The Chairman's Lounge
The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out
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The Chairman's Lounge
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Narrated by:
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Joe Aston
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By:
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Joe Aston
About this listen
From the must-listen journalist on how power, money and influence work in this country, the full story of how one of the nation’s favourite brands brought itself to ground.
Before COVID, both Qantas and its CEO Alan Joyce were flying high, the darlings of customers, staff and investors. After Covid hit, only money mattered—in particular, the company’s share price and extraordinary executive bonuses. Illegally redundant workers, unethical flight credits, abysmal customer service, antique aircraft: these became Qantas’ new brand.
How did things go so badly wrong? Why were customers at the end of the queue? And how did an increasingly autocratic Joyce constantly get his own way, with the Qantas board and with both Liberal and Labor governments, which handed over billions in subsidies and protected lucrative flight routes from foreign competition? For the first time, The Chairman’s Lounge tells the full story of how one company banked the nation’s loyalty and then cashed in on it.
In his celebrated column Rear Window for the Australian Financial Review, Joe Aston’s reporting of the ethical failings of Qantas spurred the early retirement of its CEO and the resignation of its chairman. With fresh interviews and revelations, written in Aston’s trademark swashbuckling style, The Chairman’s Lounge is the definitive account of how Qantas was brought to ground and who did it. It is a parable of our times.
‘A masterclass in investigative journalism … A scathing, unflinching takedown of greed, delusion and a shameless abuse of power, both jaw-dropping and brilliantly incisive’
Adele Ferguson
Critic Reviews
What listeners say about The Chairman's Lounge
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert Hitchins
- 31-10-2024
Glad I’m not a shareholder
Given the quasi-sacred status of the national carrier in the national psyche, and the squirrel grip it holds on the national travel dollar, every Australian should read this book. Everyone with a non-self managed super account, and many with a self-managed one, are shareholders in this schemozzle.
The prose is crisp, clear, and dispassionate in its dissection of the subject matter. There’s precious little of Mr Aston’s trademark sarcasm. He doesn’t need it. The facts speak for themselves and are no laughing matter. His narration’s pretty good too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Fraserdude
- 23-11-2024
Outrage for all Australians
A must read if you fly Qantas. They really don't deserve your business!
Demonstrates how Qantas went from trusted Australian company to corporate leech stealing from, not only their customers, but the Australian taxpayer. How they manipulated the market, accepted $2bn covid payment while laying off workers at the same time. How politicians accepted the the bribe of Chairman's lounge memberships even for family members. Right up to the Prime Minister.
A lame board and Chairman that let it happen.
Best read with an Aircraft sick bag in one hand because this will make you sick!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brendan John Lloyd
- 02-01-2025
Highly highly highly encouraged reading
Great work Mr Aston. Fantastic book and proved what a punter like me felt in my tummy through the last few years following and flying Qantas; we were (and maybe still are) treated like window licking commodities rather than customers and partners flying with a trusted brand because we feel connected and loyal to them.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kim Russell
- 16-01-2025
Excellent insight into an iconic brand
Well researched and scathing in every way. We’ve been duped by this iconic brand that has been mismanaged for many years, Bring back honesty, it’s unAustralian to bite the hand that feeds you.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dean Holmes
- 18-11-2024
great insights into corporate operations of Qantas and the politics of business
great insights into corporate operations of Qantas and the politics of business in Australia. you might even want to cancel your QFF membership after reading
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-11-2024
Great insight from Joe and an absolute willingness to tell it how it was…
Joe narrating it added something to the book. The depth of insight was terrific and Joe did not shirk away from providing a really sobering insight into the goings on at Qantas. Really terrific read!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Karolyn
- 04-12-2024
A well written fascinating revelation
An enjoyable story about a disgraceful corporation and government behaviour that is inexcusable and shocking. I will never fly Qantas again if there are other airlines to choose from even if it costs more. Thank you Mr Aston for your tenacity and great writing!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Guy Farrands
- 06-12-2024
Fantastic exposé
Beautifully written and compelling exposure of questionable decisions at Qantas Airways.
I’m looking forward to Joe Aston’s next one.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 20-12-2024
Well researched and insightful
It’s rare and necessary, to get a look into how those we trust, behave behind closed doors, without transparency and accountability it’s a slippery slope
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Wendy Urquia
- 13-01-2025
Impeccably researched
A fascinating glimpse into the upper echelons of Australia’s corporate and political world. Narration goes at an enjoyable clip - I got through it in four or five sittings.
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