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

[love_the_life]

I don’t disagree that the lounge looked very dirty and I’ve been there when it’s like that and a zoo. It is a very poor look. The thing that bothers me is the summation of QF as a whole when in many of the instances he quoted the airline was certainly on par with many others flying out there and better than some. YMMV and bored now.

 

[Melburnian1]

Having visited the new J domestic lounge in MEL last month, I was surprised how scrappy parts of it was looking already. Some of the carpet seemed in very poor condition...

Wouldn't an airline investing millions in a lounge revamp choose hardwearing but attractive commercial grade carpet? I've seen installations in other high traffic areas that pass the test of time, provided they are looked after well by cleaners.

 

[Denali]

I actually thought it was a pretty fair report looking at the photos, I have been there done that e.g. LAX, check-in, F lounge etc. MEL J lounge actually looked quite good when compared to the 5-7pm peak hour. Tasi, been there too. The writer/ photographer knows how to work a camera as some of those photos are stunning.

The lounge in HBA is nothing to be proud about and the SYD J lounge can be a nightmare. Also when it comes plane (plain) food, it is what it is.

At the end of the day it seems like there are some here that do not like our national carrier being criticised by someone from aboard. However we are quick to criticise other carriers and our own as evidenced on this site. Maybe if QF management are made aware of reports like this things may improve but I will not hold my breath in anticipation.

I like his reports because of the abundance of photos, and not all wine and food pics. Seats, lounge, airport gates ect - they tell the story that I appreciate and yes, that lounge was disgusting by the amount of mess.

Also, hes a tourist. Hes been sold the bag of goodies about QF being "Australia's airline" so Im not surprised his expectation was high. Although I do laugh at some of his comments like one when at China's Great Wall, "At the top, lots of other tourists. Ugh". What on earth did he expect and hes a tourist!

But overall, Im a photo girl, not read every word in the report girl. From his posts, business sold, house he bought, hes living the dream so good luck to him.

 

[JRR]

Can’t argue with the report - it’s accurate. Two staff in the HBA QC this morning: one surly the other lovely. If you hit only the surly one you’d not have a good impression. It’s about on par (slightly better) than some of the nicer Admirals Clubs in smaller ports, but nothing to write home about. Sydney J lounge (aka the slop bucket) very very poor. The highlight of First is the bedding and the space, other than that it’s pretty awful. Breakfast flight on the 717 only choice the frittata? Really? Poor. Although find the 717 business seats perfectly fine.

Yeah so I think he was basically spot on.

 

[netgrom]

Called it as he saw it, typical American style. But when an American is calling out your national airline for poor quality you know something is seriously wrong and the systemic culture of cost cutting in the airline has come to a head. After flying QF 36 F in the last 3 months after experiencing F on CX on the way back from Europe I have to say I was embarrassed that it is our national airline and just overall quite sad. Time for a change at the top I'd say...

 

[JRR]

Called it as he saw it, typical American style. But when an American is calling out your national airline for poor quality you know something is seriously wrong and the systemic culture of cost cutting in the airline has come to a head. After flying QF 36 F in the last 3 months after experiencing F on CX on the way back from Europe I have to say I was embarrassed that it is our national airline and just overall quite sad. Time for a change at the top I'd say...

Why? Nicely profitable airline. Once it was sold off any concept of then investing because it is a “national airline” was dead.

 

[Vic]

The errors are what get me. No escalator at MEL? Yeah, actually, there is and you even took a photo of it.

 

[Mike65]

The errors are what get me. No escalator at MEL? Yeah, actually, there is and you even took a photo of it.

The errors are what get me. No escalator at MEL? Yeah, actually, there is and you even took a photo of it.

The down escalator near the MEL QFi lounge has been broken for about 6 months. Obviously not Qantas's responsibility but annoying nonetheless

 

[RichardMEL]

I don’t disagree that the lounge looked very dirty and I’ve been there when it’s like that and a zoo. It is a very poor look. The thing that bothers me is the summation of QF as a whole when in many of the instances he quoted the airline was certainly on par with many others flying out there and better than some. YMMV and bored now.

This.

I've thought about this a bit and I'm not defending QF and I agree the SYD J lounge was horrid, HBA is not worth the time and so on.

but he says QF is the "Worst Airline in the free world"?! Come on, OTT much?

He even admits -

- the QF F LAX lounge is his fave in north america
- he enjoyed the bedding on LAX-MEL and got a lot of sleep

he misses UA/AA clubs? Really? I was just reading a review last night of the AA club at ATL as "Small, crowded with little amenity" and someone even commented the terminal area is better (and knowing that part of ATL.. it's not lol).

It's easy to be selective

He has many valid points and I do not disagree, but his factual errors were terrible, his ego to proclaim he's the most popular on FT and stating his experiences as being the worst airline in the free world? Seriously? Someone should put him on AI with the coughroach in food, or heavens, JQ "J" (because he only appears to fly premium classes) or gee... experience some weirdly subpar lounges in europe (eg there's a lounge at BUD that was really poor I used a few years back and most of the majors were using it) etc etc etc

and gee, why doesn't he compare apples with apples? He moans about the food(which may have been bad indeed) on HBA-SYD - if he flew a similar sector in AA or UA "F" domestic he'd be lucky to get some pretzels.

I mean I think I find it laughable and actually ruins what is a good report with some great photos

and his affront at being denied access to the CL? bwhahahaa. Chutzpah for asking, but offence at refusal and calling the agent snooty?

and yes SFO777 has been around on FT for a very very long time. I'm actually quite surprised at this report in terms of how negative his title is which negates the good parts he did experience but seems to just ignore them overall.

meh

 

[ChrisGibbs]

Like a vast majority of Australians we are proud of our country and our national icons. When it suits us, as Australians, we have the unique ability to drag down some of these national icons however we get a little sensitive when someone from another country has a go. As Australians "we don't have a mortgage on good ideas" and should be open to someone else's perspective - whether we agree with it or not. When we come across this sort of commentary on Australia and one of our major airlines I would hope we have matured enough to understand that after removing the emotive headline and language there are some facts and feedback that QF and the various Airport corporations should / could take notice of.

 

[andye]

This.

I've thought about this a bit and I'm not defending QF and I agree the SYD J lounge was horrid, HBA is not worth the time and so on.

but he says QF is the "Worst Airline in the free world"?! Come on, OTT much?

He even admits -

- the QF F LAX lounge is his fave in north america
- he enjoyed the bedding on LAX-MEL and got a lot of sleep

he misses UA/AA clubs? Really? I was just reading a review last night of the AA club at ATL as "Small, crowded with little amenity" and someone even commented the terminal area is better (and knowing that part of ATL.. it's not lol).

It's easy to be selective

He has many valid points and I do not disagree, but his factual errors were terrible, his ego to proclaim he's the most popular on FT and stating his experiences as being the worst airline in the free world? Seriously? Someone should put him on AI with the coughroach in food, or heavens, JQ "J" (because he only appears to fly premium classes) or gee... experience some weirdly subpar lounges in europe (eg there's a lounge at BUD that was really poor I used a few years back and most of the majors were using it) etc etc etc

and gee, why doesn't he compare apples with apples? He moans about the food(which may have been bad indeed) on HBA-SYD - if he flew a similar sector in AA or UA "F" domestic he'd be lucky to get some pretzels.

I mean I think I find it laughable and actually ruins what is a good report with some great photos

and his affront at being denied access to the CL? bwhahahaa. Chutzpah for asking, but offence at refusal and calling the agent snooty?

and yes SFO777 has been around on FT for a very very long time. I'm actually quite surprised at this report in terms of how negative his title is which negates the good parts he did experience but seems to just ignore them overall.

meh

Maybe its a clickbait comment to ensure ongoing evidence of popularity.
Overall I thought the report was interesting and well-photographed.
Agree the content didnt warrant the conclusion

 

[Lynda2475]

The lack of cleanliness in the lounges is not good, I actually don't know why as part of the refurbs they don't just put wooden floorboards down - so much easier to clean, and smooth floors are easier to roll luggage across than carpeted ones.

The inaccuracies re type of of lounge, the carrots and the title of being the worst airline is what irks me the most. Qantas isnt the best airline in the world but it is far from the worst; and service on Qantaslink (regional service) over Qantas is always lesser as much smaller planes - its hard to enforce priority boarding when there is no aerobridge.

Few other airlines provide included luggage and meals without status. For example BA doesn't even give you a free soft drink on their short-haul international flights UK-Western Europe, the meals provided to me on AA into latin america have always been mostly inedible.

He complained about no wifi on the international leg, but I'm not aware of any carrier offering free wifi from US to Australia - happy to be corrected if Im wrong? Further the pre-takeoff announcements always tell you to download the Qantas Entertainment app for byod viewing before you need to switch to flight mode.

There were many positives in his review re bedding and entertainment and accurate pictures re lounge facilities. But given he got safely to his destination, didn't have any lost luggage, main gripes were re lounges (which you dont have to visit) and fact he chose to fly the regional routes, his experience simply does not justify the conclusion of Qantas being worlds worst airline. He cleary just wanted to draw attention to his TR via a controversial title.

 

[TomVexille]

The lack of cleanliness in the lounges is not good, I actually don't know why as part of the refurbs they don't just put wooden floorboards down - so much easier to clean, and smooth floors are easier to roll luggage across than carpeted ones.

The inaccuracies re type of of lounge, the carrots and the title of being the worst airline is what irks me the most. Qantas isnt the best airline in the world but it is far from the worst; and service on Qantaslink (regional service) over Qantas is always lesser as much smaller planes - its hard to enforce priority boarding when there is no aerobridge.

Few other airlines provide included luggage and meals without status. For example BA doesn't even give you a free soft drink drink on their short-haul international flights UK-Western Europe, the meals provided to me on AA into latin america have always been mostly inedible.

He complained about no wifi on the international leg, but I'm not aware of any carrier offering free wifi from US to Australia - happy to be corrected if Im wrong? Further the pre-takeoff announcements always tell you to download the Qantas Entertainment app for byod viewing before you need to switch to flight mode.

There were many positives in his review re bedding and entertainment and accurate pictures re lounge facilities. But given he got safely to his destination, didn't have any lost luggage, main gripes were re lounges (which you dont have to visit) and fact he chose to fly the regional routes, his experience simply does not justify the conclusion of Qantas being worlds worst airline. He cleary just wanted to draw attention to his TR via a controversial title.

Couple points here. PB is easy. Just board Priority first, aerobridge or none. And VA, AA, UA and DL all have WiFi between US and Australia, sure it's not free, but at least they have it, unlike QF

 

[GoldCanyon340]

This is a blogger who fat shamed a passenger in a trip report a few years ago. Probably best to consider his content after you remove the thick layer of arrogance and self importance; not much would remain however.

 

[tdimdad]

Were some of the photos taken in the sterile areas at the airports? I had thought that as a no-no but am happy to be corrected (either in the photo location or about the rules).

 

[RichardMEL]

for a guy who has been around for a long time his lack of knowledge is stunning. eg lack of competitoion on LAX-MEL (wrong)... calling the domestic J lounge a "Gold/First" lounge (makes no sense) and thinking he'd find a "First" lounge in SYD domestic. Now sure, the way he entered the lounge, via the QC entrance, he would not have seen the J lounge with the OWE symbol, but then again most well travelled folks like him should have some idea about this sort of thing imho.

It's sloppy to allow the errors IMHO. I guess it doesn't matter when you're the most popular "in your own lunchbox"

 

[andye]

...calling the domestic J lounge a "Gold/First" lounge (makes no sense).....

His BA Gold Card status is OWE so it kind of makes sense given that the SYD J lounge is open to QFWP whereas QFSG in Y usually go to the QP
Having said that, BA call OWE lounges First rather than Gold

 

[RichardMEL]

His BA Gold Card status is OWE so it kind of makes sense given that the SYD J lounge is open to QFWP whereas QFSG in Y usually go to the QP
Having said that, BA call OWE lounges First rather than Gold

Fine except he should be more specific

and he specifically mentioned OWE later on when he's moaning in the disgusting J lounge in SYD and asks a dragon if there's another OWE lounge.

If he's tailoring his blog or trip reports to everyone he perhaps needs to be more specific. Certainly if he'd asked anyone at QF about a "Gold or First Lounge" that would confuse them even more than us!

Again, this guy isn't a rookie.

 

[Vic]

The down escalator near the MEL QFi lounge has been broken for about 6 months. Obviously not Qantas's responsibility but annoying nonetheless

Be that as it may, the lack of escalator complaint related to the domestic terminal.

 

[Scott K]

Worst airlines in the free world?
Sorry, credibility ended right there. On the basis of the floors being dirty during the peak holiday period? Yeah right.

He sure does take a lot of photos, and I can't say I have ever personally looked at the floor as much as this chap has now made me. But oh well. He's no photographer though.