QF grumbles

[thewinchester]

My stars, its been a shocker of a week and I'm still recovering from a PER-MEL-SYD-MEL-PER on QF. I'm intending to write a full TR in the next few days, which will include some bonus video review of the Panasonic IFE offering on the new A330 metal in use on PER-SYD/MEL.

Overall, the trip wasn't that bad except for a couple of points:

1. QF Engineering need to pick up the pace on turnaround. While issues with headrests are down at the bottom of the priority list, I didn't have a single flight where the headrest was functioning in my assigned seat. The position of these is bad enough for someone who's 5"11, as they dig into my shoulders and I could use the extra head support.
2. I can't stand 737's in a 3-3 configuration. My MEL-PER leg home was uncomfortable as buggery considering both me and my travelling companion have broad shoulders. My discomfort was enhanced by a fractured rub from 8mths ago which still hasn't healed, and I was feeling it on account of the lack of space.
3. QF agent Georgina at SYD T3 should be taken outside and shot. Normally I wouldn't advocate violence against someone, but she is the rudest and most arrogant agent I've ever had the displeasure of encountering in all my years. More on her later.
4. The PER T2 QP upgrades have put space at a premium, particularly on flights up to around 10pm or so. Thankfully the dragon at the overflow lounge was happy to let me guest someone in once the heard thinned after 10pm. Food down there isn't that bad either, with pre-prepared fare including snacks, nibbles and sandwiches. The bar attendant was also quite pleasant and easy on the eyes.
5. Something is wrong with the A330's USB ports, with a voltage problem sending my mobile phone into a major panic attack while charging from them. It was such a panic attack that I had to hard reset and rebuild the handset when checking in the next morning at my hotel.

And as a side point from this trip, Swissotel has just lost my business in SYD for the most exorbitant pre-authorisation ever, then taking five days after check out to remove it. Seriously, a 1k authorisation for a 3 night stay by a CSG member who's stayed at the property previously and reservation is guaranteed against their card is taking the piss.

There's the quick highlights, more details to follow once I finish the TR.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

QF agent Georgina at SYD T3 should be taken outside and shot. Normally I wouldn't advocate violence against someone, but she is the rudest and most arrogant agent I've ever had the displeasure of encountering in all my years. More on her later.

What happened or what had you asked to cop a response like that?

While your customer details are still 'live' in Altea checkin QF can retrieve the staff number of every employee involved in each step from OLCI, bag drop, seat changes, boarding pass reprints, FA who boarded you at gate etc. Everything is flagged so if you cop any grief, get the staff number so you can put the employees full name in your letter of complaint.

I fail to understand how being rude to pax would give anyone a warm fuzzy feeling. If they can't stand the heat they need to get of Hiroshima!

Hope your next experience with QF is a better one.

 

[docjames]

Oooh, I cant wait for the full TR.

Unhappy travels...... :evil:

 

[moa999]

What airline doesn't run a 737 in a 3x3 pattern.
It is a single aisle plane?

 

[Alanslegal]

And as a side point from this trip, Swissotel has just lost my business in SYD for the most exorbitant pre-authorisation ever, then taking five days after check out to remove it. Seriously, a 1k authorisation for a 3 night stay by a CSG member who's stayed at the property previously and reservation is guaranteed against their card is taking the piss.

There's the quick highlights, more details to follow once I finish the TR.

I completed a series of stays at the Swissotel Sydney late last year and never encountered any excessive CC authorisation from them. And in most CC authorisation, regardless of which hotel you stay at, will usually take 3-7 working days for them to drop off.

I love Swissotel's Best Rate Guarantee and was staying at this Swissotel for AUD$84 per night including buffet breakfast for two. It got even better when they upgraded me twice to a club floor room with club lounge access.

 

[swylie]

I stayed at Swissotel last week and the pre-auth was nothing big... Obviously someone made a mistake with yours...!

 

[11sjw]

.... The bar attendant was also quite pleasant and easy on the eyes....

Major credibility loss with this statement.

Are you carrying out this review in 1979?

 

[oz_mark]

And as a side point from this trip, Swissotel has just lost my business in SYD for the most exorbitant pre-authorisation ever, then taking five days after check out to remove it.

I am not sure they so much remove it, as it eventually drops of at the Credit Card provider end. (The strangest pre-auth I ever has was $1.22!!)

 

[Mal]

With pre-auth's, they frustrate me too. Not because I care about my credit limit in my accounts, but more that I care that no unauthorised transactions are occuring.

It surprises me that in some countries, some credit providers can show the details of pre-auth's, but the same companies in Australia cannot ... Hmmm. Perhaps that's also related to how some companies can show E-Ticket numbers when displaying Airline related transactions, but the same company in Australia can't ...

Wonder who I am talking about????

 

[oz_mark]

If you are referring to Amex, they actually can display E-Ticket numbers, your itinerary etc. I am not sure how that information gets to them, and perhaps your average website in Australia doesn't pass this on with the charge against your card.

 

[joeymelb]

Swissotel has just lost my business in SYD for the most exorbitant pre-authorisation ever, then taking five days after check out to remove it. Seriously, a 1k authorisation for a 3 night stay by a CSG member who's stayed at the property previously and reservation is guaranteed against their card is taking the piss.

I used to have problem with those pre-auth on my CC. However, I step around it by asking the hotel to use my AMEX Charge Card for pre-auth, then pay with my preferred CC at the end of the stay.

This work really well overseas, especially Swissotel Stamford Singapore usually hit me for nearly AUD$8K for 2 week stays even though it is all pre-paid.

Looking forward to your trip report.

 

[Mal]

If you are referring to Amex, they actually can display E-Ticket numbers, your itinerary etc. I am not sure how that information gets to them, and perhaps your average website in Australia doesn't pass this on with the charge against your card.

Yeah, that's who I singled out but didn't name. Really surprises me that the technology exists in certain countries but not others.

Would be interesting to know if Amex CSR's in Australia see that sort of information about flights or not. I believe they can see pending transactions etc.

 

[jpk]

Major credibility loss with this statement.

Are you carrying out this review in 1979?

+1

Uncool statement, let alone when you are trying to give an objective review of service.

 

[anat0l]

Major credibility loss with this statement.

Are you carrying out this review in 1979?

+1

Uncool statement, let alone when you are trying to give an objective review of service.

I don't get it.

You mean that the choice of phrase is not appropriate?

 

[jpk]

I don't get it.

You mean that the choice of phrase is not appropriate?

Of course it isn't. What does the attractiveness of the person have to do with service related issues?

 

[anat0l]

Of course it isn't. What does the attractiveness of the person have to do with service related issues?

Ah I see.

So get the sentence in question and only read the first half then.

Mind you, though, when some people compare crew between DJ and QF (or any set of airlines for that matter), attractiveness is as much a criteria as service quality (and oddly enough some people's judgement of quality of service will be clouded if a person is sufficiently attractive).

This is not to say that the OP is using attractiveness as a factor (I suspect this is just a slip made whilst writing the post from mind without much editing thought), but to believe that attractiveness does not form part of people's judgements of airlines today is naive.

 

[medhead]

but to believe that attractiveness does not form part of people's judgements of airlines today is naive.

Exactly!!

In fact attractiveness probably forms a part of every judgement we ever make.

BTW I was really holding back from having a rant about PC BS, thankfully you came in with a much more reasoned response.

 

[jpk]

BTW I was really holding back from having a rant about PC BS, thankfully you came in with a much more reasoned response.

My response had nothing to do with "PC BS" - we all hear terms like these used everyday and indeed would be guilty of such myself from time to time when in private with my friends.

However in the context of a thread titled "QF grumbles" listing areas QF could improve in, praising the attractiveness of a bar attendant (who isn't even employed by QF) does, as 11sjw has opined, detract from the OP's credibility.

If you don't agree with me, try using that term next time you're talking to your HR Dept...

 

[11sjw]

My response had nothing to do with "PC BS" - we all hear terms like these used everyday and indeed would be guilty of such myself from time to time when in private with my friends.

However in the context of a thread titled "QF grumbles" listing areas QF could improve in, praising the attractiveness of a bar attendant (who isn't even employed by QF) does, as 11sjw has opined, detract from the OP's credibility.

If you don't agree with me, try using that term next time you're talking to your HR Dept...

I don't consider myself particularly PC but would any of you feel if someone carrying out a review/appraisal of you in your job said "You're doing ok but you're Fugly so we'll finish you up tomorrow."

 

[medhead]

My response had nothing to do with "PC BS" - we all hear terms like these used everyday and indeed would be guilty of such myself from time to time when in private with my friends.

However in the context of a thread titled "QF grumbles" listing areas QF could improve in, praising the attractiveness of a bar attendant (who isn't even employed by QF) does, as 11sjw has opined, detract from the OP's credibility.

If you don't agree with me, try using that term next time you're talking to your HR Dept...

It doesn't at all detract from credibilty to comment on the things that formed a positive impression amongst the negatives. i.e. F-ing BS

This forum is not the HR department!!!!!!!! :!:

The fact that you mention the official HR department proves that it is PC BS.

Tell me are you a female? Are you assuming that the bar staff was female and that the OP is male? Answer those questions for us and then try to tell me it isn't PC BS.

Great i was looking for a debate.