Recent Poor LAX Business Lounge and Business class flight QF16

[Quickstatus]

A lightweight base layer consisting of Merino wool

It got me thinking
Those Icebreakers are the bees knees. They were so warm when I was in Edmonton one winter.

The airline will determine how - and exactly where - luggage is processed and transported - especially if it is inadequately packed and presented at check-i

I agree! The passenger does not have any say in where the luggage goes. Like AKL instead of ZQN. Or DEN instead of SFO

 

[kangarooflyer88]

It got me thinking
Those Icebreakers are the bees knees. They were so warm when I was in Edmonton one winter.

This is also why it's important to shop at outdoor stores in Canada/USA as there are good selection of base layers (and other outdoor good). I know some folks will point out Kathmandu but it's got nothing on places like Sail Outdoors or MEC especially when there are a decent number of Canadians who have to endure temperatures in the negative double digits in winter.

 

[jb747]

Cabin temperature….were you, by any chance, seated anywhere near a door or crossover?

 

[MelbFlyer]

This all sounds like the OP is an entitled passenger to me.

 

[SeatBackForward]

the numerous Qantas staff on hand, none being Australian,

How odd that the Qantas staff at an American airport, weren't Australian! Now brace yourself for the big shock, they might even have been American!

the large and slovenly looking attendant

Because that matters.

wrap and tape my own bags

Oh the misfortune of having to do things for oneself.

I insisted it isn't oversized or valuable and wanted it checked in there, they proceeded to argue, I had to be more firm.
I thought I was the customer right?

Yes because the customer is always right, right?

after a long 3 month holiday I wanted to relax before my journey.

Sounds like a longer holiday was needed.

especially around the fake fireplace.

Sorry that it wasn't an actual fireplace, in the middle of an airport.

I even found four UAE coins in the back of my seat

Yes, Qantas secretly inserts foreign coins to stymie their passengers

I have taken almost 200 flights and I was well prepared with an additional blanket and jumper

In which case, I'm not entirely sure what this the whole temperature thing was an issue?

exacerbated by the 5 hour wait in the freezing lounge, and the almost cold shower

You could have at any point left the lounge. Nobody forced you to be uncomfortable there

The crew seemed competent. Yet all kiwi

Again, because that matters.

Not very professional

Indeed, QF now allow amateurs to staff their flights.

the vengeful staff member

Lets hope the next one is less vengeful, at you, personally.

my item was in the oversized collection area

Yes, this can happen. Surprised someone with 200 flights didn't realise this.

Which could well have been to Antarctica

Perhaps next time?

 

[AIRwin]

I even found four UAE coins in the back of my seat.

Hope you donated it to Change for Good!

 

[Lynda2475]

Hope you donated it to Change for Good!

I had some useless coins put aside to donate to Change for Good coming back form LAX a fortnight ago and they never announced it or came through the cabin. Ended up chucking in the unicef containers at the airport. I find BA more consistent in their change collection.

 

[justinbrett]

I just raided my foreign coin jar and found US$6 worth of quarters.

Packing them on my next trip - always handy if the hotel has a laundry so you can do washing. Quite often the case I'm at a hotel with laundry but no way of getting quarters to use it - most hotels have gone cashless so can't help.

 

[jb747]

Whilst I suspect that it's likely we'll never see the OP again...

The customer is not always right, ESPECIALLY at an airport. I have a feeling that you left a trail of Karen detritus behind, wherever you went. Apologies to anyone named Karen.

It is impossible to please everyone with regard to temperature. It varies appreciably across the cabin, and there will always be spots that are warmer, and colder, than others. Doors (extra legroom anyone) are always the coldest spots. I'll bet the temp was set at 21...which is a setting that generally ensures that the hot and cold areas aren't too extreme. Cabin crew have very limited control of the temperature, and they cannot adjust it for one seat without affecting all of the other seats in a zone.

 

[justinbrett]

OP did say that VA was too hot...

Flights from Hell

It wasn't that bad I guess but I copped a bit of a maddie once. SQ PE and my new seat-mate in aisle gave me quite a look as I indicated my window with a smile and a please. She told me she had been at a psychology conference 'all week' but had become a little bored an skived off. Anyhoo, she was...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[SeatBackForward]

Cabin crew have very limited control of the temperature, and they cannot adjust it for one seat without affecting all of the others seats in a zone

When I can't find a large slovenly vengeful non-professional Kiwi crew member who asks me to adjust it myself, I'll remember the above.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Whilst I suspect that it's likely we'll never see the OP again...

Agreed and I would argue it's not very nice to kick someone when they are down like that.

What I will ask everyone though is what lesson can we take away from their experience? For me it's to simply go with the flow and don't make a fuss about the little things you encounter (i.e., making a mountain out of a molehill). Second, that things happen at airports that you may not understand or appreciate but simply need to accept. A check-in agent telling you how to pack your checked in bags may seem strange to the casual traveller but to those of us experienced travellers we know it is to ensure baggage arrives safely (and minimizes the airline's potential liability). If you don't like the lounge you are in, head to a different one. That's the benefit of travelling in business class, especially at a major airport like LAX.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Himeno]

Yes, this can happen. Surprised someone with 200 flights didn't realise this.

During my travels, I've often gotten a medium to large sized postal box from a post office and carried it with me for the rest of the trip. It's within my baggage allowance, so why spend extra to send it in the post.

The majority of airports I've checked the box in at have accepted it as normal baggage along with my suitcase when I check in for the flight.
Some airports have delivered the box to the normal baggage claim, while the next airport sends the same box to oversized luggage.

 

[SeatBackForward]

During my travels, I've often gotten a medium to large sized postal box from a post office and carried it with me for the rest of the trip. It's within my baggage allowance, so why spend extra to send it in the post.

The majority of airports I've checked the box in at have accepted it as normal baggage along with my suitcase when I check in for the flight.
Some airports have delivered the box to the normal baggage claim, while the next airport sends the same box to oversized luggage.

Yea have had the same experience where even the same suitcase has appeared on the belt when arriving at an airport, and then on the next trip ended up at oversized. But that's my point, travel enough doing that, and you'll get to experience the joy that is the oversize lottery! So I'm not sure why OP was surprised by it.

 

[blackcat20]

We've travelled with a portacot for years and some check in agenta suggest we take it to oversized baggage. We always decline, not fussed if it goes down the normal chute. And it usually comes out with the bags but has occasionally come out at oversized