General VA discussion

[Happy Dude]

I couldn't see a thread where general musings, experiences, and goings on be aired for VA, so I thought I start one. Kinda along the lines of the SQ Tips, Trips and Tales one.

I'll start with an observation that has gotten under my skin. I've had a few domestic flights in Dec/Jan and they've all been excellent - except for one recurring issue. It relates to the announcement to turn off large devices.

As a WP I've not been past row 3, and I'm usually in C or D. Each time, except once, the hostie has asked me to turn off my laptop THE INSTANT the announcement is made. The one time that didn't happen I was in J, 1C, and I was asked DURING the announcement.

I know the drill and announcement sequence (commencing descent, tray tables away, keep using large devices, then announcement to put those away). But it is absolutely infuriating to not only be given no time to follow/hear the announcement (just asking for a minute or two to save work/shut down!) but to be then singled out as if I'm not doing it really gets up my goat.

My response is now to ignore the hostie until my work is saved and the laptop is off, even if she has to stand there asking repeatedly (three times is my PB). I then say "I heard the announcement and was turning it off".

On the bouquet side, a non-J pax tried to use the J toilet and got as far as opening the door before the hostie nabbed him ("You're not in business are you", loud enough for many to hear) and sent him on a walk of shame to the back.

 

[twinaisle]

I couldn't see a thread where general musings, experiences, and goings on be aired for VA, so I thought I start one. Kinda along the lines of the SQ Tips, Trips and Tales one.

I'll start with an observation that has gotten under my skin. I've had a few domestic flights in Dec/Jan and they've all been excellent - except for one recurring issue. It relates to the announcement to turn off large devices.

As a WP I've not been past row 3, and I'm usually in C or D. Each time, except once, the hostie has asked me to turn off my laptop THE INSTANT the announcement is made. The one time that didn't happen I was in J, 1C, and I was asked DURING the announcement.

I know the drill and announcement sequence (commencing descent, tray tables away, keep using large devices, then announcement to put those away). But it is absolutely infuriating to not only be given no time to follow/hear the announcement (just asking for a minute or two to save work/shut down!) but to be then singled out as if I'm not doing it really gets up my goat.

My response is now to ignore the hostie until my work is saved and the laptop is off, even if she has to stand there asking repeatedly (three times is my PB). I then say "I heard the announcement and was turning it off".

On the bouquet side, a non-J pax tried to use the J toilet and got as far as opening the door before the hostie nabbed him ("You're not in business are you", loud enough for many to hear) and sent him on a walk of shame to the back.

Another POV If you know you have to turn it off why not save work a little bit earlier to save the both of you having to go through the scenario where the FA is waiting for you?

They're just trying to do the job to secure the cabin before take off, it's awkward standing there waiting and that's the last thing they want to do.

Sometimes it's a short taxi so standing there waiting for you could mean missing take off slot.

 

[bcworld]

Sometimes it's a short taxi so standing there waiting for you could mean missing take off slot.

The post was talking about once in the air, not before take off.

 

[twinaisle]

The post was talking about once in the air, not before take off.

Oh my bad then. Same theory to be honest. There's two announcements with laptops and large electronic devices having to be stowed away by the time the seatbelt sign is off.

If they know the sequence maybe they can start saving work when the first announcement to prepare the cabin. Sometimes the seatbelt sign comes on quite quickly due to some factors such as a sped up landing or turbulence so they gotta hurry and secure.

 

[Happy Dude]

Oh my bad then. Same theory to be honest. There's two announcements with laptops and large electronic devices having to be stowed away by the time the seatbelt sign is off.

If they know the sequence maybe they can start saving work when the first announcement to prepare the cabin. Sometimes the seatbelt sign comes on quite quickly due to some factors such as a sped up landing or turbulence so they gotta hurry and secure.

It's the non-existent time between making the announcement and personally instructing me to put the laptop away - as I'm 'first cab off the rank', that annoys me.

I reckon they should walk down the back and start the check from there. That way, the pax there have had an opportunity to put large devices away and everyone else has too.

Maybe they should remind pax on entry to put on their seatbelt the instant their butt hits the seat too?

But it'll cease to be an issue I guess when the inevitable status drop no longer affords me the good seats.

 

[Stealthflyer]

On the bouquet side, a non-J pax tried to use the J toilet and got as far as opening the door before the hostie nabbed him ("You're not in business are you", loud enough for many to hear) and sent him on a walk of shame to the back.

I had a FA question me when I went to the J loo a few months ago. She was a different FA to the one that took our meal orders, and had come up from the back for a while. It was a bit embarrassing to be honest. It’s much more discreet to quickly memorise the J passengers than to question everyone who uses the loo.

 

[AIRwin]

I had a FA question me when I went to the J loo a few months ago. She was a different FA to the one that took our meal orders, and had come up from the back for a while.

She should have noticed that your seat was vacant unless it was an empty flight and there was no divider?

 

[Happy Dude]

I had a FA question me when I went to the J loo a few months ago. She was a different FA to the one that took our meal orders, and had come up from the back for a while. It was a bit embarrassing to be honest. It’s much more discreet to quickly memorise the J passengers than to question everyone who uses the loo.

On this occasion, someone managed to capture my reaction as the offender trudged back.



But I'm guilty of sneaking in from row 3 without being nabbed on a few occasions, and I genuinely don't care who uses what toilet. So I did feel sorry for the guy. But I also like seeing rules enforced too so it's quite the roller coaster for me.

 

[twinaisle]

On this occasion, someone managed to capture my reaction as the offender trudged back.

View attachment 424602

But I'm guilty of sneaking in from row 3 without being nabbed on a few occasions, and I genuinely don't care who uses what toilet. So I did feel sorry for the guy. But I also like seeing rules enforced too so it's quite the roller coaster for me.

Do you waltz up and use it or do you ask before use?

 

[Happy Dude]

Do you waltz up and use it or do you ask before use?

On separate occasions, I've waltzed, asked and sneaked. If you wait till the drinks cart is in row 4-5, there's a better chance the hostie will allow it. Crossing their palm with a sleeve of Ferrero Roche would probably do the trick too.

 

[Stealthflyer]

She should have noticed that your seat was vacant unless it was an empty flight and there was no divider?

It was a full flight. Can’t remember if there was a divider on this occasion. She was hanging out in the galley, so she wouldn’t have seen the seats.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

a) even in this environment of being anti-woke… they’re not ‘hosties’!

b) agree on the actioning of announcements… you might think row 3 is first cab off the rank, but it’s actually business class. We have to put our seats upright and window shades up from the get go… while pax down the back have another five minutes. Agree it would be wonderful to start somewhere else, and allow the premium cabin as long as possible.

c) don’t understand main cabin pax needing to use the forward WC. Main cabin pax know carts will be in the aisle and should go before or after. Pax who ‘can’t predict’ when they will need to go should select seats at the back, close to the WCs.

d) would be wonderful to have proactive ‘live’ (not pre-recorded) announcements to ask pax not to block the aisles during boarding. I’ve seen crew standing on tippy-toes to see what’s the hold up, but never once make an announcement over the tannoy to get people moving faster.

 

[twinaisle]

‍
d) would be wonderful to have proactive ‘live’ (not pre-recorded) announcements to ask pax not to block the aisles during boarding. I’ve seen crew standing on tippy-toes to see what’s the hold up, but never once make an announcement over the tannoy to get people moving faster.

Oh I can assure you a few certainly do! I do on the odd occasion to hurry people

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh I can assure you a few certainly do! I do on the odd occasion to hurry people

Please feel free to share your trips with your fellow CMs!

 

[twinaisle]

Please feel free to share your trips with your fellow CMs!

That's also why the crackdown on hand bags. Too slow.

 

[RooFlyer]

Main cabin pax know carts will be in the aisle and should go before or after.

This was part of the post seat belt off announcement on a recent VA flight SYD-HBA. As in 'We are about to commence meal service, which means carts will be in the aisles, so if you need to use the toilet, now would be a good time'.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This was part of the post seat belt off announcement on a recent VA flight SYD-HBA. As in 'We are about to commence meal service, which means carts will be in the aisles, so if you need to use the toilet, now would be a good time'.

I know right!

But there’s a cohort of status pax in the forward rows who claim they ‘can’t predict’ when they’ll need to go. So even if there’s an announcement, they could still need to use the WC.

Strange though… cause it doesn’t happen on Qantas, where the J cart physically blocks the aisle and access to the forward WC.

So what is it about VA pax?

 

[RooFlyer]

Strange though… cause it doesn’t happen on Qantas,

Sure it does

I can feel for those folks who 'when ya gotta go, ya gotta go'

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sure it does

I can feel for those folks who 'when ya gotta go, ya gotta go'

Ok maybe in longer flights… but the short MEL-SYDs and similar they can’t get past the cart!

So if people ‘gotta go when they gotta go’, why not use their status to book a seat by the WC? People don’t ask the skybus to pull over so they can go to the WC, why is flying on a plane SYD-MEL so much different?

 

[Happy Dude]

MEL lounge has bottled Cascade lemon, lime & bitters while CBR make them up (you need to tell them to go easy on the lime cordial). Jury is still out as to which is better.

But they need to have an easier ice dispenser. Picking up ice out of a tiny metal bucket using metal scoop is a test of ones patience.