Downgraded...More disrespect

[Gazza129]

Just arrived at sydney with my wife to find one of us...me.....has been downgraded as a "tech" has been allocated my business (reward) seat. I note there are dozens of empty economy seats still available.
Don't worry about the customer whatever you do Alan Joyce

 

[Hvr]

Can you please share the route as a data point?

 

[Scr77]

This has become a joke! Everyday, we now hear if someone who‘s downgraded!

 

[SeatBackForward]

a "tech" has been allocated my business (reward) seat

Sorry, what does "tech" in this context mean?

 

[Hvr]

Sorry, what does "tech" in this context mean?

Probably a LAME needed in another location.

 

[offshore171]

Sorry, what does "tech" in this context mean?

I think he means an aircraft technician might be deadheading on the route to get to an aircraft at another location that requires a repair.

 

[QF029]

Or the seat is unserviceable which happened to me a few months back.

 

[MrJetset]

Just arrived at sydney with my wife to find one of us...me.....has been downgraded as a "tech" has been allocated my business (reward) seat. I note there are dozens of empty economy seats still available.
Don't worry about the customer whatever you do Alan Joyce

What is the route?(I'm going to assume QF1)
Were you booked on the same PNR/ticket?
Did they offer to fly you tomorrow in J or any compensation?
What is your status? (I'm going to assume NB)

Given QF1 is running horrendously late it sounds like one frame is need of repair and they need to send a tech. If they have to work immediately on arrival, while not ideal, it makes sense.

 

[BAM1748]

Just arrived at sydney with my wife to find one of us...me.....has been downgraded as a "tech" has been allocated my business (reward) seat. I note there are dozens of empty economy seats still available.
Don't worry about the customer whatever you do Alan Joyce

As others have asked, can you supply more details please.

I will hold judgement until then.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Probably a LAME needed in another location.

They don't use LAME (licenced aircraft maintenance engineer) anymore.
Steve Purvinas would not be happy with that acronym, think they have "upgraded" the title to something else now.
Edit: ALAEA is it.

 

[jpp42]

They don't use LAME (licenced aircraft maintenance engineer) anymore.
Steve Purvinas would not be happy with that acronym, think they have "upgraded" the title to something else now.
Edit: ALAEA is it.

ALAEA is the union, the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association.

ALAEA likes to call their members LEA's, Licensed Aircraft Engineers, to try to avoid the initialism LAME.

However, the term is still officially aircraft maintenance engineer (AME), or licensed aircraft maintenance engineer (LAME) depending on the level of certification. This is set by ICAO, the international organisation, and CASA continues to use these terms in line with ICAO treaties.

It should be noted that in American English, the term "technician" rather than "engineer" is used (AMT = Aviation Maintenance Technician). There is some friction between professional engineers who wish the term "engineer" to be restricted to those with a 4-year university degree (or higher) who are generally involved in novel design work, versus technicians who primarily conduct maintenance in accordance with standards approved by others.

The desire by ALAEA to remove the word "maintenance" from the job title of their members can be considered "job title inflation" by de-emphasising the maintenance role and blurring the lines between blue-collar operating jobs and white-collar design jobs, which require a vast level of difference in education and experience. That said, I wouldn't want a degreed engineer with no experience working physically on my aircraft! I'm not trying to diminish the extremely important role played by LAMEs/AMTs with high levels of experience... but it's weird that they want to blur the lines between their job maintaining the aircraft with professional engineers , an entirely separate profession that designs them.

 

[Vic]

Aren't tech crew the pilots?
Not sure I'd assume a LAME is the only option.

 

[NM]

Aren't tech crew the pilots?
Not sure I'd assume a LAME is the only option.

Yes indeed, "tech Crew" would certainly refer to one or more pilots. The term "tech" on its own may be in reference to Tech Crew or a Technician. It could also be a reference to a seat that has been taken out of service due to a fault of some sort ("the seat has gone tech" or "the seat has a technical issue").

As others have noted, we need more information from the thread starter to properly understand the circumstances. Until then, any comments here are speculation concerning the details beyond what was originally posted.

Note that some unhelpful comments have been removed. Be patient and await further clarification from the OP.