So I am in Seattle at the moment and did the Boeing factory tour this morning - I was surprised to know that Qantas has purchased 6%+ of the worlds 747 production. It’s a small percentage but still a huge number (it’s 50+) compared to other airlines.
Makes me think, what does the future entail? Dreamliner doesn’t give an edge IMHO as everyone else has them, what sets them apart from the competition? Seats? Safety? FF points? Lounges? Destinations? Customer service? Distance?
Keen to know what you all think. For me it’s safety, customer service and destinations (in that order)
Agree with safety being the most important.Doesn't surprise me about the Qantas 747 stat. I think there was a time when they were an all 747 airline. Also remember in the 80s when they had 2 747SPs and ran them to SFO. They have had the 747-100, 200, 300 and 400 series. And it stops there as the 747-8 is not on their shopping list.
With a range of other airlines having a range of issues including props flying off and engines disembowelling themselves I'm happy to keep the wish list simple... Safety, safety and safety, followed by schedule then all the other things that are 'nice'. I'm even happy to be a little late compared to the planed departure/arrival times, getting somewhere in one piece without the pulse hitting 220bpm is always good...!
safety record is always my number one - an airline can tart up the soft product all they like, but if they scrimp on maintenance, they won't get my travel dollars! And, call me old-fashioned and silly but i do prefer 4 engines when flying over the pacific.....
Agree with safety being the most important.Doesn't surprise me about the Qantas 747 stat. I think there was a time when they were an all 747 airline. Also remember in the 80s when they had 2 747SPs and ran them to SFO. They have had the 747-100, 200, 300 and 400 series. And it stops there as the 747-8 is not on their shopping list.
I don't recall Qantas ever having the -100 series. Didn't they buy the -200 series when they first ordered the 747?
Agree with safety being the most important.Doesn't surprise me about the Qantas 747 stat. I think there was a time when they were an all 747 airline. Also remember in the 80s when they had 2 747SPs and ran them to SFO. They have had the 747-100, 200, 300 and 400 series. And it stops there as the 747-8 is not on their shopping list.
I think their claim to fame in those days was that they were the only airline in the world to have an entire Jumbo fleet.
Agree with safety being the most important.Doesn't surprise me about the Qantas 747 stat. I think there was a time when they were an all 747 airline. Also remember in the 80s when they had 2 747SPs and ran them to SFO. They have had the 747-100, 200, 300 and 400 series. And it stops there as the 747-8 is not on their shopping list.
Qantas never purchased -100's. Though they have operated some for short periods of time on lease, mostly during the pilots strike of 89/90
Agree with safety being the most important.Doesn't surprise me about the Qantas 747 stat. I think there was a time when they were an all 747 airline. Also remember in the 80s when they had 2 747SPs and ran them to SFO. They have had the 747-100, 200, 300 and 400 series. And it stops there as the 747-8 is not on their shopping list.
I don't recall Qantas ever having the -100 series. Didn't they buy the -200 series when they first ordered the 747?
Correct, though they did lease some during the pilots strike.
Agree with safety being the most important.Doesn't surprise me about the Qantas 747 stat. I think there was a time when they were an all 747 airline. Also remember in the 80s when they had 2 747SPs and ran them to SFO. They have had the 747-100, 200, 300 and 400 series. And it stops there as the 747-8 is not on their shopping list.
I don't recall Qantas ever having the -100 series. Didn't they buy the -200 series when they first ordered the 747?
Correct, though they did lease some during the pilots strike.
The 747SP is a modified 747-1 (see the wiki)
Qantas ran 'em to Taiwan under their short-lived "Australia Asia Airlines" brand during the 90's, among a few other places.
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QF had a lot of 747s!
ryanpst
ryanpst
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 27 Jun 2013
Total posts 72
So I am in Seattle at the moment and did the Boeing factory tour this morning - I was surprised to know that Qantas has purchased 6%+ of the worlds 747 production. It’s a small percentage but still a huge number (it’s 50+) compared to other airlines.
sanj747
sanj747
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Nov 2016
Total posts 146
Agree with safety being the most important.Doesn't surprise me about the Qantas 747 stat. I think there was a time when they were an all 747 airline. Also remember in the 80s when they had 2 747SPs and ran them to SFO. They have had the 747-100, 200, 300 and 400 series. And it stops there as the 747-8 is not on their shopping list.
Clancy
Clancy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 31 Jan 2016
Total posts 78
With a range of other airlines having a range of issues including props flying off and engines disembowelling themselves I'm happy to keep the wish list simple... Safety, safety and safety, followed by schedule then all the other things that are 'nice'. I'm even happy to be a little late compared to the planed departure/arrival times, getting somewhere in one piece without the pulse hitting 220bpm is always good...!
moa999
moa999
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jul 2011
Total posts 835
They've also purchase about the same percentage of A380s (12 of about 220).
lafleche
lafleche
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 08 Jun 2016
Total posts 24
safety record is always my number one - an airline can tart up the soft product all they like, but if they scrimp on maintenance, they won't get my travel dollars! And, call me old-fashioned and silly but i do prefer 4 engines when flying over the pacific.....
Ryan K
Ryan K
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 May 2013
Total posts 156
I don't recall Qantas ever having the -100 series. Didn't they buy the -200 series when they first ordered the 747?
sgb
sgb
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
Member since 30 Nov 2015
Total posts 419
I think their claim to fame in those days was that they were the only airline in the world to have an entire Jumbo fleet.
AJW
AJW
Member since 16 Nov 2011
Total posts 55
Qantas never purchased -100's. Though they have operated some for short periods of time on lease, mostly during the pilots strike of 89/90
AJW
AJW
Member since 16 Nov 2011
Total posts 55
I don't recall Qantas ever having the -100 series. Didn't they buy the -200 series when they first ordered the 747?
Correct, though they did lease some during the pilots strike.
ausJCP
ausJCP
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Aug 2014
Total posts 132
I don't recall Qantas ever having the -100 series. Didn't they buy the -200 series when they first ordered the 747?
The 747SP is a modified 747-1 (see the wiki)
Qantas ran 'em to Taiwan under their short-lived "Australia Asia Airlines" brand during the 90's, among a few other places.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
When a comment is flagged by the software for moderation, please do not attempt to re-post the same comment - this creates more work for the admin team, and goes against our long-standing Comment Policy.
These days we approve comments relatively quickly: in this case, within an hour, so please be patient while any flagged comments are awaiting review.