QF Status Run....unnecessary but interesting

[TonyHancock]

I did wonder if I should post this in the trip reports section but this is not really a trip report. I am really posting some observations about the QF I flew compared to the QF I flew prior to the Qantas clowns (Joyce and Clifford) deciding that using me in their ridiculous inability to manage their staff would be a good idea, led to me being stranded in Perth.

A couple of months ago It seemed I would be falling short of P1 status for 2013/2014. I should qualify this, in the Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock household there is a requirement for me to reach DJ Partner Platinum, this is not something up for negotiation. (MrsH can be quite demanding) Consequently this need endangered my P1 status.:shock: As it turned out a BA MEL-LHR return and an unplanned adventure in Canada and the USA will see me well ahead of the mark...but hey ho.

So it was with some trepidation that I set about my status run weekend.

Day one, MEL-SYD-OOL-SYD-MEL was a pleasant surprise. Baristas, on a Saturday,in the MEL and SYD J. The crews were exceptional, and I mean exceptional. I am a harsh judge when I am paying for J out of my own pocket and the three crews, it was the same crew SYD-OOL-SYD, absolutely delivered on every aspect.

I am a cynical traveller and do not particularly enjoy air travel, but today was highly enjoyable. Perhaps made so because I rarely travel unless it is for business. I got to read half of the wonderful Eric Sykes autobiography, listen to Handel and Mozart, and watch the latest episode of Red Dwarf.....an eclectic mix.

I dined on two flights, grazed in the J lunges at MEL and SYD, and it was not bad at all. My flight to MEL was a 737 800 BSI and was very comfortable.

My experiences seem a world away from the QF I flew just over a year ago, I only hope this continues. There will be lots of AFF members who will put the change down to the clowns' grounding....I don't think so. I saw genuine pride in QF staff today. Pride is not generated by locking employees out...so what has changed? I do wonder if DJ's assault on the business market might be behind it.

Tomorrow it is off to AKL with LAN......unnecessary but I'll get to finish the Eric Sykes autobiography.

 

[k_sheep]

Not a bad way to spend a day!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I did MEL-SYD-OOL-SYD-MEL on Thursday just gone, also had excellent crews. Particularly SYD-MEL in J on the 767. extreme seasoned professionals, a full J cabin and my wine glass absolutely never got less than half full. well done

 

[macrop]

I'm trying out the MEL-SYD-OOL-SYD-MEL in Y this coming Thursday myself and in J in a couple of weeks. The pricing is extremely competative.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I hope you chose flexi fare in Y

 

[Simo]

What a way to spend a weekend.

 

[macrop]

I hope you chose flexi fare in Y

I have chosen Y flexi. $438 for 160 SC (with the double SC offer) is hard to refuse.

 

[TonyHancock]

What a way to spend a weekend.

Yes it is insane!!

Sent from The Novotel at Auckland Airport :shock:

 

[pshepvic]

Obviously the improvement has not made its way down to the Y cabin yet...

I did MEL-SYD-MEL earlier this week, and the service was pretty appalling. I can easily forgive the lack of a CSM WP greeting, but I cannot tolerate rude, patronising, lazy staff. Especially when they slap my meal down whilst chewing gum with their mouth open. And that's not the first time that has happened to me either - it has also happened in Business class from LAX-JFK!!

I certainly don't appreciate being told that it is easier if I take the whole tray when all I want is the orange juice. Easier for them maybe, not me. I also don't appreciate being told like a naughty child that I need to put my tray table up when it is clear that I'm already in the middle of packing up my iPad and headphones. And this was 30 minutes before we actually touched down. The QF obsession of preparing for landing so far ahead is just ridiculous. And before people jump down my throat saying that they do it at the same time as Virgin, that has never been my experience. Virgin do put the seatbelt sign on a few minutes earlier but don't require electronic devices to be off until then. QF on every single domestic flight I've ever taken with them, ask them to be put away within minutes of commencing descent.

No wonder the two QF flights this week were half empty, despite being at peak times. They better watch out - with Tiger becoming Virgin's LCC, I reckon we will start to see included meals and baggage on Virgin etc (like we have on Perth flights already) and QF will be in real trouble.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[TonyHancock]

...and prior to my last flight I am reminded why I choose to fly DJ domestically. I'm on non changeable red-e-deal ticket and having arrived early, manfully battled the crowds over in the international SYD terminal I presented myself at the J Lounge service desk and in my most humble style grovelled to the lounge dragon to see if I could get on to an earlier flight.

The response was one I had not heard since becoming a P1 "it is a non changeable fare and it was very difficult for us to change, you need to book a higher fare if you want to change flights. I'll do it today but this is a rarity". I felt like I was back at school receiving a lecture from the headmistress, i did wonder if I would be dispatched to the naughty corner.

OK I got what I wanted but who oh why the school mistress lecture? I know I shouldn't complain because I got something I didn't pay for, but it just annoys me. It is a little thing but would it really have hurt to take a "let's see what we can do" approach accompanied by a smile?

Todays effort just put back into my mind just how pleasant and helpful the DJ lounge angels have been in similar circumstances and on multiple occasions. I have never been lectured on the need to by a higher fare class by the lovely DJ angels.

It is such a shame because I have received some fabulous customer service from QF over the weekend.

 

[pshepvic]

The only time a DJ staff member has "told me off" was when I missed a flight I had checked in for. They were still nice about it though, and simply said "a lot of people are not aware that even with flexi fares, once you have checked in you can't miss it otherwise you forfeit the fare. As you're a Gold FF though [prior to Platinum existing] we are able to waive that rule, but if you're ever not sure you're going to make a flight and have already checked in, just give us a call and we can cancel the check in and then move you to another flight once you're at the airport."

In contrast, I find that QF frequently tell people off for things that don't warrant it!



Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[TonyHancock]

.....and another thing,why do crew members place their carry on luggage in the, already small, locker above row 23 on a 332?

Sent fro 23B on QF 332.

 

[simongr]

I never interact with the J lounge employees in SYD so have no real experience with them. I have to say that the MEL J lounge employees are absolutely the best thing about MEL (city and airport).

 

[pshepvic]

.....and another thing,why do crew members place their carry on luggage in the, already small, locker above row 23 on a 332?

Sent fro 23B on QF 332.

I don't think crew should be allowed to use overhead lockers on any aircraft! For day shifts, how much luggage do they really need anyway? And for overnight they should check it in and it could go to their final destination!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I don't think crew should be allowed to use overhead lockers on any aircraft! For day shifts, how much luggage do they really need anyway? And for overnight they should check it in and it could go to their final destination!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

This comment seems rather silly, so they should tag the bags mel-syd-bne-syd-bne for the day? What if it gets lost? I don't see the problem with them bringing their carry on. If I was a domestic crew member I'd definitely bring my luggage onboard.

 

[simongr]

I don't think crew should be allowed to use overhead lockers on any aircraft! For day shifts, how much luggage do they really need anyway? And for overnight they should check it in and it could go to their final destination!

Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

Aircrew may not spend the entire day on the same aircraft.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I don't think crew should be allowed to use overhead lockers on any aircraft! For day shifts, how much luggage do they really need anyway? And for overnight they should check it in and it could go to their final destination!

They need to plan for an unexpected layover every time they step foot on a plane..................................................................

And TonyHancock....Hm, fence sitting on your issue. In one way you are P1, so obviously you do a lot of flying and the dragons would know this. But at the same time you are on a red e-deal and they are correct to say if you want to be assured the best chance in future, you should buy a flexible fare. I think that is what they were trying to say, perhaps the individual had a bad day. That's not much of an excuse though, I always seem to be able to greet a customer with a smile where I work even when I'm having a rubbish day.

 

[lovestotravel]

Spent Sunday doing a MEL-SYD-ASP-SYD-MEL status run in J

I have to say the crew on the SYD-ASP-SYD flight were fantastic, and were very happy to see me on both flights, let's say my wine was kept VERY full!

The MEL-SYD captain was amazing, giving full details of the landing weight and other random facts, the crew were great as well

The SYD-MEL captain said nothing, and the crew were pretty good working on the poor old BA 767!

I have been flying Qantas quite a bit more over the past few months and am yet to get a "bad crew/bad crew member" yet on Virgin it's a much higher "bad crew" rate

Qantas is definitely moving in the right direction and the re-actions from the USA passengers on the SYD-ASP flight was great. They were amazed by the crew, the food and the wine on-board


Well done QF I am looking forward to Platinum throughout 2013 and have already booked enough flights to nearly re qualify for Plat in 2014 only about 180SC short!

No flights booked on Virgin for 2013 at this stage!

 

[Dnicoll]

...and prior to my last flight I am reminded why I choose to fly DJ domestically. I'm on non changeable red-e-deal ticket and having arrived early, manfully battled the crowds over in the international SYD terminal I presented myself at the J Lounge service desk and in my most humble style grovelled to the lounge dragon to see if I could get on to an earlier flight.

The response was one I had not heard since becoming a P1 "it is a non changeable fare and it was very difficult for us to change, you need to book a higher fare if you want to change flights. I'll do it today but this is a rarity". I felt like I was back at school receiving a lecture from the headmistress, i did wonder if I would be dispatched to the naughty corner.

OK I got what I wanted but who oh why the school mistress lecture? I know I shouldn't complain because I got something I didn't pay for, but it just annoys me. It is a little thing but would it really have hurt to take a "let's see what we can do" approach accompanied by a smile?

Todays effort just put back into my mind just how pleasant and helpful the DJ lounge angels have been in similar circumstances and on multiple occasions. I have never been lectured on the need to by a higher fare class by the lovely DJ angels.

It is such a shame because I have received some fabulous customer service from QF over the weekend.

Reminds me a few months ago of being horrendously late (for good reason) for a qantaslink regional flight back to Sydney, and ringing the checkin desk (as couldn't check in online) to ask to print my boarding pass ahead of time before flight closed (as they often do as a favour). Was told rudely no by a new staff member, who refused to pass me to usual staff member. Was then given a lecture at checkin about how a platinum i should know the checkin times and how dare i ask to bend the rules ... She was correct by the terms & conditions, but not helpful when you're there every week giving patronage to the airline & serving a rural community, and get used to staff going out of their way to help you.

 

[JohnM]

.....and another thing,why do crew members place their carry on luggage in the, already small, locker above row 23 on a 332?

Sent fro 23B on QF 332.

They sometimes do the same in the small locker above 1A/B that my carry-on fits very nicely into :evil:.