Time to give up on Qantas

[Skyring]

If i was stopping over i would probably prefer HKG still.

Hard to beat Hong Kong for a bit of lively bustle, shopping and fun.

Though Beijing may have a different view.

 

[OATEK]

I'm sure you realise that many other airlines travelling there don't serve pork too? Pretty sure VA don't serve pork on the ME route. Anyway it's a minor thing and nothing to lose sleep over.

Personally for a transit, i now prefer DXB over SIN or HKG. If i was stopping over i would probably prefer HKG still.

Hard to beat Hong Kong for a bit of lively bustle, shopping and fun.

Though Beijing may have a different view.

I recognise that stopover choices can be very personal. We started flying through Hong Kong 25 years ago, and it holds a special place in our travel memories despite all the changes since. So we try to do our stopovers there, but recognise others have the same view of other options such as SIN, KUL and BKK.

On the other side, we first flew through Dubai 25 years ago, and have never felt a desire to repeat that, although we did do transit stops on QF1/2 last year. Yes a wonderful if overly long terminal, the J Lounge was terrific, service good, and no I have no inclination to repeat it.

And as far as routes are concerned, yes DXB might be a very efficient hub for access to Europe and Africa. But as an example of alternatives, the current QF early bird fares in J to CPH are in the $9,xx_ range, and AY to next door HEL for $6,xx_, there are about 3,000 good reasons for not flying via DXB and going via HKG/SIN or BKK instead.

For me the DXB route is a turn off, and as a less frequent leisure flyer(internationally) I will continue to avoid it for the foreseeable.

 

[timster]

I disagree. It is a small gesture but reasonable.

Should a Chinese citizen be ¨offended¨that dog is not on QF menus ¨as an option¨?

My travel rules are always the same - even if I disagree with habits/customs in other cultures, I respect them as any visitor should.

As a QF pax you are not a visitor in another country. It makes most sense to me if airline food reflects the carrier's origins, not deliberately restricted according to its various destinations. If I fly TG or CX I expect food reflecting those cultures, with the addition - rather than exclusion - of Western options to best reflect the mix of pax.

If an airline wished to serve dog I would not have a problem with that, if that was common in their culture. I would just not expect to be forced to eat it by the exclusion of other options. Just as pax who cannot eat pork would not be forced to eat it if QF served it on DBX flights.

 

[timster]

And DXB wouldn't win a bronze medal in the school sports as a transit stop. Maybe something for "tries too hard but mostly gets it totally wrong".

I'm not even sure they are trying: Flounge reception staff more often rudethan not, not enough showers (& then they often smell bad), no cold water in the handbasin for cleaning teeth, no priority boarding from Flounge, all the seats are on walkways so no quiet areas to sit, no windows to look out over the apron and those impossible lifts from the loung to the gate. Add to that useless transit security screening...

I would much rather, and do, transfer at LHR

I take your point. But I was actually talking about Dubai as a whole rather than just the airport. I guess one is somewhat limited in what you can do to make the desert interesting, but "world's tallest building", "world's gaudiest and most tasteless shopping mall", "world's silliest land reclamation", "world's best exploitation of migrant workers", "world's best subjugation of women" etc. does nothing for me.

 

[BD1959]

I disagree. It is a small gesture but reasonable.

Should a Chinese citizen be ¨offended¨that dog is not on QF menus ¨as an option¨?

My travel rules are always the same - even if I disagree with habits/customs in other cultures, I respect them as any visitor should.

So "as a gesture" as well as stopping serving pork, QF have stopped serving grog on MEL/SYD-LHR as any culturally aware visitor would...right?

Talk about the road to ruin!

Personally, I wish QF would serve more "Spirit of Australia" meals rather than the quasi-asian, NP-inspired dishes.

Regards,

BD

 

[Melburnian1]

I agree timster. Let's not forget how alien the culture and social mores permitted or practised in the Arabic nations are to most Australians.

Dubai strikes me (in company with Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi) as a contestant for the 'least worthy worldwide tourist destination.' This is despite the best efforts of many travel and tourism writers (travelling business class and staying in luxury hotels courtesy of national tourism organisations or airlines) to talk these places up.

QF made a poor business decision in its tie up. If you sup with the....

 

[DaveB]

Unless QF was able to get some extremely favourable financial terms out of the partnership that have yet to appear, the whole deal smelt of desperation or ignorance that the move would not disenfranchise a significant part of QF's customer base.
Having planes that economically can only reach the place from two of your cities never seemed logical to me besides the other issues being discussed.
A transit through Dubai years ago on Malaysian and Abu Dhabi two years ago on EY was enough for me.
Funnily enough, the move came just as our family now adds an end of year holiday trip to an Asia destination and will never consider QF apart from China or Hong Kong due to the overnight return legs.
To me just crazy QF could never over the years do a deal with CX.

 

[pagingjoan]

I'm not even sure they are trying: Flounge reception staff more often rudethan not, not enough showers (& then they often smell bad), no cold water in the handbasin for cleaning teeth, no priority boarding from Flounge, all the seats are on walkways so no quiet areas to sit, no windows to look out over the apron and those impossible lifts from the loung to the gate. Add to that useless transit security screening...

I would much rather, and do, transfer at LHR

I know we've had this discussion before but, from some comments about the DXB F lounge, it sometimes seems that there must be two of them, serving the same QF flights.

My experience with the staff there (on numerous visits) has been universally positive. On two occasions, staff went above and beyond anything expected or imagined to solve a problem, which made a huge difference to our travels. There are extensive quiet seating areas not on walkways, always (IME) with plenty of capacity, and often the boarding gate is immediately adjacent to the area. Table service is also available there, along with the buffet snacks.

There is also the "Quiet room", which is very comfortable for a longer transit time.

The designated lifts go directly to the specified boarding level, so I'm not sure what the problem is there.

I don't often use the showers in the general area, as I'm usually taking advantage of the spa service ) Quite a luxury at very odd hours of day and night), so I don't recall the hot/cold water issue. Both are available in the spa area, at least.

Cannot disagree re the annoying pre-boarding security ritual, though! And, given free choice, I would rather travel to LHR via Asia - but the DXB F Lounge does not count as a negative for me. Each to their own, of course.

 

[Alanslegal]

I direct an organization that will spend about $800K on international flights this year, with much of that going to Qantas. I imagine that doesn't mean much to Qantas' bottom line, even with Qantas International losing money. I don't know if we will be valued by other airlines, but I am keen to find out, because my loyalty to date has been repaid with disinterested service at a premium price.

Did you take action? Did you direct your spend elsewhere? Please let us know of your outcome and if it was your Time to give up on Qantas?

By pork I was including ham and bacon and these were frequently on the menu.
I don't eat pork, bacon or ham so the absence does not affect me personally. I do, however, think that bacon is a traditional part of the Australian diet (it certainly was in my childhood) and that Qantas, as the spirit of Australia should relfect what is typically Australian. Qantas makes a big deal of advertising itself as the spirit of Australia but notably fails to implement this in so many ways. Other airlines use their national origins as a point of distinction and marketing advantage.
Having a selection of meals to cater to all tastes is just good business sense.
I find the inclusion of only Halal meat on the menu more offensive as I, and many animal protection societies (and by this I mean professional organisations) think that Halal slaughter is cruel. My opinion: I do not expect everyone to agree and that is the point about respectful discussion by groups like this

Ok, it looks like you don't like Qantas because they appear not Australian enough even though they market/boast being The Spirit of Australia, that they don't serve all types of meats and that they serve Halal meats which you find offensive. My suggestion, fly with someone else. This is a reasonable suggestion given that this thread does suggests it is Time to give up on Qantas anyway.

During a recent flight returning from the US I was sitting next to a recently anointed platinum member in PE. The hostess sought him out directly and pampered him with first class red wine (at his beckon), snacks and express pass. All the while the long term lifetime gold member seated next to him was told by QF employee that the "benefits" were isolated to Platinum and above?? Obviously 15 years of continual travel and countless hundreds of thousands of $ loyalty to the QF brand is not enough to outweigh a 1 year platinum member??...who is directing such a hypocritically discriminative airline? Driving a positive service culture comes with creating genuine service empathy and interest, not discriminating against your most loyal customers...Disappointing and can concur.

How did you know he was a one year Platinum Flyer? Regardless, there is absolutely nothing written in the LTG benefits handbook that you will be given red wine, snacks or an express pass. What probably is more commercially sensible is that a current WP is more important today, tomorrow and the future than a LTG who was important and spent alot in the years prior.

Poor Service! Had to fly out of MEL on Jetstar. I wanted a reasonable seat so I rang the Chairmans Lounge two hours before the flight with a request to check me in. They responded by advising that it was not their policy to check any one in unless the passenger was physically present. As a person with long experience in dealing with poor customer service I just went round them. I rang a lowly QF club two thousand Km away and they gladly checked me in and got me a great seat. Qantas - if you are reading this you need to look after your premium customers a lot better.

Glad you thought it was fit to call a "lowly" QF club yet still managed to fly Jetstar.

It doesn't matter what the mileage earn is if it is next to impossible to redeem flights.

I agree with you, however if they can't release award seats it must mean Qantas is doing well selling them at cash fares - which suggests people are flying them and paying cash for it, irrespective of the so called anti-Qantas movement.

A significant number of posters on this thread have less than 20 posts, some as low as 1. That suggests to me that the anti-QF movement is taking hold, and this should be a concern to the airline.

Let's say there are 10 posters with less than 20 posts (and we know there is way less than 10, maybe 5 if I tried counting) compared to 8 million total members ... those 10 unhappy members are a total of 0.00001% of the entire member base, rounded to six decimal points. Very very negligible in my books.


Personally, I don't fly Qantas much. I hold a Nobody/Nothing/Nought Bronze status which means I am a frequent flyer. I don't advocate for people to fly for Qantas but am happy for Qantas to be around as I get to earn points and then redeem them for CX and EK flights.

 

[aaflyer]

I can order a Halal meal or a Kosher meal on an airline. I think that should be where it stops personally. Forcing every meal to be Halal is more than 'a small gesture' IMHO.

I'm not a religious person, but 100% respect the rights of others to be. Their right to choose their dietary requirements are also respected, and I do not expect them to be forced on me, regardless of my religion.

 

[RAM]

I agree timster. Let's not forget how alien the culture and social mores permitted or practised in the Arabic nations are to most Australians.

Dubai strikes me (in company with Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi) as a contestant for the 'least worthy worldwide tourist destination.' This is despite the best efforts of many travel and tourism writers (travelling business class and staying in luxury hotels courtesy of national tourism organisations or airlines) to talk these places up.

QF made a poor business decision in its tie up. If you sup with the....

And this is unusual?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What probably is more commercially sensible is that a current WP is more important today, tomorrow and the future than a LTG who was important and spent alot in the years prior.

We have no idea if the QF platinum on their double status credits (so would really only be gold) will be more important in the future. It's quite possible a gold and platinum have done the same number of flights, or that a gold has spent more money with QF in this same year, just the platinum happened to get double SCs at the right time.

Status is no longer (with the countless double SC promotions) necessarily any real indicator of spend as opposed to being able to take advantage of an offer.

 

[JohnK]

If I am going to CDG I would be on an Avianca F award with TG or a SQ F award.DXB would not get a look in.Been once.Never have to see the place again.

I have never been to Dubai. I have no desire to transit. Definitely would not visit.

If I need to go to Europe there are plenty of options via SE Asia. And I wouldn't worry about an extra transit in Europe if there wasn't a one stop option. Not a big deal.

 

[JohnK]

Some don't have any choice JohnK if wanting to arrive into their home town. Well, I guess they do but not on Qantas.

That's OK. Qantas is not the only carrier.

 

[trixydoza]

Qantas allow people of all faiths and all levels of intelligence to fly with them.

 

[ajw373]

Certainly fly SQ if you like being served by "autobots" in the air.

Pleased I am not the only one to think that. When their program gets upset by something they have no idea what to do to get back on track.

 

[straitman]

For those who have run the thread off topic again the time has come to stop and let us go back to the topic.

I am constantly amazed by the knowledge levels of some of the instant experts here.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sometimes I don't understand Qantas.

They release a good advertisement and i think 'hey, they're getting back on track'. And then the next day they release yet another advertisement claiming the world's first ever seat that can be reclined during take-off and landing. Which just smacks of arrogance and treating us like idiots. Why does it stir my passion? Because AFF, AustBT and other sources have all pointed out it is not the world's first, and the company rep knows that. But either the feedback hasn't been passed up the chain, or they are aware the claim is false but have refused to drop it (or explain why it is true), or they just don't care.

The last three things put me back in to the same position of wanting to give up on QF. If they aren't getting the message on their seat advertising, are they getting the message on Simpler and Fairer, or food, or through check-in or any of the other issues?

 

[katiebell]

Sometimes I don't understand Qantas.

They release a good advertisement and i think 'hey, they're getting back on track'. And then the next day they release yet another advertisement claiming the world's first ever seat that can be reclined during take-off and landing. Which just smacks of arrogance and treating us like idiots. Why does it stir my passion? Because AFF, AustBT and other sources have all pointed out it is not the world's first, and the company rep knows that. But either the feedback hasn't been passed up the chain, or they are aware the claim is false but have refused to drop it (or explain why it is true), or they just don't care.

The last three things put me back in to the same position of wanting to give up on QF. If they aren't getting the message on their seat advertising, are they getting the message on Simpler and Fairer, or food, or through check-in or any of the other issues?

I could not agree more that QF just don't listen to pax. It should be much easier & more profitable to keep truly frequent flyers than to keep attracting new pax (& if QF hack them off they just won't come back). There are a few common themes around the FF programme, food, route/schedule etc. Or perhaps they are listening and think that we high value PAX are not worth the expense, just like PER is not worth bothering about for QFi...

 

[Baysider]

I could not agree more that QF just don't listen to pax. It should be much easier & more profitable to keep truly frequent flyers than to keep attracting new pax.

Yes they have the JQ product for people who they are happy to have never return for more misery !