Off duty staff travel question

[RooFlyer]

I think you’ve got a valid beef for being asked to move to the window.

However where they went after that really is none of your concern and doesn’t impact you or anyone else at all.

If there is a 'wrong' observed or perceived, its valid to raise it and discuss it. Explanation may arise that there was no 'wrong', but if there is, and you are in a group potentially affected by continuation of whatever happened, then I'd say you are impacted by it. YMMV.

Not entirely the case. Asked to change seats for spurious reason and then did not use the seat, so no need to change in the first place.

I'm guesing that the opportunity or offer to upgrade came sometime into the flight after the seat swap. No J meals available, so had to take their allocated Y meal then move. I think it was likely to be a seat not able to be occupied by a paying pax such as malfunctioning, or a last minute no-show, so in my book merely in the 'not a good look' category.
________

Hmmmm ... separate from this case, I wonder (@milehighclub ?) if there is any discretion allowed for the CSM to offer a non reclining (or similar defect but still safe) J seat to a Y passenger? I say offer, with explanation of situation given. The manifest records status, and the iPad thingy used to record preferences and other details of status pax on international flights at least - I wonder if it also noted upgrade requests, so they could be executed 'on the fly' if possible? Or maybe offer it to a CL/VIP (in the airline's eyes) who is in the horror of Y?

 

[Princess Fiona]

If there is a 'wrong' observed or perceived, its valid to raise it and discuss it. Explanation may arise that there was no 'wrong', but if there is, and you are in a group potentially affected by continuation of whatever happened, then I'd say you are impacted by it. YMMV.




I'm guesing that the opportunity or offer to upgrade came sometime into the flight after the seat swap. No J meals available, so had to take their allocated Y meal then move. I think it was likely to be a seat not able to be occupied by a paying pax such as malfunctioning, or a last minute no-show, so in my book merely in the 'not a good look' category.
________

Hmmmm ... separate from this case, I wonder (@milehighclub ?) if there is any discretion allowed for the CSM to offer a non reclining (or similar defect but still safe) J seat to a Y passenger? I say offer, with explanation of situation given. The manifest records status, and the iPad thingy used to record preferences and other details of status pax on international flights at least - I wonder if it also noted upgrade requests, so they could be executed 'on the fly' if possible? Or maybe offer it to a CL/VIP (in the airline's eyes) who is in the horror of Y?

Not quite the same thing but I had inoperable IFE on a full J cabin QF long haul a few years ago.
After numerous failed attempts to fix it the CSM advised me that there was an FA in staff travel and that they would get them to swap seats with me.
I declined as it was just too much hassle and I didn’t want to bother the other pax.

 

[jb747]

They were not in uniform, so I assume not on duty travel and also with a W boarding pass.

You can't make any assumptions as to whether they were on duty travel or not. You don't generally wear uniform on duty travel, unless India is involved. Luggage..perhaps but could also be family. They may well have been on a commercial ticket. The luggage I use when I paid for it myself, used staff travel, or was on duty travel, is exactly the same. It still has the crew tags on it now.

I was under the impression that people moving seats and/or upgrading themselves mid-flight was a big No No.

Upgrading yourself, yes. Try it sometime.

If they were on staff travel I feel it is a big impost to ask full revenue fares to give up their assigned seat.

I'm sorry. They asked. You refused. What is the big deal? Are staff not supposed to talk to you?

As to the use of a broken seat...the Captain decides. And the answer will always be that it can be used by staff, and never commercial passengers. I actually relented on that once, and the person concerned made me regret the decision almost instantly.

 

[sudoer]

I'm sorry. They asked. You refused. What is the big deal? Are staff not supposed to talk to you?

They were sitting in OP's seat when he boarded and OP presumably had to ask them to move. Then once OP was settled they informed him they would need to swap seats.

It's a bit different to another pax taking their assigned seat until you board, then asking politely if they can swap with you.

Regardless of whether the person was staff or not, they were out of line on this alone IMO.

 

[brett-au]

I'm voting for broken seat in J.
I think this thread would be "I can't believe they took my points and gave me a J seat that didn't recline for 8 hours" otherwise.

Hopefully the rest of the flight was enjoyable and you had an empty seat next to you/didn't have to get up and down every 5 minutes/could stretch out -> glass half full. And if it wasn't that little button on your remote will get your glass refilled ;-)

 

[JohnK]

I'm voting for broken seat in J.
I think this thread would be "I can't believe they took my points and gave me a J seat that didn't recline for 8 hours" otherwise.

Don't believe everything they tell you.

Quite a few years ago I was flying SIN-SYD. Platinum in those days could preselect exit row. I had exit row aisle allocated for months.

When I arrived in SIN from BKK went to get boarding pass and exit row disappeared. Went to the lounge to try and fix but they said that seat was inoperable. Aircraft was coming from FRA.

I complained and persevered and finally got my exit row seat back. There was nothing wrong with the seat, IFE or any of the controls.

Who was given my seat in FRA? Another Platinum or higher? More than likely staff being done a favour. Why do they have to lie?

 

[Denali]

Is this a matter of look what someone else got and why didn't I get it?

Agreeing to swap seats was a silly thing to agree to - next time embrace your inner mean girl and say no.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think this thread would be "I can't believe they took my points and gave me a J seat that didn't recline for 8 hours" otherwise.

That's a bit bizarre. Did you read the OP? EDIT: Apologies, I'm wrong - you read it closer than me! See below.

And if it wasn't that little button on your remote will get your glass refilled ;-)

Ya reckon? Its not called the 'ignore' button for nothing.

 

[Princess Fiona]

That's a bit bizarre. Did you read the OP?



Ya reckon? Its not called the 'ignore' button for nothing.

Yes I think the did.
They mean that the FA went to a broken seat in J and the alternative outcome pre-departure could have been a points upgrade to J for the OP to a broken seat. Which clearly didn’t happen.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes I think the did.
They mean that the FA went to a broken seat in J and the alternative outcome pre-departure could have been a points upgrade to J for the OP to a broken seat. Which clearly didn’t happen.

Maybe. Getting a bit technical, but the upgrade request referred to wasn't by the OP. The OP wasn't complaining about actually missing out on anything,

I know of one WP, sitting in 32J, that had an upgrade request in place!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Maybe. Getting a bit technical, but the upgrade request referred to wasn't by the OP. The OP wasn't complaining about actually missing out on anything,

The OP was sitting in 32J until they moved for the staff member

 

[RooFlyer]

The OP was sitting in 32J until they moved for the staff member

Oops Thanks & apologies to @jso

 

[bam71]

Perhaps the off duty staff traveler was in crew rest instead of a J seat?

 

[TheInsider]

Don't believe everything they tell you.

Quite a few years ago I was flying SIN-SYD. Platinum in those days could preselect exit row. I had exit row aisle allocated for months.

When I arrived in SIN from BKK went to get boarding pass and exit row disappeared. Went to the lounge to try and fix but they said that seat was inoperable. Aircraft was coming from FRA

I complained and persevered and finally got my exit row seat back. There was nothing wrong with the seat, IFE or any of the controls.

Who was given my seat in FRA? Another Platinum or higher? More than likely staff being done a favour. Why do they have to lie?

Always a big conspiracy 'ey.
Maybe you should apply for job at an airline, they are all recruiting, and maybe you'll see what actually happens behind the scenes.

 

[JohnK]

Always a big conspiracy 'ey.
Maybe you should apply for job at an airline, they are all recruiting, and maybe you'll see what actually happens behind the scenes.

If it's not a conspiracy then it's gross incompetence or favours for friends and staff which borders on incompetence.

First rule of working for an airline. Don't inconvenience customers especially loyal customers.

Second rule of working for an airline. Don't stuff around with seating unless you ask permission first. I don't care what the stupid fine print says.

I read an old thread yesterday. I was flying SYD-MEL on 767. I had bulkhead pre-allocated. My seat was changed without my permission and on boarding an elderly lady sitting there with vacant window seat when whole aircraft was full. Apparently she needed wheelchair assistance and she had just arrived from USA.

When we disembarked she was nowhere to be seen. She ran off the aircraft to make a tight connection to ADL. Wheelchair assistance right? Must have made miracle recovery.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 'seat stealer' was correct on one aspect: he 'had to go to the toilet a lot', as after all, one can't change into supplied airline PJs without doing so.

Who is going to 'comprehensively debunk' what could be another occurrence of over-entitled staff?

 

[jb747]

When we disembarked she was nowhere to be seen. She ran off the aircraft to make a tight connection to ADL. Wheelchair assistance right? Must have made miracle recovery.

There were a number of flights that were called the miracle flights by cabin crew. Basically a zillion wheelchairs at boarding, but they all miraculously recovered in flight, immediately after being told their wheelchairs would arrive after all the other passengers got off.

Who is going to 'comprehensively debunk' what could be another occurrence of over-entitled staff?

Nobody can. That's the beauty of tossing a bit of mud, when the actual details cannot be found by anyone. The truth is anywhere from your 'over entitled' staff, to the exact opposite.

 

[drron]

Flying between New york and Florida they are virtually all miracle flights but especially so flying south in fall or north in Spring.

 

[Quickstatus]

I’ve eaten the last popcorn and I still don’t know what actually happened on that flight…..

BUT

I now have an explanation for many dodgy Skybed II Seats I’ve sat in: The airline must think I’m cabin crew. How can I update my CSM iPad profile?

 

[Hvr]

So has the OP @BrockF sought clarification as to what happened?
Either by way of a complaint or feedback.

Until they get a response it's purely speculation as to what actually occurred.