Collection Plate on QF International Flight

[AustraliaPoochie]

Have seen the Unicef boxes in the ADL QFd departures (going) down (to aircraft) ramp, but have not recently flown out of ADL with QF recently, so can't say if its still there.
Forex places will buy cash notes off you, but they won't accept foreign coins to buy back off you.
I did have some demonitised NZ coins, but its too troublesome to go to the RBNZ office in WLG to change it, so just put it into the yellow bin.
It was only about 40cents worth, got them when I used to use coins in Aust, but now only ever use tap and go while domestically travelling in Aust.
NZ is now my pick of nearby foreign desto I go to.
Got rid of my SGD$ notes a long time ago, as don't plan to go that way anytime soon.

 

[RichardMEL]

.. and this is the genius of the idea. Those small value coins won't be exchanged outside of the country in which they came from(usually) and usually do not have much value. For one person it's not much.... for hundreds and thousands it all adds up to *some* value which the charity can then use.

 

[milehighclub]

Here is an old inflight video about it with Geoffrey Rush as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

 

[VPS]

There was one in the Melbourne International area before check in when I was there in October

Agree it's an excellent idea

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Flying out of SYD tonight for OOL on QF I noticed a “collection plate” at my gate (Gate 6):

 

[RichardMEL]

ah good to see they are still there.

 

[RickyT84]

Looks like there is now an additional option to donate by scanning the QR code which I assume will allow you to contribute via a credit card or some other form.

 

[dajop]

Now that the 20's and 50's have been phased out this year, as well as smaller denominations some years ago, might be a good place to donate a few of the older paper pound notes if you have any lying around.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Have you not noticed that every pair of headsets QF hand out (including domestic) are wrapped with a Change for Good envelope?

I saw the UNICEF logo but couldn't work out what it was aside from a sponsorship thingy like the ME3 put on the side of their aircrafts. I never knew there was an envelope to donate!

We tend to have a plastic bag of change ready to go in the little bag once we are aboard. Random coins that we have brought home

The change in your pocket may be little but the change it makes to a little kids life can be monumental.

EK's is the Emirates Airline Foundation and yes, announcements for donations are made prior to landing.

And there's the problem. I'm not sure about others, but I find it difficult to hear during landing as my ears adjust to changes in pressurization. I had no clue what they were doing since it was difficult to hear that announcement. Had the announcement occurred whilst in cruise, I think I would be more prepared to donate to what I think is a worthy cause.

I think it was originally an initiative from the cabin crew. Excellent idea anyway. I always used to stick any coins that I had on the last leg of a trip into one of the envelopes.

Yeah, now that I know what it's all about it makes sense. I still think the cabin crew and Qantas could do a better job at communicating what's going on here. A lot of people see Unicef and they think sponsorship, they don't think donation. Even the donation boxes at the airports, I reckon most people would look past them. If the public knew and were on the lookout, I suspect many more would part with that spare change they have from going abroad to make some real change in a kids life.

Here is an old inflight video about it with Geoffrey Rush as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

Nice video! Perhaps they should show that as a trailer after the safety video.

Looks like there is now an additional option to donate by scanning the QR code which I assume will allow you to contribute via a credit card or some other form.

Also has the added bonus of racking up frequent flyer points!

 

[milehighclub]

Perhaps they should show that as a trailer after the safety video.

The safety demo talks about unicef already

 

[MrJetset]

A lot of people see Unicef and they think sponsorship, they don't think donation.

Please stop making sweeping generalisations based on your opinion which seems to be common in all of your threads.

The Change for Good Program is one of the best corporate partnerships known globally and hundreds of thousands of people have donated to date. No-one confuses it for sponsorship. Starwood also had Checkout for Children that opted people in for $1USD/Euro on every reservation that was equally successful.

In the NGO sector, both of these programs are considered gold standard for customer giving.

 

[RooFlyer]

Read about Change for Good:

Change for Good

A UNICEF initiative since 1991

www.unicef.org

An extract:

The participating carriers are Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific Air, easyJet, Japan Airlines and Qantas.

Hardly hidden from plain view of the international traveller.

 

[milehighclub]

I still think the cabin crew and Qantas could do a better job at communicating what's going on here

Not only is it played in the safety demo, there is also a PA and the crew come through with a big massive bag that has Unicef plastered all over it where the crew say 'UNICEF Donations' (for International). Every headset in economy is also wrapped with a UNICEF bag. Not sure what more they can do?

I suspect many more would part with that spare change they have from going abroad to make some real change in a kids life.

Qantas has raised over $36 million for UNICEF (and is mentioned in the PA too) and there are countless videos on Youtube, by Qantas, of the real change that it does in fact do.

 

[sudoer]

Not sure what more they can do?

Nothing really - I doubt there is any pleasing @kangarooflyer88. They've demonstrated the consistency of a Qantas priority boarding lane here.

This thread started with..

All I'm saying is that coming around the cabin to collecting cash seems like something you'd find on an EasyJet or RyanAir. Not even JetStar stoops to that level on board!

..but is now something that Qantas should do MORE?

I still think the cabin crew and Qantas could do a better job at communicating what's going on here.

Everyone else is well aware of the program and what the money goes towards, it's very clearly communicated. There's seemingly just one person who has been oblivious to it, and is now looking for anything/anyone else to pin the blame on...

 

[mrsterryn]

My understanding is that it is retired staff that tend to sort the coins ? I have recollection of seeing a programme about it some years ago

 

[jpp42]

My understanding is that it is retired staff that tend to sort the coins ? I have recollection of seeing a programme about it some years ago

Yes, I understand that's one reason it was suspended during Covid waves, as they didn't/couldn't ask these staff (older and more vulnerable) to continue this work.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Not only is it played in the safety demo, there is also a PA and the crew come through with a big massive bag that has Unicef plastered all over it where the crew say 'UNICEF Donations' (for International). Every headset in economy is also wrapped with a UNICEF bag. Not sure what more they can do?

Perhaps I wasn't paying attention during the safety demo as I was on a Boeing 737. Keep in mind too I've only taken two international flights with QF: to/from CHC.

..but is now something that Qantas should do MORE?

Wasn't entirely sure what the whole collection thing was about. They made an announcement on board the flight but I could barely hear what they were collecting for.

My understanding is that it is retired staff that tend to sort the coins ? I have recollection of seeing a programme about it some years ago

Correct, here's the video I think you were referring to:

-RooFlyer88

 

[jpp42]

Keep in mind too I've only taken two international flights with QF: to/from CHC.

This is the Qantas *frequent* flyer discussion forum. Perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to judge on their practices if you aren't actually a frequent flyer?

I mean, there are a lot of things that people rightfully criticise Qantas for, but having a go at "Change for Good" is a pretty low blow.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

This is the Qantas *frequent* flyer discussion forum. Perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to judge on their practices if you aren't actually a frequent flyer?

Respectfully disagree with your assessment that travelling internationally infrequently on QF makes you an infrequent flyer. Last program year I earned most of my status credits to re-qualify for Gold flying domestically within Australia on JQ and QF. There was just one arguably international flight I had with them on JQ from SYD to HNL which of course didn't have any mention of Unicef.

I mean, there are a lot of things that people rightfully criticise Qantas for, but having a go at "Change for Good" is a pretty low blow.

I'm not criticizing the program, I think it does a lot of good. All I'm saying is that unless you are aware of the program, it'll seem like a gimmick like the various other stuff airlines do such as credit card offers. If you are aware of the program, you'll keep an eye out when you're travelling but again, a lot of folks see the Unicef stuff and don't draw the conclusion that it's for donations of spare change as opposed to corporate sponsorships we see all airlines make from time to time.

-RooFlyer88

 

[RichardMEL]

Now that the 20's and 50's have been phased out this year, as well as smaller denominations some years ago, might be a good place to donate a few of the older paper pound notes if you have any lying around.

This is possibly a real PITA for them tbh. After all the only place now that these can be exchanged is the BoE. While I'm sure such an organisation would have back channels with the bank possibly it probably would be a bit of annoyance to process. At the very least they would need to sort the notes and get them back to the UK to deal with. (though of course a 20 or 50 quid note is worth a coughload of, say, HK coinage of course)

just a thought.