Qantas: 'one of the worst airlines in the free world'

[Danielb56]

A trip report/review of Qantas from an American frequent flyer that concludes: 'Happy to arrive here after a long day on one of the worst airlines in the free world.'

The state of the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge in Sydney looks particularly terrible in the photos.

Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef | SFO777

To be honest I could not be bothered reading it all. Too much info. I have never flown first class but I must say that Rexona would not cut it for me as well in 1st class. Having said all that Qantas is far far better than any American Airlines I have flown over there...they literally suck. Their Business class is just under Sri Lankan Airlines...I have flown US Airways (now defunct), AA, Alaskan and Delta...terrible to say the least.

 

[drron]

Though I have found AA F longhaul to be more consistent than QFi F.Some of the best FAs we have had have been on AA F longhaul.

 

[ozflier]

Though I have found AA F longhaul to be more consistent than QFi F.Some of the best FAs we have had have been on AA F longhaul.

I flew AA in J JFK to SFO in november and was very impressed.
Great seats, good food and excellent FA attention despite being in the last row.

 

[TheInsider]

have never flown first class but I must say that Rexona would not cut it for me as well in 1st class..

Curious, what would you expect then? Brut, lynx lol?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Though I have found AA F longhaul to be more consistent than QFi F.Some of the best FAs we have had have been on AA F longhaul.

I flew AA in J JFK to SFO in november and was very impressed.
Great seats, good food and excellent FA attention despite being in the last row.

I agree.

US carriers have come a long way - due in no small part to (a) having money now and (b) installing full-flats on just about all their long hauls (might be one or two planes left without?)

The service might be lacking on some flights - but those are generally the ultra-short TATL eastbounds where if you don't throw everything on one tray in the first five minutes no one would get any sleep on what is pretty much a 6 hour flight. No time for chit chat! But the bed makes a huge difference to the overall experience.

Where the US carriers stand out is the creation of a narrow-body fleet with full-flat business class. Something we could have for flights to NZ, Bali, Singapore and even transcon.

 

[TomVexille]

Curious, what would you expect then? Brut, lynx lol?

Clearly Dove

 

[Daver6]

Curious, what would you expect then? Brut, lynx lol?

Qatar manages Armani products in J...or did when I last flew QR J a couple of years ago.

 

[opusman]

there's nothing special about Qantas. They haven't had a major crash since SEP 1999 I think it was when they crashed in Bangkok & ended up on golf course & wrote off aircraft, although they did get it repaired in China, so they could claim they didn't actually lose an aircraft. I'd much rather fly the other Australian flag carrier Virgin Australia, who have a much better frequent flyer programme as well, at least for OZ/USA flights.

I think the claim is they haven't had a passenger death due to a crash since the start of the jet age. Arguably more important than not losing an aircraft.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qatar manages Armani products in J...or did when I last flew QR J a couple of years ago.

They could offer something innovative like a crysal deodorant, or if they really want a name brand, something without scent.

 

[drron]

Or even an Australian brand.No perfume but to keep the Radelaideans happy maybe a set of Jurlique products for F.

 

[Himeno]

there's nothing special about Qantas. They haven't had a major crash since SEP 1999 I think it was when they crashed in Bangkok & ended up on golf course & wrote off aircraft, although they did get it repaired in China, so they could claim they didn't actually lose an aircraft. I'd much rather fly the other Australian flag carrier Virgin Australia, who have a much better frequent flyer programme as well, at least for OZ/USA flights.

Qantas didn't write off that aircraft. VH-OJH was repaired by Boeing in BKK and sent to China for painting then returned to service for a number of years before being retired in 2012.

Qantas has not lost an aircraft to anything other then retirement since an L-1049G had engine problems and a fire during take off in 1960. The last fatal accident was in 1951.

 

[SFO777]

Wow, this thread is still going, on and on? LOL. Love all the entertaining comments, both pro and con, but especially those from the QF fanboys and flag-wavers that believe QF is the best airline in the world and can do no wrong. Even those from the ex-Chief Pilot that apparently would rather fly in a 30" pitch seat than in comfort on any airline with a crew that doesn't look like him.

Some additional thoughts on your beloved national carrier. Have at it.
• Economy Exit row on QantasLink 717 is more comfortable than Business Class.
• Are BNE's domestic and international terminals in the same time zone?
• OK, so QF 789 Business Class to LAX is not "one of the worst in the free world" but it still doesn't have Wifi.

 

[Denali]

They could offer something innovative like a crysal deodorant, or if they really want a name brand, something without scent.

By memory immediate use of crystal deodorant means you basically stink for the first few days as your body has to detox from the chemical deodorants first and its not going to stop you from sweating, which if still correct (its been about 20yrs since I attempted crystal deodorants, means one time/first time users will find it ineffective while travelling/trying to stay fresh.

 

[Denali]

Wow, this thread is still going, on and on? LOL. Love all the entertaining comments, both pro and con, but especially those from the QF fanboys and flag-wavers that believe QF is the best airline in the world and can do no wrong. Even those from the ex-Chief Pilot that apparently would rather fly in a 30" pitch seat than in comfort on any airline with a crew that doesn't look like him.

Some additional thoughts on your beloved national carrier. Have at it.
• Economy Exit row on QantasLink 717 is more comfortable than Business Class.
• Are BNE's domestic and international terminals in the same time zone?
• OK, so QF 789 Business Class to LAX is not "one of the worst in the free world" but it still doesn't have Wifi.

 

[Happy Trails]

Maybe I'm the odd one out however I personally dislike the robotic SQ service.

I find that a smile and a pleasantry disabuses that notion.

 

[Happy Trails]

Same time, same place, two weeks later and not a crumb to be seen.
Enjoyed a nice sausage sandwich and nobody jostling for the 'slop'.

 

[Pushka]

By memory immediate use of crystal deodorant means you basically stink for the first few days as your body has to detox from the chemical deodorants first and its not going to stop you from sweating, which if still correct (its been about 20yrs since I attempted crystal deodorants, means one time/first time users will find it ineffective while travelling/trying to stay fresh.

So just a deodorant style not anti perspirant. Ain’t gonna work.

 

[Pushka]

Or even an Australian brand.No perfume but to keep the Radelaideans happy maybe a set of Jurlique products for F.

Cathay use Jurlique in J. Beautiful products and very natural. One of our clients. Actually MrP was doing an off-site with them when I ended up in Hospital with DVT. Minor diversion OT.

 

[Happy Trails]

Not that I 'sweat' the deodorants on offer, but as I read it, SFO777 gave the Rexona product the the tick.

 

[BAM1748]

there's nothing special about Qantas. They haven't had a major crash since SEP 1999 I think it was when they crashed in Bangkok & ended up on golf course & wrote off aircraft, although they did get it repaired in China, so they could claim they didn't actually lose an aircraft. I'd much rather fly the other Australian flag carrier Virgin Australia, who have a much better frequent flyer programme as well, at least for OZ/USA flights.

As a side post, here is a wheel from that aircraft.

QF1, runway over run