No more Netjet pilots on Air France flights ??

[Damianik]

I know Air One was on their black list, so is Blu Panorama. the rest is all commercial decisions, but AF is pretty high up the list, much higher than BA and AZ and IB.
FR isnt even there ....
D

[crjo]

Hello H.Finn !

Fancy encountering you here !!

Thanks for seeing the big picture on AF's policy... It's exactly the reasoning behind this company policy...

But a few colleagues take it a little too far...

Hope you're still enjoying "Jet Fueling" !

Regards,

[EatMyShorts!]

Hey, I always enjoy flying with AF, although I did not get any upgrades recently. Well, it does not ruin the day, but I remember when it happened on almost every flight. Do you have new rules, too? Or shall we say hello to the captain as well, when boarding? I know that there are a few individuals who actually go and directly ask for an upgrade, which I think is not appropriate. If the crew offers it, I am very happy. If not, I will survive. What also used to be possible is, to jump onto an earlier flight. But here, the staff at the gates has become more strict, too. If you have the wrong person as supervisor, they will stick to the ticketing-rules and you see an almost empty Airbus depart Paris, while waiting for the packed flight one hour later. Any hints on how to avoid this?

[Mike Oxbig]

I too have been positioning with AF over the last couple of weeks so think the rumour is totally false.
As for the no uniform thing, I always take my rank tabs off - I have had enough of being asked if I am a back seat driver, could get someone a coke, change seat, vegetarian meal etc. It is a good point about an emergency but it also means you can have a G and T on the way home.................

As for upgrades - I have seen too many people move from the full 'refugee' section of the cabin to the empty economy section only to be sent back by the cabin crew to try asking. I suppose it is only fair as they haven't paid for that class though................

[crjo]

@ EatMyShorts:

I agree that directly asking for an upgrade is a no-no. i would never do it.

The best thing to do is to be the last one to board... Many times, our crews are reticent about upgrading because many business travellers have sent negative feedbacks on this... Moving someone from the back to the front cabin is not very subtle, and it is much easier to accomodate colleagues when we have a clear picture of the available seats...

Cheers

[EatMyShorts!]

Hi crjo, thanks a lot for the reply, that makes sense! My problem is that I always try to avoid checking in my luggage. I do have a small bag and a cabin-size trolley that fits in the overhead bins. If I board last and don't make it to "the front", I have serious problems accomodating my luggage at my seat in the back, because normally the flights are packed. Anyways, next time I will give it a chance!

[Damianik]

that is exactly my problems as well...
boarding first possible in a unfriendly airline
and boarding last on a friendly one where i am almost sure i get upgraded...
otherwise, could be a nightmare finding a spot for the bag...

but it doesnt happen that much right now, i am almost continuosly on home Stby...

D

[Checkboard]

Re the uniform thing: Just tell them that your company has a policy that you are not allowed to deface the uniform by removing bars / ties etc, so it's naked or nothin'.

[crjo]

Re the uniform thing: Just tell them that your company has a policy that you are not allowed to deface the uniform by removing bars / ties etc, so it's naked or nothin'.

Two things:

1/ In some cases, "naked" wouldn't be too bad...

2/ In most cases, if you're travelling on a company with different policies as your own, I think you should abide by theirs...

Cheers

[south coast]

Why do people feel the need to travel with their bars on anyhow? I take mine off, and my tie for that matter, the moment I am no longer required for a FDP.

Just as we would expect our pax to respect our rules and regulations, so we should AF's, I have no issue with it at all.

[EatMyShorts!]

Strictly speaking we are required to wear our uniform either complete or not at all. This is what the book says. Then there's a thing called "the real world" and whenever an airline crew asks me to hide my rank/uniform/etc. I will comply, of course. Other than that, travelling in uniform makes things muuuuuuuch easier at security checks and the way you get treated at check-in, boarding and so on. It saves yuo all the discussions about the second piece of hand-luggage, except on ReierAir and SleazyJet.

[His dudeness]

Why do people feel the need to travel with their bars on anyhow? I take mine off, and my tie for that matter, the moment I am no longer required for a FDP.

Just as we would expect our pax to respect our rules and regulations, so we should AF's, I have no issue with it at all.

So you arrive at A (in your uniform) and to make the plane to B you got to hurry from GA apron to the terminal. One can choose to change dresses in a terminal toilet for example, but in french airport I personally wonīt (have not come accross one properly cleaned one in Frances public terminals - as dirty as most of the others btw)

I personally dislike travelling in uniform but several times I had to hurry hard to get my flight, then I do. If its their policy - allright then no uniform in AF.

These days I donīt position much anyhow...

[south coast]

Dude...

I think you misunderstood what I meant., I am not advocating not travelling in uniform on day 1, just slightly dressed down, no bars.

Once one takes their jacket off and places it in the overhead locker, there is not an awful lot to identify you as crew anymore.

eg. Day 1, put your bars on on arrival at FBO, not when leaving the house, so as to not upset AF or any other airlines who are not happy with it.

Day 6, after your last flight, take bars off, so as to not upset AF.

I cant believe we are discussing this...pensions, top management changes, 5 year business plans, but no, travelling in uniform!!!

Over and out on this one for me!

[EatMyShorts!]

Poor south coast I will airline to Africa tomorrow. There's one thing for sure: I will be wearing my uniform!!

[south coast]

Thanks for your sympathy, although have no idea why you are offering it to me....as I said, to me, this is not an issue, I dont mind removing what would identify me as crew while airlining with AF.

I spent 7 years flying in Africa, so I know exactly how it works, or doesn't, to be more accurate!

[gone till november]

south coast

Must agree with eat my shorts....except the poor south coast bit.

Everywhere around europe except im ashamed to say the UK it gets you a little more respect and when there is a huge line for immigration check in or whatever i use the uniform to either use the crew line or business class line et al.

At GVA/ZRH i've been told to go to the front of a very long line of pax who you know are gonna take forever to get their keys jackets computers kids etc through the x-ray. So now i just go to the front which is useful on day 6 and you've got 10 mins to catch your flight home and i've never been stopped doing it.

Once got hoofed out of a long line in AMS by the KLM crew and told "fur sure you are crew why are you lining up....go to the front you silly boy".

In some places on arrival i've approached immigration passport in hand and been waved through without it being looked at....i suppose the crew card and uniform was enough.

Each to their own on following or not following the SOP's but personally i've found it dont 'arf make life a lot easier being in uniform and i can wait till i get home for a drink

So thank you to the French Dutch German Swiss Portuguese Scandinavian Italian Spanish Irish etc etc authorities that respect the uniform and the job......as for the UK lot you are the weakest link.....except at T5 where you can use the crew line on arrival.

ps Going through Oslo recently i used the normal line to get to the departure lounge and the man said i should use the crew line. I told him i was travelling as a pax and he said I dont care use the crew line next time its much easier and you are crew......fantastic

[smallfry]

Gone till november... spot on. and thanks to the people who are nice to us.

KLM.. special mention. Awesome crew (flight and cabin crew) on the AMS Kuwait flight on the 30th. You all deserve a big thanks for such hospitality.

[south coast]

I never said, 'Don't travel in uniform...'

All I said was, (Quote): ' I am not advocating not travelling in uniform on day 1, just slightly dressed down, no bars.'

I too have been lucky enough to experience what you have descibed, the topic was about being asked to remove items of your uniform which could mis-identify you as AF crew.

So, for the third time, all I was saying is, what's the big deal about taking your BARS off (I SAY AGAIN, BARS ONLY, NOT WHOLE UNIFORM!!!) while onboard AF and sitting there in your BLUE UNIFORM TROUSERS, WHITE UNIFORM SHIRT, BLUE UNIFORM TIE, BLACK UNIFORM SHOES, and UNIFORM JACKET WITH GOLD STRIPES off and out of sight in the over head locker.

And then once off the AF flight, if you feel the need to put your bars back on, do so, but I have always found that once you put your uniform jacket back on, the jacket normally covers your bars, and is enough to get you too the front of queues.

[gone till november]

[QUOTE]items of your uniform which could mis-identify you as AF crew/QUOTE]

Hope not their uniform is worse than ours

You're right i miss read the cut and thrust of your argument....sorry

[south coast]

No problem, I appreciate your last post, to confirm I am not going mad!