Inconsistent/Poor QF Business Class Treatment out of Bangkok

[N860CR]

I don’t fly QF often, but the last atrocious flight I had with them was BKK-SYD. It was 7 hours late for one, but the bigger issue was the miserable crew who were actually pretty aggressive. In J, snapped at for asking for a wine, snapped at for refusing a meal (the comment being “well why did you preorder it”). I did raise a concern with the CSM who remarked “is something wrong with you”, and to top it off they went out of their way not to give me my jacket before landing (no doubt hoping I’d forget).

I get BKK attracts a certain type of customer… but it was off the charts bad service for an airline that’s pretty awful at the best of times.

 

[sqrt()]

Well we only have to endure this until March, when AY will sprit everyone away, on a 330, still crewed, catered and "entertained" by QF.

If QF is consistently bad, don't fly them. I think TG fly 1-2-1 J on the route (maybe 1-2-1 F?). XJ fly it 4x a week too (albeit 2-2-2).

 

[MrJetset]

So it appears QF23/24 service is consistent, after all.

 

[flyingfan]

The experiences mentioned on this thread sound absolutely awful and unacceptable, given the premium.

I’m happy (and lucky I guess) that when I splurged on cash as well as points for my family on BKK-SYD in J a few weeks ago it was fine. They were slow and needed help with the breakfast card and the crew were great about it, no snapping. Given the rare extravagance for my family and expectations built up, I’d have been mortified and ropeable to have been treated as others have.

Not good when J service can be luck of the draw.

 

[Clayton]

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.

I don't recall ever being asked to fill out a breakfast card on an International flight before the doors are closed. In fact every journey in the past 10 years other one, has been SQ, QR, CX, LH or EK in J or 1st, and in every instance a cabin crew member has introduced themselves with a smile, explained any seat issues and personally guided me through the menu, written down my selections and ensured I actually received what was agreed during the conversation.

I'm certainly not looking to book any flights soon on QF except a puddle jump to AKL in a few months and then only because QR cancelled the ADL-AKL route.

 

[Mr Bill]

I fully understand why QF don't want anymore QR services into OZ. QR on board service is second to none in J. While living in BKK I had many flights to Europe, Middle East and Africa. Exceptional service from pre departure drinks ( large glasses and maybe 2-3 refills), great menu with courses generally served separately and very pro active cabin crew. The BKK QR lounge is a real gem and dare I say, better than EKs ( my opinion ). My I respectfully suggest that Ms Hudson experience the Qatar in flight service before she takes over ...

 

[Jousams]

Having taken quite a few QF J flights recently (albeit not to/from BKK) - I also find that I'm always being chased for a completed breakfast card... Does feel all a bit rushed when it really doesn't need to be....

 

[Spacetravel]

Re: breakfast card. Yes on all a330 J flights <10 hours I feel very rushed for the breakfast card. When it doesn’t make any sense because they still need to do the first meal service before it even matters but they want it usually before take off and at the very latest immediately after. The longer flights >10 hours they are “slightly” more relaxed about it by that I mean the first attempt at asking for it is usually immediately after take off and then a follow up 20 minutes later.

Keeping it relevant to BKK J likewise while the timing might be the same (want it immediately upon sitting) across most flights the attitude I’ve received when asking for more time was not.

Another example of a surly flight attendant on this route I flew Syd > bkk with a +1 it was their first time ever in J for any flight. Before take off I had an issue with my sash seatbelt the top part was stuck. I was waiting for a FA to come by so I could ask for help. The FA comes past and says “would you like to put your seatbelt on” in a very sarcastic / condescending tone. It doesn’t translate well in text here but it wasn’t friendly at all/ offering any help. I replied asking for help because it was stuck and the FA gave me a look as if I was incompetent and told me to just pull it down. After showing it was stuck they finally offered to help and actually took them a few minutes to make it work.

Now at the meal service time, I was in row 1 I saw the cart pull up for the meal service and I don’t like dressing on the “salad”. I wanted to make sure I got in before they poured it because they do it so quickly, I asked when they do my salad to have no dressing. The FA snapped back at me “I’m not doing yours”. My +1 laughed that I got snapped at but also was like woah what was that how rude.

Finally by the time the meal service was over we were at least 3 hours into the flight. My +1 made a joke and said they wish they flew economy so they would have had more time to sleep. After the flight my +1 said the seat was good but what the hell was the service about, they said they were expecting much better from J.

I still don’t understand the staff on this route. They definitely appear Australian based so its not a crew based somewhere else issue. My only reasoning is maybe they put the more experienced crew on the flagship routes ie SIN, LAX, HND and the less experienced/ poorer rated staff get bkk. Also I saw the aircraft appears to continue on to HKG/ come from (at least some times) do the FA’s go with it? Maybe they bet burnt out from the extra distance or extra work doing 2 routes. How is the service HKG?

 

[SYD]

Having taken quite a few QF J flights recently (albeit not to/from BKK) - I also find that I'm always being chased for a completed breakfast card... Does feel all a bit rushed when it really doesn't need to be....

Presumably there’s a limited number of each serve. So telling someone they’re run out before going to sleep is better than serving them what’s leftover as a surprise?

 

[AIRwin]

Also I saw the aircraft appears to continue on to HKG/ come from (at least some times) do the FA’s go with it? Maybe they bet burnt out from the extra distance or extra work doing 2 routes. How is the service HKG?

Where did you see that?

 

[Spacetravel]

Where did you see that?

When I travel I use flightly that shows where the aircraft has been/ where to next (in addition to other things) my sub has expired at the moment due to light travel. The app showed me it was due to go on to hkg immediately after and this was both times this year to then fly to MEL. The turn around time is only 2 hours in BKK so maybe this was for some operational reason then but not regularly. If someone had a premium account of a flight tracking service maybe they could check and see if its still the case now.

 

[DAC1]

Also I saw the aircraft appears to continue on to HKG/ come from (at least some times) do the FA’s go with it? Maybe they bet burnt out from the extra distance or extra work doing 2 routes. How is the service HKG?

No chance FAs do BKK-SYD and then turn to immediately do a flight back to anywhere in Asia. They would be out of hours.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Also I saw the aircraft appears to continue on to HKG/ come from (at least some times) do the FA’s go with it? Maybe they bet burnt out from the extra distance or extra work doing 2 routes. How is the service HKG?

No, the crew don’t continue on. There are strict rules governing flight hours for all crew operating aircraft. They don’t do 10 hours and then continue another 9 hours to HKG. They go home!

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Re: breakfast card. Yes on all a330 J flights <10 hours I feel very rushed for the breakfast card. When it doesn’t make any sense because they still need to do the first meal service before it even matters but they want it usually before take off and at the very latest immediately after. The longer flights >10 hours they are “slightly” more relaxed about it by that I mean the first attempt at asking for it is usually immediately after take off and then a follow up 20 minutes later.

Keeping it relevant to BKK J likewise while the timing might be the same (want it immediately upon sitting) across most flights the attitude I’ve received when asking for more time was not.

Another example of a surly flight attendant on this route I flew Syd > bkk with a +1 it was their first time ever in J for any flight. Before take off I had an issue with my sash seatbelt the top part was stuck. I was waiting for a FA to come by so I could ask for help. The FA comes past and says “would you like to put your seatbelt on” in a very sarcastic / condescending tone. It doesn’t translate well in text here but it wasn’t friendly at all/ offering any help. I replied asking for help because it was stuck and the FA gave me a look as if I was incompetent and told me to just pull it down. After showing it was stuck they finally offered to help and actually took them a few minutes to make it work.

Now at the meal service time, I was in row 1 I saw the cart pull up for the meal service and I don’t like dressing on the “salad”. I wanted to make sure I got in before they poured it because they do it so quickly, I asked when they do my salad to have no dressing. The FA snapped back at me “I’m not doing yours”. My +1 laughed that I got snapped at but also was like woah what was that how rude.

Finally by the time the meal service was over we were at least 3 hours into the flight. My +1 made a joke and said they wish they flew economy so they would have had more time to sleep. After the flight my +1 said the seat was good but what the hell was the service about, they said they were expecting much better from J.

I still don’t understand the staff on this route. They definitely appear Australian based so its not a crew based somewhere else issue. My only reasoning is maybe they put the more experienced crew on the flagship routes ie SIN, LAX, HND and the less experienced/ poorer rated staff get bkk. Also I saw the aircraft appears to continue on to HKG/ come from (at least some times) do the FA’s go with it? Maybe they bet burnt out from the extra distance or extra work doing 2 routes. How is the service HKG?

Very poor service that needs to be reported via feedback. If enough people complain maybe it will get looked at.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Very poor service that needs to be reported via feedback. If enough people complain maybe it will get looked at.

Probably only if it makes a Current Affair or similar.

 

[Spacetravel]

Very poor service that needs to be reported via feedback. If enough people complain maybe it will get looked at.

Its being replaced by “Finnair” soon, so not a lot of point but I did leave feedback after my last flight

 

[MrJetset]

My view on this flight was that people (pax and crew) are excited to be flying post pandemic and if the crew are so unhappy, they should find another job. Harsh, however, I stand by my point.

 

[Mr Bill]

In mittigation of perceived poor crew performance on some QF flights, bear in mind that not all flight attendants are employed by QF. Basically QF are sub-contracting out for in flight services, hence personnel on the same flight maybe employed on different pay scales and conditions of service. Not good for workplace relations.

 

[Spacetravel]

In mittigation of perceived poor crew performance on some QF flights, bear in mind that not all flight attendants are employed by QF. Basically QF are sub-contracting out for in flight services, hence personnel on the same flight maybe employed on different pay scales and conditions of service. Not good for workplace relations.

That still isn’t an excuse for both Qantas or the crew. If they don’t like their pay and conditions they can leave. They aren’t “forced” to work for Qantas.

 

[Mr Bill]

Agreed, and where there is a choice, you can always stop flying Qantas !!
It will be interesting to see if there will be a board shake-up at QF in the near future (institutional investors influence ?) and what new ideas the new CEO wants to implement.