Thoughts on Qantas recent flight cancellations

[AussiePom]

I've started flying VA for domestic travel recently for two reasons. 1) Qantas has screwed me around significantly and taken about $1k of ticket value away from me due to a cancellation (Qantas Accused of Price Gouging) 2) I've spend hours on hold to their customer service team.

I travel between syd-mel / syd-bne at least two to three times a month with a bit of travel to other states and NZ mixed in for good measure. Almost always i find on Qantas flights that the middle seat next to me is empty and that there are always a few empty seats interspersed throughout the flight. This provides a lot of comfort in economy.

On virgin the flights tend to be more fully booked.

Given that Qantas have now cancelled a bunch of domestic flights and that flights will be fuller, i'm starting to see less value paying the $50-$100 more per ticket i seem to be quoted by Qantas (over virgin) if i'm going to get a less comfortable experience.

Are my observations just luck and circumstance or do others feel that Qantas domestic flights have tended to be less full than VA over the last 6 months?

 

[exceladdict]

Are my observations just luck and circumstance or do others feel that Qantas domestic flights have tended to be less full than VA over the last 6 months?

In my sparse travel this year I've generally managed an empty seat on qf PER-MEL or BNE legs, which is always appreciated. But not frequent enough to be anything other than anecdotal in my case

 

[jakeseven7]

I've started flying VA for domestic travel recently for two reasons. 1) Qantas has screwed me around significantly and taken about $1k of ticket value away from me due to a cancellation (Qantas Accused of Price Gouging) 2) I've spend hours on hold to their customer service team.

I travel between syd-mel / syd-bne at least two to three times a month with a bit of travel to other states and NZ mixed in for good measure. Almost always i find on Qantas flights that the middle seat next to me is empty and that there are always a few empty seats interspersed throughout the flight. This provides a lot of comfort in economy.

On virgin the flights tend to be more fully booked.

Given that Qantas have now cancelled a bunch of domestic flights and that flights will be fuller, i'm starting to see less value paying the $50-$100 more per ticket i seem to be quoted by Qantas (over virgin) if i'm going to get a less comfortable experience.

Are my observations just luck and circumstance or do others feel that Qantas domestic flights have tended to be less full than VA over the last 6 months?

Both VA2 and JQ have cancelled a tonne of flights this week out of Perth, VA even cancelled a flight after it was actually boarded - so it is just luck. Lack of staffing is hitting everyone.