Comparing two airlines (Delta and Qantas)
I am overall a pretty happy Delta DM. As far as US based carriers go, Delta does pretty well. But sometimes, its interesting to compare what happens "across the pond" were we all know the grass is greener.
On this particular trip, I had an award ticket to Sydney on Delta (in J) and a short hop to Canberra on Qantas. I don't have any kind of status with Qantas.
Delta experience: Week or so before the flight, I realize they changed my flights, giving me very short connections. I called, and after talking to a couple agents, got a somewhat better connection. Still only an hour in Atlanta. I am at the origin airport early, but we all know you can't SDC on an international ticket. As luck has it, weather strikes and I am struck with a 15 min connection in ATL. I make the connection (B->E) last second, only to be sent to Y as my seat was gone. But getting there is more important then a J seat. Just on the odd chance, I ask the FA if for being "downgraded" I could get a free meal (they sell food on the flight). Short answer: no. But I had a non-perishable snack coupon to hold me over. Rest of the flight went well. Later I get 10k miles for the downgrade on the domestic flight (this was a medium/high reward ticket)
Qantas: I left plenty of time to my connecting flight. As I check in with Qantas, they ask is if I want on an earlier flight (no charge of course) and I get various options. The flight to Canberra is <1hr and on a small prop plane. 50 seats, 2 FAs (wouldn't Delta have 1 on such a flight)? They hand out snack boxes and do a quick drink service. Flight back is on a larger plane (737 I think, 25 rows in 3-3). Again a sandwich and a drink service. Drink options are water or a bottle of juice (you get the bottle, not a small cup. Probably in part for efficiency but also nicer then the small cups).
It is kind of interesting how the airline industry in the US has gotten so "cheap". Australia got low cost carriers as well, so it is not that there is no competition to Qantas, even though Qantas I believe has by far the largest network in AU.