Recent observation 747 v 380 treatment

[Colster]

Just go back from a quick Syd-HKG return and had the pleasure of the 747 one way and the 380 on the return. Was in PE so it was a little less painful than usual but I did notice some clear differences in attitude and service between the planes.

Left Syd on Tues on a 747. Was a no problems sort of flight, with the crew going out of their way to make sure that everyone was happy and well looked after. I had three individual welcomes at my seat from the CSM, CM and someone else. They kept me and a bronze colleague happy the whole way. CSM thought that as my colleague had fallen asleep, he'd had enough to drink. RSA and all I suppose, but he didn't drink that much at all (maybe 5 wines in 5 hours). All in all they crew did a great job, and although the IFE is ancient, no real complaints for 9 hours.

On the 380, the whole infrastructure product was top notch as normal. But the FA's just didn't seem to care about people on the flight as much. No welcome by the CSM or CM, and absolutely nothing in terms of "anything we can do" sort of attitude that I saw on the 747 just a couple of days earlier.

Oh and one other thing, QF127 on the way up had six empty J and 4 empty F seats. On the way back, tried ask to upgrade at the airport, and from PE to J it was going to be 5800 HKD ($800 AUD or so) and no chance to use points to do it.

 

[triple7]

I think it depends on the individual crew (and especially the CSM). I have experienced both good and ordinary on both aircraft.

 

[kempvet]

Here is a good example, I often fly SYD-LAX-SYD and stay a night and have the same crew on the way back on the 380 or 747, they can be different on the way back, fatigue to some extent, I think that this is what you are seeing as well, the crew on the way back are not going to sparkle like they did on the forward journey. And to be honest, neither do I after such a quick turn around.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

In November did the same trip in PE and on return upgraded to J with points on the Saturday for the Sunday flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

MH offered an upgrade from MEL to KUL on a recent flight I was on (Y to J) for A$493, so A$800 from PE to J is probably a bit much (notwithstanding that the flight from HKG is an hour or so longer).

Of course, QF's costs per seat kilometre are presumably higher than MH's but I'm relating the upgrade fee to what the market will bear.

 

[Isochronous]

I've normally found the A380 crew great and markedly better than the A330 crew. A330 crew on MEL-HKG are often mediocre, but SYD-PVG A330 crew are consistently good.