Hey Qantas, why is it that ....?

[Pleb Status]

QF F hosts are like the Yeti. I have heard rumours of their existence but never encountered one despite more QF F sectors than many others.

Maybe they only 'appear' after too many glasses of wine etc...

 

[pagingjoan]

Have never encountered the Yeti but have had F Host assistance over the years numerous times, including MEL, SYD, LHR, LAX and DXB. Can't recall any other locations, for the moment.

The F Hosts have been great, in all cases, and have gone above and beyond several times, in unusual circumstances.

So so keep the faith.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Have never encountered the Yeti but have had F Host assistance over the years numerous times, including MEL, SYD, LHR, LAX and DXB. Can't recall any other locations, for the moment.

The F Hosts have been great, in all cases, and have gone above and beyond several times, in unusual circumstances.

So so keep the faith.

How can one keep the faith when one, as a paying F customer, gets absolutely no assistance even after specifically requesting it?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Link? I could not find one on the QF site for F hosts apart from Sydney Melbourne.

https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/international-first-class/global/en. However as it also says Singapore and Hong Kong, I expect it hasn't been updated for quite a few years..... which was your link?

 

[Flying mermaid]

How can one keep the faith when one, as a paying F customer, gets absolutely no assistance even after specifically requesting it?

I believe in voting with my feet. After years of dedication to Qantas (and with an increasingly disgruntled Mr FM), I finally decided to accept that Qantas was no longer the national carrier, but a (successful) business and to make my purchases based on quality delivered, not on sentiment.

 

[TheRealTMA]

https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/international-first-class/global/en. However as it also says Singapore and Hong Kong, I expect it hasn't been updated for quite a few years..... which was your link?

Ok.

Yes it's not true. Just corporate spin. I'm extremely pissed off that MrsTMA travelling by herself got SFA from QF on an F ticket, no assistance at LHR, not even help with luggage off the carousel, one of the things QF promised on the phone. We have one more QF F back to LHR in October then the game's over for QF as FM has said above.

 

[kermatu]

If assistance at the carousel was promised that's really poor. In my one (very good) experience with a F Host on arrival in MEL there was just one lady (she admitted) and she had just assisted someone else with his baggage and through customs and to a taxi, came back and then saw me, and then did the same for me but all the way through to the Dom terminal security lane, then turned round back to INTL to see if there were any other F pax still around.

Not quite sure how she saw/knew me (wonder if they have photos?) but in any event seemed quite random and very inefficient. Lovely help which was not requested nor expected.

 

[OzEire]

You would think F customers were almost exclusively either return pax or those trying it out after a glowing recommendation from a friend, etc.

So failures like this in F would damage the brand (return customers/promoters) more than the much more price sensitive Y or work funded J cohorts.

Before AFF I always dreamed of F travel. But now having tried QF, BA and EK F I'm more than happy with J, and would tell anyone I can that none of these carriers are worth the $ or pts.

 

[Princess Fiona]

So if two passengers travelling F on QF out of LHR (paid for tickets, separate dates in May ) are refused assistance from an F host after contacting Qantas, how else is one supposed to find an F host?

Practically speaking ask at check-in. They will contact the First Host for you. Done this on multiple occasions at LHR.

 

[katiebell]

Not at LHR any more. I rang QF in LHR and was told they only exist in Sydney and Melbourne now. MrsTMA got absolutely no assistance at LHR.

They are at LHR this month and none told me they were stopping ther service: quite the opposite. It seems your info is incorrect and the lack of assistance not up to standard. BTW I was advised to book wheelchair assistance even though it is more than actually required as it is the only way to ensure that the assistance needed is actually provided. I did this for a relative: it worked very well.

 

[katiebell]

Didn't say they were bad - just rarely seen, and sure as heck not available to every F pax (nor P1, though I actually don't expect that) in my experience in all ports where QF offer a F service (other than DFW which I have not flown to/from on QF F).

The two I have encountered - completely by chance - were indeed very good.

I was not intending to imply you might have thought they were bad: I meant they do exist and they are lovely.

 

[amaroo]

Our last First host in LHR (check-in) was 2015. Unfortunately, organising a spa booking was beyond their skill set. Had to do it myself .... why have a dog, if you have to wag the tail?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Practically speaking ask at check-in. They will contact the First Host for you. Done this on multiple occasions at LHR.

A bit too late I would suggest, plus why no service on landing in BNE? Not good enought for a paid F trip.

 

[TheRealTMA]

They are at LHR this month and none told me they were stopping ther service: quite the opposite. It seems your info is incorrect and the lack of assistance not up to standard. BTW I was advised to book wheelchair assistance even though it is more than actually required as it is the only way to ensure that the assistance needed is actually provided. I did this for a relative: it worked very well.

So how did you contact them? We couldn't in May! Why was it not offered with a phone call before the flight? Absolutely not good enough for $25K expenditure.

 

[kermatu]

I was not intending to imply you might have thought they were bad: I meant they do exist and they are lovely.

No worries.

 

[blackcat20]

We had a heck of a time finding the first host in LHR last June. BA desk said "she's around here somewhere" but couldnt do a lot more than that. Finally found someone who looked up her number and left a message, but by the time she found us we were far too late to get a spa appointment. Check in was also useless which didnt help; if we'd known to ask then the whole thing might have gone far more smoothly.

 

[Quickstatus]

From position of ignorance, why do people need a F Host?

 

[Princess Fiona]

From position of ignorance, why do people need a F Host?

Pre departure they can organize to have you met kerbside with the porters for your luggage. In practice this also means that you don't need to queue/ wait along with the WPs at the F check-in, it's all done while you sit. They also book Spa appointments. Can arrange an escort through security and Immigration. This service is also available at DXB (escort through security during transit).
You can also have them preboard you on request.

 

[Flying mermaid]

From position of ignorance, why do people need a F Host?

most times you don't and most times I couldn't be bothered. However they are there to smooth the process for F passengers - the fares are not cheap and Qantas offer it as part of your fare. The F host was wonderful the time our flight from Sydney was delayed and made the process of swapping from LHR to Gatwick pretty easy. Initially we were flying lhr to Venice but we missed that flight.

Historically airlines are good in the air but ground service and service recovery can be poor. F hosts help with that. All F passengers should be entitled to it and it is pretty poor to hear how patchy it is.

 

[katiebell]

The F hosts are one thing that QF do really well (if you meet one). I am not implying that others have found them elusive. Rather it is typical QF: inconsistent standards but fantastic when it works.