This thread has crept onto the inevitable and predictable. Can't you guys duke it out on your own website or something? Perhaps you could swap mobile numbers and talk about it man to man. Honestly, its like mud-wrestling a pig....after a while you get the feeling you guys enjoy it.
Its ironic that Qantas lobbies the gummint hard to protect its routes all the while replacing its flagship fleet with, IMHO, a sub-standard product J*, which even more ironically is propped up by sharing a large part of its cost base with its parent. And they complain about M-rats!
I refuse to be shoehorned, nay almost blackmailed, into an inferior category of traveller because of the ridiculous protectionism displayed in Oz. Qantas whines to the government, competition is restricted, Qantas screws over the work force until its cost base is competitive and for what?? J* pay-as-you-go 'economy'? Stuff that, give me choice.
Sound management strategy from Qantas though, shareholders are pleased.