Inappropriately Woken on Overnight MH flight

[sqrt()]

CX have a “wake me up for breakfast if sleeping,” and “do not wake me [even if i ordered breakfast” on their breakfast menu cards.

 

[Pushka]

CX have a “wake me up for breakfast if sleeping,” and “do not wake me [even if i ordered breakfast” on their breakfast menu cards.

Well, I won't let it happen again now that I know there is the potential for it to happen. My only thoughts were that they assumed everyone would be hungry after not providing any dinner meal.

 

[lovestotravel]

Soon after take off, the CC will come around and confirm you ordered the BtC. Did you confirm - possibly that told them you intended to eat it irrespective of a DND light??.

I think telling the CC /CSM allocated to your seat should be the thing to do.

No-one came asking, the flight was a total mess

There was an "unattended bag" on-board just prior to the door closing, so all staff were frantically running around trying to locate who it belonged to.

Pre-departure drinks were served during this time

The owner of the bag, on-board was eventually found and doors closed

No pre-take off drinks orders taken
After take-off crew came around and asked "what drinks would you like after take-off"

From this point forward it was downhill and one of the worst SQ flights. Totally full flight in business and economy and on the regional/medium haul A350 with junior crew...

 

[Quickstatus]

From this point forward it was downhill

Like a lot of service jobs like this, I think they are told to keep to a script AND to not waver from it.
Anything that causes a disruption in the script causes mayhem as they try to catch up.
I remember an EK J flight when i asked for a soda without ice. Well I got exacrly what I asked for soda without ice, except the soda was exactly the amount if the glass had ice.

It results in type of service which can sometimes appear contrived rather than natural .

Its a difficult job, not one I would like to attempt.

 

[RooFlyer]

Inappropriate? No, not unless you tell them you don't want to be woken for the F&B

I dare say the 'inappropriate' was the being shaken (handled) part, not the woken bit.

 

[justinbrett]

Shaking - like this?

 

[Quickstatus]

shaken

Literally shaken and stirred

 

[Danger]

It's happen to me on MH in Y. I had my eye mask on, but the FA gently shook me on the shoulder. I ignored it for a couple of seconds, but it continued.

 

[Pushka]

And just received a MH survey as plane had been delayed. Not that anyone will read it but guess I'll find out if they do.

 

[Aeolus]

I've posed this question in the TR but asking for more general opinions here as to whether I'm off base.

We had a late night flight last night in MAS in J on points, thankfully. The flight length was 7 hours tops. Departed late at 11pm. . I decided to go to sleep immediately after seat belt sign was off, and was lie flat, bandana over eyes and to all appearances, settled in for sleep. I was shaken awake about 15 minutes later I guess, by the crew member, asking me what I wanted for breakfast, to be received two hours before landing. ie In five hours time. Not impressed. There was no dinner meal offered as an aside. I said simply coffee and yoghurt.

Settled back down to sleep. Obviously I slept as the next thing I'm being shaken awake again and on removing bandana all I could see was bright lights of cabin. It was 2.5 hours to landing. Sigh. No coffee - seat belt sign on. There was no turbulence. Then about 30 minutes later, having served breakfast, they turned off the cabin lights again for 90 minutes!

Same thing happened to MrP. We were seated two rows apart by choice. Single aisle seats. He was woken up as well by shaking.

Is this shaking by crew members to clearly sleeping passengers, for non essential purposes, and over two hours before arrival, ok? For the record we had both taken care to have our seat belts fastened over the blankets so they were visible to crew.

Thought the trauma of having to sit thru their horrendous safety video was enough to keep anyone awake for 7 hours
On a more serious note, that’s absolutely appalling, hope you sent some feedback. J crew are supposed to be the more experienced ones, which is even more disappointing.

 

[Aeolus]

It's happen to me on MH in Y. I had my eye mask on, but the FA gently shook me on the shoulder. I ignored it for a couple of seconds, but it continued.

The FA wouldn’t dare touch you if they know you’re “Dangerous”… or maybe he/she was just tempting fate

 

[JohnK]

Like a lot of service jobs like this, I think they are told to keep to a script AND to not waver from it.
Anything that causes a disruption in the script causes mayhem as they try to catch up.
I remember an EK J flight when i asked for a soda without ice. Well I got exacrly what I asked for soda without ice, except the soda was exactly the amount if the glass had ice.

It results in type of service which can sometimes appear contrived rather than natural .

Its a difficult job, not one I would like to attempt.

I'm not saying it's not a difficult job. Probably very difficult considering the different personalities they need to please but FAs can cause friction too.

I recall a night time SQ flight in economy back to Australia before Covid. I was really thirsty. I asked for Pepsi light. FA brings out small cup with some ice. Not long after ask for another Pepsi light. Out comes another small cup. I asked again and from this point onwards I got bad looks each time I asked.

Really disappointed with that type of service. Just bring me a can with a cup and ice. It's not coming out of your salary and what I drink or don't drink should be of no concern to the FA. These days I just ask for a can so we don't stuff around.

By the way I did not use call bell. I asked as they were coming past. They should really find another job as they're obviously not happy with this one.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

That's very poor. Definitely complain to MH.

 

[Quickstatus]

I recall a night time SQ flight in economy back to Australia before Covid. I was really thirsty. I asked for Pepsi light. FA brings out small cup with some

@JohnK , I suspect in Y they really do want to feed the chooks and turn the light out.

I suppose the roles are reversed here - you are trying to wake to CC, whereas in J it seems the CC like to wake the passengers

 

[leilajake]

Never happened in J or F but crew normally advise if they need meal order before or shortly after takeoff so then you can get some sleep. In fact friends in J on Emirates MEL to DXB, only got offered "cold" breakfast selection as crew didn't want to wake them up to ask if they wanted anything from the menu.

 

[Lynda2475]

If airlines went back to allowing you to pre-order your meals online the week before departure (like QF used to), they could give the FAs your preferences in the manifest so never need to wake you to ask.

DND button should be standard in J and F.

I remember over 20 years ago Singapore Airlines gave Y passengers stickers to put on top of your seat if you didnt want to be woken for meals.

 

[John in Melbourne]

Is this shaking by crew members to clearly sleeping passengers, for non essential purposes, and over two hours before arrival, ok?

No, I think it's definitely NOT okay. I've been shaken awake only once: it was QF MEL LHR and I was in such a deep sleep, they had to shake me awake to prepare for landing (only way to travel ),

 

[flyingfan]

Getting out the meal service and then trying to put passengers back to sleep for another two hours before landing is really silly (sounds rather amateurish and not thought out).

But the waking up bit to ensure you get food might also be because FAs have copped abuse from pax angry they weren't fed and now they can't get their choice of meal or anything at all. I have some sympathy for that situation.

These stickers might only be available on eBay now:

 

[exLXCXFF]

I often do this on overnight flights.

I take MH123 KUL 2 SYD frequently, often coming from SIN (QR Premium Lounge). Every time I actively tell the Crew that I just want to sleep and that as long as possible. That always did the trick in the past. Twice so far, they even gave me a takeaway coffee when I deplaned.

Should I have to explicitly instruct them? Probably not. Do I do it for my own sake? Yes, absolutely.

 

[Amberlower]

Strange! The menu currently shows dinner and continental breakfast, which has been my experience. I wonder if you got a flight where the crew went off script?

I too, questioned this and apparently you can have dinner OR breakfast, but not both. really odd on such a long flight.