Qantas Business class Experiences (non F&B)

[Melburnian1]

You clearly - clearly have strong opinions against Qantas so we shall take your views with a large bag of salt.

Just as we take your views that 98 per cent of the time defend Qantas with a few tonnes of salt.

Talk about making a silk purse...

One of my friends who 90 per cent of the time flies in J says it's extremely common to find QFd/QFi staff in J, either deadheading or travelling in mufti on domestic flights. Surprise, surprise, often they are served first.

 

[cbourl]

Just as we take your views that 98 per cent of the time defend Qantas with a few tonnes of salt.

Talk about making a silk purse...

One of my friends who 90 per cent of the time flies in J says it's extremely common to find QFd/QFi either deadheading or travelling in mufti on domestic flights. Surprise, surprise, often they are served first.

Exactly Don't we dare criticize Qantas for its obvious failings

Yeah, you said so the first time.

Gonna need more salt...

Yes especially, with the plethora of hard done by, off duty Qantas staff ;-))

 

[justinbrett]

Just as we take your views that 98 per cent of the time defend Qantas with a few tonnes of salt.

Talk about making a silk purse...

One of my friends who 90 per cent of the time flies in J says it's extremely common to find QFd/QFi staff in J, either deadheading or travelling in mufti on domestic flights. Surprise, surprise, often they are served first.

I have a whole pallet of salt just for your posts!

 

[drron]

Flying out of or into MCY on QF you often notice JQ staff in uniform in the J seats. Certainly on those routes often more available J seats for the general public on VA than QF.

 

[cbourl]

Who needs priority boarding when as an elite FFer you can stay in the lounge until Final Boarding/ Last Call.

In the US, as a FFer you don't get into the lounge, and turn up near Last Call and you'll find your seat has gone to someone on the reserve list.

I like to board early, because here in Australia, but much more so in the USA every man and his dog travels with a roll on, and Business overheads are full of rollon so no where to put my laptop or backpack . Also in the USA we have several Star Gold cards, so a Lufthansa Senator Card or Aegean Star Gold card guarantees lounge access even when flying domestically in the USA. my favourite lounge for this before it was swallowed up by the Polaris Lounge at SFO was the Singapore Air and also sometimes the EVA lounge,, great for mileage run daytrips from NYC LAX/SFO and being able to shower before returning to NYC the same day. I like zoned boarding on most airlines worldwide after we Elites board, and then I'm not stuck with Y pax smashing into me as I'm trying to put my laptop somewhere above me. If you really want to talk about premium/elite flying then I can use the example of Lufthansa where you are driven directly to the aircraft, and you do not even see Business and Economy passengers from the First lounges/Terminal unless they happen to be an Hon Circle flying in C or Y

 

[JohnPhelan]

Just as we take your views that 98 per cent of the time defend Qantas with a few tonnes of salt.

Talk about making a silk purse...

One of my friends who 90 per cent of the time flies in J says it's extremely common to find QFd/QFi staff in J, either deadheading or travelling in mufti on domestic flights. Surprise, surprise, often they are served first.

I travel in domestic J on Qantas quite often. And yes, it is not unusual to have staff on either duty travel or standby paid personal travel seated there. But I have never - repeat, never - in 30 years seen them served first. I quite often have them sitting beside me, and they are always served last. (Actually I feel sorry for them, as this clearly identifies them as staff, which I don't agree with - they should be treated exactly the same as every other J pax.)

 

[cbourl]

I travel in domestic J on Qantas quite often. And yes, it is not unusual to have staff on either duty travel or standby paid personal travel seated there. But I have never - repeat, never - in 30 years seen them served first. I quite often have them sitting beside me, and they are always served last. (Actually I feel sorry for them, as this clearly identifies them as staff, which I don't agree with - they should be treated exactly the same as every other J pax.)

So do I, but only to burn the hundreds of thousands of AAdvantage miles, and what I've witnessed since COVID ion Qantas is highly questionable, including the socialising at expense of passengers. Qantas staff have become very lax post covid. I am often in Row 1 too. And I also fly VA C regularly. And I have made a choice to fly Virgin Australian for a more premium experience, and with the United and Qatar and reciprocal status recognition of UA 1K and QR status, it is indeed a no brainer

 

[RooFlyer]

For those looking for salty superlatives, go for the salt dome:

 

[RichardMEL]

I travel in domestic J on Qantas quite often. And yes, it is not unusual to have staff on either duty travel or standby paid personal travel seated there. But I have never - repeat, never - in 30 years seen them served first. I quite often have them sitting beside me, and they are always served last. (Actually I feel sorry for them, as this clearly identifies them as staff, which I don't agree with - they should be treated exactly the same as every other J pax.)

Totally agree with this. I also mostly am in J too (luckily) and this mirrors my experiences too. Indeed often if I sit next to a staffer - in uniform or not - it's obvious because the CSM will say "Is it OK if I leave a tray for you and I'll come back with the options"

also in terms of uniform crew deadheading it may well be in the EBA for them to get J (where available) and so it is no surprise.

but indeed the "I'll coma back to you" is absolute evidence of staff travel, buddy pass etc. I've never seen a staff member offered a meal ahead of a paying customer (excepting perhaps CNA type last minute upgrades) even if in row 1.. it's have a tray and we'll come back to you.

So I dispute the earlier comment suggesting staff are offered meals first also.

 

[williamsf1]

I call BS ....

"one of my friends"
Having been in the staff situation many times ... they are never served first and always get served last on both INT and DOM flights.
The only possible situation where it might happen is on a 737 where 12 meals are loaded .... so everyone would get one and in the interest of time they have just dumped a tray and moved on ...... but staff are normally in row 3 ..... row one is for CL PL P1 ......

 

[Vic]

Yeah, all those saying it doesn't happen are ignoring the very nature of humans. Have seen staff get offered meals before non-staff pax, only a couple of times. The one occassion that stands out was the CSM then spending the rest of the flight gossiping with plain clothes, assumed staff member about rosters and related inane topics.

It might be rare of qantas, but don't say it never happens because it does...

BTW, for mods, the thread starts rather abruptly, I'd be interested in skimming some of the background that got us here... is it possible to know the thread this was spilt off, please?
Ignore that, just worked out how to follow the quote link in the first post... a bit slow here

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree with posts above regarding meal service to staff… I’ve sat next to a few and while they have been given their meal tray along with everyone else in order, the working crew came back later to place the meal, ensuring that as far as possible commercial pax got their first choice.

Compare that to my BA flight a few weeks ago where an off duty pilot was DOTED ON by the purser… extra service, bottles of wine to take home… chit chat and generally how the service should be for everyone. Not a good flight BA!

 

[milehighclub]

I think there is an important thing to note about staff being served. Staff can be served first, if the crew member knows that they have enough catering that they can do so. So the serving of a staff member prior to the last passenger, is not an indication that someone is missing out, it may be because the crew serving know they can give them a choice, without affecting full fare passengers. Or, it could be a case of, I can give you this choice now cause I have plenty, but if you want the other choice, I'll need to serve the last row and come back.

 

[justinbrett]

BTW, for mods, the thread starts rather abruptly, I'd be interested in skimming some of the background that got us here... is it possible to know the thread this was spilt off, please?

Yes it does look like I've just spouted off for no reason, but in context this was in response to about 20 posts in a 60 minute period from OP (which have since been merged down into just a couple of posts by a moderator) with a very clear angst against Qantas and had nothing to do with A321XLRs.

Thanks for looking in deeper.

 

[TheInsider]

Yeah, all those saying it doesn't happen are ignoring the very nature of humans. Have seen staff get offered meals before non-staff pax, only a couple of times. The one occassion that stands out was the CSM then spending the rest of the flight gossiping with plain clothes, assumed staff member about rosters and related inane topics.

It might be rare of qantas, but don't say it never happens because it does...

BTW, for mods, the thread starts rather abruptly, I'd be interested in skimming some of the background that got us here... is it possible to know the thread this was spilt off, please?
Ignore that, just worked out how to follow the quote link in the first post... a bit slow here

You know staff can also use points and their own cash to pay for a full J class ticket and not a staff travel one....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think there is an important thing to note about staff being served. Staff can be served first, if the crew member knows that they have enough catering that they can do so. So the serving of a staff member prior to the last passenger, is not an indication that someone is missing out, it may be because the crew serving know they can give them a choice, without affecting full fare passengers. Or, it could be a case of, I can give you this choice now cause I have plenty, but if you want the other choice, I'll need to serve the last row and come back.

That’s fine.. but my counter to that is the glacial speed at which the majority of QF crew operate at. It takes several minutes to set up the tray, turn the glass upright, remove the covers, position the salad dressing container, open the salad dressing container, stir the dressing, place one or two spoons of dressing on the salad, put the spoon down, put the cover back on to the salad dressing container, move the salad dressing container back to its original position (there really is nothing else to do in row 3 except do these sorts of time and motion studies!)

Anyway… back on train… the time taken to serve staff members means those in row three still have a time penalty. Serving [staff on duty] last gives more time for commercial pax.

 

[Vic]

Yes it does look like I've just spouted off for no reason, but in context this was in response to about 20 posts in a 60 minute period from OP (which have since been merged down into just a couple of posts by a moderator) with a very clear angst against Qantas and had nothing to do with A321XLRs.

Thanks for looking in deeper.

I wasn't really worried about why you commented, obviously a reply to a post in another thread. I was just interested in context... and initially had trouble finding the context. All good now, that I've sorted myself out.

You know staff can also use points and their own cash to pay for a full J class ticket and not a staff travel one....

and...?
What I've observed with my own eyes is wrong?
I'm just saying "Never say never". I'm not sure a justifying the behaviour changes the appearance. What would the pollies say - "it's all about optics". It looks like a staff member getting preferential treatment and a whole of flight gossip sess, at the expense of non-staff pax. How they paid is opaque, and doesn't stop this from being a bad look.

 

[TheInsider]

What I've observed with my own eyes is wrong?
I'm just saying "Never say never". I'm not sure a justifying the behaviour changes the appearance. What would the pollies say - "it's all about optics". It looks like a staff member getting preferential treatment and a whole of flight gossip sess, at the expense of non-staff pax. How they paid is opaque, and doesn't stop this from being a bad look.

Exactly, how would you even know if they are staff passengers or not......

And who cares if the crew are talking to other passengers, shouldn't affect you at all. Put your headset on and move on.

 

[justinbrett]

You know staff can also use points and their own cash to pay for a full J class ticket and not a staff travel one....

I've been at a queue at Woolworths and there's been employees in the queue in front of me, in full Woolworths uniforms, that were served first! Outrage!

 

[Vic]

Exactly, how would you even know if they are staff passengers or not......

And who cares if the crew are talking to other passengers, shouldn't affect you at all. Put your headset on and move on.

Now you're just going around in circles and being argumentative.

You quoted my previous post that outlined exactly how I knew. There was simply no need for you to post again, or perhaps you didn't bother to read what I wrote...

the CSM then spending the rest of the flight gossiping with plain clothes, assumed staff member about rosters and related inane topics.

It stands out because as a full paying pax I had great difficulty getting the CSM's attention. It certainly affects me when I cannot get service...

As an "insider" the optics of you defending/denying this behaviour is not good...

Post automatically merged: May 13, 2022

I've been at a queue at Woolworths and there's been employees in the queue in front of me, in full Woolworths uniforms, that were served first! Outrage!

completely irrelevant, but expected comment from a qantas apologist