Qantas: 'one of the worst airlines in the free world'

[Captain Halliday]

I’ve done two intra-EU sectors with BA today, both in whY.

In relation to the thread title, what’s below worst? BA qualifies IMHO. I know some call it “Bloody Aweful” and I agree entirely, but I think “Pommy Jetstar” has a nice ring to it. But to be fair, my day included an LHR transit so that’ll spoil anyone’s day.

In relation to PB... they did it well on both flights. Including inviting us to preboard even though Miss H is more than old enough to line up with the rest of the DYKWIAs .

 

[RichardMEL]

Let's not forget that if you're an AU based passenger who may fly a mix of domestic and international routes the choices are, for most, down to two. QF and partners or VA and partners. Sure, if you mostly fly international out of a major city then you could fly just about anyone depending on where you go, but for people who have choices and want to stay with the one group for FF loyalty purposes, or indeed perhaps contracted to for work travel, then you're down to two. It's not like the USA where there's far more competition, in most cities, betwwen the big 3 legacy carriers(AA,DL,UA) the big LCC's(WN,NK,F9) and the others (AS,B6) and any number of smaller carriers filling more niche roles. Nor is it like just about anywhere in Europe or Asia where you have dozens of options, both legacy and LCC to get you from one part to the next, usully direct. These are all factors that should be taken into account imo. Australia is more akin to Canada - if you want to get from YYZ to YUL it's going to be AC or WS and even if AA and Dl fly to both, you're less likely to go to either of those carriers even if you think AC sucks(which many in Canada do)

 

[JohnK]

Well, I can confirm - for those people who may not have rational cognitive ability - that SFO77 is largely correct in his observations and they are fairly representative or a typical experience flying QF. Perhaps the those of lesser cognitive ability might actually take one flight and think it was the best they've ever had. And good on them. They were lucky

I dunno how many times QF fans can come up with excuses on behalf of QF.

I've had some wonderful experiences on QF but they are my experiences. I've also had some bad experiences but they are certainly not the norm on Qantas flights.

The one that comes to mind is the time after my daughter was born and I had a QF23 to PG connection in BKK and QF23 was late and we were not sure whether I'd make the 7:00pm flight. Qantas crew radioed ahead and I had PG staff waiting for me on arrival and guided me through transit security. As it turned out PG flight was also delayed (who'd have guessed?) but it was the service from Qantas CSM and crew that was impressive.

Not providing excuses. Providing facts.

 

[RichardMEL]

So in summary.. geberalisations based on a few experiences (good or bad) are not always wise or fair.

 

[jamesakj]

Worst airline in the free world? Please - see almost every American airline. I find it interesting regarding his praise for Qantas economy on the one Y leg he took. In Australia we do treat our economy pax much better than the US, whether that is a reflection of our more egalitarian society is worth pondering.

With regards to the Sydney J lounge, it is massively underwhelming - hard to tell the substantive differences to the Sydney QC lounge. Overall Qantas's domestic J product has slipped significantly and you are guaranteed a better experience from Virgin almost every time whether it is the attentiveness of staff, priority boarding, allowing J passengers to board and alight without interference from the Y cabin and finally the food service, virgin wins hands down.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Worst airline in the free world? Please - see almost every American airline. I find it interesting regarding his praise for Qantas economy on the one Y leg he took. In Australia we do treat our economy pax much better than the US, whether that is a reflection of our more egalitarian society is worth pondering.

I think the reference to 'worst airline' was in relation to F.

I dunno about QF treating economy pax much better? If you have status, sure... front row seats, wine from business class, spare seat beside you, doting crew. For the rest of us I actually think USA domestic is at least equal to what we have here... except no restrictions on cabin baggage!

 

[Bell21]

I haven't followed the thread so hopefully on topic. Other than having a relatively coughpy FF program, I find qantas good to fly on, even in economy, and better than economy on US legacy airlines, although my worst ever customer service experience was with qantas (it reflects just how poorly organized they can be behind the scenes) - even worse than any Telstra experience, but it was a one-off to be fair

 

[love_the_life]

I thought this thread had done its dash (not D8).

 

[Spongbob]

I thought this thread had done its dash (not D8).

So had I. Maybe this is becoming the the worst thread on AFF?

 

[jb747]

I guess he was after a freebie, and didn't get it.....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I guess he was after a freebie, and didn't get it.....

SFO777? Extremely unlikely.

 

[Melburnian1]

I guess he was after a freebie, and didn't get it.....

It's not just those after 'freebies' who complain about QF.

When one compares QF to so many other international carriers, QF comes up short.

A friend who has many historical QF FF points says some of his worst trips have been when the front of the plane has several QF staff travelling for free. The cabin crew chat so much to them that 'service' to the paying passengers declines.

 

[jb747]

A friend who has many historical QF FF points says some of his worst trips have been when the front of the plane has several QF staff travelling for free. The cabin crew chat so much to them that 'service' to the paying passengers declines.

Whilst this sort of comment comes up fairly regularly, it's very, very, rare for anyone the cabin staff would want to talk to, to be flying in the front for free. The vast majority of staff passengers, are the various forms of management...and nobody wants to talk to them.

 

[BD1959]

I dunno about QF treating economy pax much better? If you have status, sure... front row seats, wine from business class, spare seat beside you, doting crew. For the rest of us I actually think USA domestic is at least equal to what we have here... except no restrictions on cabin baggage!

"sure" .. ??

As a WP who flies almost exclusively Y domestically:
"wine from business class" - never, ever in about 5 years of WP
"front row seats" - never by status, unless open at T-80 with everyone else
"spare seat beside you" - occasionally, depending on load
"doting crew" - puuuullllleeeeezzze - this is QF we're talking about!!

Regards,

BD

 

[Melburnian1]

Whilst this sort of comment comes up fairly regularly, it's very, very, rare for anyone the cabin staff would want to talk to, to be flying in the front for free. The vast majority of staff passengers, are the various forms of management...and nobody wants to talk to them.

I can't comment on how common it is - but my friend, who has a huge number of QF FF points (at one stage more than a million, but I don't know how many now) informs me that this has occurred on domestic and international flights more than once.

The comment 'comes up regularly' because it occurred, not because travellers make it up.

The only time I've seen it was once on the then AN when I asked a young woman sitting adjacent what she did - she was a PR flack for that airline. Not now she isn't.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

"sure" .. ??

As a WP who flies almost exclusively Y domestically:
"wine from business class" - never, ever in about 5 years of WP
"front row seats" - never by status, unless open at T-80 with everyone else
"spare seat beside you" - occasionally, depending on load
"doting crew" - puuuullllleeeeezzze - this is QF we're talking about!!

Regards,

BD

My MEL-SYD flight, economy, front row pax addressed by name and asked if they wanted their jackets hung up. The service was fine for the rest of us (packet of cookies and a coffee, hard to go wrong), but they certainly got the attention in the first row!

international they might be cracking down on the goodies from the front cabin - but everything from headphones to PJs to amenity kits to champagne... all reported as being provided on request to platinums flying eocnomy.

 

[BD1959]

My MEL-SYD flight, economy, front row pax addressed by name and asked if they wanted their jackets hung up. The service was fine for the rest of us (packet of cookies and a coffee, hard to go wrong), but they certainly got the attention in the first row!

Ah, sample of 1 ... then it must be so for all the rest of us .... every time we fly ...

... but then I've seen a random woman sat in (about) row 9 nursing her jacket who was asked by a stray FA whether she wanted it hanging. Probably part of that 3rd world QF service the OP was opining.

Regards,

BD

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ah, sample of 1 ... then it must be so for all the rest of us .... every time we fly ...

... but then I've seen a random woman sat in (about) row 9 nursing her jacket who was asked by a stray FA whether she wanted it hanging. Probably part of that 3rd world QF service the OP was opining.

Regards,

BD

To be fair, there is a whole thread about this elsewhere on AFF. All sorts of goodies offered, requested, and delivered in the economic cabin due to status.

 

[opusman]

I can't comment on how common it is - but my friend, who has a huge number of QF FF points (at one stage more than a million, but I don't know how many now) informs me that this has occurred on domestic and international flights more than once.

QF cabin staff do not have a list of how many FF points the passengers have

 

[Lynda2475]

For the rest of us I actually think USA domestic is at least equal to what we have here... except no restrictions on cabin baggage!

Not in my experience, even on the cheapest QF domestic Y fare you get a meal/snack (time of day dependent) and drink (alcohol too if a city flyer evening flight), checked baggage and included IFE. On AA and UA domestic Y flights in the US you only get checked luggage if booked in conjunction with an international fare (or pay extra for a luggage inclusive fare), and no free meals. Maybe pretzels and maybe a soda, but never free alcohol without status.