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

[burmans]

Regarding the discussion upthread where the comment was made that one person's opinion can't be considered representative of the experience... interesting to note that that's exactly what Qantas does. Anyone notice the banner advertising on the internet? Full of quotes from passengers about the 'the best flight we've had' or 'they looked after us fantastically', or 'we got great meals included'. All of these are being held out as representative of what everyone should expect flying QF. If QF gives them that much weight, the OP's must be given equal weight.

I think you'll find thats called marketing not analysis. Marketing has always been about positive spin, I think most people in this forum (even those in Qantas itself) can see past that.

 

[tdimdad]

Well, I’ve just blown an hour of my life reading all of that and I’ve come to the conclusion that I am clearly a very unique individual in that I’ve never experienced any of the horrific circumstances frequently inflicted by QF on their customers.

You may have just beautifully provided contrast to the thread. Certainly you have faced similar things along the way but may have shrugged shoulders and focused elsewhere while those who have different expectations would have noticed them. Or, in the case of bread crumbs on a lounge floor - if you are usually neat and tidy, you'd see the crumbs quicker than someone who might take a more relaxed approach to it. The OP opted to point it out, some would have mentioned the mess quietly to the inn-keepers, others let it be as is.
My main gripe usually is the occasional missed meal but luckily most of my hops are short and there usually is something available onboard that keeps me going until there's a kitchen in sight. It's become a data point to stats and sometimes another gentle nudge to QF Customer Services that they still have room to move in their consistency.

 

[RichardMEL]

Agree with this., Everyone has different experiences and expectations out of flights but also different tolerance levels or even different "triggers" - for example a tetotaler won't notice if a wine selection is terrible on a flight, or someone may not notice or care if they are asked if they want their coat hung or not, while others could lose their *@#)@*@ over it.

Also experience of certain airline service standards (be it QF or any other) can lend many of us to a more "relaxed" expectation from their carrier. As example I NEVER expect really great food from United, so I am almost never disappointed while on SQ I expect much much higer standards (and am almost never disappointed either).

When one is familiar on a regular basis with a product then both lapses and differences(or even unexpected bonuses) can both stand out and be noticed. It's all how we deal with these though that remain in our minds long after the actual flights. eg I honestly can't remember hundreds of domestic J flights. Nothing great.. nothing bad.. just.. "the usual" so I don't get uptight one way or the other about small differences otr say one meal was extra bad or the wine was ot very nice.. however as a rule I do get a bit extra disappointed out of OOL if it's bad, because experience has given me an expectation that, for whatever reasons, catering ex-OOL is just that notch higher than most other ports.

humans be funny

 

[Borisdog]

You may have just beautifully provided contrast to the thread. Certainly you have faced similar things along the way but may have shrugged shoulders and focused elsewhere while those who have different expectations would have noticed them. Or, in the case of bread crumbs on a lounge floor - if you are usually neat and tidy, you'd see the crumbs quicker than someone who might take a more relaxed approach to it. The OP opted to point it out, some would have mentioned the mess quietly to the inn-keepers, others let it be as is.
My main gripe usually is the occasional missed meal but luckily most of my hops are short and there usually is something available onboard that keeps me going until there's a kitchen in sight. It's become a data point to stats and sometimes another gentle nudge to QF Customer Services that they still have room to move in their consistency.

True re expectations, which I suppose was my point.

My wife absolutely loathes Emirates, based on one flight where she believes she was treated poorly. I was in the seat next to her and saw nothing. Was she wrong? Who cares? It’s only her opinion and experience that matters to her. Did it influence our future travel? No. She’s flown with them since, had no gripe but still marks them hard because of her 1 poor experience. And never hesitates to tell anyone about it.

 

[get me outta here]

Yes, one perceived bad experience (not only airlines), can be blown out of proportion and affect behaviour and limit choices for decades to come.

 

[Lynda2475]

Qantas they are blocked entirely

YMMV however as I stated as a QF bronze (so effectively no status) i got 38C on A380 which is front row of economy by being willing to part with points on more than one occasion - yes it took a call or hanging around on the online chat but it is doable.

Having flown QF, BA and AA internationally in the last few years Qantas Y meals have been better than BA and AA Y meals. As a Y without high status (QF Silver, OW Ruby) i've done short international flights with BA (UK to Spain and Croatia) where you are not even entitled to a free soft drink/water (that never happens on a QF flight) and AA flights to/from Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia where the included meal was inedible (rotten lettuce, frozen chicken). Also SYD-LHR on BA offers no mid-flight hot snack unlike QF for same route - so Im not coming from a WP pov - comparing Y product with Y.

An upcoming BA flight I have from LHR-JFK (booked via QF) explicitly states no free alcohol even though a 7hr international flight - again all QF international flights have free alcohol without status.

I have also enjoyed flights on Singapore, but I do not think they have anything over QF in Y from an in flight point of view; I do all my own bookings online so cant comment on calling their customer service as have never had need to call them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

An upcoming BA flight I have from LHR-JFK (booked via QF) explicitly states no free alcohol even though a 7hr international flight - again all QF international flights have free alcohol without status.

AFAIK this is incorrect. BA offers a full complementary bar service on long-haul international flights. (For short-haul worth noting that all BA Citiflyer services from LCY also offer free snacks and a full open bar.) Plain (tap) water is also available FOC at all times on al BA services.

 

[Franky]

Yes, one perceived bad experience (not only airlines), can be blown out of proportion and affect behaviour and limit choices for decades to come.

Agree - the old marketing adage that if you give a customer reason to complain, they will pass that on to 10 others, but if you go the extra yard, that will only be passed on once.

 

[Borisdog]

Well, I’ve just blown an hour of my life reading all of that and I’ve come to the conclusion that I am clearly a very unique individual in that I’ve never experienced any of the horrific circumstances frequently inflicted by QF on their customers.

It could be that I walk around blind and oblivious most of the time.

I can’t believe just how blessed and lucky I am. In fairness though, I can’t say I’ve had horror stories in other airlines either.

Well, I think I’ve qualified for the most spectacular self inflicted jinx.

Less than 8 hours after writing this QF have managed to leave all 4 pieces of our luggage in Auckland. They’ve thankfully found it, and I must say that the young fella - Chris - at QF lost baggage in BNE INT was extremely helpful.

The downside is that I’ve had to go straight to Perth for work and won’t see some of the stuff I needed. Luggage will be delivered to my wife after it’s short lived escape attempt of approximately 18 hrs.

And that’ll be the last time I open my gob about how lucky I’ve been while still in transit.

 

[SFO777]

I'm baaaack.

I must be a glutton for punishment as I decided to actually fly my "free" LAX-SYD J ticket earlier this week. Unlike the pleasant 1-2-1 Business Class product on the 789, the QF A380 Business Class product is mediocre to anyone other than QF flyboys and flag wavers. An ugly and dated cabin and seats. And after a couple of hours, those seats start to get uncomfortable. Add in an indifferent crew like today and this was a long, long flight.

Lots of pics and incendiary commentary for your enjoyment and outrage. Qantas A380 Business Class to Sydney | SFO777

 

[drron]

SFO777 you appear to be going soft on QF.That salad is the equal of AA domestic?Now i know you are pulling my leg.

 

[Lynda2475]

my "free" LAX-SYD J ticket

If you dislike QF so much why not redeem points to fly LAX-SYD with AA?

 

[SFO777]

If you dislike QF so much why not redeem points to fly LAX-SYD with AA?

Apparently you have trouble reading and/or comprehending or just decided to spout off with reading the report. Using miles is not free. This was the return half of a cheap roundtrip ticket, the entire price of which was half the price of a one way HTI-LAX ticket.

 

[Lynda2475]

Apparently you are imagining that the trip report linked mentions "This was the return half of a cheap roundtrip ticket" therefore you seemingly had no choice in carrier.

Manners cost nothing - one cannot comprehend information not provided.

Using points can be free (on some redemption you cal also use points to cover the taxes and fees), but a leg included on a paid ticket was also not free if you want to be pedantic.

 

[SFO777]

Apparently you are imagining that the trip report linked mentions "This was the return half of a cheap roundtrip ticket" therefore you seemingly had no choice in carrier. Manners cost nothing - one cannot comprehend information not provided.

If you had read the full report, you would have read... "With not a single award seat back from Australia after New Years, the cheapest Business Class way home was to buy a roundtrip… in our case Hamilton Island-LAX-Sydney. Not wanting to waste the return flight and lost free BA Tier Points, I’m completing the roundtrip by flying to Sydney and then coming home via Asia on Malaysia and Singapore First Class..."

 

[RichardMEL]

I reckon EVERYONE agrees the dated QF J product on the A380 (being replaced with suites from later this year thank goodness) is poor.. specially when they droop badly.

I'm really starting to dislike the use of phrases by some posters like "fanbois" or "QF cultists" and the like as it's a form of bullying in my view.

I do not fly QF 380 J due to the poor hard product. I would select a 789 or another airline given the choice (ie: just last month I flew NZ J.. and even their seat is older and quite narrow, I still consider it better than the 380 J product plus the F&B is generaly superior IMHO). I rate the QF 380 J with the (now old) UA 787 2-2-2 faux Polaris seating, and might even content the UA seats are slightly better(no droop)

 

[BD1959]

I'm baaaack.

[snip]

Lots of pics and incendiary commentary for your enjoyment and outrage. Qantas A380 Business Class to Sydney | SFO777

Thanks SFO777. Some good photos there. It certainly looks like QF could do with updating their IFE: as much as I like the movie, I don't think even I could watch it end-on-end for 5 hrs in the Lounge.

Oh - and I see what you mean about "incendiary" ... I really couldn't put up with someone resting their socked feet on the side-bins - goodness knows how such people would leave the Business Class Lounge.

Certainly agree with respect to the 2+2 seating - were there no middle seats available when you chose, or did you deliberately choose the window seat knowing there'd be logistical issues courtesy of a seat-mate between you and the ailse?

Regards,

BD

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Was there an actual poll which substantiates this claim? Hope so - nobody would really post that about themselves without supporting evidence would they?

 

[SFO777]

View attachment 156469
Was there an actual poll which substantiates this claim? Hope so - nobody would really post that about themselves without supporting evidence would they?

You might want to check the Flyertalk Trip Report statistics before popping off.

And while we're at it, was there an actual poll which substantiates your claim to be a Cruiser Elite or even an Elite?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

You might want to check the Flyertalk Trip Report statistics before popping off.

And while we're at it, was there an actual poll which substantiates your claim to be a Cruiser Elite or even an Elite?

Touchy touchy - I never frequent FT sorry my friend - it was a serious question - but Yanks never do get the Australian sense of humour do they?

Nope the Cruiser Elite term again is sarcasm - there is no lower member here than moi - and I wear that badge proudly. Come along to OT morrow night digger and witness first hand mongrels running amok. No emoji required here - I am deadly serious.