QANTAS Treatment of Frequent Flyer Bookings

[Matt_01]

In the OP’s case they had checked-in in Perth, flown transcon, and then made their way to the lounge before being told they were downgraded. In that sense, a ‘more important’ person took their seat off them, allegedly

After 5 years of being a P1 I would actually doubt that the ‘more important’ person was a P1/WP. I would suspect the ‘more important’ person was one of CL types.

 

[Blacksheep]

If I ever found out I had been bumped for a Minister, I'd take a pic, and send to the Daily Telegraph..... the headline would be "poor aussie battler bumped from dream flight so minister lunch-a-lot can fly first class on the tax payer's dollar to see mistress for weekend romp in the philipines".... or something

I'd love to see that on the front page....though i wouldn't give Murdoch rags any of my coin.....

 

[downgraded]

I would have asked if she could have sourced a PE or Y meal that had some protein. There really is no excuse for them not loading sufficient main meals for each cabin, in fact there should always be a few spares. I wonder if they sent a J meal back to PE or Y for a P1?

Curious as to if you can pre-order your J meal like you can in Y ? I often do this because it means I will get something I know I will eat and you get served first.

You have to remember QF is the airline that considers soup or a cheese plate as a "main plate".

 

[Max Samuels]

... And said only pumpkin soup was available and not any real meals.

Whilst I 100% agree with you, I have since been told that, when it comes to discussing Qantas, unless your plane is late or crashes in a firey ball, anything else is merely complaining and a "first world problem".

Rather than blaming Qantas, why didn't you think to pack your own lunch? I mean, in their own T&Cs, they even say that getting you to your destination on the date and time you booked doesn't form part of the contract (I mean.... hello???, so I imagine nothing else does as well.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Given the way Qantas Hype up their business class meals, I would be cranky if they claimed all that was available was pumpkin soup. That is remarkably bad. I’d want compo.

Cheers skip

 

[Jacques Vert]

Given the way Qantas Hype up their business class meals, I would be cranky if they claimed all that was available was pumpkin soup. That is remarkably bad. I’d want compo.

Or a cheesebox!

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would have asked if she could have sourced a PE or Y meal that had some protein. There really is no excuse for them not loading sufficient main meals for each cabin, in fact there should always be a few spares. I wonder if they sent a J meal back to PE or Y for a P1?

Curious as to if you can pre-order your J meal like you can in Y ? I often do this because it means I will get something I know I will eat and you get served first.

I seriously doubt any J meal went to a P1 outside that cabin.
Soup is a main meal in J on quite a few flights both Domestic and International. It’s often both a Small plate and a Main plate in a bigger bowl.
They hadn’t run out of meals in the J cabin, they had run out of choices. It does happen unfortunately.

Yes you can preorder a meal in J on international long haul.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Given the way Qantas Hype up their business class meals, I would be cranky if they claimed all that was available was pumpkin soup. That is remarkably bad. I’d want compo.

Cheers skip

Seriously ????
I’d be rolling in compo if I asked for it every time they had run out of my meal choice on J flights on various airlines.

Good luck with that one.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Seriously ????
I’d be rolling in compo if I asked for it every time they had run out of my meal choice on J flights on various airlines.

Seriously! But I didn’t say I would get compo. Poster indicated it they ran out of EVERY other meal choice, which seems pretty grim.
Cheers skip

 

[Princess Fiona]

Seriously! But I didn’t say I would get compo. Poster indicated it they ran out of EVERY other meal choice, which seems pretty grim.
Cheers skip

On that type of flight the main course choices in J will often be a Cheese Plate, big bowl of soup and three other hot food options.
If they have run out of 4/5 menu items by the time they get to the last person to have their order taken it’s definitely pretty sub par but not something worthy of compo or even asking for it IMHO.
I would ask for compo for an inoperable seat, no IFE etc..
YMMV of course.

 

[roddo12]

I didn't ask for compo. Ate my heart out when I got to Penang!!!

Though before the flight I was looking forward to something something rockpool steak

 

[downgraded]

On that type of flight the main course choices in J will often be a Cheese Plate, big bowl of soup and three other hot food options.
If they have run out of 4/5 menu items by the time they get to the last person to have their order taken it’s definitely pretty sub par but not something worthy of compo or even asking for it IMHO.
I would ask for compo for an inoperable seat, no IFE etc..
YMMV of course.

Isn't that why QF gets away with it though? I (wp with 2 NBs) booked 1cdf for 3pax on a mel-syd, we all ordered the same dish by coincidence. Guy in 1a was skipped on first pass through cabin, when they returned having completed rest of cabin he was told pretty much no options left. From his perspective - why not serve him in the first pass, "sorry sir, you're not worth serving ahead of other more with important pax". It's cough given the perceived and actual value of his custom. QF should be hauled over the coals for this approach to customer service. I'm sure my companions would have been skipped as well had we not shared the same name and been conversing.

 

[Ric]

I didn't ask for compo. Ate my heart out when I got to Penang!!!

And much palatable I bet!!

 

[Matt_01]

Isn't that why QF gets away with it though? I (wp with 2 NBs) booked 1cdf for 3pax on a mel-syd, we all ordered the same dish by coincidence. Guy in 1a was skipped on first pass through cabin, when they returned having completed rest of cabin he was told pretty much no options left. From his perspective - why not serve him in the first pass, "sorry sir, you're not worth serving ahead of other more with important pax". It's cough given the perceived and actual value of his custom. QF should be hauled over the coals for this approach to customer service. I'm sure my companions would have been skipped as well had we not shared the same name and been conversing.

Your perception of what is going on in the cabin and PAX may not be as it seems. I often sit in 1C normally the PAX in 1A may maybe staff or last minute flow forwards. Staff or crew travelling on QF staff rates are offered food towards the end of the service. Flow forwards or last minutes upgrades are also not guaranteed meal choices. When I flow forward in J I do so knowing that I may not get my first choice of meal or none at all.

 

[downgraded]

Your perception of what is going on in the cabin and PAX may not be as it seems. I often sit in 1C normally the PAX in 1A may maybe staff or last minute flow forwards. Staff or crew travelling on QF staff rates are offered food towards the end of the service. Flow forwards or last minutes upgrades are also not guaranteed meal choices.

Was not staff. Could have been one of the other, but QF have expectations of cabin occupancy and should expect to provide reasonable service. You're suggesting they expect to provide sub J service to a pax just because they were a last minute upgrade? If they can't provide the soft product service, they shouldn't provide the hard product upgrade.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I would ask for compo for an inoperable seat, no IFE etc..
YMMV of course.

Mmm. I wouldn’t give a hoot if the IFE didn’t work, would be annoyed if my seat didn’t recline, but would be cranky, cranky, cranky if I was told pumpkin soup or nothing.

QF should be hauled over the coals for [status first] approach to customer service.

Indeed. OWE, QF, one kowtow and first choice of menu. CX, two kowtows and (used to be) menu service from the front. I like the latter.

 

[dajop]

I think it’s just playing with words to suggest soup is a main course. Sure some people will prefer something light like soup as a main course but I’m not sure what parallel universe people are in to think it is acceptable to serve it as a main course. Sure offer it, but cater it over and above normal main courses. We’re not talking about a LCC with $400 biz fares here .

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From the Qantas in-flight dining page:

Australia's finest restaurant in the sky
Collaborating with Neil Perry, Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service, since 1997 in Business we offer a range of meals, snacks and superior wines tailored to each route across our Australian network.
Enjoy an expanded menu with the addition of small bites and more choices of entrée and main. And the freedom of flexible dining, with a move away from tray-service towards menus and separately plated courses which allow you more personal space.
Our Qantas Rockpool Sommeliers are proud to present an exceptional selection of wine from boutique producers to iconic brands from across Australia and New Zealand along with a range of non-alcoholic options.
The dining experience is delivered by our professional, personable crew and enhanced by stylish tableware designed by David Caon.


My bolding. If you're a bronze in business class and restricted to row 3 - does the in-flight menu blurb hold true? i can understand people being disappointed if only soup is left.

Perhaps on longer domestic flights they should ask for first and second preferences for both courses, and if there is strong demand you get your first choice for one, bot not necessarily both, courses?

 

[downgraded]

From the Qantas in-flight dining page:

Australia's finest restaurant in the sky
Collaborating with Neil Perry, Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service, since 1997 in Business we offer a range of meals, snacks and superior wines tailored to each route across our Australian network.
Enjoy an expanded menu with the addition of small bites and more choices of entrée and main. And the freedom of flexible dining, with a move away from tray-service towards menus and separately plated courses which allow you more personal space.
Our Qantas Rockpool Sommeliers are proud to present an exceptional selection of wine from boutique producers to iconic brands from across Australia and New Zealand along with a range of non-alcoholic options.
The dining experience is delivered by our professional, personable crew and enhanced by stylish tableware designed by David Caon.


My bolding. If you're a bronze in business class and restricted to row 3 - does the in-flight menu blurb hold true? i can understand people being disappointed if only soup is left.

Perhaps on longer domestic flights they should ask for first and second preferences for both courses, and if there is strong demand you get your first choice for one, bot not necessarily both, courses?

We're talking ready meal catering, there's no excuse for not providing full service to every J pax. It's not like we're talking about a minor miss rate on catering based on the reported fails. It's a wanten disregard for delivering the sold product.

 

[Matt_01]

Was not staff. Could have been one of the other, but QF have expectations of cabin occupancy and should expect to provide reasonable service. You're suggesting they expect to provide sub J service to a pax just because they were a last minute upgrade? If they can't provide the soft product service, they shouldn't provide the hard product upgrade.

How do you know the PAX was not staff, unless you asked. Staff can travel in uniform or normal clothing and I believe there are different rules when on duty or otherwise. In general flow forwards meals are not guaranteed catering if it within 3 hours of departure. QF rarely enforce this at the CL or P1 level, WP? and anything below that I am not sure. Not everyone wants to eat QF J food, it is not that great. At times I will burn points to upgrade to dom J just to get home earlier.