Varmints on Virgin

[KRviator]

Seems like it won't only be bad BO, bothersome babies and cranky Karen's to deal with when flying anymore. Virgin has announced pocket pets will soon be able to travel in the cabin - but only if they can be stowed under the seat in front of you. Guess that leaves out a labrador, kelpie or a maremma then, even though they'd probably be better travellers than your average Paris Hilton-esque chihuahua...

Going by the last line though, I think they've missed the mark. I reckon the vast majority of travellers would prefer to have babies, through to kids under 10 seated in dedicated rows so we can book a seat away from them....
Virgin Australia announces small dogs and cats to be allowed in cabin on domestic flights

Virgin Australia has announced it plans to become the country's first airline to allow pets to ride onboard. Small cats and dogs will be allowed on specific domestic flights with the service expected to launch within the next 12 months, subject to regulatory approval. The proposed changes will allow pets onboard a limited number of designated rows and they will need to remain in a Virgin-approved pet carrier for the whole flight.

"Our love for animals has always been in the Virgin Australia DNA and we are excited at the prospect of taking off with Australia's first-ever pets in cabin flights," Ms Hrdlicka said. "Overwhelmingly, our guests tell us they want to travel with their pets, and we are now on a journey to make that a reality."

She said it's something that commonly happens overseas and is proven to work well. "This is only a domestic opportunity for dogs and cats to travel onboard, it's a little complicated to do that internationally."

Ms Hrdlicka said the airline was working with the service regulator to figure out what the service might cost travellers. Pet carriers must fit under the seat in front in designated rows under the plan. She said the designated rows will also allow passengers who do not want to be near animals to book a seat away from them.
Source (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-07/virgin-australia-to-allow-pets-fly-in-cabin/103557824)​

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

Madam, did your precious 'pooch' fart, or was that you...???

[Global Aviator]

I say congratulations Virgin for being innovative. This is something many airlines have allowed for years.

The key here is must stay in the carrier, I can see that being the fun part to enforce.

Woof.

[Lookleft]

People get annoyed with crying babies, how are they going to cope with barking dogs and cats going off. Then there is the expectation that these fur babies are going to be kept in their cages for the whole flight. I will be interested to see how the boundaries of what constitutes a small dog is pushed.

[Capn Bloggs]

15A dog, 15B cat, 15C dog. What could possibly go wrong! :{

[Capt Fathom]

I’m backing the Cat. :}

[Ascend Charlie]

The carrier I own for my scale-model dawg wouldn't fit in the overhead rack, much less under the seat.

[Chronic Snoozer]

15A dog, 15B cat, 15C dog. What could possibly go wrong! :{

Or snake, guinea pig, snake?

[nimrodel]

I once ended up in the dog lounge of an overnight ferry, when my original trip (with dog cabin) was cancelled.

14 dogs (not in carriers) and one RABBIT - FFS. Mayhem

[No Idea Either]

I’m backing the Cat. :}

Not so sure Capn’ :} I inherited a chihuahua and it’s an angry little f#&ker……..

[parabellum]

Cover the cage with a towel or small blanket, pet goes to sleep.

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

Can one just 'imagine' the emerg vac procedures....

"Move to the nearest Emerg Exit - NOW - quickly, in an orderley manner.....

Oi YOU! Oi said NO friggen luggage lady / bloke / whatever......."

'Bye 'Fido'......

[MechEngr]

Great. I've been getting some pushback for my emotional support alligator. This will increase the chances of a snack flight for Fluffy. Named for the tuft of fur that catches on the snaggle tooth after a meal. So cute.

[The Baron]

So what do you think the punters will do in an evacuation when they are told to "leave everything behind"? Interesting Coroner's report after an event. Fluffy the cat won't be left onboard.
I would have thought this will have a detrimental effect on Airline Liability Cover. I have no doubt CASA will approve it.
I'm with Griffo on this one.

[Seaeagle109]

How long before a pax sues Virgin or their fellow pax due to being bitten or suffering from an allergic reaction?

[Stationair8]

Perhaps Jane, is going for the Greyhound Bus look?

Pets and children should be in the cargo hold.

[Ken Borough]

Isn’t it a bit too early for 1st April stunt?

[Deano969]

So if carry on is under the weight limits, will these rat sized dogs now travel as part of the free carry on allowance ?

[PiperCameron]

So what do you think the punters will do in an evacuation when they are told to "leave everything behind"? Interesting Coroner's report after an event. Fluffy the cat won't be left onboard.

"A lifejacket for your pet, sir?!?" "We have two sizes.. small and extra-small"..

Maybe a cat-flap in the exit door??

Hey, at least there'll be a supply of fresh meat on the liferaft. :hmm:

[dejapoo]

God, just get back to making money. What a stupid publicity stunt. As dumb as the time they gave out sweet or salty cadbury chocolate bars at breakfast (full fare offering) when I was there. A dog in 4 stripes speaks volumes to the upcoming flight crew EBA negotiations, I am afraid. I bet the FAAA are stoked this might be happening?

[Ken Borough]

This is straight out of the Michael O’Leary Book of Stunts! Dream up a crazy idea, drop it on an unsuspecting media and public and then sit back and enjoy the brand publicity - it’s a squillion times cheaper than advertising.

[Chronic Snoozer]

It’s a sign of not taking safety seriously enough and pandering to peanut gallery. Can your pet wait patiently for the escape slides to be deployed while the aircraft burns? Are you ready to leave your beloved pet behind in an evacuation?

Perhaps we could have a slogan competition on the thread.

“Sausage dogs and safety are our number one priority”

“We’re putting the cat amongst the passengers at Virgin”

”Is there a dog….turd on the plane?”

[Advance]

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x576/24_03_08_pets_on_planes_884246a3c1e01d01be3eb8eff182323e880a 7cad.jpg
The awesome Johannes Leak has it right, as always

[TBM-Legend]

But I’m allergic to cat and dog hair. What next?

[ZFT]

Another carrier on my no fly list then.

[Pinky the pilot]

Another carrier on my no fly list then.

Likewise.

[Gnadenburg]

Spending a lot of time in US airports I thinks it’s kind of neat. There aren’t dogs everywhere and they are well behaved. I’m sure if you had a mongrel you wouldn’t embarrass yourself and take it on a flight. Unlike the Bogans with their kids. And of course, you wouldn't expect it to not be a big issue in Australia with evacuation scenarios created by an Oztronaut mindset-what about half the population being so obese they won’t get out an exit in at timely fashion anyways.

I also like the way serving and retired US personnel get a priority boarding and are acknowledged. Wouldn’t expect that gesture to get much traction in Australia either.

[Capn Bloggs]

Not happening here. Under-seat cabin bag for size.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/844x663/dog_70adacea38ef64d63285cb7583ebc7e83ceb64c8.jpg

[I spy]

Or snake, guinea pig, snake?
Virgin were very specific in stating only dogs and cats

[antheads]

Surely Hrdlicka is just trolling everyone on her way out?
The next publicity stunt will be the feminist equilivant of Micahel Oleary's blowjobs on a plane remark. Female and LGBT passenger only rows on the airplane. For safety and empowerment.

[Advance]

I rather suspect Ms Hdrlicka has repaid Bain Capital's treatment of her by giving them the gift that will keep on giving for many years to come.

On and I do wonder what official in CASA will be responsible for signing off on this one.
As a well known poster on here points out, their aviation medical system is already not fit for purpose.
Perhaps they will add a "D&C inspector"?
No wait D&C already has a medical meaning doesn't it?
A procedure that comes after a F#$k up?

Yeah, maybe D&C is a suitable description for their new inspector.

You just could not make this stuff up. Oh, there's another appropritate phrase!

[Captain Dart]

Qantas could capitalise on this by reiterating their animal ban.

A ban on children would be icing on the cake.

[Chronic Snoozer]

Surely Hrdlicka is just trolling everyone on her way out?
The next publicity stunt will be the feminist equilivant of Micahel Oleary's blowjobs on a plane remark. Female and LGBT passenger only rows on the airplane. For safety and empowerment.

Could it be a response to this?

https://7news.com.au/news/virgin-airlines-retrains-cargo-staff-after-crated-dogs-left-on-perth-airport-tarmac-on-scorching-day-c-13365634

watched on helplessly from the terminal at Perth (https://7news.com.au/news/perth) Airport, recording her six-year-old Japanese spitz, named Navi, in a crate wrapped in plastic as the temperature soared above 30C two weeks ago. If it spits, no wonder it was wrapped in plastic. :}
​​​​​​​

[Capn Rex Havoc]

Spending a lot of time in US airports I thinks it’s kind of neat. There aren’t dogs everywhere and they are well behaved. I’m sure if you had a mongrel you wouldn’t embarrass yourself and take it on a flight. Unlike the Bogans with their kids. And of course, you wouldn't expect it to not be a big issue in Australia with evacuation scenarios created by an Oztronaut mindset-what about half the population being so obese they won’t get out an exit in at timely fashion anyways.

I also like the way serving and retired US personnel get a priority boarding and are acknowledged. Wouldn’t expect that gesture to get much traction in Australia either.

same here Gnads, I fly a hell of a lot on us carriers, always full loads, and seeing the occasional pussy cat or puppy dog is actually cool. Never had a dog or cat carry on - but pax on the other hand ………

[RampDog]

Given the number of "medicals" we get on flights nowadays, would I qualify for a rebated fare if I bring my Emergency Response Trunk Monkey with me if I fly with VA?
https://youtu.be/oN8IJZR5Kk0?feature=shared
Who wouldn't want one on their flight just as a precaution? :}

[ScepticalOptomist]

same here Gnads, I fly a hell of a lot on us carriers, always full loads, and seeing the occasional pussy cat or puppy dog is actually cool. Never had a dog or cat carry on - but pax on the other hand ………

Pass. Animals belong in the hold. Next thing we will see them in our fine hotels too as we do in the US. No thanks! Bad enough seeing people bring their animals into Bunnings!

[Xhorst]

Could it be a response to this?

https://7news.com.au/news/virgin-air...day-c-13365634 (https://7news.com.au/news/virgin-airlines-retrains-cargo-staff-after-crated-dogs-left-on-perth-airport-tarmac-on-scorching-day-c-13365634)

watched on helplessly from the terminal at Perth (https://7news.com.au/news/perth) Airport, recording her six-year-old Japanese spitz, named Navi, in a crate wrapped in plastic as the temperature soared above 30C two weeks ago.

Um, sorry, what?

They took a dog in a standard dog crate, and then wrapped it in plastic?

They can stick their PR apology. This sort of cruelty to animals carries jail time in our country.

[Gnadenburg]

Pass. Animals belong in the hold. Next thing we will see them in our fine hotels too as we do in the US. No thanks! Bad enough seeing people bring their animals into Bunnings!

I love taking my dog to Bunnings to get us each one of those sausages on white bread. I thought it only the progressive left so uptight in this country?

Fine hotels? Or crew hotels? There’s a difference in Australia.

[ScepticalOptomist]

I love taking my dog to Bunnings to get us each one of those sausages on white bread. I thought it only the progressive left so uptight in this country?

Fine hotels? Or crew hotels? There’s a difference in Australia.

Mate, do what makes you happy.

Maybe it’s just me that thinks handbag sized pooches being strolled around the shops is a sign of societal decay. 🤣

[AerialPerspective]

15A dog, 15B cat, 15C dog. What could possibly go wrong! :{

Wait until one gets loose, then hides in the top compartment of the galley and scratches the crap out of everyone that attempts to get it down, then when the door is opened, ignores the 'passenger marshalling system' and ends up sprinting off around the apron only to meet its untimely end by being ingested into an engine and being deposited out the back as a fine pink mist.

[AerialPerspective]

Spending a lot of time in US airports I thinks it’s kind of neat. There aren’t dogs everywhere and they are well behaved. I’m sure if you had a mongrel you wouldn’t embarrass yourself and take it on a flight. Unlike the Bogans with their kids. And of course, you wouldn't expect it to not be a big issue in Australia with evacuation scenarios created by an Oztronaut mindset-what about half the population being so obese they won’t get out an exit in at timely fashion anyways.

I also like the way serving and retired US personnel get a priority boarding and are acknowledged. Wouldn’t expect that gesture to get much traction in Australia either.

The US "thank you for your service" is singularly and meaninglessly indicative of everything that is wrong with the United States. "Thank you for your service and enjoy your night's rest on a park bench when your flight ends" is what they'd say if they were truthful, which is where many of the veterans of the US' multiple, disastrous wars end up. Used as canon fodder then discarded. It's as vacuous as "Have a nice day".

Virgin tried it a few years ago and it got the response it deserved. Now, making sure veterans are well cared for, supported and don't end up committing suicide because of a total lack of support and attention from the bloody politicians who sent them away and not persecuting those who dob in others for war crimes might be a good start and something actually meaningful.

As for the pets, must we really follow the 'lead' of this dysfunctional nation of largely uneducated, something like 60% of whom think Noah's Ark is real and a sizeable number, including some in Congress, think the Earth is only 6000 years old? Travel is expensive enough and as annoying enough to not have the added pleasure of smelling pal-farts in the cabin and/or replicating the veritable zoo that is the United States, which is really the only developed country that I can think of who allow this. They also allow mentally disturbed people to purchase assault rifles, should we copy that too?

[AerialPerspective]

So what do you think the punters will do in an evacuation when they are told to "leave everything behind"? Interesting Coroner's report after an event. Fluffy the cat won't be left onboard.
I would have thought this will have a detrimental effect on Airline Liability Cover. I have no doubt CASA will approve it.
I'm with Griffo on this one.

What you have hit on there is the essence of 'someone didn't really think this through'.

[AerialPerspective]

"A lifejacket for your pet, sir?!?" "We have two sizes.. small and extra-small"..

Maybe a cat-flap in the exit door??

Hey, at least there'll be a supply of fresh meat on the liferaft. :hmm:

OMG, I can't stop laughing at that last line.......

[AerialPerspective]

This is straight out of the Michael O’Leary Book of Stunts! Dream up a crazy idea, drop it on an unsuspecting media and public and then sit back and enjoy the brand publicity - it’s a squillion times cheaper than advertising.

In watched a guest lecture and Q&A session with Michael O'Leary as the guest speaker a few months ago, it's somewhere on YouTube.

Very entertaining. He was asked at one point "Mr O'Leary, can you tell us about your advice for inspiring your team at Ryanair to keep going and do the right thing, and how you influence people".

O'Leary's response: "I find fear works best."

Then after the chorus of laughter "Torture them and frighten the **** out of them, works every time."

[AerialPerspective]

Cover the cage with a towel or small blanket, pet goes to sleep.

So, a service animal is allowed only if it is toileted prior to the flight, tethered to the seat leg and sits on an absorbent mat throughout the flight. We are talking animals that are exquisitely trained.

As opposed to untrained 'pets'. Last time my daughter's cat stayed with me, I kept its litter clean, made sure it had plenty of food and was well looked after. It repaid me by doing a runny sh-t on an expensive doona insert that was folded neatly in the spare room.

People with service dogs are going to be justifiably annoyed at the hoops they have to jump through to get their animal on board and now we're going to have any pint-sized mongrel in a likely flimsy carrier.

Are baby pit-bulls included in the 'dog' list? As Billy Connolly once observed, "They aren't dogs, they're a f---en shark on a leash, nowt more than a roow of teeth and an ar-ehole!!".

[Gnadenburg]

The US "thank you for your service" is singularly and meaninglessly indicative of everything that is wrong with the United States. "Thank you for your service and enjoy your night's rest on a park bench when your flight ends" is what they'd say if they were truthful, which is where many of the veterans of the US' multiple, disastrous wars end up. Used as canon fodder then discarded. It's as vacuous as "Have a nice day".

Virgin tried it a few years ago and it got the response it deserved. Now, making sure veterans are well cared for, supported and don't end up committing suicide because of a total lack of support and attention from the bloody politicians who sent them away and not persecuting those who dob in others for war crimes might be a good start and something actually meaningful.

As for the pets, must we really follow the 'lead' of this dysfunctional nation of largely uneducated, something like 60% of whom think Noah's Ark is real and a sizeable number, including some in Congress, think the Earth is only 6000 years old? Travel is expensive enough and as annoying enough to not have the added pleasure of smelling pal-farts in the cabin and/or replicating the veritable zoo that is the United States, which is really the only developed country that I can think of who allow this. They also allow mentally disturbed people to purchase assault rifles, should we copy that too?

Wow! That’s the uptight Aussie attitude I was talking about.

Letting US service personnel onto the aircraft is actually a gesture from commercial entities. It’s not politically commanded. I prefer this to our corporates entities and sporting institutions telling us how to vote and what to endorse morally. Or drowned in Welcome To Countries when anyone who lived in indigenous communities, knows this is a rubbish narrative.

The plague of citizens from Western countries, obsessed with outlining the wrongs of the United States, whilst completely taking their eye of the ball in their own country is proving universally detrimental. Australia has never been so divided. In such a short period. Albo and his stubbornness on The Voice, what should have been a harmless gesture. Or happy to let anti-Semitism run wild due the political expedience of his rabid left and sectarian vote. And now we have generational divide and envy being promoted. You’re now a mug in this country to be white and a self-funded retiree. But keep piling on the Third World immigration especially from countries where the chance of assimilation minimal.

Fix your own backyard. Dogs in aircraft in the States was a mere positive observation in my experience and most others.

[AerialPerspective]

Wow! That’s the uptight Aussie attitude I was talking about.

Letting US service personnel onto the aircraft is actually a gesture from commercial entities. It’s not politically commanded. I prefer this to our corporates entities and sporting institutions telling us how to vote and what to endorse morally. Or drowned in Welcome To Countries when anyone who lived in indigenous communities, knows this is a rubbish narrative.

The plague of citizens from Western countries, obsessed with outlining the wrongs of the United States, whilst completely taking their eye of the ball in their own country is proving universally detrimental. Australia has never been so divided. In such a short period. Albo and his stubbornness on The Voice, what should have been a harmless gesture. Or happy to let anti-Semitism run wild due the political expedience of his rabid left and sectarian vote. And now we have generational divide and envy being promoted. You’re now a mug in this country to be white and a self-funded retiree. But keep piling on the Third World immigration especially from countries where the chance of assimilation minimal.

Fix your own backyard. Dogs in aircraft in the States was a mere positive observation in my experience and most others.

Talk about uptight. So, you just want to go back to good old Aussie history where aborigines were shot when they walked onto a farmer's land, their kids were removed so they could be brought up in 'Christian' families, while the 'Christian' hierarchy of most churches, long before the US' "No child left behind" policy, were implementing their own "no child behind left" practice and studiously hiding all the perpetrators from justice.

As for the rest of your diatribe, if you think it's so great, why don't you go and live in the United States, send your kids to a US primary school if you have them and roll the dice on whether some moron with a gun fetish decides to take out his inability to 'get any' by shooting children and teachers.

Despite the faults we have, like many countries, this is by far a better society than the United States in just about every measure, even putting aside the basics like infant mortality rate, average life expectancy, etc. Kids can go to school here without fear of the now weekly mass-shootings that occur in the United States, people don't have to sell their house if they need cancer treatment and while some of the 'welcome to country' stuff might annoy you and the voice campaign (I note no mention of the out and out bloody bare-faced lies that were told by the other side, the home of Robodebt, I don't hold a hose, bugging a friendly country's government building under the auspices of an aid project then persecuting the whistle-blower and his lawyer - while the minister and department head enjoy high paid consultancy roles with the private company that stood to gain from the espionage), it's all obviously one-side's fault because they made a commitment and tried to see it through. Weird because people usually accuse politicians of not doing what they say.

And I don't particularly care whether you think it's 'uptight' or not, the fact is everyone knows the US treat their veterans worse than just about any other western country. Even going back to the Civil War where veterans had to queue for days to apply for and get artificial limbs while an official waded through war records bound with 'red tape', hence the phrase). Last time I was in San Francisco, even in the 1990s, the number of veterans begging on the streets was beyond belief. Now even normal families are living under bridges and on the streets, in lean to tents.

And I haven't even got to an electoral system that relentlessly attempts to disenfranchise anyone they don't want to vote, by imposing ridiculous and onerous 'ID laws' and pulling stunts like having ONE early voting centre in a poor area and half a dozen in a rich area.

You're really going too make the argument that's uptight?

I used to admire the United States and many aspects of their history. Now they are a Jesus-obsessed, uneducated, insane asylum that thinks doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is perfectly normal. For goodness sake, so-called 'leaders' of the community insisting the Earth is 6000 years old. Give me a break - these idiots actually get elected, because of the above-mentioned suppression and a good dose of gerrymandering (a term invented and a concept invented in the United States).

Happy to look at all the international empirical evidence that points to just how far down the democracy rankings the United States now sit. No thanks, I'll keep my Medicare and Superannuation and lifestyle and lack of fear of losing my house if I'm unlucky enough to get really sick and put up with the 'Welcome to Country', whether it's vacuous or not.

I find it hilarious that you criticise company's here for attaching themselves to social causes yet you seem completely blind to the fact that air carriers, for example, in the United States don't invite veterans to board first because they get warm and fuzzy, they do it because it looks nice and more people might fly with them, so, it's just about money really, like everything else, which is exactly why companies in Australia put rainbows out and paint them on their aeroplanes or display such on their website(s), because of the so-called 'pink dollar'. It's all just about making money, everywhere.

[AerialPerspective]

Wow! That’s the uptight Aussie attitude I was talking about.

Letting US service personnel onto the aircraft is actually a gesture from commercial entities. It’s not politically commanded. I prefer this to our corporates entities and sporting institutions telling us how to vote and what to endorse morally. Or drowned in Welcome To Countries when anyone who lived in indigenous communities, knows this is a rubbish narrative.

The plague of citizens from Western countries, obsessed with outlining the wrongs of the United States, whilst completely taking their eye of the ball in their own country is proving universally detrimental. Australia has never been so divided. In such a short period. Albo and his stubbornness on The Voice, what should have been a harmless gesture. Or happy to let anti-Semitism run wild due the political expedience of his rabid left and sectarian vote. And now we have generational divide and envy being promoted. You’re now a mug in this country to be white and a self-funded retiree. But keep piling on the Third World immigration especially from countries where the chance of assimilation minimal.

Fix your own backyard. Dogs in aircraft in the States was a mere positive observation in my experience and most others.

And as for the anti-semitism crack, sure, it exists, it's hardly 'rampant' though. Hamas are scum but it's at a point now that even reflecting modestly on the actions of the Israeli PM, a politician, who let's not forget, is on the nose in his own country for trying to manipulate the Supreme Court, presumably to avoid facing justice, is considered 'anti-semitism'.

Albo didn't divide Australia mate, that has been happening for a long, long, time, since some idiot started giving retirees the ability to claim imputation credits when they hadn't paid any tax and encouraged the purchase of dozens of investment properties, then introduced home owner's grants that pushed the prices up even further, while all politicians get obscene pensions and on both sides own properties, many in their wives' or partners' name so they can rent them to their spouse who can claim the tax-free accommodation allowance from the Commonwealth Government and effectively pay their mortgage on the investment property off, tax free. So, going back 10 or so years, why does a bloke get kicked out of Parliament for breaching s44 because he just happens to own a share in his Electoral Office building that has it's rent paid by the Commonwealth?

That sort of BS is why the country is divided and at least some of the blame also rests on certain 'Senators' who can barely string a sentence together but have spent the last 20 years doing a round-robin of victimisation on any and every minority group the said Senator can think of.

[WingNut60]

Meanwhile, back at the dog and cat show....................

One thing not yet pointed out is that most animals do NOT like being put into a carrier cage for the first (second and third) time.
They need to be "socialised" into the concept.

For the Bali Bogan families who think that they can just stick their schnauzer (leave it alone, it's already in the jokes thread) into a crate and it'll sit quietly under the seat then they need to have another think.

[airdualbleedfault]

Possibly the dumbest effing idea I've ever heard, apart from one of the Chinese airlines saying they were going to have people standing so they could cram more in. But hey it is "Virgin on the ridiculous" so I shouldn't be surprised. I like the "if you don't want to be near a pet you'll be able to book a seat away from them" which I read as "you'll be able to book and pay", just another money grab

[AerialPerspective]

Possibly the dumbest effing idea I've ever heard, apart from one of the Chinese airlines saying they were going to have people standing so they could cram more in. But hey it is "Virgin on the ridiculous" so I shouldn't be surprised. I like the "if you don't want to be near a pet you'll be able to book a seat away from them" which I read as "you'll be able to book and pay", just another money grab

Yep. Another brain-fart publicity stunt.

Reminds me of when a prior CEO was there, spending billions on lounges, pay-through-the-nose leases and parking aeroplanes, getting rid of the pilots that flew them then realising they needed them and having to pay through the nose for QQ to do all that flying.

Same bloke who put out ridiculous edicts such as never wanting to see a piece of equipment with a QF logo on it attached to a VA aircraft - I know of several instances where a tug broke down, the two ground handlers couldn't help and QF were called and pushed the aircraft out for VA (cheaper than the two ground handlers apparently, alternative being it would still be sitting there if they'd followed the boss' rules). No one saw the logo except the crew when the tug drove away. The same bloke wouldn't hear of Flight Crew sitting in a comfortable seat when paxing across the continent to fly a full A330 back but insisted his ass only sit in 'the Business' which is kind of ironic since he left the company 'in the business', followed by being awarded a number of gravy-train board seats and collecting an AO for 'services to aviation'.

Funny thing about the QF logo thing was that if a VA A330 ever diverted somewhere where VA didn't operate them within Australia, Ops would likely have called Universal who of course, would call Qantas to provide GSE.

The same person oversaw a situation where ANYONE who walked in the door with even a shred of REAL knowledge about aviation and running an airline was quickly shown the door, the moment they disagreed with any of the stupid decisions, obviously made by someone having spent a career selling tickets and no time working in an actual airline operation.

[Chronic Snoozer]

AP. Mate. R U Ok?

[MalcolmReynolds]

Dang Varmints! https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/2de27c4a-2f70-4243-b9c2-3cab4452cb1f#o70azMr3.copy

[AerialPerspective]

AP. Mate. R U Ok?

Totally fine mate, thanks for asking. No, just having a rant about what I thought was the worst CEO of any airline I worked for - it really gets my goat up so probably went off on a bit of a tangent there, sorry.

[Tommy Bahama]

AerialPerspective, You are absolutely spot on with all your sumations.

[Gnadenburg]

And as for the anti-semitism crack, sure, it exists, it's hardly 'rampant' though. Hamas are scum but it's at a point now that even reflecting modestly on the actions of the Israeli PM, a politician, who let's not forget, is on the nose in his own country for trying to manipulate the Supreme Court, presumably to avoid facing justice, is considered 'anti-semitism'.

Albo didn't divide Australia mate, that has been happening for a long, long, time, since some idiot started giving retirees the ability to claim imputation credits when they hadn't paid any tax and encouraged the purchase of dozens of investment properties, then introduced home owner's grants that pushed the prices up even further, while all politicians get obscene pensions and on both sides own properties, many in their wives' or partners' name so they can rent them to their spouse who can claim the tax-free accommodation allowance from the Commonwealth Government and effectively pay their mortgage on the investment property off, tax free. So, going back 10 or so years, why does a bloke get kicked out of Parliament for breaching s44 because he just happens to own a share in his Electoral Office building that has it's rent paid by the Commonwealth?

That sort of BS is why the country is divided and at least some of the blame also rests on certain 'Senators' who can barely string a sentence together but have spent the last 20 years doing a round-robin of victimisation on any and every minority group the said Senator can think of.


If you’ve been an airline pilot for the last 20 or so years you’ve had all of these so called divisive investment opportunities available to you. Are you funding your own retirement or are you going to sing along with Albo and try take from others who have?

Little dogs work fine on aeroplanes- and that’s from observations in the US. They are infinitely less intrusive to the comfort of journey than a lot of the cliental on Aussie locos like Virgin, who are particularly unsophisticated in manners and hygiene.

Whatever Virgin did to you it is equally unsophisticated to take it out on little animals. 🙂

[C441]

….since some idiot started giving retirees the ability to claim imputation credits when they hadn't paid any tax
Is that like giving a tax cut to those who 'earn' much more in government benefits than they pay in tax, while the young middle income families pay 3 or 4 times as much tax as they get in benefits and see almost zero in take home pay growth from those same tax cuts?

Anyway; where were we on pets on jets?

[fitliker]

How about some seats in cargo for those pax that suffer from separation anxiety when away from their larger fluffies for any duration longer than a bathroom break . Then everybody can be happy .

[Cleared Visual]

Wow! That’s the uptight Aussie attitude I was talking about.

Letting US service personnel onto the aircraft is actually a gesture from commercial entities. It’s not politically commanded. I prefer this to our corporates entities and sporting institutions telling us how to vote and what to endorse morally. Or drowned in Welcome To Countries when anyone who lived in indigenous communities, knows this is a rubbish narrative.

The plague of citizens from Western countries, obsessed with outlining the wrongs of the United States, whilst completely taking their eye of the ball in their own country is proving universally detrimental. Australia has never been so divided. In such a short period. Albo and his stubbornness on The Voice, what should have been a harmless gesture. Or happy to let anti-Semitism run wild due the political expedience of his rabid left and sectarian vote. And now we have generational divide and envy being promoted. You’re now a mug in this country to be white and a self-funded retiree. But keep piling on the Third World immigration especially from countries where the chance of assimilation minimal.

Fix your own backyard. Dogs in aircraft in the States was a mere positive observation in my experience and most others.

If you actually asked the current and former serving ADF personnel what they thought about this "gesture", you'd find that most didnt feel respected by it at all, rather they found it all a bit tokenistic and cringeworthy. Most Aussies don't like being publically singled out and given special attention for just doing their job, regardless of how important or respected that job is. In the military particularly, they REALLY don't like being singled out for special attention. Much like this dog and cat nonsense, it had PR stunt written all over it.

Irrespective of political leanings, you can't just replace established cultural norms with foreign ones and not expect some pushback or criticism. A great example would be your own comments above re: immigration.

[Gnadenburg]

Good points. I did, however, ask a couple of Vietnam veterans how they’d feel been given boarding priority, so they could get their carry-on above their locker prior the Bogans, and they seemed pretty happy. Add the free meal and drinks that US service personnel get and and it was sealed. You’re right, they wouldn’t want it publicly announced, culturally ostentatiously like in the US, but served up as a courtesy it would be more than tokenism.

Dead right on this being a publicity stunt. They seem to be going back to the Virgin Blue practice of announcing rubbish for free advertising and to wind their staff up, keeping their minds off how badly paid they were in the early 2000’s. Worked a treat. Remember the Staff Island and Sir Richard’s carry on? It sure took the industry in a new direction.