Downgraded from Business Class on Qantas due to "tech crew" [pilot] Travel Requirements

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m not sure that rules out being pilots? They mention Tech Crew, or pilots. The first is the official language, the second is translated for lay terms. Or at least that how I read it.

As established above, pilots are referred to as Technical Crew, which I guess distinguishes them from Cabin Crew. Engineers are referred to differently again.

 

[NM]

So, after further information re the incident, we just received another email apologising for the way the downgrading occurred at the airport. And this interesting comment I've extracted

"The relevant Enterprise Agreement provides that these staff members (Tech Crew, or pilots) travelling on duty travel going to Melbourne are required to travel in Business Class" So likely they weren't pilots.

We will now receive 30,000 points as well as the refund of points.

Sounds like someone at QF may be reading this thread .... especially the need to clarify the terminology

Sounds like a better response and more appropriate compensation for the "experience".

And, naturally, the outstanding question in terms of AFF is if the points count to PC/PC+ quotas

 

[Princess Fiona]

Tech crew equals pilots. That is why they have told you this in the email.

Ground engineers etc, FAs etc do not travel in the highest cabin.
FAs can subject to availability but if J is full then it’s Y for them.

 

[Pushka]

I’m not sure that rules out being pilots? They mention Tech Crew, or pilots. The first is the official language, the second is translated for lay terms. Or at least that how I read it.

As established above, pilots are referred to as Technical Crew, which I guess distinguishes them from Cabin Crew. Engineers are referred to differently again.

Sorry, I mistyped that. It reads Tech crew or Pilots. I'll paste directly from the email and not retype this time but doesn't rule out pilots I agree. Hope I never fly on one of their planes

Qantas is required by law to comply with the terms of the Enterprise Agreements (which are quasi statutory instruments) that apply to its workforce. The relevant Enterprise Agreement provides that these staff members (Tech Crew or pilots) travelling on duty travel going to Melbourne are required to travel in Business Class. This is also a work health and safety requirement to ensure the pilots report for duty in optimal condition.

So, while filling in time for sunset, does this mean they werent actually on duty yet?

 

[MikeG]

What compensation did you then receive for having to deal with the quality BA J wine ?

It was a Qantas flight.

Makes you rather glad in Europe to have UK and EU protection re: downgrades.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Sorry, I mistyped that. It reads Tech crew or Pilots. I'll paste directly from the email and not retype this time

Qantas is required by law to comply with the terms of the Enterprise Agreements (which are quasi statutory instruments) that apply to its workforce. The relevant Enterprise Agreement provides that these staff members (Tech Crew or pilots) travelling on duty travel going to Melbourne are required to travel in Business Class. This is also a work health and safety requirement to ensure the pilots report for duty in optimal condition.

The terms are interchangeable. They have obviously referenced them as the CSM told you they were tech crew.

Tech crew for QF are in the coughpit.
Not ground engineers.
Hence the mention of the WHS requirement at the end.

As I said before there are some very young pilots on QFLink.
Have seen plenty of them myself.

 

[Pushka]

And, naturally, the outstanding question in terms of AFF is if the points count to PC/PC+ quotas

I've taken screenshots to see if it does.

Im so glad I paid for our flights - never believe I'd ever say that - at Christmas time, reduces the bumping risk but not as risky on Emirates as Qantas I'd expect. We are flying on return EK from Dubai to Singapore then Singapore to Melbourne five hours later. Be an interesting comparison point.

 

[NM]

I've taken screenshots to see if it does.

Im so glad I paid for our flights - never believe I'd ever say that - at Christmas time, reduces the bumping risk but not as risky on Emirates as Qantas I'd expect. We are flying on return EK from Dubai to Singapore then Singapore to Melbourne five hours later. Be an interesting comparison point.

Please do report back ... on both topics of interest to AFF members

 

[Princess Fiona]

I've taken screenshots to see if it does.

Im so glad I paid for our flights - never believe I'd ever say that - at Christmas time, reduces the bumping risk but not as risky on Emirates as Qantas I'd expect. We are flying on return EK from Dubai to Singapore then Singapore to Melbourne five hours later. Be an interesting comparison point.

Now we need some more lazing by the pool pics !!!!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well, it took some prodding but the flying rat coughed up. Glad to see it, @Pushka.

Was it an operationally necessary decision? Yes.
Do they deserve credit for providing a decent level of customer service, eventually? Possibly.
Was this handled terribly? Definitely.
Does it make me believe Qantas value their customers? Most definitely not.

Just my 2c on the whole incident. Enjoy your holiday!

PS posted from 36k feet on SQ. First time in economy with them. And yet I've spent the past few minutes wondering if the service on QF2 in Business will come close..! At least little danger of a late paxing crew on that one

 

[RooFlyer]

Tech crew for QF are in the coughpit.
Not ground engineers.

Well, that seems settled. Given what JB747 says below (referencing this thread) its seems the 'current use' is made beyond cabin crew.

Within QF (and perhaps others) the term tech crew is used to describe pilots. I guess it really harks back to the days when the coughpit contained pilots, flight engineers, navigators, radio operators, and who knows what else. It was relevant until the last FE hung up his hat, which was only about 15 years ago.

Pilots never use the term, and if anything, it's now a slightly disparaging term mostly used by cabin crew.

 

[NM]

Sorry, I mistyped that. It reads Tech crew or Pilots. I'll paste directly from the email and not retype this time but doesn't rule out pilots I agree. Hope I never fly on one of their planes

Qantas is required by law to comply with the terms of the Enterprise Agreements (which are quasi statutory instruments) that apply to its workforce. The relevant Enterprise Agreement provides that these staff members (Tech Crew or pilots) travelling on duty travel going to Melbourne are required to travel in Business Class. This is also a work health and safety requirement to ensure the pilots report for duty in optimal condition.

So, while filling in time for sunset, does this mean they werent actually on duty yet?

They are on duty when the company is requires to get them to the next port where they operate a flight.

It would not be "duty travel" is if a pilot lives outside their home base airport location and chooses and pay for their own travel to their home base airport (e.,g. pilot's home base is SYD and they live in Melbourne (or somewhere like Albury) and purchase their own airfare to get to SYD to commence their duty there), and of course at the end of a roster returning home from their base airport (again personally paid flight). In such cases, it is the pilot's choice to live outside their operating base so they pay for the tickets to get to/from the operating base. Search the "Ask the pilot" thread for some real examples about such flights. These are considered personal travel and do not come with any EBA entitlement to a particular travel class.

 

[Pushka]

@Princess Fiona - flower pix for the moment.

 

[Pushka]

Delicious.

 

[flyingfan]

Don’t those surveys often have an option ‘I’m willing to be contacted by a Qantas Executive about my responses’?!

 

[encryptededdy]

30,000 points seems like reasonable compensation for a 1h flight downgrade. Why they sent that first email is anyone's guess. I assume someone from PR read this thread and sent the second email.

 

[Seat0B]

@Princess Fiona - flower pix for the moment.
View attachment 340882
View attachment 340883View attachment 340884

Spectacular!!!

 

[Seat0B]

View attachment 340885

Ooh some very sweet revenge coming right up!

 

[Pushka]

Ooh some very sweet revenge coming right up!

Well, I'm out but MrP got the same email. And he hasn't started up yet . But no, we are done.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Qantas would like to acknowledge the loyal frequent flyers who travel with us regularly and are inconvenienced by their awards not ticketing, being bumped in the most humiliating fashion possible and who have to wait on hold for hours to speak to someone from our offshore contact centre. We pay our respects to elites past, present and emerging along with those smug BAEC Gold and AA EXP elites who tell you how everything is better on the other side!
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