Does everyone have constant issues with their airline?

[MartinMemo]

Don't get me wrong, delays are part of the life of travelling, and anyone who travels a lot just has to accept it, but am I the only one who 50% of the time gets unbelievable service so above and beyond you would never consider leaving your airline, and the other 50 regretting ever choosing them over their rival?

I assume a lot of it extends to the fact I don't hit gold for a few weeks, but still, I can't imagine all issues go away when you hit gold or platinum... Do they?

It was obviously a horrible day for me today which is why it's not worth complaining about as it's far out of the ordinary - but would anyone on her accept constant let downs far beyond just delays for half of their flights, or would they simply just transfer to another carrier, losing all your hard earned status, hoping they are better?

 

[Boris spatsky]

I am WP with both QF and VA. I had a shocking day on QF today. First leg cancelled, rerouted via different intermediate port (MEL). Missed connection at MEL, middle seats the whole way, got to destination so late that i missed the meeting (only reason i came). Bags didn't make it either. $650 airfare wasted (yes, short notice Red E-Deal). Whilst QF staff were polite, no one offered exemplary service.

No different on VA though - they lost my bags 4 times in a 4 month period late last year!

 

[MartinMemo]

My biggest issue today came down to the supervisor at BNE saying she would help me, IF I was a valued client... Sadly this isn't the first time I've heard something like this. I guess that just harks back to I need to hit decent status but it would just take a cursory look to see I hit it in a few weeks and have 6 J segments booked before the end of the year?

When cough goes down do you take it further? Complain to them or anything? Or just accept that it's going to happen, your going to have shocking days of travel, and it is all just part of the life?

 

[JohnK]

Delays happen but they should never be acceptable.

My on time performance is <50%. Probably closer to 30%-40%. That is not really good enough. It shouldn't matter that I travel at peak times.

Assuming I would be at my destination in ~4-5 hours and I get there after ~9.5 hours then there is something seriously wrong and needs to be addressed urgently.

But no. The same thing happens over and over. But you know the funniest part of the lot. An airline is allowed to have delays. A passenger is not allowed to be late and have free passage onto the next available service unless someone takes pity on them. Why?

 

[Boris spatsky]

My biggest issue today came down to the supervisor at BNE saying she would help me, IF I was a valued client... Sadly this isn't the first time I've heard something like this. I guess that just harks back to I need to hit decent status but it would just take a cursory look to see I hit it in a few weeks and have 6 J segments booked before the end of the year?

When cough goes down do you take it further? Complain to them or anything? Or just accept that it's going to happen, your going to have shocking days of travel, and it is all just part of the life?

I have complained in the past over major impact on international trips from flight cancellations on QF. All valid complaints. I complained to Virgin over the bags issue - but that ended up in another debacle which is mentioned on AFF somewhere.

Tempted to at least write to QF considering i am out of pocket over $800 all up for a meeting that their delays caused me to miss.

 

[MartinMemo]

I have complained in the past over major impact on international trips from flight cancellations on QF. All valid complaints. I complained to Virgin over the bags issue - but that ended up in another debacle which is mentioned on AFF somewhere.

Tempted to at least write to QF considering i am out of pocket over $800 all up for a meeting that their delays caused me to miss.

This was my issues today. After being gaurnenteed the flight would land early on the ground (I know the can't do that, but 6 did) I confirmed an appointment, that I missed, and was charged for, and now I'm no longer welcome back at that studio for screwing them around.

 

[serfty]

There your main mistake - relying on an early arrival.

Was your booked flight much later than scheduled, and if so, how late?

 

[marki]

Yes a little disappointed with treatment on mundane routes especially ie Karratha Perth
No recognition and delays or even cancelled flights prevail. My memory is fine in that I remember but there's is not quickly forgetting the inconvenience

 

[MartinMemo]

I wasn't even relying on the early arrival. I should left BNE at 1.05 I left at 2.50

 

[Awesom Andy]

My friend, who was a WP a few years ago, basically had every single of his QF flight delayed. Myself on the other hand, the only time I had a long delay, I was rerouted.

 

[Joshua]

Expecting anything short of a late arrival into BNE is probably unsafe currently. There's a bit of a Tony "s*** happens" but also there's not enough time in the day, and everyone will things falls apart easily with such delays.

No real answer really, my patterns are very irregular but I probably get about the average when it comes to delays, a few minor ones here and there. Seldom ever major >1hr. Status doesn't do that much in my experience, but if you're flying the golden triangle with flights every 15 minutes then it could have some benefits.

 

[drewbles]

Have to say that I have had nothing but great treatment with AA (except the last flight, but that was largely self inflicted). As a QF WP, they go above and beyond, and have even kicked a CK off a flight to get me out to LAX to connect to an AU bound flight.

Compared to VA and QF, AA are pros. Sure, i've had mis connects and the like, but by the time i've gone to the counter to sort it out, they've already sorted it out for me.

The few VA and QF issues i've had, i've had to tell them what to do to get me to my destination. That, is not how any frequent traveller should be handled IMHO.

 

[serfty]

Afternoon flights have a tendency to be more delayed than morning flights as there is more chance of a delay reflecting down the chain for an aircraft's daily planned operation. Moreso outside the Golden triangle.

Personally, it the meet was that important, I would have had more than a two hour buffer.

What route was it?

 

[MartinMemo]

MEL-BNE the delay was just one of the issues that us entirely forgivable, my biggest issue is that every staff member said a completely separate thing to me, and I ended up waiting at BNE for over an hour after landing arguing with them over a resolution. Their original resolution was 'we are sorry you feel that way, but everyone you spoke to gave you the wrong information, and there isn't anything more we can do'.

 

[phily]

I wasn't even relying on the early arrival. I should left BNE at 1.05 I left at 2.50

I PLAN for most of my flights to arrive late. When travelling international, followed by a domestic flight from say LHR or LAX, I never rely on the minimum connecting time of 2hrs, but opt for one 3-5 hrs later. It's a bore, but far more reliable, and reduces my stress for the whole journey. And it's not just the international flight arriving late, it's long queues at Immigration, baggage delays etc. And flying domestic in Australia, I prefer to travel the evening before if I've got a morning meeting.

 

[Simo]

Delays are unavoidable for any and all business.

I have been rerouted a few times or had flights delayed but then if you are running close to time with landing V getting to a meeting you are going to miss meetings and the like.

If I have a meeting and the flight is tight I will either fly to the town the night before or let them know that I could be delayed and if so could we schedule it for later in the day if needed.

A bit of planning can save wasted flights.

I have been to dinners where flight was delayed and only made dessert but it was not a critical dinner I was attending.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Delays are unavoidable for any and all business.

I have been rerouted a few times or had flights delayed but then if you are running close to time with landing V getting to a meeting you are going to miss meetings and the like.

If I have a meeting and the flight is tight I will either fly to the town the night before or let them know that I could be delayed and if so could we schedule it for later in the day if needed.

A bit of planning can save wasted flights.

I have been to dinners where flight was delayed and only made dessert but it was not a critical dinner I was attending.

That is fine in some industries but just won't work in others. I had a meeting 8-12 yesterday in one city and the next at 5 in another (which was very generous of the client to even push it back to 5pm). That was the one i missed because i got in over 3 hours late.

 

[Anna]

I never rely on early arrivals. Too often you land early but the ground crew aren't ready so it makes no difference. Either there is no bay available for the plane, or nobody is around to operate the aerobridge, or (insert other ground crew excuse here) so you end up waiting on the tarmac until the scheduled time.

 

[dajop]

Delays happen but they should never be acceptable.

Never be acceptable? With a cyclone/typhoon/hurricane approaching I am more than happy to be delayed and sitting on the ground to wait it out. Likewise when an aircraft blows some times and throws debri all over the runway I am also happy to wait for them to ensure the runway is cleared of debri, or be delayed waiting to use another runway. There are many times when a delay is more than acceptable, in fact would be an expectation.

 

[fersea]

Does the OP think that if he was higher status the plane would have left earlier? I am not sure what the basis of his argument is? Surely the plane was late for everyone?