Has Qantas Gone Downhill?

Loliveju on 26/05/2022 - 18:00

After my trip from hell, I'm close to putting Qantas at the same tier as Jetstar. Delays, seat changes, missing bags, miserable workers, etc. My mates have all experienced something similiar. I've flown enough to know that stuff happens, but this has just been happening EVERY. SINGLE. TIME post COVID.

I churn. I find good deals when I can. But I almost feel like it's not worth it to fly on the points when my flight is delayed so bad I have to stay somewhere overnight and end up paying the cost anyways.

Has anyone else experienced the same degree of bullshittery from Qantas recently?

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Comments

  • spackbace on 26/05/2022 - 18:03
    +39

    All things that go up, must come down, it's how the plane lands

    • whatwasherproblem on 26/05/2022 - 20:57
      +3

      That also describes their stock price post-Covid.

      • rektrading on 26/05/2022 - 21:10
        +9

        QAN is trading below 1999 prices.

        Talk about a 💩coin.

      • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 17:02
        +1

        Post covid? What planet are you. Vic just set it's second highest daily peak during the last 3 years.

        Qantas's stock price has also been steadily trending upwards the last 6 months. Hell, year, overall.

        • whatwasherproblem on 28/05/2022 - 17:06

          Apologies, I meant post-global onset of Covid (i.e. March-April 2020). That is, I'm referring to the massive dip in early 2020 that's visible on the stock price graph of literally every publicly-traded company ever.

          Qantas may be trending up now, but it's one of a few big-name companies on the ASX that still haven't recovered to the price they were at in January 2020. (cf. Alliance Airlines, for instance, so it's not even a sector thing. It's definitely weird that Qantas' price still hasn't recovered.)

          • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 17:13
            +1

            @whatwasherproblem: I mean, neither has webjet. Neither has flight centre. Neither has Jetstar.

            It's almost like pretending covid doesn't exist doesn't make people rush out the door while it still very much does.

            Oh and re "Qantas may be trending up now, but it's one of a few big-name companies on the ASX that still haven't recovered to the price they were at in January 2020."

            In the top 20 alone Westpac hasn't. ANZ hasn't. TCL hasn't. NCM Hasn't.

            I'm sure if I bothered to go through the full 100 we could continue to prove that your statement is mostly…..midguided.

            • whatwasherproblem on 28/05/2022 - 17:18
              +2

              @[Deactivated]:

              Westpac hasn't.

              Westpac hit ~$26/share back in June 2021.

              ANZ hasn't.

              ANZ bounced back to ~28/share by March 2021.

              NCM Hasn't.

              NCM had rocketed back up to $36/share literally three months later in June 2020.

              TCL hasn't.

              Sure, I'll give you that one. 1/4 is pretty pathetic, though.

              • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 17:24
                +2

                @whatwasherproblem: You set the benchmark, the time and the date. They haven't met it. Don't get salty at me.

                Some have made better recoveries than others but your core statement was unmitigated bullshit.

                • whatwasherproblem on 28/05/2022 - 17:28
                  +2

                  @[Deactivated]: Recovering from the Covid price dip, and then losing share price due to something else that's happened in the two years since, doesn't mean my statement was "bullshit", bro.

                  I said Qantas hadn't recovered its price since March 2020. Those companies that you listed trying to get a W did recover. That they're down now cannot have anything to do with the March 2020 Covid dip, since their price had magically recovered in the interim.

                  • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 21:04
                    +1

                    @whatwasherproblem: Qantas went from $7.28 to $2.3 and back up to $5.52, which you want to throw a tantrum about and call "not a recovery" when you want to call every other company that did the same thing (or worse) a "recovery" because that way, you don't look like an idiot.

                    Okay mate. You're one of "those". I'll be moving right along :D

                    • whatwasherproblem on 28/05/2022 - 21:45
                      +1

                      @[Deactivated]:

                      Okay mate. You're one of "those". I'll be moving right along :D

                      Aww, that's no fun. You were doing so well!

                      Come on, I'll even help you out. I think you should hammer me on the Qantas thing and deflect attention away from the embarrassing mistakes you made about the ASX top 100. The Qantas stuff was the weak point of my argument anyway particularly compared to the other big names in the Air Flight sector that you already mentioned (to your credit!). I think you can make some good headway there.

          • nikey2k27 on 29/05/2022 - 07:28
            +1

            @whatwasherproblem: Alliance Airlines was only one make money in 2020 lockdown it fly all NRL team around

        • rektrading on 28/05/2022 - 17:35
          +1

          Qantas's stock price has also been steadily trending upwards the last 6 months.

          😆

          QAN price today is below what it was in 1999.

          • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 21:02
            +1

            @rektrading: Oh look, someone who has no idea what buybacks and dilution that's occurred several times in the last 2 decades means, either to the value of issued shares or their dividends. But sure, tell us all more.

            • rektrading on 28/05/2022 - 21:51
              -2

              @[Deactivated]:

              buybacks

              This is the most common scam by businesses that can't innovative.

              They'll keep pampng their own stonks to suck in retail thinking it'll 🚀 🌕, damp and 🔃.

              dilution

              Another word for inflation and used to devalue the asset.

              dividends

              Another scam for suckers.

        • Nebargains on 28/05/2022 - 19:32

          Vic just set it's second highest daily peak

          Peak what? Can't be cases, peak was 51k and today was under 9k.

          • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 21:00

            @Nebargains: Yes, peak daily cases.

            Peak was 51k 7/1/22.

            In the last month we hit

            15.3k (2nd highest) on 1/5/22
            14.2k 11/5
            14.2k 17/5
            12.9k 24/5

            Today was the same anomaly you get every week because testing rates aren't as high / as many tests aren't processed on a Saturday. You see that same faux "dip" every week. The 4 days beforehand average ~12k per day.

    • iDroid on 26/05/2022 - 21:24
      +3

      It's how the plane lands that matters.

    • Chandler on 30/05/2022 - 09:52

      If your number of landings equals your number of take-offs, you're doing pretty well as a pilot…

  • orangetrain on 26/05/2022 - 18:03
    +47

    The Qantas CEO said its the fault of people like you for issues. There's your answer as to how much they value you.

    https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/qantas-ceo-blames-c…

    • oliveju on 26/05/2022 - 18:45

      I did arrive at the airport early for fear of the wait which I think screwed me on the bag not showing up because it was probably last in line to load and the plane had too much cargo weight so it got left behind. Now it's trying to find that sweet spot to be not too late but not too early.

    • DemocracyManifest on 26/05/2022 - 19:47
      +54

      Alan Joyce is a prick, no surprises there

      • reactor-au on 27/05/2022 - 09:28
        -4

        Make that a woke prick and I'll agree

    • MrThing on 28/05/2022 - 06:36
      +7

      Terrible out of touch, soulless grub of a ceo.

      Works for his shareholders not the employees, the community or the people his business serves.

      It deserves to go broke

      • Yorkshire-Man on 28/05/2022 - 10:36
        +12

        "Works for his shareholders" - That is literally what a CEO of a listed company is obliged to do.

        • MrThing on 28/05/2022 - 11:37
          +4

          no his job is to manage all parties (shareholders, customers, staff and unions). If being a CEO was all about shareholders shareholders shareholders shareholders then why are they paid so well

          they are paid so well to manage all relationships, not just focus on one and ignore the others

          in a customer service based industry, if you fuk over your customers then you will have none, then the shareholders will be unhappy.

          • MrFrugalSpend on 28/05/2022 - 12:59
            +3

            @MrThing: Actually Yorkshire-Man is 100% right, and MrThing is indirectly also right.
            The CEO's role is all about the shareholders at law - they have fiduciary duties, but a good CEO recognises you have to manage all relationships so as to look after the shareholders in the long run because customers, staff etc loyalty adds value to the organisation - goodwill and sentiment is a significant part of stock price and what goes around comes around. Short term gains at the expense of customers or staff, results in long term pain.

    • MrFrugalSpend on 28/05/2022 - 13:04
      +2

      He says customers aren't match fit… but the organisation is not match fit moreso.
      It's like they've forgotten how to run a busy show due to the soul crushing quiet times they did have. That probably extends from upper management, all the way through operational managers, staff and training, morale and possibly a bit to customers too… but you don't blame your customers for anything. It's their responsibility to be having people shouting our reminders, signs up etc to educate people how to process through efficiently

    • Dunnomuch on 29/05/2022 - 16:02
      +1

      Most comments here are correct. Joyce is a horrible CEO for Qantas. His only strategy is to cut costs. He has never shown one ounce of innovation.

  • SF3 on 26/05/2022 - 18:06

    It's a free market, so your 'buying' actions may decide if they'll shape up or still be around…

    • orangetrain on 27/05/2022 - 10:37
      +21

      Airlines are most definitely not a free market. Qantas a monopoly on some routes. Qantas has a monopoly in some airports, they even have their own terminal in Sydney Airport!

      What they need is regulation to match this monopoly. Late? File an application with government and government will take money from monopoly and give it to you. Monopoly keeps raising prices? Eventually people will not fly there or find alternatives. The airlines are so unregulated!

      Here's Australia's rules: https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/health-home-travel/flight-…

      Look how wishy-washy Australia's rules are with "reasonable time" (What the (profanity) is that?) Or "An airline’s compensation policy operates in addition to the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law and cannot exclude them." tldr: "Better hope airlines are nice to you because the government will certainly not help you!"

      If you want to compare, here's how Europe deals with it: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-right…

      For OP, some rules apply:

      If your checked-in luggage is lost, damaged or delayed, the airline is liable and you're entitled to compensation up to an amount of approximately EUR 1 300.

      3 hour or more delay? 250-600 EUR.

  • Savas on 26/05/2022 - 18:14
    +11

    I never book Qantas because they are more expensive.

    • Forkinhell on 27/05/2022 - 10:28
      +13

      I never fly QANTAS because the in-flight food, service and entertainment is absolute RUBBISH, and that was before COVID.

      And, 'if it's not Airbus, I'm not flying!'

      Stay safe.

      • 88mph on 28/05/2022 - 11:43
        +2

        I remember a bloke I worked with a long time ago, had a saying 'if it ain't Boeing I ain't going…' 😏
        That was however pre-Dreamliner early woes, and the Max debacle.

        Agree with you on the service, my main reason for boycotting them, and food portions reducing in size by the year, however I'd say entertainment is/was ok (last international flight on Qantas was probably 7 or more years ago though…)

    • cnrmlj on 28/05/2022 - 12:53
      +1

      You get what you pay for. Personally would prefer to pay a bit more for Qantas but don't fly that much.

  • rektrading on 26/05/2022 - 18:15
    -8

    Woke won't last.

    • CrowReally on 26/05/2022 - 18:20
      +29

      Mark this as the day when SlavOz and rektrading began to merge into a single shitposting entity.

  • sjj89 on 26/05/2022 - 18:19
    +3

    The whole Australian airline industry is suffering from the same problems due to staffing issues from Covid/close contact iso

    • Hybroid on 26/05/2022 - 19:29
      +1

      Don't think it's uniquely Australian issue. BA cancelled all flights out of Heathrow yesterday due to staff shortages and seems Easyjet following suit from both Heathrow and Gatwick.

      • sjj89 on 26/05/2022 - 19:41
        +1

        I figured as much but didn’t want to comment outside of what I was sure of

        • Daabido on 26/05/2022 - 21:26
          +8

          How very dare you? Hand in your OzOpinion card thank you. We don't need considered reasoning around here!

      • MrThing on 28/05/2022 - 06:33
        +2

        BA is the UK version of qantas

        "Premium flag carrier" but utter trash

        • 88mph on 28/05/2022 - 11:55

          Haven't flown them, considered them for a SYD-LHR trip once, but after reading the forums, came up with your assessment too, and booked another airline.

      • wavesgreen on 28/05/2022 - 23:37

        ALL flights? Holy shit.

  • bmxr on 26/05/2022 - 18:20
    +4

    I have experienced the complete opposite.

    Granted it is a sample size of one, but on three multi-leg domestic and international trips in the last month, they have gone above and beyond to meet my needs.

    Perhaps it's a bit hit and miss at the moment. Just like the whole Australian airport/airline experience is.

    Covid/Flu, shortstaffed, overworked, underappreciated people just doing their best.

    • oliveju on 26/05/2022 - 18:41
      +4

      Yea I do feel really bad for the low level employees - as a low level employee myself, I know this stuff isn't their fault, and I made sure they knew that. I just feel like it's an operational failing. I'm glad that it seems like I'm the only one experiencing this and hopefully it'll smooth out in the future.

  • USER DC on 26/05/2022 - 18:20
    +2

    I once had experience major 8 hrs+ delay on tiger airways, ADL to MEL back in 2019 i think, never ever even thought of going with Tiger ever again.

    Was so glad to hear them shut down operations.
    I never had a problem with Jetstar (but that being said I don't really travel much only travelled like 2-3 times that too only pre covid)

    • oliveju on 26/05/2022 - 18:42
      +1

      Jetstar seems like a "you get what you pay for" airline for me which is cool I'm not fussy , but it's mostly been last min cancellations with no alternative from them (pre covid) that turned me off.

    • MS Paint on 26/05/2022 - 19:33
      -1

      ADL to MEL

      You mean YPAD to YMML 😉

      • USER DC on 26/05/2022 - 19:34

        yea Adelaide airport to Tullamarine domestic airport in Melbourne

  • Captain Hindsight on 26/05/2022 - 18:46
    +2

    I went to Melbourne last week, my colleagues went Qantas me virgin. My flight had a scheduled departure 15minutes earlier but arrived 30 minutes later, no free snacks, no priority security for virgin lounge, pretty sure Qantas got priority.

    My point is I think Qantas service has dropped but virgin is even worse.

    • MS Paint on 26/05/2022 - 19:21
      +2

      pretty sure Qantas got priority.

      That not how it works

      Virgin shafted itself.

      • Captain Hindsight on 26/05/2022 - 19:35
        +2

        That’s not what I meant, I meant Qantas club had priority screening while virgin lounges screening was closed and you had to go with everyone else which took longer.

        • MS Paint on 26/05/2022 - 19:48

          That makes sense. Cheers

  • AustriaBargain on 26/05/2022 - 19:13
    +3

    Swiss Air charged me five euro for a tepid tea once. I will boycott them for the rest of my life, or I would if they still existed.

    • MS Paint on 26/05/2022 - 19:29

      They still exist

    • wavesgreen on 29/05/2022 - 00:22

      I will never forget Zürich airport charging 1CHF per minute after the first 5 minutes for curbside drop-off at Departures. (profanity)

      • rfarlz on 29/05/2022 - 16:08

        I actually wish more places did this. Everytime I get picked up or dropped off at Perth the traffic is mayhem because so many people "park" in the dropoff area to wait for the person they're picking up. Start charging $100/hr for that parking and people may actually start using the free waiting parking that PER has in the long term car parks.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 26/05/2022 - 19:27
    +12

    Joyce more interested in social agendas then running a multi billion dollar company…he is happy to make his 26m renumeration though

    • rektrading on 26/05/2022 - 19:36
      +4

      Airlines that survive on taxpayers' handouts deserve to get blockbustered.

      • sjj89 on 26/05/2022 - 19:44
        +1

        Does that apply to all industries that survive off taxpayer handouts?

        • rektrading on 26/05/2022 - 19:48
          +3

          Sure.

          Holden and Ford got what they deserved.

          Qantas is still flying because they've frens in high places.

          • sjj89 on 26/05/2022 - 21:22

            @rektrading: What about the mining industry? Murdoch newspapers? The hospitality industry during Covid?

          • Randolph Duke on 28/05/2022 - 07:41

            @rektrading: This an extremely simplistic view.

            • rektrading on 28/05/2022 - 07:48
              +1

              @Randolph Duke: There are no advanced math formulas for badly operated businesses.

              Businesses are either run by great 👑 and make an income or 🧟 leaders that 🧽 from taxpayers.

    • DemocracyManifest on 26/05/2022 - 19:49
      +5

      Social agendas cost way less than actually providing a service. And he’s busy cutting into Rex’s grass as well to drive them out of business - but stuffing up everywhere else. Classic

  • capslock on 26/05/2022 - 19:39
    +5

    The problem is that nobody is actually abandoning Qantas. You yourself say you are "close to" but not yet. Qantas knows it can rely on Australia's eternal loyalty therefore they can treat their passengers however they see fit and face no consequences.

    • rektrading on 26/05/2022 - 19:45
      +7

      May be Australians are so used to 💩 service that they take whatever Qantas feed them.

    • DemocracyManifest on 26/05/2022 - 19:51

      I think I’ve only flown Qantas once and it was domestic, meh, if people didn’t have points I suppose they would lose more patronage, nothing special

    • 88mph on 26/05/2022 - 21:40
      +1

      I took the plunge around 2015 I think, didn't regret once. After increasingly negative cabin & call centre experiences, stopped booking Qantas internationally. Use them as a last resort locally (Virgin > Rex > Jetstar > Qantas)

      Average 2-3 international, 4-5 local trips a year.

      Each to their own, but if one can afford or able to boycott a brand to send a message, however miniscule it maybe, go for it…

    • orangetrain on 26/05/2022 - 22:29

      Don't they own a whole airport terminal in Sydney?

    • kale chips suck on 27/05/2022 - 09:48
      +5

      I abandoned them after Joyce grounded the entire airline globally over the pilot's pay dispute.

      I could not care less about the dispute, nor about the unions, etc - though I note all the other airlines had negotiated acceptable conditions with the same unions - but it was utterly unforgivable to shit on the passengers like that. I have been that person going straight to the airport to fly to be with a loved one as they died. What of all the people trying to that that day? The people going to weddings? Births? Critical meetings? The list is as long as you want to make it.

      What an utter maggot of a man.

      All over a claim that was far less than Joyce's own, failed, international expansion program.

      So, yeah, they're not even an option in my house, and will never be as long as Joyce in still there. Even in the post-Joyce era, whenever that happens, they'll be, at best, last.

      • MrThing on 28/05/2022 - 06:31

        Atleast joyce has enough money to buy his new 20million$$$ pad in sydneys premier suburb of mosman

        Dont worry about those scummy baggage handlers who probably live in penrith or woywoy, we will subbie the shit of those plebs /S

    • Davo1111 on 28/05/2022 - 12:10

      Totally agree. If it's that bad, then go elsewhere, otherwise quit complaining.

    • yah00 on 29/05/2022 - 07:01
      +1

      because it has near monopoly in australia, qantas can not survive in competitive world.
      so any monkey can be the CEO.

  • solidussnake on 26/05/2022 - 19:55

    Yeah happened to my parents last month heading to NZ delayed and put up overnight then the new plane delayed all day… on the way back plane was delayed and it was over full Qantas bumped other people and they managed to get a flight home

  • Seraphin7 on 26/05/2022 - 20:10
    +12

    The fact that the flying rodent is considered the "premium" carrier in Australia speaks volumes for how ripped off the average Australian is.

  • Cluster on 26/05/2022 - 20:28
    +1

    I had two flights on J* last month and they were perfectly fine. On time, can't complain. Not everything has gone downhill.

  • kyle on 26/05/2022 - 20:45
    +2

    It's always been crap and just going from crap to worse.

    People still give them money just because the company looks Aussie.

    • MrThing on 28/05/2022 - 06:28

      Isnt it 49% owned overseas already…and the only reason its not fully overseas owned is the gov wont sign off on it?

  • clover on 26/05/2022 - 21:12
    +1

    Well, If I don’t use points, I will never flight with qantas.

  • Briefcase Mong on 27/05/2022 - 02:30
    +2

    Not to mention their award redemptions on premium cabins are god awful along with ridiculous taxes

  • D3AB on 27/05/2022 - 05:16
    -2

    Never again sadly, go woke ho broke.

  • Mugsy on 27/05/2022 - 07:39
    +2

    I have heard nothing but negative feedback on Qantas post COVID. Just as well, virgin offers a better service at a cheaper price. Better reward program to IMHO.

  • Trekky on 27/05/2022 - 09:50

    When booking flights I compare Qantas and Virgin and Virgin is usually cheaper. I've flown 2 return flights this year and each time Virgin was the cheaper fares. Last Qantas flight was Pre Covid for me. I won't fly Jetstar - I've always had delayed flights with them, so have given up them.

  • Benno007 on 27/05/2022 - 10:20
    +2

    Just flew BNE to LAX economy with Qantas and had no issues on the flight. Booked with points. Just returned home yesterday business class (upgraded with points) and it was good, although my seat was broken (wouldn’t lie flat or recline at all) so they moved me to another seat. Crew were really responsive as well.

    Had annoying issues with United in USA, booked a ticket that had a tight connection, assuming they take connection times into account… made even tighter because they were at the gate saying ‘we won’t board anyone unless two people volunteer to get off the flight’…. I had to sprint between terminals and just made it to my connecting flight… so won’t be flying United again.

    • MrThing on 28/05/2022 - 06:26

      Did they give you any compensation?

      I had a broken seat on a singapore airlines flight in suites class and they moved both me and my partner to another free double suites seat and still gave us 500$ each voucher for the krisshop

      US airlines make qantas look like bloody rockstars but….

      • nickj on 28/05/2022 - 10:03

        Yeah, if people think that Qantas can't get any worse, or that competition will lead to better flyer experience, try flying some US airlines - they've got loads of competition, but I'd still rank them below Qantas.

  • fLaMePrO on 27/05/2022 - 14:58
    +5

    I thought I was doing well amassing QFF points, but when it comes to actually using them I can't find any decent value in them.

    To go to Europe, I can use about 130k points for Economy return which is totally fine. But what is not fine is the 1k in taxes. Considering there's equivalent Etihad flights going for around 1500, that means I am getting $500 in value with my points. That's rubbish.

    Not sure what to do now, flying business doesn't interest me all that much. I did redeem points for some gift cards in the recent sale and that got me about $400 worth for 50k points. Already better value than the flights lol.

    • ddhar on 27/05/2022 - 19:42
      +2

      Same here. Amassed shitloads of QFF only to realise premium cabins availability is crap and the taxes are obnoxious.

      Velocity premium cabin availability is no better but the redemption costs and taxes are far more reasonable. For that reason I'm shifting my points (and status credit) building to VFF.

      • fLaMePrO on 27/05/2022 - 20:52

        Yep noticed the same! I think that's a good call, probably less cards to churn overall but it's the better program in the end.

      • Benno007 on 31/05/2022 - 08:18

        I used 83,800 points and paid $350 to fly return to LAX from BNE, given I got 70k points for free by using an ANZ credit card, was good to only have to pay $350 for return flight. I upgraded to business with another 109k points on the way back. The option of not paying full price is great. But I did notice europe was far more expensive and had far less availability, which is why I chose USA

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