Staff Upgrades

[mannej]

Totally unreasonable and inappropriate to ask.

I just have to laugh considering I have been posting my thoughts of staff travel on another thread.

It is two separate issues at hand John.

Your issue on the other hand is QF staff members (on duty travel) sitting in the premium cabins full stop where this is the behaviour of either the staff member or traveling partner on what seems to be leisure travel.

If it was pointed out to the OP, they would have been none the wiser about who the cause of the issue was. We have all had those seat partners who have requested swaps, and I can say that this is a behaviour that isn't exclusive to those on staff travel.

So really two totally different issues at hand don't you think John? By the carry on in the other thread, you'd have all staff travel in the Cargo hold (out of mind out of sight)!

 

[MelUser]

Diasagree - the issues are somewhat intertwined. Should they be there in the first place? Lets leave that one alone as there seem to be strong feelings. But perhaps because things like this happen or jeans are worn or whatever - these "incidents" push the pendulum/argument towards not allowing staff on staff travel into premium cabins.

[Personally I don't really have a view - as long as the staff are well behaved I don't mind them there. By well behaved I mean NOT doing all the things that seem to annoy everybody on here.]

 

[TonyHancock]

Just out of mild interest how old was the son who was asked to move?

 

[mannej]

Diasagree - the issues are somewhat intertwined.

In the context of the other thread, they are two different issues.
John was referring to staff on duty travel, where as this seems to be a staff member on leisure travel.
If it wasn't pointed out to them, the OP would have been none the wiser to the identity of the troublemaker.
John's issues in the other thread was the visible staff members and how it wasn't a good look...

 

[robd]

Just out of mild interest how old was the son who was asked to move?

I'm glad he checked with the "boss". I really hate being put on the spot for something I really don't want to do. It would be easy for a young, polite, well brought up person to acquiescence in this situation.

 

[simongr]

Just out of mild interest how old was the son who was asked to move?

I wouldn't mind knowing this too - irrespective of the staff element it is horrible thing to do and a ridiculous request. If you want to be with your children - stay with them. It is the same with seat switchers - they never ask to go backwards - only forwards...

 

[VHOEJ]

It doesn't matter if the staff member is on duty travel or leisure - the staff member and beneficies (people travelling with them) must abide by the same rules.

 

[Red Roo]

Absolutely true story.
Myself (P1), Son Number 1 (p) Son Number 2 (p) sitting in 1st class lounge at HK - all booked and paid for business class.
I was called to desk and offered upgrade to 1st (747) and then told they had one more 1st class seat and which of the 2 boys would like it.
They tossed for it, and son number 1 came with me. Son number 2 remained in Business in an "A" seat with a vacancy alongside.
When the doors closed, two people, staff, don't know who was the staff, husband or wife, but husband went upstairs and wife next to my son.
As the flight was being pushed out "Mrs Staff" told my son that her daughter was back in Economy and she did not like travelling on her own
and would he mind going back to economy and allowing her to come to business.
He was somewhat flustered and asked the "boss" could he talk with me and this was allowed. He asked me what should he do? And I simply said
"stay where you are" if she is concerned about her daughter then let her go back. She did not, but was not happy.
On returning to Sydney I was quite angry and considered a complaint but kept my mouth shut - should I have had a whinge?:?:

J was upstairs and we were in the nose - son number 2 was told by steward that one was staff and the other spouse - as I said, I don't know which one - but at the end of the day, on returning to Sydney, I thought, just get on with life - all was well - I just thought it was a "little over the top". After all, we had 2 upgrades to first and no points - and that was very nice and appreciated.

I'm very concerned to hear about this unusual experience, and would like to follow up. Please send me a private message with the details as reference.

 

[elbarto]

I'm glad he checked with the "boss". I really hate being put on the spot for something I really don't want to do. It would be easy for a young, polite, well brought up person to acquiescence in this situation.

That's probably why he was targeted. Any adult who had paid for a J seat would have instantly said no. I agree with what VHOEJ said and report it. Staff shouldn't be abusing their privileges

 

[mannej]

It doesn't matter if the staff member is on duty travel or leisure - the staff member and beneficies (people travelling with them) must abide by the same rules.

That is not being argued - the first issue was the visible presence of staff versus the behaviour of an individual. This could have been a member of the public and if the info wasn't passed on the OP would have been none the wiser

 

[openseat]

I'm glad he checked with the "boss". I really hate being put on the spot for something I really don't want to do. It would be easy for a young, polite, well brought up person to acquiescence in this situation.

This is what the Mrs was probably hoping for - an easy victim for her plans. Plenty enough have this sort of Machiavellian streak.

 

[medhead]

Did someone say staff are not allowed to swap with any customer? Might be the self justification for not moving back to economy? (Rightly or wrongly)

 

[serfty]

Did someone say staff are not allowed to swap with any customer? Might be the self justification for not moving back to economy? (Rightly or wrongly)

Not sure the staff member nor their spouse had Business Class boarding passes in any case ... :-|

 

[VHOEJ]

That is not being argued - the first issue was the visible presence of staff versus the behaviour of an individual. This could have been a member of the public and if the info wasn't passed on the OP would have been none the wiser

True but you can generally tell who is staff or who is a member of the public. Our dress standards for one are usually a giveaway but also staff get meals last, so while the crew try to be discreet, it doesn't take too long to figure it out.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Many years ago (early 80s) I worked for Qantas - my level meant that I was entitled to premium class when travelling on company business. I only did it once when going to a conference in Brisbane, but I remember very clearly being told I had to dress nicely and be very low key - in fact we were discouraged from telling anyone we were staff. Also when booking holiday travel it was also on condition that you in no way behaved inappropriately etc. Unfortunately there are always people who are going to try and manipulate other people. Our rule has always been we travel as a family - on one occasion when we couldn't afford premium travel for everyone, we travelled Y.

However I do have an anecdote on staff - it happened in 1989, but I am still irritated at the memory. . We had booked rtw flights in F. Had no trouble getting the flights I wanted, except out of LA where F was full. The travel agent booked us into J and wait listed us for F. I kept checking but F remained full. On the night we flew out of LA, at the last minute, there were a whole lot of no shows and we got our 4 F seats. However I literally had to fight my way through a scrum of staff trying to get the seats. The Qantas guy was calling out "are there any other revenue people" and I almost couldn't get to him. Usually I am not particularly aggressive, but in this case I bull dozed my way through and claimed my seats - got some pretty nasty looks from the group. Now I don't know they were Qantas - could have been other airline staff, but they definitely weren't revenue! I have always been convinced that there were some phantom bookings made that then miraculously freed up the seats at the last minute to allow non revenue to get the seats (or would have if I didn't grab 4 of them).

 

[Happy Dude]

I can't speak for QF but at my Place of Employment, I get an annual travel pass. When I collect the pass each year, I have to sign the form which contains the T & C. I presume that similar would apply here to airline staff.

I presume this guy signed some kind of T&C's too. Even the Fair Work Commissioner thinks that's unimportant.

I'd have told her that she must be kidding and bugger off down the back herself. It's unlikely that she could have paid cash for the fare difference to make it worth my while.

 

[medhead]

True but you can generally tell who is staff or who is a member of the public. Our dress standards for one are usually a giveaway but also staff get meals last, so while the crew try to be discreet, it doesn't take too long to figure it out.

Then there are the staff that make absolute no pretense of discretion and have a loud discussion with the csm about their schedules, staff gossip and how they're working together next week.

 

[BadgerBoi]

You should report it.

I was the beneficiary of QF staff travel thanks to a family member who was employed by the airline. I suspect not so much has changed since my day: basically there's a dress code, a behaviour code, you don't tell other passengers that you are on staff travel. Specifically, you don't cause a fuss or complain.

Now, perhaps if this woman had a quiet word to the FA about moving her daughter up it might have been acceptable if there was a seat, but to try to bully another passenger in this way is clearly a breach of the conditions.

I'm making the assumption that this woman was on a staff travel ticket. If not, then she's just a rude cow.

 

[UP4014]

Yes complain, just make sure you have the evidence sorted they were on staff discount travel, avoid embarressment.

The rules are strict for staff, the QF employee is responsible for the actions of his guest travel partner.

If they asked nicely and and you declined nicely to move is it really a big deal even though of course they should not have asked. On the other hand if they asked abruptly, are on staff travel then they need pulling up over it.

Matt
PS If any of my party are offered an up grade I always give it to everyone else first, myself last. This woman should have been more considerate of her family before accepting being split up.

 

[dfcatch]

Silly question.....

What QF services ex-HK still offer F on a 747???

I thought QF107/8 was about the only one left..??