Does Qantas maintain its aircraft??

[goldy]

Sorry about some pictures not being the right way up.....

These are some pics I took on board QF 747-400ER's on SYD-DFW and LAX-MEL. I'm not sure about anyone else, but I think the standard of cleanliness from the worlds most experienced airline is very much below par.

Thoughts?

















How shabby is this seat cover? Do QF actually have a staff member that inspects the cabin and clears it for service or do they simply rely on the cleaners to self check and pass their own work. QF are lucky I did not offload myself from these flights and demand to be flown home on an airline that can provide the level of service and cleanliness I had paid for. Needless to say, I think its obvious that im "displeased".

 

[ozmille]

Wait till you get on an IB plane where the panels are held together by duct tape. But I agree, pretty bad for a premium airline.

 

[ausi ski bum]

I would be more worried if it was the engines or a bad fitting wing, a bit picky maybe. Ever flown in America ?

 

[goldy]

Wait till you get on an IB plane where the panels are held together by duct tape. But I agree, pretty bad for a premium airline.

I have flown IB many times, on A320's, 321's 343's and 346's. Whilst they haven't been super fantastic, they were at least clean. I dont know why, but id actually expect less from IB, and conversely I expect more from QF. These flights simply did not live up to the Qantas promise.

What you don't see here is a pic of the used paper teacup I found between the seat and sidewall that was full of empty wrappers and used tissues that my hand fell into. This was from a previous flight as we had not been served hot drinks in those cups yet, nor had we received our Q bag from which came the snacks empty wrappers found in the cup!

 

[goldy]

I would be more worried if it was the engines or a bad fitting wing, a bit picky maybe. Ever flown in America ?

My issue is if they cant get the simple cleaning of the aircraft right, where else are they cutting corners??

And yes, I've had the displeasure of flying in the US mostly in AA F, and whilst the aircraft are old and the service non existent, I have never encountered such filthy aircraft. On this most recent trip, i took 18 "internal" flights, 16 with AA and 2 with CU and after arriving in the US on this QF slaveship, I paid particular attention to the cabin on those 18 aircraft. not one of them was anywhere near as dirty as these 2 aircraft were.

The thing that irks me is that it was not only the outbound aircraft, but the inbound one as well. Cant they clean them on their 14+ hour layover in the US??

 

[serfty]

Yes, they should be cleaned more often,

However, other interior maintenance on the ER's will be minimal. Starting in a month or so and to be complete within ~12 months they should all be refurbished into 58J, 36W and 265Y configuration (Skybed MK2, no First Seats).

 

[goldy]

Yes, they should be cleaned more often,

However, other interior maintenance on the ER's will be minimal. Starting in a month or so and to be complete within ~12 months they should all be refurbished into 58J, 36W and 265Y configuration (Skybed MK2, no First Seats).

What do you mean by "interior maintenance"??

For mine, given that i'm going to be stuck in the aircraft for anywhere between 7-24 hours, I expect it to be neat, tidy and clean. If QF cant provide that, thats fine, ill find someone who can. If you make a representation as to what you offer, you MUST provide it. IMO, QF overpromise yet underdeliver in this regard.

 

[serfty]

on booking

... IMO, QF overpromise yet underdeliver in this regard.

This is often the case.

I am not excusing it I am stating facts. Things like your image of the material coming adrift from the seat back.

Like you I see the world via many views these days; hence being both WP and *G works for me.

e.g. Most of my transpac travel is with NZ .... and I have never travelled NZ transpac in economy, always being able to upgrade on booking.

 

[goldy]

on bookingThis is often the case.

I am not excusing it I am stating facts. Things like your image of the material coming adrift from the seat back.

Like you I see the world via many views these days; hence being both WP and *G works for me.

e.g. Most of my transpac travel is with NZ .... and I have never travelled NZ transpac in economy, always being able to upgrade on booking.

I was just curious as to what you meant was all.

Oddly the shabby seat cover doesn't bother me all that much. Granted, I dont think QF should be happy with it and I certainly dont think it's what they'd like to offer their passengers, but there is no direct impact on me.
The dirt and dust on the other hand.....its little wonder people dont get more respiratory illnesses given the very dry atmosphere. It also makes me wonder about the seat im sitting in, and why the white cover only covers the head rest and not the adjustable wings? Who knows what state the seats are in and id bet my house that they don't get cleaned unless visibly dirty, despite having a number of backsides in them for hours on end.

Overall the whole concept of flying is pretty un-hygenic, but it certainly wouldn't kill airlines to give them a wipe over on their not insignificant layovers.

QF really should be ashamed of themselves on this count methinks!!

Dont get me started on QF upgrades...... but allowing N and O class upgrades is long overdue, despite my reservations that they probably never clear on such low fare classes. a Q for the more learned members, Is there really that much difference in upgrading an O class Vs a Y class? The same empty J seat gets filled and the same amount of points gets deducted. This seems same-same to me...but I could be missing something.....

 

[ric_melb]

I tend to think the standard of cleaning everywhere we go these days is lacking, due to everyone screwing down the price they pay cleaners, and probably inadequate supervision/inspection. This can hold true of airlines, hotels, hospitals, offices, and shopping centres.
Please provide your feedback to Qantas, particularly given you have photographic evidence. Hopefully it may inspire them to improve the cleaning on these services.

 

[goldy]

I tend to think the standard of cleaning everywhere we go these days is lacking, due to everyone screwing down the price they pay cleaners, and probably inadequate supervision/inspection. This can hold true of airlines, hotels, hospitals, offices, and shopping centres.
Please provide your feedback to Qantas, particularly given you have photographic evidence. Hopefully it may inspire them to improve the cleaning on these services.

I get everything you're saying, but I don't see how a premium airline find it acceptable to so obviously cost cut the environment that their customers encounter face to face.

The feedback is with QF as we speak, but all I've gotten so far is "we are sorry we didn't meet your expectations". I replied with "have you met your own expectations"? and surprisingly got NO as the answer. Im now dealing with someone more senior who is more sympathetic to the situation and expect the matter to be "resolved" soon. Will keep you updated..

 

[Sprucegoose]

IT may get down to a poorly supervised clean and not anything at a management policy level.

Your feedback is constructive

 

[mannej]

There was a video on Youtube of a passenger pretty much ripping his seat apart on an MH 777 a while back. So whilst I would not be happy seeing it happen on any aircraft let alone a QF one, I guess it happens to a lot of airlines.

As for MH, the last trip I was on (MRJ), it did seem run down inside to the point of me having similar thoughts. However being in row 11 did make up for that!

 

[markis10]

Maybe it was too QFLate to get a proper clean

 

[MarkD]

I think for the premium qf charge this should not occur. Personally the dirt in the air vents is what worries me. Obviously the filters are totally clogged or not serviced.


Damn you iphone and fat fingers. Sent from my iphone and AFF app )

 

[goldy]

IT may get down to a poorly supervised clean and not anything at a management policy level.

I could buy that if it wasn't on 2 separate flights, 2 separate aircraft, on 2 separate routes and almost a month apart. Given that its not a once off, I doubt its NOT a management brainwave to save a few $$.

 

[goldy]

There was a video on Youtube of a passenger pretty much ripping his seat apart on an MH 777 a while back. So whilst I would not be happy seeing it happen on any aircraft let alone a QF one, I guess it happens to a lot of airlines.

As for MH, the last trip I was on (MRJ), it did seem run down inside to the point of me having similar thoughts. However being in row 11 did make up for that!

Like I said, i'm personally not super fussed by it as apart from looking a bit shabby, it doesnt impact me that much. The dirt and dust however.....

 

[goldy]

I think for the premium qf charge this should not occur. Personally the dirt in the air vents is what worries me. Obviously the filters are totally clogged or not serviced.

Couldn't agree with you more!!

 

[docjames]

there would have to be a factor of some of these aircraft going for interior re-fitments (particularly the 744ERs) and some leaving the company (non-ER 744s and the 763s) and so I'm not sure that it's in QF's interests to spend massive amounts of money on these aircraft (cosmetically).

 

[goldy]

there would have to be a factor of some of these aircraft going for interior re-fitments (particularly the 744ERs) and some leaving the company (non-ER 744s and the 763s) and so I'm not sure that it's in QF's interests to spend massive amounts of money on these aircraft (cosmetically).

Valid argument, but that is not my issue. If Cubana can keep a 40 year old YAK 42 clean, there is NO excuse for Qantas to not keep clean an 8 or so year old 744ER!!