QANTAS - Working on the A380
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Warehouse of Excellence
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
QANTAS - Working on the A380
I am interested in any of our colleagues who are already working on the A380. Can you please tell us what life is like:
1. Is there any truth to the rumours that meal service times are taking forever???? Perhaps the company needs to revise service timings/service flows?
2. Have the flights been full/half capacity?
3. Do you find that the working environment on the A380 is better than the B747 in terms of galley, crew rest, seating config etc.
1. Is there any truth to the rumours that meal service times are taking forever???? Perhaps the company needs to revise service timings/service flows?
2. Have the flights been full/half capacity?
3. Do you find that the working environment on the A380 is better than the B747 in terms of galley, crew rest, seating config etc.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: With Ratty and Mole
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An Early Suggestion
It was suggested to management, even before the A380 arrived,that the successful operation of all cabins required 2 CSSs.
Ahh but they know better..they are management.
Keep writing reports and get the FAAA in on the act.It will also be good for promotional opportunities
Ahh but they know better..they are management.
Keep writing reports and get the FAAA in on the act.It will also be good for promotional opportunities
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Warehouse of Excellence
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks ABP for the info.....very good to know this stuff so I can squash any bad mouthing that is currently going on in the galleys of non-A380 aircraft. A lot of people think that the A380 crew are taking hours to complete the service...I had no idea that this was because of all the things that you mentioned. Thanks for info....I will let others know about the truth re: the fact that it is still work in progress.
Can I ask....why are crew not allowed to use the front stairs? It seems very bizzare forcing crew to walk all the way to the back and then up around again. Is it because P/C is at the front on the main deck and that the company do not want crew to be using that as a traffic lane? I can understand pax not being allowed to use front stairs....but crew?
Can I ask....why are crew not allowed to use the front stairs? It seems very bizzare forcing crew to walk all the way to the back and then up around again. Is it because P/C is at the front on the main deck and that the company do not want crew to be using that as a traffic lane? I can understand pax not being allowed to use front stairs....but crew?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Warehouse of Excellence
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! Hosting someone for dinner...that's awesome....love the innovation. I suppose if one is paying so much money to fly P/C then by all means they can have whoever they want.
The aircraft must be so quiet inside to have P/C pax complain about crew walking upstairs. Can crew use the stairs in an emergency, say if they needed to bolt upstairs to get something in an emergency or see someone? Or are the stairs TOTALLY forbidden?
The aircraft must be so quiet inside to have P/C pax complain about crew walking upstairs. Can crew use the stairs in an emergency, say if they needed to bolt upstairs to get something in an emergency or see someone? Or are the stairs TOTALLY forbidden?
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Screw forbidden! If it's an emergency then who cares if you have to wake up the pax... even if they are P class... 'safety above service, always' remember! 
Great info on the A380, I had been wondering about some of the exact issues you've brought up. Does it seem a fairly two-way process at the moment, I mean, is the company receptive of your suggestions as operating crew for improvements? And I guess it's not really like A380-operating airlines can workshop on it, they've all got such different layouts and approaches to it...
Slighty OT... did they have a full crew comp onboard for Nancy's flyover yesterday, or was it flight crew & gingerbeers only?
Great info on the A380, I had been wondering about some of the exact issues you've brought up. Does it seem a fairly two-way process at the moment, I mean, is the company receptive of your suggestions as operating crew for improvements? And I guess it's not really like A380-operating airlines can workshop on it, they've all got such different layouts and approaches to it...
Slighty OT... did they have a full crew comp onboard for Nancy's flyover yesterday, or was it flight crew & gingerbeers only?
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: on the golf course (Covid permitting)
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! Hosting someone for dinner...that's awesome....love the innovation
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: on the golf course (Covid permitting)
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Keel Beam
You are probably right - it was when the flat beds were introduced into first that the buddy seat started. Was it back in 1994? Time flies .....
You are probably right - it was when the flat beds were introduced into first that the buddy seat started. Was it back in 1994? Time flies .....
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ABP
Quote - "the aim is to get the possible results for our passengers"
How refreshing to hear such a great and positive attitude from CC to pax. Far better than the alternative cynical attitude.
You will go far in your career but more importantly enjoy going to work each (most) days. Don't become cynical like some others - it will destroy said enjoyment. Most crew and most pax are decent people who if treated as such will respond.
Quote - "the aim is to get the possible results for our passengers"
How refreshing to hear such a great and positive attitude from CC to pax. Far better than the alternative cynical attitude.
You will go far in your career but more importantly enjoy going to work each (most) days. Don't become cynical like some others - it will destroy said enjoyment. Most crew and most pax are decent people who if treated as such will respond.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for that ABP, glad to hear things are going relatively well. It's always tough getting a new type into service, even with people who've been flying for years! Happy to hear the pax like it too.... you know the usual media beatups you get.
Hope to get a look around one of the A380s soon....!
What's your favourite feature so far? And least favourite??? Just curious!
Hope to get a look around one of the A380s soon....!
What's your favourite feature so far? And least favourite??? Just curious!
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With regards to the Yclass self service snack bar in the rear of M deck, do you find that people congregate or just come and go? Oh how I love the picture of the "toddler" like gates at the top of the rear stairs leading to U deck at end of W. Hilarious!
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ici
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a quick question, i was admittedly very sad and had a quick look on seat guru to see how the different airlines had config their Whale....erm A380...and noticed that Qantas are the only airline that have a seat missing in the main deck Y section row 69D/70D.
Can i ask why? Is it a hatch from the crew rest? Or is there just one really lucky person who wins this extra leg room seat before takeoff??
Also how are the pax in the Premium Economy Cabin finding things? Whats the privacy screen for those next to the toilets in 38/39 DEF working?
Just thought i'd ask......
Can i ask why? Is it a hatch from the crew rest? Or is there just one really lucky person who wins this extra leg room seat before takeoff??
Also how are the pax in the Premium Economy Cabin finding things? Whats the privacy screen for those next to the toilets in 38/39 DEF working?
Just thought i'd ask......
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Downunder
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So, let's look at how efficient it is when it come to utilising cabin crew.
Qantas A380
450 passengers
22 cabin crew
Qantas 747-400, 2 class 56 J/C , 356 Y/C
Total 412 passengers
14 cabin crew
so for an extra capacity of 38 passengers you get 8 extra crew.
Just wondering, what exactly do all these extra crew do??
Give us extra crew on the 747-400 instead of taking one away and an IFE system that actually works and we could easily give the A380 a run for it's money as the new Queen of the skies.
Qantas A380
450 passengers
22 cabin crew
Qantas 747-400, 2 class 56 J/C , 356 Y/C
Total 412 passengers
14 cabin crew
so for an extra capacity of 38 passengers you get 8 extra crew.
Just wondering, what exactly do all these extra crew do??
Give us extra crew on the 747-400 instead of taking one away and an IFE system that actually works and we could easily give the A380 a run for it's money as the new Queen of the skies.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Comparing total passengers and total crew for different aircraft doesn't work when you have different numbers of classes and different numbers in each class.
The best comparison that highlights the difference is looking at J class on an A380 and a 744P.
A380 8 crew for 72 J class 1:9
744P 6 crew for 66 J class 1:11
As I said in a different thread, they could easily lose a crew member in J on the A380, but unfortunately the crew are not experienced enough to get the job done in reasonable time with 8, and as PattyStacker said, the crew are cheaper on the A380 so it is not as big a saving to remove someone.
The best comparison that highlights the difference is looking at J class on an A380 and a 744P.
A380 8 crew for 72 J class 1:9
744P 6 crew for 66 J class 1:11
As I said in a different thread, they could easily lose a crew member in J on the A380, but unfortunately the crew are not experienced enough to get the job done in reasonable time with 8, and as PattyStacker said, the crew are cheaper on the A380 so it is not as big a saving to remove someone.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PattyStacker,I know what you are saying but the horse has long bolted and it's far too late to close the barn door now.So you might as well forget about it.
This depends on what sort of fighting gear the crew have to work with but if the QF crew have similar equipment and there are about the same number of crew then QF will have no excuses in competing with SIA and EK on a service level.
Having inexperienced crew is not a problem because it depends on how many you have at the one time.
This depends on what sort of fighting gear the crew have to work with but if the QF crew have similar equipment and there are about the same number of crew then QF will have no excuses in competing with SIA and EK on a service level.
Having inexperienced crew is not a problem because it depends on how many you have at the one time.