Clearing in...it's all rubbish!!
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Australia
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Was going to say... Thought I was being ripped off as all the 738 flights I crew only have 5 CC! 
So this new, revolutionary, contemporary, dynamic, innovatice service at BA. What does it specifically entale? What happens when the Club class config is high?
EDITED to include the word 'innovative'...
You will find this word and 'contemporary' in EVERY Qantas press release regarding product.
So this new, revolutionary, contemporary, dynamic, innovatice service at BA. What does it specifically entale? What happens when the Club class config is high?
EDITED to include the word 'innovative'...
You will find this word and 'contemporary' in EVERY Qantas press release regarding product.
I remember we helped another airline introduce a new type into their fleet, and as part of the arrangement, we had cabin managers up there for about 6months. I was one of them.
Was only operating on two routes, a 30minute domestic flight with a snack service (8J/92Y) and a 50minute international flight, 8J/92Y as well as the 3 pilots in the flight deck expecting their lunch service on the flight.
We had 3 flighties. The 30min sector was no issues, although you got ultra strong arms, as you walked down the aisle with a standard unit drawer stacked with prepack juice and handed it out. Business class was a simple sandwich.
The 50min intl sector though, was a nightmare.
There was the normal intl paperwork to be completed. In economy, they got a full free bar, hot meal served on a tray with proper cutlery, the meal itself was your typical long haul hot meal with salad and desert and breadroll.
Up the front was 8 business class, and despite the seats being nothing majorly special, the service was insane.
The wine was supposed to be done as a separate service (the airline took great pride in its wine rightly so), and then after that, there was duty free to sell. Now you would think duty free would not take long, but these guys were selling cartons of cigarettes for $16aud. Whats more if it didnt get done, the local crew who made up the rest of the crew, got in trouble. On top of that, if there was anything missing from the cart, the crew had to pay for it - so pre and post flight was a lengthy inventory check. Add to that, we had to do the de-insect spray at top of descent, which was nice for those finishing their meals. Eventually they got the residual spray!
The flights were always full, as CM, we ran the galley, cooked the meals, did business class/pilots, and I used to get into economy and do tea and coffee following the cart, in between clearing business and pilots. Then one of the local crew would do duty free, while we cleared, which was done without an ounce of grace as the trays were slammed into the carts. We had nowhere to stow the rubbish bag (no toilet up front, no cupboard up front), so it was either in the loos, or cramming it into the coat locker!
I know of one girl whos flight landed with the last 6 rows having their meal trays shoved in the seat pocket.
It was only after a month that enough crew kicked up a stink, they put an audit on my flight - the local girls said they picked me as the 'sleepers' on the other flights told management that my flights usually ran 'smoothly chaotic', as opposed to some of the others which were complete chaos!
We ended up getting a 4th crew member on those flights, made it easier!
(on a side note, was great fun flying with those guys, as they really came out of their shell. They had a very strict management, scales in the crew room, and to me it was like the military! Of course, my company was very casual in its dealings with staff, so we had a great time at work. They told me when I left that it was such a nice change to have laughter in the crew rooms, and fun at work, without fear of getting in trouble!)
Was only operating on two routes, a 30minute domestic flight with a snack service (8J/92Y) and a 50minute international flight, 8J/92Y as well as the 3 pilots in the flight deck expecting their lunch service on the flight.
We had 3 flighties. The 30min sector was no issues, although you got ultra strong arms, as you walked down the aisle with a standard unit drawer stacked with prepack juice and handed it out. Business class was a simple sandwich.
The 50min intl sector though, was a nightmare.
There was the normal intl paperwork to be completed. In economy, they got a full free bar, hot meal served on a tray with proper cutlery, the meal itself was your typical long haul hot meal with salad and desert and breadroll.
Up the front was 8 business class, and despite the seats being nothing majorly special, the service was insane.
The wine was supposed to be done as a separate service (the airline took great pride in its wine rightly so), and then after that, there was duty free to sell. Now you would think duty free would not take long, but these guys were selling cartons of cigarettes for $16aud. Whats more if it didnt get done, the local crew who made up the rest of the crew, got in trouble. On top of that, if there was anything missing from the cart, the crew had to pay for it - so pre and post flight was a lengthy inventory check. Add to that, we had to do the de-insect spray at top of descent, which was nice for those finishing their meals. Eventually they got the residual spray!
The flights were always full, as CM, we ran the galley, cooked the meals, did business class/pilots, and I used to get into economy and do tea and coffee following the cart, in between clearing business and pilots. Then one of the local crew would do duty free, while we cleared, which was done without an ounce of grace as the trays were slammed into the carts. We had nowhere to stow the rubbish bag (no toilet up front, no cupboard up front), so it was either in the loos, or cramming it into the coat locker!
I know of one girl whos flight landed with the last 6 rows having their meal trays shoved in the seat pocket.
It was only after a month that enough crew kicked up a stink, they put an audit on my flight - the local girls said they picked me as the 'sleepers' on the other flights told management that my flights usually ran 'smoothly chaotic', as opposed to some of the others which were complete chaos!
We ended up getting a 4th crew member on those flights, made it easier!
(on a side note, was great fun flying with those guys, as they really came out of their shell. They had a very strict management, scales in the crew room, and to me it was like the military! Of course, my company was very casual in its dealings with staff, so we had a great time at work. They told me when I left that it was such a nice change to have laughter in the crew rooms, and fun at work, without fear of getting in trouble!)
Last edited by ozangel; 2nd May 2006 at 00:34.
