QF 9 MEL-PER 787 Business Class Review

[Inlander]

The Velocity service on the A 330 is much better

 

[Quickstatus]

Not all,

Do ALL airlines offer gate check FOC?

Not all but the US ones often do. I’ve used that trick to gate check FOC, bags that would otherwise have incurred a checkin fee.

 

[Max Samuels]

Not all,

Not all but the US ones often do. I’ve used that trick to gate check FOC, bags that would otherwise have incurred a checkin fee.

Yeah I notice that - they often even make a call at the gate inviting people to check their bags for free (because as we all know baggage space on US domestic is TERRIBLE).

However, I do find it hard to imagine that QF, who wanted to charge me $90 for an additional bag at check-in, would casually check-in a full-size suitcase at the gate for free...... but maybe they would have to because they don't have POS facilities at the gate?

 

[Scarlett]

There's obviously a business case for such a store.

Well played sir.

 

[Max Samuels]

Well played sir.

a business "suit" case......

 

[toowongman]

The Velocity service on the A 330 is much better

True, however will be increasingly scarce once VA starts up BNE-HND.

 

[Inlander]

True, however will be increasingly scarce once VA starts up BNE-HND.

Yep there will be some hard choices made in VA scheduling no doubt, with the Hong Kong services in the 60-70% load factors and no doubt poor performing domestic sectors will be under review with subsequent fleet reshuffling. Interesting to see fleet redeployment
for post March 2020 when Tokyo comes online

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Of course there is a business case - just like they had Veuve for MORE than Dan Murphy's - the business case is plain and simple: stupid tourists who get bedazzled by the flashing lights and switch their brains off, and don't bother doing a price check.

But 'more expensive than Dan's' might still be much cheaper than 'on the ground' in somewhere like Bali. Having traveled with champagne in the suitcase once I'd never do it again.

 

[JohnM]

Well, I had a somewhat Consistently Inconsistent (TM) (R) experience on the QF9 ride MEL-PER today.

As explained upthread, I was going ADL-xMEL-PER. Fronted the desk to check in in ADL. Asked the agent whether she could give me my BP for MEL-PER - and whether she could provide the orange 'D' sticker. She linked the two bookings and printed both BPs. She was not familiar with the 'D' sticker and had to check with her supervisor about it; they disappear out the back and re-appear with it on the BP; she fills in my PP number and I sign it. All sweet.

Get to MEL, swiftly through security and the clearly-signed 'D' line at PP Control and into the F Lounge. All sweet.

Order S&P squid. Hmmm, something's missing; it just isn't quite right. Dang! Where is the chilli? Not a skerrick on it . It ain't the same without the chilli!



Board the flight and that's when things started to become bizarre.

Offered Champagne (unidentified); all good.

In the air, level out, meal orders taken. Waiting. Waiting.

Trolleys appear, table set, NP Rabbit Food (TM) (R) provided. Bread offered (I decline 'bakery'). Wine offered; choose (OK) Chardy to go with the tuna starter.

Huh? B-b-b-but what happened to drinks service and nuts? .

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

Starter (v good) appears. Top up Chardy.

Just finish starter, still chewing, main (v good) appears. Order (very good) red wine (Hay Shed Hill MR Bordeaux blend).

Finish meal, order (excellent) cheese - but nobody could tell me what it was . They apparently no longer load a cheat-sheet for the crew to give the pax that info! (But, weirdly, the PER-MEL 'proper' DOM service on Friday listed the types of cheese on the menu).

Meal all done and dusted by 2 h into a 3.5 h flight .

I queried the CSM on this unusual service pattern. He responds carefully. It's obviously the way they've been told to do it but I sense some staff dissatisfaction and that there have been some comments from pax. That is amplified when he insistently gives me a feedback card and pushes me to give feedback (as, words to the effect: "crew feedback doesn't count").

Discussion with the FA who mostly served me was also interesting. He is normally A380 crew but had been called in for this job. He was clearly puzzled as to why there had been no 'bar service' as he called it. Had to do what he was told.

So that was it. Quite different from the standard DOM flights - but, surprisingly, of a generally lesser service standard .

I did not find out which of the two Champagnes were served and the bottles never appeared on the carts. Obviously it was there if requested, but I prefer Champagne as an aperitif and wine with the meal, so I didn't chase it up.



Bizarre - just bizarre.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

This was the same as my experience as I commented in post #2 in this thread and in another thread.

 

[JohnM]

This was the same as my experience as I commented in post #2 in this thread and in another thread.

I did see post #2, but I took it that you actually got a drinks service, albeit slowly. Are you saying they went straight to the meal as well?

 

[kermatu]

I'm keen to know what is offered on the menu MEL-PER in J on QF9. Have an upcoming need to travel from AKL. The convenience of staying in the Intl terminal and the F lounge pretty much seals the deal but knowing what meal is offered would also be good.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I did see post #2, but I took it that you actually got a drinks service, albeit slowly. Are you saying they went straight to the meal as well?

Exactly.
The first drink was offered as they set the table with linen and the salad etc.

 

[JohnM]

I'm keen to know what is offered on the menu MEL-PER in J on QF9. Have an upcoming need to travel from AKL. The convenience of staying in the Intl terminal and the F lounge pretty much seals the deal but knowing what meal is offered would also be good.

Sorry, mate, I didn't take a pic of the whole menu.

Suffice to say the tuna and tagine-style duck I had were both good - and as I mentioned, the cheese was excellent.

It's the drinks service that is completely haywire.

 

[JohnM]

Exactly.
The first drink was offered as they set the table with linen and the salad etc.

Hopeless, just hopeless .

 

[kermatu]

Sorry, mate, I didn't take a pic of the whole menu.

Suffice to say the tuna and tagine-style duck I had were both good - and as I mentioned, the cheese was excellent.

It's the drinks service that is completely haywire.

No worries. I now ask on pretty much every QF flight if there will be a drinks run and/or ask for a drink at the first opportunity (when I want one). I assume this has been 'enhanced' so am prepared in advance.

 

[JohnM]

I used the feedback card the CSM gave me to notify them of my dissatisfaction.

Dianne just phoned and I explained that I was not complaining in any way about the crew, but it was all about the changed pattern of service. She hadn't heard anything from elsewhere to indicate that this was a new service structure. Nor was she aware of any other negative feedback from pax.

Anyway, she's going to send it up the chain and has promised to let me know the outcome.

I did say that I was aware of grumblings from other experienced QF FFlyers.

Can I encourage peeps to register something at: qantas.com/yourexperiencewithqantas.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Submitted.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I used the feedback card the CSM gave me to notify them of my dissatisfaction.

Dianne just phoned and I explained that I was not complaining in any way about the crew, but it was all about the changed pattern of service. She hadn't heard anything from elsewhere to indicate that this was a new service structure. Nor was she aware of any other negative feedback from pax.

Anyway, she's going to send it up the chain and has promised to let me know the outcome.

I did say that I was aware of grumblings from other experienced QF FFlyers.

Can I encourage peeps to register something at: qantas.com/yourexperiencewithqantas.

I received a call yesterday about this issue on QF9.
Started by insisting it was PER-MEL which was a sign of the quality of the call to come.
Gave me a lecture about how the service on itnernational flights was different from domestic flights.
I politely pointed out that I did fly QF internationally so I did have a basis for comparison but she soldiered on in the same vein.
When she finished I remarked that it was odd that the crews on my recent QFi flights had not followed what she said was standard service. Incluidng:
QF 92 NOU-SYD in January, QF2 LHR-SIN and QF73 SIN-PER in MAY, QF92 again in September and QF 27 & 28 SYD-SCL and back just this month!
She then sneered "Well you do know that in business you can ask for a drink at any time and have any drink you want.".
I replied yes but I don't think you want the whole cabin doing that, and we are patient when we think the drinks trolley is on the way.
She started so say "I don't think everyone would want alcohol ... " then caught herself and continued with "I mean any sort of drink ..." before the meal.
I responded that water would have been nice.
All in all a very unsatisfactory phone call with a good dose of what one might politely call creative fiction.
I have posted some of this on another thread where it was also relevant.
If that breaks the rules I apologise and assume one post will quietly disappear.

 

[JohnM]

Dianne, the person who contacted me was very polite and listened without trying to 'argue' the issue. It was clear that she was merely an intermediary 'reaching out' to pax that had given feedback and largely naive to what I was explaining. She could do nothing in the way of promising change, so her role was to pass it along the appropriate chain.

I've heard no more.