Pacific Blue Offloads PAX Tulla
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: turn L @ Taupo, just past the Niagra Falls...
Posts: 596
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pacific Blue Offloads PAX Tulla
Passengers bullied to get off plane
By EMILY WATT - The Dominion Post | Friday, 25 January 2008
A packed passenger jet spent a chaotic 90 minutes on the tarmac at Melbourne airport as crew members begged, bribed, cajoled and bullied 13 passengers into getting off the aircraft.
With one crew member ill, safety regulations meant the Pacific Blue flight scheduled from Melbourne to Christchurch was unable to take off on Wednesday morning unless it shed 13 bodies.
But, as Melbourne newspaper The Age reported, passengers dug in their heels despite crew attempts to get them off - including the pilot's threat to kick them all off and fly an empty plane across the Tasman.
"It was quite bizarre," said Age journalist Brendan Nicholson, who was on the flight to Christchurch with his two sons for his mother's 80th birthday.
"They [the crew] were fairly apologetic but at the same time quite tough."
Initially, crew called for volunteers, suggesting anyone with friends and family in Melbourne might like to stay another two days till the next flight.
Alternatively, they could fly to Sydney, then Brisbane, then on to New Zealand late that night.
With volunteers unforthcoming, the crew then rounded up passengers on standby and escorted them off.
Most went meekly, but one girl lay low till crew warned "if you're hiding, we'll track you down".
She finally owned up and was ejected. Increasingly desperate crew then said any volunteers willing to take the next flight would also receive an additional free flight.
As passenger reluctance continued, said things then got tough, Mr Nicholson said.
If no one volunteered, the crew warned, they would pick off passengers who had been last to check in. But these people would not get the free flight deal.
"Last chance folks, if you think you are among the last to check in," the intercom said.
"In a couple of minutes, anyone who doesn't volunteer to move will be removed from the aircraft."
Crew members then began prowling the plane, picking out passengers they thought were late to check in.
One couple stammered that they were on their way to a wedding, and were granted a reprieve.
Crew resumed the search for late-comers.
The pilot then spoke on the intercom, warning that if 13 passengers did not get off the plane, he would leave everyone behind and fly an empty plane across the Tasman.
Eventually, with a renewed offer of the free flight deal, a couple were cajoled to head back down the gangway and the flight took off, 13 passengers and a fair bit of goodwill lighter.
By EMILY WATT - The Dominion Post | Friday, 25 January 2008
A packed passenger jet spent a chaotic 90 minutes on the tarmac at Melbourne airport as crew members begged, bribed, cajoled and bullied 13 passengers into getting off the aircraft.
With one crew member ill, safety regulations meant the Pacific Blue flight scheduled from Melbourne to Christchurch was unable to take off on Wednesday morning unless it shed 13 bodies.
But, as Melbourne newspaper The Age reported, passengers dug in their heels despite crew attempts to get them off - including the pilot's threat to kick them all off and fly an empty plane across the Tasman.
"It was quite bizarre," said Age journalist Brendan Nicholson, who was on the flight to Christchurch with his two sons for his mother's 80th birthday.
"They [the crew] were fairly apologetic but at the same time quite tough."
Initially, crew called for volunteers, suggesting anyone with friends and family in Melbourne might like to stay another two days till the next flight.
Alternatively, they could fly to Sydney, then Brisbane, then on to New Zealand late that night.
With volunteers unforthcoming, the crew then rounded up passengers on standby and escorted them off.
Most went meekly, but one girl lay low till crew warned "if you're hiding, we'll track you down".
She finally owned up and was ejected. Increasingly desperate crew then said any volunteers willing to take the next flight would also receive an additional free flight.
As passenger reluctance continued, said things then got tough, Mr Nicholson said.
If no one volunteered, the crew warned, they would pick off passengers who had been last to check in. But these people would not get the free flight deal.
"Last chance folks, if you think you are among the last to check in," the intercom said.
"In a couple of minutes, anyone who doesn't volunteer to move will be removed from the aircraft."
Crew members then began prowling the plane, picking out passengers they thought were late to check in.
One couple stammered that they were on their way to a wedding, and were granted a reprieve.
Crew resumed the search for late-comers.
The pilot then spoke on the intercom, warning that if 13 passengers did not get off the plane, he would leave everyone behind and fly an empty plane across the Tasman.
Eventually, with a renewed offer of the free flight deal, a couple were cajoled to head back down the gangway and the flight took off, 13 passengers and a fair bit of goodwill lighter.
Last edited by RadioSaigon; 24th Jan 2008 at 22:26.
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Ebye
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In previous times
Ansett had the same problem. An ex colleague told stories of the days AN rotated F/A's in VLI for a month at a time. Often they'd get on the turps & on a couple of occasions one would fall over & get injured. One Christmas a taxi accident hurt 4 during the airport transfer, that created a major drama. He'd have to offload pax (usually contacted prior to check-in) to get numbers down to legal levels. The union only permitted a 27:1 ratio (5 F/A's to a full 732 cabin) back then.
On a 2 sector flight you only have to have a bit of turbulence outbound to have this problem occur on the return leg.
On a 2 sector flight you only have to have a bit of turbulence outbound to have this problem occur on the return leg.
Last edited by Kwaj mate; 24th Jan 2008 at 22:36.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: turn L @ Taupo, just past the Niagra Falls...
Posts: 596
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by AerocatS2A
How do you suggest they should have handled it?
My post merely illustrates reported circumstances and what is IMO very poor handling of those circumstances.
I'm relatively confident that PB and others have SOP's/guidelines for their crews should a circumstance such as this arise. Further, I would expect those SOP's/guidelines would likely require handling of the situation prior to pax boarding.
Brow-beating your customers is always counter-productive, as again IMO, this article illustrates. Do you really think this sort of behaviour from tech/cabin crew is appropriate in today's competitive environment? Or indeed any other?
I'm damn sure I wouldn't tolerate it.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: turn L @ Taupo, just past the Niagra Falls...
Posts: 596
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
parabellum and Healy: exactly.
Before I get pinged on it, my mistake in the thread title as it shows in the thread list -it appears I don't have the ability to modify it. Edited appropriately in the post.
Before I get pinged on it, my mistake in the thread title as it shows in the thread list -it appears I don't have the ability to modify it. Edited appropriately in the post.
I don't think sorting it out onboard the aircraft was the right place.
Maybe dissembark all the passengers and sort it out at the service desk.
Sure they probably didn't think it would turn into such a drama, but now maybe they have learnt a lesson.
Maybe dissembark all the passengers and sort it out at the service desk.
Sure they probably didn't think it would turn into such a drama, but now maybe they have learnt a lesson.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Would it not have been possible to call forward an FA from a slightly later flight and then call out a Standby to cover them?
Circumstances for the crew (flight, cabin and ground) can be difficult when a crew members goes mid-duty so close to departure.
Registered User **
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Ultimate Crew Rest....
Age: 69
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These sort of situations are always best handled in the terminal however not being there makes it difficult to know all the facts.....
Besides we all know how the media can distort something to make a better story..
I often wonder if airlines have some journo's in their pocket to print something in a certain light.....
Besides we all know how the media can distort something to make a better story..
I often wonder if airlines have some journo's in their pocket to print something in a certain light.....
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PPRuNe
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's not up to anyone to be making any suggestions with regard to how the cabin crew / tech crew handled this situation, as they were not onboard at the time.
The crew member took ill too late to offload all the passengers and deal with the situation in the terminal as suggested.
PacificBlue does not have standby crew members to call on in MEL.
Any quotes in the press article/s you must all remember can be taken completely out of context for the sake of sensationalist journalism.
The crew need to be commended for dealing with an adverse situation to a very high standard.
The crew member took ill too late to offload all the passengers and deal with the situation in the terminal as suggested.
PacificBlue does not have standby crew members to call on in MEL.
Any quotes in the press article/s you must all remember can be taken completely out of context for the sake of sensationalist journalism.
The crew need to be commended for dealing with an adverse situation to a very high standard.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bondi Beach
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How should it have been handled? I recall waiting for a flight with Qantas from Tokyo (Narita) in July 2005 (QF22).
The same situation - one crew member short and the CSM (and QF) was looking for 13 passengers to voluntarily remove themselves from the flight.
The carrot? Free accommodation at the Nikko Hotel Narita (Or similar) and a Business Class seat the following night, back to Sydney.
The was literally a riot as the CSM was stampeded by volunteers. From memory it look like about 35/40 people offered to stay-put for the night.
Sometimes Qantas does do the right thing.
BS
The same situation - one crew member short and the CSM (and QF) was looking for 13 passengers to voluntarily remove themselves from the flight.
The carrot? Free accommodation at the Nikko Hotel Narita (Or similar) and a Business Class seat the following night, back to Sydney.
The was literally a riot as the CSM was stampeded by volunteers. From memory it look like about 35/40 people offered to stay-put for the night.
Sometimes Qantas does do the right thing.
BS
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I doubt this would ever happen at VB "mainline"...
It's not our job to kick pax off without good reason. I would call in the airport manager to sort this mess out.
Then and again, I have never flown for Pac Blue.
It's not our job to kick pax off without good reason. I would call in the airport manager to sort this mess out.
Then and again, I have never flown for Pac Blue.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: gold coast QLD australia
Age: 86
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Reminds me of the good ol days of staff travel. Usually in some god forsaken hole, they would start looking for staff to put off, for whatever reason, and you would hope and pray you had enough seniority to stay on board.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why would the Flight Crew or Cabin Crew have anything to do with deciding on the offload of passengers??? What kind of show are they running at PB? This is a job for the ground staff, dispatcher, etc. Maybe they were all laying low elsewhere... 
If PB pax are anything like VB pax, they should've just left a slab of Victoria Bitter and a bucket of KFC in the aerobridge to entice them out. Not called VB for nothing..........
If PB pax are anything like VB pax, they should've just left a slab of Victoria Bitter and a bucket of KFC in the aerobridge to entice them out. Not called VB for nothing..........
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: asia
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What horse sh-t.
You would call out a replacement crew member, delay the flight and fly them down to join it.
Oh, sorry....that costs money.
Seen it done internationally using a different carrier for the crew and via a non direct route.
You would call out a replacement crew member, delay the flight and fly them down to join it.
Oh, sorry....that costs money.
Seen it done internationally using a different carrier for the crew and via a non direct route.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hmmm..
I had the same issue a couple of months ago, somewhere overseas. Cabin Crew member reported very ill at pick up (1 1/2 hrs before sign on).
The operational restriction regarding pax/crew was passed to operation prior to departure. I would imagine that that is what most crew would do if they had sufficient time to call ahead.
Where did the crew member go sick? At the gate?
The operational restriction regarding pax/crew was passed to operation prior to departure. I would imagine that that is what most crew would do if they had sufficient time to call ahead.
Where did the crew member go sick? At the gate?
Registered User **
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Ultimate Crew Rest....
Age: 69
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is also a result of the airlines running the absolute minimum crew.
When they had some extra crew for passenger service they could handle the odd occasion when a crew member went sick but when you are running it this way it can disrupt the apple cart....
When they had some extra crew for passenger service they could handle the odd occasion when a crew member went sick but when you are running it this way it can disrupt the apple cart....
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lets see, Yes lets call out a crew member from the AKL or CHC base. Lets assume there is a crew member on standby at the airport and not on call at home where they would need the standard 2hrs notice. Its about 1130hrs local time, the next flt from CHC or AKL on any carrier isn't until about 1530hrs arriving into MEL about 1730hrs local time. So now the flt has been delayed at least 8hrs. And as this a/c would've been due to operate other flts when arriving into CHC at least another 180pax have delayed, which would probably force ops to xxl the next sector to recover the schedule. Oh yes doesn't this seem like a sensible decision to make rather than offload 13 pax and have it delayed 60-90mins and not have to inconvenience another 180pax, give me a break do the math!!!!!