Upgrade Priority. Staff vs. Paying Passenger

[Fruitcake]

One would assume that a Qantas staff member traveling for work would always be on duty travel (and therefore no FF status points)...

That's certainly true for some...

Joyce's Qantas Cash-less call

“You’ll notice I’m bronze, he is gold,” said the humble Joyce. “He” was Qantas chief financial officer Gareth Evans.

However, the budget airline-loving boss’s lowly status is not to be pitied. His bronze status is the result of never actually paying for a flight – as chief executive, they’re all on Qantas, which is good for the bank balance, but makes for a frequent flyer point drought.

 

[ozmille]

Once again, good point. But I know these people are check-in staff. I find it hard to imagine how anyone could be a Qantas staff member AND clock up enough personal trips to become a Plat??? As we all know, a fair lot of flying is needed to maintain plat, and it is pretty much mostly work travel for most people. One would assume that a Qantas staff member traveling for work would always be on duty travel (and therefore no FF status points), and why on earth would anyone pay more than ID90 for their own personal flights? I am interested to know what kind of person is able to do that.

some assumptions there. My wife is a casual child care worker (so no work travel involved) whilst studying at uni and she is a QF WP and has been so for a couple of years...

 

[smit0847]

I used to work at a 5-star hotel - completely different. Staff weren't even allowed to walk in through the front door! We had to use the rear entrance. And we were forbidden from using any of the restaurants or bars in our leisure time - because "guests don't want to hang out with the person that checked them in". It also removed any chance of working staff being accused of giving the work mates any favours..... most hotels have a policy like this. I think something similar should happen with QF....

If QF took away staff travel they wouldn't have any staff left...

 

[rocketboy]

One would assume that a Qantas staff member traveling for work would always be on duty travel (and therefore no FF status points), and why on earth would anyone pay more than ID90 for their own personal flights? I am interested to know what kind of person is able to do that.

What would you like to know? I am that "kind of person" or at least I was. For the last two years before I retired from Qantas, I reached platinum because of my own privately funded travel. I needed to travel long distances regularly and was not prepared to take the risks associated with staff travel. I wanted to maximize my time off but also be able to ensure I was back at work on time. Staff travel is a wonderful benefit but cannot be relied on if your schedule is tight.

 

[lc_461]

Once again, good point. But I know these people are check-in staff. I find it hard to imagine how anyone could be a Qantas staff member AND clock up enough personal trips to become a Plat??? As we all know, a fair lot of flying is needed to maintain plat, and it is pretty much mostly work travel for most people. One would assume that a Qantas staff member traveling for work would always be on duty travel (and therefore no FF status points), and why on earth would anyone pay more than ID90 for their own personal flights? I am interested to know what kind of person is able to do that.

ID90 is a good benefit that airlines such as QF often give their staff. These days however, it is nowhere near as a good a deal as you may think. On some domestic sectors the price difference between a sale fare, which is confirmed-- and the equivalent staff ticket is negligible.
ID90 is never confirmed and as such you have the stress if not knowing if you are going to make it until the last minute. During busy periods most airlines will leave staff behind. I work for another international airline that flies to Australia, We get ID90 on our own carrier and some partners-- but often when going overseas with the family it is simply not worth the stress, and those travelling during holiday periods risk being left behind with no compensation or help at all!
In my company after a period of service most employees (including check in) will get staff travel to some degree.. With management and some work groups getting better entitlements such as higher onload or upgrade priority.

When travelling for duty- we have firm seats and cannot be bumped.

Most people in the travel industry are passionate about the industry in which we work- and I have multiple colleagues that maintain elite status with our airline or others- from self funded holiday travel that they take over the course of the year.

 

[Pushka]

I don't understand why this causes so much concern. Our friend worked in Q catering and the travel component eg flights in J, are part of their salary package.

 

[medhead]

Once again, good point. But I know these people are check-in staff. I find it hard to imagine how anyone could be a Qantas staff member AND clock up enough personal trips to become a Plat??? As we all know, a fair lot of flying is needed to maintain plat, and it is pretty much mostly work travel for most people. One would assume that a Qantas staff member traveling for work would always be on duty travel (and therefore no FF status points), and why on earth would anyone pay more than ID90 for their own personal flights? I am interested to know what kind of person is able to do that.

You know even qantas staff get time off, during which they are allowed to travel to have holidays. Work travel is not the only way to reach platinum.

 

[straitman]

What would you like to know? I am that "kind of person" or at least I was. For the last two years before I retired from Qantas, I reached platinum because of my own privately funded travel. I needed to travel long distances regularly and was not prepared to take the risks associated with staff travel. I wanted to maximize my time off but also be able to ensure I was back at work on time. Staff travel is a wonderful benefit but cannot be relied on if your schedule is tight.

Agreed.

I have many friends (still working and retired) who travel. Some are more than happy to accept the risks of their ID90 fares but many are not so they are in there with the masses and paying for their flights. .... and earning status.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I used to travel a lot on QF ID90 fares and cannot recall any incidence of commercial pax being bumped or denied onload because a staff traveller had been seated in J or F. I knew because I had access to reservations (QUBE back then) and knew not just what non-commercial pax were on the flight but also their onload and upgrade priorities. The staff on the standby desks (sometimes a very stressful front line job) play it pretty much straight down the line and there's very little queue jumping going on there, if at all actually.

The staff in the F lounge could well be WP and have purchased a $199 hop to AKL, not the $15k fare to LAX. But if even some QF staff are let past the bouncer in SYD F then, hey, it's not the worst thing in the world. I don't think many here would say no to 'mates rates' for a product or service but it's the same concept of getting something for free or at a reduced price just because you are in the know.

 

[Kangol]

I used to travel a lot on QF ID90 fares and cannot recall any incidence of commercial pax being bumped or denied onload because a staff traveller had been seated in J or F. I knew because I had access to reservations (QUBE back then) and knew not just what non-commercial pax were on the flight but also their onload and upgrade priorities.

Awesome, was the concept of PCV or proactive onload around at the time?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Awesome, was the concept of PCV or proactive onload around at the time?

Not back then.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Good point.... as to the first I don't know - I wouldn't imagine many QF employees would ever fork out $900 for a domestic J class fare! But you are right - I don't know.

Does anyone fork out $900.00 for a one way J class fare? You aren't taking into account the pax could've booked an Any Seat Award in Business Class which costs a fraction of the full fare. You also aren't taking into account the pax could've paid a Jetstar Sale fare SYD/MEL in economy for eg $49.00 on a JQ International flight & used their Platinum status to access the F Lounge.

As for your second point, the staff I see in the lounge - I know who they are. I know the jobs they have. I know they wouldn't be forking out $15k each to fly to LAX.

As others have mentioned they could've paid a sale fare to NZ for AUD199.00 & used their WP status to legitimately access the FLounge.

You may know the jobs they have but do you know the jobs their partners or spouses have? You may have a QF staff member who is a frequent flyer bronze but their travelling companion is WP & they've been guested into the lounge, again legitimately by someone else.

I used to work at a 5-star hotel - completely different. Staff weren't even allowed to walk in through the front door! We had to use the rear entrance. And we were forbidden from using any of the restaurants or bars in our leisure time - because "guests don't want to hang out with the person that checked them in". It also removed any chance of working staff being accused of giving the work mates any favours..... most hotels have a policy like this. I think something similar should happen with QF....

Is this not the real reason behind your post? A case of sour grapes perhaps because staff working for QF aren't treated with disdain like you were when employed in the hotel industry? If this had nothing to do with it why did you feel the need to mention it?

Once again, good point. But I know these people are check-in staff. I find it hard to imagine how anyone could be a Qantas staff member AND clock up enough personal trips to become a Plat??? As we all know, a fair lot of flying is needed to maintain plat, and it is pretty much mostly work travel for most people.

You're making a hell of a lot of assumptions. If you're smart you don't need to do that much flying at all. You could certainly get WP status by doing a couple of trips on One World airlines who often have quite affordable fares in Premium cabins in different parts of the world. Elite status could quite easily be achieved even if you only did two holidays per year.

You may not even fly QF in a year at all - you need is to fly on 4 eligible qualifying flights on QF or JQ so the rest of your ff points & all important status credits could come from international flights on One World or Partner airlines.

One would assume that a Qantas staff member traveling for work would always be on duty travel (and therefore no FF status points), and why on earth would anyone pay more than ID90 for their own personal flights? I am interested to know what kind of person is able to do that.

Heaps of QF staff buy normal commercial fares particularly if they're going to be travelling during peak periods or school holidays because they want to be confirmed and know when they're travelling particularly if they've got other arrangements planned like tours or cruises that they've pre-paid.

Who wants to be hanging around LAX for one week going out to the airport everyday trying to on flights that are full and 100 other staff are trying to get home too? It doesn't sound like an enjoyable holiday to me.

 

[MrJetset]

To be fair, I know some First hosts who do get access to the F Lounge when traveling because they work there, and are always upgraded to J for international travel. They are on staff travel.

As a pax, I have no idea who is staff in the lounge, nor care, it doesn't affect me.

On the other hand, I know crew who get stuck on staff travel for days at a time when on vacation so, in my mind, it balances out.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Onboard managers get First Class lounge passes for exceeding KPI's (and after 3 years in a row of exceeding can buy F upgrades).

Crew can also be rewarded with domestic lounge passes if an CSM or CSS thinks a crew member has done an exceptional job during the flight (this is 1 of 5 options that crew can redeem with the voucher)

So lounges can be used when on leisure travel, if you have earned the reward. Access is of course based on capacity at the time of entry.

To be fair, I know some First hosts who do get access to the F Lounge when traveling because they work there, and are always upgraded to J for international travel. They are on staff travel.

As a pax, I have no idea who is staff in the lounge, nor care, it doesn't affect me.

On the other hand, I know crew who get stuck on staff travel for days at a time when on vacation so, in my mind, it balances out.

Plus MHC quoted it his/her post that CSMs can earn a lounge invite if certain KPI's are met.

 

[MrJetset]

Plus MHC quoted it his/her post that CSMs can earn a lounge invite if certain KPI's are met.

I wouldn't describe a First Host as a CSM or on board manager. It's clearly a benefit by virtue of working there and your colleagues turning a blind eye. As I said, I don't care but can imagine some F pax/WPs may find it odd when someone who escorts them from check in to the Lounge serves them one day, and is sitting next to them, drinking Bolly the next.

So you can understand why some may find it appropriate.

 

[harvyk]

Good point.... as to the first I don't know - I wouldn't imagine many QF employees would ever fork out $900 for a domestic J class fare! But you are right - I don't know.

As for your second point, the staff I see in the lounge - I know who they are. I know the jobs they have. I know they wouldn't be forking out $15k each to fly to LAX. Plus I know how they get in the lounge - another acquaintance of mine works there and lets his mates in all the time. They just have to be listed in the "guest book". If you visit the lounge enough, you get to recognise the staff - even when they are not in uniform....

I think it is great that staff get perks at the place they work - most people do. But I think the spirit of this discussion is that QF seems to have the reputation to spoil its staff over its pax.... which is bad.

I used to work at a 5-star hotel - completely different. Staff weren't even allowed to walk in through the front door! We had to use the rear entrance. And we were forbidden from using any of the restaurants or bars in our leisure time - because "guests don't want to hang out with the person that checked them in". It also removed any chance of working staff being accused of giving the work mates any favours..... most hotels have a policy like this. I think something similar should happen with QF....

I have recently been asked to join their Customer Feedback Panel where they send me a survey after every flight - and allow for heaps of personal opinion. I will be very honest with them....

Mrs Harvyk used to work for the Hyatt, and we know only too well of the "can't use main entrance rule" the thing was that she could let them know that she was planning to go to a function / go to the restaurants and it was not a problem, ever. Plus we used to get free nights to stay at Hyatts around the place, made for some cheap holidays, that's for sure.

The way I see it is getting free access to a lounge, or getting an upgrade from Y to J is simply a perk of working for an airline, and ultimately is no different than taking any of the perks which our day jobs offer.

 

[Fifa]

I used to work at a 5-star hotel - completely different. Staff weren't even allowed to walk in through the front door! We had to use the rear entrance. And we were forbidden from using any of the restaurants or bars in our leisure time - because "guests don't want to hang out with the person that checked them in". It also removed any chance of working staff being accused of giving the work mates any favours..... most hotels have a policy like this. I think something similar should happen with QF....

I don't know which hotel you worked in, but my son worked as a porter/concierge for the Sofitel for 5 years while at uni.
He was allowed to eat in the restaurants and the family dined there on numerous occasions.
After each year of service he also received a free room night including breakfast.
Great idea as the staff are able to experience what the guests do and learn from that experience.

 

[JTB]

Interesting thread, I would like to add that I would be disappointed if Qantas didn't provide perks for their staff. If there are 4 J seats and 3 go to PAX and 1 to staff for an upgrade, my opinion is too right. Happy staff = Good Service. I think that PR is as important as HR.

 

[brett-au]

I thought I read somewhere that if you obtain the status (platinum/gold) or purchase the pass (qantas club), staff and heavily discounted fares are not eligible to use the lounge/priority queues.

 

[medhead]

I thought I read somewhere that if you obtain the status (platinum/gold) or purchase the pass (qantas club), staff and heavily discounted fares are not eligible to use the lounge/priority queues.

There is absolutely no restriction on using lounges if on a discounted fare.