Inconsistent/Poor QF Business Class Treatment out of Bangkok

[celsioraus]

Id like to hear from others how their experience on Q Business class has been. I fly J 5-6 times a year primarily from BKK-SYD and unfortunately do not have a great impression of the overall experience. A few points, positive and negative

* Boarding is fine, greeting is OK but hit and miss with champagne on take off.
* Rarely we will get introductions with the CSM to say welcome and hello which is a nice but rare touch.
* Ordering off the menu is fine and always recieve entree and main but there are many things on the menu which simply do not get served (cheeses etc). Im guessing you need to ask?
* First Drinks is dissapointing. As soon as the seatbelt light turns off, requesting a drink is often met with "we will be coming around with the drinks carts soon" which is usually 30 or so minutes after that. Generally i drink beer (Hahn super dry) which is not stocked on the cart and they need to go away another 30 minutes and hope they remember to bring it back. Even worse they will pour it in a glass and its generally under half the can, not sure why they dont give me the glass and the rest of the can. I have been lately switching to wine to at least get a decent drop.
* Sleeping and food - I seem to be prodded everytime i nod off to sleep and the food is there, not sure how it should be done.

Overall its a very average experience unfortunately although certain workers are amazing, it seems they are alll over worked and im at the point where i feel guilty to bother them

 

[sww199]

I have received better and more consistent premium service in EK economy as a QF gold, than on board QF business as a QF gold. Most recent EK Y trip received a personal welcome from CSM, champagnes and chocolate truffles from business. Most recent QF J trip, no pre departure drink, no personal acknowledgement, and cold main.

 

[smckay]

I'm an early drinker, and I'll just wander up to the galley to grab a beer. Like milli seconds after the seatbelt sign is off.
Never been given half a can, and I'd be coughing loudly if they tried.
CSM greeting is 50% for me
Normally get the meal I want, but last LAX-SYD service both me and macca1 asked for the chicken snitty sandwich as we were not hungry after eating in the lounge.
Both asked by FA for second choice which was delivered instead of the snitty.
Last time I got on and went straight to sleep I was left alone and woke to find water and immigration forms on the table.

Based on your frequency, if all this is happening all the time I'd be a bit concerned.

 

[kpro]

I do recall the experience as a non-status member on QF to be very average - sometimes you don't get your meal choice, service is quite impersonal.

As a WP though, on QF I'll often get the CSM greeting, meal choice before others (sometimes before take off), and a check in from the CSM before landing. PJ's offered in my size pro-actively. However, service is drawn out and often too slow.

Whereas, an airline such as JAL might have above average and consistent service for everyone, but I've found as a OWE that there is no difference in the soft service. No greeting at all, nothing to recognise that I'm a frequent traveler.

And then getting to BA. I've had my meal choice taken and then told later that it's unavailable. Or drinks that never arrive. May as well be in Economy.

 

[smckay]

Yes, status does give you better choices. Although, anyone paying rack rate for a J seat should not have to do the DYKWIA game.

 

[encryptededdy]

* Sleeping and food - I seem to be prodded everytime i nod off to sleep and the food is there, not sure how it should be done.

This is interesting, I've never had this before on Qantas. If I doze off before ordering food, I find they're pretty good on catching me when I wake up and asking if I want anything.

In your case did you fall asleep after ordering the food but before it arrives? If so then I suppose waking the passenger seems reasonable.

 

[celsioraus]

This is interesting, I've never had this before on Qantas. If I doze off before ordering food, I find they're pretty good on catching me when I wake up and asking if I want anything.

In your case did you fall asleep after ordering the food but before it arrives? If so then I suppose waking the passenger seems reasonable.

Yes you are correct, i get it just the prodding and them standing over you is kind of weird.

I dont really complain or act snobby, I churn points and fly J on rewards so its not a huge one but if i was to pay the 4k for the one way flight for sure id be peeved.

RE Alchohol, i do feel like pushing the boundaries just to test if they will push back. I need a good 3 beers, 2 wines and 3 jacks before im pleasantly comfortable.

 

[Himeno]

And then getting to BA. I've had my meal choice taken and then told later that it's unavailable. Or drinks that never arrive. May as well be in Economy.

BA have done that to me before. They took the order, then came back later and said it was out, followed by giving me the F version of that meal.

 

[kpro]

followed by giving me the F version of that meal.

That would have been a good service recovery. Unfortunately for me, I only got the other choice from the J menu - an uninspiring chicken.

 

[SYD]

Long haul SYD-YVR this week WP travelling J, received exceptional service. No issue with meal preference etc.

 

[TheInsider]

Overall its a very average experience unfortunately although certain workers are amazing, it seems they are alll over worked and im at the point where i feel guilty to bother them

Please pass on the feedback and hopefully the on board crew can be told to lift their game.

Customer care feedback form | Qantas AU

Use this form to give Qantas feedback on your experience with Flights, Baggage, Check-in, Before you travel, Qantas Frequent Flyer and more.

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If you ever get those surveys after the flight, make sure to fill them out.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Please pass on the feedback and hopefully the on board crew can be told to lift their game.

Customer care feedback form | Qantas AU

Use this form to give Qantas feedback on your experience with Flights, Baggage, Check-in, Before you travel, Qantas Frequent Flyer and more.

www.qantas.com

If you ever get those surveys after the flight, make sure to fill them out.

Why bother? Perhaps you should read this?

Downgraded from Business Class on Qantas due to "tech crew" [pilot] Travel Requirements

Assuming these were QantasLink pilots, it’s worth noting that the FO is on an annual salary of a little under $64,000pa. In the regional of a supermarket employee. If a seat in business class is one little perk they’re entitled to, I’d say it’s reasonable for them to get it. No one forces them...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[MrJetset]

My last QF24 in J was absolutely awful.

- Surly crew
- Barked at when asked if I filled in my breakfast card
- Asked for just a drink as I’ll skip the meal to be told “You’ll get your drink when the food comes!”
- No interaction other than asking my husband “Is it hot because other pax are complaining?!”
- Breakfast being served 90 mins before landing if you want a choice.

Needless to say I haven’t booked QF Intl since and just had a vacation consisting of EK F, EY J and SQ J.

Heading back to Thailand and booked SQ F.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Wow okay, so even Gold / Platinum members aren't happy with QFs service in business.

Either one is expecting too much / their expectations are too high, or QF are really that bad.

I've been browsing the business class food thread and I've been sort of disappointed from what I see - now another thread talking about bad service.

As a lowly Bronze and about to go on my first QF business flights, my expectations are now down the drain.

I knew I should have picked CX going to HK (from MEL), but QF won out because the landing time in HK was better (6pm instead of 9pm), but since my booking it's changed and the gap is now just 1hr. Sigh.

 

[Himeno]

- Barked at when asked if I filled in my breakfast card

The breakfast card is rather annoying across all flights and all airlines that do it.
The crew expects people to fill it in prior to departure, when they are trying to get settled and get everything stowed. Often they have no pen available to fill in the card, and some crew get a bit arrogant about it if it isn't filled in and handed back before the aircraft door is closed.

 

[kpro]

Wow okay, so even Gold / Platinum members aren't happy with QFs service in business.

Either one is expecting too much / their expectations are too high, or QF are really that bad.

I wouldn't say I'm unhappy or it's necessarily bad. However, there can be consistency issues as with all things QF.

Of the 10 oneworld airlines I've flown, I'd probably rank the typical J service on QF as an elite member at number 3 behind QR and CX.

 

[MrJetset]

The breakfast card is rather annoying across all flights and all airlines that do it.
The crew expects people to fill it in prior to departure, when they are trying to get settled and get everything stowed. Often they have no pen available to fill in the card, and some crew get a bit arrogant about it if it isn't filled in and handed back before the aircraft door is closed.

None of this is an excuse. I carry a pen with me and had filled it out but they pretty much just barked going down the aisle “Have you filled in your breakfast card?”

For the record, I don’t know any other airline that requires a form for breakfast. Quite the contrast, I asked the SQ crew if we could have breakfast less than an hour before landing. They clearly anticipate pax’s needs as within 5 mins a hot breakfast and coffee was delivered and my bedding was packed away.

I have been told QF crew don’t like the BKK rotation, but that’s really not my problem as a pax.

At one point during my SQ flight I was pondering what to order and the Cabin Manager saw my facial expression and said “What can I get you?” That speaks volumes of the service culture and training.

I describe QF F, which I have flown extensively since the 744 days, as my the exciting F product.

 

[justinbrett]

I do like the breakfast card though, I guess it replicates a hotel room service breakfast. It's useful with the many customisation options (and I even just add "mimosa" to it) and it's nice when it comes all at once, after they've seen you wake up. Beats being groggy and trying to work out what you want.

They should probably just chill a bit before they collect it - though I guess they want to get it before people go to sleep.

 

[Hvr]

RE Alchohol, i do feel like pushing the boundaries just to test if they will push back. I need a good 3 beers, 2 wines and 3 jacks before im pleasantly comfortable.

Sounds like you'd be comfortable travelling on JQ business DPS-MEL.

 

[Spacetravel]

This thread is specifically about BKK flights, while I see mention of other destinations and comments of it being good. I’ve flown QFi J a LOT in the last 12 months and I can say between BKK its the worst (I’ve had 2 return trips this year). I had better PE experience ex LAX than BKK J most the time. I have no idea why this specific route is so bad and I’m referring to the soft product (the staff). The meal service is SO SLOW! I feel like I’m half way to my destination before receiving a meal. I have the same issue with the drinks as I drink spirits. Made to wait until after meal service basically, and it feels like a massive inconvenience if I want more than one. Also I feel like they wake me up super early for breakfast est 2hrs before arrival. With the slow meal service and early breakfast wakeup it’s difficult to get a decent length of sleep without giving up both meals.