Qantas Airlines found itself in hot water after a passenger discovered an offensive note scrawled on his luggage tag following a domestic flight in Western Australia. The incident has sparked outrage online and prompted swift action from the airline.
Sonny Tilbury, a resident of Perth, was shocked to find the word "c***" written on his luggage tag after completing a two-hour flight from Perth to Karratha. Photos of the crude message circulated on social media, drawing attention to the incident.
In a post on social media, Mr. Tilbury expressed his dismay, stating, "Clearly the Qantas baggage handler at wasn’t happy lifting my bag. He left me a nice note to read on arrival." The discovery left many social media users appalled, with some urging Mr. Tilbury to report the incident to the airline.
Responding to the backlash, a Qantas spokesperson issued a statement condemning the behavior and assuring corrective action. "This is clearly unacceptable behavior," the spokesperson stated via News.com.au.
"Menzies, our ground handling provider at Perth Airport, has assured us that the baggage handler involved will never work on Qantas Group aircraft again. We have sincerely apologized to Mr. Tilbury."
As a gesture of goodwill, Mr. Tilbury was offered a travel voucher by the airline. The incident comes at a time when Qantas is striving to regain the trust of its customers under the leadership of new CEO Vanessa Hudson.
In a recent apology video addressing customer concerns, Hudson acknowledged past shortcomings and expressed a commitment to restoring the airline's reputation. "I know that we have let you down in many ways," she stated. "We want to get back to the national carrier that Australians can be proud of."
The swift response from Qantas reflects its dedication to addressing customer grievances and upholding standards of professionalism among its staff. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and respect in the airline industry.
In other travel news, harrowing footage of a pilot's foot being "swallowed" by a travelator at Denver International Airport has been released online.
