Staff Upgrades

[Swanhaven]

Absolutely true story.
Myself (P1), Son Number 1 (p) Son Number 2 (p) sitting in 1st class lounge at HK - all booked and paid for business class.
I was called to desk and offered upgrade to 1st (747) and then told they had one more 1st class seat and which of the 2 boys would like it.
They tossed for it, and son number 1 came with me. Son number 2 remained in Business in an "A" seat with a vacancy alongside.
When the doors closed, two people, staff, don't know who was the staff, husband or wife, but husband went upstairs and wife next to my son.
As the flight was being pushed out "Mrs Staff" told my son that her daughter was back in Economy and she did not like travelling on her own
and would he mind going back to economy and allowing her to come to business.
He was somewhat flustered and asked the "boss" could he talk with me and this was allowed. He asked me what should he do? And I simply said
"stay where you are" if she is concerned about her daughter then let her go back. She did not, but was not happy.
On returning to Sydney I was quite angry and considered a complaint but kept my mouth shut - should I have had a whinge?:?:

 

[Isochronous]

Definitely. That is a ridiculous request for a freeloading staff pax to ask. I hope you took down her seat number and appearance to write in a complaint to QF. If she had asked me I would have put her in her place immediately.

 

[ecg]

Yes, very poor form indeed. How did you know she was staff?

 

[docjames]

Perhaps "mrs staff" could have swapped seats with the pax sitting next to her daughter.

How did your son know they were staff?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Absolutely true story.
Myself (P1), Son Number 1 (p) Son Number 2 (p) sitting in 1st class lounge at HK - all booked and paid for business class.
I was called to desk and offered upgrade to 1st (747) and then told they had one more 1st class seat and which of the 2 boys would like it.
They tossed for it, and son number 1 came with me. Son number 2 remained in Business in an "A" seat with a vacancy alongside.
When the doors closed, two people, staff, don't know who was the staff, husband or wife, but husband went upstairs and wife next to my son.
As the flight was being pushed out "Mrs Staff" told my son that her daughter was back in Economy and she did not like travelling on her own
and would he mind going back to economy and allowing her to come to business.
He was somewhat flustered and asked the "boss" could he talk with me and this was allowed. He asked me what should he do? And I simply said
"stay where you are" if she is concerned about her daughter then let her go back. She did not, but was not happy.
On returning to Sydney I was quite angry and considered a complaint but kept my mouth shut - should I have had a whinge?:?:

Ridiculous request but IMO there is little point complaining.
Some people will try this sort of thing on be they staff or otherwise. Since you don't know for certain that she was a staff member then there is little to investigate after the incident.
A word in the ear of the CSM onboard would have been a good idea (with the benefit of hindsight of course).

Edited:
Who was upstairs ?
J on 747
F downstairs normally

 

[vertisol]

You generally only get one chance to accept a polite "no thanks" from me in this sort of circumstance.

Get huffy and insistant... well, you'd wish you hadn't.

 

[Swanhaven]

J was upstairs and we were in the nose - son number 2 was told by steward that one was staff and the other spouse - as I said, I don't know which one - but at the end of the day, on returning to Sydney, I thought, just get on with life - all was well - I just thought it was a "little over the top". After all, we had 2 upgrades to first and no points - and that was very nice and appreciated.

 

[Princess Fiona]

J was upstairs and we were in the nose - son number 2 was told by steward that one was staff and the other spouse - as I said, I don't know which one - but at the end of the day, on returning to Sydney, I thought, just get on with life - all was well - I just thought it was a "little over the top". After all, we had 2 upgrades to first and no points - and that was very nice and appreciated.

I like that thinking, and totally agree it was over the top.
My sleuthing instincts tell me that the cheeky Mrs was more likely the spouse than the staff

 

[puppysparkes]

Totally pathetic request.

I would've explained my son had a fully paid fare. Next I'd ask my son to take my seat in first so I could sit next to said parents. Then order drinks to assist with snoring and let nature do its work.

 

[ftm]

I would write in, nicely explaining the perceived situation.

Certainly shouldn't have happened and if they were staff, then they should be told by their manager that their behavior wasn't appropriate. All it would need is seat number, flight number and date.

Often the worst offenders aren't actually staff, but the beneficiaries.

 

[drron]

I would have just told her she was dreaming.

 

[will2rob]

I would write in, nicely explaining the perceived situation.

Certainly shouldn't have happened and if they were staff, then they should be told by their manager that their behavior wasn't appropriate. All it would need is seat number, flight number and date.

Often the worst offenders aren't actually staff, but the beneficiaries.

Agree,though if the staff member is the one who tried it on, it's absolutely not on and the OP should complain. If the Mrs is only the spouse and not an employee, well, I don't know there is anything to complain about, assuming the OP's son is an adult. The request was ridiculous and a simple "no." is all that was required to put her back in her place. If the spouse was travelling on a freebie she should know better but if she is not the employee, I don't know there is much Qantas can really do. Nevertheless, it can't hurt to make Qantas aware of the incident.

 

[erkpod]

Agree,though if the staff member is the one who tried it on, it's absolutely not on and the OP should complain. If the Mrs is only the spouse and not an employee, well, I don't know there is anything to complain about, assuming the OP's son is an adult. The request was ridiculous and a simple "no." is all that was required to put her back in her place. If the spouse was travelling on a freebie she should know better but if she is not the employee, I don't know there is much Qantas can really do. Nevertheless, it can't hurt to make Qantas aware of the incident.

There's usually something in the staff T & C something along the lines of that the employee is responsible & accountable for the actions of anyone (themselves included) who they allow to use their staff benefits, on or off duty.

 

[puppysparkes]

There's usually something in the staff T & C something along the lines of that the employee is responsible & accountable for the actions of anyone (themselves included) who they allow to use their staff benefits, on or off duty.

This is exactly what grates me about the situation as explained by OP. Staff would go through an induction program where the T&C's are likely explained in some way. Despite the induction a poorly considered request is made. Above all their lack of concern for their daughter seated in Y is evidenced by their desire for J benefits.

 

[erkpod]

This is exactly what grates me about the situation as explained by OP. Staff would go through an induction program where the T&C's are likely explained in some way. Despite the induction a poorly considered request is made. Above all their lack of concern for their daughter seated in Y is evidenced by their desire J benefits.

I can't speak for QF but at my Place of Employment, I get an annual travel pass. When I collect the pass each year, I have to sign the form which contains the T & C. I presume that similar would apply here to airline staff.

 

[VHOEJ]

Definently report it - I am a QF staff member and one of the rules of staff travel clearly states you can never under any circumstance ask any commercial passenger to swap seats with you. It is repeated a number of times and staff are reminded of it. And even if it wasn't a rule as such, it is very poor behaviour.

Please do report them - this incident goes against thier file and they could lose all privileges. The sad thing is there are many repeat offenders who think staff travel is a right, not a privilege and carry on like spoilt brats. They are embarassing to the rest of the staff who do the right thing. I don't like 'dobbers' as such but this is an example where it has to be reported and if it isn't, they will get away with it.

Write all the details down and send it through - it will definently get through to staff travel.

 

[JohnK]

Totally unreasonable and inappropriate to ask.

I just have to laugh considering I have been posting my thoughts of staff travel on another thread.

 

[MelUser]

I have a funny stuff travel story - it was VA LAX to MEL (2011) - I was flying in J. T3orT5? checkin - all checkin "booths" very close together. Staff member turns up at check in next to me with her boyfriend. The check in person calls the supervisor. The supervisor tells the staff member - you are not allowed to wear jeans or denim for staff travel - we are going to put you into economy class. Well this woman was so angry. The checkin supervisor then said actually jeans/denim not allowed for staff travel in any class including economy so really they were doing her a favour by letting her onto the plane and please remember this for next time.

I just laughed quietly to myself.

 

[ecg]

Totally unreasonable and inappropriate to ask.

I just have to laugh considering I have been posting my thoughts of staff travel on another thread.

Funny that, because people seem to be laughing at you on the other thread. Not sure why you're so concerned anyway, as you never travel in the premium classes.

 

[NoName]

Staff member/partner or not it is a laughable request which deserved a laugh as a response. If you're that concerned about your child then take a hike and swap with the person sitting next to them in ECONOMY.