I can see why QFi are struggling... [Poor service in J]

[JohnK]

out of interest which routes are you referring to... IMO anything to Bangkok in economy TG is far better, anything to SIN SQ is better, anything to HKG CX is as good as or better, to CGK then Garuda is better, I don't know how Philipines Airlines are as I've never used them, nor have i flown JAL. To Shanghai you may well be right.

I have tried SQ economy through to TPE and BKK and CX, TG short haul economy is enough to make me shy away from longhaul product. I have seen VS economy and I am not game to try VA economy on that length of flight.

For me as a Platinum I think QF economy is great. I would like to try Emirates economy assuming I can get a reasonable seat allocation.

 

[Inver]

I don't know how Philipines Airlines are as I've never used them

It doesn't compare to QF unless you're lucky enough to be in one of they recently purchased new planes.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I have tried SQ economy through to TPE and BKK and CX, TG short haul economy is enough to make me shy away from longhaul product. I have seen VS economy and I am not game to try VA economy on that length of flight.

For me as a Platinum I think QF economy is great. I would like to try Emirates economy assuming I can get a reasonable seat allocation.

TG long haul economy is excellent, up to 34 inches pitch and the catering is excellent. For east coast to Bangkok there is 2 hot meals served, on overnight flights back to Australia its a full hot dinner and a full hot breakfast. Definitely worth you checking out some time... you might be surprised.

they absolutely cough all over EK on SYD-BKK in economy with their 10 abreast seating (Thai is 9).

 

[JohnK]

TG long haul economy is excellent, up to 34 inches pitch and the catering is excellent. For east coast to Bangkok there is 2 hot meals served, on overnight flights back to Australia its a full hot dinner and a full hot breakfast. Definitely worth you checking out some time... you might be surprised.

Worth trying TG economy with QF's current pricing ex-SIN? I get bulkhead on the 747 via BNE or direct to SYD and at the same time building points for the next Oneworld award.

If QF strategy changes then I will also need to rethink my strategy of getting to BKK.

 

[anchew]

Does anyone know if there are any recent TR on QF J to/from SIN? I'm flying QF35 this Saturday then QF36 mid June so would like to know what to expect. Otherwise I'll have just have to do one

 

[docjames]

Basically the same only 1-1.5hr shorter flight time.

 

[knightman7]

Not sure if you're being intentionally inflammatory, but why on earth you'd want to connect in SYD is beyond me?

Given our arrival was 0830 I was at work (1hr from home) by 1100.

If if connected in SYD, I'd be lucky to be there by 1600.

Not being inflammatory, just suggesting that for the same money, flying the A380 or even the 747 is a much better flying experience in J than the A330. Also, the QF128 lands in Sydney at 7.25am so you will be back in Melbourne by 10.30 or 11am depending on which flight you take from SYD. Its the reason I avoid the QF 19/20 to MNL and prefer instead to fly via HK and tack on the 3 hr flight back to Cebu on regional CX, as I feel the extra flying time is worth the far superior hard product and service on the QF127/228. Its really a choice. You can take the more direct flight and not be happy, or fly an extra leg and be more satisfied with the experience.

 

[docjames]

Fair enough.

If the service was right the seat isn't an issue so much. There's no guarantee the 747/380 to SYD wouldn't have the same service/mid-haul meal timing issues (fwiw it was a 744 and was 45 min delayed the night we travelled).

Or I can go CX and have best of both!

 

[knightman7]

Yes, QF127/128 is A380 on Thursday to Sunday and 744 on Mon-Wed. Service wise, I have found the service to be far better on 388 and 744 flights to Asia and Europe as opposed to what I have experienced on 332 flights. If I am paying, then I will always fly CX over QF to HK as the product is worth the extra dollars to me. Incidentally, I would also fly BA Club World on any of their aircraft over the QF A380 to Europe too.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm curious as to whether it was a shorthaul or longhaul cabin crew who operated that sector.

I know sometimes shorthaul F/A's have done MNL so not sure whether this also applies to HKG.

There is no excuse for bad service but it may explain why they didn't seem to know the flow of what's meant to happen service wise if they only do international sectors occasionally.

 

[docjames]

I'm curious as to whether it was a shorthaul or longhaul cabin crew who operated that sector.

I know sometimes shorthaul F/A's have done MNL so not sure whether this also applies to HKG.

There is no excuse for bad service but it may explain why they didn't seem to know the flow of what's meant to happen service wise if they only do international sectors occasionally.

How can you tell (other than asking)?

 

[cmon0005]

How can you tell (other than asking)?

Secondly why would they use domestic crew on International?

 

[under the radar]

Secondly why would they use domestic crew on International?

it's a bit more complicated than just 'domestic' and 'international' cabincrew. in a nutshell, QF use the terms 'shorthaul' and 'longhaul' divisions...shorthaul crew are certified to work on 737/767/330..longhaul crew on 767/330/747..there's a subset of longhaul that work 380..so both divisions can crew the 330 as per that divisions EBA agreement which enables each division to work a perentage of flying on the 330..gives the company more flexibility in rostering crews as well...that's the short version!!!! it's way more complex..but too difficult to explain fully without your (and my) head exploding!!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

A friend of mine is a shorthaul F/A & I'm fairly certain she's done flights to CGK & MNL.

ISTR something about the overseas cities SH crew fly to have to be no more than a 2 hour time zone change.

Maybe MileHighClub could clarify that.

 

[lovestotravel]

A friend of mine is a shorthaul F/A & I'm fairly certain she's done flights to CGK & MNL.

Yep that's the same thinking I have here

 

[Mrmaxwell]

If I had paid the amounts of money needed to fly J and got the kind of service mentioned above I would demand a refund.

Sick to death of sub-standard service in Australia - the more one travels and experiences how good service can be the more you refuse to accept bad service.

 

[milehighclub]

Shorthaul can do up to a three hour time zone change. The company has the flexibility to use either short or longhaul crew for most A330 flights especially when numbers fluctuate between bases and divisions. Sometime the flying can be split too (so CGK was S/H 2 flights and L/H the other 2 flights)

At the moment LH tend do to most of the international A330 flying.

A clue to tell if it is short haul or long haul crew; short haul crew don't have a CSS category, so when longhaul crew operate there will be a CSS (and if a male will have the mocha tie)

 

[docjames]

Well, I've sent feedback. Will update if I get a response.