Is this what QF flight attendants really think of us passengers?

[whatmeworry]

I was reading an article about airline capacity and cheap seats later this year, when I came across this alleged comment from a QF flight attendant.
If this is true, quite disturbing what they think of some of us customers.

I'm a Qantas flight attendant, and you sound like one of those bitter sad old men who is just peeved you're not in business and some lowly flight attendant is, or by scrounging together your frequent flyer points you manage an upgrade and you aren't worshipped like you think you deserve to be! I take pride in my job, doing it BLOODY WELL. Like in any industry there are people who are good at their jobs and some that aren't - what an arrogant blanket statement you make. News for you...go to Emirates or Singapore Airlines - we won't miss you.

Ultra-cheap seats to flood the market

 

[mannej]

What is the comment they are referring to?

There have been articles in the past that quote FA's opinions on passengers more or less similar to what this person has stated.

How far do you go in saying it is all part of the job? Sometimes it is a non win position isn't it?

 

[whatmeworry]

What is the comment they are referring to?

There have been articles in the past that quote FA's opinions on passengers more or less similar to what this person has stated.

How far do you go in saying it is all part of the job? Sometimes it is a non win position isn't it?

This is the comment the QF FA's was replying to.

Hear hear.
Qantas really needs to take a good look at its customer service, it truly is terrible. Mr Joyce needs to do the following:
1) Ban staff from travelling in business, because Qantas staff pay close to nothing to fly business they treat passengers as if they have paid nothing as well.
2) Stop the long serving staff picking and choosing the routes they work on, newer staff doing some of the premier route would help out dramatically, at least they would be excited and happy to be on the flight
3) Send some of the QF flight attendants on flights with other airlines (particularly Emirates, Singapore Air & Qatar), maybe they would then realise what real service is all about
If Qantas can't pull their socks up in relation to service, it's time to paint all of the A380's and 747's in Jetstar colours and be a full low cost airline instead of commanding a premium for poor service.

 

[mannej]

Funny, I wouldn't call Emirates a consistent airline in regards to its customer service or product either.

Each to their own really.

 

[nlagalle]

Interesting 'comments' from the reader.

J travel will be part of the Awards. I can reasly see the unions letting that one go! I have no issue with that personally.

The 'premier' routes, I'm assuming LHR and LAX? Well last few trips on those looked fairly young to me, so not sure what routes he is talking about.

I flew SQ last year and they weren't any better than QF. Can't comment on the other carriers.

But then thats my opinion, other readers may vary!

 

[dfcatch]

Interesting 'comments' from the reader.

J travel will be part of the Awards. I can reasly see the unions letting that one go! I have no issue with that personally.

The 'premier' routes, I'm assuming LHR and LAX? Well last few trips on those looked fairly young to me, so not sure what routes he is talking about.

I flew SQ last year and they weren't any better than QF. Can't comment on the other carriers.

But then thats my opinion, other readers may vary!

The A380 staff on premium routes are younger, fresher, and on a different contract.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Do you know it was an actual FA who posted that?? Sounds like a wind up to me.

 

[NM]

Interesting 'comments' from the reader.

J travel will be part of the Awards. I can reasly see the unions letting that one go! I have no issue with that personally.

I am not in any way defending a position either way, but I think the context of the of the comment about staff in business class was relating to personal travel and not work/duty travel. Few people (well, there probably are some) seem to suggest that pilots or cabin crew who are about to commence a work shift starting at another port should not be traveling in business class. But many people do seem to hold the opinion that airline staff on personal travel should be entitled to premium cabin seats at the very low fares they pay.

I know its currently an employment condition that airline staff receive heavily discounted personal travel. However, its not only cabin crew that receive this benefit, but most staff who meet the requirements (position, length of service etc). I am not making any comment about whether or not airline staff (its not just Qantas staff who receive such travel benefits) should or should not receive such benefits as part of their employment contract. But I do wish my employer would offer me up to 90% discount on the products and services we "sell". But to my employer's credit, they have made arrangements for some staff discounts on products and services from our major suppliers, so there is some similarity. But 15% off retail price for a computer, or low mobile phone call rates is not in the same "benefits" ballpark as taking a family on an holiday to Europe in business class every year or two.

Do I wish I had similar benefits - absolutely. Do I begrudge airline employees because they receive the benefits - not really. I do not follow the reported argument that such benefits affect the way cabin crew treat their passengers. I have very rarely had anything but friendly, respectful service from airline staff - no matter which airline I am traveling. If we (the passengers) treat the cabin crew and other airline staff with same respect with which we want to be treated ourselves, rather than taking the attitude that the crew are there to serve all our whims, then I believe there would be fewer reasons to complain about poor service or attitudes from the crew.

 

[MrJetset]

I have a friend who is a First host. As he said, "Every Platinum thinks they're SOOO important, but now there's Platinum One, so they're nothing!"

Another friend who is Cabin Crew said that Platinums are very demanding pax, while another cabin crew friend said he pays WPs particular attention, and unbeknownst to him he crewed a flight I had family on, and they said he was the best FA they have ever had (granted they were all in F).

Make of it what you will!

 

[simongr]

Interesting attitudes - I like how they judge all WP the same. I can't recall the last time I pushed the call button on a flight so am not sure how demanding I actually am...

I generally have had good service on my DOM flights. I haven't done enough QF int'l long hal flights to really judge recently - the food was the main reason I stopped flying QF in J - and at the same time the service was spotty.

 

[DrGuinness]

I'm not a terribly frequent flyer, but I've never had any issues on QF, domestic or international... Flew Y+ earlier this year MEL-LHR return, and had simply the best FA on the way there... Very attentive. I generally find if you smile, use common manners, and don't treat the staff like your personal slaves, they're fairly accommodating. Having said that, a tired old witch will never change.

 

[NM]

Interesting attitudes - I like how they judge all WP the same. I can't recall the last time I pushed the call button on a flight so am not sure how demanding I actually am...

Absolutely. As with the variation in crew, I am certain there is a large variation in the behavoiur and attitudes of the high-status frequent flyers. I am sure some do behave poorly and very demanding. But I am equally certain there are many who are not demanding and treat the crew with respect and grace. I also cannot recall when I have every pressed the call button on a flight, and my request for anything is usually prefaced with "when you get a chance, could you please ...?".

 

[Red Roo]

Hi All,

A disappointing comment on the article from a purported FA.
I hope all in the AFF community (and all pax) feel welcome on our flights and enjoy a great experience, regardless of the cabin they travel in. In the event that it hasn’t met expectations continue to let us know through Customer Care.

Cheers,
Red Roo

 

[browski]

Hi All,

A disappointing comment on the article from a purported FA.
I hope all in the AFF community (and all pax) feel welcome on our flights and enjoy a great experience, regardless of the cabin they travel in. In the event that it hasn’t met expectations continue to let us know through Customer Care.

Cheers,
Red Roo

Actually Red Roo, it is not a disappointing comment, it is raw and accurate. There are plenty of passengers who are rude, painful and devoid of class. Props to the FA and I commend the FA for her comments because she does have pride in her job. Instead of criticising her, you should be defending her.

ps. I like the "Customer Care" link you put at the end of your response - too funny.

 

[medhead]

Actually Red Roo, it is not a disappointing comment, it is raw and accurate. There are plenty of passengers who are rude, painful and devoid of class. Props to the FA and I commend the FA for her comments because she does have pride in her job. Instead of criticising her, you should be defending her.

ps. I like the "Customer Care" link you put at the end of your response - too funny.

The problem is that those comments unfairly apply to all platinum passengers not just the dodgy ones. They are also inaccurate in their characterisation of platinum passengers' expectations. Finally, qantas international are reportedly in a lot of trouble (apparently) precisely because those passengers are flying with other airlines. By telling passenger "goodbye and good riddance" that alleged FA is risking their job, the jobs of their workmates and the future of international flight operations by qantas. No matter how many passengers deserve the comment, the attitude on display is appalling.


Sent from the Throne

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Interesting 'comments' from the reader.

J travel will be part of the Awards. I can reasly see the unions letting that one go! I have no issue with that personally.

Business Class travel is part of the F/A award for Duty Travel however subject to space availability so F/A's will be confirmed in Y & may get J, so it could be that commercial pax will do points upgrades in the QP resulting in no upgrade for the F/A's.

I'm sure many regular travellers have seen F/A's in uniform travelling in economy class as passengers. F/A's do get a higher upgrade priority over leisure staff travellers (only on duty travel) but again, a J seat is never guaranteed.

AFAIK the Pilots & Engineers award states they must be booked into J when on Duty Travel so there is no upgrade lottery involved.

I am not in any way defending a position either way, but I think the context of the of the comment about staff in business class was relating to personal travel and not work/duty travel. Few people (well, there probably are some) seem to suggest that pilots or cabin crew who are about to commence a work shift starting at another port should not be traveling in business class.

But many people do seem to hold the opinion that airline staff on personal travel should be entitled to premium cabin seats at the very low fares they pay.

Staff on personal/leisure travel assuming they are eligible to get J internationally to start with, will only get it if available ie after all points upgrades are processed for commercial passengers. They are not even guaranteed a seat in economy class when travelling on standby as travel is on a sub-load basis.

For this reason many airline staff just book normal fares like everyone else does on this forum so they have the 'luxury' of knowing they're confirmed & have a reasonable chance of not being split up all over the plane.

 

[browski]

The problem is that those comments unfairly apply to all platinum passengers not just the dodgy ones. They are also inaccurate in their characterisation of platinum passengers' expectations. Finally, qantas international are reportedly in a lot of trouble (apparently) precisely because those passengers are flying with other airlines. By telling passenger "goodbye and good riddance" that alleged FA is risking their job, the jobs of their workmates and the future of international flight operations by qantas. No matter how many passengers deserve the comment, the attitude on display is appalling.


Sent from the Throne

Fair enough. I could be wrong but I don't think the FA (with regards to the original post) was referring to WPs - I think the WP comment was from a later poster.
Also, I expect the FA was/is very professional in her work and would go about her duties professionally. Her response was not "on the job", it was just an online response to someone trashing her service and her colleague's perceived benefits. Surely she is entitled to defend herself.

 

[drron]

Red Roo although this FA has vented her thoughts she may in fact be one of your better FAs.I have to smile when I hear people saying that the FAs on Asian airlines are always smiling and friendly.They are but the private thoughts may be exactly the same as @ems in that comment.Several years ago when I still understood some Japanese a JAL FA was expressing some negative thoughts re certain pax-though still smiling and being sweet to their face.
So there are good and bad FAs as well as good and bad pax with every shade in between.

 

[markis10]

I believe its against company policy for an employee to interact on social media and in the press in a way that could be possibly putting the airline into disrepute, regardless of the accuracy of those comments.

 

[browski]

I believe its against company policy for an employee to interact on social media and in the press in a way that could be possibly putting the airline into disrepute, regardless of the accuracy of those comments.

Wow, looks like that's the end of Red Roo.