Value?
 

I travel MEL-CHC frequently, and a recent crossing of the ditch last week got me to thinking about the Qantas value proposition and the variance in service offered.

The difference in the quality of each plane's fittings and features continues to amaze. Last week I was subjected to what i can only assume was the oldest 737 in the fleet, travelling on a J ticket MEL-CHC.

The CHC-SYD was also in J and was a 767. I connected to QF 2 for SYD-MEL, a pre-sky bed 747.

Vastly different experiences, non over and above, with some facets below acceptable. The list of differences is long and noticable.

On each segment the pricing is fixed, regardless of the metal being flown, yet the level of service and ammenity are far from standard. Given the current pricing ($2500) for J, and the variability in the product, I am questioning the "value" for money I receive from QF.

I open a $1.50 can of coke and get the same product, day in day out. A $2500 TV purchase is the same today as next week. Get my point????

[This message has been edited by under the clocks (edited 11-09-2003).]

I have to say that I would e avoiding the 737's for any trans-Tasman flight. As you noted, they are way inferior to the 767 for the same price and route - even in Y there is a big enough difference for me to avoid them for a trans-Tasman flight.

In fact, the longest flight I would settle for a 737 is BNE-MEL at under 2 hours. But I am happy now that some of those flights are operated by 767 aircraft (used to only be 737's). I would also avoid them on long domestic flights like SYD/MEL/BNE-PER.

The 737 business class seating is not an international standard product. It is confoigured for Australian and NZ domestic operations rather than international ops as a MEl-CHC flight is.

Of course the problem is that people want to travel on the thinner routes with reasonable frequency, meaning loads are suited to the 737 sized aircraft. And then they can reduce operating costs by using JetConnect and NZ based tech and flight crews. This results in lower costs for QF, but as you say they charge the punter the same amount no matter what type is flying the serving.

I would have to agree with all the comments above. I would avoid paying for J on anything beyond the SYD/MEL/BNE hops on a 737.

I note that QF are using a 747-300 on the SYD/CHC route for summer. It's a Saturday only flight but if you can get it without too much inconvenience then it makes it much more comfortable.

You don't have to fly on different planes, in J or cross the Tasman to get this sort of variation. Take Cityflyer weekend vs Cityflyer nonweekend service. You could pay the same fare - but you don't get the alcohol on the weekend service. Just another small example.

I wonder which aircraft under the clocks was flying on? I wonder if some of the JetConnect aircraft (New Zealand ZK-xxx rather Australian VH-xxx regos) being used trans-Tasman are ex-Ansett machines which have still not been refurbished with QF interiors. As I understand it, this is changing - the 737s now being taken out of the QF mainline fleet to go to JetConnect seem to be undergoing major maintenance first.

I just got back from SYD-WLG-SYD and the 733 that I had was an ex QF plane, not and ex AN plane. The AN planes have lovelly murals on the front bulkhead and some have the fold down LCD screens. The plane I had didnt have this and had been fitted with the slim line economy seats but had 2 rows of fixed business (old seats with no leg rests, head/ neck rest) and 1 row that could be either biz or econ.

Got an op-up from full Y to J on the way over (first ever international op-up) and came back in full J.

Very dissapointed in J on both legs (same plane different crew). These seats are worse than domestic J and the service was not grand either. After 5 presses of my call button and 20 minutes later I got up and went to the galley myself to get a very gruff "what do you want?".

Why cant QF put the same seats that they have in the 738 in the 733?

I guess that to WLG QF only compete with NZ who have a similiar product to what QF are flying in the 733. Different story to AKL however where they compete with a swag of other carriers.

Have to say I won't pay the extra $$$ when booked on a 733 again.