Qantas observations as a VA flyer

[kiwiSH]

I've recently had to switch from VA to Qantas due to work arrangements. I've perhaps taken 6 flights in the last few weeks and there is a consistency of experience that I've observed.

The main one is that the flights are ALWAYS late to depart. They board slowly. People have too much carry on. They call boarding early. Long lines snaking through the airport...

All of this makes for a frustrating start to any journey. They then celebrate when arriving on time rather than acknowledging that the fact they left 20mins late.

The Sydney lounge also seems to be quite dark and dingy. Food average aside from the addition of a sweet slice.

On the plus side I haven't had any issues with flying ahead which is great.

Are these normal observations or am I just seeing a bad side?

KiwiSH

P.s just boarding at 5.31pm for a 5.30pm departure.

 

[RichardMEL]

I've recently had to switch from VA to Qantas due to work arrangements. I've perhaps taken 6 flights in the last few weeks and there is a consistency of experience that I've observed.

The main one is that the flights are ALWAYS late to depart. They board slowly. People have too much carry on. They call boarding early. Long lines snaking through the airport...

All of this makes for a frustrating start to any journey. They then celebrate when arriving on time rather than acknowledging that the fact they left 20mins late.

The Sydney lounge also seems to be quite dark and dingy. Food average aside from the addition of a sweet slice.

On the plus side I haven't had any issues with flying ahead which is great.

Are these normal observations or am I just seeing a bad side?

KiwiSH

P.s just boarding at 5.31pm for a 5.30pm departure.

Welcome to QFland

You refer to the lounge - which one(s)? the Qantas Club in say SYD or MEL? or the Business Lounge?

The "triangle" routes, specially MEL-SYD or SYD-BNE do sometimes have delays - specially with larger aircraf.

we all acknowledge that VA do priority boarding better than QF. it's hit and miss when it works at big red

I think the flight experiences - late departures etc can be very airport and route dependent. eg ADL is very good, in general, in such matters.

I think there's also an aspect that QF is being extra agressive with 737 turns (down from 40 to 35min schedules in some parts) to get extra utilisation out of the aircraft - this could definitely be causing some of the problems.

Interesting to read your insights

 

[MEL_Traveller]

People have too much carry on.

This, in itself, is not so much the problem. Many airlines accommodate pax with plenty of cabin baggage (Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, other Chinese carriers), but boarding is fast and efficient. Some airlines choose not to implement efficient boarding. The answer is better boarding, not placing unnecessary restrictions on passengers.

 

[Mogul]

They then celebrate when arriving on time rather than acknowledging that the fact they left 20mins late.

Am I the only one struggling with this comment, I mean really isn't it about what time you arrive rather than what time you leave.

 

[Quickstatus]

I've recently had to switch from VA to Qantas due to work arrangements. I've perhaps taken 6 flights in the last few weeks and there is a consistency of experience that I've observed.

The main one is that the flights are ALWAYS late to depart. They board slowly. People have too much carry on. They call boarding early. Long lines snaking through the airport...

All of this makes for a frustrating start to any journey. They then celebrate when arriving on time rather than acknowledging that the fact they left 20mins late.

The Sydney lounge also seems to be quite dark and dingy. Food average aside from the addition of a sweet slice.

On the plus side I haven't had any issues with flying ahead which is great.

Are these normal observations or am I just seeing a bad side?

KiwiSH

P.s just boarding at 5.31pm for a 5.30pm departure.

Completely disagree with your observations.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Am I the only one struggling with this comment, I mean really isn't it about what time you arrive rather than what time you leave.

Partly - but if it left on time you'd possibly have arrived early. Perhaps just as important.

It's part of a bigger issue though... QFd is particularly bad at this... constant announcements* from the flight deck 'we're ahead of schedule', 'we're bringing you in early', 'we've made good time'... but when they're running late: 'this was outside our control', 'this was due to the late inbound', 'circumstances beyond our control'.

*we had three such announcements on my SYD-MEL flight, which was annoying given my original flight, hours earlier, was cancelled because QF didn't have an aircraft.

 

[kiwiSH]

Completely disagree with your observations.

Hard to disagree with ones observations is it not?

But perhaps exciting that this could just be a string of poor experiences....

Partly - but if it left on time you'd possibly have arrived early. Perhaps just as important.

It's part of a bigger issue though... QFd is particularly bad at this... constant announcements* from the flight deck 'we're ahead of schedule', 'we're bringing you in early', 'we've made good time'... but when they're running late: 'this was outside our control', 'this was due to the late inbound', 'circumstances beyond our control'.

*we had three such announcements on my SYD-MEL flight, which was annoying given my original flight, hours earlier, was cancelled because QF didn't have an aircraft.

I think I could have been worded it better but you hit the nail on the head MEL_Traveller. Would far prefer them to just own the issue and get on with it than dress up the good bits yet won't own when things go wrong.

I was referring specifically to the Sydney Domestic lounge which seems dirty and dark. It's been a while since I've been in there and maybe just a contrast to the air nz and Virgin lounges that I've frequented more often. I'm not complaining of a seat, free drink and space to do some work here.

 

[samh004]

Am I the only one struggling with this comment, I mean really isn't it about what time you arrive rather than what time you leave.

Exactly. Sure, I've sat in my seat and wondered why we haven't pushed back before, but at the same time, when we land on-time, it doesn't really matter. I guess perhaps I could have been early in circumstances like that, but it's just as likely they'd have not used the afterburners and we'd have arrived at the same time

I was referring specifically to the Sydney Domestic lounge which seems dirty and dark. It's been a while since I've been in there and maybe just a contrast to the air nz and Virgin lounges that I've frequented more often. I'm not complaining of a seat, free drink and space to do some work here.

I've found it quite bright. Admittedly, not as bright as VA with their leaf pattern and lights on the ceiling, but at some stage all that white feels a little too... sterile!

 

[Quickstatus]

I've found it quite bright. Admittedly, not as bright as VA with their leaf pattern and lights on the ceiling, but at some stage all that white feels a little too... sterile!

Especially QF F LAX lounge

 

[bsb]

I find the contradiction between 'were arriving early' vs 'were late due to inbound aircraft' really irritating. I mean really, it still means they didn't get their act together at some point. But that said, I have rarely arrived late so I can't complain.

I do find boarding pathetic. Even with status, priority boarding is usually pointless. I do like VAs two door strategy which makes it quicker, but the boarding area seems equally as chaotic and VA in SYD and MEL have dire terminals.

I think the lounges are much of a muchness and comes down to if you like white or wood better, except the Qantas J lounges are better in general. SYD VA can be a zoo.

 

[Anna]

Interesting that you find fly ahead easier on QF than VA! VA attempt to market themselves on the distinguishing feature of fly ahead supposedly being easier on them.

As to food in the lounges, my view is that QF's offering is miles better than VA's. I guess it's literally a matter of personal taste.

I have found delayed departures, long boarding lines and crammed gates on both QF and VA equally. I have also found QF are better able to cope with irrops just because they have more aircraft available to substitute if necessary.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Interesting that you find fly ahead easier on QF than VA! VA attempt to market themselves on the distinguishing feature of fly ahead supposedly being easier on them.

As to food in the lounges, my view is that QF's offering is miles better than VA's. I guess it's literally a matter of personal taste.

I have found delayed departures, long boarding lines and crammed gates on both QF and VA equally. I have also found QF are better able to cope with irrops just because they have more aircraft available to substitute if necessary.

It's possible that the OP's company books flexible/changeable fares that permits flight changes on the day.

If pax was on a non-changeable fare they would only be able to change if there was a flow forward due to weather or some other network disruption.....unless pax was P1 or CL.

 

[medhead]

I find SYD domestic departures in the evening are regularly delayed. It's just normal. But then just about always arrive on time.
It also means that there is more likely to be flow forward, which for use cheap economy flies means that I can actually fly forward. I strongly suspect the OP has flexi airfares - so that's not comparable to fly forward on VA.

Am I the only one struggling with this comment, I mean really isn't it about what time you arrive rather than what time you leave.

Yes, I struggle with that comment. If you arrive when you expected to arrive what does it matter?

Partly - but if it left on time you'd possibly have arrived early. Perhaps just as important.

My experience flying into Sydney is that when ahead of schedule ATC will always give us a couple of laps around goulburn. The flight as a landing slot - 99% of the time you're going to land at the anointed time. i.e. no possibly of arriving early.

As for the announcements - late inbound is obvious, late arriving crew is obvious. They are also good reasons for the delay. Personally I'd prefer they shut up and stop interrupting my movie.

I think I could have been worded it better but you hit the nail on the head MEL_Traveller. Would far prefer them to just own the issue and get on with it than dress up the good bits yet won't own when things go wrong.

I was referring specifically to the Sydney Domestic lounge which seems dirty and dark. It's been a while since I've been in there and maybe just a contrast to the air nz and Virgin lounges that I've frequented more often. I'm not complaining of a seat, free drink and space to do some work here.

Again, which lounge in Sydney domestic? - there are 2.

 

[NZflygirl]

The main one is that the flights are ALWAYS late to depart. They board slowly. People have too much carry on. They call boarding early. Long lines snaking through the airport...

The Sydney lounge also seems to be quite dark and dingy. Food average aside from the addition of a sweet slice.

I have to agree with other comments that I'm more concerned about arrival time because that is what I base my travel plans around rather than my departure time. As long as I arrive on time then the rest of my day should flow as planned. I don't think anybody can plan for Sydney arrivals

I'm probably a lot less attentive in that I've never really noticed any difference with regards to speed of boarding and how much carry on people take. re:long lines - doesn't Qantas have more members than VA? So I guess proportionately I'd expect more people flying them and longer lines. I've also hit ridiculous lines with VA at times when I thought everybody should still be in bed!

The SYD Qantas Club - can't say I find it dingy, the domestic J lounge is a bit darker but both have natural light, sure probably not as lighter colour as VA but I definitely wouldn't describe it as dingy.

Food is much of a muchness between VA and the Qantas Club for me - it conjures up images of soup salad and toasted sandwiches and I'm sometimes surprised with a meal. I do however love VA's strawberry - lime cider?? Yum yum!!

It's natural to make comparisons I guess and admit my preference is for QF domestically based on my own experiences.

 

[travelislife]

At the end of the day it is ridiculous that the 'block time' for a golden triangle flight today is on average 10-15 minutes longer than it was in the 80s. It gives all the airlines plenty of margin for error.

 

[JohnK]

Hard to disagree with ones observations is it not?

But perhaps exciting that this could just be a string of poor experiences....

Interesting observations. I suspect you have had a string of poor experiences.

For what it's worth my experiences with Virgin almost mirror what you have observed with Qantas. Average lounges with average food on offer, FAs treat passengers like kids and a disruption to their social life, on board service average, poor service recovery to name a few.

 

[Foreigner]

I view VA FAs like kids lacking maturity.
QF FAs generally are older and appear to enjoy their work.
As others have suggested MEL SYD BNE sectors are busiest and likely to leave late but numerous times ex CNS the pilots have waited for ATC clearance to push back so that flight arrives on time, not early.

 

[njba]

They board slowly. People have too much carry on. They call boarding early. Long lines snaking through the airport...

A real pet peeve of mine.

If people insist on HLO (and the horrible extra time this adds to boarding and the tantrums people throw when they can't store their bag und so weiter ) I wish they'd fly VA.

Could you imagine how much quicker boarding would be if people just checked their bags? And hopefully if people did this moreso, QF might have an incentive to fix 'priority' baggage.

 

[Katy]

A real pet peeve of mine.

If people insist on HLO (and the horrible extra time this adds to boarding and the tantrums people throw when they can't store their bag und so weiter ) I wish they'd fly VA.

Could you imagine how much quicker boarding would be if people just checked their bags? And hopefully if people did this moreso, QF might have an incentive to fix 'priority' baggage.

So you want people to wait for their bags instead of getting to where they're going faster so that you don't have to wait to get on the plane?

 

[njba]

So you want people to wait for their bags instead of getting to where they're going faster so that you don't have to wait to get on the plane?

That's a false premise: people will get to their destination faster if the plane is able to board and take off faster.