Qantas flights have won major awards for their service and lounges in the annual AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards for 2020.
The iconic Australian carrier picked up the coveted awards for Best Domestic Service and Best Lounges.
Qantas Airways, the world’s oldest continuously operating airline, was again a top-10 carrier, coming in at number four and narrowly losing a four-way battle for Airline of the Year with Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, and All Nippon Airways.
READ: Best Airlines 2020: Airline Ratings Names Air New Zealand Top Carrier
AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas said that “once again Qantas is amongst the winners and this is not surprising as its approval rating from its passengers is at an all-time high.”
Qantas Flights Have the Best Domestic Service Available
Qantas Airways has steadfastly remained true to the concept of a full-service airline on its huge domestic routes, offering all-in economy fares that cover checked luggage, blankets, food, entertainment, and, on some flights, complimentary beer and wine – very important to Australians.
Food and beverages are sourced from local producers, and the airline focuses on fresh ingredients and modern food trends.
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The flying kangaroo has all the entertainment bases covered, too. It has seat-back screens on many mainline flights, offers complimentary tablets on others and boasts an in-flight entertainment app as well as free high-speed wi-fi on most aircraft.
Its Q inflight entertainment system offers more than 1000 hours of programming including monthly new-release movies, the latest box sets, and documentaries.
The airline offers lie-flat beds on its A330 fleet and provides a top-notch business class product on many weekday transcontinental services that rivals some international offerings. This includes plated meals and fine wines.
All of this backed by an impressive domestic lounge network has combined to make Qantas Airways the world’s best domestic service airline.
Qantas Flights Lounges Come Out on Top
Aussies are spoilt for choice when it comes to airport lounges, and Qantas has worked hard to build up a stunning network of lounges.
Its international First Class lounges are a favourite with well-heeled travellers while its international business-class lounges are up there with the best. New features such as the gin bar in its new London Heathrow lounge and an outdoor barbecue area at its Perth International transit lounge have helped to enhance its reputation.
READ: Living the High Life in Qantas First Class
One of its great strengths, however, is an impressive domestic lounge network.
Qantas offers not just one flavour of the domestic lounge but up to three, depending on the location: the invitation-only Chairman’s Lounge, business class lounges, and the famous Qantas Club.
The domestic lounges offer attractive perks such as complimentary seasonal food, Australian wine and beer, wi-fi, hydration bars, and the all-important barista coffee.
The business lounges also offer signature food offerings such as gourmet pizzas in Perth, a Mexican cantina in Brisbane, and a spice bar in Melbourne serving freshly made Asian dishes.
Qantas hasn’t been sitting on its laurels, either: it has been undertaking a multi-million dollar lounge renovation program that has seen it upgrade or refresh 85 percent of its lounge network worldwide in the past five years.
READ: Qantas to Launch Domestic Fleet Renewal Process in 2020
This includes a recently-opened major upgrade to its domestic lounges at Melbourne Airport as well as upgrades in Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, and Tamworth. It has also just opened a new First lounge and expanded Business Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport.
The AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards, judged by seven editors with over 200 years’ industry experience, combines important safety and government audits, with 12 key criteria that include: fleet age, passenger reviews profitability, investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations.
