstar Bashing", although AFF'ers seem to enjoy taking the usual stab at Jetstar. God there's even a thread here discussing whether or not to choose J on Jetstar over Y on QF.... come on..

http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/investors/2010InvestorPresentationSupplementary.pdf

 

[YQY]

It's not only the media - there are individuals on this forum who bash Qantas.

Case in point --> http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tinum-anytime-lounge-access-ceases-25773.html

 

[medhead]

Sorry but I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion:

You don't understand how they came to that conclusion but then go on and list all the reasons for that conclusion.

 

[LiamR]

I'm not sure if people here realise, or are at least open to, the prospect that Qantas is passing more and more routes onto Jetstar. Qantas will eventually become just a holding company. http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/investors/2010InvestorPresentationSupplementary.pdf

I'm sorry, but I don't entireley agree with what your saying, Qantas is going to be flying for a long time yet, particually on Long Haul, their A380 and upcomming 787 products are great evidence of this.

 

[tipsy.skipsy]

I'm sorry, but I don't entirely agree with what your saying, Qantas is going to be flying for a long time yet, particularly on Long Haul, their A380 and upcoming 787 products are great evidence of this.

A380 & B787 ( JQ ) & B787 (QF) , all fantastic for yield management - I am a bit concerned about the B787 - CFRP , GFRP and its extensive use on the 787 - way more than the GLARE used on the A380 , the main worry being B787 will have a lot problems with the structure as a whole , as the global industry does not have enough experience with such an extensive use of CFRP , GFRP in the airplane as a whole.

 

[Sifor]

You don't understand how they came to that conclusion but then go on and list all the reasons for that conclusion.

I was referring to lovestotravel's comment that Jetstar is bringing Qantas down. I consider that to be incorrect - Jetstar is profoundly profitable for Qantas.

With regards to Liam's comment, if I recall correctly QF has recently dropped Perth - Narita and given it to JQ. Now obviously QF isn't going away any time soon and it is reasonable to assume they will remain for quite some time as the long haul carrier (ie Aus -UK/USA). With Jetstar Asia continuing to expand, however, it would not be a surprise if JQ end up servicing Qantas's Asian market on its own.

 

[LiamR]

With regards to Liam's comment, if I recall correctly QF has recently dropped Perth - Narita and given it to JQ. Now obviously QF isn't going away any time soon and it is reasonable to assume they will remain for quite some time as the long haul carrier (ie Aus -UK/USA). With Jetstar Asia continuing to expand, however, it would not be a surprise if JQ end up servicing Qantas's Asian market on its own.

I can't deny this, because, you are infact correct, however do you just think Qantas are reacting to where the market is going? The Asia demographic, both people visiting Aus, and those from here visiting Asia are looking for cheap flights without the full service, aka "Low Fares, Good Times". Yes, I had to say that.

This is not a great example, but look at AA. To me, they seem more like JQ than QF in regards to inflight service.

 

[oz_mark]

With regards to Liam's comment, if I recall correctly QF has recently dropped Perth - Narita and given it to JQ.

Have they given it to JQ? I thought they just suspended the route.

 

[tyrolean]

QF is - compared to other airlines on my route - quite good. They offer a good value for money and good product. I like them. Yes, they are not perfect, but most others are much worse!

 

[jaffa]

Any company with 3 billion cash in the bank in todays market, would be feeling at least a little comfortable.

I don't see QF being to concerned about things at the moment.

 

[lovestotravel]

I was referring to lovestotravel's comment that Jetstar is bringing Qantas down. I consider that to be incorrect - Jetstar is profoundly profitable for Qantas.

There is the problem! But to clarify

Jetstar is bringing Qantas down and reducing routes where Qantas needs to fly
Jetstar is keeping Qantas alive and helping keep the cash coming in.

However, the real cost of Jetstar is not really known as Qantas tends to help out and cloud the actual figures.

Qantas international is in a bad position Joyce said this a few months ago and it's probably gotten worse since then.

So what do you do when something stops making money - Stop it
So what do you do when something keeps making money - Expand it

Emirates is only going to eat into the Europe market
V Australia is only going to eat into the USA market
Jetstar will take up the slack in Asia

 

[Sifor]

Ah quite interesting.

 

[Craigie]

To reply to the original question of what to make of the media bashing Qantas, there's a couple of things that really peeve me off.

1) Its a cheap stab. Journo's have caught on to the fact that people are wary of air travel and theres a expanding bubble of untruth that QF are becoming more and more unsafe. Therefore, anytime there's anything wrong with QF, they're so quick on it knowing they will get readers.

2) It promotes distrust in people. A large majority of people i talk to who don't have much interest in air travel have been swayed by whats presented in the media. I hate it when i'm talking to someone about QF and they basically rehash whats presented in the media, having no basis for their point of view other than over-dramatised media reports.

Imagine if the media outlets presented the facts even favourably reporting when airlines did good things. And only scrutinised them when they were in the wrong. People would become more educated and comfortable, the reputable airlines would experience more business, safety and service would increase and everyone would be winners.

But i live in a dream world