Hello from Durin's Bane

[Durin's Bane]

G'Day guys.

I've been a lurker here for a while now, however after the past four years where I've travelled regularly (sometimes twelve Qantas flights per month!) thought I’d make a few observations and comments about my experiences on QF and others.

BTW I've been QF Platinum status for a few years.

This year alone through work I've been to England, Germany, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and throughout Australia. And I've been to a few other places for vacations as well.

I've always flown OneWorld and Star Alliance airlines (with the significant domestic travel I do and the status I have these days I always try for OneWorld flights overseas first).

In general I find Qantas service to be above average - their crew perform their duties with little fan fare, are extremely well presented, and are usually quite impersonal. I wouldn’t mind, however they present themselves to be a premium airline, with the ticket prices to match. Travelling on my company's costs is fine, but if I just shelled out close to $10K for a Pacific route J class airfare I would be severely disappointed with what I received. In terms of other OW airlines, I’ve flown Cathay Pacific in J numerous times and every time the service was superior to most QF J segments.

I have had average experiences with the airlines in the USA, however don’t mind as the fares were cheap. Southwest though has always had good service those times I’ve caught it. No points or SC's unfortunately. American Airlines and American Eagle were average. Same with Alaskan Airways.

Recently on a work trip from Perth to Tokyo (9.5 hour flight) I was in Business Class on an old QF 767 - my travel administrator informed me the ticket price was in the region of $9K!!! Crazy for the product and nonchalant service.

Bar the occasional flights here or there Singapore Airlines has consistently provided a great service in both Economy, and especially Business. The recent Frankfurt to Singapore flight in the Boeing 777 was the best Business product I've ever flown - blew away ANY Business segment product I've flown with Qantas or partner airlines (though I haven't travelled in the new A380 yet). We fly SQ when corresponding flights with OW cannot be found, so I have a few SQ J sector points accumulated now. If only they flew domestic Oz...

I have travelled first class only once in my life - Singapore to Sydney on a British Airways 777 a few months ago. It was extremely poor in terms of service (seven or eight flights with BA now in J and Y, and they've always been average to poor), and the actual product was antiquated. Never again. They're terrible, just like Heathrow.

Interestingly the best J service I ever received was on a flight from Perth to Melbourne on Qantas, and the best Y service ever was a Perth to Hong Kong, also on Qantas. I actually wrote to Qantas complimenting the staff in question, and received emails and phone calls from representatives who were pleased (they hinted they usually receive emails and calls of complaint).

When I was younger I accepted quite a bit, however with my overseas travel now building up, my frustrations on our national carrier have increased, and in general service and standards at our airports compared to the magnificent Changi or HK International. I'll leave my rant about lounges for another day.

I know Qantas have been hampered by the delay to the A380 - but so have SQ etc... so I do not accept their exhorbitant pricing for product and service that is inferior to others charging less. With their current monoply of the Oz business market will things ever change? I look forward to your comments.

DB.

[serfty]

G'day Durin's Bane, welcome to AFF

(Hmmm ... Durin's Bane ... are you a Balrog perchance?)

Interesting comments indeed; It will be interesting to see what happens now that other airlines are starting to provide a decent soft product trans-Pacific.

[docjames]

Welcome. Great First post by the way.

I think you've summed up the sentiment of many - QF can get away with a lot due to all the goodwill they've built up over the years, but they are certainly in negative balance over the last couple of years from most people's perspective.

[lovetravellingoz]

G'Day guys.

This year alone through work I've been to England, Germany, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and throughout Australia. And I've been to a few other places for vacations as well.

.

Well that is impressive with Jan 7 only just having ticked up!!!







Though more seriously I guess you are talking financial years.

Thanks for an interesting first post.
Welcome.

[munitalP]

Welcome, I too share the SIA sentiment regarding the best J product although my SIA flights have only been MEL/SIN/TPE return J

However, have experienced plenty of QF J and BA J as well as a couple of NZ J's in the past (int)

DOM flights, QF J although difficult to find good points about is still better than the others PE product by streets

Recently experienced *Class - it is also a good daytime product as far as I am concerned.

Again, welcome to AFF and hope to catch up some time in a J or F pub

Mr!

[Durin's Bane]

(Hmmm ... Durin's Bane ... are you a Balrog perchance?)

Yep, a fan of LOTR (books and films).

[Durin's Bane]

Well that is impressive with Jan 7 only just having ticked up!!!

Sorry, I meant 2008 Calendar year! Forgot it is 2009...

Only been to Hong Kong so far this year.

[markis10]

Recently on a work trip from Perth to Tokyo (9.5 hour flight) I was in Business Class on an old QF 767 - my travel administrator informed me the ticket price was in the region of $9K!!! Crazy for the product and nonchalant service.
.

Maybe you should suggest to your travel administrator that you dont mind not going direct in order to save the company some money in future, a 13K mile Circle Asia fare for around 5.5K in J would have possibly given you quite a few SC's and the opportunity to experience some better equipment as well from the likes of CX etc. You could of avoided the red eye flights both ways as well, certainly not my favorite!

[Durin's Bane]

Maybe you should suggest to your travel administrator that you dont mind not going direct in order to save the company some money in future, a 13K mile Circle Asia fare for around 5.5K in J would have possibly given you quite a few SC's and the opportunity to experience some better equipment as well from the likes of CX etc. You could of avoided the red eye flights both ways as well, certainly not my favorite!

Hmm... Good idea, I didn't think of that.

Will try it out on my next trip!