QF domestic newspapers "enhanced"

[oz_mark]

or lighting a fire with your iPad?

I'm sure it's happened

 

[cove]

Lithium battery fires ?

 

[RooFlyer]

Ever tried swatting a fly with the laptop, or lighting a fire with your iPad?

Hitting either one with a brick is much more satisfying.

 

[EmilyHoward]

I always just buy the papers I want pre-flight!

EH

 

[harvyk]

Its a natural progression towards digital reading...why print so many papers when people are consuming content via devices...If I was a QF shareholder, I'd prefer that my investment understands changes in content consumption...newspapers are a dying a slow death.

Agreed as well,
I can't think of the last time I sat down and read a newspaper from end to end...
I also hated the newspapers often offered as you'd every so often sit next to a person in a B or E seat who'd have no problems spreading out the paper to it's full size.

 

[simongr]

This is a major personal cost of travelling weekly - I have to buy a magazine to read in the four periods of time when no device is available. I could read a book but it isn't enough time to make any headway with a book and I would normally read the book on the iPad so would have to keep track of where I was on each version - so a magazine is easier. However in the space of four weeks I quickly run out of Geek Monthly, SciFi Now and Sport Diver and pray for the months when Comic Heroes gets published.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Given the mess that some people leave of papers onboard, I don't blame QF. And J travellers are proportionally bigger culprits in my experience!

ETA; not that this will reduce, as you can still get them from the gate......

 

[Mattg]

This trial started 1st May alongside the "enhancement" in 737 crew numbers on non breakfast/dinner services.

I didn't think they could reduce crew numbers because of the legal requirement in Australia to have 1 crew member to every 36 passengers. Unless this has changed, I don't think they could reduce crew except for on specific flights with lighter passenger loads? (Regardless of being or not being meal services)

 

[oz_mark]

I didn't think they could reduce crew numbers because of the legal requirement in Australia to have 1 crew member to every 36 passengers. Unless this has changed, I don't think they could reduce crew except for on specific flights with lighter passenger loads? (Regardless of being or not being meal services)

They are currently allowed to have 1 for every 50 passengers on the 737-800 (as is VA).

For Qantas see http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012L01632

 

[Fruitcake]

I didn't think they could reduce crew numbers because of the legal requirement in Australia to have 1 crew member to every 36 passengers.

Since 2006 it has been possible to operate aircraft at a 1:50 ratio under an exemption granted by CASA after completion of a risk assessment etc, and demonstration by the airline that they could safely operate at a 1:50 ratio. Virgin Blue was the primary driver of this so they could operate their 737-800s with 4 FAs.

A parliamentary enquiry a couple of years ago which investigated making 1:50 the "baseline" standard found that 1:50 operation was used by Jetstar because JQ is less focused on passenger amenity and more focused on cost control.

Read into that what you will, given that VA now crew their aircraft with five FAs on all services offering business class .

 

[Mattg]

They are currently allowed to have 1 for every 50 passengers on the 737-800 (as is VA).

For Qantas see http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012L01632

Interesting, I wasn't aware the regulator had made an exception. Fairly minimal consequences though, it just means QF are allowed to operate one particular aircraft type with one less crew member for a limited time frame.

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting, I wasn't aware the regulator had made an exception. Fairly minimal consequences though, it just means QF are allowed to operate one particular aircraft type with one less crew member for a limited time frame.

It'll just get rolled over at the end of the current period (as it has been in the past)

 

[UP4014]

Agreed.

Couldn't care less about newspapers or lack thereof. Save a few trees.

we can burn them to power our battery chargers :shock:

i prefer the hard copy in a paper. :mrgreen:

 

[milehighclub]

The reduction in crew is only on certain routes (9 routes all of medium length) at certain times.

Make sure you pass on your feedback to the crew in regards to newspapers. Given the amount of people that travel with some sort of smart phone or tablet, it would be nice if all passengers could eventually download a digital copy in the terminal.

You may have also noticed in SYD there is a trial for automated boarding at gate 2.

 

[Fruitcake]

Given the amount of people that travel with some sort of smart phone or tablet, it would be nice if all passengers could eventually download a digital copy in the terminal.

Well... those of us on the dark side already can .
Take your pick from over 2300 publications « Virgin Australia Blog

This system actually works surprisingly well but it doesn't fill the gap between "doors closed" and "electronic devices on." That's when I use a physical newspaper.

Coverage is surprisingly good, although there are no Fairfax publications.

 

[simongr]

You may have also noticed in SYD there is a trial for automated boarding at gate 2.

Automated boarding? Tell us more!

 

[milehighclub]

Two week trial stated today on selected flights each day from Gate 2. You can scan your boarding pass, Q card or mobile device and the gate will open similar to that of train stations, subways etc.

 

[simongr]

Intriguing - hopefully before my DOM travel ends I will get a chance to try it. Can't imagine it is that much faster - hopefully if in the Premium boarding queue the barriers wont open for non-premium pax

 

[flyingfan]

Two week trial stated today on selected flights each day from Gate 2. You can scan your boarding pass, Q card or mobile device and the gate will open similar to that of train stations, subways etc.

What happens when the op-up fairy strikes :?:

 

[medhead]

What happens when the op-up fairy strikes :?:

For a Q card or Mobile device, probably the same as what happens now. The docket prints out with a different seat number.