My thoughts on MEL-PER A330 flight

[Ade]

Ever seen the CC walk past at luggage retrieval. The last thing they will do is talk to passengers.

I see your point. However, if I may report an exception (yes, the only exception I have experience so far) to this - QF81 SYD-SIN in Mar/Apr2022. There was this CSM, who welcomed me as WP. I was flying Y, seat 24C. Kept checking on me every couple of hours or so, refilled my G&T without asking, meals served first before anyone else in the cabin, excellent and attentive service. As we were about to land, came to my seat once again, thanked me for flying with QF etc. I got off the plane, wanted to check the QF F lounge and it was not open yet. So as I was walking back to QF J lounge, the same CSM was walking out of SIN with his crew. He stopped and enquired if I needed any help. I told him that I was checking if the F lounge was open, it was not and I was on my way to J lounge. He then told me how to get to the J lounge and had a chat re where I was headed to next etc.

 

[RooFlyer]

I see your point. However, if I may report an exception (yes, the only exception I have experience so far) to this - QF81 SYD-SIN in Mar/Apr2022. There was this CSM, who welcomed me as WP. I was flying Y, seat 24C. Kept checking on me every couple of hours or so, refilled my G&T without asking, meals served first before anyone else in the cabin, excellent and attentive service. As we were about to land, came to my seat once again, thanked me for flying with QF etc. I got off the plane, wanted to check the QF F lounge and it was not open yet. So as I was walking back to QF J lounge, the same CSM was walking out of SIN with his crew. He stopped and enquired if I needed any help. I told him that I was checking if the F lounge was open, it was not and I was on my way to J lounge. He then told me how to get to the J lounge and had a chat re where I was headed to next etc.

There's someone who enjoys their job and interacting with the customers!

 

[RichardMEL]

I know the CC are doing a job. I am (or hope I am!) polite and respectful and try to use my manners and not be demanding or have some kind of entitled attitude. I also like to talk with crew when the opportunity arises naturally and ask about their layovers or the best places they like to be able to visit through their job and even wish them a good rest when they get the chance. Not stalker-ish or anything like that - just wanting to relate on a person to person level and knowing they're working for a living, are real people and not my servants (and I expect most of us are exactly the same!). If I see the crew at bag claim I wouldn't presume to bother them or expect comment or interaction - they're essentialy knocking off and on the way home/to hotel and you know when I've finished a long day I just want to bugger off. I wouldn't at all consider it rude in any way and you know if we've all just spent 15+ hours in a tube of air frankly I hope they get to relax ASAP as they've been on their feet working...

When I'm a customer I want to be treated with respect and politely (as I try to in return). The personal chats or whatever if they happen - specially on those long hauls - are nice and just have a bit of a brief bond and nice.. but that's just a personal thing. I don't want or expect anything special - due to status or even if I am nice - more than anyone else on board.

imo

 

[encryptededdy]

Almost like magic right after reading this, on my flight on Thursday (Australia Day) from MEL-SYD, I was greeted by the CSM. I was sitting in row 30 right in the very last row of the 737.

 

[Andy72]

I see your point. However, if I may report an exception (yes, the only exception I have experience so far) to this - QF81 SYD-SIN in Mar/Apr2022. There was this CSM, who welcomed me as WP. I was flying Y, seat 24C. Kept checking on me every couple of hours or so, refilled my G&T without asking, meals served first before anyone else in the cabin, excellent and attentive service. As we were about to land, came to my seat once again, thanked me for flying with QF etc. I got off the plane, wanted to check the QF F lounge and it was not open yet. So as I was walking back to QF J lounge, the same CSM was walking out of SIN with his crew. He stopped and enquired if I needed any help. I told him that I was checking if the F lounge was open, it was not and I was on my way to J lounge. He then told me how to get to the J lounge and had a chat re where I was headed to next etc.

Agree, a recent flight to LAX was delayed meaning I missed my connection. Whilst picking up the luggage the CSM asked me if the ground crew had sorted out my new connections, they had.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Slight thread-jack, but my question is related insofar as it concerns trans-continental equipment. I booked J rewards seats for BNE-Emouth-BNE for next year and was sorely disappointed to find the equipment are 737s in both directions. Not such an issue on the way there, but the overnight (ahem) return won't be as nice as the A330.

Is this just a change for BNE or have all the trans-con routes gone back to 737s following Virgin's semi-demise?

Note, I haven't done much flying recently!!

 

[Flatforlonghaul]

Slight thread-jack, but my question is related insofar as it concerns trans-continental equipment. I booked J rewards seats for BNE-Emouth-BNE for next year and was sorely disappointed to find the equipment are 737s in both directions. Not such an issue on the way there, but the overnight (ahem) return won't be as nice as the A330.

Is this just a change for BNE or have all the trans-con routes gone back to 737s following Virgin's semi-demise?

Note, I haven't done much flying recently!!

Hi Mr_Orange,

Still plenty of 330s on PER-SYD/MEL (over half IME) however BNE has been all 738 since COVID, is my understanding. (Hence avoided BNE as a stopover option on a recent PER-AKL trip).

 

[jb747]

I noticed that the seats behind me 56 and 57 are kept for "crew rest" whatever that means on a 4 hour flight,

It was a 4 hour flight for you. You have no idea what the crew may have been doing, before or after.

 

[JohnM]

It was a 4 hour flight for you. You have no idea what the crew may have been doing, before or after.

It would have very likely been one of the international configured A330-300s that periodically ply the PER-east coast routes.

The other way to tell is if there is no WiFi.

 

[PERLHR]

56 and 57 A and B are always blocked off and curtained for staff use on the A330 flight from and to Perth from SYD and MEL.

Post automatically merged: Dec 13, 2023

Hi Mr_Orange,

Still plenty of 330s on PER-SYD/MEL (over half IME) however BNE has been all 738 since COVID, is my understanding. (Hence avoided BNE as a stopover option on a recent PER-AKL trip).

Yeah well I'm not so sure about that. Everyone in advance I book for a 330 you can be rest assured by departure it's a 737. The red eyes and first in the morning seem to be only guarantee of 330.

 

[jrfsp]

Even pre Covid BNE rarely saw A330s on the transcon

 

[Mr_Orange]

Even pre Covid BNE rarely saw A330s on the transcon

Well, the last time I did BNE-PER, it was A330s in both directions.

 

[ThatMrBlake]

Even pre Covid BNE rarely saw A330s on the transcon

I used to do the Friday night to Perth and Redeye back Monday morning pre-COVID. 99% of the time it was a330.

 

[Flatforlonghaul]

Well, the last time I did BNE-PER, it was A330s in both directions.

I seem to remember two daily A330s pre-covid to BNE, over the years.

 

[jrfsp]

It was sadly ones of the routes that really suffered after the 767 retirement, unlike syd/mel didn’t see many A330s
Even now the 767s would be a huge improvement