Qantas voted worst international airline

30 May, 2007

The results are out. When it comes to being worst, Qantas is on top. A consumer survey has voted Australia's national carrier Qantas the worst international airline.

Choice magazine in its survey of 4,000 subscribers dealt yet another blow to the airline by announcing Qantas' low-cost subsidiary Jetstar was the worst domestic airline. One possible reason Qantas may have fared so poorly is that people may be more critical of their national carrier, the magazine suggested.

Travelers said they continued to fly with Qantas to earn frequent flyer points even though they rated the airline significantly lower than average.

Choice magazine, which asked its subscribers to rate airlines for value for money, booking processes, convenience, the check-in procedure, inflight service, including food and entertainment, as well as seat comfort, leg room and cleanliness, rated the Singapore Airlines as the best international airline, while Regional Express was the favored domestic operator.

A report on the survey results said that Qantas scored 63 per cent compared to Singapore Airline's 78 per cent. On the domestic front, Qantas fared little better with a 67 per cent rating, with consumers labeling the service arrogant and aloof, while Jetstar scored just 62 per cent. One of the respondents even when to the extent of saying that the Jetstar staff was uniformly surly, unhelpful and most definitely unwelcoming.

Meanwhile, Regional Express won a survey-high rating of 79 per cent followed by Virgin Blue with 71 per cent. It was found that Virgin Blue staff attempted to make what is a reasonably unpleasant experience flying with a no-frills service, light-hearted and enjoyable.