If you could give just ONE piece of advice......

[ReLoad]

Always be nice to other people, it's easy to be grumpy, but you will get much further in life by being nice, say thanks to the FA, ask them how their day is etc, the experiences you will get way outlay the effort when you are feeling down.

 

[anat0l]

Always be nice to other people, it's easy to be grumpy, but you will get much further in life by being nice, say thanks to the FA, ask them how their day is etc, the experiences you will get way outlay the effort when you are feeling down.

Very much agree with this!

It can be really difficult, especially if you're travelling for work and then it's the end of the working period / rush hour. But being nice to the FAs, the ground staff, the check-in staff, the lounge staff, etc. is important.

I think some people wax cynical about this advice as it appears you may be trying to extract something from the interaction, viz. the "smooth talker".

 

[harvyk]

Always be nice to other people, it's easy to be grumpy, but you will get much further in life by being nice, say thanks to the FA, ask them how their day is etc, the experiences you will get way outlay the effort when you are feeling down.

Great advice!

I make sure I am nice to everyone I meet along my travels. From the check-in person (hotel / airline / other attraction), to the waitress serving me dinner. Yes I might have paid for a seat on a service, but nothing stops "53E" becoming the only seat left available on the plane. Nothing prevents the waitress placing me at the table next to the restrooms, nothing prevents the hotel manager placing me in the room next to the lift motor room / wifi black spot / housekeeping area.

By just being nice (and leaving any assumed "class" aspects at home) it's amazing how great travel can be.

 

[get me outta here]

I too agree, this is a good philosophy for life, travel and community. But sorry, I can't do the, 'how's your day been/ have a good one. It just does not sound genuine to me.

Great advice!

I make sure I am nice to everyone I meet along my travels. From the check-in person (hotel / airline / other attraction), to the waitress serving me dinner. Yes I might have paid for a seat on a service, but nothing stops "53E" becoming the only seat left available on the plane. Nothing prevents the waitress placing me at the table next to the restrooms, nothing prevents the hotel manager placing me in the room next to the lift motor room / wifi black spot / housekeeping area.

By just being nice (and leaving any assumed "class" aspects at home) it's amazing how great travel can be.

 

[harvyk]

I too agree, this is a good philosophy for life, travel and community. But sorry, I can't do the, 'how's your day been/ have a good one. It just does not sound genuine to me.

If you simply ask "how's your day been" and leave it at that then yes it's not very genuine. But if they give a response acknowledging that response with an appropriate "cool" or "that not good at all" with then a follow up question goes along way towards showing the other person that you where actually listening to what was said.

People love to think that other people are listening to them. It's not wasted time since the person is likely to be tapping away at a computer anyway, and those small pleasantries can easily change people's moods. (and as a side effect, get you better service, but that's not the reason to do it).

As corny as it sounds, facial expressions and tone also go along way. Ask someone how they are going and do it with a smile and a friendly tone (even if your day is going badly) will always feel genuine.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I too agree, this is a good philosophy for life, travel and community. But sorry, I can't do the, 'how's your day been/ have a good one. It just does not sound genuine to me.

I agree. No more genuine than the canned 'welcome on board, how *are* you? If there's anything *I* can do just let me know' (and you never ever see the purser again for the whole flight).

And to be honest, most of the crew I know don't really care if you ask them how their day was. They don't care about yours. It's another flight, at another ungodly hour.

The greatest gift you can give them is not being difficult. No good asking them how their day is but at the same time asking for your lobster meal to be served at breakfast rather than dinner, and oh, you want them to save your second helping of caviar to go with that...

 

[ReLoad]

I agree. No more genuine than the canned 'welcome on board, how *are* you? If there's anything *I* can do just let me know' (and you never ever see the purser again for the whole flight).

And to be honest, most of the crew I know don't really care if you ask them how their day was. They don't care about yours. It's another flight, at another ungodly hour.

The greatest gift you can give them is not being difficult. No good asking them how their day is but at the same time asking for your lobster meal to be served at breakfast rather than dinner, and oh, you want them to save your second helping of caviar to go with that...

Interesting outlook. And whilst most of the crew may not care that your nice to them, when in a group of people and there are nice and not nice people, who is going to get the better service?
I know when in a small cabin like QF's F or Emerald city you often see it directly.

Even though I may not know the crew personally, I actually am interested in how their day was, because people are one of the reasons I travel, I've met some of the most amazing and interesting people you could imagine when traveling and im much better off for it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...who is going to get the better service?

depending on the airline? Probably the the passengers who are difficult or complain. At least one asian carriers heavily penalises crew if they receive a single customer complaint. It goes on their file and they suffer financially. It doesn't matter if the crew member has three compliment letters on file, a single negative is enough to trigger a penalty. And that can be for something entirely trivial... in one instance a penalty was levied because the crew member, passing through the business class cabin (working economy) was not aware of the two different red wines being offered in business class that day when flagged down by a business class passenger. An undertaking to 'find out' and 'be right back' was not considered acceptable.

As a result, the crew go out of their way to make sure they don't get a complaint. They'll be all smiles, because they have to.

In response to a welcome on board, I reply that it's nice to be there. And that's it. Save for thanking crew at the end of a flight if they have been good (and writing to the airline if they have been exceptional), I never engage with crew unless they initiate it. All I'm interested in is that they can get me out of there if they need to.

 

[harvyk]

At least one asian carriers heavily penalises crew if they receive a single customer complaint. It goes on their file and they suffer financially. It doesn't matter if the crew member has three compliment letters on file, a single negative is enough to trigger a penalty. And that can be for something entirely trivial... in one instance a penalty was levied because the crew member, passing through the business class cabin (working economy) was not aware of the two different red wines being offered in business class that day when flagged down by a business class passenger. An undertaking to 'find out' and 'be right back' was not considered acceptable.

Where is your source for that assertion?

 

[anat0l]

depending on the airline? Probably the the passengers who are difficult or complain. At least one asian carriers ....

And there is a reason why I don't particularly want to (nor enjoy) be difficult and/or complain all the time. Unless the service is absolutely horrid or the crew member in question really appalling, it's not worth it.

Sometimes it's easier to put up with it on board then complain later. Nothing like having an icy cold Mexican stand off whilst in a metal tube several thousand feet in the air.

It's not about necessarily getting or expecting better service.

Where is your source for that assertion?

Crew talk and miscellaneous anecdotes. They do exist; it's draconian, but did you really think all those Asian carriers with exceptional service standards were necessarily all smiles and rainbows both on the facade and inside it? I think some of it has partly leaked out to media before, but it wouldn't necessarily make the Western media so you rarely hear about it.

OK I'll admit that's a lot of conjecture, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were true. And I think I could guess the airline in question.

Moreover, especially for those not on this forum, many just don't care (viz. about the crew, apart from possibly observing the basic civilities).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Where is your source for that assertion?

direct from the person who suffered the penalty. They were on a visit to melbourne and I didn't hear the end of it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sometimes it's easier to put up with it on board then complain later.

I would agree if you were writing to an airline with a good union movement and secure working environment. Personally I would think twice (or three times) before complaining to an Asian carrier. It's need to be something major (safety related or downright rude as in the sense they really shouldn't be there).

 

[harvyk]

Crew talk and miscellaneous anecdotes. They do exist; it's draconian, but did you really think all those Asian carriers with exceptional service standards were necessarily all smiles and rainbows both on the facade and inside it? I think some of it has partly leaked out to media before, but it wouldn't necessarily make the Western media so you rarely hear about it.

OK I'll admit that's a lot of conjecture, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were true. And I think I could guess the airline in question.

Moreover, especially for those not on this forum, many just don't care (viz. about the crew, apart from possibly observing the basic civilities).

Never thought it was smiles and rainbows, and I am not exactly surprised. It's just it's also a pretty big call to state that a single complaint no matter how minor could negatively affect a person, despite the fact that there are just some pax whom are either never happy and / or coughholes. I was just curious as to the source of the assertion that a single complaint could be the undoing of an otherwise stellar career on some carriers.

 

[Scr77]

Say G'Day. Some of my best conversations have been had in far flung places when I have accidentally said G'Day. Once was caused by nerves when I entered a lift with a scary looking dude.

Also, at times big points can be earned by booking hotels through Qantas website. Usually has good pricing, no exchange fees and you can use you best point earning credit card without surcharges.

 

[Beerman]

Marry a person that works for your favourite Airline. I come from an aviation family and have had many a free/cheap flight. I don't work in the industry but still have family that do. They don't care about status, prices etc. It's just damn cheap.

 

[Pele]

Gday

Only ever travel with carry on luggage. And preferably in First Class. A simple life is a good life.

Pele.

 

[joyvee]

Remember being greeted as I entered cattle class and blithely announcing that I was going to have a fun trip!
Oddly enough I did just that. Taught the bloke next me who was bored to shreds how to do sodoku. ..interacted with crew sensitively and with good humour. Ditto for other passengers who wanted to join in. Must have had an excess of adrenalin or just mischievous... had a great trip and my attitude seemed infectious. .. and I was only drinking water!

 

[Rono]

I have no status (well not since I gave up the frequent work travel) and only very, very rarely pay for private international flights (mainly short hops and occasional bargain fares)...but I do like to fly my family of 5 in the pointy end. It used to be in redemptions in Y, but as I have gotten better at acquiring and using points it is now J/F. So far I have not needed to buy points via AA, Lifemiles etc.

I don't have a business to gain points via Tax Payments or companies expenses (though if you do, then milk it!!!)

TIPS

• Accumulate - small, medium and large opportunities all add up
• Seek, and ye shall find
• Act NOW - he who hesitates misses out
• If it is too good to be true (points wise)...it is actually a great opportunity if you act now!!! He who hesitates is lost
• If it seems too good to be true DO NOT ring the CC company, airline, hotel to check!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Think outside the square
• It is not just the earn, but the burn too
• All FF programs are not created equal - belong to several and optimize - understand that different routes/destinations have different opportunities with programs
• Think Alliance, and not just airline
• Move points when transfer bonuses are on offer
• Glitches can be wonderful.... - be alert when odd things happen (ie I have flown in SQ Suites for Saver J Points)
• There are normally much better accommodation options (comfort, features and lower cost) than hotels- so don't stay at hotels only for their loyalty programs
• Double dip, triple dip where you can
• Shop through airline portals, when the price is right, and the extra points are then a bonus
• Collect points through Everyday Rewards at WOW, and train them on offers (ie I average over 4 QFF points per $ on my spend)
• A suite of CC allows one to earn maximum FF points - ie 3 for many things, 2 for travel/ hotel, 4 on overseas spend etc
• Link your highest earning Amex to PayPal to get around the surcharges
• Only pay cash when you either gain a good discount, or cannot use CC.
• Bonus promos are where large opportunities are to be had (unfortunately have been very lean this last year)
• Credit Card joining Bonii come and go - collect! - however I tend to just take the maximum value ones

LTO,

Thanks for your tips, appreciated.

Not sure if I understood about linking Amex to PayPal to avoid charges??
Also would like to hear more about your strategies about averaging higher FF points per $ spend.

Cheers
Rono

 

[get me outta here]

If you have a PayPal account (if not, you can open one fairly easily on line), put your Amex cc in as a payment method and any other cc or accounts you may wish to use to pay for something via PayPal. This way, you avoid the Amex cc loading that some merchants charge. Check for options to pay via PayPal.

LTO,

Thanks for your tips, appreciated.

Not sure if I understood about linking Amex to PayPal to avoid charges??
Also would like to hear more about your strategies about averaging higher FF points per $ spend.

Cheers
Rono

 

[Chicken]

I know this web site is about working out if 1 mile equals $0.07 or $0.12, my personal philosophy actually goes against that.

Don't worry about $200 difference between Air Asia X and Singapore Air. Don't worry about 10000 miles difference between Singapore Air and Virgin Atlantic. These are really small amounts when you look at the total cost of a trip. Spend your energy on making every trip meaningful for yourself, worry about whether you should die sky diving or die in the cold at Milford Sound in winter., not $200 or 10000 miles. You will be thinking about your life, the time your have with your loved one, the fun you had, when your time is up. No one, ever, thinks about $200 extra they paid xx_ airways when they look back at their lives.