Experiences on Qantas staff travel

[Robert K]

qf staff have different buckets they can assign people to. Partner/Immediate family. And friends. They have different priority levels and discount level. The friend bucket can be changed every 6 months.

 

[Saab34]

Do they let you spend those staff vouchers they keep talking up in results periods, on normal revenue fares?

 

[TheInsider]

Do they let you spend those staff vouchers they keep talking up in results periods, on normal revenue fares?

Nope

 

[jb747]

Do they let you spend those staff vouchers they keep talking up in results periods, on normal revenue fares?

Largely valueless....which is why they give them away.

 

[Saab34]

Largely valueless....which is why they give them away.

They kept pushing this during press releases and so on, like they had been doing staff a favour by splashing travel vouchers around to staff, but it’s not as simple as that it seems, or not as simple to use you could say.

Plus not everyone wants to always travel, so worthless to some. Costs at the other end these days is quite costly for many getaways.

 

[KSC]

Can QF staff easily get First lounge access when flying for leisure (unofficially). I'm assuming it would depend who you know, how close rank you are to aunty Vanessa etc.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Can QF staff easily get First lounge access when flying for leisure (unofficially). I'm assuming it would depend who you know, how close rank you are to aunty Vanessa etc.

I've been bumped out of a F seat (into a different one that is) . Someone on staff travel requested the swap - I have no idea if they were in the lounge, but It was the F Lounge desk that called me up.

 

[SYD]

Can QF staff easily get First lounge access when flying for leisure (unofficially). I'm assuming it would depend who you know, how close rank you are to aunty Vanessa etc.

I’ve guested someone on staff travel to the SYD QF F lounge but not entitled otherwise AFAIK.

 

[Daver6]

Can QF staff easily get First lounge access when flying for leisure (unofficially). I'm assuming it would depend who you know, how close rank you are to aunty Vanessa etc.

No lounge access on staff travel AFAIK. I think you can be guested in though.

 

[dgoody2]

As someone who had access to Staff travel, I have used it very successfully but would also urge caution.

I have been lucky enough to fly first class Aus to London with my partner return, and also had my partner fly 1 way in first on a separate trip. Domestically have also used it a reasonable amount on the East coast.

But, as others have said, you have to be flexible, and if hoping for a premium cabin, be prepared to be disappointed; partner held a first class boarding pass to LAX only to see to it ripped up at the gate and swapped for a middle economy seat down the back by the toilet at the gate due to a weather related disruption on another flight; frankly was lucky to get the flight.

Have also had to book additional hotel nights due to flights that were full.

As others have said, when it works it’s great, but you have to be flexible, have to have the funds and ability to stay longer (or shorten your trip) if seats are not available, and if you have access to premium cabins, have to be able to manage the disappoint yourself and of family members if it unexpectedly doesn’t happen. Basically anything you get is a bonus and if you must be somewhere for an movable event then fly revenue…I’d never use staff travel for a wedding, concert, show etc.

The other factor is that you are usually in limbo up to gate close…this means for international flights check in around closure time and sprint through immigration/security. Absolutely find for a single or couple with limited baggage, but unsettling and difficult if travelling with small children or anyone needing extra time/assistance etc. it’s also exhausting with the waiting

Post automatically merged: Thursday at 2:57 PM

No lounge access on staff travel AFAIK. I think you can be guested in though.

Only very senior staff get access or if guested in by a revenue passenger. Other staff regardless of cabin/status cannot access a lounge on staff travel

 

[jb747]

Can QF staff easily get First lounge access when flying for leisure (unofficially). I'm assuming it would depend who you know, how close rank you are to aunty Vanessa etc.

Not at all.

The only time I've ever had access to the F lounge was when the Chairman gave me two tickets after QF30. And that was actually a gifted F commercial ticket.

 

[KSC]

As someone who had access to Staff travel, I have used it very successfully but would also urge caution.

I have been lucky enough to fly first class Aus to London with my partner return, and also had my partner fly 1 way in first on a separate trip. Domestically have also used it a reasonable amount on the East coast.

But, as others have said, you have to be flexible, and if hoping for a premium cabin, be prepared to be disappointed; partner held a first class boarding pass to LAX only to see to it ripped up at the gate and swapped for a middle economy seat down the back by the toilet at the gate due to a weather related disruption on another flight; frankly was lucky to get the flight.

Have also had to book additional hotel nights due to flights that were full.

As others have said, when it works it’s great, but you have to be flexible, have to have the funds and ability to stay longer (or shorten your trip) if seats are not available, and if you have access to premium cabins, have to be able to manage the disappoint yourself and of family members if it unexpectedly doesn’t happen. Basically anything you get is a bonus and if you must be somewhere for an movable event then fly revenue…I’d never use staff travel for a wedding, concert, show etc.

The other factor is that you are usually in limbo up to gate close…this means for international flights check in around closure time and sprint through immigration/security. Absolutely find for a single or couple with limited baggage, but unsettling and difficult if travelling with small children or anyone needing extra time/assistance etc. it’s also exhausting with the waiting

Post automatically merged: Thursday at 2:57 PM

Only very senior staff get access or if guested in by a revenue passenger. Other staff regardless of cabin/status cannot access a lounge on staff travel

Sounds stressful, I would not handle the downgrade well . I see why staff would just pay in many circumstances.

If I was staff I would like just want a blanket 10-20% off fares, with all the normal trimmings..

 

[jb747]

If I was staff I would like just want a blanket 10-20% off fares, with all the normal trimmings..

Which most of us get, simply by flying with someone else.

 

[KSC]

Which most of us get, simply by flying with someone else.

Oh damn, way to raise morale with staff. Was there a period e.g the 90’s where it was more generous?

 

[mviy]

Can QF staff easily get First lounge access when flying for leisure (unofficially). I'm assuming it would depend who you know, how close rank you are to aunty Vanessa etc.

Some other airlines can be more relaxed about it e.g. earn status on commercial travel then use it on staff travel or even get status with lounge access as a perk of a very senior role.

 

[michellekbray]

I’m retired staff. I basically have staff travel for life due to 37yrs service and my age. My partner is also retired staff. We choose to buy full fare as we do not want to firstly, fly economy secondly be on stand-by.
I’m a Platinum Oneworld member as we travel frequently.
Staff travel is always a gamble. A lot of my colleagues feel the say as I do. However many enjoy the benefits as I did for many years.

 

[michellekbray]

Some other airlines can be more relaxed about it e.g. earn status on commercial travel then use it on staff travel or even get status with lounge access as a perk of a very senior role.

QF staff can only use any of the lounges if they are on full fare tickets or have Airline status. Same as passengers.
They do at times get recognition in the form of a lounge pass. However this is never the first class lounge. (This probably is totally different for executive staff)

 

[QF WP]

Ah the days of QEA/QEB travel - such a long time ago for me (first wife worked for QF). I echo the issues - whilst it was cheap in 1992/3 ($24 return to SYD, $36 MEL & ADL, $48 PER, IIRC) we often got bumped off flights. My wife used to book us on multiple flights (back in the day of holding tickets) and we’d watch the loads - once it got below 30 seats available we’d get nervous. Once it was 0 (generally oversold) we’d give up on that flight. We got caught a number of times missing flights (MEL and ADL to BNE stick out in my mind).

Subsequently (post divorce) I went out with a QF INTL (long haul) FA and once flew one of her trips with her (MEL/SIN/PER/HKG/SYD) as I had clients in each city. So I bought a revenue whY ticket. Met the nicest CSM (Ray Wines) on the first flight who advised me that another FA’s husband was taking some of the flights as well and could I guest him into the QC on the sectors because he had no access. Absolutely! Ray looked after me for the rest of the flights and as a thank you, I bought him some business shirts in HKG. Got to travel on the staff bus to and from the accommodation. Attended great staff parties in SIN and HKG.

Those were the days - but give me revenue tickets any day.

 

[DC3]

I’m retired staff. I basically have staff travel for life due to 37yrs service and my age. My partner is also retired staff. We choose to buy full fare as we do not want to firstly, fly economy secondly be on stand-by.
I’m a Platinum Oneworld member as we travel frequently.
Staff travel is always a gamble. A lot of my colleagues feel the say as I do. However many enjoy the benefits as I did for many years.

And welcome to AFF.