What's Qantas like as a pax?
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From: UK and Italy
What's Qantas like as a pax?
I've noted some comments about Qantas in this sub-forum and in JetBlast, most of them derogatory. Mind you, they were being compared with EK, who do set a pretty high standard of comparison. In the light of comments and PMs (thanks, good people! 
) I may extend my trip to the land of Oz from just the indian-Pacific to take in a side trip to Alice Springs, and more time in Adelaide than just an afternoon. What do/don't people like about Qantas?
) I may extend my trip to the land of Oz from just the indian-Pacific to take in a side trip to Alice Springs, and more time in Adelaide than just an afternoon. What do/don't people like about Qantas?
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From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Justapax
I have never flown with them, but have had conversations with plenty of Australians who have, when on EK / SQ and shall we say they tend to say this is what it used to be like. My replacement did a hop down from Singapore to Sydney around this time last year to see her then girlfriend, and was a little bemused with what was classed as customer service. However I did not ask more, as she was paying for the ticket, so I presume price driven though she has lots of SQ/EK miles, but I know she is saving them for something or other, so paid real money for economy seat.
She is with me on this trip, so will ask her at breakfast, and get back to you.
Cheers
Mr Mac
I have never flown with them, but have had conversations with plenty of Australians who have, when on EK / SQ and shall we say they tend to say this is what it used to be like. My replacement did a hop down from Singapore to Sydney around this time last year to see her then girlfriend, and was a little bemused with what was classed as customer service. However I did not ask more, as she was paying for the ticket, so I presume price driven though she has lots of SQ/EK miles, but I know she is saving them for something or other, so paid real money for economy seat.
She is with me on this trip, so will ask her at breakfast, and get back to you.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: scotland
I lived in Sydney from 2010-2016 and was a very frequent flyer, across Australia and APAC. I loved Qantas. Felt like the way BA used to feel before it went budget. Ok, my experience is now 9 years out of date, but I really did rate them. Solid old-school service but more importantly I felt safe and secure with them, in a way I didn't flying other regional airlines in APAC. The service isn't Singapore, but then they didn't seem to have the level of mis-haps Singapore did either
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Australia
A nostalgic link to a Qantas advert for the airline's very first 747 (VH-EBA 'City of Canberra') which was delivered to Qantas in August 1971.
First Class passengers could use the 'Captain Cook Lounge' up the spiral staircase.
In 1971, a return ticket from London to Sydney in first class would cost approximately £1,300 with economy selling for about £300.
In today's money the equivalent of £1,300 in 1971 is approximately £20,000 today and the equivalent of £300 in 1971 is approximately £4,600.
I have just looked on the Qantas website. A first class return ticket on QF2/QF1 can be had for £10,260, almost half the price (adjusted for inflation) as that charged by Qantas in 1971.
A return economy ticket booked today on the same QF2/QF1 flights can be purchased for £1,100, less than a quarter of the cost of the equivalent 1971 ticket.
Air travel is so much cheaper than it used to be and the 'hard product' has improved immeasurably, particularly in first class and business class (which didn't even exist in 1971).
The 1971 first class catering looks elaborate for its day. Cooked crayfish, slices of rare roast beef freshly carved by your seat (vegetarians please look away).
The dessert, large servings of strawberry pavlova, is like something straight out of the 1936 Australian Country Women's Association (CWA) cookbook! All that was missing were the Lamingtons and ANZAC biscuits.
Drinking a 'flat white', nibling a 'Tim Tam', ordering a 'smashed avo', trying a passionfruit pav, tasting Vegemite or even flying on Qantas, are all things you might try while visiting Australia.
Qantas flies non-stop from London to Perth which takes between 15 and 16 hours.
It is not a bad way to get to Australia particularly if you're flying at the front of the plane.
As you're already visiting Australia, you might prefer another airline to bring you here.
Only 16.5% of all international arrivals to Australia fly on Qantas. More than 80% of visitors to Australia arrive on other airlines.
Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qatar are the 'big three' if you are flying to Australia from Europe for both frequency of flights and Australian cities flown to.
Qantas also codeshares with Emirates to over 100 destinations, largely between Europe and Australia.
I find the service on all these airlines (including Qantas) to be excellent.
Whatever you decide, I wish you a pleasant trip!
First Class passengers could use the 'Captain Cook Lounge' up the spiral staircase.
In 1971, a return ticket from London to Sydney in first class would cost approximately £1,300 with economy selling for about £300.
In today's money the equivalent of £1,300 in 1971 is approximately £20,000 today and the equivalent of £300 in 1971 is approximately £4,600.
I have just looked on the Qantas website. A first class return ticket on QF2/QF1 can be had for £10,260, almost half the price (adjusted for inflation) as that charged by Qantas in 1971.
A return economy ticket booked today on the same QF2/QF1 flights can be purchased for £1,100, less than a quarter of the cost of the equivalent 1971 ticket.
Air travel is so much cheaper than it used to be and the 'hard product' has improved immeasurably, particularly in first class and business class (which didn't even exist in 1971).
The 1971 first class catering looks elaborate for its day. Cooked crayfish, slices of rare roast beef freshly carved by your seat (vegetarians please look away).
The dessert, large servings of strawberry pavlova, is like something straight out of the 1936 Australian Country Women's Association (CWA) cookbook! All that was missing were the Lamingtons and ANZAC biscuits.
Drinking a 'flat white', nibling a 'Tim Tam', ordering a 'smashed avo', trying a passionfruit pav, tasting Vegemite or even flying on Qantas, are all things you might try while visiting Australia.
Qantas flies non-stop from London to Perth which takes between 15 and 16 hours.
It is not a bad way to get to Australia particularly if you're flying at the front of the plane.
As you're already visiting Australia, you might prefer another airline to bring you here.
Only 16.5% of all international arrivals to Australia fly on Qantas. More than 80% of visitors to Australia arrive on other airlines.
Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qatar are the 'big three' if you are flying to Australia from Europe for both frequency of flights and Australian cities flown to.
Qantas also codeshares with Emirates to over 100 destinations, largely between Europe and Australia.
I find the service on all these airlines (including Qantas) to be excellent.
Whatever you decide, I wish you a pleasant trip!
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Justapax
Sorry bit late getting back to you. She was in Economy and said it was ok but not memorable, and she came back EK using points to upgrade to Singapore where she had work for the company.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Sorry bit late getting back to you. She was in Economy and said it was ok but not memorable, and she came back EK using points to upgrade to Singapore where she had work for the company.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Thread Starter
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From: UK and Italy
Thanks everyone, and especially F-Flyer, for taking the time to give me your replies. Now I have to sort out the finances of what I can afford. As this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I have to reconcile my desire for pampered luxury with the realities of what I can afford.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Unfortunately, numerous destinations have learnt that they are in peoples 'bucket list' . From trains across the Canadian Rockies, via the Victoria Falls to the Great Barrier Reef. Any destination, or means of travel, where they have learnt that people are only going to visit once - they make sure they get their money's worth out of you.
Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Ferrara
Qantas - relatively efficient, reasonably friendly. In general, pretty much like BA say 30 years ago. Clean, modern aircraft, run pretty much on time. Straight vanilla really.
Nothing special or exciting - main issue I have is that so many Australians have a zillion airmiles that Business is always full and the lounges are packed.
Prices higher on UK- Australia routes - cheaper if you go via Paris or Rome
Nothing special or exciting - main issue I have is that so many Australians have a zillion airmiles that Business is always full and the lounges are packed.
Prices higher on UK- Australia routes - cheaper if you go via Paris or Rome
Joined: Jan 2000
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I flew with Qantas recently from Wellington to Bangkok via Sydney (and return) in cattle class. This is a fairly regular run, and I use Qantas for the convenience of timings. No issues - last trip was a little better - maybe because it was a wet lease Finnair A330 and the 2-4-2 seating configuration suited me and Mrsr1 better. On time all sectors.
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From: Australia
A letter in today's Sydney Morning Herald;
"My booking on QF126 Auckland to Brisbane on September 10 was cancelled at 8.30pm (technical reasons?) and I was transferred to QF120 early the next morning. At 10.30pm, another text advised that the QF120 booking had been cancelled, and I was being transferred to Jetstar JQ154, with a change from business class to economy.
At the Jetstar check-in at Auckland Airport, I had to pay $98 for baggage, which was free in the original Qantas booking. I didn’t receive a food voucher for the flight and with no advance notice, could not bring my own entertainment. I’m now awaiting a response from Qantas, but I’m not holding my breath.
Murray Cullen, East Ballina, NSW "
"My booking on QF126 Auckland to Brisbane on September 10 was cancelled at 8.30pm (technical reasons?) and I was transferred to QF120 early the next morning. At 10.30pm, another text advised that the QF120 booking had been cancelled, and I was being transferred to Jetstar JQ154, with a change from business class to economy.
At the Jetstar check-in at Auckland Airport, I had to pay $98 for baggage, which was free in the original Qantas booking. I didn’t receive a food voucher for the flight and with no advance notice, could not bring my own entertainment. I’m now awaiting a response from Qantas, but I’m not holding my breath.
Murray Cullen, East Ballina, NSW "
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Australia
economical with the actualité
"My booking on QF126 Auckland to Brisbane on September 10 was cancelled at 8.30pm (technical reasons?) and I was transferred to QF120 early the next morning. At 10.30pm, another text advised that the QF120 booking had been cancelled, and I was being transferred to Jetstar JQ154, with a change from business class to economy.
At the Jetstar check-in at Auckland Airport, I had to pay $98 for baggage, which was free in the original Qantas booking. I didn’t receive a food voucher for the flight and with no advance notice, could not bring my own entertainment. I’m now awaiting a response from Qantas, but I’m not holding my breath."
At the Jetstar check-in at Auckland Airport, I had to pay $98 for baggage, which was free in the original Qantas booking. I didn’t receive a food voucher for the flight and with no advance notice, could not bring my own entertainment. I’m now awaiting a response from Qantas, but I’m not holding my breath."
In addition to the two direct Qantas flights, there are ten daily Qantas flights between AKL and BNE which travel via MEL (3 times daily) and SYD (7 times daily).
The QF126 was indeed cancelled on Wednesday 10 September 2025. The Boeing 787-9 didn't operate from BNE to AKL either.
It is not entirely clear from the letter, but it appears as if the Customer was notified of the flight cancellation by SMS at 8.30pm on Tuesday 9 September with the booking changed to QF120, leaving at 7.15am on 10 September 2025.
The letter then states that the Customer received a further SMS at 10.30pm on Tuesday 9 September 2025 offering a change of flight to Jetstar JQ154, a single-class low-cost airline, leaving at 5.05pm on Wednesday 10 September 2025.
From my reasonably extensive experience, if Qantas makes a change to a Customer's booking the Customer has to first review and accept the change. This is because it is open to the Customer to change to ANY available Qantas flight travelling in the same booking class at no extra cost or to seek a full refund of the ticket.
It looks as if Qantas offered to change the Customer's flight to QF120, but the Customer didn't confirm the change. From 'Manage my Booking' section of the Qantas website, the Customer could select any available Qantas flight if the Customer didn't want to travel on QF120.
This would allow transfer to QF5568 (the Qantas codeshare on JQ154). But a transfer to QF5568 (the Jetstar operated flight) would include free luggage as the original flight ticket, beginning with '081' is issued by Qantas. The Customer would also be entitled to a refund of 75% of the value of the ticket if it were an involuntary downgrade.
I consider it highly improbable that a Customer with a Qantas issued ticket (particularly a business class ticket) would be transferred onto a Jetstar flight on anything other than the Qantas codeshare flight number which would always include checked luggage.
But why would Qantas force an involuntary downgrade on a business class Customer when there are a dozen Qantas flights each day?
Which makes me think the entire complaint is somewhat economical with the actualité.
