Pacific Blue unannounced strike destroys holiday

[munitalP]

If a poster is going to claim they are affiliated with an airline, they need to start taking the good with the bad, and actually answering questions thrown at them, or stop representing yourselves as airline reps.

I'll quote myself as there seems to be confusion...

If they represent themselves as representing the airline - and note please I mentioned more than just DJ!!!! they are then on a public forum so IMO they do not have the option to choose which questions they will respond to or not. (that are directly related to the airline). They are representing a company and due to the very public nature of their representation, would place them no different than a person at a call centre for that same company who answers questions on behalf of the said company.

BEFORE anyone flames me, how would you feel ringing DJ or QF or QJ or TT and asking a question of that company and the call centre rep thinks - "oh, thats too hard" and hangs up? You would be outraged. Simple analogy yet I feel it applies in this case.

IF the person who claims to represent an airline on this thread and reply to posts from other members with authority, I CANNOT see how they can be SELECTIVE in the threads they respond to.

I am not talking about this thread only, and yes, Crazydave has in the past help AFF members out, as I am sure the other airline reps have, but, they cannot ignore the plight of others just because its too hard or there's no KUDOS involved.

If they are not here to act on behalf of the airline, they should stop misrepresenting themselves (take that as the airline not the individual) as having reps of the respective company on AFF
My point

 

[medhead]

My point

It's a fair point to apply across the board (or should that be forum). I guess I just think that some other events might have the reps reoccupied ATM.

 

[anchew]

I guess I just think that some other events might have the reps reoccupied ATM.

+1

The topic was started on Thursday 13 Jan 2011. The Brisbane river peaked at around 4am on Thursday 13 Jan 2011. Virgin Blue's HQ was evacuated. Now, people in Brisbane are spending their weekend either cleaning their homes, or helping others clean their homes.

Our thoughts are with everyone effected by these devastating floods.

 

[docjames]

Taking aside the flood issue, the airline(s) already operate(s) official channels for complaints.

I dont believe the AFF is a portal for them to respond to all queries. I believe the "regular" company rep(s) around here will engage particularly to members that are regulars to help with issues, but are not obliged to answer every and all queries whilst a "regular" company-endorsed channel exists.

Should doctors answer all medical questions posted on AFF?
Engineers all engineering questions?
Accountants answer all credit card queries?
Pilots answers all questions about crashes / technical faults / etc?

The staffers here are on the site presumably:
a) because they enjoy it and find it interesting
b) they and their company can learn from this site

They shouldnt be under any obligation to answer every single thread, if that were the obligation, we'd lose them rapidly, and they add great value to the forum (in ANY capacity).

$0.02 = mine

 

[munitalP]

Taking aside the flood issue, the airline(s) already operate(s) official channels for complaints.

I dont believe the AFF is a portal for them to respond to all queries. I believe the "regular" company rep(s) around here will engage particularly to members that are regulars to help with issues, but are not obliged to answer every and all queries whilst a "regular" company-endorsed channel exists.

Should doctors answer all medical questions posted on AFF?
Engineers all engineering questions?
Accountants answer all credit card queries?
Pilots answers all questions about crashes / technical faults / etc?

The staffers here are on the site presumably:
a) because they enjoy it and find it interesting
b) they and their company can learn from this site

They shouldnt be under any obligation to answer every single thread, if that were the obligation, we'd lose them rapidly, and they add great value to the forum (in ANY capacity).

$0.02 = mine

You dont come on this thread posting as a doctor, I don't come on here posting as an electrical engineer and there are many professionals who don't come on here posting as their selected profession therefore I feel that negates your answer above.

Just a few days ago, ADMIN opened a thread of official airline reps.

So we highlight these people but then they only answer questions they feel like answering? Again, if the person who claims to represent an airline on this forum and replys to posts from other members with authority (e.g. on behalf of the said airline), I CANNOT see how they can be SELECTIVE in the threads they respond to

Your statement re portal, in an official capacity, they must be either ALL in or NOTHING IMO.

I think that it is Unfair and Rude to posters on the AFF forum who ask a question that is directly related to the airline in question then it is just plainly ignored by the appropriate rep.

I am not just referring to this thread so comments regarding timing (floods) etc are obsolete.

We each have our own opinion, but don't base yours on a single thread - I haven't

munitalP

 

[UP4014]

Again, if the person who claims to represent an airline on this forum and replys to posts from other members with authority (e.g. on behalf of the said airline), I CANNOT see how they can be SELECTIVE in the threads they respond to


We each have our own opinion, but don't base yours on a single thread - I haven't

munitalP

Agree. I do find selective responses annoying.

 

[admin]

OK, It's time I stepped in here....

We are all entitled to our opinions. Provided they are not offensive/vulgar/commercial they may be freely posted on this website.

Notwithstanding various personal opinions of various members, this is THE OFFICIAL AFF position:

No member (and this includes Official Airline Reps) is required to respond to anything. Contribution to this site is voluntary. We respect any member's right to contribute or not to contribute.

We also thank all members (and this includes Official Airline Reps) for the contribution they make to AFF.

I am now going to close this thread.

(If anyone has information which adds to the original issue posted by the OP, please PM myself or any of the moderators, and this thread will be updated accordingly.)

 

[admin]

This is a message I have just received from cma1957

I am the original recipient of this message .....Thought I would write and let you know as I do not know how to go about it in letting others now of my outcome becausing of messages being stopped........

Compliments to Pacific Blue, as they will hold in credit for me until Sept 1st 2011, the total cost of this holiday package for myself and my son.
All I have to do now is decide when we would like to rebook this holiday again to Christchurch before the said date...my travel can be after the said date.
Congratulations to PACIFIC BLUE.

I am now going to re-open the thread for discussion about the original topic and the response from Pacific Blue.

Regarding the other issue concerning "selective responses" - if you feel the need to discus, please open a new thread. I don't want that issue to be confused with the original topic. Also please note that AFF does have an OFFICIAL POSITION as mentioned in my earlier post.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Sounds like Pacific Blue have come through and the OP's son will eventually get his holiday-that's the important thing and well done to Pacific Blue for doing the right thing,hopefully they will also investigate how the situation got out of hand in the first place and that may mean some staff retraining is required.
Good Luck cma1957,let's hope your next experience of Pacific Blue is far more satisfactory.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[samh004]

Good to hear Pacific Blue was able to fix the mess, did they contact you, or you them?

 

[JohnK]

Good to hear that there has been some resolution for the OP.

I hope it is appropriate to ask this question but it would be nice to know what happened to the original flight in question on this thread.

cma1957 do you have any further details to add?

 

[cma1957]

Good to hear that there has been some resolution for the OP.

I hope it is appropriate to ask this question but it would be nice to know what happened to the original flight in question on this thread.

CMA1957 do you have any further details to add?

Sorry, But I have not heard anymore regarding the original flight.... This morning when I rang Pacific Blue, they were not aware of it either as their offices had been closed from Wed in Bris.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I hope it is appropriate to ask this question but it would be nice to know what happened to the original flight in question on this thread.

John I think you may be right with your earlier suggestion that the flight itself was cancelled but the aircraft flew empty to CHC in order to position itself for the next flight.that could be an explanation of why flightstats showed that the flight operated and arrived in CHC at 6:56PM,maybe flightstats isn't smart enough to know the difference between a positioning and a pax carrying flight.
But regardless of what actually happened I reckon it's poor that the OP (and other pax) were not offered the option of other flights,either with PB later on or even another carrier.
Hopefully the airline will investigate where the "work dispute" rumour appeared from.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[GladstoneTim]

Yeah, I for one would like clarity and certainty as to what actually happened with the flight.

 

[farstar]

It would have been good if the Virgin rep here could have cleared up the whole thing. The problem is the lack of their side is very disappointing as it makes me worried about flying Virgin.
I am surprised it was not a news headline, if it is true and Qantas had done this sort of thing it would be.

 

[markis10]

It would have been good if the Virgin rep here could have cleared up the whole thing. The problem is the lack of their side is very disappointing as it makes me worried about flying Virgin.
I am surprised it was not a news headline, if it is true and Qantas had done this sort of thing it would be.

The OP had some action the moment it was physically possible to get some given the flooding situation in Brisbane, while many are calling for DJ reps to respond, can I point out the OP sought rectification from Blue Holidays, which is not a DJ company but is in fact run by Zuji in alliance with DJ and its sister airlines and the air service was being provided by PB which is after all a separate company like JQ if I am not mistaken. Zuji hold the agents licence and were the ones responsible for rectification for a service they sold that was not provided AFAIK.

Asking a DJ rep to respond is a bit like asking a QF rep why I have not got my missing bonus points from a promotion in September last year from Qantas Holidays, or asking them why a JQ flight was cancelled, given the floods and the impact its having on business I would not be expecting a DJ rep to put their noses into what is not their core responsibility unless all other avenues had failed and sufficient time had passed given the circumstances.

 

[Nigelinoz]

You make excellent points markis 10,and as it was myself who ,early in the thread,first suggested that crazydave98 should respond to the OP's post,I would like to apologise for rasing the suggestion,I should have been more aware of the situation re Blue Holidays/Pacific Blue etc.
I will be more careful in the future.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[crazydave98]

We have a resident DJ staff member here, but, not wanting to seem like im taking a personal shot Crazydave (which Im not), but do you not reply to threads like this when an obviously distressed PAX has either missed a flight (and been off loaded) or your company has made a cough up? I realise there are flood issues happening.... it is glaringly obvious that the airline reps will only respond where it seems that KUDOS is achieved for either their own position or their company.

If a poster is going to claim they are affiliated with an airline, they need to start taking the good with the bad, and actually answering questions thrown at them, or stop representing yourselves as airline reps.

munitalP I totally reject your assertion that I interject only when there is kudos to be gained and not when there are distressed pax. The fault in your "logic" is glaring - the most kudos comes with sorting out issues for members. It's called customer service. Your accusation that I don't take the good with the bad just doesn't hold water - here's a tip for you - go to my profile and hit the link "all posts". Typically I only start threads when I have news that I think will be of interest to members but the rest of my posts are in response to questions or issues.

In this particular instance today (19 January) is the first time I have seen this thread. Believe it or not I don't have all day to trawl this forum, and often I am on here on personal time. It is not a full-time job which means I don't have time to respond to every single post/complaint/problem. If you want to attack Virgin Blue for not having someone on this forum full time go ahead and fill your boots. But by singling me out by name it is very obviously a personal attack and is not appreciated.

In this case the OP evidently did get through to Pacific Blue after a delay caused by the floods - I would not have been able to sort it out of get it attended to any quicker. Sorry, but being flooded out of your head office does tend to get in the way of business as usual.

cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[Nigelinoz]

CrazyDave98 my apology in the previous post also goes to you,I accept that it was inappropriate to suggest that you intervene in the matter and I understand that you contribute to AFF when time allows and I appreciate the time and effort you put in to
the forum.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[crazydave98]

CrazyDave98 my apology in the previous post also goes to you,I accept that it was inappropriate to suggest that you intervene in the matter and I understand that you contribute to AFF when time allows and I appreciate the time and effort you put in to
the forum.
Cheers
N'oz

you're welcome Nigel. Generally it's a pleasure.
cheers
CrazyDave98