Getting that extra welcome when on board (QF)

Status
Not open for further replies.

Danger

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2006
Posts
7,648
What's the go with some passengers getting a personal welcome aboard from the flight attendant when they take their seat? The attendant usually has a passenger manifest and is looking for certain passengers. He or she will often give them a paper or something to read. Has this something to do with FF status? It's happened to me once on an international flight from LAX to MLB but I've seen it happen to others domestically.
 
It is all about status. Since earning QF WP status, this has occured more frequently. :cool:

However, recently on VS SYD-HKG in upperclass, the cabin manager took the time to come and introduce himself, and ask about me and my travels, which I thought was good customer service considering my first time with VS.:D
 
Absolutely to do with status. They are seeking out the top-tier status Frequent Flyer members for a special welcome.

Qantas made a point of this in their last round of service improvements for international flights. The purser is supposed to personally welcome all Platinum FF members (not sure about Gold). They will normally offer to help with anything they need during the flight and will generally offer a newspaper if they are available.

It was interesting watching the purser visit the F passengers on a recent flight I took MEL-LHR (on both sectors). Since I was using this flight as my AA Platinum Challenge, the manifest would have shown me with no OneWorld status at all. I got a brief welcome and that was all. Most of the other passengers in the F cabin received a 5 minute chat. The purser obviously had no idea the reason I was in the F cabin was because I used my QF platinum status and points to upgrade from my business class seat.

I received a slightly warmer welcome on the return when the manifest would have shown I was OneWorld Sapphire status, courtesy of my AA candy thieving experience a few weeks prior.
 
I often get the handshake and brief chat, but never when I am travelling with my wife and kids (must remember to leave the misses at home).

Recently, I swapped seats with a French bloke who was keen on the window because it was his first trip to Sydney. He received the "nice to have you onboard, Mr Nightwatchman" routine - much to his bemusement.
 
Danger said:
What's the go with some passengers getting a personal welcome aboard from the flight attendant when they take their seat?
The question has already been answered for you. It is to do with platinum status. On my last international flight in April SIN-MEL there was 4 WP's in the forward economy cabin. Each was greeted personally, was given extra bottles of wine anytime they wanted and basically been looked after very well by the FA's. A nice gesture by QF for being loyal to them.

Danger said:
It's happened to me once on an international flight from LAX to MLB but I've seen it happen to others domestically.
LAX-MLB an international flight? Is this when Mexico still controlled California. :p
 
This is my second post and the second time some stuck-up poster has thrown in arogant comments that are not helpful. They merely serve to highlight the self-imposed elitism some seem to get when they believe their FF status somehow reflects their status in life. This board is clearly for those who are completely au fait with everything frequent flyer, not for those with everyday questions that decent, polite human beings might care to answer.
 
Danger, in all fairness to JohnK, there is a level of sarcasism in his reply after adding his relevant experiences.

I believe I understand your position, however, there is a great variety on this board, some who commercial aviation is a major hobby or interest, so they are likely to pick up on little things, don't take offence, as I am sure no offence was intended.;)
 
Last edited:
Danger said:
This is my second post and the second time some stuck-up poster has thrown in arogant comments that are not helpful. They merely serve to highlight the self-imposed elitism some seem to get when they believe their FF status somehow reflects their status in life. This board is clearly for those who are completely au fait with everything frequent flyer, not for those with everyday questions that decent, polite human beings might care to answer.

Danger - don't take to heart anything with a :p against it. I assume you're referring to the remark about LAX-MLB. (running joke on here) For reference, MLB is the three letter code for Melbourne, Florida. So whenever flying out of the US make sure you're booked through to MEL not MLB!!! I did hear a story (myth??) once that someone booked from London to Sydney, ended up in Sydney, Nova Scotia not Sydney, NSW.
 
NM said:
Qantas made a point of this in their last round of service improvements for international flights. The purser is supposed to personally welcome all Platinum FF members (not sure about Gold). They will normally offer to help with anything they need during the flight and will generally offer a newspaper if they are available.

was on a QF flight between NRT and SYD last sunday and being a lowly gold, i was lavished the extra welcome by the purser!!

my wife turned to me and said "wow, that is a first for us"

i had noticed she said a hi to a guy with a plat luggage tag that was sitting cross the aisle from us before approaching me.
 
Yup, it's something QF want their CSM's to do on international flights for their most frequent flyers. It used to happened all the time in the 90's, but had dropped of in recent years.

I first noticed this renewed interest in January when mrs serfty and I were really well looked after in WHY PER-SIN. She was happy to be provided with 3-4 glasses of J bubbly.

On my QF international segments in WHY this month I have been visited all execept once Trans-Tasman. I have received a couple of newspapers and two J amenity kits (one for mrs serfty who was not flying).
 
I hate to rattle the cage but I frequently get a personal greeting upon DOM boarding, even as a humble PS but it may have something to do with the CIP I get on the BP.
 
yeah, this happens to me each time i get on a plane (not QF Link though :mrgreen: )

i think it's nice. last time i flew bne-lax we had a great laugh.

i also have noticed that the FA's will approach the WPs first when looking for dinner choices when there is the possibility of missing out on your first choice. this happened to me on my last lax-bne flight.
 
one question for people who fly both paid first class and award first class:

Do you think there is a difference in service quality when you fly paid First class compared with an award first class ticket?
 
one9 said:
one question for people who fly both paid first class and award first class:

Do you think there is a difference in service quality when you fly paid First class compared with an award first class ticket?

on QF ... not in my experience.
 
I can't work out how they choose the people to greet...

NZ -SYD -The purser/CSM/head FA came up and said the usual "welcome aboard, thanks for flying with us, great weather hey" welcome routine that I sometimes get with Qantas as part of the meet and greet.

The guy next to me was a Plat (saw it on his BP), but he didn't get a greeting?!!? Wonder why. Was he on a reward tix? Did the CSM miss him?

Domestic flights I get it extremely rarely, but it does happen. Moreso with weekend flights I think, where there are less Plats/Golds onboard and it makes it easy. The people around you do wonder why you're getting the hello and a newspaper and they're not!

Cathay has done these greetings on just about every flight I've had with them as a Plat. I've had an offer of a seat change so I can be more comfy (alas, it wasn't to J, but to a row several behind where I had 3 seats to myself instead of being packed in next to a guy and his partner.

Other greetings have been either via the In-Flight entertainment "Nice to have you back Mal, enjoy your flight [or words to that affect]) or personally. (even apologies for not being able to give me a better seat!).

It's a nice touch, but something I'm not to phased about receiving or not receiving.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

one9 said:
one question for people who fly both paid first class and award first class:

Do you think there is a difference in service quality when you fly paid First class compared with an award first class ticket?
I haven't noticed a difference, but I suspect that the FAs do tend (even subconsciously) to make a distinction in their own minds (if that makes any sense..??)
 
Actually it's getting quite embarrassing. After a brief discussion with the sommelier to match up the wines, its down to the coughpit so that the captain and I can play our favourite game of WWII Ace. We usually start about 30 seconds after the seat-belt sign is turned off, as the bogans/chavs are chronic un-bucklers. What japes!!!

Danger said:
This is my second post and the second time some stuck-up poster has thrown in arogant comments that are not helpful. They merely serve to highlight the self-imposed elitism some seem to get when they believe their FF status somehow reflects their status in life. This board is clearly for those who are completely au fait with everything frequent flyer, not for those with everyday questions that decent, polite human beings might care to answer.

I am quite concerned about your attitude, Mr Danger. Are you seriously trying to state that the "other" passengers who have paid to be on the flight should receive equal treatment from the cabin staff? If so then I think we need to have a re-education session during the 6 o'clock swill at the Qantas Club. You are a member like us, aren't you ???
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Danger said:
This is my second post and the second time some stuck-up poster has thrown in arogant comments that are not helpful. They merely serve to highlight the self-imposed elitism some seem to get when they believe their FF status somehow reflects their status in life. This board is clearly for those who are completely au fait with everything frequent flyer, not for those with everyday questions that decent, polite human beings might care to answer.
I think you totally misunderstood what I posted. If you think I am stuck up then you are sadly mistaken. I don't think that at any point I knocked you down. My status is nothing compared to the many QF platinums and OneWorld emeralds on this board. My status in life even lower.

I merely stated that the few posts before mine had answered your question and I had given you an account of my experience on the SIN-MEL flight.

As for the LAX-MLB remark, well this had a :p in it which means do not take seriously. But I was right, LAX-MLB is not an international flight. ;)

Don't take anything I post to heart. It is great to have you on board and hope you are around continuing to post on this site in the future.
 
Mal said:
Domestic flights I get it extremely rarely, but it does happen. Moreso with weekend flights I think, where there are less Plats/Golds onboard and it makes it easy

I agree. On a peak hour, mid-week CityFlyer flight, half the cabin seems to be Plats / Golds.
 
odoherty said:
I haven't noticed a difference, but I suspect that the FAs do tend (even subconsciously) to make a distinction in their own minds (if that makes any sense..??)
I don't think the FAs have any way of knowing if you are on an award ticket or paid. When I have snuck a look at the manifest on board, it shows you name, title (i.e. Mr, Mrs, Dr etc) and FF status (QF status or OneWorld status).

All of my F experiences with QF have been on upgrades from business class (all using FF points or upgrades, no op-upgrades). And I have never seen any reference against my name on the manifest that would indicate I was an upgrade rather than a paid F passengers.

The only other reference I have seen is to a passenger being Subload (basically staff or other person entitled to free or cheap inductry fares). So a subload passenger may be treated differently - perhaps being last to be asked for their meal selection.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top