NSW Premier's children Upgrades?

[Alanslegal]

Premier drawn into flights scandal

''In fact I had to my recollection, and I will have to check, I requested in fact that I purchase an economy ticket so that I fly back with my children. It is my recollection that Qantas upgraded us and as I said I am more than happy to put that on the record.''

I know most people here would be hoping for that elusive op-up result, but when it happens to the NSW Premier's kids, is that sooo wrong?

To me, I'm thinking the NSW Premier is likely to have CL status and thus give her and the kids, a priority in any op-up opportunity.

I know failure to declare is an important aspect but when it comes to an op-up? It becomes a very grey area; now hypothetically if she went to Coles and was granted access to the "under 15 items or less" lane, when she had 16 items in her basket ..... is that something she would have to declare to? You know they say, time is $.

 

[ejb]

Hi,

I don't have a problem with the opup (although I find it hard to believe she requested to fly economy) I have a problme with her not declaring the value.

She knows the rules and she broke them, to suggest it does not matter is wrong. Where do we draw the line, it was only 11 free bottles of Krug so as it was not a case I thought I did not need to declare it:shock:.

An upgrade from Y to J is worth at least $6000 each so to say that $24000 is trivial really shows her true self.

ejb

 

[Skoogle]

An upgrade from Y to J is worth at least $6000 each so to say that $24000 is trivial really shows her true self.

I wonder if she could declare it as a value of FF points.

 

[BVT]

I have no problem with this. Any airline is going to upgrade, if possible, people travelling with a VIP. Especially if the VIP has real and direct power to affect their operations.

<big sigh> Dear old Daddy was a (non pollie) VIP. How I enjoyed travelling with him. CL, Flounge etc etc; all for the price of the cheapest ticket. :mrgreen: Often got upgraded (when with him) as well both domestically and internationally. It was some time ago now!

BvT

 

[samh004]

She was given a higher upgrade chance because of her CL status, but she didn’t but the higher priced tickets nor did she demand to be upgraded, it was an op-up. I hardly see the issue.

Rules and rules though, if she has to declare she was given a free upgrade, then she should have, but in regards to the actual upgrade, I don’t see a thing wrong with it. It’s not her fault QF decided to upgrade her and her family

 

[dajop]

I have no problem with this. Any airline is going to upgrade, if possible, people travelling with a VIP. Especially if the VIP has real and direct power to affect their operations.

If Qantas (or in the case of McDonald - Emirates) were a US corporation, they themselves could have been in trouble in breaching foreign bribery provisions. Of course they're not so it's the Premier alone that cops the flack. People in public office are only human, but really should know better, and be very careful (ie refuse or report) about accepting anything "of value" - which an upgrade undoubtedly is - from companies, especially if their power can impact that companies operations.

 

[samh004]

If Qantas (or in the case of McDonald - Emirates) were a US corporation, they themselves could have been in trouble in breaching foreign bribery provisions. Of course they're not so it's the Premier alone that cops the flack. People in public office are only human, but really should know better, and be very careful (ie refuse or report) about accepting anything "of value" - which an upgrade undoubtedly is - from companies, especially if their power can impact that companies operations.

If they should refuse upgrades, then they shouldn’t have CL membership as that gives “free” lounge access to a special room and basically, a better chance of “free” upgrades. That’s all it’s there for, the fact they have CL should give them the ability to accept a “free” upgrade if it presents itself.

 

[dajop]

If they should refuse upgrades, then they shouldn’t have CL membership as that gives “free” lounge access to a special room and basically, a better chance of “free” upgrades. That’s all it’s there for, the fact they have CL should give them the ability to accept a “free” upgrade if it presents itself.

I'm not saying they should refuse upgrades but certainly should report them if they don't refuse them, and the government should have processes for dealing with it, and they should be rigidly followed. I am not naive enough to think that a lot of this sort of stuff doesn't happen, but it is a slippery slope we go down when things like this go unreported. QF providing CL membership (particularly to federal) public office holders is actually something that I really think is on the border of acceptability. After all government ministers do have significant power in relation to Qantas operations.

On the other hand, I'm just bitter and twisted because I work for a US owned company, I have to get pre-approval if I want to even pay for a coffee with some university researcher that we work with, just because they are a designated a "government official":!:

 

[BVT]

If they should refuse upgrades, then they shouldn’t have CL membership as that gives “free” lounge access to a special room and basically, a better chance of “free” upgrades. That’s all it’s there for, the fact they have CL should give them the ability to accept a “free” upgrade if it presents itself.

Have you ever tried to refuse an opup? The look on the face of the staff is priceless. Call me craven, but I had to refuse an opup in January. I was travelling with the BOSS and I got the J to F and he didn't!! :evil: It was the week before bonuses were announced too. Thankfully "only" a daylight run up to HKG.

The things we do ....