Having flow with Qantas on at least 100 domestic flights and about 15 international trips, I have to say that it is just like any other airline I have flown with - variable in quality. For those key routes, via Singapore and Bangkok to London, to Hong Kong and to the US.. Qantas pulls out all the stops to make people welcome and comfortable. On that highway in the sky between Sydney and Melbourne you tend to get a good run too - and innovations like Cityflyer and QuickCheck are a welcome bonus. Given that the most any of the reviewers have flown with Qantas is about 6 legs, I think I can offer a little more experience - but I also acknowledge that once you have a bad flight (which we all have had) you tend not to let it go! I’ve also flown with a range of other airlines including Air NZ, JAL, JAS, SIA, United, Ansett, Virgin, BA and Cathay and think Qantas is up there with all of them, each offering their unique features.
I will agree that on the other hand.. the shorter tourist services are sometimes a bit rushed and don’t offer much in way of excellence. It tends to be the less popular services run on the older 767 aircraft that aren’t so crash hot (as has been commented by some of the other reviewers). I don’t however think it is fair for people to expect every plane to be brand new and to have in seat TVs. Comparing the level of entertainment provided on a Bombay to Singapore flight which is of relatively little importance to an Australian airline (as was illustrated by Qantas’ decision to abandon it to a codeshare with Air India) with the services provided on the trunk lines of . Having flown with excellent airlines like JAL on routes which aren’t their trunk lines and ended up on VERY old aircraft with shitty flight attendants - I see that most airlines struggle with this issue all over. Singapore has dodgy Silk Air, Cathay has iffy Dragon Air.. maybe Qantas needs to set up a dodgy arm for these kind of marginal routes so as to protect its reputation [oops.. they have.. Australian Airlines already flies to some of those places doesn’t it!]
The number of times I have been on a Qantas flight and seen an example of excellent customer service is countless. On the other hand I don’t think I have ever seen an poor service (my vegetarian meal has gone missing a few times though - but I guess I’m relaxed about the occasional mistake!).
All in all.. good experiences and no major problems. Enough to keep me smiling.