PM's air rage

[drron]

Perhaps Dave, or one of the other mods if he is not around, should re-read Dave's post 15 in this thread. What most of the posts have to do with ff travel is nil. I for one do not come here to read reactionary garbage, or any political stuff of whatever persuasion for that matter.

Oh no!You've been reading my trip reports!I apologise profusely and promise faithfully to get back to flying-after about another 5 or 6 posts on eating that is!

 

[turtlemichael]

Oh no!You've been reading my trip reports!I apologise profusely and promise faithfully to get back to flying-after about another 5 or 6 posts on eating that is!

I take you post in the good spirit I am sure it is meant

 

[Dave Noble]

The thread has been left alone for now. If anyone has anything to do with the actual article and not to do with politics, they may be posted. If there is any more political posts, then the thread will be closed

Please feel free to have political OT discussion in the appropriate forum

Any fuurther posts which are abusive against ANY person including politicians, will be treated accordingly

Dave

 

[WTL]

For interest, these guys are trained by Qantas, who also supply the catering (at least that was the case in 2005). I flew in the least posh section of the aircraft, and even there the cabin and service were of an international first class standard (minus the fully flat bed). It was amusing to note the way that these obviously very seasoned travelers in the PM's entourage would arrive in suits, change en mass into their tracksuits as soon as the seat belt lights went off (picture many fat, hairy middle aged men unashamedly displaying their underwear and beer guts to all), and back into freshly pressed suits for arrival - in a well rehearsed routine.

 

[NYCguy]

It was amusing to note the way that these obviously very seasoned travelers in the PM's entourage would arrive in suits, change en mass into their tracksuits as soon as the seat belt lights went off (picture many fat, hairy middle aged men unashamedly displaying their underwear and beer guts to all), and back into freshly pressed suits for arrival - in a well rehearsed routine.

Sounds like the first class cabin on any number of long-hauls I've been on...

 

[WTL]

Sounds like the first class cabin on any number of long-hauls I've been on...

Call me shy, but I change in the loo.

 

[simongr]

Mr Rudd also changes into his PJs in the loo. I travelled up to SIN (on my first F flight) 2 seats back from him in the week that he was taking the leadership of the ALP. I did not see any air rage at that point - though as this was QF F the service was excellent

 

[NM]

On that same note, no-one is forced to read posts here (except the mods) therefore, if you don't like where the thread is going, read another - such as I do and I am sure everyone else does.

Not quite true. Not even the moderators are forced to read all posts. Moderators are all volunteers and undertake the moderation tasks in their own spare time. There is no requirement or expectation that all posts will in fact be read by all or any moderator.

If you believe a post has cross the line regarding posting rules, then use the "Report Post" button that exists on all posts to bring it to the attention of the Moderator team. Don't just assume that all posts are read or approved by moderators. Self-moderation by all members is the preferred option. Moderation in moderation by moderators is the goal.

Serfty has addressed this issue and as noted if this continues as a discussion of personal political views, several options exist from closing the thread to moving to the Playground in part or in its entirety. Rest assured that this thread is now being watched closely.

 

[NYCguy]

I did not see any air rage at that point - though as this was QF F the service was excellent

And they had, no doubt, loaded his special meal...

 

[Soundguy]

As a genuine question, how was this leaked (and I'm not even sure if it would be termed a leak) to the media. Someone on the plane spoke up, the PM said he was abusive or the RAAF said something.

Various members of the defence force that have been introduced to the other side of lil'Kev I believe. If you go to Australia's busiest political blog (hint: at the Herald Sun) and care to wade through over 600 posts you will find a few other defence force personnel who have also reported having been abused and ill treated by him. Loosing an average of one staff member per month from his office can't help either, such people also often like to get their side of the story out. Or maybe the latter have to sign up to confidentiality conditions.

 

[Commuter]

I tend to subscribe to the school of thought that there is no smoke without fire, and when there are many stories coming out, likely there is a problem.

In any case, I do not think it is appropriate for anyone, be it Kevin Rudd, John Howard or even the Queen or just ordinary people like myself, to be abusive to others.

There are ways to have your complaints heard, and being nasty or abusive is not one of them. It makes me wonder about his self-discipline/control and negotiation skills as well, if he is so short-tempered and if he has a tendency to become abusive towards people. Being short-tempered is not a quality to be proud of, and it being seen to be 'losing it' in front of anyone but your closest family member is not exactly becoming of anyone in power.

I have particularly little respect for people when they take advantage of their superior position, such as customer v. cabin crew, in an abusive manner.

As an Australian, I am rather embarrassed to hear about Kevin Rudd's behaviour as has been reported by the media - it makes us sound like we have elected a bogan as our prime minister, as most people would consider abusive behaviour towards crew as 'inappropriate'. Besides, as leaders of the country, politicians should theoretically be setting the behavioural example, and of course any abuse, verbal or physical, cannot possibly be classed as exemplary, regardless of where it occurs.

 

[samh004]

Various members of the defence force that have been introduced to the other side of lil'Kev I believe. If you go to Australia's busiest political blog (hint: at the Herald Sun) and care to wade through over 600 posts you will find a few other defence force personnel who have also reported having been abused and ill treated by him. Loosing an average of one staff member per month from his office can't help either, such people also often like to get their side of the story out. Or maybe the latter have to sign up to confidentiality conditions.

Ahh. Well I would of expected at least some, if not all, of them to be under confidentiality agreements. So that's what I was getting at. We only hear one side of the story, from the side that shouldn't be talking.

He should just fly Qantas, it'd be more environmentally friendly for a start.

 

[Commuter]

He should just fly Qantas, it'd be more environmentally friendly for a start.

I'd rather not hear his rants/abuses

He could stop flying as much though.

 

[NYCguy]

He should just fly Qantas....

It's really not the done thing to have the PM flying commercial, and he has far too much work to do to be fussing around with commercial airline timetables.

Besides which, the PM often has to travel at short notice. Imagine the howls of indignation from the displaced passengers when they're told with 40 hours notice that their seat in F to London or Los Angeles is no longer available because of a last-minute VIP booking. Don't think for a second that the PM and entourage wouldn't take up the whole F cabin ...

 

[cove]

It's really not the done thing to have the PM flying commercial, and he has far too much work to do to be fussing around with commercial airline timetables.

Besides which, the PM often has to travel at short notice. Imagine the howls of indignation from the displaced passengers when they're told with 40 hours notice that their seat in F to London or Los Angeles is no longer available because of a last-minute VIP booking. Don't think for a second that the PM and entourage wouldn't take up the whole F cabin ...

Thank goodness it works this way.

First class is better kept for us I think.

 

[Platy]

I'd rather not hear his rants/abuses

He could stop flying as much though.

Has anyone else on this thread actually met the PM??? Would it make any difference to the politically biased diatribes, which our esteemed moderators have maligned, but not removed, that in person he is a very polite, solicitous and engaging individual??? (My personal experience).

How many of the naysayers have themselves engaged in a bout of frustration at bad service, whilst being self-righteous enough to point the the Liberal-laden finger at an opposing PM?

Are any others party to the stories of one ex-foreign minister (Downer's) bad behaviour whilst overseas?

Ot the insanity of ex-NSW Premier Fahey's behaviour when he gave up smoking after the Olympic bid win? (I worked in state gov and heard the inside goss).

Get real people!

eh, has it even occurred that this may be a beat up by the opposition in lieu of any serious pithy or worthy media coverage? (Mr 18%c isn't looking too crash hot).

Has anyone actually considered that the cabin crew may have been having a bad day (without suggesting anything bad about them)????

Please, please, please can someone post something of real interest to a frequent flyer bog???

Yawn, yawn, yawn...

 

[WTL]

It's really not the done thing to have the PM flying commercial, and he has far too much work to do to be fussing around with commercial airline timetables.

Besides which, the PM often has to travel at short notice. Imagine the howls of indignation from the displaced passengers when they're told with 40 hours notice that their seat in F to London or Los Angeles is no longer available because of a last-minute VIP booking. Don't think for a second that the PM and entourage wouldn't take up the whole F cabin ...

Not the case. They don't take out the entire cabin. They just bring them on very last, put them in F with everyone else, and no one else knows they're aboard.

Happens when the RAAF break down and there's no time to wait.

 

[Platy]

Not the case. They don't take out the entire cabin. They just bring them on very last, put them in F with everyone else, and no one else knows they're aboard.

Happens when the RAAF break down and there's no time to wait.

...in any case, all they would have to do on a QF flight is demote one or two of the QF staff traveling in F, I have never travelled in QF international F without the QF junket brigade sticking out like the proverbial...

 

[medhead]

Not the case. They don't take out the entire cabin. They just bring them on very last, put them in F with everyone else, and no one else knows they're aboard.

Happens when the RAAF break down and there's no time to wait.

That depends on how big the entourage is, of course, for any official trip there will be many more than just the PM flying. Not to mention the press galley as well.

Platy, I've meet at least 3 for our recent prime ministers (even had a GG visit for dinner). I wish that we could have 2 of them back and think very highly of one of them. But that doesn't mean I didn't disliked their public face.

Really, the political stuff here is nothing more than what these same people would have accused the Howard Haters of doing. I think is it a welcome demonstration of the hypocrisy of certain types of people on both sides of politics. Something to learn from.....

 

[WTL]

...in any case, all they would have to do on a QF flight is demote one or two of the QF staff traveling in F, I have never travelled in QF international F without the QF junket brigade sticking out like the proverbial...

It's pilots and top brass only in F for staff travel isn't it?