Wanted: Staff travel stories
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Has anyone ever noticed there are never any J/S requests from HK airport staff? Wonder how they get to travel?
On a flight a few years back, my son had a confirmed J/S; The usual thing at the staff desk... he waited and waited ....at the last minute the staff came over and said he couldn't have the J/S because he was too young, and the J/S had been released to someone else! Lucky I was there and told her to look closely at the ticket and his record( it clearly showed he was 14, couldn't book it otherwise!).I had the skipper's cellphone # and filled him in on what was happening. He went back to the old Boeing "love seats" and saw a local sitting there. He then told the Ground Staff to offload them (he had not released it to her), and put my son on. These shenanigans happen a lot!
I always confirm the J/S pax's with the ground staff and ensure they have been loaded if I know they are definitely traveling.
On a flight a few years back, my son had a confirmed J/S; The usual thing at the staff desk... he waited and waited ....at the last minute the staff came over and said he couldn't have the J/S because he was too young, and the J/S had been released to someone else! Lucky I was there and told her to look closely at the ticket and his record( it clearly showed he was 14, couldn't book it otherwise!).I had the skipper's cellphone # and filled him in on what was happening. He went back to the old Boeing "love seats" and saw a local sitting there. He then told the Ground Staff to offload them (he had not released it to her), and put my son on. These shenanigans happen a lot!
I always confirm the J/S pax's with the ground staff and ensure they have been loaded if I know they are definitely traveling.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Don’t understand the CX staff travel system in price and user friendliness.
Why do we pay ID 90 rates on our own airline? The seat is already going. Other airlines have only admin fees or FOC tickets.
Anyway, the ground staff was asking for the jump seat for some ID travellers. I could only release one and it was available. I asked how many staff we have. The answer was about six. We were weight limited and I asked the ground staff to allow the staff to come to the gate and when we get the ZFW, we can get some on if not all.
The excuses were they have checked bags. I told them to put them by the aircraft and if the staff gets on, put the bag on. CANNOT.
Other airlines do this very thing to get the staff on but I guess we are not other airlines. I have travelled Continental out of HKG was given a standby ticket to the gate where I was the last to get on, but it worked.
I don’t think the staff travel will ever change for the better here, not until we have a change of BN or he has direction from above. Clearly he will not initiate any progress.
As an operating Captain, you are entitled to ask for the PIL. I have caught Ground Staff at out ports upgrading their based cabin crew ahead of other staff.
We should be writing reports about this. If enough paperwork is generated, something would have to be addressed or you would think.
Why do we pay ID 90 rates on our own airline? The seat is already going. Other airlines have only admin fees or FOC tickets.
Anyway, the ground staff was asking for the jump seat for some ID travellers. I could only release one and it was available. I asked how many staff we have. The answer was about six. We were weight limited and I asked the ground staff to allow the staff to come to the gate and when we get the ZFW, we can get some on if not all.
The excuses were they have checked bags. I told them to put them by the aircraft and if the staff gets on, put the bag on. CANNOT.
Other airlines do this very thing to get the staff on but I guess we are not other airlines. I have travelled Continental out of HKG was given a standby ticket to the gate where I was the last to get on, but it worked.
I don’t think the staff travel will ever change for the better here, not until we have a change of BN or he has direction from above. Clearly he will not initiate any progress.
As an operating Captain, you are entitled to ask for the PIL. I have caught Ground Staff at out ports upgrading their based cabin crew ahead of other staff.
We should be writing reports about this. If enough paperwork is generated, something would have to be addressed or you would think.
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Because
Because the people employed are devoid of any notion of empathy.
They care not about you or your family and how stressful their strict adherence to policy, taken to the nth degree I am sure, out of spite, impacts on your overall experience with Staff Travel
They would rather be slurping a luke warm bowl of noodles and smoking over a mahjong table than doing anything professional.
They are an absolute disgrace- Something only Hong Kong could mould.
They are however very good at requesting jump seats!
They care not about you or your family and how stressful their strict adherence to policy, taken to the nth degree I am sure, out of spite, impacts on your overall experience with Staff Travel
They would rather be slurping a luke warm bowl of noodles and smoking over a mahjong table than doing anything professional.
They are an absolute disgrace- Something only Hong Kong could mould.
They are however very good at requesting jump seats!
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Hey guys,
I don't mean to thread drift here but I have a related question. I asked in a previous thread but didn't get a very detailed answer...
Is there anyone on here who commutes from Taiwan to Hong Kong via Cathay? If not, how about other nearby destinations? Just wondering how well this has worked out for you and what CX's rules are on this. Do you still get housing allowance since your base is in HK? Also, what is the specific cost of doing this?
Thanks guys...
I don't mean to thread drift here but I have a related question. I asked in a previous thread but didn't get a very detailed answer...
Is there anyone on here who commutes from Taiwan to Hong Kong via Cathay? If not, how about other nearby destinations? Just wondering how well this has worked out for you and what CX's rules are on this. Do you still get housing allowance since your base is in HK? Also, what is the specific cost of doing this?
Thanks guys...
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Yes, you can commute to TPE. There are a lot of flights per day with CX and other carriers.
If you are off duty, CX cannot control what you do with your time off, or where you do it, as long as your min rest requirements are met before your next duty.
If you are based in HKG, then you will continue to receive housing.
I'm sure there are quite a few cabin crew that commute, but I don't know any of them personally.
Cost of an ID90 HKG-TPE? Don't know, but I bet it's very cheap.
If you are off duty, CX cannot control what you do with your time off, or where you do it, as long as your min rest requirements are met before your next duty.
If you are based in HKG, then you will continue to receive housing.
I'm sure there are quite a few cabin crew that commute, but I don't know any of them personally.
Cost of an ID90 HKG-TPE? Don't know, but I bet it's very cheap.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Jump Seats
Because the people employed are devoid of any notion of empathy.
Oh yes, and the the question of jump seats:
I understand the policy that they can't give you a JS if there is a cabin seat available, but if I'm J1, why not give me a boarding pass for JS & then re-allocate a seat at the gate?
Their "cannot" excuse does not hold water, as they are never hesitant to downgrade staff at the gate after giving a free upgrade to a revenue pax. (note: contrary to the black & white policy)
Note to BN & the clowns working for him: CX outport staff not only seem to be able to send us through with a JS boarding pass, and tell us we might be re-allocated at the gate, they also make derogatory comments about the fact that they don't get the same service in return from HK staff travel.
One Team???? Very Different Dream.......
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It's always struck me as one of the ironies of the airline industry that one of the 'perks' is reduced rate travel on a standby basis, and yet everyone in marketing, revenue management and distribution is working to ensure that every seat is filled with a paying passenger.
Turkeys voting for Christmas?
Turkeys voting for Christmas?
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Originally Posted by capetonian
one of the 'perks' is reduced rate travel on a standby basis, and yet everyone in marketing, revenue management and distribution is working to ensure that every seat is filled with a paying passenger.
The full loads are the device which generates profit; profit being a key point in pilot negotiations, no?
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Not exactly on thread but just to show how you guys/girls have it so good.
Crowded C130 UK-Cyprus. It was the fastest way to get me there believe it or not. Going through security the alarms went off. I explained to the RAF copper that it was probably the shooter in the shoulder holster under my jacket. She said, 'that's OK then sir but we will have to x-ray your ammunition box'
I was regrettably allowed on board. On T/O the thing shook like hell. I thought that this was normal however we aborted due to nose wheel shimmer. We were taken back to the terminal where they tried to incarcerate me with just a sandwich and a coffee. I insisted on being released to go to the officer's mess for lunch and a few beers. I was told that if I did that I may miss the flight. I was really concerned about that, much. Unfortunately they telephoned me when the aircraft was fixed. I did however get an upgrade - to the jump seat 
Crowded C130 UK-Cyprus. It was the fastest way to get me there believe it or not. Going through security the alarms went off. I explained to the RAF copper that it was probably the shooter in the shoulder holster under my jacket. She said, 'that's OK then sir but we will have to x-ray your ammunition box'
I was regrettably allowed on board. On T/O the thing shook like hell. I thought that this was normal however we aborted due to nose wheel shimmer. We were taken back to the terminal where they tried to incarcerate me with just a sandwich and a coffee. I insisted on being released to go to the officer's mess for lunch and a few beers. I was told that if I did that I may miss the flight. I was really concerned about that, much. Unfortunately they telephoned me when the aircraft was fixed. I did however get an upgrade - to the jump seat
Exascot,
. . and don't forget the row from the rôle equipment rattling away the hours
. and lying on the freight looking up at the single aileron actuator, hoping it doesn't leak all over me and, if it does, do they have manual reversion?
Our last staff travel flight - sector HK - SYD:
"Only one seat!"
I'd just said "Well, you go on and I'll catch up later." (after a few drinks in Dakotas tonight
)
Captain turns up and sets about advising check-in staff of REAL load situation.
"OK, you both in first!"
. . and don't forget the row from the rôle equipment rattling away the hours
. and lying on the freight looking up at the single aileron actuator, hoping it doesn't leak all over me and, if it does, do they have manual reversion?
Our last staff travel flight - sector HK - SYD:
"Only one seat!"
I'd just said "Well, you go on and I'll catch up later." (after a few drinks in Dakotas tonight
)Captain turns up and sets about advising check-in staff of REAL load situation.
"OK, you both in first!"
Last edited by Basil; 3rd Jun 2011 at 11:12.
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Thanks Jed Thrust!
I understand CX cannot control your time off. My concern was that if I wasn't able to get on the flight from TPE to HKG and subsequently don't make the show time for my flight as a crew member. Is there any leeway here or am I in serious trouble if this happens?
Also, what about reserve times? I know that they are spread among all, but if I am in HKG overnight is there a place I can spend the night at CX or should I look for a crash pad/cheap apartment there?
Anyone at all on here who commutes from TPE.... Anyone?
I understand CX cannot control your time off. My concern was that if I wasn't able to get on the flight from TPE to HKG and subsequently don't make the show time for my flight as a crew member. Is there any leeway here or am I in serious trouble if this happens?
Also, what about reserve times? I know that they are spread among all, but if I am in HKG overnight is there a place I can spend the night at CX or should I look for a crash pad/cheap apartment there?
Anyone at all on here who commutes from TPE.... Anyone?
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Is there any leeway here or am I in serious trouble if this happens?
is there a place I can spend the night at CX or should I look for a crash pad/cheap apartment there?
STP
PS. What's this got to do with Staff Travel stories?
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Steve the Pirate... not rude at all... but it is a serious question that you have now answered with your incredulous response. I have never commuted before and thus was interested in learning more. At any rate, I read another post that stated you are expected to be in HKG a minimum of 12 hours before duty time. Inconvenient but doable I suppose.
I'm still very interested in talking with someone... anyone?..... who commutes.
This has very little to do with travel stories and was the reason I apologized for thread drift. I just thought that perhaps someone may have a commute story that may relate.
Carry on with your travel stories....
I'm still very interested in talking with someone... anyone?..... who commutes.
This has very little to do with travel stories and was the reason I apologized for thread drift. I just thought that perhaps someone may have a commute story that may relate.
Carry on with your travel stories....
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I can remember many a night hanging around aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...he he, sorry the 'a' key wwas sticky, I just cleaned it....
Yes many a night hanging around the desk, waiting for a little Chinese CX staffer to come over and stand up on a little pedestal type thing, hold up boarding tickets and announce "Mr/s Smith".......Smiths come forward snatch tickets, and bolt for the gate, "Mr/s Clarke'.....repeat etc etc etc, until Fliegs is standing there, sheepishly looking around at the few other souls sheepishly looking around.....sigh and wonder off.......
Wander off to the Le Meridien Kai Tak, check in.......
3 nights in a row....finally made it out on the 4th night...., and I thank rather than snatch the pass from the CX girl....bolt to gate, make my way to the seat, and can't help feeling all those people looking at you thinking what sort of an idiot arrives this late, and of course nil overhead locker space by now...but made the flight
Mr Ron Knight (sadly recently departed) was assist airport manager (?) with CX back then......
Speaking of that Le Meridien hotel, remember that place?, The bar atop the building with that all time view of the arrivals down 13. Spent many hours sitting there wondering if we'd make the flight tonight, or will I be sitting here 24 hrs from now??? I well remember that bridge from the terminal over to Le Meriden, and the 'travelator' thing, moving sidewalk (?), ah good times, sadly I think we've seen the last of the good old times.....so pleased and blessed to have been in and around Kai Tak (And bumped in Kai Tak!).....Used to have a cheese omelette for dinner downstairs in the Le Meridien, try to sleep, checkout and wait around for hours & hours until the 23:00 flight back to BNE would take one to SYD or Melb if there was space, and TN flight back to OOL.
I remember those half nods of bare acknowledgment to those you were standing around with 24 hours earlier...here she comes.....'Mr/s Tan'..."Mr Borton"....and so it went...."Mr Fliegenmong" finally!!, and just as suddenly a pang of sadness I wouldn't be around Kai Tak again for a while I'd be in my bed in 24 hours, not in the Le Meridien top floor bar, musing over what sort of omelette to have if I was bumped again tonight ....and then one day...Kai Tak was no more.......
More recently ('08?) Mrs Fliegs and I were in New York, trying to get to Chicago, 09:00 flight out of LGA, thought to catch a cab out of Manhattan to LGA at about 05:00, 4 hours should suffice, snowing like crazy, ankle deep snow, every cab I flagged down drove off when I said La Guardia......finally a kindly cab driver took us to the starbucks opposite Grand central and explained a bus would go to LGA. I remember how noisy those hydraulic windscreen wipers were
OK so that's not so staff travel, that could happen to anyone!, We do arrive in plenty of time, but flights are cancelling, it won't stop snowing, and we are on the screen now as Mr/s Fliegs number 3 & 4. OK great!,...it keeps snowing, look back at the screen, it refreshes itself to Mr/s Fliegs number 8 & 9, oookayyyy....... look out across the field at those snow clearing trucks and wonder how it is they can drive so fast in such abysmal conditions in an airport environment, screen refreshes.....11 & 12......I ponder how times change from nervously waiting around for that little CX lady of years ago to walk over with her boarding passes in hand, and start calling out names, to now with a screen refreshing itself in near real time...and so it does again, 17 & 18......
Now I think, here we go again!, damn omelette dinner in an overpriced airport hotel, except this is different, no need to cross the South China Sea, just need to get to the Mid West......23 & 24, **** this, the adorable Mrs Fliegs and I go off for breakfast, and watch as the snow keeps falling and the de-icing ops continue........we eventually blew out to 43 & 44, but it sure looked good early! We'd have been fine if it weren't for such abysmal weather, couldn't see Rikers Is. from in the terminal, though I do recall clearly seeing the 'RECHECK COMPASS runway heading 225.2 m' as we held for clearance.
Managed a flight to Madison Wisconsin on a AA EMB 135/145 (?) I think it was, we drove to Chicago, arrived at destination 23:00, that night....flight time around 2 hours.....but that's staff travel.....
Yes many a night hanging around the desk, waiting for a little Chinese CX staffer to come over and stand up on a little pedestal type thing, hold up boarding tickets and announce "Mr/s Smith".......Smiths come forward snatch tickets, and bolt for the gate, "Mr/s Clarke'.....repeat etc etc etc, until Fliegs is standing there, sheepishly looking around at the few other souls sheepishly looking around.....sigh and wonder off.......
Wander off to the Le Meridien Kai Tak, check in.......
3 nights in a row....finally made it out on the 4th night...., and I thank rather than snatch the pass from the CX girl....bolt to gate, make my way to the seat, and can't help feeling all those people looking at you thinking what sort of an idiot arrives this late, and of course nil overhead locker space by now...but made the flight
Mr Ron Knight (sadly recently departed) was assist airport manager (?) with CX back then......
Speaking of that Le Meridien hotel, remember that place?, The bar atop the building with that all time view of the arrivals down 13. Spent many hours sitting there wondering if we'd make the flight tonight, or will I be sitting here 24 hrs from now??? I well remember that bridge from the terminal over to Le Meriden, and the 'travelator' thing, moving sidewalk (?), ah good times, sadly I think we've seen the last of the good old times.....so pleased and blessed to have been in and around Kai Tak (And bumped in Kai Tak!).....Used to have a cheese omelette for dinner downstairs in the Le Meridien, try to sleep, checkout and wait around for hours & hours until the 23:00 flight back to BNE would take one to SYD or Melb if there was space, and TN flight back to OOL.
I remember those half nods of bare acknowledgment to those you were standing around with 24 hours earlier...here she comes.....'Mr/s Tan'..."Mr Borton"....and so it went...."Mr Fliegenmong" finally!!, and just as suddenly a pang of sadness I wouldn't be around Kai Tak again for a while I'd be in my bed in 24 hours, not in the Le Meridien top floor bar, musing over what sort of omelette to have if I was bumped again tonight ....and then one day...Kai Tak was no more.......
More recently ('08?) Mrs Fliegs and I were in New York, trying to get to Chicago, 09:00 flight out of LGA, thought to catch a cab out of Manhattan to LGA at about 05:00, 4 hours should suffice, snowing like crazy, ankle deep snow, every cab I flagged down drove off when I said La Guardia......finally a kindly cab driver took us to the starbucks opposite Grand central and explained a bus would go to LGA. I remember how noisy those hydraulic windscreen wipers were
OK so that's not so staff travel, that could happen to anyone!, We do arrive in plenty of time, but flights are cancelling, it won't stop snowing, and we are on the screen now as Mr/s Fliegs number 3 & 4. OK great!,...it keeps snowing, look back at the screen, it refreshes itself to Mr/s Fliegs number 8 & 9, oookayyyy....... look out across the field at those snow clearing trucks and wonder how it is they can drive so fast in such abysmal conditions in an airport environment, screen refreshes.....11 & 12......I ponder how times change from nervously waiting around for that little CX lady of years ago to walk over with her boarding passes in hand, and start calling out names, to now with a screen refreshing itself in near real time...and so it does again, 17 & 18......
Now I think, here we go again!, damn omelette dinner in an overpriced airport hotel, except this is different, no need to cross the South China Sea, just need to get to the Mid West......23 & 24, **** this, the adorable Mrs Fliegs and I go off for breakfast, and watch as the snow keeps falling and the de-icing ops continue........we eventually blew out to 43 & 44, but it sure looked good early! We'd have been fine if it weren't for such abysmal weather, couldn't see Rikers Is. from in the terminal, though I do recall clearly seeing the 'RECHECK COMPASS runway heading 225.2 m' as we held for clearance.
Managed a flight to Madison Wisconsin on a AA EMB 135/145 (?) I think it was, we drove to Chicago, arrived at destination 23:00, that night....flight time around 2 hours.....but that's staff travel.....
The Reverend
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At my retirement in 1991 after 25 years in CX, I was entitled to 6 F/C ID 90s a year. Not very long after this, entitlement was reduced to one four sector F/C ID 90 a year. No information was ever supplied to me about this change of entitlement and to this day, I can not understand the logic of it as surely a 10% F/C fare is better than an empty seat being carried. Some of my ex colleagues who joined from BA are enjoying an annual FOC F/C ticket from BA for the rest of their lives.
ex colleagues who joined from BA are enjoying an annual FOC F/C ticket from BA for the rest of their lives.
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Flyinryan,
Commuting is 10 times harder, more expensive and fatiguing than you think it will be. You will also spend half your G days commuting. Even if you get the next 1-hour flight to TPE, that eats up half a G day. While you can depart for TPE soon after your arrival, it still cannot be sooner than about 2 hours later. You do have to arrive many hours before a duty and give yourself plenty of time and options, as you will quickly run out of last-minute "I'm sick" calls unless you do.
I used to commute. I would get up early, catch an early flight and be in my hotel room by about 11AM for a midnight or 1AM departure. The stress of leaving standby travel to late in the day will do you in. One cancelled flight during the day call fill up all the seats on the next 5 flights. Standing around hoping and stressing about a standby seat for hours and hours will get old very fast. And that's on the way to work. On the way home, you're usually exhausted and feeling the life being sucked out of you as you wait....
All that to say, if at all possible, live where you work! Save your health, money and energy for your days off to enjoy doing what you want, rather than having your health, wealth and energy drained away getting to and from work.
Good luck!
Commuting is 10 times harder, more expensive and fatiguing than you think it will be. You will also spend half your G days commuting. Even if you get the next 1-hour flight to TPE, that eats up half a G day. While you can depart for TPE soon after your arrival, it still cannot be sooner than about 2 hours later. You do have to arrive many hours before a duty and give yourself plenty of time and options, as you will quickly run out of last-minute "I'm sick" calls unless you do.
I used to commute. I would get up early, catch an early flight and be in my hotel room by about 11AM for a midnight or 1AM departure. The stress of leaving standby travel to late in the day will do you in. One cancelled flight during the day call fill up all the seats on the next 5 flights. Standing around hoping and stressing about a standby seat for hours and hours will get old very fast. And that's on the way to work. On the way home, you're usually exhausted and feeling the life being sucked out of you as you wait....
All that to say, if at all possible, live where you work! Save your health, money and energy for your days off to enjoy doing what you want, rather than having your health, wealth and energy drained away getting to and from work.
Good luck!
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Thanks Iron Skillet! I don't doubt commuting is hard work. I am thinking that since the flight is 1.5 hours and there are 20 flights on CX alone it should be doable. I guess I may be finding out sooner or later.
Still nobody who commutes from TPE on here?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Bueller?
Still nobody who commutes from TPE on here?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Bueller?