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

[clifford]

Assuming these were QantasLink pilots, it’s worth noting that the FO is on an annual salary of a little under $64,000pa. In the regional of a supermarket employee. If a seat in business class is one little perk they’re entitled to, I’d say it’s reasonable for them to get it.

No one forces them to do it.

 

[openseat]

Yes, wasn’t entirely directed at you. We seemed to be going down the usual path of “why are crew in business class”.

Australia exists in its current form largely because of strong industrial laws. They’ve been watered down enough. If the agreement says business class, it means business class. The staff are more important than the passengers, especially when it comes to operational staff.

I do agree that qantas handled it poorly. But that’s a qantas customer service issue - an area they’re long proven to be weak on.

"I'm sorry comrade, we are going to have to downgrade you in the name of Australian industrial law." (Internationale playing over the PA in the background).

 

[N860CR]

No one forces them to do it.

Thanks for that enlightening statement

Post automatically merged: Aug 31, 2023

"I'm sorry comrade, we are going to have to downgrade you in the name of Australian industrial law." (Internationale playing over the PA in the background).

One receiving what they’re entitled to is hardly some kind of commie dictatorship.

 

[openseat]

Thanks for that enlightening statement

Post automatically merged: Aug 31, 2023

One receiving what they’re entitled to is hardly some kind of commie dictatorship.

It was a joke.

 

[Must...Fly!]

No one forces them to do it.

No but I'm grateful they do go through years of training, constant examination and days/nights away from home to get the rest of us where we need to be.

 

[Seat0B]

In the grand scheme of things this is nothing. The real concern they need to address are things like changes and cancellations made by airlines and how passengers are compensated for their wasted time, how passengers should be rebooked and what duty of care the airlines need to provide customers (i.e. hotels and meals). Whether legislators, the ACCC or the courts address this first remains to be seen.

Nah sorry but I have to disagree. When you pay for business class and are involuntarily downgraded to economy, your refund should be the difference between what you paid and the cheapest economy ticket, not the difference between what you paid and the most expensive economy ticket. That is a rort in QF’s favour that costs the customer a lot of money on top of a downgrade.

 

[Pushka]

Qantas are gluttons. They've just me a reminder to post feedback on the flight. Never received a reminder from Qantas before.

 

[PineappleSkip]

By way of contrast I just received a refund on an Austrian NightJet sleeper from Vienna to Genoa. We had paid for a deluxe sleeper and the electricals wouldn't work on the carriage. No air, no lights, no ventilation so it became stifling, and we found out too late the toilets wouldn't flush so smell of sloshing urine. The carriage was detached at midnight and we were bundled into an economy sitter.

I duly wrote off to OBB and requested compensation for involuntary downgrade. Got the result a month later, fare refunded in full even though we were only entitled to a partial refund.

Qantas has a long way to go.

Cheers skip

 

[Pushka]

Even more delicious. I decided to answer the post flight survey. I promise I did not swear but.....




You just can't make this stuff up!

 

[RooFlyer]

even more delicious. I decided to answer the post flight survey. I promise I did not swear but.....

Was that after you gave the initial low (presumably ) rating ? If so, I remind you of my previous post:

Trouble with those surveys is, when you give the initial response (say, 2 or 9) it will think for a while, then present you with different options next depending on how you initially rated. Did it once with a fellow traveller - ho hum.

OK, not a different option, but a

 

[love_the_life]

Nah sorry but I have to disagree. When you pay for business class and are involuntarily downgraded to economy, your refund should be the difference between what you paid and the cheapest economy ticket, not the difference between what you paid and the most expensive economy ticket. That is a rort in QF’s favour that costs the customer a lot of money on top of a downgrade.

Though in this case it was a points upgrade - so slightly different. It was not the removal of the upgrade that was the problem (it happens) - it was the manner in which it was done.

 

[N860CR]

No but I'm grateful they do go through years of training, constant examination and days/nights away from home to get the rest of us where we need to be.

And didn’t get paid for nearly 2 years (which was forced upon them). And the same people who loved that seem to mock their choice of profession. Incredible.

 

[Lynda2475]

Nah sorry but I have to disagree. When you pay for business class and are involuntarily downgraded to economy, your refund should be the difference between what you paid and the cheapest economy ticket, not the difference between what you paid and the most expensive economy ticket. That is a rort in QF’s favour that costs the customer a lot of money on top of a downgrade.

More so the price you paid for business and the cheapest economy seat at the time you bought your your ticket. We all know red-e deals and other dicount economy are ample months out so cha cesare the Y seat may have been as little as $89 at time of booking.

 

[Quickstatus]

Well, its news to me that 'tech crew' ARE pilots (and only pilots)

A recent explanation from @jb747

There's absolutely no proof it was a decision made by this "exec"

This must be the first time a QF "exec" has been seen leaving the ivory tower at 10 Bourke St for an operational reason.....

It's in the award that duty travel pilots travel in the highest class of travel that is offered on the flight so if the highest cabin in J and the cabin is full then commercial pax unfortunately get downgraded.

No issues there. But why not just simply explain to the passenger the reason of the downgrade - at the scene.

For me, service recovery is more than just making sure that I get to the right place eventually, it also means making the traveller whole

For me service recovery starts with being transparent/honest with the passenger. It does not seem to be a Qantas KPI. It seems to have "Corporate social responsibility" only in certain popular matters, missing in other equally important matters.

Thank you for your understanding

Messages like these are terribly condescending, distasteful and disrespectful.
If I ever sent a message like this to a hospital patient, i would be out of a job.
I don't want points. i want to be treated with respect. Compensation can never replace a lack of respect. Something that Qantas needs to understand but I'm afraid won't when they can just throw a few crumbs points at passengers.

Qantas doesn't care about customers

Does not care about anyone. It is the epitome of arrogance in many respects.

the real question that needs to be addressed is

The real question that needs addressing is when is QF going to operate internationally out of ADL?. ...

we just received another email apologising

Was this as a reply to subsequent correspondence from you?
>>>To QF: Now that was not so hard, was it. <<<
How much better if the "Exec" was transparent in the first place.....

the glaring need for an EU261 equivalent in Australian law

The glaring need for companies to operate ethically

it’s worth noting that the FO is on an annual salary of a little under $64,000pa

They could go to the US now and earn substantially more

 

[Pushka]

Qantas keeps on giving. They want people to check in 10 hours before flight. I wonder if the Qantas IT thread will fly later today.

 

[Pushka]

Was this as a reply to subsequent correspondence from you?
>>>To QF: Now that was not so hard, was it. <<<
How much better if the "Exec" was transparent in the first place.....

This was after the second email I sent them ‘filling them in” on details they hadn’t obviously been told or had chosen to ignore.

 

[RB]

Qantas keeps on giving. They want people to check in 10 hours before flight. I wonder if the Qantas IT thread will fly later today.

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Maybe I am misunderstanding this but it seems to be an attempt to help passengers & try to have an on-time departure? I can't imagine there would be too much of a disadvantage for most people?

 

[Scarlett]

Even more delicious. I decided to answer the post flight survey. I promise I did not swear but.....


View attachment 341628

You just can't make this stuff up!

Based on tabs open in this picture: status on AFF checks out.

 

[Flyfrequently]

@Pushka I was just listening to Melbourne radio and caught the tail end of a bit of chatter about a male Qantas pax very disgruntled yesterday at being bumped from J to Y for a "young tech person as it was part of his contract " .....anyone else get the full story?

 

[Pushka]

@Pushka I was just listening to Melbourne radio and caught the tail end of a bit of chatter about a male Qantas pax very disgruntled yesterday at being bumped from J to Y for a "young tech person as it was part of his contract " .....anyone else get the full story?

Not me! Wow, like I said, the thing of the future. Points upgraders beware.