Qantas vs. Singapore Airlines

I arrived back in Singapore last night. I flew for the first time internationally with Qantas - my company encourages us to fly with them (I suppose they get discounts or some such), but so far I have been going to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. It was good to get a comparrison:

• Check-in: I love Singapore Airlines on-line check in. I can get to the airport 60 minutes before my flight, go straight to the counter and get my boarding pass. I can do this with or without baggage to check in. Qantas do not have this service and I spent 30 minutes waiting to check in yesterday.


• Waiting: This may be coincidence, but I felt that yesterday's trip included much more time waiting in queues. Immigration took longer, bags took longer to come onto the carousel etc. Do the Qantas gates have less immigration officers? Does Terminal 1 at Singapore have slower times for baggage handling than Terminal 2 or was I just unlucky?


• Cabin Crew: I found Qantas staff to be overall less friendly than Singapore Airlines staff. I like my 'thank-youuuuus' as I get off the plane, I don't like being growled at when my computer is taking a little while to shut down.


• Special needs: Here is where Qantas scored points. Yet again my gluten free meal was left off the ticket (I blame the company travel agent, not the airline) but the Qantas check-in guy made some quick phonecalls and I scored my gluten free food. The Qantas staff also paid each family with young children special attention.


• Food: I like my aeroplane food. I think Singapore Airlines has better food both gluten free and not. It just tastes better. But overall for me, the two airlines are still about equal. Singapore makes great tasting food, but their gluten free breakfast has repeatedly been a couple of rice cakes and some pieces of orange. Qantas also offered me an icecream about 10 time during the flight - I like ice cream.
  

Now what?
So I am back at work and recovering from a big couple of days in Sydney. It was great to catch up with everyone and get a couple of games of Ultimate in. The cold weather was a nice change as well - but I am glad to be back in 28 degree days here. Thanks to everyone that made an effort to see me - I appreciated it!

I am looking forward to B coming to visit for 10 days on Saturday and the Singapore Ultimate league starting on Sunday.

Because B is taking my June flyback, I don't plan to be back in Sydney until at least late July. I hope I can last that long!