Predeparture Costs
Sign on time is generally 90 mins before departure.It use to be 120 mins.Someone decided we didnt need that much time and chopped it down by 30 mins.Saved them a fortune but it meant there was no time for predeparture EP checks,Galley checks,bar preaparation,OJ delivery and head set delivery.
Headset delivery and amenity pak delivery have only recently returned.Emergency equipment checks have and always will be uppermost in importance.
As far as galleys checks are concerned if it aint on the aircraft it likely wont make it and dont dare delay an aircraft for catering .
Aircraft catering/dressing ex Sydney is a farce.Try explaining to a J/C customer you dont have tomato juice ...they are initially dumbstruck and then pissed off.Last time it happened the pax comment was"why am I not surprised after all this is Qantas"But I digress.The return of Predeparture checks is fantastic but local standbys will need to be made available.By that it is meant that some crew will need to do standbys at QCC1 or a/c will be delayed due to EP failure