CHOICE is the leading consumer advocacy group in Australia. It is independent and member funded. From time to time I buy their magazine, its got useful stuff comparing performance of various products and prices, and it also assists ordinary people to know their rights as consumers and how to enforce them. Its a morally commendable organisation.
Every year CHOICE gives out a few Shonky Awards to name and shame the products and services that have added the most distress, disappointment and difficulty to the lives of Australian consumers.
And this year Qantas has been awarded first place by CHOICE in the 5 Shonky Awards it has reluctantly had to hand out.
How richly deserving Qantas is of that award this year!
(Of course, the Qantas PR department has gone into ballistic overdrive about this award, attacking CHOICE and accusing CHOICE of not having proper regard to the fact that, you know, things have gotten a bit better recently, a couple of flights actually took off on time recently, some more people didnt lose their bags last month, and so on...).
At any other ASX listed public company, if a CEO brought home a CHOICE Shonky Award, the CEO would be shown the door. But as all of us here have learned the hard way over recent times, at Qantas the senior people dont actually care what the consumers (their passengers) think, and so bringing home a CHOICE Shonky Award is just another day at the office for them.
I think this is a crying shame and absolutely can see this as Turnblatt says, well deserved!
My flying is mainly international. This year have flown with them a few times but for most travel they are either too expensive, have to depart and return via Sydney (I fly out of Melbourne), other airlines have better timings, or just don’t go where I need to be. So Malaysia Airlines, Singapore and Thai are getting much of my business.
Travelling to Europe next year with the family on holidays. Really wanted to use Qantas but no flights that I could use my hundreds of thousands of points on. Accepting to pay with cash, ended up with Singapore Airlines, SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper, greater flight choice and better European connections. Disappointing but a no brainer!
I just travelled on QF9 and returned QF2 in business having travelled SQ to Seoul a month previously. It was chalk and cheese. SQ was poor across the board. 4 flights in business for $10k and you get no amenities kit, no pyjamas, very average food, not very impressive wine and flexibility on meal time declined as we "mignt have turbulence" And not to even mention the disgracefully uncomfortable business seat on the ancient 777's SQ are flying to Melbourne and the tiny lounge that was packed when I arrived. QF was excellent across the board - great seat, great service, great food, good wine, flexibility on meal times and crew regularly offering water and food options during the flight and much better range of movies. $9k to London on QF9/QF2 is a bargain compared to $10k to Seoul on SQ. I don't get the cult of SQ - I have never found them wonderful and rate them below QF, EK and CQ.
That's a shame. But I believe the focus is on the general malaise affecting QF which we - decade long QF customers - and CHOICE have very correctly pointed out. I'm glad when someone has the odd positive experience here and there with QF. But for the majority of the time, and for the majority of pax, that is no longer the case. In fact, many would say it's now the exception(!) Count yourself lucky.
Well deserved award. The good Lord knows they never win awards for any other category. Disheveled cabin crew compared with Etihad, Singapore, Qatar and Emirates immaculate looking crew, dirty or poorly cleaned lavs, seats, windows, tray tables and IFE screens. Poor premium cabin catering and poor amenity kits-all this in relation to their 1st rate competitors who charge the same(if not a less), such as SQ, LH, EK and QR. No wonder AJ is making money for QF - so much cost cutting for the sake of shareholders who are his main priority.
Qantas well and truly deserves the SHONKY award for the overseas call centers alone. They don't seem to care or understand the frustration caused due to the sheer incompetence of the Fiji and South African based centers. The soft product has also declined significantly. Mr Joyce can leave now satisfied he won an award for Qantas at least once during his tenure.
I have to say that my recent domestic flights on QF have been underwhelming at best. Lousy food options in the lounge and in business, cancelled and delayed flights. If it wasn't for the logo, I'd say that I was flying Air North. That will sting and it should if anyone has flown Air North in the last couple of years
I just travelled on QF9 and returned QF2 in business having travelled SQ to Seoul a month previously. It was chalk and cheese. SQ was poor across the board. 4 flights in business for $10k and you get no amenities kit, no pyjamas, very average food, not very impressive wine and flexibility on meal time declined as we "mignt have turbulence" And not to even mention the disgracefully uncomfortable business seat on the ancient 777's SQ are flying to Melbourne and the tiny lounge that was packed when I arrived. QF was excellent across the board - great seat, great service, great food, good wine, flexibility on meal times and crew regularly offering water and food options during the flight and much better range of movies. $9k to London on QF9/QF2 is a bargain compared to $10k to Seoul on SQ. I don't get the cult of SQ - I have never found them wonderful and rate them below QF, EK and CQ.
I am in general agreement. SQ has far better redemptions, I just did around the world on points using 4 different airlines and because *alliance is hopeless via the americas I had to do a mix of alliances. SQ to Europe is nice but not special. Nowhere near Emirates or Qatar hard product, weird seats making your legs go off at an angle and by the book staff. Air France alliance with Qantas made Paris to Montreal pretty nice. Nice hard product but food choices halved by the second row of business (we we not important enough to get a choice). Air Alaska - Jetstar like business across the continent, was perfectly fine. QF home from LAX. Pyjamas, personable staff, good food, comfy seat, nice lounge (shower a winner) meant I felt home long before we arrived in Sydney. However, now that I pay for myself I can’t imagine actually paying to fly the roo.
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Qantas wins CHOICE Shonky Award
BrisHamish
BrisHamish
Member since 24 Sep 2017
Total posts 16
CHOICE is the leading consumer advocacy group in Australia. It is independent and member funded. From time to time I buy their magazine, its got useful stuff comparing performance of various products and prices, and it also assists ordinary people to know their rights as consumers and how to enforce them. Its a morally commendable organisation.
Every year CHOICE gives out a few Shonky Awards to name and shame the products and services that have added the most distress, disappointment and difficulty to the lives of Australian consumers.
And this year Qantas has been awarded first place by CHOICE in the 5 Shonky Awards it has reluctantly had to hand out.
How richly deserving Qantas is of that award this year!
(Of course, the Qantas PR department has gone into ballistic overdrive about this award, attacking CHOICE and accusing CHOICE of not having proper regard to the fact that, you know, things have gotten a bit better recently, a couple of flights actually took off on time recently, some more people didnt lose their bags last month, and so on...).
At any other ASX listed public company, if a CEO brought home a CHOICE Shonky Award, the CEO would be shown the door. But as all of us here have learned the hard way over recent times, at Qantas the senior people dont actually care what the consumers (their passengers) think, and so bringing home a CHOICE Shonky Award is just another day at the office for them.
APACPete
APACPete
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 Jun 2017
Total posts 46
I think this is a crying shame and absolutely can see this as Turnblatt says, well deserved!
My flying is mainly international. This year have flown with them a few times but for most travel they are either too expensive, have to depart and return via Sydney (I fly out of Melbourne), other airlines have better timings, or just don’t go where I need to be. So Malaysia Airlines, Singapore and Thai are getting much of my business.
Travelling to Europe next year with the family on holidays. Really wanted to use Qantas but no flights that I could use my hundreds of thousands of points on. Accepting to pay with cash, ended up with Singapore Airlines, SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper, greater flight choice and better European connections. Disappointing but a no brainer!
magpie
magpie
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Aug 2014
Total posts 3
I just travelled on QF9 and returned QF2 in business having travelled SQ to Seoul a month previously. It was chalk and cheese. SQ was poor across the board. 4 flights in business for $10k and you get no amenities kit, no pyjamas, very average food, not very impressive wine and flexibility on meal time declined as we "mignt have turbulence" And not to even mention the disgracefully uncomfortable business seat on the ancient 777's SQ are flying to Melbourne and the tiny lounge that was packed when I arrived. QF was excellent across the board - great seat, great service, great food, good wine, flexibility on meal times and crew regularly offering water and food options during the flight and much better range of movies. $9k to London on QF9/QF2 is a bargain compared to $10k to Seoul on SQ. I don't get the cult of SQ - I have never found them wonderful and rate them below QF, EK and CQ.
sunnybrae
sunnybrae
Etihad - Etihad Guest
Member since 21 Jul 2019
Total posts 80
@magpie
That's a shame. But I believe the focus is on the general malaise affecting QF which we - decade long QF customers - and CHOICE have very correctly pointed out. I'm glad when someone has the odd positive experience here and there with QF. But for the majority of the time, and for the majority of pax, that is no longer the case. In fact, many would say it's now the exception(!) Count yourself lucky.
Joe
Joe
Member since 03 May 2013
Total posts 181
Well deserved award. The good Lord knows they never win awards for any other category. Disheveled cabin crew compared with Etihad, Singapore, Qatar and Emirates immaculate looking crew, dirty or poorly cleaned lavs, seats, windows, tray tables and IFE screens. Poor premium cabin catering and poor amenity kits-all this in relation to their 1st rate competitors who charge the same(if not a less), such as SQ, LH, EK and QR. No wonder AJ is making money for QF - so much cost cutting for the sake of shareholders who are his main priority.
Sr Batrill
Sr Batrill
Member since 04 Dec 2017
Total posts 25
Qantas well and truly deserves the SHONKY award for the overseas call centers alone. They don't seem to care or understand the frustration caused due to the sheer incompetence of the Fiji and South African based centers. The soft product has also declined significantly. Mr Joyce can leave now satisfied he won an award for Qantas at least once during his tenure.
sunnybrae
sunnybrae
Etihad - Etihad Guest
Member since 21 Jul 2019
Total posts 80
@Joe
Right you are. An excellent manager will succeed in balancing the 'holy trinity' of shareholders, employees and customers.
A good manager will try his/her best to do so.
A lousy manager won't even try.
draftyman
draftyman
Member since 03 Nov 2022
Total posts 2
I have to say that my recent domestic flights on QF have been underwhelming at best. Lousy food options in the lounge and in business, cancelled and delayed flights. If it wasn't for the logo, I'd say that I was flying Air North. That will sting and it should if anyone has flown Air North in the last couple of years
sid
sid
Member since 07 Jan 2011
Total posts 205
Surprised Pfizer didn't get it!
sydney slug
sydney slug
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
Member since 27 Feb 2015
Total posts 12
Originally Posted by magpie
I just travelled on QF9 and returned QF2 in business having travelled SQ to Seoul a month previously. It was chalk and cheese. SQ was poor across the board. 4 flights in business for $10k and you get no amenities kit, no pyjamas, very average food, not very impressive wine and flexibility on meal time declined as we "mignt have turbulence" And not to even mention the disgracefully uncomfortable business seat on the ancient 777's SQ are flying to Melbourne and the tiny lounge that was packed when I arrived. QF was excellent across the board - great seat, great service, great food, good wine, flexibility on meal times and crew regularly offering water and food options during the flight and much better range of movies. $9k to London on QF9/QF2 is a bargain compared to $10k to Seoul on SQ. I don't get the cult of SQ - I have never found them wonderful and rate them below QF, EK and CQ.