Qantas double booking: staff member took precedence

[Vic]

At the airport, there is no procedure of getting compensation for domestic flights. It's basically either Y on the current flight or J on a later flight.
After the fact and only if the customer initiated the complaint, QF would highly likely just send one of their rubbish emails that doesn't even address the issue and say 'sorry'.
International is a different story and with $$ amounts for downgrades.

And neither does the OP. The OP doesn't know anything about the downgraded passenger. They could've been a staff traveller for all we know. Unless it was the OP who was downgraded.

I'm not triggered at all, I'm just stating what the situation is.

This is the really issue with your contribution. You're NOT stating what the situation is, you're just giving your opinion. That opinion is based on completely made up scenarios, where you think the "regrade" is justified. You've mentioned the pax getting their points back, is that based on you assuming they did a points upgrade? (I don't think you would have looked up the details on your insider system, because sharing such information in public... )

However, here is the thing, how do you know they didn't buy a full fare J seat 1 hour before the flight? That is equally possible since no one knows the actual details, not even you. So you have have opinion and speculation.

Now in my opinion the fact that contradicts your speculation is the fact that the pax got on the plane with a boarding pass for seat 3A. Can you explain to us how that happens within the regrade system, hypothetically? Does qantas normal regrade people to 30A and still give them a boarding pass for 3A?

For mine that little detail would seem to indicate your opinion about what happened is no more reliable than any of the speculation in this thread.

 

[offshore171]

No, not connected to me in any way shape or form.

I can't tell you if it was 'random' but one other staff member said to a third QFd employee 'we arranged for (person X who was the affected party) to move/be moved...' leading to the conclusion it was some hurriedly put together, last minute arrangement at the gate.

Ok - so the other question that came to mind, was how do you know for sure that it was a genuine double booking, and not a so-called "self upgrader"? Self-upgraders are not that uncommon and many of us here have seen cases of it.

Could also have been a standby pax who missed their scheduled flight. There's a few scenarios in play, unless you can share more information about what you heard/observed?

 

[TheInsider]

However, here is the thing, how do you know they didn't buy a full fare J seat 1 hour before the flight?

Now in my opinion the fact that contradicts your speculation is the fact that the pax got on the plane with a boarding pass for seat 3A. Can you explain to us how that happens within the regrade system, hypothetically? Does qantas normal regrade people to 30A and still give them a boarding pass for 3A?

If they purchased a full J class ticket last minute, then everyone else in the business cabin would've had exactly the same fare class, and the passenger that was downgraded to Y, would've been the lowest status frequent flyer then.

If the duty travel booking was made last minute to get a pilot up to their destination to complete their work and not risk cancellations, then the same process would've been complete even if passengers were on board.

To me is sounds like it was a staff traveller passenger who got kicked out of their seat especially if they didn't make a fuss about it.

 

[TomVexille]

...

To me is sounds like it was a staff traveller passenger who got kicked out of their seat especially if they didn't make a fuss about it.

This was my immediate thought as well

 

[Captain Halliday]

I really think we need a popcorn emoji.

 

[TheInsider]

Maybe if "this cough" is getting too repetitive for you, perhaps provide some constructive advice on how the passenger should have/could have handled it so we are all as educated on the subject as you make out to be.

The stuff that is repetitive is this:

Not good enough. The entitlement mentality on show, even on a brief flight.

 

[Kerrodt]

I really think we need a popcorn emoji.

Oh we definitely have one. I’ve ordered 3 buckets as I think this will be a long one.

It’s quite awful to read here how people are attacking each other, making assumptions, counter claims and ambiguous scenarios based on the OP’s original post which was lacking in many key facts that would enable the record to be set straight once and for all.

 

[BAM1748]

Can the OP disclose their connection to this flight; ie they were sitting next to the person who was moved, they are the person who was moved maybe?

People are moved on flights for many reasons, unless you are the boss on board, the yield manager or the maintenance/crew chief who needs someone transported urgently we don't know why in this particular instance the passenger was relocated.

I have seen QF staff in uniform (cabin crew and pilots) all jump on a domestic flight and sit in spare economy seats. Is this thread a storm in a teacup if you know all the information.

 

[samh004]

Ok - so the other question that came to mind, was how do you know for sure that it was a genuine double booking, and not a so-called "self upgrader"? Self-upgraders are not that uncommon and many of us here have seen cases of it.

Could also have been a standby pax who missed their scheduled flight. There's a few scenarios in play, unless you can share more information about what you heard/observed?

Exactly, this thread is based on an observation and an assumption. Nothing in it is fact, and it might not have even happened. Could be just designed to start trouble. @TheInsider provides information about the actual processes and other QF bashers disgruntled QF members of late come in and pile on, but other than an observation from the OP – that should be taken with a generous pinch of salt – there's no actual fact at this stage as to what actually happened, or if it did indeed, happen.

I don't dispute QF of late has been terrible in many areas. I flew J earlier this year on a flight that wasn't catered – and still haven't had a reply from customer service about compensation, but I'm not holding my breath. They have bigger issues.

However, this thread is essentially a fairytale without corroboration or the actual impacted person coming forward. Reminds me of this from 2009.

 

[Guvner]

LOL. nobody is piling on. You start a post with 'this cough", you invite responses.

 

[**TBA**]

More than likely the tech crew who were meant to be on QF433, the cancelled 10am.
As others have said the traveller, if they didn't make a fuss, was more than likely a staff traveller.

 

[MooTime]

hmm why couldn't the QF crew who took the unknown character's 3A seat just take the empty 30C seat?? simple.

It's a MEL-SYD flight, my goodness, would've saved someone being demoted from J and this thread kicking off.

QF bumped me from 4A recently, to balance the plane was reasoning I was given, pathetic excuse as plane was full, QF so poor in recent times so so poor IMO.

 

[Vic]

. @TheInsider provides information about the actual processes and other QF bashers disgruntled QF members of late come in and pile on, but other than an observation from the OP – that should be taken with a generous pinch of salt – there's no actual fact at this stage as to what actually happened, or if it did indeed, happen.

The insider also makes assumptions that those processes were applied. They are speculating in this thread as much as anyone else. A fact that seems to be ignored.

I notice they have not addressed the elephant in the room, if the process was followed how did the regrade process allow the kicked passenger to get on board with a boarding pass for 3A???

Personally, as a comment, it's a bit offensive to describe people with negative labels, just because they point out the lack of assumed authority of one commentator.

 

[Melburnian1]

Ok - so the other question that came to mind, was how do you know for sure that it was a genuine double booking, and not a so-called "self upgrader"? Self-upgraders are not that uncommon and many of us here have seen cases of it.

Could also have been a standby pax who missed their scheduled flight. There's a few scenarios in play, unless you can share more information about what you heard/observed?

Because a staff member suggested it was a double booking. The QF staff member made for that seat, only to find the 'X' passenger already occupying it.

There was no suggestion that the latter person had chosen a seat for which they didn't hold a reservation.

 

[Melburnian1]

Exactly, this thread is based on an observation and an assumption. Nothing in it is fact, and it might not have even happened. Could be just designed to start trouble. @TheInsider provides information about the actual processes and other QF bashers disgruntled QF members of late come in and pile on, but other than an observation from the OP – that should be taken with a generous pinch of salt – there's no actual fact at this stage as to what actually happened, or if it did indeed, happen...

However, this thread is essentially a fairytale without corroboration or the actual impacted person coming forward. Reminds me of this from 2009.

Your contribution is, to put it politely, below the standard AFFers could perhaps expect from someone closely associated with this blog as either a current or former moderator. Disappointing. I gave some specific details: not good enough, apparently.

I didn't bother watching your attachment.

 

[Melburnian1]

hmm why couldn't the QF crew who took the unknown character's 3A seat just take the empty 30C seat?? simple.

It's a MEL-SYD flight, my goodness, would've saved someone being demoted from J and this thread kicking off.

QF bumped me from 4A recently, to balance the plane was reasoning I was given, pathetic excuse as plane was full, QF so poor in recent times so so poor IMO.

You've neatly summed up my point.

Even if there's an 'industrial agreement' in place, it's not the best of looks for an airline and/or staff member to do this, especially given that QFd J class fares are often, or almost always, not cheap. It'd just be polite for the staff member to say to him or herself 'well, yes, on my last 20 trips I've been in J, so while slightly peeving, I'll sit down the back and not disturb the person sitting there'.

Sometimes a little bit of humility goes a long way.

Double bookings are annoying whether on flights or trains, but they are unlikely to represent a high percentage of reservations made.

 

[offshore171]

Because a staff member suggested it was a double booking. The QF staff member made for that seat, only to find the 'X' passenger already occupying it.

There was no suggestion that the latter person had chosen a seat for which they didn't hold a reservation.

If I can be honest, it does look like you have filled in some knowledge gaps with speculation.

I think that's a reasonable thing to say, unless there are more facts that you haven't disclosed.

As I understand it, a deadheading staff member (eg: Pilot on a positioning flight) takes priority over staff on leisure travel. in that scenario, what you saw is quite ok.

There's a number of scenarios in play, I'm not sure if conclusions can be drawn

 

[Vic]

If I can be honest, it does look like you have filled in some knowledge gaps with speculation.

I think that's a reasonable thing to say, unless there are more facts that you haven't disclosed.

As I understand it, a deadheading staff member (eg: Pilot on a positioning flight) takes priority over staff on leisure travel. in that scenario, what you saw is quite ok.

There's a number of scenarios in play, I'm not sure if conclusions can be drawn

IF it was indeed staff on leisure travel?
knowledge gaps filled with speculation...

 

[offshore171]

IF it was indeed staff on leisure travel?
knowledge gaps filled with speculation...

That's the point I was making with the example I gave.

Literally the next line was:
"There's a number of scenarios in play, I'm not sure if conclusions can be drawn"

 

[RooFlyer]

I really think we need a popcorn emoji.

Oh, no doubt we need heaps when the second posts begins:

Not this cough again.

Re all the speculation - sure, we are all speculating except for melburnian1 who actually saw something. But as I noted, all too believable with Qantas at the moment, Isn't that sad?

BTW @TheInsider I do not blame the Qantas front line staff for all the carp thats going on at the moment - its management, management, management. But because its management it doesn't mean we customers don't call it out (in general). I'm surprised there isn't some staff revolt going on that the front liners have to bear the brunt of passenger 'discontent' (to put it mildly) due to mismanagement. I wouldn't imagine jobs would be in jeopardy with the staff shortages and union doing the fronting? There is one way to stop "this cough again" and that's for the airline management to have some simple respect for the paying (premium paying!!) passengers and fix the bloody shambles that's been going on for months now.