Not Another JETSTAR Complaint !!

[11sjw]

Those responders who have stated, they have never heard / seen this type of situation before ...

Would it be, because you are well travelled frequent flyers ( QF + JQ ) ??

My son had a two flight history ... not "thousands", as one person boasted.

Obviously, if you are a FF, J* are likely to want to ensure they keep you.

No SMS / phone call to my son's mobile.
No PA call to those still in queue.
No call for those pax WITHOUT luggage to check in.....

GORDO

and no early arrival by your son to ensure a hassle free check in.

 

[Justchecking]

It was the last J* flight out to GC for the night ( but not clear if 'last' flight to anywhere ).

I can't accept the notion of being in the queue, and the staff know you are there, and for them to 'go slow' on you ... knowing you will miss your flight. For that ... there is no excuse whatsoever !!

GORDO

Hang on a minute. Can you categorically state these things are actually true?

Did your son have his flight number clearly displayed somewhere? Did he approach staff to let them know he what his flight number was? They would have certainly seen him in the line but how could they possibly know which flight he was on unless he said something? There is no evidence that staff were looking at the line and purposefully and with the intent of making people miss their flight 'going slow'. It
might have appeared that way to your son, but being in a stressful situation tends to mire your perception
somewhat.

I am 50\50 on this one. On the one hand yes its poor form to appear to be chatting in front of pax, not great service etc. But then again you dont know if those 'chatting' were on duty or not. Its possible they were on their way home and that is why they werent processing pax. Who knows. But yes poor form from a how it looks poimt of view.

On the other hand I do think your son needs to accept a bit of responsibility for turning up to an airport 15mins before check in closes. Airlines never guarantee that you wont have to stand in a line somewhere. Its a busy place, its not too much of a stretch of the imagination to think that you probably wont be the only person at check-in at the airport. Unfortunately a lot of people do exactly this, they dont expect to wait anywhere (which is a little odd if you ask me), when was the last time we didnt have to queue up somewhere......at the bus stop, coffee shop, newsagency etc....?

Now aside from how Im viewing this situation. I still think your chances of getting anything out of the airline over this situation are buckleys and none. Whether or not you want to waste your time pursuing it is entirely up to you. I also agree that your son would probably not have a much different experience regardless of which airline he was flying that day.

 

[maninblack]

and no early arrival by your son to ensure a hassle free check in.

This is simply unfair. Anyone can run late, traffic problems, car problems, unforseen circumstances. 15 minutes before cut-off is short but adequate, it is afterall 45 minutes before departure of a domestic 'bus ride'.

 

[dfcatch]

This is simply unfair. Anyone can run late, traffic problems, car problems, unforseen circumstances. 15 minutes before cut-off is short but adequate, it is afterall 45 minutes before departure of a domestic 'bus ride'.

Exactly.

Whilst all of us here ideally advocate a minimum of 60 minutes (preferably as early as possible), 15 mins in the check in queue meets the pax obligation IMO.

IF they were not trawling the queue, calling closing flights (as per Princess Fiona's and Ozbeachbabe's descriptions) then I would be following it up.

 

[serfty]

...
My son had a two flight history ... not "thousands", as one person boasted.
...

No call for those pax WITHOUT luggage to check in. ...

Seems that he had no baggage; if so, then there was not even the need for him to queue up.:-|

---

As a long time member Gordon, you would know this site can be a great resource.

Most of the advice given in this thread would have been of far more use to your son if some questions and/or requests for advice about the planned travel had been posted here in the days leading up to your son's trip.

If that had happened; this thread would likely not have 'complaint' in the title.

 

[harvyk]

Those responders who have stated, they have never heard / seen this type of situation before ...

Would it be, because you are well travelled frequent flyers ( QF + JQ ) ??

My son had a two flight history ... not "thousands", as one person boasted.

Obviously, if you are a FF, J* are likely to want to ensure they keep you.

No SMS / phone call to my son's mobile.
No PA call to those still in queue.
No call for those pax WITHOUT luggage to check in.....

GORDO

2 flights or 1000 flights doesn't make a difference to the rules unfortunately. LCC's are well known for being extremely unforgiving to peoples personal circumstances, and unlike the full service carriers which will bend rules sometimes, LCC's are very well known for quoting the rule book. It's one of the things which allows them to operate flights so cheaply.

Also I have yet to see an airline which will send an SMS to pax who are considered no shows (at least not before check in), a PA asking pax to queue jump depends on the airline, some do it, some don't, and without checked bags, why not use online check in and save the process of lining up?

I know it's not what you want to here, but any complaint to JQ is probably going to get you a very similar response.

 

[drron]

Unfortunately I think the major problem here is inexperience.
When I book on JQ I tick the automatic check in box.48 hours before departure JQ sends an email with attachment to print out BP.
Even if this was not done you can check in at the kiosks-and SYD has plenty for JQ.
Using JQ out of SYD a bit they have called out for flights coming up to closing time-I am in the line because I always have a bag to check.
They do this at MCY as well.
But against JQ I have even seen TT show flexibility when a busload of pax turned up for a flight MCY-MEL about 5 minutes before closing-they processed them all despite that going past the closing time.But of course maybe the exception proving the rule.

So Gordon if your son had no baggage there was no reason for him to have been in line to let this happen.Experience can be a hard task master.

 

[Justchecking]

This is simply unfair. Anyone can run late, traffic problems, car problems, unforseen circumstances. 15 minutes before cut-off is short but adequate, it is afterall 45 minutes before departure of a domestic 'bus ride'.

While I agree that anyone can run late. Its happened to me more than once. Im quite willing to bear the consequences of doing so, acknowledging my part in it. Even if it was a series of unfortunate events which precipitated it. No-one is saying they've never been late in their life, what they are saying is that sometimes you need at accept your part in it. I can to choose to leave home with just enough time, or I can choose to give myself some contingency space is case an Ikea truck spills a flat packed kitchen on the highway. Life is full of surprises, I rarely expect anything to go to plan.

 

[wilco]

While I agree that anyone can run late. Its happened to me more than once. Im quite willing to bear the consequences of doing so, acknowledging my part in it. Even if it was a series of unfortunate events which precipitated it. No-one is saying they've never been late in their life, what they are saying is that sometimes you need at accept your part in it. I can to choose to leave home with just enough time, or I can choose to give myself some contingency space is case an Ikea truck spills a flat packed kitchen on the highway. Life is full of surprises, I rarely expect anything to go to plan.

I agree with you, but why dont the airline accept their responsibility when they run late?

Seeing as though you forfeit your fare when you run late, perhaps they can refund your fare, when they do? Its always the poor traveller that cops it every single time and I'm becoming more and more intolerant of these types of business's and avoiding them at all cost.

 

[harvyk]

But against JQ I have even seen TT show flexibility when a busload of pax turned up for a flight MCY-MEL about 5 minutes before closing-they processed them all despite that going past the closing time.But of course maybe the exception proving the rule.

You'd probably find that someone called ahead to let TT know the bus was running late, and if everyone was going to be on the same flight TT decided that they didn't want to fly a nearly empty plane and have a whole bus load of pax upset \ tour company upset and start looking at other airlines.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The point was, if you are past the check in close off time, REGARDLESS of the airline, you will not be able to check in. .

legacy carriers can, and do, reopen check in depending on the circumstances. I have had the is happen a few times with a late connection where I have been off loaded from my original flight, only to have that flight reopened and checked in again when I have managed to make it to the gate on time.

I doubt tiger would do this (but then they don't offer connecting services), but qantas has and I'd expect the same from VA, even JQ if it was their mistake.

 

[Rick93]

Lots of interesting comments here ... thanks.

A few have referred to the auto check in kiosks at terminal.

Whatever happened to the need to have photo ID for 'security' purposes?

What now stops people from using someone else's FF number ( so OP can get FF points without actually flying themselves )?

My boy ( and I too ) was under the impression, that if you didn't have a FF card, you needed to check in at counter. You need to show photo ID. So, when did this go out the window, in an age of 'terrorism' risk ???

GORDO

 

[harvyk]

Whatever happened to the need to have photo ID for 'security' purposes?

What now stops people from using someone else's FF number ( so OP can get FF points without actually flying themselves )?

My boy ( and I too ) was under the impression, that if you didn't have a FF card, you needed to check in at counter. You need to show photo ID. So, when did this go out the window, in an age of 'terrorism' risk ???

GORDO

No, that went out the window when airlines realised it was going to cost money to inspect everyone's ID.
Even if you check in at the counter, unless you are going to be flying international they don't ask for any ID. Just a print out of the itinerary.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What now stops people from using someone else's FF number ( so OP can get FF points without actually flying themselves )?

Absolutely nothing. I'm sure many a time Mickey Mouse can't use a ticket & his friend Donald Duck goes instead.

It will not work if you happen to be travelling domestically on an international flight number as one person found out when they purchased a ticket from a backpacker for travel DRW/ADL on QF82. In this case the backpacker went to the airport to do the actual checked & showed their passport which matched the ticket, however the backpacker left the airport after money changed hands & giving boarding pass to other person who headed through customs only to then be asked for ID to match boarding pass. Epic fail.

My boy ( and I too ) was under the impression, that if you didn't have a FF card, you needed to check in at counter. You need to show photo ID. So, when did this go out the window, in an age of 'terrorism' risk ???GORDO

Nope. For QF having a ff card makes the process quicker however you can checkin many ways eg by scanning your QF itinerary or entering your booking reference or even by typing in your name & destination then bob's your uncle. For JQ I think you must know your booking ref but don't quote me on that as I've never used a kiosk to checkin at JQ only OLCI.

 

[wilco]

Whatever happened to the need to have photo ID for 'security' purposes?

What now stops people from using someone else's FF number ( so OP can get FF points without actually flying themselves )?

My boy ( and I too ) was under the impression, that if you didn't have a FF card, you needed to check in at counter. You need to show photo ID. So, when did this go out the window, in an age of 'terrorism' risk ???

Absolutely nothing. I'm sure many a time Mickey Mouse can't use a ticket & his friend Donald Duck goes instead.

It will not work if you happen to be travelling domestically on an international flight number as one person found out when they purchased a ticket from a backpacker for travel DRW/ADL on QF82. In this case the backpacker went to the airport to do the actual checked & showed their passport which matched the ticket, however the backpacker left the airport after money changed hands & giving boarding pass to other person who headed through customs only to then be asked for ID to match boarding pass. Epic fail.

back in the day, myself and a friend, both male, had booked el cheapo tickets to Sydney for something, but in the mean time decided on New York instead. We couldn't do anything with the tickets as they were NON EVERYTHING, so we gave them away to 2 female friends who were twin sisters and half Filipino half Czech. We also handed over our FF cards too.

The girls got away with it in both directions despite both tickets being titled MR. One twin did say she thought she got a funny look from the boarding FA who did a double take but was probably too afraid to question a pre op transexual :shock:.

 

[medhead]

My boy ( and I too ) was under the impression, that if you didn't have a FF card, you needed to check in at counter. You need to show photo ID. So, when did this go out the window, in an age of 'terrorism' risk ???

GORDO

I had a qantas staff member get abusive at me when I showed my driver's licence on the same assumption, instead of my QFF card.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I had a qantas staff member get abusive at me when I showed my driver's licence on the same assumption, instead of my QFF card.

Well OTS (formerly DOTARS) obviously weren't doing an audit of QF that day. Apparently they require all airlines to do this from time to time however IMHO it's about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. Anyone knows if you want to eliminate the risk of maybe being asked you simply OLCI & use the auto bag drop.

 

[medhead]

Well OTS (formerly DOTARS) obviously weren't doing an audit of QF that day. Apparently they require all airlines to do this from time to time however IMHO it's about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. Anyone knows if you want to eliminate the risk of maybe being asked you simply OLCI & use the auto bag drop.

This was in the days before OLCI, IIRC. Around about the time they stopped looking for photo ID. In fact maybe only a year or two before the abuse, I was told I must always show photo ID in preference to QFF (QC) card. In fairness (not that they deserve it and I would happily strangle them today if I found them) to the abusive staff member they did think I was a chancer using the QC priority line.

 

[Princess Fiona]

This was in the days before OLCI, IIRC. Around about the time they stopped looking for photo ID. In fact maybe only a year or two before the abuse, I was told I must always show photo ID in preference to QFF (QC) card. In fairness (not that they deserve it and I would happily strangle them today if I found them) to the abusive staff member they did think I was a chancer using the QC priority line.

Obviously no-one has ever told the staff at NTL as they are never impressed by my WP card

 

[ozbeachbabe]

This was in the days before OLCI, IIRC. Around about the time they stopped looking for photo ID. In fact maybe only a year or two before the abuse, I was told I must always show photo ID in preference to QFF (QC) card. In fairness (not that they deserve it and I would happily strangle them today if I found them) to the abusive staff member they did think I was a chancer using the QC priority line.

Would've thought it would be smarter of the employee to assume pax in the line were entitled to be there unless otherwise proved guilty ie actually sighting the booking first. Should they then see FFBR in pax's checkin record they could politely tell pax the correct queue to use next time.