Qantas claims a Shonky award

Qantas has claimed a major Shonky award, but don't expect to read too much about it in the mainstream media. The airline is a major advertiser.

Consumer organisation CHOICE recognised Qantas for being "the Spirit of Disappointment".

“Whether it’s an airline that makes redeeming flight credits a nightmare, a finance product targeting distressed pet owners, cookware that doesn’t cook properly, processed food dressing itself up as healthy, or a florist delivering dud bouquets, we’ll continue to call out companies that do the wrong thing by Australians,” says CHOICE CEO Alan Kirkland.

“CHOICE would love to never have to give out another Shonky Award, but unfortunately we continue to uncover products and services that need to be called out.

“2022 has been a difficult year, with Australians living through a pandemic, a slew of natural disasters, and a cost of living crisis. The last thing people need is businesses that rip them off but unfortunately that’s exactly what we’ve seen in this year’s Shonky Awards.”

Here's Kirkland on Qantas, and CEO Alan Joyce, the man who just gave himself a massive pay rise.

“Qantas appears to have gone deliberately out of its way to win a Shonky Award this year,” he says.

“Qantas customers have had to deal with unfair and unworkable flight credits, lost baggage, excessive call wait times, and delayed flights. Qantas charges travellers premium prices, but they are not providing anything close to a premium service, which is why they’re receiving a Shonky Award this year.”

Image: CHOICE editorial directot Marg Rafferty with Qantas' award.