Check in counters closed?

[Deleted member 29185]

Arrived at CNS check-in yesterday at 14:30 only to find all check in counters closed (even priority) with a message on the display boards saying they'd reopen at 1500. Departure time of next flight was 16:30 and the queue was long. Does this seem odd? I can rock up to ROK (pun intended) at anytime and there is at least one or two staff at check-in even when there is nobody in the queue.

I just found it an odd way of dealing with pax waiting to be checked in.

 

[samh004]

I just found it an odd way of dealing with pax waiting to be checked in.

Sounds like they picked up the JQ handbook... that's generally what I encounter before a JQ35 trip!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Sounds like they picked up the JQ handbook... that's generally what I encounter before a JQ35 trip!

Is that handbook titled "LCC for Dummies"?

Va still struggle to cast off the LCC habits. What about QF, Sam? Have you experienced it with them? (I'm struggling to remember when I've had to wait for a check-in counter to open except for internationals). I though the domestic mainlines had enough daily flights to warrant check-in open all day.

 

[samh004]

Is that handbook titled "LCC for Dummies"?

Va still struggle to cast off the LCC habits. What about QF, Sam? Have you experienced it with them? (I'm struggling to remember when I've had to wait for a check-in counter to open except for internationals). I though the domestic mainlines had enough daily flights to warrant check-in open all day.

I only had to wait in LHR and that's because I was ridiculously early

 

[Eggsbenedict]

I have had to wait for Virgin to open in Hobart. It was the middle of the day but around 2 and half hours before the next flight. Pretty annoying as you can't/don't want to go though security and come back. At least I was not missing out on the non existant lounge

 

[Justchecking]

I have had to wait for Virgin to open in Hobart. It was the middle of the day but around 2 and half hours before the next flight. Pretty annoying as you can't/don't want to go though security and come back. At least I was not missing out on the non existant lounge

They use contractors who pay min wage and offer split shifts. So the downtime no-one is there. They are all clocked off.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

They use contractors who pay min wage and offer split shifts. So the downtime no-one is there. They are all clocked off.

I wonder if that's the same for CNS. I thought the check-in staff were VA employees.

In any case, I'm sure it's still something VA control. A contractor can still offer split shifts but roster staff on for the whole day. For my CNS experience, given the next flight was scheduled to depart at 16:30 which means all pax are supposed to be checked in before 16:00, check-in opening just 1 hour earlier at 15:00 is a recipe for a delayed departure (which turned out to be the case) and the plane was chockers.....not a single vacant seat and to compound that, people for the next flights were turning up to check in as well!

Just a very real example of very poor management which resulted in pax waiting in a hot queue for some time and a delayed flight departure which then made it a rush for connection flights in BNE. I was in J and we were asked to remain seated to let connecting pax out first so they didn't miss their flights. BNE was exceptionally busy so I'm not saying the whole delay was the fault of the check in failures at CNS, but it certainly wouldn't have helped.

 

[hossein_au]

Is that handbook titled "LCC for Dummies"?

Va still struggle to cast off the LCC habits. What about QF, Sam? Have you experienced it with them? (I'm struggling to remember when I've had to wait for a check-in counter to open except for internationals). I though the domestic mainlines had enough daily flights to warrant check-in open all day.

QFi in Melbourne only checks you in 3 hours before departure regardless of your status or class of travel (and the F check in area is closed up until just T-3).

 

[LACE]

VA only ever open check in 90mins before departure in CNS. Not sure why but it is rather annoying.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

VA only ever open check in 90mins before departure in CNS. Not sure why but it is rather annoying.

I'm not sure why either. The same number of pax still have to be checked in so it's logical by rostering on at least one check in staff member all day would likely mean they could drop one off during those peak times (which is most of the day). On Friday, there must have been at least 50-60 people in the queue at 2.30. If someone was manning the check in, those would be all checked before their "official" start time meaning fewer check in staff needed for the final 90 minutes, less confusion, less chance of delay and happier pax. Where's the downside?

 

[markis10]

I'm not sure why either. The same number of pax still have to be checked in so it's logical by rostering on at least one check in staff member all day would likely mean they could drop one off during those peak times (which is most of the day). On Friday, there must have been at least 50-60 people in the queue at 2.30. If someone was manning the check in, those would be all checked before their "official" start time meaning fewer check in staff needed for the final 90 minutes, less confusion, less chance of delay and happier pax. Where's the downside?

Contracted casuals?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Contracted casuals?

Is that a downside?

I'm unsure what the VA "staff" employment arrangements are, but in any case, it can be resolved.

 

[eastwest101]

I'm not sure why either. The same number of pax still have to be checked in so it's logical by rostering on at least one check in staff member all day would likely mean they could drop one off during those peak times (which is most of the day). On Friday, there must have been at least 50-60 people in the queue at 2.30. If someone was manning the check in, those would be all checked before their "official" start time meaning fewer check in staff needed for the final 90 minutes, less confusion, less chance of delay and happier pax. Where's the downside?

Logic has nothing to do with it! We should know that by now.

Is that a downside?

I'm unsure what the VA "staff" employment arrangements are, but in any case, it can be resolved.

Short answer would seem to be that person resonsible for allocating budget/hours for check-in staff at CNS is not held responsible for overall efficiency and the subsequent delay to departure and late arrival into BNE - I expect that a lot of airlines and managers can hide their problems/inefficiency at the moment by the simple "Blame BNE" mentality, and to be fair - congestion both at BNE and SYD must obviously make an impact on on-time performance.

Another example of pinching the pennies and throwing away the pounds.

 

[JohnK]

Is that handbook titled "LCC for Dummies"?

Va still struggle to cast off the LCC habits.

A little disappointing to say the least.