Qantas travel perks

[hitmankiz]

Do part-time qantas ground crew like baggage handlers still get cheap travel perks?

 

[N860CR]

Generally those services are contracted out, so no.

That said, QF staff travel isn't very good anyway so you're not missing much.

Do a quick search, I recall it being discussed previously.

 

[Mal]

Generally those services are contracted out, so no.

I believe there are both Qantas and outsourced contractors who do baggage. Normally one starts as a contractor type, then may be able to get a more permie role with Qantas once they get some seniority etc.

But yeah, travel benefits are not instant for that type of role.

I wouldn't say staff travel isn't very good. For overseas flights during non-peak times then things can be very good. However, agree for domestic flights and during peak times it really isn't that good.

 

[BAM1748]

Suggest obtain a letter from your employer if a contractor stating you work in the travel business, then try this organisation.

www.worldinterline.com.au

Deals there for travel industry employees and family - read the conditions as depending on where and what you do there are different deals with different carriers.

Matt

 

[N860CR]

I stopped using it long ago... far too many days abandoned in London, Frankfurt or LA to justify the (these days fairly small) saving. I guess if you're very flexible, have no commitments to come back to and keep off the major routes it's not so bad, but given fares are fairly cheap now, its not usually worth the effort.

 

[Travel Guru]

I stopped using it long ago... far too many days abandoned in London, Frankfurt or LA to justify the (these days fairly small) saving. I guess if you're very flexible, have no commitments to come back to and keep off the major routes it's not so bad, but given fares are fairly cheap now, its not usually worth the effort.

It depends what industry fares you have access too, as an agent obviously I have access to a wider range of fares than a baggage handler and I certainly wouldn't say the savings are minimal at all, especially on Y+ or J fares, and i've yet to have been offloaded (the airlines learnt long ago that offloading a TA is a sure fire way to lose business so alot confirm industry fares for TA's prior to day of departure these days)

TG

 

[BAM1748]

I stopped using it long ago... far too many days abandoned in London, Frankfurt or LA to justify the (these days fairly small) saving. I guess if you're very flexible, have no commitments to come back to and keep off the major routes it's not so bad, but given fares are fairly cheap now, its not usually worth the effort.

If you book via worldinterline they are confirmed tickets, so no being kicked off.

I don't work in the travel sector but have a sibling who does, and I would say a 90% discount on business class is most certainly worth the effort.

In 10 years of flying standby (when using a discount as opposed to flying for work and paying the regular fare) only once missed out on getting on a plane and was accommodated on the next flight withour drama.

danielribo, without putting anyone down or trying to be demeaning, I would suggest that perhaps to a baggage handler a discount is a most important part of their package more so than a big shot who doesn't flinch when there is a several hundred dollar difference in price.

My 2 cents.
Matt

 

[N860CR]

You're probably right, Matt.

I had "A" scale QF staff with J class so on the occasions when J was empty, it certainly made for a cheap trip. I believe I paid ~$550 SYD-LAX-SYD the last time I did it which is dirt cheap for J.

That said, I had to reroute via BNE at the last minute on both legs including doing 4 seperate runs between TBIT to T4 trying to get onto one of the flights. It also makes it very difficult to plan anything as you can never be sure when and where you'll arrive. One day I had planned to go SYD-SIN-LHR, however as it x'd out the night before I had to make a very quick change to SYD-BNE-LAX-JFK-LHR, with a forced night in LAX due to a late arriving BNE-LAX flight (and my QF staff ticket not working on an AA transcon - yes should have booked an AA LAX-JFK backup!)

Don't get me wrong, its great when it works, however I just got a little tired of the stuffing around and getting treated like a piece of dirt by the QF staff (ground, not flight). Given I was supposed to have one of the highest priority onloads, I'd imagine it could often get very difficult for the lower end staff

 

[djfuzz]

Don't get me wrong, its great when it works, however I just got a little tired of the stuffing around and getting treated like a piece of dirt by the QF staff (ground, not flight). Given I was supposed to have one of the highest priority onloads, I'd imagine it could often get very difficult for the lower end staff

+1.

Beautiful when it works, horrendous when it doesn't - though there are some ways to mitigate the trouble.

Makes you appreciate the little niceties when travelling as a commercial pax with status just that little bit more.

Matt - I believe ID90 and ID75 tickets aren't confirmed, so the ones you referred to must be ID50 tickets (which does seem to accord with the fares without tax that they list), where you pay 50 per cent of the full fare. Not quite as sweet, but as noted earlier, they do offer the peace of mind of confirmed seats.

 

[BAM1748]

+1.

Beautiful when it works, horrendous when it doesn't - though there are some ways to mitigate the trouble.

Makes you appreciate the little niceties when travelling as a commercial pax with status just that little bit more.

Matt - I believe ID90 and ID75 tickets aren't confirmed, so the ones you referred to must be ID50 tickets (which does seem to accord with the fares without tax that they list), where you pay 50 per cent of the full fare. Not quite as sweet, but as noted earlier, they do offer the peace of mind of confirmed seats.

Sorry, yes, 50% isn't as good as 90%, but certainly a good deal.

 

[BAM1748]

You're probably right, Matt.

I had "A" scale QF staff with J class so on the occasions when J was empty, it certainly made for a cheap trip. I believe I paid ~$550 SYD-LAX-SYD the last time I did it which is dirt cheap for J.

Not sure what "A" scale works out to be, but the employe ranking (in the back office anyway) works on allocating staff and family on a 1 to about 75 scale based on job and years of service.

CEO would be 1.
GM of WA operations might be 5.
Ticketing and Marketing Dept say 40.
Family members of QF employees are say 50.
Employees of other airlines are say 70.

So when you arrive at the airport, they look at you ranking and make a decision based on the load, obviously I'd guess rank 1 gets you on the plane regardless and rank 75 gets you on once absolutly everyone else is on.

Good to know fly on days the flights are lightly loaded, say going SYD to LAX on a Wednesday is a light day and you'll get on, but forget going on a weekend.

 

[Worldtraveller8888]

I believe ID90 and ID75 tickets aren't confirmed, so the ones you referred to must be ID50 tickets (which does seem to accord with the fares without tax that they list), where you pay 50 per cent of the full fare. Not quite as sweet, but as noted earlier, they do offer the peace of mind of confirmed seats.

ID50 is still a standby ticket (ie. not fully confirmed) - it just puts your onload priority above all the ID75 and ID90 ticket holders. If there are no spare seats, you still won't get on !

WT

 

[ldelaney]

If there is E class seat availability left when u book your flight which there usually is till about 3 or 4 seats left on ID50 you get confirmed oversold or not

 

[Jadake]

I find QB travel with Qantas excellent PROVIDING you are not travelling with friends or on a rigid timeframe. Otherwise I find it very good. Definitely forget in peak periods e.g. school holidays, easter, xmas etc
Jadake

 

[drewbles]

If there is E class seat availability left when u book your flight which there usually is till about 3 or 4 seats left on ID50 you get confirmed oversold or not

E class is a new super-low fare class (replaces the use of O). There is very rarely any E class availability on a flight. It's usually used in sale situations (on Domestic at least). I've only ever been issued E class fares twice (last year) and both were the lowest of low fares, so that doesn't sound right...

 

[djfuzz]

E class is a new super-low fare class (replaces the use of O). There is very rarely any E class availability on a flight. It's usually used in sale situations (on Domestic at least). I've only ever been issued E class fares twice (last year) and both were the lowest of low fares, so that doesn't sound right...

It is. Staff travel books into 'E' class (well, non-duty travel at least), which is basically space available - and somehow different to the E class that crops up on sale from time to time, so I'm not sure it necessarily corresponds to the standard fare buckets.

In any case, I'm not sure how relevant this is to most of the members of this site - I'm no longer a beneficiary of it, but I imagine those who are are supposed to generally avoid going in to the details publicly if they intend to keep those benefits.

Also, there seems to be another recent thread on the same subject (and another older one from last year) - perhaps they should be merged?

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/qantas-travel-perks-21121-2.html

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/qantas-staff-travel-17806.html

 

[nandex1]

Qantas Grounds Services - Grounds crew postion

Hey guys,

not sure if anyone can help, but i recently completed a physio and medical check up for Qantas Grounds Services - Grounds Crew position for Cairns base. Its been a couple of weeks and i havent heard back from them? i think they said that i have to pass then i pretty much have the job? Has anyone worked for them and had to wait this long??? or???

Thanks!

 

[straitman]

Re: Qantas Grounds Services - Grounds crew postion

Hey guys,

not sure if anyone can help, but i recently completed a physio and medical check up for Qantas Grounds Services - Grounds Crew position for Cairns base. Its been a couple of weeks and i havent heard back from them? i think they said that i have to pass then i pretty much have the job? Has anyone worked for them and had to wait this long??? or???

Thanks!

nandex1,

Welcome to AFF.

When did they say they would get back to you? If it was me and there was no other time mentioned I would follow up after a couple of weeks if I really wanted the position.

 

[nandex1]

Re: Qantas Grounds Services - Grounds crew postion

nandex1,

Welcome to AFF.

When did they say they would get back to you? If it was me and there was no other time mentioned I would follow up after a couple of weeks if I really wanted the position.

They didnt give a timeframe as to when they will let us know but i have emailed them but yet no reply... do you think i should call?? thanks bill

 

[straitman]

Re: Qantas Grounds Services - Grounds crew postion

They didnt give a timeframe as to when they will let us know but i have emailed them but yet no reply... do you think i should call?? thanks bill

It is always a balance between showing interest and being a pest. It is a judgement call that only you can make. I would not wait too long but also would not annoy them every couple of days.