Absolutely stunned by the Qantas service on an Easter flight from Melbourne to Brisbane
Apr 21st, 2006, 04:23 PM
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LizF,
It's so rare that I hear anyone praising an airline these days, and I've always been a staunch supporter of Qantas.
I'm here in "UA Country", SF being pretty much dominated by them, and all my clients have accumulated, or are trying to accummulate miles, so it's a hard sell for me to extoll the virtues of Qantas, and so I'm very glad about the new direct flight from SFO-SYD.
As Wally said, compared to ANY US airline, the quality of service and food is like night and day (or as I tell clients -- "you'll feel like you're in First Class".
In many cases, it comes down to how an airline (or hotel, tour operator, etc) handles things when there's a problem. This was especially evidenced here in the aftermath of 9/11, where some suppliers decided they could "gouge" people. Granted, the majority were just fine, but there's always the few that leave a really bad taste in your mouth. A certain wholesaler that shall remain nameless wanted to put a $150 penalty on my clients for a $300 hotel stay when they cancelled 2 weeks prior. Right. I handled that and don't deal with them anymore.
But I digress....with Qantas, I had a client who's mother died unexpectedly and he had to cancel his whole trip (he'd flown to NZ to see his daughter in a choral group and then the whole family was to fly to Australia afterwards).
Now, if this had been any other carrier, they would have charged him the difference in the class of service that he originally paid for, to the class of service he now had to book, plus a "re-booking" fee of approximately $75-$150 per person.
Qantas didn't do that; they simply re-booked him on the first flight out, no charge, and cancelled his other flights. They didn't even ask for any doctors note. That's a class operation.
By the way, in the same vein, most of the US airlines have quietly done away with "bereavement fares" in the past several months which I think is just shameful.
Regards,
Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist
It's so rare that I hear anyone praising an airline these days, and I've always been a staunch supporter of Qantas.
I'm here in "UA Country", SF being pretty much dominated by them, and all my clients have accumulated, or are trying to accummulate miles, so it's a hard sell for me to extoll the virtues of Qantas, and so I'm very glad about the new direct flight from SFO-SYD.
As Wally said, compared to ANY US airline, the quality of service and food is like night and day (or as I tell clients -- "you'll feel like you're in First Class".
In many cases, it comes down to how an airline (or hotel, tour operator, etc) handles things when there's a problem. This was especially evidenced here in the aftermath of 9/11, where some suppliers decided they could "gouge" people. Granted, the majority were just fine, but there's always the few that leave a really bad taste in your mouth. A certain wholesaler that shall remain nameless wanted to put a $150 penalty on my clients for a $300 hotel stay when they cancelled 2 weeks prior. Right. I handled that and don't deal with them anymore.
But I digress....with Qantas, I had a client who's mother died unexpectedly and he had to cancel his whole trip (he'd flown to NZ to see his daughter in a choral group and then the whole family was to fly to Australia afterwards).
Now, if this had been any other carrier, they would have charged him the difference in the class of service that he originally paid for, to the class of service he now had to book, plus a "re-booking" fee of approximately $75-$150 per person.
Qantas didn't do that; they simply re-booked him on the first flight out, no charge, and cancelled his other flights. They didn't even ask for any doctors note. That's a class operation.
By the way, in the same vein, most of the US airlines have quietly done away with "bereavement fares" in the past several months which I think is just shameful.
Regards,
Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist
Apr 21st, 2006, 07:20 PM
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Thanks, Melodie, for your comments about the service on the new SF to SYD Qantas flight. We specifically chose our travel dates/times to avoid UA on this route. I hope the food and service really truly are comparable to first class! I'll report in when we return.
Apr 21st, 2006, 07:35 PM
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Was quite impressed with Qantas last year when I stupidly left a bag in a taxi enroute to Hong Kong airport. The bag eventually turned up but not in time to make my flight with Cathay Pacific to Cairns. Was met at Cairns airport by a Qantas employee who assured me bag was on next flight. Next day the bag was delivered to my home by Qantas at no charge. Not bad when I didn't even fly Qantas.
Apr 22nd, 2006, 06:00 AM
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Hi Betsey!
I haven't had the chance yet (afterall, it just started 3/29) to sample the direct flight, but I have no doubt it will be great, just as the Air NZ direct from SFO - AKL (Qantas was watching how they did first and then followed suit)!
Prior to this, I too did the Dreaded LAX stop, and the new service cuts off approximately FIVE hours of travel time for those of us in the Bay Area! Awesome!
Regards,
Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist
I haven't had the chance yet (afterall, it just started 3/29) to sample the direct flight, but I have no doubt it will be great, just as the Air NZ direct from SFO - AKL (Qantas was watching how they did first and then followed suit)!
Prior to this, I too did the Dreaded LAX stop, and the new service cuts off approximately FIVE hours of travel time for those of us in the Bay Area! Awesome!
Regards,
Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist
Apr 22nd, 2006, 06:09 AM
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Hi Melodie! I found that the seat configuration (seatguru.com) is 3-3-3 on the flight and am holding my breath that there will be an empty seat between DH and me. The little bit of extra room would make a huge difference on the long flight. Think positive thoughts, OK?
Apr 25th, 2006, 12:24 AM
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Been away a few days in Adelaide and just caught up with all the posts after mine and it is heartening to read them .Perhaps I am being too hard on them . How does everyone find them price wise compared to other airlines internationally ? I do also agree that Qantas does have really excellent lounges in Australia that are hard to beat.
Apr 25th, 2006, 06:05 AM
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We have not flown Qantas overseas, but developed a fondness for Air New Zealand, preferring to break our trips in Auckland. We have had a poor experience with Qantas' intra-country Australia flights-small planes and not stunning service, but I think this is just our experience and not necessarily the norm. Price wise from LAX, it's about the same as Air NZ, at least for next month!
Apr 25th, 2006, 11:45 AM
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Read about JohnnyJet's recent business class trip on Air NZ:
http://www.johnnyjet.com/folder/arch...y04262006.html
http://www.johnnyjet.com/folder/arch...y04262006.html
Apr 25th, 2006, 12:53 PM
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Who the hell is Johnny Jet other than a PAID promoter of Travel companies and or side trips, car hire etc.
What has been said in the report is about what you would expect from any or the main non-US airlines in the World.
What has been said in the report is about what you would expect from any or the main non-US airlines in the World.
Apr 27th, 2006, 08:23 PM
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JohnFitz
I was interested in your copmments about SAS vs Qantas.
On my last trip to Europe I did teh Qantas/SAS thing. The SASflight from Copenhagen to Narita was absolutely the worst, least comfortable trip I've ever had (and I've travelelled a fair bit).
When I checked in at the Qantas counter at Narita for the trip to SYdney, I told them I'd just had the flight from hell, and they were marvellous. Such a contrast to the sullen, unhelpful, uncaring, SAS crew
I was interested in your copmments about SAS vs Qantas.
On my last trip to Europe I did teh Qantas/SAS thing. The SASflight from Copenhagen to Narita was absolutely the worst, least comfortable trip I've ever had (and I've travelelled a fair bit).
When I checked in at the Qantas counter at Narita for the trip to SYdney, I told them I'd just had the flight from hell, and they were marvellous. Such a contrast to the sullen, unhelpful, uncaring, SAS crew
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