Opt out of CSM greeting??

[JohnK]

Slightly OT but does anyone else find it odd/off putting/a bit annoying when the CSM stands in the aisle intently reading the manifest in front of you, before turning to offer a "personal" greeting?

A little odd but not the end of the world. I don't believe rocket science was one of the criteria for becoming a flight attendant.

 

[rowdy]

I find QF to be random in greeting while CX has a 100% greeting rate with me either as WP or MPD. Except for the time Mrs Rowdy & I swapped seats, the confused FA had a double check of the manifest and proceeded to give her best 'welcome back Mrs Rowdy' greeting to the person sitting in 'my' seat. Mrs Rowdy was very excited to get her own personal greeting for once.

 

[Blackadder]

Be thankful you get a greeting, QF 431 today no acknowledgment what so ever just treated as another bis.

 

[jetlagger]

Be thankful you get a greeting, QF 431 today no acknowledgment what so ever just treated as another bis.

Guess it matches the morale of the company at times! Consistantly, inconsistent...

 

[nlagalle]

Be thankful you get a greeting, QF 431 today no acknowledgment what so ever just treated as another bis.

I fly the MEL-SYD route weekly and there are that many WP's on board that it's probably too hard!

 

[pagingjoan]

I fly the MEL-SYD route weekly and there are that many WP's on board that it's probably too hard!

Does anybody really expect it - or want it - on a short haul domestic flight?

 

[nlagalle]

Does anybody really expect it - or want it - on a short haul domestic flight?

Not on that short a flight. I would like to have more of the same FAs we had last night, nothing was a problem for them. Another bottle of wine, no problems at all sir. Although they are getting a lot better on board of late

 

[AirKat]

I know you're being facetious, but I actually like the CSM greeting.

I'm quite introverted unless I've spent a lot of time with someone, and have never even pressed a call button in my life. The CSM greeting gives me a chance to make it known if I need or want anything without me feeling like I'm interrupting someone.

I feel the same. Additionally, on average I do 4 dom Y flights a week and the flight/lounge time has become my less hectic/relaxing time. I enjoy the familiar greeting in the same way I enjoy being welcomed to my hotel.

 

[pagingjoan]

Not on that short a flight. I would like to have more of the same FAs we had last night, nothing was a problem for them. Another bottle of wine, no problems at all sir. Although they are getting a lot better on board of late

We will just keep training them - with smiles, please and thank you!

 

[beardoc]

RJ is an airline that I've had massive success in getting the OWE greeting: "Hello Dr BearDoc" and a really lovely chat usually. Only very rarely have I had it on a QF flight - it was my first QF flight as a WP from LAX-SYD in Y - got the F amenity kit when I asked for it and all! But after that time, it's been fairly light on the ground. S7 didn't give me a greeting, nor has IB on any of the flights I've flown with them. BA is a writeoff for this sort of thing. AA is variable, but I haven't flown a lot of AA Y since I became WP.

 

[drewbles]

Have to say the WP greeting does make me uncomfortable, even if I like a bit of a chat with the CSM/D and appreciate an amenity kit or J/F Bubbles.

One particularly awkward situation arose when I was bumped to J on a SFO-SYD route, and was given a Window seat (I never take windows, only aisle as I like to be able to get up for a walk and not disturb others). The CSM came and welcomed me on board, gave me an express pass, F amenity kit (they had some on board for some reason) and express pass and what not. The woman in the aisle seat was most confused and said 'what's all that about?' when the CSM left. I just mumbled something about 'oh it must be a frequent flyer thing' and tried to shrug it off. She was SG, but I felt pretty embarrassed.

 

[Blackadder]

Does anybody really expect it - or want it - on a short haul domestic flight?

Would be nice of some form of acknowledgment, even it is just a hello MrBlackadder on boarding.

 

[simongr]

The OP probably wouldn't have liked the DJ flight I was on last night, when doing the intros on the PA instead of saying "...welcome our guests in business class..." he said ".....welcome Jack and Jill our business class guests...."

(names changed by me to protect the innocent, but not the CSM!)

I would actually have been quite annoyed with that actually.

Have to say the WP greeting does make me uncomfortable, even if I like a bit of a chat with the CSM/D and appreciate an amenity kit or J/F Bubbles.

One particularly awkward situation arose when I was bumped to J on a SFO-SYD route, and was given a Window seat (I never take windows, only aisle as I like to be able to get up for a walk and not disturb others). The CSM came and welcomed me on board, gave me an express pass, F amenity kit (they had some on board for some reason) and express pass and what not. The woman in the aisle seat was most confused and said 'what's all that about?' when the CSM left. I just mumbled something about 'oh it must be a frequent flyer thing' and tried to shrug it off. She was SG, but I felt pretty embarrassed.

Why embarrassed? I don't get it - I guess I don't interact with my seat buddies (and fly CX partially to avoid having them) and I don't really care what they think. If questioned I would erspond it is a platinum thing - a small reward for lots of flying - and then most likely get into a discussion about status runs, trip reports and AFF then log in the next day to find a new member introducing them self as Mrs16A who met this very frequent flyer on their flight yesterday...

I am intrigued what will happen on Sunday (SYD-HKG) as this will be my first long haul J flight with QF in a while - I didnt get a greeting SYD-WLG-SYD sat in row 4.

 

[simongr]

Would be nice of some form of acknowledgment, even it is just a hello MrBlackadder on boarding.

I find I get about 50% hello mrsimongr on boarding and about 80% hello mrsimongr at the boarding gate.

 

[dfcatch]

Whilst I don't expect the greeting on a domestic flight - and more often than not, don't get one. (international is different and more often).

But I do appreciate it when it occurs. Conversely, I don't get upset when it doesn't happen domestically. (International, if I'm in whY - then I do appreciate the token love).

What does annoy me - was my SYD-CNS yesterday. I was in 5D, CSM welcomes 2 WPs in row 4, then ignores me.

Now I would expect either no greeting - or greet all the WPs. It wasn't like I was in Row 20.

My feeling is don't do it if you don't do it properly.

And as far as the manifest goes.... AKL-SYD I was in 4B, 4A and C were also WPs, CSM stands with the manifest, reads out Mr 4A "here is your Express Card", awkward pause whilst checking manifest then "Mr dfcatch here is your express card" etc etc.

How about pre-planning, or even writing the name and seat number on the card - which many "good" CSMs do

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I would like to opt in!

On recent flights in int J, they haven't even used my name except on boarding.

 

[drewbles]

Why embarrassed? I don't get it - I guess I don't interact with my seat buddies (and fly CX partially to avoid having them) and I don't really care what they think. If questioned I would erspond it is a platinum thing - a small reward for lots of flying - and then most likely get into a discussion about status runs, trip reports and AFF then log in the next day to find a new member introducing them self as Mrs16A who met this very frequent flyer on their flight yesterday...

I am intrigued what will happen on Sunday (SYD-HKG) as this will be my first long haul J flight with QF in a while - I didnt get a greeting SYD-WLG-SYD sat in row 4.

The first thing I tend to do when the seatbelt sign goes out is put in my headphones and zone out. I have no desire ever to talk to a seatmate. Travel is one of the few times I am alone and isolated from internet/phone etc. I have no desire to educate people on status runs, or frequent flyer programs. Online or at the Frequent Traveller University I was at on the w/end (near EWR) i'm totally happy to oblige.

I guess I don't like attention drawn to me. Usually when in an aisle it's not so bad, it's the leaning over someone to specifically welcome me on board that I felt uncomfortable with!

 

[drewbles]

And as far as the manifest goes.... AKL-SYD I was in 4B, 4A and C were also WPs, CSM stands with the manifest, reads out Mr 4A "here is your Express Card", awkward pause whilst checking manifest then "Mr dfcatch here is your express card" etc etc.

How about pre-planning, or even writing the name and seat number on the card - which many "good" CSMs do

Totally agree. I had this awesome CSM on one flight. I noticed the way she did it. I could see her in the galley looking at the manifest, then she'd go to the people in 1A/B and welcome them. Then, walk to the rear galley, look at the next two names, come back and welcome them, back to the front, etc etc. It was very discreet and unless you were specifically paying attention like I was (out of curiosity) it was done well. No need to be blindingly obvious reading it from the manifest in front of them (I particularly dislike when they go 'Good evening mr... *rummages for manifest* drewbles, will you be joining us for dinner this evening?'.

 

[Ewing]

One particularly awkward situation arose when I was bumped to J on a SFO-SYD route, and was given a Window seat (I never take windows, only aisle as I like to be able to get up for a walk and not disturb others). The CSM came and welcomed me on board, gave me an express pass, F amenity kit (they had some on board for some reason) and express pass and what not. The woman in the aisle seat was most confused and said 'what's all that about?' when the CSM left. I just mumbled something about 'oh it must be a frequent flyer thing' and tried to shrug it off. She was SG, but I felt pretty embarrassed.

When I've been in that window situation, the CSM has also extended the greeting to the aisle passenger.

No greeting and nothing extra on my AKL-SYD flight beyond being handed an express card. I did notice a few people get offered J headphones including the Qantas staffer in 13E, but I may not have been offered as I was already watching the movie using my Bose headphones

How did I know that he worked for Qantas? I was in 14D (I prefer the exit for gate-to-gate IFE on trans tasman). He wore his staff ID on a lanyard the entire flight and made sure the photo side was showing whenever he got out of his seat (which was roughly every 15 minutes - I felt quite bad for the guy in 13D).

 

[amaroo]

I didn't appreciate that the CSM put his hand out and I had to shake it. Then my wife gets out the bottle of hand sanitiser... I know he's just doing his job and many people love it. Anyway, a first world problem which I will deal with. Perhaps driving gloves, headphones, eye mask and newspaper when I sit down until just after take off!

Not sure how you would have handled being on QF1 Wednesday.

No less than 3 crew members came to my seat and enthusiastically shook my hand with smiles & engaging chit chat

Had the same crew the next day on QF2 and was greeted & treated like a best friend