Flying to Singapore from Melbourne with Qantas soon, and I was wondering how Qantas is as an airline? I've read mixed reviews. Used to take Emirates for this route, so if anyone has taken both, do let me know how it compares, thank you!
How is Qantas as an airline?
meista on 28/05/2019 - 20:10
Last edited 28/05/2019 - 21:25 by 1 other user
Last edited 28/05/2019 - 21:25 by 1 other user
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I think 'adequate' covers it.
They have a good safety record, which is pretty much factor number one. They allow you to accumulate frequent flyer points for domestic travel and have many partner options, in which they only have one real competitor.
Their service is typical Australian, usually friendly, never obsequious, but don't expect them to routinely go the extra mile.
They have a good network and flight frequency, so can usually do better than competitors when stuff goes wrong.
The food is ok in business, usually poor in economy.I have hundreds of thousands of points, but very rarely fly them these days, as it is a rare flight that isn't available substantially cheaper elsewhere.
Good review. And i agree that they have become too expensive - even uncompetitive in their pricing.
Their service is typical Australian, usually friendly, never obsequious, but don't expect them to routinely go the extra mile.
I fly a lot with QANTAS for work. I've found their service is better than any other airline I've flown with - I haven't experienced it myself, but have observed their professionalism and care with other passengers on countless occasions. Twice I've seen elderly passengers ushered into Business class.
The food is ok in business, usually poor in economy.
Have you flown them recently? I am very critiquing when it comes to food but their meals in domestic have always impressed me. I've flown once in Business and the food was, of course, quite good.
but don't expect them to routinely go the extra mile.
This exactly the identity of Qantas' level of service, never expect the attendants to do extra mile service for you just because you fly with them and pay them!
They truly believe in the spirit of Australia, that is DIY mate
This exactly the identity of Qantas' level of service, never expect the attendants to do extra mile service for you just because you fly with them and pay them!
It's not unique to Qantas, but Qantas usually gets the short end of the stick because Aussies just compare them to Asian airlines. Qantas service is very similar to most other non-Asian airlines, particularly the American ones (e.g. AA has very similar service style). I find them quite similar to KLM and AirFrance as well.
Flight attendants on Western airlines tend to be more down-to-Earth than Asian airlines. They're not going to dote on you, put on fake plastic smiles and be eerily nice, they're just going to be normal people. The service I've gotten on some Asian airlines is definitely very nice, but I can't ever shake the feeling that it's all just fake.
They're not going to dote on you, put on fake plastic smiles and be eerily nice, they're just going to be normal people.
Well to be fair, you basically denying all the basic definitions of a good service. How would you provide a great experience to your customer without smiles (no need to be that extensive to the point of being fake) and be nice?
I disagree just because they are normal people (we all are), they don't need to treat their customers like many other Asian airlines do..I think Asian airlines understand better the concept of good service.
they don't need to treat their customers like many other Asian airlines do.
I'm slightly confused with your statement above.
Are you meant to say 'they don't treat their customers like many other Asian airlines do'?
Well to be fair, you basically denying all the basic definitions of a good service.
To some extent, it's a difference in culture. Someone who grows up in Australia or the US will have a different view of what constitutes good service to someone who grows up elsewhere.
My experience having travelled around a lot of Asia on Asian airlines is that Asian service tends to be very forthright and "in your face". Western service is much more subtle. Some might even say that the best service is where the providers stay out of your way as much as possible. Neither is "better than" the other, they are broadly a product of where their backgrounds.
I think Asian airlines understand better the concept of good service.
Again, good service means different things for different people. Some people like being asked every 30 minutes if they want some champagne, some people find that annoying and would prefer to be left alone until they ask for some champagne. Neither is "better than" the other.
How often do you fly to be able to pull out that conclusion?
@tempura: Domestic and international short haul very often (average around once a month), I fly all of Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and Tiger regularly enough. International long haul around 3 or 4 times per year, over enough years and destinations to try most of the major airlines that have services to Australia.
I'm not a super frequent flyer by any means (compared to some of my colleagues), but I've flown enough to have a reasonable idea of things.
Watch the Movie "Rain Man"
"Qantas never crash" - Rain Man
"K-mart sucks!" - Rain Man
3/5
Safe, reasonably modern planes and tech
Decent on board tech and catering.
Poor cabin service, rude attitude, call centre, bad economy seats on A380
Expensive fares, then more additional fees and charges on top for anything extra.
Not as good as emirates, but the playing field isn’t level.
Great
They are fine. I fly Premium Economy to Singapore on their A380 and it's among the best. Food is "meh", service is decent. Best part about it is the lounge in Changi. Otherwise I'd be flying Scoot business instead!
It's crap, give me your tickets :)
Compared to many Asian airlines their service is terrible.
Really? I actually like their down to Earth attitude. They’re usually friendly and sociable. I can’t stand how fake the service is on some Asian airlines. It’s like they’re being paid to just have a plastic smile on. At least Qantas, budget carriers, and most European carriers have a crew who are normal people.
I find their service average. Not bad but not great.
In my experience they usually just do what's required, nothing more and nothing less.
All airlines will have mixed reviews, it depends on what plane you’re flying, what crew you get and all sorts of other different factors.
If I have a choice between Qantas and Emirates, I’d usually go with Qantas because I prefer QFF over Skywards points. I don’t find that there’s enough of a big difference in other factors to sway me. Obviously Qantas doesn’t fly to Dubai, so if you’re heading in that direction then Emirates is the natural choice.
Both fly the A380 to Singapore, but the layout is quite different. Qantas has Premium, Emirates doesn't. Overall I think Emirates has a nicer Economy product, with Business being largely the same. Food is better on Emirates, but Qantas is fine.
My suggestion is to just go with what’s cheaper.
Went with Qantas because at booking it was ~$250 cheaper than Emirates. Also, Qantas and Emirates codeshares the route between Singapore and Melbourne - have seen many people on Emirates flights with Qantas tickets, so hopefully the have some sort of standard set, heh.
I generally agree, but I'd disagree when travelling business class. Emirates' lounge on the A380 is a real delight, especially on the 14+ hour legs.
Qantas will catch up once they install their new business class on the A380s and get rid of the dreaded droopy sky beds.
To be quite honest I wouldn’t fly with anyone else, based entirely on their safety record.
Qantas marketing would make you believe anything.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Qantas_fatal_accidents
Yeah in the modern jet era though, their record is perfect - no fatalities. 1951 is a longggggg time ago.
QF32 would be their only real blemish in the last few decades, but no fatalities.
QF1 1999 Bangkok landing overrun - near tragedy, aircraft essentially a write-off but repaired nonetheless to preserve cred.
They are very good at keeping things quiet, playing the political game and marketing
The probability of an accident happening on any airline is negligibly small compared to all other forms of commuting (e.g. driving), so any difference between Qantas and any other major airline with good safety practices would be small.
But the probability of an accident happening throughout the entire jet aircraft era? There aren't many major airlines that can say they have had no fatalities since the 1950s
There aren't many major airlines that can say they have had no fatalities since the 1950s.
Does it really matter to you whether you have a 0.0000001% or 0.00000001% chance of having a fatal accident? If it does then you must never drive, catch public transport, or go to the beach!
@p1 ama: It doesn't matter to me personally, otherwise I'd never fly an airline other than Qantas. However, particularly having read the book on the QF32 incident, I recognise that having no fatalities throughout the jet era is an impressive feat and displays a significant commitment to safety
Qantas is over rated.
I'd give them a 3/5.
Safe, good food on long haul, dirty toilets after a long haul, too many fat Aussies going on the "holiday of a lifetime" while oozing their bodies onto your part of the seat.
I worked for them and was glad when I'd used up my free flights and could choose who I flew with.Emirates are great if you can forget what's behind them and the culture of the owners.
Singapore are my first choice when I can
United - slightly worse than qantas with older planes last time I did the SYD-SFO route
Thai - pretty average
Cathay Pacific were great when I used them but that was a while back
The following is based on economy.
Food subpar
IFE subpar
Inflight service subparGive me Singapore or Emirates anyday.
Between QF and EK it's probably a toss up once you're on the plane and down to personal choice and whether other factors (such as FF points, status credits, ticket costs, use of lounge etc.) make any material difference.
I just remembered - OP, since you're flying to Singapore, have you considered Business with Scoot? They're around the same price as Economy in Qantas or Emirates, but I find their seat much, much more comfortable. Obviously service isn't as good even in Scoot Business vs. Qantas/Emirates economy and food is very average, but my strong opinion is that flying is about the seat - if you really want good food, save the money and go to a nice restaurant instead.
Personally on the MEL-SIN route, I'd rather fly Scoot Business with their larger reclining seat. Not a "business class" seat by modern standards but at the very least on the same level as premium economy.
Just take a bucket of kfc on board the scoot business for a classy time.
Not a bad idea for a fat guy like me actually. Wider seat helps too.
Flying to Singapore and overlooked SIA? They would be my top pick
"How is Qantas as an airline?"
Well, how is peppermint choc chip as an ice-cream flavour?
Love Qantas.
I do everything with them: Flight, hotel, car….
Love my QFF and Status Credit too.I fly Qantas most of the time domestically and internationally for work. Probably doing about 60-80 flights a year, with almost all of those being on Qantas.
The big problem with Qantas is the erratic nature of their flight attendants. One flight will have amazing FAs and the next will have terrible FAs. This applies to both business and economy. I've flown to LAX with a terrible FA crew and then from LAX to NYC with an amazing FA crew.
That being said, for my own personal flying I go with the cheapest option (Scoot and Air Asia usually). I never fly with Tiger and fly as little as possible with Jetstar as I have been screwed by both and know many many others that have been screwed by them
You know on Emirates you get hot towels? Qantas - nope.
On Emirates you get a tray with lots of compartments with nice food in each one? On Qantas - not any more!
Emirates if you're lucky you can raise arm rests and sleep across a row. Qantas - the damn arm rests would constantly fall down and I'd have to jerry rig them to make them slightly less painful to sleep under….Otherwise everything else is fairly comparable.
"How is Qantas as an airline?"
They have planes.
.