Qantas staff travel...the good, the bad, and the donwright ridiculous

[GoGirl]

At some stage, I'm sure many of us have experienced some 'interesting', if not, entertaining trips whilst utilising the benefits of staff travel.

I've been on the receiving end of some terrific service, but sadly, this is has been the minority over many years of travel benefits.

I flew to YMML last week, and besides the usual headaches of the timing being such that it was school holidays, I was fortunate enough to land a seat.

When I presented myself at the service desk, I waited and waited, then was handed a boarding card, and given the departure gate; off I go, Yay, I'm on!
(no chance of the upgrade, but no bother, just greatful for space available)

We've been in the air now, for, oh, about 25-30 minutes, and service is about to begin, when I hear my name being screached from row 4 - I am seated in 8.

'Miss GoGirl*, are you aware that catering may not be provided for you on todays flight?'

I sink into my chair, acknowledging in embarrassment, that this is ok.

However, I was not aware, as the CS desk failed to inform me, nor was it printed on the boarding card as is usually the case.

Never mind, it goes with the territory, and buggered if I'll let them know I'm starving in any case ;)

I settle into the latest hard-cover I've been ripped off for at the departure lounge newsagency, sipping on my H20, minding my own.
Then the clean up of service gets underway.
The bloke in the seat behind me pipes up
'scuse me miss, I'm still starving, y'know, crappy sizes of the meal and all :O , don't suppose you've got a spare I could have?'

Why, of course sir, I'll be right back'

Now, logic would tell you, that when you've passed over a staff traveller, because catering is not assured, and there turns out to be surplus catering in the end, that you would then offer said staff traveller a meal :confused:

A poor effort in my opinion.

Ok, so this is a tame one I've elected to share, but I'm sure that there are some nightmare stories out there, just as I'm certain that there are some really fantastic ones.....like the F/A who knows you've just pulled an allnighter at every pub and club in the Sydney Metropolitan district, plops you in a 3 seat row to yourself after takeoff, offers 2 pillows, panadol/berocca, and an endless stream of O.J. :=

Tell us your story.
Has anyone ever made a point of writing a letter of commendation, or condemnation after an experience?


There's, of course, a flip side; the staff traveller who shouldn't :hmm:

The return flight of this last trip, aside from being a little more comfortable in business, and actually have CNA printed on my boarding card, was a classic example of total disregard of travel benefits.
A woman and her daughter propped themselves in the aisle across from me, after swanning about in front of their friends that they were sitting in business.... 'ner ner ner ner ner'
It became apparant that they were staff - yes, I eavesdropped for a few seconds :E
Daughter, wearing thongs, proceeds to wack the feet up on the bulkhead :rolleyes:
The F/A asks that she remove her feet from the position for take-off.
Well, mum cracks the mire.

Things get settled, we take off.

Now, whether or not it was intentional, we'll never know, but somehow, during service, through mild turbulence, mum accidentally wore half a bottle of red :ooh:

GG

[Sheep Guts]

Sounds like poor Customer Service from the Check-in onwards. Maybe there neeeds to be some information sent to all CS Staff and anyone who comes in contact about basic manners and considerations for ID90 or staff passengers. This is not confined to QANTAS it happens on many other Airlines. No matter how taxing the service industryis, F/As and other Crew must remmember that when working colleagues travel the level or service and helpfullness must remain as Higher standard as possible.
Ofcourse this goes both ways, and Im NOT saying Go Girl you are part of this group. But there is group of ID90 travellers out there, who genuinely believe they deserve more than the average paying passenger in service. This group of people tend to spoil it for the rest of us, by being forcefull and demmanding for certain luxuries. Also sometimes these people have a capacity to be impatient, and anxiuos if their wants arent satisfied immediately.

Possibly Go Girl this Crew had just had an impatient ID90 person on the flight prior to your one. I know that shouldnt matter, but sometimes it can take a taxing effect on one's Customer Relations afterwards.

I have only travelled on ID90 with Air Jamaica "First Class" Kingston to London a few times. But it didnt really effect my service, of which Air Jamaica has a good reputation.

Sheep


P.S.
Making all employees happy, means exactly that. Nothing worse than having that Ive been screwed feeling after a flight. The bit that got me Go Girl was


'Miss GoGirl*, are you aware that catering may not be provided for you on todays flight?'

That really was way out of line. And maybe worth an official complaint. If you got no satisfaction yourself by speaking to the individual who did it. That brings another question, do airlines have a medium for complaint? No why?

[m-dot]

GoGirl

Have exactly the great story you talk about.

Abosultely hungover to the max one morning flying back to the Springs from Sydney. Spent all night until 0500 out with a great mate who is a skippy pilot.

The great check in lady gave me an empty row without me even asking. She hinted to the guy next to her to leave the row free!

Walking on the plane looking and smelling absolutely foul (still in nightclub attire!).

The lovely F/A says come with me and walked me down to an empty row. After takeoff I had lifted up the arm rests and lay down. Just as I was drifting into sleep, the F/A handed me two blankets three piloows and came back with two 1l bottles of water and an asprin.

Wish all F/As were that understanding!!

[MoFo]

Go Girl.

On those occasions when your fellow staff in their duty capacity give you a hard time just because you are on staff travel is one of those human traits that I fail to understand. Why would you go out of your way to make a fellow employee have a difficult staff travel experience just because you can?

On the majority of occasions when you have a quiet uneventful staff travel trip you appreciate it, and if you can somehow reciprocate when you are on duty to some other poor staff traveller who needs a bit of help, you go out of your way to do it.

Unfortunately the experiences you relate are all too familiar.

[puff]

I can only relate to Ansett staff travel, however I never really experienced such problems as gogirl mentioned...in general, and especially SY CSOs at the waitlist lounge were complete nazi's to non syd staff as well.....before using staff travel the staff member was required to let all people flying under it that certain behavior standards must be met, and if they weren't that you would loose your priviledges....as for dress standards you could dress slightly lower if you wished, however this gave up your chances of getting the first/business upgrade....it was very rare to see staff below the dress standards, and thongs were a complete no no

If you didn't 'list' before the flight your catering was not assured, this was listed on your boarding pass, but esp when your in business the FAs never said this very loud, 90% of the time you would get a meal straight away, and once in a while they would come to you at the start of the meal and say look there isn't one at the moment but i'll see what i can do....EVERY time they managed to scrape together something, sometimes a mix of things left over or whatever, but they never normally let you 'starve'...a lot of the time they gave over their own crew meals.

biggest gripe we had on the travel was certain CSOs that would leave you waiting in the waitlist lounge untill the flight was closed, now this was understandable when the flight was completely full, but it was so annoying to get your boarding pass, have to run to the gate to have the a/c waiting for you, to board to find it with about a 50% load factor, when sometimes you got a card straight away when it was really full......some people really just loved the 'power' aspect of working on the waitlist counter.

[Blue Sky Baron]

GG, you came to Melbourne and didn't call me!!!!

What's a guy got to do?

BSB :{

[Disco Stu]

Hi Ya BSB

Actually GG was in MEL doing the dress/fabric/etc etc 'cos she is a bridesmaid later in the year.

If you want to see her you are going to have to GET Married.

He He He, that'll teach you for asking;)

By the way is that Baron back in the air yet?:{

Disco Stu:E :E :ugh:

[itchybum]

I had a very good run with Qantas in BN last month. Not listed but the man at the ticket desk listed and checked me in with spare seats beside too. The only thing he couldn't do was take the baggage. Thanks whoever you are, it was a nice change.

I find the worst QF service desk wallies were the ones at ML. Got left behind one day a couple of years ago and my mate rang from BN to ask why I hadn't got the EMPTY seat next to him. I supposed it might've been because the grumpy gin-hag in ML had a grudge against single(at the time) /white/male/employed/good-lookin/non-poofter/pilots but who really knows.

But what goes around, comes around. One day about 6 months later, she needed the jumpseat. In the interests of education, I made sure she knew why she didn't get it. She was mighty unimpressed, just as I had been.

Then there was some of the c/crew like MC the Ansett super-boiler wagon-dragon. Amazing how nice she suddenly could try to be when she needed a lift somewhere. I can still feel the daggers in that look when she found out she was walking but hey she had it coming.

People who put their feet, especially barefeet, on the bulkhead should be on the train with the rest of the ugg-boot set.

[The Enema Bandit]

Or travelling on Virgin.

[TheNightOwl]

Like puff, the ONLY time I had a problem with AN Staff Travel was from the YSSY nazis at Waitlist. I was returning to YMML, Friday early p.m. and was told to wait until called. Since I was on nightshift that night, I asked if I might have the jumpseat, so that I'd have time for a sleep before duty-time. The answer, to this day, left me speechless "...I decide who gets the :mad: jumpseat, and it sure ain't gonna be you, mate". My reply was to ask Crewing to contact the incoming skipper (from HTI) for the seat, then had the inestimable pleasure of informing the nazi of his approval. Her response was horrific, as was the language, so I always tried NEVER to go through YSSY again, if possible.
Apart from that time, the AN CSOs were just magic, provided you played by the rules as regards, dress code, etc.

Hi, GG, how ya doin'?

Kind regards,

TheNightOwl.:ok:

[air-hag]

that slapper was living in the past. remember that p!$$wit, TJ? (who jumped ship at Quantarse for more dough at AN then strangely was taken back with open arms when it fell over... odd, that) one of TJ's few worthwhile initiatives was to have pilots regain some semblance of their former glory and power.

scrambled egg was immediately placed on hats and, more importantly, control of whom might occupy the jumpseat was handed back to the capts.

i'm sure they enjoyed it until the wheels fell off and nothing mattered anymore.

[TheNightOwl]

We appear to be of like mind, air-hag, in respect of TJ and his shennanigans at AN. The other suspect, IMHO, was our final boss who, I was told, received a PERFORMANCE bonus in excess of $3million!! I'd love to know what his brief was to justify that sum!

Kind regards,

TheNightOwl.:ok:

[Jenna Talia]

But what goes around, comes around. One day about 6 months later, she needed the jumpseat. In the interests of education, I made sure she knew why she didn't get it. She was mighty unimpressed, just as I had been.

Brilliant :ok:

[Taildragger]

Go Girl Like a lot of folks, I have been doing it for near on 40 years with various outfits. I would say the best was Air Niugini, but I have worked for others, and I have seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. Gawd knows how many airlines I could mention over the years, or how many bloody minded ground staff and Flt. Attendants, but they all have one thing in common with Go Girl's experience......they all have their good days and bad days, but mostly good days. I am off to Chicago Saturday on BA staff travel, and it may be good, it may be bad, and it may be up front, or lavatory attendant down the back. It's the not knowing that makes it all so exciting.
Only one story, otherwise I will be here all night.... Years ago, I was coming out of Chicago on Staff Travel on a classic. The CSD, obviously had read his PIL (Pax info list) and checked where the staff were sitting. I was in an aisle seat middle rows. On departure when doors closed, I moved to the window, in the SAME aisle.
All of a suddenly, the CSD came up when we were on taxi and asked me to move back. (Remember, this is the same aisle (D seat to A) His reason....... "My moving could upset the trim of the aircraft" I am still laughing.! Apart from that I have seen horrendous Customer service and I have seen superb examples of great service involving others. More of thoos than the others I am happy to say.
I'll tell you next week what the Speedbird 295 was like. Any Cabin Crew reading this, and are on that flight....I DO take bribes.!!

[Dale Harris]

Gawd amighty GG, here you are bleating about QF staff travel. Woulda thought maybe you be thinkin more about the new staff travel??????:p Anyway, how'd you get back into Mel? Last i heard you didn't have a passport!!!! Done anything about that yet??? Oh, and one other thing, you shouldn't leave things like, oh I dunno, maybe, um, phones lying about the shops now, should you?. Makes answering them very difficult.......:suspect:

[Animalclub]

I digress from QF staff travel to general airline staff travel (and I include QF).

I'm often lead to believe that airlines are operated for the benefit of staff. Just look at the behaviour of airline staff in front of paying passengers...

The tech crew who openly discuss the ways they can "screw" the company and/or their colleagues with expenses or tours of duty.

The flight attendents travelling (not dead heading) in economy and complaining loudly to the flight attendants if they don't get the J/F class service in economy.

The staff and families of staff complaining at the check in counter when not upgraded.

The staff who allow their children to run around the aircraft during flight.

The abuse given to check in staff if you can't get a seat.

The tech crew in uniform that get out of their seats on taxiing into the terminal and procede to take down their baggage from the overhead locker... or walk arouind the aircraft when the seat belt sign is on.

I could go on. I know the general public do this as well but at least they are paying your wages. I know that this does not give them a right to abuse you.

What staff seem to forget is that staff travel is a privelidge not a right.

Yes I was an airline staff member - for over 40 years.

[Rabid Dog]

I'm with you on your memories Puff.
I used to get BRILLIANT service from the PSOs in ADL, who knew I was an ADL boy. Since AN fell over, some of them are now working on the desk for QF, so even though I now travel as a punter, I still get a friendly talk, 'looked after' etc. My wife (Not ex-aviation) when travelling to LHR got J classed ADL-KL-LHR by some old AN staff.
And yes, the bit about being made to rush for (near) empty fights ex SYD was a pain, but after a while I got toknow who I could talk to on the desk, so as to avoid the dragons. All the comments about jump seat rides made me smile too, as I thought about the trips I had to make to get from A to B via C,D and E, eg SYD-Mel via CBR and bloody Albury, to make a friends birthday; and Broome-Pt. Hedland-Newman-Perth while my ex (A babe FA) got a seat thanks to the bloke in the bush. Thanks to all up front for the seat.One thing I've not thought of - can staff still ride up front?

[puff]

rabid...I hardly did any travel to ADL, but now you mention it they were great there, I checked in for what was a full flight and the CSO gave me a seat straight away in eco, said there was nothing in first, but they would let me know if anything came up....would you believe it, 2 mins before boarding commenced I was paged and told, give me back that boarding pass there was a no show in first...people going above and beyond the call of duty was nothing out of the ordinary for most staff, makes it so hard to travel now when your not treated like that!

Nightowl, if you could get them cockpit authorities used to put the SY nazi's in their place...!

Good old Ansett, it may be gone but the memories of the good times are still fresh in our minds!

[TheNightOwl]

The memories will stay fresh, puff, they are there for all time. I look back with great fondness in recalling the look of impotent frustration on the face of the CSO when I informed her of the Skipper's decision by radio, it was priceless. In fairness, she was in the minority, I always found that quiet acceptance of the decisions of the people making the decisions was enough to keep their respect and helpfulness, very rarely did I, or my family, have any trouble. Upgrades were the rule, rather than the exception some time back.

In regards to the "cockpit authirity", we at the Sim Centre were, until '89, issued with a Cockpit Authority card from Swanston Street, to be used on duty flights as required. Obviously, the skipper had final authority, exercised usually if it was a training flight. Then, out of the blue, the cards were withdrawn, as the Personal Secretary to someone-who-shall-be-nameless decided they would no longer exist! Power corrupts!!

Kind regards,

TheNightOwl.:ok:

[GoGirl]

He whines about everything :p

When I started this topic, it wasn't until I hit the 'submit' button that I thought perhaps that I should have just entitled it 'Staff Travel' as opposed to 'QF Staff Travel'
My mistake :O

As I mentioned in my original post, there most definately is a flip side to staff travel, and, of course, that involves staff who project that it is a god-given right to be offensive, rude and demanding.

TNO, hiya mate! Yes, I too remember the days when staff travel (with AN), was seen as the rule as opposed to the exception....one of the great perks of working for an airline.
I experienced some terrific times on the FD, and although they were always professional, the crew usually went out of their way to be accomodating and even entertaining.

One of the funnier stories of such an experience was during a flight from YMML to YBBN, and the Captain was a close family friend, a really nice chap, who pointed out that the F.O was going to be making his 2nd PA of his career.
It was an exceptional PA, complete with some lighthearted humour, and the normal dose of factual information. He was very proud of his efforts ;)
My attention was diverted to the captain, who had been stiffling a smile throughout the entire garb.
The reasoning behind his amusement became apparant when, a few minutes after the announcement had been made, the FA entered the FD and asked when the PA would be commencing?

The poor bugga had alluded to flicking the switch, (which the captain had obviously been aware), and his moment of pride was soon to be the launch of one of the funniest trips I'd ever had, with no end to the ribbing he copped :E

This is an observation, but I sense that the Sydney Airport culture is in a wourld of its own.

Can anyone out there let me know if there is another airport in Oz where, as opposed to the usual Gate 1, 2, 3 etc, that there are also alphabetical gate references, ie A, B or C?

I found out the very hard way, just how tricky these references can be.

About 12 months ago, I was travelling to WGA for a family funeral, and it was a sad, confusing time.
I had had to fly from YBBN to YSSY the night before, so I could make the 0900 flt to WGA with Qlink first thing the following morning.

I had not travelled through Sydney airport for many years - for some reason, I've always avoided the place like the plague - and found the whole experience a bit daunting.
The whole T1 T2 things was completely lost on me :rolleyes:
I left the Hilton and arrived a good hour and 20 before scheduled Flight departure, allowing for any mishaps which might occur...not being familiar with the airport and all.
I got my boarding card from the CSD at the old 'AN' terminal, and was told that the departure gate was gate '8', down the escalator, through security.
Off I go, down the escalator, and was confronted with a security point.
In front of me, other than the security point, was an exit, and the front of the terminal.
Confused now.
I tell the security guard I'm travelling to Wagga, and need to find gate '8'. He directs me though the front of the terminal, telling me gate '8' is located in the next terminal.
What ensued, was nothing short of a nightmare.
I'm now in the other terminal, and looking at the departure screens, I see that the flt from gate '8' is not going anywhere near Wagga, so I stopped 2 Qantas customer service agents, presented them with my dilemma, and was assured that I had to go to gate '8' and how to get there.
It's now 0830, and I'm sitting in the lounge at Gate '8', which is still reading as being a flight departing for god knows where, but certainly not WGA.
I looked out the window, accross the tarmac, and might heart sank. I saw a Dash8 winding up over at the terminal I'd just come from, and knew instantly that I was supposed to be on that a/c.
Coupled with the death of my grandfather, and the unfamiliar surroundings, I cracked it - blubbering like a baby, I advised the desk staff at gate '8' of the situation, and although they were exceedingly understanding and helpful, it was too late, and I'd missed the flight to the funeral.

This whole fiasco, because the gentleman at the CSD where I checked-in, muttered gate 'A', which I mistakenly heard as gate '8'.

I never did write to the company. I should have. It needs pointing out that the system is exceptionally flawed and ambiguous.

On that day, I received exceptional service from the counter staff at gate '8'.
Sadly, their collegue over at the other terminal, really wallied the situation, and when questioned over the matter, was unwilling to accept any form of responsibility over the incident - going so far as to place blame on the security guard for not having pointed me in the correct direction.

The correct direction, as it turns out, was doing a u-turn at the bottom of the escalator, and following the yellow line.
Something which, had it been stated clearly in the first place, the situation would never had ocurred.


BSB I'll be back again in October, and heading your way for a day or 2, time permitting. It would be sensaish to see you :=

GG

[gaunty]

BSB I'll be back again in October, and heading your way for a day or 2, time permitting. It would be sensaish to see you

Oi whadabout me, the "J"class tosser:{ I've lost 16kg so I can be a good looking as him rooly trooly.:sad:

[Dale Harris]

I don't complain about stuff I get for free KD. Maybe one day, If you're real lucky, or you marry into it, you may find out about it too......

[Pimp Daddy]

I've had no probs with QF staff travel, as always, the service you get at your home port is the best, but that's because 9 times out of 10 the CSO knows you.

Brissy was is a bit strange with their standby holding area by the service desk, would work well if they actually gave you your boarding pass there instead of waiting until you hear your name or the PA from the gate, but hey, I'm paying ID90, they could make me carry my bags out to the plane and load them myself and I wouldn't mind.

One things that does give me the sh!ts are the wankers lobbing up to the staff carpark and bus (MEL) on the way to or from their obvious leisure trip somewhere. The car park form I signed said it was for use when you were on duty only. Maybe I should just stop paying $30 taxi fare each way and ignore the rules too.

[GoGirl]

Gaunty, you're no 'J' class tosser babe ;)

I am, however, aware that you do not hail from the Mexican State....so will this be considered our own special rendezvous :E

GG ;)

[Blue Sky Baron]

GG/Gaunty

Maybe we should organise a PPRuNe get-together for when you get here. I'm sure TNO & Dale will be in it, and anyone else who want's to join in.

Waddya think?

BSB

[Dale Harris]

Love to catch up with ya'll, couple of conditions tho, I need to know when. This is so I can get time off my poorly paid, dangerous, night freight job. And that Gaunty doesn't try to sell me a caravan or some such Cessna product. Unless it's for a very special price......;)

[gaunty]

I'll have to check the cheap fares but towards the end of the year would be good, mrs gaunty is off to Europe for a cuppla months to conduct some surveys in retail shopping therapy and to meet up with the princesses gaunty to spend, they think, some of gaunty's moolah.
Won't they get a shock when the ATM tells em to "call your bank" :E.

Dale me old.
poorly paid, dangerous, night freight job.

That'd be a great line for pulling chicks, needs a bit of work on the poorly paid bit, say, "I'm actually independantly wealthy so I donate my wages to the (insert here appropriate heart wrenching charity), I do it for the adrenalin rush." :{

Anyway you're OK, it's the inexperienced tyro's with the unscrupulous operators, I worry about, but I still worry about you too love.:)

Fedex have been operating hundreds of them without incident 24/7 in some of the worst weather in the world, it's called bleed air mate, the pilots friend, ;)

Do these operators make em do a bunch of "line traning" before sending em off across the dark and stormy or is their "weight in freight" too valuable, if indeed weight is ever seen as an issue. :sad:

[prospector]

Fedex have been operating many for a long time, but, not without incident. They dont like a lot of ice either. We have had one that tried carrying a bit and ended up in the drink, not the aeroplanes fault entirely, but good as they are they need looking after.

Dale,
Do you ever reminisce about a real aeroplane, AEQ.

Prospector

[OzExpat]

Just a special, subtle reminder for gaunty. If yer gunna have some escape time from the far west :D "toward the end of the year", you owe it to yerself to be at the next Brisbash! Ya owe it to all of us too! :ok:

[TheNightOwl]

Sounds good to me, BSB, I'm up for it!

Kind regards,

TheNightOwl.:ok:

[TopperHarley]

Quickly back to the staff travel.....

Is QF staff travel ID90 ?? (90% off the full fare i imagine??)

What would a SYD-MEL or SYD-PER be worth roughly ??

And is it practical to decide a few days in advance that youd like to go away for the weekend ??

Or is it just easier to get on the net and book a confirmed red e-deal ??

[Dale Harris]

Most of em here have it removed i've found Gaunty..... NOONE from our Company goes on their own across the strait without having done some flying with the other pilots in the company, and if they don't come up to scratch thy don't fly. We've had that happen a couple of times. Because we don't charge or do ICUS to subsidise, we can take our pick. Pretty proud of our group of pilots at the moment mate.

Prospector!!!!! SSSHHHH!!!! Don't mention the BBBBBBeech word in case Gaunty is listening!!!!!! Yes I do miss the old girl. Still the best load carrier we've had. You look after her now!!!

[GoGirl]

TopperHarley

SYD-MEL Base Fare (business upgradable) $36 Tax $14.69 Total for a one-way fare $50.69

(subtract $6 for economy)

SYD-PER Base Fare (bus upgrdble) $54 Tax $17.01 Total for a one-way fare $71.01

(subtract around $9-10 for economy)

As for making plans in advance using staff travel, well, there's little point really.
It comes back to what seat is going to be available on that particular day of travel.
If you have time on your side and no pressing appointments at the other end of your journey, then it's not a major problem.
The times when you are likely to experience disruptions are; school holidays, late Friday arvo's and late Sunday evenings, or when there has been flight delay or cancellations.

A few weeks ago, during the holidays, a couple I know, had to travel to BNE for a family wedding. Flights returning to MEL were a shambles, so they had purchased confirmed seating with DJ well in advance.

Only on one occasion that I can recall, have I been unable to get a seat on the day I've wanted to travel, but given I was flying from my home base, I didn't encounter any accom problems.

Regards

GG