Why I love Qantas

[LAH]

after some long weeks of business travel, and one personal sector, I have some nice things to say. Will put the other comments in another thread.

1. I really enjoy the airconnect crew between Auckland and Melbourne/Sydney (not strictly Qantas)

2. Had an amazing check in at Melbourne airport the other day. QF staff in first class check in were really great and one person (Jelena, if anyone from QF is browsing) in particular made a point of coming up to lounge to take us to the aircraft. Have to say that a Sofitel person also accompanied us - it was quite an entourage and mainly because I had some coughbersome hand luggage.

3. Landed in Melbourne last week during disputes. Luggage missing (lots of luggage missing) and was really perturbed to be sent off without a reference for missing luggage. Baggage services on phone assisted. One case turned up and one didn't. Couldn't get much out of baggage services. Rang customer service and they said that because I was platinum I had to be put through to some sort of executive area : well, they couldn't have been more helpful. Communicated well, and had the other case several hours later.

Thanks Qantas!

 

[frequent]

So when I asked him what the flight time to Perth

Sorry mate, Qantas hasn't flown Africa to Perth for about 11 years (I know, cos I have to take SAA just to get home now... revolting).

And if any crew member said the 'F' word in front of me, regardless of the context, they would definately get a complaint (and probably fired). It's simply not professional, regardless of the airline.

It's not his position to tell you how 'cough' his day is. He should be only focussed on YOUR day!

 

[fjc]

1. They serve edible food that you don't have to pay for. AA has terrible food that you pay for. I fly JFK - LAX on QF rather than AA just for this reason.

2. Once on board, you don't have to pay for another thing. Recently, the Irish guy sitting beside me JFK - LAX certainly took advantage of the free booze until the FA said very politely: "I think we'll give it a rest for a while, mate".

3. On long haul's the FAs are very attentive. They constantly walk through the cabins offering drinks, snacks etc etc.

4. Telephone sales staff very good (but on a -ve I do resent paying $60 when I have to call them because I can't make the booking online).

5. They make a wonderful cup of tea. Doesn't sound much, but I don't drink coffee or soft drinks and stay off the booze on a long haul. After a recent 7 week trip USA / Canada, it was great to be offered a cuppa made with tea bag in cup first, then boiling water poured over it.

6. They've not lost a bag of mine yet.

7. They do know where Australia is, and the distances involved when we arrive here.

 

[simongr]

Just in terms of the feeling Australian when you get back n board after a trip away - how does that compare for say V Australia? I know I always feel something special when I get on a BA flight - most often because I am either visiting the UK after a long period away, visiting my folks in Cyprus or coming home - throw in a dash of Britishness and it makes up for some of the rest of the issues.

Getting on board a QF flight has similar feeling when I am coming home but getting on board an outbound flight I can hear the dice rolling as to what sort of experience I will receive/suffer...

 

[smckay]

I'm with Juddles; dropping the fbomb about the astronaut would have cracked me up too. Sure it is not right and unprofessional but from the situation described it sounds to me like a couple of mates having a larf. And I have never had anything like that happen to me so maybe it was a once-off.
You wouldn't get that on the Aisan-inspired airlines that Alan Joyce is trying to convert Qantas into so work it while you can.

And after a few weeks oversea's I too like to hear an Aussie accent and the humour that goes with it.

 

[drewbles]

after some long weeks of business travel, and one personal sector, I have some nice things to say. Will put the other comments in another thread.

1. I really enjoy the airconnect crew between Auckland and Melbourne/Sydney (not strictly Qantas)

2. Had an amazing check in at Melbourne airport the other day. QF staff in first class check in were really great and one person (Jelena, if anyone from QF is browsing) in particular made a point of coming up to lounge to take us to the aircraft. Have to say that a Sofitel person also accompanied us - it was quite an entourage and mainly because I had some coughbersome hand luggage.

3. Landed in Melbourne last week during disputes. Luggage missing (lots of luggage missing) and was really perturbed to be sent off without a reference for missing luggage. Baggage services on phone assisted. One case turned up and one didn't. Couldn't get much out of baggage services. Rang customer service and they said that because I was platinum I had to be put through to some sort of executive area : well, they couldn't have been more helpful. Communicated well, and had the other case several hours later.

Thanks Qantas!

Don't just mention it here, QF have a great rewards and recognition program for staff called eXcel. From their website:

If you have had an exceptional service experience with Qantas we would love to hear from you. To nominate an employee that you think deserves special recognition, please e-mail us your feedback.

The page is at Frequent Flyer - About the Program - People's Choice Award and you can submit your feedback via the form there.

The people who have won eXcel awards wear a little stick-pin with the old eXcel logo (looks like a stylised man jumping, resembling the X). Every time i've seen a staff member wearing these pins, the service really has been top-shelf (just not enough of them unfortunately!).

 

[bossreggie]

I love QANTAS because for me personally..... I'd say about 95% of the time they get it right.

People who know me would say that I'm a bit fussy. (particular) So for an airline to look after me as well as they do then I have to love them!!

I like the personal service and I do feel valued most of the time.

 

[drewbles]

I love QANTAS because for me personally..... I'd say about 95% of the time they get it right.

People who know me would say that I'm a bit fussy. (particular) So for an airline to look after me as well as they do then I have to love them!!

I like the personal service and I do feel valued most of the time.

Not to de-value the service they give you bossreggie, but with the amount of coin you drop on them, I would hope they do.

I think it's pretty well acknowledged that in F, the service is generally excellent, and for those like you who only fly in the highest available cabin, you'd be known in QF (obviously as you were gifted something reserved for others than us mere mortals ) and i'm sure the mandate would be 'look after him he's a very very very good customer'.

The airport F checkin and lounge folks really are exceptional 99.99% of the time.

 

[bossreggie]

Not to de-value the service they give you bossreggie, but with the amount of coin you drop on them, I would hope they do.

I think it's pretty well acknowledged that in F, the service is generally excellent, and for those like you who only fly in the highest available cabin, you'd be known in QF (obviously as you were gifted something reserved for others than us mere mortals ) and i'm sure the mandate would be 'look after him he's a very very very good customer'.

The airport F checkin and lounge folks really are exceptional 99.99% of the time.

Ha-ha. It is fair to say I do spend some money with them. This year has been a stand out with around $300k personally + my PA and +1 and Son all of whom I pay for. (This was mainly down to many return trips to the UK for family matters.

I think next year things will settle down a bit.

 

[Noob]

Ha-ha. It is fair to say I do spend some money with them. This year has been a stand out with around $300k personally + my PA and +1 and Son all of whom I pay for. (This was mainly down to many return trips to the UK for family matters.

I think next year things will settle down a bit.

Would you adopt me?

 

[drewbles]

Would you adopt me?

I'm sure after he's settled down, and stopped flying, he'd look at that (awww but then you wouldn't get to fly, and if you did, it wouldn't be Virgin...)

 

[bossreggie]

Would you adopt me?

I fear you would have to stand in line..... Most of my son's friends are already on the "adopt me" bandwagon.

 

[juddles]

Sorry mate, Qantas hasn't flown Africa to Perth for about 11 years (I know, cos I have to take SAA just to get home now... revolting).

And if any crew member said the 'F' word in front of me, regardless of the context, they would definately get a complaint (and probably fired). It's simply not professional, regardless of the airline.

It's not his position to tell you how 'cough' his day is. He should be only focussed on YOUR day!

It was in 1997 IIRC. Sorry to you mate. Guess have been flying too long.

As far as your wanting him to get fired, "regardless of context", can you tell me when in your world the f word could ever possibly be ok? Political correctness, whatever the term is, is not my cup of tea. And trust me if such language was out of context it would be a different story. If you want to ban any flavoursome language in all contexts then you can have your version of Australia. Just leave me mine. Maybe you should go live in the States where your desire to have people "fired" is more natural.

I get on well with flightcrew. Almost always do. Matter of experience and long suffered miles. Please don't tell me that I should have been offended. I guess if you weren't there, you weren't there....

 

[tuapekastar]

Whilst many (myself included) dislike some of the recent 'enhancements' to the QFF program and QP memberships (not to mention PB - no really, I didn't mention it ), I think when it comes to actually flying, QF generally gets it right - at least for me. Not sure I 'love' them but they are currently first airline of choice. Now that I have the DJ Plat status match I'm going to venture outside OW a little more and see what awaits - who knows, maybe DJ will hook me.

I think when things go right, people do not generally remember it. The only things that stick in minds are the exceptionally good (can't recall any), and anything that is in any way bad - and while I can think of a few, there aren't many, and only a couple that really pissed me off at the time. Never lost a bag (on QF or any other airline - touch wood), service is normally polite and professional, I have faith in their safety regime, and their lounges generally stack up well against the rest - not always the best, but up there with them.

So I think I'd say that generally I am satisfied with QF. I don't travel enough ATM to start earning status on all alliances (though I seem to have matched OK on a couple ) so I'm happy to plan and direct my spend primarily with QF/OW to maintain the WP I have there. I haven't had major problems with other airlines either for that matter - perhaps I'm just easily pleased. This does not mean I would never change my alliance/allegiance - QF needs to keep doing it right (or right enough, anyway).

In the right context, and delivered the right way (and it sounds like it was fine on both counts) I'd have no trouble with the comment juddles' FA made.

 

[TonyHancock]

I think it's pretty well acknowledged that in F, the service is generally excellent, and for those like you who only fly in the highest available cabin, you'd be known in QF (obviously as you were gifted something reserved for others than us mere mortals ) and i'm sure the mandate would be 'look after him he's a very very very good customer'.

The airport F checkin and lounge folks really are exceptional 99.99% of the time.

Returning to Australia from the UK in F on a 380 at the weekend was OK, but was not as good as I expected. The service was good without being exceptional, and the cabin was looking worn.

First Class check in is exceptional at Melbourne. QF really does get this right, it is much better than in the US and UK.

 

[juddles]

....I think when things go right, people do not generally remember it. The only things that stick in minds are the exceptionally good (can't recall any), and anything that is in any way bad....

That is exactly right. People do one (or a couple) of flights on X carrier and think they are marvellous, because they didn't suffer the mishap that occurred on one of the 100 previous flights they did with carrier Y. And suddenly carrier X is so much better than carrier Y?

 

[tuapekastar]

First Class check in is exceptional at Melbourne. QF really does get this right, it is much better than in the US and UK.

This is actually one of the rotten memories of QF I have. :shock:

First time I used it, as a CX diamond (having never set foot on a CX plane ), the checkin lady, about 3/4 of the way through the process looked earnestly at me and said 'you do realise you're travelling in economy don't you?'. I allowed that I did. She then added 'you do realise this is the first class checkin area?'. I did not disagree with her, as it was uncontestably true. These questions were addressed to me like I was possibly brain dead - I gestured towards the little green OWE symbol on the CX Diamond card and without any appreciable change to her facial expression she wordlessly completed the checkin.

I might add that my few experiences since at the same checkin area have been flawless.

 

[LAH]

Have to say that the reason I was so surprised and grateful and happy at first class check in Melbourne the other day, was because of other occasions that haven't been so incredible!

Far from incredible in fact. Even with what happened the other day I have to wonder why the Sofitel luggage people are there : seems to always be the same guys and they aren't really a happy helpful pair.

Have been questioned on arrival by QF staff on other occasions before even showing ticket : "you do realise this is first class check in" or "are you in the right place?" Not the nicest way to be greeted. Wouldn't a "may I see your ticket" and/or "your frequent flyer card"?

 

[notzac]

Just in terms of the feeling Australian when you get back n board after a trip away - how does that compare for say V Australia? I know I always feel something special when I get on a BA flight - most often because I am either visiting the UK after a long period away, visiting my folks in Cyprus or coming home - throw in a dash of Britishness and it makes up for some of the rest of the issues.

I do believe there's a Jeremy Clarkson quote around being British and flying BA..

As for your question flying on VA after being away from home a while - that definitely plays in to my selection of flights. There's something else about having been in Europe for a month or so and not having spoken to an Australian for some time .. then finally seeing the VA livery at AUH and hearing the Australian accent as you're welcomed on board .. it's disgustingly nationalistic and perhaps a little bit bogan, but it does make me happy.

 

[Drav]

I do believe there's a Jeremy Clarkson quote around being British and flying BA..

As for your question flying on VA after being away from home a while - that definitely plays in to my selection of flights. There's something else about having been in Europe for a month or so and not having spoken to an Australian for some time .. then finally seeing the VA livery at AUH and hearing the Australian accent as you're welcomed on board .. it's disgustingly nationalistic and perhaps a little bit bogan, but it does make me happy.

Hah! I remember that clarkson quote

I remember a few years ago when id had a long, forced trip to asia. It was for the wrong reasons, i hated it and everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. Also the Boxing Day Tsunami happened to occur, just for that added flavour. So when i settled back into the 747's seat and ate a passable meal while while watching some Australian TV, i enjoyed it. I dont feel any kind of guilt, and its certainly not jingoism (which is the actual concerning situation rather than nationalism IMO) and it doesnt make me a one nation voter. But thats something i could have never experienced on any other airline (except maybe VA had they been flying then!)