Personal greetings from the cabin manager - what can you (realistically) ask for?

[Must...Fly!]

I did forget to mention the other time I made use of a personal welcome. I think I've told the story before on the forum, but VA HKG-MEL, as WP, check in kind enough to block off a middle row of four for me. Had a full day in Melbourne on return so some sleep was valued. Anyway some (other...) freeloader came and sat on the other end of the row of seats while we were taxiing. I would honestly never normally do this, but the woman had such an attitude that she put me off the moment she sat down, taking shoes off, spreading out, etc. OK fine, war it is. CSM came around for the welcome to say hello, is there anything you need etc. Well, since you asked.....a few moments later, I received the scowl of the century from this woman and as she removed herself and her belongings, hissed "enjoy your row to yourself" to me before slithering back to wherever she appeared from...

Funnily enough I had quite a decent sleep

 

[Must...Fly!]

That is one of the things that can make these greetings/requests a bit awkward. Often the people around you don't know what's going on and it can be a little embarrassing if you start getting glasses of wine etc. and nothing is offered to your seat neighbour.

Just reading the rest of the thread, I agree with this. For reasons entirely unrelated to status, a little while in to a recent SQ flight in Y from MEL I was welcomed by the purser with a couple of glasses of the good bubbly stuff (possibly the very good...A380 so it could have been from J or F). Maybe an hour or so later a member of the flight crew came down to say a quick hello and see how the flight was going.

It was nice, as an introvert by nature it made me a little self conscious but yes there were certainly some looks from others nearby and I'm sure some were wondering why they didn't get something...

 

[jb747]

Anyway some (other...) freeloader came and sat on the other end of the row of seats while we were taxiing.

I once took a 747 back to the gate at Heathrow to offload a person who did that twice during taxi. Rule one, never come to the Captain’s attention, especially whilst still on the ground.

 

[Warks]

On a completely different level I was stuck in an emergency waiting room yesterday while other family members were with the patient after I'd gone and parked the car after drop-off. A staff member went around the people in the waiting room assuming they were all waiting for care - she asked me if I needed pain relief (I should have said "Whaddaya got?") when I told her I was just waiting she offered to get me a cup of tea or coffee, which I politely refused as I thought her time would be better served with others. But I was surprised at the offer and this post reminded me of the WP greeting I used to get which always made me vaguely uncomfortable, being a Y flyer.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I think that the inflight crew, either the CSM or the FA, can see from the BP presented to them, or the phone QR code, or the app, who a WP is, or a P1 is, as its on the BP.
But truthfully, if I don't get a greeting, I don't mind.
"Welcome on board Mr Pooch", insert my real name... as they see on the BP.
But can you imagine if they, and have to say it, to everyone who comes on board, the same greeting.
I can also see how frustrating it can be, on a long flight, say SYD/PER if they have to greet everyone esp if its an A330, rarer now, as a lot of the flights are now 737s, but still, hello mr so and so, welcome on board, hello mrs so and so, welcome on board, and to a kid, hi there, and how are you...
Being a CSM/FA is a thankless job, and I am not into making their job harder or tougher.
I am also scared of being taken away by the AFP, so if things go wrong, I keep quiet.
If I have a points+pay upgrade, or paid a rev fare to sit in J (so far, I am not been moved to Y), I will sit smugly in my J throne, and see all the plebs walk by, grin.

 

[kookaburra75]

Having done a lot of runs to the UK in the several years BC (before Covid) in Y, the CSM would come around and introduce themselves, and tell me to ask the flight attendant in that part of the cabin, if I needed anything - thank goodness for the old Y mini-cabin. They had my details on their iPad. Sometimes, they would drop back during the flight to see how I was going. That would happen on the SYD-SIN/DXB, SIN/DXB-LHR legs, and vice versa.

I sometimes asked for a glass of bubbles, and occasionally an after dinner Glenlivet, which was delivered. Another time I was invited up to the J lounge for New Year Eve drinks and nibbles (In the new configuration). After spending a few hours there, it was a long walk back down to my seat in row 80-something.

 

[bashworth]

If you are travelling for a special occasion make sure the flight attendants know.
We were on the first leg, Melbourne to Hong Kong ,of our RTW for our 40th Wedding Anniversary back in 2017.
As we got off we were handed a bottle of champagne.

 

[Himeno]

I've had the greetings on dozens of flights. I've noticed the CSM going around to selected seats during boarding/taxi with a tablet that I've come to expect it when I see them (especially on QF and CX) and take off my headphones when they get close to me.

It's never occurred to me to actually ask for anything.

 

[adammarcos]

I dont ask for anything at Nox Vidmate VLC the time of the greeting, but later I might ask for a freebie but I make sure its not outlandish.

 

[justinbrett]

On QF104 the other day, the CSM asked me specifically if she could get me a drink, which I took her up on (G&T).

 

[leadman]

That is one of the things that can make these greetings/requests a bit awkward. Often the people around you don't know what's going on and it can be a little embarrassing if you start getting glasses of wine etc. and nothing is offered to your seat neighbour.

I'm in this boat too. Years ago, it felt good, now I find it a bit embarrassing when you are in Y. When you're on the window and they lean across two people to thank you it's a bit uncomfortable for the people around you. The other day the CM had a 5 minute discussion. And TG, they often bring serve you first, so you sit there with your meal and it can be 10 to 20 minutes before everyone else is served. Feels a bit weird sitting there the only one eating.

15 years ago I don't think I would ever write about this, but I think age and wisdom grows, status doesn't.

 

[Rebus]

I have been QF SG for a couple of years now. Traveling domestically I have never received a welcome / check-in from the CSM and nor have I expected one on the basis that half the flight is likely to be SG or higher.

However, on a MEL-BNE service this week in whY I was approached by the CSM, greeted by name and asked how everything had been, did I need anything etc. The flight was only 70% full and the interaction took place in the downtime between meal service clear-up and preparation for landing so perhaps this will be a one-off.

Do any other QF SG get greeted in domestic Y?

 

[eric2011]

I mentioned this a number of years ago in a post but I think it is worth mentioning again. On an Emirates A380, BNE-AKL, in J class my IFE wasn't working and the CSM couldn't re-boot the system for me. He couldn't move me to another seat as the cabin was full he asked if he could do anything for me. By this time we were more than half way across the ditch and I jokingly said that on my return flight in a few days an upgrade to F would work and we both laughed. 4 days later when trying to board at the gate in AKL myself and swmbo got singled out by the check-in staff who took away our J seat BP's and gave us 2 BP's for F class. Once in our seats the CSM came to us and told us that her colleague had left a request on his I-pad.

 

[elanshin]

I have been QF SG for a couple of years now. Traveling domestically I have never received a welcome / check-in from the CSM and nor have I expected one on the basis that half the flight is likely to be SG or higher.

However, on a MEL-BNE service this week in whY I was approached by the CSM, greeted by name and asked how everything had been, did I need anything etc. The flight was only 70% full and the interaction took place in the downtime between meal service clear-up and preparation for landing so perhaps this will be a one-off.

Do any other QF SG get greeted in domestic Y?

I've had it happen once. But generally speaking I've got headphones in on domestic flights doing some sort of work, reading or napping.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I don’t request anything. I am mostly traveling in the cabin that I booked and know what is available to me in that cabin. I would never dream of asking for things that are outside the benefits provided to pax in the cabin I’m traveling in.
Anything above and beyond is a welcome bonus.
I have been surprised by some nice service and extras that wouldn’t normally be available to pax in my cabin but it has always been proactively offered to me, never requested.

 

[CaptJCool]

I’d ask for This!

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