Qantas Airways

AKL-BNE. Seats were large but seat pitch was very small. The business cabin was like Qantas domestic even though this was a 3.5 hr international flight. Breakfast was adequate but nothing special. IFE though was good and cabin service was of a high standard. Qantas lounge at Auckland was fine especially the showers.

Travelled DRW-SYD 16/1/14. It was our daughter's birthday so we upgraded our economy seats (row 4 - what a mistake) to business with hard earned FF points. Refurbed seats - mine would not work at all daughter's worked after assistance. I could've moved but I wanted to sit with my husband. FAs were pretty good reasonably attentive but our kids were asleep when breakfast was served and when they did awake they were not offered anything not even a water or juice. Our breakfast was appalling. I am gluten free but instead of getting GF bread I was given rice cakes! Cold eggs cold beans cold tomatoes. No bacon no sausage. No fruit no yoghurt. Overall the trip was bad we were really disappointed.

I was pitched into the Qantas flight when my chosen BA flight was cancelled. It seems the Qantas A380s often fly with a lot of spare space. My long flight from Sydney to Dubai was rendered intolerable by a crying infant but the comments that follow concern only the Qantas provision. Cabin crew: brusque and uninterested in passengers. From start to finish all members gave the impression they had a lot of hard work to do. Why is a smile something so difficult to provide? There was no pre-service of aperitifs (even though aperitifs were listed on the menus handed out at the start). The food was excellent: I really enjoyed the taste of all that was offered on both legs of my SYD-LHR trip. Wine appeared to be supplied grudgingly and there was no offer of "seconds" of coffee — routine on BA flights. Legroom on the A380 was adequate. The plane was clean. The seats were not comfortable — after a bit their hard pressure on the backs of the thighs became annoying. The ridiculously low maximum weight limit for Qantas cabin baggage is a major reason for avoiding this airline regardless of other considerations.

Flew SYD-MNL-SYD on QF19/20 in Business. QF19 is a day flight and although it's around 8 hours no PJs are offered in case you want to have a sleep. Crew were friendly and efficient and with a little prodding provided me a set of PJs (albeit XL). Food was surprisingly good - had the linguine with sardines and tomato. Flight departed on time and arrived slightly early - almost a first for Qantas. The return flight is a nasty overnighter departing around 7.20pm local time and arriving around 6.30am to Sydney. Sleep is very uncomfortable on the older angled beds (Airbus A330) so only dozed for around 2 hours. Again the food offering was good but the airline is definitely penny pinching offering only a 'supper' (instead of full dinner) and a 'cafe style' breakfast rather than the previous a la carte service. Crew were outstandingly friendly and efficient - a real credit to the airline in this instance. Qantas IFE is still amongst the best in the skies in terms of choice although my screen did crackle a little on both legs (seat 3K). The sooner Qantas buys the new planes (eg B787) the better - the older A330s with the old business class simply don't compete with the other major carriers. A refurb is due later this year but it's too slow given the current offering by competitors.

I flew to Japan on QF21 on 18 January on a 747 and returned on 25 January on flight QF26 an A330 both legs in Business. I had seat 1C going there and 2C on the return journey. The seats are very uncomfortable for Business these days. They are very angled and with the bulkhead directly in front of me on the trip there and the seat pod on the way back the seating felt very claustrophobic. The fact that Qantas still does not have all aisle access seats in 2014 is beyond me and in both directions kept being woken up by my neighbour clambering over me during the night. On QF 21 I ha the crew going into the storage cupboard all night and banging the door shut again disturbing my sleep. The food now supplied in Qantas business is pitiful. I think the Asian and Middle Eastern airlines serve a better meal in their Economy cabin than Qantas does in its Business cabin. Furthermore they have done away with the refreshment hot towels. On both legs towels were offered only once and that was just before landing in Sydney nothing on the flight to Narita! The crew on the flight to Narita would have preferred to be anywhere else except on that flight. The crew on the return flight were better but cannot be compared to the Middle eastern airlines crew for attitude and service. I am a Platinum member of Qantas but will not fly them again on an international flight on an aircraft operated by them. The cost cutting is very evident in the services provided to their Customers. As other airlines lift their game with service offerings Qantas are cutting theirs?

Living in Asia there are not a lot of route choices with Qantas especially as they have recently withdrawn a lot of their Asian flights and/or downgraded from 747 and A380 to A330 aircraft. However as I am still a Qantas Gold member I decided to remain loyal and travel back to Brisbane (via Sydney) from Bangkok. This flight used to have Premium Economy but since the introduction of the 330 aircraft there is only Business or Economy and so because of the exorbitant price for Business Class ($3920) I chose to travel Economy. The seats were incredibly uncomfortable with a ridiculously small amount of leg room (I am only 178cm so I have no idea how a tall person would cope). The seat fabric and carpet was very worn and faded and stained and the entertainment system only worked for the first 2 hours of my return trip. The food was terrible but thankfully the wine was good. However by far the worst issue is the FA's most of them have obviously been in their jobs way too long and no longer seem to enjoy what they do and show it through their couldn't care less attitude and lack of attentiveness to their customers. I am now thinking about taking my loyalty to Malaysia Thai or Cathay Pacific all of which are far better and less expensive than Qantas.

PER-SIN Business Class on A330-300. A pleasant flight with good food and wine onboard. The cabin was full so there was quite a delay serving drinks initially and the staff seemed overworked for most of the flight - an extra staff member seemed to be needed. Cabin was clean and seat was comfortable. Flight departed and arrived on time. Overall a good flight using FF points though I do not think the experience would justify paying in cash.

We took QF 051 from Brisbane to Singapore on December 11 2013. Flight and crew exceeded our expectations. This was the first flight on a trip to Europe on which we flew many different airlines including Swiss BA and Cathay Pacific. Qantas was by far a better airline in all aspects especially the seating and crew. Food was excellent and the water bottles provided were well received. Top marks and we will fly Qantas again for sure.

QF111 PER-AKL economy (5hrs-tailwind record) upgrade to business for return journey QF112 (7hrs). After many years flying Qantas mainly domestic I have to say this flight was my best ever. Husband does not like overbearing cabin staff - this crew were so relaxed friendly and genuine. Business meal was particularly appetising and enjoyable. Left on time both ways and left us feeling very satisfied. Keep it up Qantas!

SYD-PER 25/01/2014. Quick and efficient check in at Qantas domestic Sydney. Friendly ground staff. Cabin crews were friendly and approachable despite a full flight. The food was beyond expectation for 4 hours journey. An iPad for every passenger as IFE. Really worth the money! Very impressed!