I too like Qantas. I’ve flown with them many times and hope to continue to do so. I have flown Singapore Airlines 4 times in the last few years. I do agree their service is better in some instances. They seem to drop everything when folks ring the buzzer and come running whereas if they are serving meals, Qantas will just attend to it when they get there but hey, I don’t ring the buzzer so its not an issue for me. Their flight attendants will attempt to place grossly overweight hand luggage into the overhead lockers whereas Qantas staff particularly females will ask you to do it yourself, fair enough I say…etc.

However, their jumbos are no more comfortable in economy on a long haul flight and the entertainment systems are similar, and both staff bring drinks or nibbles if you want them in the middle of the night (Qantas doesn’t make those delicious Singapore slings, but their red wine is better ) which is the main consideration for someone who doesn’t sleep much on those flights.

In choosing an overseas airline I would go with the airline that takes me via the most direct route, with the least stops providing its got an in-seat entertainment system and hasn’t got a bad reputation/safety record. If prices are similar I choose Qantas as I prefer to support Australian workers and I’m happy with the service.

Domestically, I choose a flight at a time of day that suits me. Cheapest can often be the most inconvenient.

Having said all that, I’d wouldn’t fly Jetstar even if they gave me a free ticket

Yaya

quote:

Originally posted by Yaya:
If prices are similar I choose Qantas as I prefer to support Australian workers and I’m happy with the service.

I feel almost disloyal (un-Australian) in not choosing QANTAS but due to past experiences with them I suck it up

quote:

Originally posted by Yaya:
Having said all that, I’d wouldn’t fly Jetstar even if they gave me a free ticket
Yaya

Hi Yaya,

Qantas owns Jetstar.

Don't get me started on Jetstar!! Refuse to fly them again even if they are cheaper. And they really don't like being reminded that Qantas owns them. Guess they don't like being compared.

I am surprised at the number of posters who would not consider Jetstar. I am not alone !!

Our recent trip to Honolulu on Qantas was painful. Poor food and service with a crew that made us feel like we were serving them.
When booking our trip we requested Qantas as our first preference airline. (often more expensive)
We had better experiences on American and Alaskan Airlines.
David

It is that attitude of looking down their noses that I dislike about QANTAS staff. I don't "buzz" for service, I don't ask for drinks until they bring them by in the trolley, and then I ask then for water. However I have found that their demeanour and attitude is of "customers are such a bore".

I have seen the rolling of the eyes and glances of "oh dear" to each other as they emerge from the hide aways. I have never approved of people/staff being so disrespectful in front of customers.

I guess flying and working in an aeroplane would be so much easier if the seats were empty. Dinner would be served faster, trash collection would be minimal, no one would call for service outside of trolley duty, they could rollick all they liked in the galley and they wouldn't have to roll their eyes at each other in mock exasperation.

I guess some/most/all QANTAS staff carry the burden of being wait staff in the air a little more keenly than staff on other airlines and then we bear the brunt of their frustrations.

If Australian airlines want loyalty from Australians they need to deliver a quality, competitive service willingly.

I don't feel guilty at all. Cross, obviously , but not guilty.

quote:

Originally posted by Penny1:
I don't feel guilty at all. Cross, obviously , but not guilty.

I am fast losing the guilt........suck it up.....suck it up

For those BBers who have suffered, as Penny notes, the rolling eyes, the sighs & huff puffs, & the disappearing at lights out from QANTAS staff let me outline a very small experience I had on Singapore airlines. On a flight that was, perhaps, 60% full late at night (2a.m.ish) most people asleep, including my husband, I was reading to pass the time. A gorgeous Singapore male staff member was walking up the aisle, paused at my seat & ask "Ma'am can I get you a tea or coffee" I nearly became catatonic, on QANTAS you are lucky to finally get tea/coffee/drink after buzzing several times but for someone to ask! WOW!

Goodbye QANTAS

Dimpz ~ I totally understand where you are coming from, I had a similar experience, I was flying home from Europe with a cold or virus, I did sleep for a few hours on the plane and when I woke up it was dark but coming into light, breakfast hadn't been served but I was so dry and thirsty and I would have killed for a cup of coffee, I rang the bell and within seconds the stewardess was there.

She smiled when I asked for a coffee, went off and returned with a coffee and a warm towel, so it is pretty hard to get by backside on any other airline but Singapore.

Personally, we have never had a problem with Qantas whether flying economy or business, domestic or international.
Returning from our last trip overseas when the steward realised we had been travelling for so so long he immediately gave us additional bottles of water and told us to drink up so that we do not dehydrate - he even told us to spread out in the spare seats to try to get a bit of a nap for the hour between Sydney and Melbourne.
A few weeks later my husband had the same steward on a flight from Melbourne to Sydney and the steward asked my husband how had he recovered.

So good to see many of my own experiences duplicated here. I too have found the odd good staff on Qantas. Shocked though I was!
I find I let my $$$ speak for me and happily support an airline that gives service and a genuine smile to all. Not a bell ringer either and I too had the shock of an offer of drink unrequested while others slept, Malaysian airlines, great service. Safety, best route and times are my requirement then price when booking flights.

quote:

Originally posted by Aussiebird:
Malaysian airlines, great service. Safety, best route and times are my requirement then price when booking flights.

We too have had good experience on Malaysian.

We prfer Singapore Air too - very friendly crew and great service. There was one occasion where the service in flight was bad (meals served late and crew seemed lost re service) but it was quickly sorted out by the supervisor on board once he was told of the problem (apparently it was an inexperienced crew. On another occasion, I had a problem at check in in India with my DD who was 6 months old at the time - rang the office when I got to Singapore and they were apologetic and made sure my check in in Singapore to Sydney was top notch - even got a personal escort to the plane with a gift thrown in. As far as we are concerned, they are a great airline to fly with.

Another good airline is Virgin Atlantic - service great, seats comfy (premium economy), pleasant flight. We are flying with them to London in July again.

Hi SiD,

I have found the inflight staff at Virgin Blue (domestic in Australia) to be excellent, very friendly.

We've flown with JAL and are using them again for our trip to Canada as we didn't fancy a 19 hour flight from Australia. We'll be having five days in Japan before we fly to Vancouver, been there before and love Japan. We've found this airline really good but I've always found the Japanese people to give great service.

Another airline we've used is Turkish Airlines again great service, we even had a steward teaching us some Turkish words it was quite funny at the time.