Source : Perth Now news
Australian golfing legend Greg Norman has taken aim at Qantas after a lengthy delay on a flight from Sydney to Dallas, saying the airline’s reputation for poor service has him looking elsewhere.
Norman, known as the “Great White Shark”, said he had always tried to support the national airline but was reconsidering after his flight departed about three hours late and he then had to wait a further hour to collect a bag in Dallas.
“I have always tried to support my national airline @Qantas,” Norman wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday.
“Sadly their reputation of the “never on-time” airline … now has me looking elsewhere.”
The 71-year-old professional golfer who spent 331 weeks as the world number one in the 1980s and 1990s compared Qantas unfavourably with Emirates, saying he would consider the rival airline for its reliability, Wi-Fi and comfort.
Norman said Qantas had once been among the world’s top three airlines for the travel experience, but accused it of putting profit ahead of customer service.
“Too bad as @Qantas was once one of the top 3 in the world for a great travel experience,” Norman wrote.
“Profit before customer caring, reputation and service!? And not to have WI-FI in this day and age with the cost/ticket – #insane #dated.”
He also praised Qantas ground staff but called on the administration to “bring back the pride in ‘The Spirit of Australia’”.
A spokeswoman for Qantas said the flight had been delayed due to a fuelling issue.
“Unfortunately, our flight from Sydney to Dallas Fort Worth on Saturday was delayed departing Sydney while our engineers fixed a fuelling issue,” the spokeswoman said.
It has been reported the flight arrived 2 hours and 35 minutes later than schedule.
