Different Treatment as an Upgrade Customer

[jackthomas]

I've thought about this since the reply to my previous post. So VA will refuse to take the money of a private person, who just happens to work for VA, for a business class airfare? I think perhaps that's not correct. Even if it's believable for staff travelling officially

As I understand it, if staff want to fly domestic J, they get no staff travel benefits and will have to pay full fare like the rest of us. They do receive very discounted International J fares however.

 

[medhead]

As I understand it, if staff want to fly domestic J, they get no staff travel benefits and will have to pay full fare like the rest of us. They do receive very discounted International J fares however.

They would be incognito to the operating crew if travelling privately. But I've seen some over the top interactions with VA crew and staff travelling in Y. I think it isn't beyond the realms of possibility for a private crew member, if known to the operating crew, to get preferential treatment.

But it would be a fairly rare that someone would pay for full J and also been known to the operating crew. (yes, I'm hedging my bets)

 

[brebbles]

While not a points upgrade, don't EK deny lounge access to pax who have taken their cash upgrade offer?

Just to add a data point relating to this (apologies if off-topic/wrong forum). On 3 separate occasions my wife and I have paid at the check-in counter to upgrade from J to F on EY - once from MEL-AUH with an ongoing J seat to DUB, and twice from AUH-MEL, after an incoming J seat from DUB (where the paid F upgrade was organised/paid for).

Upon landing from MEL-AUH (prior to J leg to DUB) the FA pointed out I would have access to the AUH F-Lounge, and I was granted access there no questions asked. Both times after flying J from DUB-AUH with an ongoing F AUH-MEL we were denied entry to the F lounge. When it happened to my wife she begrudgingly accepted this and headed to the J lounge. When it happened to me I got as far as the J-lounge door, saw the crowd and went back to the F-lounge mentioning the J crowd and they reluctantly let me in.

Afterwards I worked out the paid upgrade price was the difference between the full-fare J our company paid for, and the base-level F fare available. I would have thought even base-level F should be allowed in the F-lounge, even if they got there by a paid upgrade (looking at their T&C's, a points upgrade at the airport grants you lounge access at the upgraded class - why should a paid upgrade offer less?).

Adding to the confusion was the the one time I was allowed F-lounge access was in transit from F to J. The two times we transited from J to F we were denied. Seems counter-intuitive.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Adding to the confusion was the the one time I was allowed F-lounge access was in transit from F to J. The two times we transited from J to F we were denied. Seems counter-intuitive.

That's odd. Surely it doesn't matter if you just got off a whY or J flight, or out of a taxi or bus..........your onward journey is in F! :?:

 

[BAM1748]

I flew PER-SYD flexi recently and used one of my complimentary upgrades to J more than 24 hours prior to departure. During the meal service, I asked what dish I would like, when I responded, I was told that I would have to wait for everyone else to give their selection as only certain amount of the dish was loaded on board. I understand that an on departure upgrade immediately before the flight in the lounge may be not be catering guaranteed, but this upgrade request was confirmed more than 24 hours before the flight. It worked out that they did have one dish left that I wanted (which didn't taste that great in the end anyway).

Has anyone else noticed this now, or have been treated any differently by cabin crew from a upgraded ticket or award flight? I presume the manifest shows the fare class of all passengers? Does anyone know if QF adopt the same policies?

Cheers

They should of told you what was available as the choices if they don't have enough of something. 24 hours is plenty of time to get an extra meal on the plane. Singapore will put your beer of choice on board if you ask them the day before (and traveling first).

Matt

 

[J.Alfred.Pruflock]

As a self employed type I never pay the J fare. It's done using points or upgrade me bids and I usually travel on a saver fare.

On the coast to coast runs in the J cabin I have always been treated exceptionally well as have all the other pax on the flight.

The 737 east coast J curve runs are more hit and miss. My personal experience is that it comes down to the crew member. Sometimes they are exceptional and treat everyone like gold and other times the service is universally indifferent across the cabin. I've had a few real shockers this year.

Summary : I'm not sure the service it's based on fare type. Rather, which side of the bed the J cabin attendant woke up that morning.

In any case, it's consistently inconsistent.

 

[Milefest]

I personally haven't experienced any "fare discriminiation" either, most of my J experiences have been great but it's always those dodgy ones you remember.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Flew my first A330 coast-to-coast on Friday, SYD-PER using a platinum J upgrade (confirmed a few weeks ago), and am pleased to report the service was excellent!

Sat in 1A and was consistently served second on the left side of the cabin, and got all my meal choices. It looked like the crew were simply running front-to-back, and 1D is slightly further forward than 1A. Was offered a drink, amenity kit/blanket, menus and seat demo all with plenty of time before take-off. No problem trying more than one wine before deciding initially, and while there were no proactive refills that suited my pace well on the day!

Funny point about status recognition (or lack thereof)... was chatting to one of the crew on on disembarking, and he suggested I go visit the lounge while waiting for my connecting flight "if I was a frequent flyer, like gold or platinum" heh.

Excellent flight overall, couldn't be happier with the friendly crew. A++ would fly again.

 

[Tinkerer]

If it was VA it wouldn't have been staff or crew in business

 

[Deena]

I have upgraded multiple times with Qantas both before the flight and in the lounge. I have never been treated differently and had full business class meals.

except on one occasion where there was a particularly pompous male who went on about maybe not being able to cater to my vegatarian menu, even though I had upgraded more then 24 hours before. They were able to cater for me, but he had a particularly nasty attitude, spilt champagne over me and did not even apologise. In hindsight I wish I had formally complained as his customer service in many instances was appalling, not only these examples.

 

[Pats3659]

I can't help but feel that VA still don't get the whole customer service thing. They bang on about "full service" but the catering is basic and certainly not of the substance and quality and their competitor.
Also, if I hear another cabin intro announcement referring to themselves as "your fabulous crew" I'm going to jump up and shout "we'll be the judge of that!"

 

[spacesheep]

Not siding any airlines but there is always what I called "LUCK" . My partner & I got upgraded by using the "free" upgrade to Business from my partner's Platinum Benefits in Feb 2016. We didn't not pay a cent and services onboard were no different from the fully paid passengers. We were on the Syd-Per route return ( the new Biz class).
If there was any indifference that might be because I am Asian (50% kidding) hahaha... that's the reason why we ditched QF years back.. was given a (WTF face) when I asked for a bottle of water SYD-SIN route I can still remember.. they serve bottled water then.
Even SQ they are GREAT onboard but ground staff at Sydney Int'l Airport at times just spoilt the mood... Well SQ always make up with their onboard services even in Economy ! This is something OZ airlines have to learn.

 

[Champo]

With Qantas your booking will show a "J" ticket for cash paying business class while a ticket obtained using points will be identified as "U"

 

[tofidog]

I have when doing a upgrade in the lounge

So have I when I upgraded on check in for a QANTAS flight. The cabin staff member then offered to give me her lunch as there was really nothing left for me except bread and butter. Talk about customer service! Didn't take up her kind offer natch.

 

[TonyHancock]

Just as another reference point I flew VA MEL-PER-MEL in early June using a comp upgrade on both sectors and the service was very good. As an aside the new A330 J hard product just edges QF's equivalent IMHO. (Only just though.)

 

[Cult of one]

Last month I upgraded from economy in the lounge in Perth coming back to Melbourne using one of my 4 free upgrades as a WP. I found that the service on the plane was perfect. I was treated just like all the other business class folk.

My ticket did say that catering could not be assured but I got the full 3 course meal and was offered wine on many occasions. (only had one glass, had to drive when I landed sadly).

BTW: the lay flat bed/seats in "The Business" are so good. Almost looking forward to doing another Perth run.

 

[harvyk]

Can’t speak about VA’s treatment of upgrade pax, but for QF / CX / EK I've never noticed any difference between paying by points or dollars.

It doesn’t matter what has gotten you the entitlement to sit in the upgraded seat and get the upgraded service, IMHO once you are there, you are there and should be treated the same as everyone else. So if VA are making a big deal between those whom have paid using money, and those whom have paid using points, then it is very poor form.

 

[FirstClass]

Why do people get ever-so-precious about trivia that wouldn't rate a second thought were they not sitting in a tin tube?
Airplane 'food' (whether in First or Coach) is at best necessarily a compromise and can't possibly be considered one of life's culinary highlights.
A sanger and a cold beer would do just as well and then only if one is genuinely ravenous.
The sole real benefit of premium seats on longhaul flights is a flat bed and a state of blissful unconsciousness.
The airlines promote precious attitudes through their absurd marketing.
I've seen pax go ballistic over an 'entertainment system' failure. In nearly 50 years of RPT flight, I've never actually used an 'entertainment system'.
As for domestic flights, as long as they leave and arrive on time, who cares about the rest? Read a newspaper or a book; it'll be over soon.

 

[spacesheep]

You should hehehe I like it too !

 

[Dawn1004]

We have flown Perth to Sydney as an upfront business flyer (not upgrade) and have not had our first preference for meals, I think they only pack away so many of each choice. Was disappointing as the other choice was some type of seafood which I'm allergic too (I didn't note it on my card so probably my fault) - hubby ate. Adult son did not either (but he tends not to eat on flights anyways). I think personally that not everyone wishes to have the flash meal in business, I'd be happy with sandwiches or something casual like that. For us we don't fly Business for the food/wine we fly for the additional space, the chairs seem more comfy (but that could be in my head) and some of the other small perks.
Oh what I did notice - the first time we flew Business Domestic we got a goody bag on each leg (we did feel spoilt), the next time we did not get a goody bag on either leg. The first time we flew Perth to Sydney, the following time we flew Perth to Brisbane. So have they done away with the goody bag?
I hope the OP hasn't been put off from flying Business - it really shouldn't just be about the food.