The future of flying todays Perth to Sydney

[eastwest101]

I think many of these "cautious" measures will be retained for the longer term as really just cost-cutting masquerading under the guise of security and hygiene theatre.

Yes - airlines will make all the noises about passenger safety and being cautious regarding Covid-19 but if they were really serious about social distancing they would be decreasing the density of Y seating and/or blocking middle seats to increase social distancing between passengers. Somehow, and maybe this is just also being cynical, I can't see the airlines doing this.

As eminere so elegantly put it - they are just cost cutting measures masquerading as safety enhancements/measures, as evidenced by the earlier pic of one of the reputed worst catered airlines in the world (BA), being able to produce a reasonable meal in a box that isn't fatal to all its staff and passengers.

 

[p--and--t]

Soooo... can anyone help me understand...

QF is telling us that flying is very safe. Risk of transmission on board is extremely low. Perhaps no reported cases of on-board transmission?.

So safe is flying, that the middle seat doesn't need to be kept free.

But confusingly, cabin crew can't serve a hot meal? Cabin crew can't pour hot water?

So which is it? So safe we can sit three across in seats just 17 inches wide. Or so unsafe cabin crew can't turn an oven on?

Think about it for 2 minutes.

I think you may find it is the same argument that has been described previously for emergency workers.

Repeated exposure to even very low level formites puts them at far higher risk of actually contracting the disease.

There would be an argument minimising exposure for worker safety. Passengers are only exposed for a single flight sector, cabin crew might be exposed 4-5 flight sectors per day, several days in a row.

Passengers are exposed to 2 others in close proximity, one each side.

Crew would be exposed to 100+ passengers at least four times per flight sector if they were distributing drinks and meals, far higher risk level. Over a day the crew could be exposed multiple times to a thousand or more passengers.

 

[Daver6]

So for QF, "Covid safety measures" is the new "enhancement".

 

[Notyourbag]

Why dont passengers collect a meal and a bottle of wine and wine when they board the plane. Similar to the earphones. That way it's not cost cutting on catering and not having contact with cabin crew.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Think about it for 2 minutes.

I think you may find it is the same argument that has been described previously for emergency workers.

Repeated exposure to even very low level formites puts them at far higher risk of actually contracting the disease.

There would be an argument minimising exposure for worker safety. Passengers are only exposed for a single flight sector, cabin crew might be exposed 4-5 flight sectors per day, several days in a row.

Passengers are exposed to 2 others in close proximity, one each side.

Crew would be exposed to 100+ passengers at least four times per flight sector if they were distributing drinks and meals, far higher risk level. Over a day the crew could be exposed multiple times to a thousand or more passengers.

Still not understanding.... they're already distributing food. Crew can give a box of cold food, but they can't turn the oven on and give out a box of hot food?

 

[p--and--t]

Still not understanding.... they're already distributing food. Crew can give a box of cold food, but they can't turn the oven on and give out a box of hot food?

AFAIK, they don't distribute anything, from reports, there is a box on your seat when you board. Disclosure, I haven't flown after covid yet.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

AFAIK, they don't distribute anything, from reports, there is a box on your seat when you board. Disclosure, I haven't flown after covid yet.

That's even worse than i thought then

Seems completely inconsistent with health official guidelines in all states which allows at seat dining and beverage service in cafes and restaurants.

 

[astrosly]

AFAIK, they don't distribute anything, from reports, there is a box on your seat when you board. Disclosure, I haven't flown after covid yet.

I flew 5 sectors with QF in the last week and every time the crew personally handed out the bottles of water, packets of crackers and snack boxes to passengers during flight. I don't recall seeing crew wearing gloves.

 

[ozflier]

I flew 5 sectors with QF in the last week and every time the crew personally handed out the bottles of water, packets of crackers and snack boxes to passengers during flight. I don't recall seeing crew wearing gloves.

I guessing its all about the money!

 

[p--and--t]

I flew 5 sectors with QF in the last week and every time the crew personally handed out the bottles of water, packets of crackers and snack boxes to passengers during flight. I don't recall seeing crew wearing gloves.

Great, very informative.

Have you been travelling throughout? Were the earlier reports incorrect or is the information now outdated?

 

[milehighclub]

Boxes (or bags as it was) were placed on the seats for the rescue flights from Wuhan and Tokyo to eliminate as much contact with passengers as possible.

Domestic always was and continues to be delivered to your seat.

A lot of catering centres have had reductions which caused some issues with catering flights.

A 737 which is catered for either 1 or 2 sectors, was having to be catered for 4 sectors, and the 737 does not have chillers meaning that the food options needed to be suitable at room temp.

There are changes coming to the service shortly as flights ramp up - more drinks and food options (and I suspect a return of trays and a casserole dish to J - but that is just a guess on my part)

 

[Melburnian1]

...A lot of catering centres have had reductions which caused some issues with catering flights...

I can't see anything in media, or on specialist aviation websites, but presumably many catering companies would have placed most staff on JobKeeper if they were eligible. Those others not required may be on the increased JobSeeker (formerly Newstart) allowance that rose to $1100 per forttnight.

Like Qantas, these contractors must be contacting some staff and asking them to again present for shifts.

It must be hard to be a personnel manager and have to decide 'how many' do we bring back (either prior to JobKeeper's cessation in September, or after then) as even QFd wouldn't yet have a full picture as to whether (say) passenger numbers in October will be 40, 50, 60 per cent of that in October 2019. Perhaps catering centres have many casuals who used to be able to be easily called in, but have some secured other jobs during the pandemic?

 

[milehighclub]

I can't see anything in media, or on specialist aviation websites, but presumably many catering companies would have placed most staff on JobKeeper if they were eligible.

DNATA and its staff are unfortunately not entitled to any Jobkeeper as they are owned by a foreign government. They are also mostly stood down.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Edit: ((Milehighclub got the snag before me, ...))
Not forgetting the case of Dnata, who Qantas Catering were onsold to, and who now have the contract to put "refreshments" onto QF flights, which is owned by the Emirates group, whose staff even though are Aust citizens/Aust PR visa holders, were not eligible to be paid Jobkeeper, as they are considered to be employed by an offshore entity.
So, low catering, as mentioned above, and we hope, will get back to normal as flights numbers resume, and more profits can be made.

 

[astrosly]

Great, very informative.

Have you been travelling throughout? Were the earlier reports incorrect or is the information now outdated?

This is the first time I travelled in months so I can't say if there has been any changes to the in-flight service recently. Most flights on QantasLink with one QF mainline flight where I was moved to business class on the A330. Evening departure, the snack box handed out contained a packet of flavoured rice crisps, trail mix, a massive chocolate and ginger cookie and a tim tam.

 

[RichardMEL]

Actually no... I don't QF CEO tells us flying is so safe there is no need to keep the middle seat free. But also so unsafe the crew can't turn an oven on. Or hand out a mini bottle of wine.

definitely good point there. It doesn't make a lot of sense huh?

BA seems to have the same notion too I've noticed from recent social media posts (one example of many)

 

[RichardMEL]

Slight aside but I wonder at the cost of the "covid packs" (hand wipes, mask etc) provided to all pax, staff etc

I also wonder if there's a factor of economies of scale at work here in terms of QF's costs (this is a thought in NO way a defence).. I mean QF is at what 5% of it's usual domestic schedule. Have to even wonder what the logistics look like when they are usually geared to 95% more aircraft flying, crews, pax etc. Clearly a factor in the lounge closures and all the rest.

You have to think at places like SYD, BNE, MEL etc flight kitchens are still available, at least in some form for the international flights that are coming in, even at a far reduced number.

I wonder if in July with the schedule ramping up, and some boreders opening from the 10th etc that some things may improve service wise?

of course things like not pouring drinks and stuff is covid related (reduced crew/pax contact point).. yes, it cuts costs, but it's not like QF is the only one doing that.. most of them are. Though I have seen seemingly contradictory pics of a pax (not on QF) with poured OJ in a cup with vodka minis... so I mean if they can pour the juice....? but I digress.

again more musing "aloud" (a-type?) than anything else.

 

[mannej]

I flew 5 sectors with QF in the last week and every time the crew personally handed out the bottles of water, packets of crackers and snack boxes to passengers during flight. I don't recall seeing crew wearing gloves.

Hasn't there been commentary on the effectiveness of gloves, and the potential for cross contamination if not replaced regularly enough? The example I seem to recall is that of at the check-out, of the staff not packing pre-used grocery bags but not changing gloves in between customers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

AFAIK, they don't distribute anything, from reports, there is a box on your seat when you board. Disclosure, I haven't flown after covid yet.

Confirmed by Mattg that snack packs are handed out during flight by the cabin crew.

 

[ameno]

Tuck shop food

I'd happily take that over Neil Perrys coughty offerings...