My parents have just returned from KUL flying KUL-CGK-SYD. CGK-SYD in J on QF. Thought I'd just report on what sounds like a fairly unpleasant trip home.
Checkin at KUL with bags tagged to SYD and, I thought surprisingly, BPs issued for QF to SYD.
Arrival in CGK saw them head to international transfers. There were about 10 around, 2 of them asleep. After refusing to acknowledge, they eventually slapped immigration forms down on the desk and pointed to the "buy a visa" desk. When pointing out (yet again) that they were in transit, said staff members screamed at them to go and refused to assist. A little bewildered... They walked off towards immigration where one of the equivalents of a SYD yellow shirt helper told them they should be at transfers and not to buy a visa.
Luckily... Said airport helper was actually very helpful and escorted them back to transfers where the same ordeal reoccurred. The airport staff proceeded to have a screaming match with each other with the helper adamant and not backing down. Fortunately! Eventually, over an hour after initially approaching the transfer desk, they were allowed to proceed airside.
Then the lounge.... Initially there was a debate about the Malaysia Airlines marked boarding pass. It took 15 minutes worth of phone calls to be allowed in. The lounge was reportedly disgusting. Minimal food that was of questionable hygiene, no wine at all, no spirits and just tap beer. Surely some of the very basics are considered the bare minimum for a QF utilised lounge?
Later on a staff member approached and said he was with Qantas. He said he would need to take their passports to finish checking in. My parents had the sense to ask to go with him, but this was refused. Against their better judgement, they gave him both passports and he returned later on with BPs on QF stock. Surely the transfer desk should have done any required passport checks?
All in all seemed like a poor experience for our "premium" airline, especially for J pax.
No surprise they're just not competitive across Asia.
Checkin at KUL with bags tagged to SYD and, I thought surprisingly, BPs issued for QF to SYD.
Arrival in CGK saw them head to international transfers. There were about 10 around, 2 of them asleep. After refusing to acknowledge, they eventually slapped immigration forms down on the desk and pointed to the "buy a visa" desk. When pointing out (yet again) that they were in transit, said staff members screamed at them to go and refused to assist. A little bewildered... They walked off towards immigration where one of the equivalents of a SYD yellow shirt helper told them they should be at transfers and not to buy a visa.
Luckily... Said airport helper was actually very helpful and escorted them back to transfers where the same ordeal reoccurred. The airport staff proceeded to have a screaming match with each other with the helper adamant and not backing down. Fortunately! Eventually, over an hour after initially approaching the transfer desk, they were allowed to proceed airside.
Then the lounge.... Initially there was a debate about the Malaysia Airlines marked boarding pass. It took 15 minutes worth of phone calls to be allowed in. The lounge was reportedly disgusting. Minimal food that was of questionable hygiene, no wine at all, no spirits and just tap beer. Surely some of the very basics are considered the bare minimum for a QF utilised lounge?
Later on a staff member approached and said he was with Qantas. He said he would need to take their passports to finish checking in. My parents had the sense to ask to go with him, but this was refused. Against their better judgement, they gave him both passports and he returned later on with BPs on QF stock. Surely the transfer desk should have done any required passport checks?
All in all seemed like a poor experience for our "premium" airline, especially for J pax.
No surprise they're just not competitive across Asia.
