First* Class with an Asterisk [*Lesser treatment when not WP..]

[MEL_Traveller]

+1.

If the upgrade was confirmed > 24 hours she would also have had access to Eat on Q where she could have pre-ordered.

A CSM gave my meal which was the online special to someone else in the cabin. Did I pull the discrimination card? No. He made a mistake and he rectified it apologising profusely.

People forget that just like in any occupation FAs are human and make mistakes. A frequent flyer is best to learn to deal with mistakes without getting enraged or jumping to conclusions. Otherwise you never really learn the art of travel if you keep adding stress into the situation.

As you say - FAs are human. It is reasonable to therefore assume some FAs may be discriminatory in their approach to certain passengers. They shouldn't be working for an airline, but that's a different matter.

It is also possible a special meal isn't given away by 'mistake'. But apologising to passengers may make them happy and diffuse the situation (win-win for the FA).

As for the recognition of WP and above - if this annoys you then you are going to be most unhappy being a frequent flyer. Any decent business recognises high value customers and it is simply more visible on public transport such as on aircraft where it is witnessed by others.

But on many airlines - SQ and LH just as two examples - never have I been made to feel that lack of status has caused any detriment to the product offering on board. Sure, they offer their elites extra baggage, priority phone service, other benefits... but when it comes to product delivery I've never left feeling like I have been short-changed. It is possible to still recognise status while ensuring no one misses out.

 

[Flying mermaid]

It is going to be interesting to see where first class goes over the next 10 years. There seems to be an ongoing move to reduce capacity by some airlines e.g. Qantas has heavily reduced routes where it offers it and SQ seems to be reducing the no of seats in the cabin on its new planes. You would think that would result in airlines being able to put their prices up, as well as less award, upgrade availability. While I am not desperate to pay more for my flights (being the ultimate sales hound), if it means a return to better service, food and amenities, that can only be a good thing.

As far as the OP goes, I don't believe that anyone in F should feel second class. If Qantas wants to give priority to status people in F, it should be done so carefully that no one feels let down.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

It is going to be interesting to see where first class goes over the next 10 years. There seems to be an ongoing move to reduce capacity by some airlines e.g. Qantas has heavily reduced routes where it offers it and SQ seems to be reducing the no of seats in the cabin on its new planes. You would think that would result in airlines being able to put their prices up, as well as less award, upgrade availability. While I am not desperate to pay more for my flights (being the ultimate sales hound), if it means a return to better service, food and amenities, that can only be a good thing.

As far as the OP goes, I don't believe that anyone in F should feel second class. If Qantas wants to give priority to status people in F, it should be done so carefully that no one feels let down.

Agree but I would add one factor into the mix. New generation business class hard products (such as QF's own new A330 suites) are really catching up to last generation F hard products such as QF F.
This will put pressure on airlines to demonstrate product differentiation. They will need a wow factor in either the hard product (such as EY apartments, SQ suites, on board showers and bars) or soft product (personal service, anytime dining, etc).

 

[TheRealTMA]

Agree but I would add one factor into the mix. New generation business class hard products (such as QF's own new A330 suites) are really catching up to last generation F hard products such as QF F.
This will put pressure on airlines to demonstrate product differentiation. They will need a wow factor in either the hard product (such as EY apartments, SQ suites, on board showers and bars) or soft product (personal service, anytime dining, etc).

Looking forward to the new revamped EK F apparently due in 2017...

 

[Kangol]

I was on a SQ flight years ago in F to LHR and it so happened that I flew out with the same crew (that was funny) and apart from remembering my champagne preference the CSM came to me after boarding and apologised for a supposed poor service incident from a FA on the flight in and told me "She is working Economy on the flight home" (! that's Singapore style for you!). Funny thing is I had a sensational flight in so not sure where he got the idea I had a service failure, but boy... I felt bad for the FA relegated to Y just like that. ouch!

I've read that alternating Y/F cabins for the inbound/outbound legs is not uncommon for SQ FAs...

 

[vantage03]

EK has 14 seats as does BA on the A380.

And I personally don't like either EK nor BA's F class

 

[eminere]

EK has 14 seats as does BA on the A380.

BA's B744s also have 14 F seats.

 

[Princess Fiona]

BA's B744s also have 14 F seats.

Indeed they do. I referenced the A380 due to the topic of the post being QF F.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Absolutely. I think F should be 8 pax max. F is about exclusivity, privacy and personal service. That just isn't possible with 14 seats.

Etihad has 8 F seats on its A330s, 12 on its A340s, 8 on its 3 class B777s and 8 on its B787s.
It has 9 on its A380 or 11 if you count The Residence as 2 seats.
The hard product is the same suite on the A330s, A340s, and B777s. The suites are a little more modern on the B787s as you might expect.
But they're basically the same. Obviously the hard product is totally different on the A380 because it has The Apartments and a shower.
I don't think the soft product suffers on the A340s where they have 12 seats, or the A380 where they have 9/11*.
In my experience it is uniformly high across all their aircraft. Even though they have an in flight chef on the A380 and an F&B manager on other aircraft.
So I don't think there is a direct, necessary relationship between the number of seats and the quality of the experience.
Incidentally the F toilets in the A340s are superior to everything except the A380 bathrooms with showers!


* Just wanted to slip in that visual pun!

 

[CaptJCool]

As far as the OP goes, I don't believe that anyone in F should feel second class. If Qantas wants to give priority to status people in F, it should be done so carefully that no one feels let down.

Perhaos more F Troop than First Class.
If QF Charged $8k instead of $12-16k Flight deals
then current offering and running out may be par for the course
Seriuosly, all this criticism for the sake of $100 not spent on catering, proactive approach here would solve this easily.
Next thing we know it'll be crass cardboard cheese boxes for more price gouging.