Quite true Jack. We in Australia have been spoilt for years and years, but still complain about how crap it is. Maybe if people were to go off shore and sample what else is out there they may begin to understand the real value of what the likes of Qantas do.
I have been living in Europe for the past 4 years and have flown about 60 return trips around Europe, all on full service carriers. Based on that I can say that what Qantas offers on similar length flights around Australia is MILES ahead of what is on offer around Europe in both business and economy class.
The airlines I have flown are: BA, Iberia, SAS, Croatian, BMI, Aer Lingus (yes no longer full service), Air France, SAS, Cyprus Airlines, Alitalia, Air Malta, Austrian, LOT and Malev.
Of those airlines NONE (except Cyprus on their A330's) offer any IFE what so ever on their short haul (3 hours or less) routes. Qantas at least has a video and music on most of their compareable length flights. Meals on most of the carriers is non existant at any time of day in economy, most just have a drink and a small snack.
The best of them for me in business has been SAS, followed by Iberia. Cyprus was good, but the route I flew them on was more like a SYD-PER flight so a step up again. But by comparision I have been on BA flights of the same length (LHR-Athens) and it was CRAP.
As for the US, well the less that is said about their standards the better I say.
We really are lucky to have what we have...
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