Merged:Good News for Qantas in airline awards

[Transition Layer]

SMH:

Good news for Qantas in airline awards

Craig Platt
August 12, 2008 - 10:50AM

Singapore Airlines has been named World's Best Airline in the 2008 Airline of the Year awards, with Qantas coming third in the annual survey, up from fifth place last year.

After a spate of bad publicity for Qantas, including last month's on-board explosion, ongoing maintenance issues and an incident involving a drunken flight attendant, the results bring some good news for the airline.

The awards, run by UK-based aviation research agency Skytrax, are based on the world's largest passenger survey, with 15 million passengers taking part around the world.

Recent reports on Qantas' woes did not escape the notice of Skytrax's CEO, Edward Plaisted, who said that the criticism of airlines from within their own regions did not reflect the experiences of global customers.

"The global rating for Qantas is interesting," he said. "We do find that many flag-carrier airlines suffer fairly vitriolic levels of reporting in their local regions, and the airline industry remains a business that some areas of the press seem to love to hate."

Along with placing third in the awards behind Singapore and Cathay Pacific, Qantas also won the award for best first class lounge, best economy class catering and best airline in Australasia.

"The lounge concept for both product and staff service has been modelled around the finest quality you would expect to find in a five-star hotel or restaurant, and the best part is that the concept is being so well delivered by Qantas," Mr Plaisted said.

Singapore won the title for the second year in a row and the third time in 10 years. The airline also took out the award for best business class.

"Business class standards continue to be upgraded by airlines across the world, and Singapore Airlines managed to retain their title amidst this growing level of competition," Mr Plaisted said.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, who recently expanded their Australian routes, climbed into the top 10 for the first time, placing tenth.
The awards

The world's best airlines

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Qantas
4. Thai Airways
5. Asiana Airlines
6. Malaysia Airlines
7. Qatar Airways
8. Air New Zealand
9. Emirates
10. Etihad Airways

Best First Class
Cathay Pacific

Best Business Class
Singapore Airlines

Best Premium Economy Class
EVA Air

Best Economy Class
Asiana Airlines

Best low-cost airline
easyJet

Best Inflight Entertainment
Emirates

Best First Class Catering
Cathay Pacific

Best Business Class Catering
Austrian

Best Airline : Transatlantic
British Airways

Best Airline : Transpacific
Air New Zealand

Now, seeing as easyjet was awarded best low cost airline, can we please get the rid of those f*cking annoying Jetstar ads telling everyone how good they are?

[Tester Call 121.5]

Glad you got that off your chest TL.
Or you may have gone postal.

[Bula]

tool....

congrats on the rat for the Australiasia No 1... but wait, isn't Singapore Airlines part of Asia... I definitly smell a rat

[ACMS]

They don't get any awards from me for their in-flt entertainment system.................it sucks.

[newsensation]

Did J* get mentioned.....

[Spikey21]

If they were to re-assess it this week it may be different result from when it was actually done ;)

[chookcooker]

website has VB as 2nd best LCC. Should have got best New World Carrier...but wait, that would be out of a field of 1.:}

[Aim Point]

"Qantas also won the award for best first class lounge"

Isn't it about time QF stopped spending money on fancy lounges and started spending dollars on operational staff, equipment and maintenance! :ugh:

Get the point.

[blueloo]

Should that be an award for the most retro lounge? That first class lounge is straight out of a 70's movie........ fugly. Nice and brown.

[lambsie]

And that's what happens when 2000 QF mainline pilots and 5000 mainline cabin crew get motivated to torpedo J*!

[Captain Sherm]

You've lost me there.....

Why would 7000 employees have such hatred for a sister company? Do they hate Qantaslink? Qantas Reservations?

I have yet to see anyone put some time and effort into drawing a good solid picture of what the Qantas Group would look like of they HADN'T started JQ. But over the years in far away places have met plenty of displaced and furloughed Americans whose airlines failed to do anything much at all and got crunched by low-cost competition.

[flyer_18-737]

Good to see J*Asia winning a few awards for themselves.

Still, they dont have a bright future

[blueloo]

Why would 7000 employees have such hatred for a sister company?

I don't think they hate the people in the company (excluding management). They probably hate the principle of the company (to undermine mainline jobs, pay pretty poor wages and undermine the industry in general..... just joking on the last point :uhoh:).

Or maybe they just hate the jetstar advertising campaign - 'worlds best low cost airline' which seemed to be a little far fetched at best. (but hey maybe it was true..... :E

[flamingmoe]

Honestly, who votes on this rubbish every year??

I'd agree with SQ and CX being right up there, but QF in 3rd?? AS IF!! Every time i've flown with them internationally (mainly LA..like I have a choice!), i've seen the same story... under-staffed check-in resulting in queue's out the door while 10 desks remain unstaffed.. miserable, sour-faced cabin crew with bad attitudes, dont you dare ask for another drink!.. rubbish catering (2 small meals on a 14hr flight)...faulty IFE...and the list goes on.

In terms of service, ANY of the top 10 leave the modern Q for dead...

Rant over.

[mcgrath50]

I fly maybe, once every year with QF, so I admit not much experience but the Cabin Crew have always been friendly and went out of there way to serve me.

At the end of the long hauls, yes they are slightly less hospitable, but so is everyone on the flight!

I think you guys need to give them a bit of a break:ouch::rolleyes:

[Short_Circuit]

Good news for Qantas in airline awards
It's a pity QF had to ground 6 aircraft for "Safety related issues" the next day.:\

[stubby jumbo]

........the thing thats craps me off about AWARDS like this is.........

we are only told about it via the media. No one in management bothers to give it any credo ( probably due to the fact that there is no bonus attached)

One only hopes that AJ boots the entire "management" team up the coit and get them to start talking to the troops in a positive way rather than just the usual cost cutting ,you're all crap-type rants.

I have zero respect for these imbeciles.

Common sense would tell you...... winning a world wide award of this calibre.....we should be recognising all staff and bloody well celebrating :ugh:

YOU IDIOTS:hmm:

[capt.cynical]

To my mind you can "WIN" any award in this industry,as long as the right pockets are lined.
Whores,Hookers & Pimps.:yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk ::yuk::}

[blow.n.gasket]

Capt C you forgot to mention carpetbaggers.:}

[Mr Qantas]

Congratultons Mr Dixon on delivering another outstanding award result for Qantas. 3rd best airline in the world is superb and quite a fiting swan song to cap off a steller career. I applaud your endorsment of the new ceo and wish you all the success you deserve in retirment.

[bushy]

Mick Toller in an address to the national press club said that Ansett had been assessed as the world's second best airline, behind a Canadian airline, and ahead of Qantas.

So, of coures this proves that CASA had been doing its' job very well.?????

Not long after that he shut Ansett down, saying they were not safe. He had been told by the minister to "be fearless in your treatment of Ansett".

I think we know what that means.

[vortsa]

Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific were named ahead of the national carrier in the independent Skytrax 2008 World Airline Awards.

Qantas jumped from fifth place last year to score a place in the top three, and claimed the award for best first class lounge.

While passengers have their feet on the ground they vote for our airline, if we had on time service and reliable aircraft we just may have clinched first place.

Obviously the flying experience isn't just about getting there safely anymore, its about how much Champagne and caviar you can eat and drink before you get on board.

[ACMS]

ahhhh excuse me but how much safer is QF than CX?

I gladly fly on and support QF but don't tell me they are safer than CX.

And as for cabin service...............mmmmm QF sucks.

[maui]

Vorsta.

Interesting results from Sky trax.

Do you happen to have the data references or methodolgy of their assessment.

Not shooting; I'm interested in the basis of the assessment.

Maui

[Taildragger67]

Skytrax World Airline Awards website (http://www.worldairlineawards.com/)

'Survey Methodology' is under the 'About the Awards' drop-down.

[vortsa]

Thanks Taildragger wasn't aware of the millions and millions of pax surveyed. Very impressive process of calculating the result. Interesting to know pax care little for safety and punctuality, it is all about service.