Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commuting

[munitalP]

In the last 12 months I have forgotten the number of Friday SYD/MEL flights and Sunday/Monday MEL/SYD flights. This has been part of my weekly commute for my job. This is coming to an end as I now have a beautiful house in SYD and am selling my house in MEL with my wife now looking seriously for a job in Sydney somewhere.

My criteria on the commute has been mainly price based and mainly between QF and VA, however, JQ has had a couple of bites at the apple as well from my personal travel budget.

My breakdown of flights is close to:

QF - 65%
VA - 30%
JQ - 5%

This is only my personal travel - my work has a strict QF only policy so the breakdown is slightly skewed in QF favour as I have had many MEL/? or ?/MEL destinations at the beginning or end of my work weeks sponsored by work as the next destination is meetings interstate.

OK, the point of the thread topic - Qantas exceptional service:

• Except once, QF lounge ANGELS have moved my flight to next available on my SYD/MEL flights Friday afternoons. These flights have usually been the cheapest available and they didn't need to move them nor were the flights entitled to be moved.
• I have been upgraded OPUP 7 times at check in on the cheapest bucket airfares - 4 times MEL & 3 times SYD
• I have had one luggage issue that could have been handled better at the beginning, but once QF took over trying to get my luggage to me, it was exceptional service
• I have had brilliant service as a Y passenger on every flight I have taken. I have not met the "grumpy" or "past use by date" or "throw stuff at you" flight attendants (I have noted a marked improvement with FA's mannerisms in the last few years though)

Importantly - if I needed to move, change, cancel flights I could easily do it on the QF website with little human interaction - brilliant!

VA has been good but not exceptional. My default seating is ridiculous, and I have had more delayed flights on VA than QF - but in fairness, I have seldom travelled on QF on my actual booked flight! VA has no upgrade capability using points (unless I am mistaken) and I can't arrive at the lounge after a shocking day/week and think "darn it, Im flying J home" and request a ODUG.

For the business traveller (which I am even though the commute is personal $ spend), VA is still falling a long way short of the QF offerings. A smiley sexy FA does not fix the Y seat when wanting a J seat on points (at the last minute).

I held Gold prior to the Status match to Platinum and will hold (earned) Gold again once my Platinum ends, but it will end with 4 upgrades still attached to the account as I can't justify the Y fare to hopefully fly J.

JQ has been a couple of international/domestic legs and the rest AVV/SYD or SYD/AVV. I have not had a late DOM flight, I have not had any service on board, but I wasn't expecting any nor did I pay for any, so no complaints, and all flights had given exactly what I paid for.

So, my summary comes to a end. Over 12 months of the same route, QF has provided an exceptional service, without doubt my airline of choice.

 

[medhead]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Where is your house in Sydney?

Sounds like a good move overall. Hope the job hunting goes well.

 

[dfcatch]

Great summary!!

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Didn't realise you were doing the weekly commute. I take my hat off to you, that is real frequent flying in my book. Good to hear you have had nothing but good experiences with QF.

All the best for the job hunting.

 

[blu]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

I agree (but my travel is much less).
Maybe a feedback comment on QF website.

 

[bronzed and ready]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

I agree...
First year out of Uni and I am now based in Brisbane with all family and friends in Melbourne.
Since January I have made 10 return Bris-Melbourne trips all on Qantas and I have never had any issues with the service.
One Sunday a few weeks ago, Bag drop issue in Melbourne but surprisingly bags managed to get on my flight
Flew Jetstar for the first time last night and never again! Legroom = Nil
All my travel is self funded so always the cheapest Qantas fare.
Have never received an upgrade, but never really expected to, only just made Silver last week!
I don't know what it is, but I seem to have some wierd obsession with the company!

 

[Pollywaffle]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Good for you for surviving the commute.

I had 2 work trips in the last month SYD/MEL and found the flights depressing. Every single flight was packed and it makes for a miserable time - even if it's only for a short time.

I hope the new life plans work out as you both wish.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

I'm in the same boat as you munitalP, Commuting almost weekly to SYD. Most of the flights are on QF as well with the occasional VA flight. I can't complain about the service I've received at all. Only had 2 op-ups though!

The crew have been really good, and I've noticed a big difference since the grounding from the Cabin Crew. Have yet to see a grumpy FA on my flight yet.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Nice thread munitalP and it is good to see things working out for someone commuting.

Unfortunately I cannot say the same for either QF or VA over the past 4 years. Perhaps I would been better off commuting SYD-MEL instead of SYD-BNE and I may give that a try in the not too distant future....

 

[Simo]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Last FY I did weekly commuting to TSV and CNS from BNE, the last few month's it has been done all by phone and couriers.

Generally all my experiences where good.

I had one or 2 minor issues but they where handled well once they could see the error.

 

[munitalP]

One thing with my commute is it is done at peak travel periods so planes are always full and seldom do I end up with a spare seat next to me on any airline, when I do, it's wonderful and when I get an OPUP, well...

Being awake and on the way to MEL on a Monday morning at 430am to get the 6am is tiresome, and ever since my vehicle was keyed at SYD airport, I now leave it parked at work on a Friday and get a ride to SYD with a worker who lives in the city, but the downside is getting back on Mondays to work.

This means that I get off the plane onto a train, I take the airport line to Glenfield, then change to a Liverpool train to Liverpool to get a cab to the office. If ATC and Train Gods are being nice, I'm there a little after 0830, about an hour after my normal start time. This is a long day

The commuting is depressing, JK I take my hat of to you for doing it for 3 years, the same faces in the lounges, frequently recognise the same people in rows 4&5 (23&24), this tells me I'm not alone on this crusade!

Resilience is needed, resilience to the bogan traveller, the stinky traveller, the arm rest hog traveller, the bin thief traveller, the oversize luggage traveller, the cant be effed following instruction traveller, the 39 second bladder traveller, and the worst of them all for me, the traveller who insists on reclining for a 60 minute flight.

Anyone contemplating this life, it's tough and even tougher on your home life being away 4-5 nights weekly.

 

[travelislife]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Great work munitalP to go through that, especially with the travel time required at the end to your office, I hope the work has been worth it! I have to agree with everything you have said though. I fly exclusively on Qantas for my work flights as where I am going presently (OLP) is only on QF codeshare. I haven't had any issues and they have been brilliant. Often on the return I am able to get on the ADL-MEL flight which departs 10 mins after my OLP-ADL flight arrives just by going to the service desk, means I get home over an hour earlier which is great. I have only been doing this pretty much weekly since November last year. After Easter I am moving to 10 days on 4 days off which is a bit depressing looking ahead.

 

[GCC]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Great post.

You've very nicely articulated why Qantas will also be remaining my airline of choice. I enjoy the fact that many VA staff are motivated / enthused and often strive to deliver great service, but the reality is that over the past twelve months all the moments of outstanding service I have enjoyed have been with Qantas. I feel very reassured flying them for business. And there are just some things that with my travel needs only Qantas can deliver. Like booking 2 Y return seats SYD - JNB return for 2 adults and an 18 month old, and via points upgrade ending up with 3 sky beds in J each way.

I fly once a week on average, but generally its pretty civilised. Kudos to you for surviving a weekly commute like that - good luck with the new house and new life.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

While this is nice, the fact is that you'll be hard pressed to be flying Qantas in 5-10 years

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

While this is nice, the fact is that you'll be hard pressed to be flying Qantas in 5-10 years

I think QF will be flying the triangle, and even domestically, for years to come. Whether they have an international network to connect to is another matter. I think Virgin and Qantas are heading toward the same model from opposite ends.!

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

While this is nice, the fact is that you'll be hard pressed to be flying Qantas in 5-10 years

You must have a strange definition of "fact".

 

[reductionist]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Even though my experience doesn't reflect yours, I'm a big believer in giving credit where it's due. So, well done QF.

 

[Cocitus23]

Re: Qantas - Exceptional service - not 1 flight, but 12 months worth of SYD/MEL commu

Great to have a thread with a positive theme, rather than complaint. And I agree with the thrust of it. I've been flying Qantas for years and have always been, and remain, very satisfied.

Cocitus23