Air NZ Inflight Concierges
Join Date: Apr 2009
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The concierges have been great, well some of them. There are a few that like to come up to the gate lounge, walk around and make contact with the passengers, introduce themselves over the PA etc etc. But there are a lot who just dissappear down into the aircraft with the rest of the crew as soon as they turn up to the gate. That has been a bit of a dissappointment to me.
Along with when they are offering the assistance of the ground crew with carrying bags, when it is in our health and saftey contract not to carry bags.
If looking through the role description at the start of this thread, perhaps they can do this instead?
Possibly the best concierge I have seen in the year that I have been working at the gates is actually in the start of that youtube clip where he is walking down the catwalk with the other lady. Great guy, was even more suprised when he remembered a lot of passengers from their flight over to NZ 2 weeks earlier.
I know that most of them have been picked from outside of the aviation sector, which to a lot of cabin and ground crew, blew them away. Has actually left a lot of people quite sour because of it. But all in all, I think they are doing a good job, probably a better job than a lot of the cabin crew that went for it, as they are new, excited and fresh faced.
Along with when they are offering the assistance of the ground crew with carrying bags, when it is in our health and saftey contract not to carry bags.
If looking through the role description at the start of this thread, perhaps they can do this instead?
Possibly the best concierge I have seen in the year that I have been working at the gates is actually in the start of that youtube clip where he is walking down the catwalk with the other lady. Great guy, was even more suprised when he remembered a lot of passengers from their flight over to NZ 2 weeks earlier.
I know that most of them have been picked from outside of the aviation sector, which to a lot of cabin and ground crew, blew them away. Has actually left a lot of people quite sour because of it. But all in all, I think they are doing a good job, probably a better job than a lot of the cabin crew that went for it, as they are new, excited and fresh faced.
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lilflyboy,
The simple reality is that hardly any crew applied for the position in the first place. Why would we? As a longhaul crew member on a relatively new contract I earn more than the Concierges when taking into account the allowances and overtime. In addition, the Concierge has various targets to meet, have inferior layover times in a lot of cases and most importantly are not considered part of the operating crew, so rest limits don't really apply. If there's a delay, they are required to stay hours with the passengers and assist reaccomodation, their care, etc. This is great for the passengers and I think it's wonderful, but I hope you understand now why hardly any crew became Concierges!
As for some perceived 'sourness' about the Concierges - I think a large part of it is we are undercrewed considering the aircraft types we operate and the elaborate and manual service we provide, and finally the company adds a crew member and makes it a position that isn't required to assist us in delivering that service, and had such a loose description of the job role that every Concierge has a different idea of how they should be doing their job.
SOME of them are fantastic (particularly a girl M., who manages to be a fantastic Concierge AND an extra hand during the service seemingly effortlessly.) Others don't lift a finger to help, and have the brazenness to sit there arms folded and watch us work, but don't seem to be particularly good concierges either!
The simple reality is that hardly any crew applied for the position in the first place. Why would we? As a longhaul crew member on a relatively new contract I earn more than the Concierges when taking into account the allowances and overtime. In addition, the Concierge has various targets to meet, have inferior layover times in a lot of cases and most importantly are not considered part of the operating crew, so rest limits don't really apply. If there's a delay, they are required to stay hours with the passengers and assist reaccomodation, their care, etc. This is great for the passengers and I think it's wonderful, but I hope you understand now why hardly any crew became Concierges!
As for some perceived 'sourness' about the Concierges - I think a large part of it is we are undercrewed considering the aircraft types we operate and the elaborate and manual service we provide, and finally the company adds a crew member and makes it a position that isn't required to assist us in delivering that service, and had such a loose description of the job role that every Concierge has a different idea of how they should be doing their job.
SOME of them are fantastic (particularly a girl M., who manages to be a fantastic Concierge AND an extra hand during the service seemingly effortlessly.) Others don't lift a finger to help, and have the brazenness to sit there arms folded and watch us work, but don't seem to be particularly good concierges either!
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I totally understand where you are coming from koru kid, I am just in the unique position of being able to see roughly 30-50 crew a day. This is just what I have understood through listening to your own feedback, along with what I have observed in the gate lounges at boarding times.
I do know quite a few crew, both long haul and short haul that went for these positions, admittedly largely short haul. Anything to get off of the Zeal contracts... But there were a large portion of the ground based crew that also went for it and didnt get the job...
Sad to see that the IAC's have been cut back, I could have really done with one on NZ84 tonight. But I have heard that they may be rehiring again soon?
Sadly though it seems, with a few of AirNZ flights, there are some very average crew members, which has dissappointed me when I know so many great ones!
But then again, this isnt just a crew thing, its a entire company thing spanning from the flight deck to the checkin counters to sales desks.
If your coming through auckland intl sometime soon, look out for Jeremy, thats me, introduce yourself
Its good to meet more crew.
If you cant find me, its probably because I am down on the plane doing the headsets for you
I do know quite a few crew, both long haul and short haul that went for these positions, admittedly largely short haul. Anything to get off of the Zeal contracts... But there were a large portion of the ground based crew that also went for it and didnt get the job...
Sad to see that the IAC's have been cut back, I could have really done with one on NZ84 tonight. But I have heard that they may be rehiring again soon?
Sadly though it seems, with a few of AirNZ flights, there are some very average crew members, which has dissappointed me when I know so many great ones!
But then again, this isnt just a crew thing, its a entire company thing spanning from the flight deck to the checkin counters to sales desks.
If your coming through auckland intl sometime soon, look out for Jeremy, thats me, introduce yourself
Its good to meet more crew.If you cant find me, its probably because I am down on the plane doing the headsets for you
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Hey lilflyboy.
I am not sure what you are saying when you talk about the concierges getting "cut back". I know the company did not expand the numbers to what they were originally talking about, but am sure that simply came down to a cost issue, as setting up the role cost them an absolute packet.
They have had 9 I believe, leave already as they are so disenchanted about the position and the company seems to be taking no interest in changing anything. I have heard that many are thoroughly pist off now over their conditions and are actively looking at other jobs. Seems its the good ones that are the most upset.
They are all disgusted at the company also for recently training them up as strike breakers for the A320 and state the company has put them in an awful position. They were just finding they were starting to fit in with the crew onboard and now they are coping some flak and being perceived as scabs. The company KNEW this would happen but seemed utterly unrepentant and acted with disdain towards them by putting them in this position.
I also know many amazing ground crew that would have been great in this role and were turned down. I would suggest that there may be MANY vacancies in the near future though lol
I am not sure what you are saying when you talk about the concierges getting "cut back". I know the company did not expand the numbers to what they were originally talking about, but am sure that simply came down to a cost issue, as setting up the role cost them an absolute packet.
They have had 9 I believe, leave already as they are so disenchanted about the position and the company seems to be taking no interest in changing anything. I have heard that many are thoroughly pist off now over their conditions and are actively looking at other jobs. Seems its the good ones that are the most upset.
They are all disgusted at the company also for recently training them up as strike breakers for the A320 and state the company has put them in an awful position. They were just finding they were starting to fit in with the crew onboard and now they are coping some flak and being perceived as scabs. The company KNEW this would happen but seemed utterly unrepentant and acted with disdain towards them by putting them in this position.
I also know many amazing ground crew that would have been great in this role and were turned down. I would suggest that there may be MANY vacancies in the near future though lol
Last edited by joeflyguy; 3rd Aug 2009 at 09:13.
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By cut back Im meaning that they used to be on all long haul flights, now I am only seeing them on NZ6 and NZ8. But you pretty much set me straight with saying that 9 have left, and that they havent been interested in rehiring them.
Perhaps since they have been trained as strikebreakers, that is why they are looking at rehiring... because they will be too busy on the A320 routes...
Perhaps since they have been trained as strikebreakers, that is why they are looking at rehiring... because they will be too busy on the A320 routes...
Forgive pax intrusion here:
A few months back I witnessed the Concierge helping on several occasions with the drinks service in Economy between LAX and AKL on NZ1.
She was also great with our kids and met us in baggage reclaim at AKL to point us in the right direction to the Domestic Terminal, as we had a fairly tight connection to CHC.
Pity that on the NZ39 return to the UK 3 weeks later not a black-suited lady or gent in sight.
....and finally the company adds a crew member and makes it a position that isn't required to assist us in delivering that service
She was also great with our kids and met us in baggage reclaim at AKL to point us in the right direction to the Domestic Terminal, as we had a fairly tight connection to CHC.
Pity that on the NZ39 return to the UK 3 weeks later not a black-suited lady or gent in sight.
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Wycombe. I hope I dont come across as cynical but its damn easy to make the obvious customers (FT's and parents with children) happy onboard - and off - when you actually have no other duty to perform inflight. Give any of the Flight Attendants 12 hours on a AKL-LAX service free of any workload and I bet you will be pleased as punch with them also.
Many of the Concierges do jump on the end of a bar-cart and get involved but by their own admission that is usually to alleviate the boredom of having nothing else to do.
And the 7 that did leave due to conditions, have now all been replaced.
Many of the Concierges do jump on the end of a bar-cart and get involved but by their own admission that is usually to alleviate the boredom of having nothing else to do.
And the 7 that did leave due to conditions, have now all been replaced.
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Detailed info on the Inflight Concierge job?
Hi.
after reading the ad i was getting interested but still have to work out the following details before i consider applying, i hope anyone can help:
-what routes do you work on?
-how many days off after each trip?
-duty hours?
-monthly pay?
Thanx!
after reading the ad i was getting interested but still have to work out the following details before i consider applying, i hope anyone can help:
-what routes do you work on?
-how many days off after each trip?
-duty hours?
-monthly pay?
Thanx!
Join Date: Oct 2002
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removing all hot meals from business class on their Tasman services a while ago
Why was this?
Why was this?
Probably because they only have to compete with OneStar Proud to be Australia's only Onestar Airline
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Detailed info on the Inflight Concierge job?
i hope anyone can help:
-what routes do you work on?
-how many days off after each trip?
-duty hours?
-monthly pay?
i hope anyone can help:
-what routes do you work on?
-how many days off after each trip?
-duty hours?
-monthly pay?
Routes ? If operating out of AKL its AKL/LAX/AKL, AKL/SFO/AKL and AKL/YVR/AKL
Days off After each trip? Can do a LAX or SFO, get home on Wed and back out on Fri with only the one day off.
Duty hours? haha now theres a kicker. there are NO duty hour limitations. None whatsoever.
monthly pay? Somewhere in the region of $60k but no allowances at hotels like cabin crew get.
