QANTAS - Working on the A380
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Shazz-zaam....
I agree with JJ in that we are entitled to be in the D & G zone because we are part of aviation in Australia....
This thread is about crew working on the 380 but that means the pilots as well can talk about what it's like and how it is different to other aircraft in the fleet....
I agree with JJ in that we are entitled to be in the D & G zone because we are part of aviation in Australia....
This thread is about crew working on the 380 but that means the pilots as well can talk about what it's like and how it is different to other aircraft in the fleet....

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Originally Posted by A380-800 driver
The upstairs bar is a huge hit with the business/first class pax.

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I am happy to be employed in the current economic climate. I didn't vote these conditions in, they were presented to me when I gained employment. I accepted them knowing full well that the next EBA that comes up I will do what I can to improve those conditions.
If you think they won't have a queue up Bourke Rd outside QCC with wannabes like you were, wanting to work for Qantas as a glamorous international flight attendant for that money, then think again.
Also think again if you think that airline management in Australia has found the bottom. They are a long way from it. Good luck with trying to improve you conditions.

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If you think they won't have a queue up Bourke Rd outside QCC with wannabes like you were, wanting to work for Qantas as a glamorous international flight attendant for that money, then think again.
I didn't vote these conditions in, they were presented to me when I gained employment.
if so why then did you continue with the process especially as you have said that you are not a newbie and have flown for other airlines and should have some inkling of what you would need to do the job...?

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Talk about thread drift, here we go again. QAL verses QCCA.
The topic is about the A380, let's stick to it as it was interesting.
If you keep the bitch session up the Moderators will lock this thread.
Cheers.
The topic is about the A380, let's stick to it as it was interesting.
If you keep the bitch session up the Moderators will lock this thread.
Cheers.


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I don't think this is a bitch session because we are talking about QAL and QCC crew.The A 380 is crewed mainly by the new crew and as such you would expect the differences in pay and conditions to come up.
To suggest that the company would try and get cheaper crew again to crew new aircraft like the A 380 is something to discuss and that doesn't mean we're bitching about it.
Shazz-zaam,First of all you wanted the moderators to move this thread now you're trying to get the attention of the moderators to close it down.I wonder what your motives are?
To suggest that the company would try and get cheaper crew again to crew new aircraft like the A 380 is something to discuss and that doesn't mean we're bitching about it.
Shazz-zaam,First of all you wanted the moderators to move this thread now you're trying to get the attention of the moderators to close it down.I wonder what your motives are?

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Jungle Juice,
My only agenda is to keep this thread open as I'm interested in the A380.
Everytime a thread becomes a bitchfest the Moderators shut it down, I don't want that to happen. As to moving the thread, it was originally in the cabin crew forum where it was doing fine. We should ask why did the Moderators moved it?
Have you read the lastest newsletter from the FAAA, titled "A380,without the spin" Qantas will shortly advertised for more QAL to transfer from 747-400 to A380.
This thread so far has been very informative as I don't get any opportunity to talk to crew on the A380, It's giving me a little insight which may help me decide if it is worthwhile transferring.
My only agenda is to keep this thread open as I'm interested in the A380.
Everytime a thread becomes a bitchfest the Moderators shut it down, I don't want that to happen. As to moving the thread, it was originally in the cabin crew forum where it was doing fine. We should ask why did the Moderators moved it?
Have you read the lastest newsletter from the FAAA, titled "A380,without the spin" Qantas will shortly advertised for more QAL to transfer from 747-400 to A380.
This thread so far has been very informative as I don't get any opportunity to talk to crew on the A380, It's giving me a little insight which may help me decide if it is worthwhile transferring.

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Have you read the lastest newsletter from the FAAA, titled "A380,without the spin"
Qantas will shortly advertised for more QAL to transfer from 747-400 to A380.
This thread so far has been very informative as I don't get any opportunity to talk to crew on the A380,
It's giving me a little insight which may help me decide if it is worthwhile transferring.
Qantas will shortly advertised for more QAL to transfer from 747-400 to A380.
This thread so far has been very informative as I don't get any opportunity to talk to crew on the A380,
It's giving me a little insight which may help me decide if it is worthwhile transferring.
Can you give us a few good reasons why anyone would bother.

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Isn't there an agreement that QAL crew on the A380 actually get paid for the extra hours they work above the longhaul divisor?
If so the money for QAL crew would be attractive.
One downside would be the restricted destinations for Aust based A380 crew (SIN, HKG, BKK and LAX) once the LHR base are trained.
If so the money for QAL crew would be attractive.
One downside would be the restricted destinations for Aust based A380 crew (SIN, HKG, BKK and LAX) once the LHR base are trained.

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Mmmm......
"Top up pay" is the euphemism used I believe.
An increase in pay above and beyond the basic that "might" get you in the ball park of what you were earning before joining lislie's brave new world.
How many more hours a roster do you work to end up, "maybe", where you were........?
On the plus side "apparently" if you are single and unattached it's a desirable place to work?
Read into that what you will.
A wise person would speak at length to some of the QAL's who made the move before signing on the dotted line.
Avoid discussions however with those who are emotionally attached to the venture............
"Top up pay" is the euphemism used I believe.
An increase in pay above and beyond the basic that "might" get you in the ball park of what you were earning before joining lislie's brave new world.
How many more hours a roster do you work to end up, "maybe", where you were........?
On the plus side "apparently" if you are single and unattached it's a desirable place to work?
Read into that what you will.
A wise person would speak at length to some of the QAL's who made the move before signing on the dotted line.
Avoid discussions however with those who are emotionally attached to the venture............
Last edited by ditch handle; 8th Apr 2009 at 13:00.

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A little update on our 'top-up-pay' situation...
Similar situation was told to us ex-AO crew before the s/haul transfer. We are paid an annual top up so we would be earning the same.. apparently.
IT WAS RUBBISH.
And to earn close to the same at s/h you need to work your ring off!
Be very cautious of the top up pay situation..
IT WAS RUBBISH.
And to earn close to the same at s/h you need to work your ring off!
Be very cautious of the top up pay situation..

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QAL at first discouraged and now encouraged to hop across by the FAAA....interesting change in the dynamics.
A very good and from the looks of it unbiased post by u5mj....

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u5mj,
that was one of the best post that I've read, intelligent and well balanced.
As you pointed out, "FAAA ....interesting change in the dynamics. "
The million dollar question is why? Why was the FAAA so quick to agree to taking a crew member off the 4 class? It's getting difficult to tell the difference between the FAAA and QF management.
Ditch handle, all your points about the conditions on the A380 are valid. I agree with you. It is a no brainer. Balancing up everything transferring to the A380 it's just not worth it. I don't know what I was thinking even considering it.
On a personal level I just get a little despondant working on the older aircraft, 767, 747-438 they look tired and it's embarrassing when the IFE constantly breaks down and the passengers take it out on you. I'm not just talking about one or two, I'm talking about whole zones, 50-100 at a time, sometimes the whole plane. You contact maintenance watch, reboot and still zip. After several years of this it's really starting to piss me off. In the FAAA newsletter, Steven Reed states that the company is not going to replace the IFE
but they spend 10 million dollars on Borghetti's centre of excrement
My point is that it would have been nice to work on something shiney and new.
I hear that the IFE on the A380 works very well, can anyone confirm this?
that was one of the best post that I've read, intelligent and well balanced.
As you pointed out, "FAAA ....interesting change in the dynamics. "
The million dollar question is why? Why was the FAAA so quick to agree to taking a crew member off the 4 class? It's getting difficult to tell the difference between the FAAA and QF management.
Ditch handle, all your points about the conditions on the A380 are valid. I agree with you. It is a no brainer. Balancing up everything transferring to the A380 it's just not worth it. I don't know what I was thinking even considering it.
On a personal level I just get a little despondant working on the older aircraft, 767, 747-438 they look tired and it's embarrassing when the IFE constantly breaks down and the passengers take it out on you. I'm not just talking about one or two, I'm talking about whole zones, 50-100 at a time, sometimes the whole plane. You contact maintenance watch, reboot and still zip. After several years of this it's really starting to piss me off. In the FAAA newsletter, Steven Reed states that the company is not going to replace the IFE

My point is that it would have been nice to work on something shiney and new.
I hear that the IFE on the A380 works very well, can anyone confirm this?

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I don't think that is very accurate.
If they can negotiate an extension to the time limit for right of return to QAL, then I think more people will consider the A380, especially when direct LAX trips start to dry up.

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Interesting that 3 of us responded to u5mj's post and only one of us questioned it.....
Posted by Twiggs
Shazz-zaam....It's been that way for a while now....
Posted by Twiggs
I don't think that is very accurate.
It's getting difficult to tell the difference between the FAAA and QF management.

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It had nothing to do with the wishes of the membership or the union, and I doubt they have actually achieved that figure.
So my point is that the FAAA never discouraged transfers to A380, but the company, well that's a different story.
As far as people transferring to follow the LAX's, as I already said, no-one will do so past aircraft number 4 if the limit is not extended.
Last edited by twiggs; 9th Apr 2009 at 07:40.

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The info I saw from the FAAA was hardly an endorsement to transfer over to the A-380 but I did like the bit about the union wanting all OBM's to be sourced from QAL......and is the rumour true that at least 1 or 2 union officials went to the A-380 as OBM's...
Some people would have a better idea of that than others.....
I think you will find that the company were never going to allow more than 20% QAL in the startup.
