Surly FAs in QF127 J 29 May 2013

[Mardi]

We usually really enjoy long haul travel in a premium cabin but our flight to HKG in J yesterday left us with a slightly sour taste in our mouths.

The FAs in J were all older males and all seemed brusque and surly. When the cabin was dark mid flight one stepped in front of my seat (23B) to get something off my husband's tray (23A) and tripped over either my shoes (black) or my feet on the footrest covered in the doona (dark purple). He nearly head butted the wall. I said "sorry" even though I didn't really think it was my fault, and he said something like "well you would have been if I'd smashed my head in". I don't think he was joking.

Also it was a 747 (don't know which one) and it was REALLY old and tired feeling inside. Maybe I'm spoilt because my last long haul was LAX to SYD in F on an A380.

However, Hong Kong is fantastic - its our first visit - and getting to our hotel in Kowloon was so easy with the Airport Express (pre-purchased online) and the Airport Express Shuttle bus. And the hotel we are in is fantastic - we are in a Suite 80 room at the Hotel Icon and the room is spectacular and the staff are all so wonderfully helpful and friendly. We will definitely come back - but maybe we'll ensure we are on an A380

 

[AIRwin]

Also it was a 747 (don't know which one) and it was REALLY old and tired feeling inside.

Aircraft was VH-OJL according to theqantassource.com. In case you're not aware, QF operates the A380 from SYD to HKG on Thursdays to Sundays turning around on the same evening. Are you booked on the A380 on the return leg?

As for the cabin crew, perhaps the fog in Sydney dampened their spirit of Australia and made them feeling down (under)?

 

[samh004]

I said "sorry" even though I didn't really think it was my fault, and he said something like "well you would have been if I'd smashed my head in". I don't think he was joking.

I guess it all depends how the sentiment was intended, it could have been light hearted. If it wasn't, or the fact you didn't take it that way isn't a good thing.

Enjoy HK!

 

[djfuzz]

Very keen to hear your impressions of Icon - it looks like a great place!

 

[docjames]

What is going on with QF cabin crew to/from HKG at the moment?

This is the third report in about three weeks!

 

[tuapekastar]

Sorry to hear Mardi. Rotten crew is all it takes to make a flight sour. I've been lucky enough to have had excellent J crew domestically recently but obviously your experience has been different. It is this inconsistency that has plagued QF in recent times.

PS. Red Roo please take note.

 

[knightman7]

I can't stress enough to anyone flying SYD-HKG, not to fly J unless its on an A380 from Thursday - Sunday. The service and flight experience on the 747 is infinitely inferior. I was reminded of this a few weeks back myself. If you must fly Mon - Wed, beg, borrow or steal to get onto a CX flight.

 

[EmilyHoward]

Do male FAs get PMT?

EH

 

[Red Roo]

We usually really enjoy long haul travel in a premium cabin but our flight to HKG in J yesterday left us with a slightly sour taste in our mouths.

The FAs in J were all older males and all seemed brusque and surly. When the cabin was dark mid flight one stepped in front of my seat (23B) to get something off my husband's tray (23A) and tripped over either my shoes (black) or my feet on the footrest covered in the doona (dark purple). He nearly head butted the wall. I said "sorry" even though I didn't really think it was my fault, and he said something like "well you would have been if I'd smashed my head in". I don't think he was joking.

Also it was a 747 (don't know which one) and it was REALLY old and tired feeling inside. Maybe I'm spoilt because my last long haul was LAX to SYD in F on an A380.

However, Hong Kong is fantastic - its our first visit - and getting to our hotel in Kowloon was so easy with the Airport Express (pre-purchased online) and the Airport Express Shuttle bus. And the hotel we are in is fantastic - we are in a Suite 80 room at the Hotel Icon and the room is spectacular and the staff are all so wonderfully helpful and friendly. We will definitely come back - but maybe we'll ensure we are on an A380

I'm concerned to hear about this experience and would appreciate an opportunity to follow up. Please provide the details via this Form so our dedicated Customer Care team can investigate.

 

[lovestotravel]

Do male FAs get PMT?

EH

Depends.........

 

[Awesom Andy]

Do male FAs get PMT?

EH

Probably not, as this appears to be weekly rather than monthly.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry to hear you did not have a good experience.

Also it was a 747 (don't know which one) and it was REALLY old and tired feeling inside. Maybe I'm spoilt because my last long haul was LAX to SYD in F on an A380.

Perhaps I do not notice enough but the cabins inside the 747 do not feel old and tired to me. Hoping to do as much travel as possible on 747s before they are retired.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Perhaps I do not notice enough but the cabins inside the 747 do not feel old and tired to me. Hoping to do as much travel as possible on 747s before they are retired.

Guess I'm in the same camp. Especially that I'm based in SIN, there's nothing like seeing a QF 744 parked at the gate as I'm about to head to SYD. Sadly, the A380 doesn't quite work for me in that regard.

 

[Mardi]

We are in the A380 camp so next time I'll make sure we fly on an A380 day. We are flying back on the A380 tomorrow night (QF128) and that should be good, plus we are going to allow plenty of time to check out the Wing lounge and hopefully enjoy one of the cabanas We booked Y+ and put in for an upgrade but nothing has come through yet - on the way over we got the text 2.5 days in advance, which was strange i thought. I guess that if we haven't heard anything yet the upgrade is unlikely. Husband is WP.

Red Roo, thanks, I'll do that when I'm back home.

Hong Kong is great, I'm enjoying it so much more than I thought I would. And the Icon is utterly fantastic. I cannot say enough good things about it! I meant to do a trip report for this trip but I have been forgetting to take photos. Husband probably has many I can steal though.

 

[knightman7]

I'm WP as well, however the notification of upgrades never occurs on a set schedule. Sometimes I've gotten the text 48 hrs out, sometimes 5-6 hrs out and everything in between. I've never been denied one on that leg for what its worth You can always check Expert Flyer and see the loadings in J. I just had a quick look and at this stage, it looks like there are plenty of seats available.

 

[ChrisCunard]

I'm concerned to hear about this experience and would appreciate an opportunity to follow up. Please provide the details via this Form so our dedicated Customer Care team can investigate.

Good to see!

 

[Mardi]

Yay upgrades came through about T-23 and we are currently in the First lounge awaiting boarding. First priority on reaching the airport was a trip to the Wing where we were lucky enough to score a cabana. After a hot sweaty day in HKG a bath was bliss!

 

[dsotm]

I had a similar coughpy service experience in J on the A380 QF9 MEL/DUBAI last week en route to Milan. After an OTT peppy welcome from the purser which I was fine with, myself and three colleagues had a less than stellar experience with the FA's on this flight. There was a general sense of malaise and indifference in the business cabin. One particular flight attendant asked if I wanted anything to eat. I said what was on offer. She snapped back, "It's in the men...you!" .. like, der you dingbat. Requests for bottled water were either forgotten or ignored.

The situation changed with we transferred to an Emirates 777 QF code-share from Dubai to Milan. Service was night-and-day. It was the first time I have flown business class on Emirates and it won't be the last. The food and beverage range, attentiveness, friendliness and professionalism was great. No Qantas-style PJ's but a far superior Bulgari amenities pack. On our return we flew a QF code-share Emirates A380 from Dubai. Seriously it was even better than the DXB/MXP 777 sector and the seat-back 24" Full-HD LCD screens exceeded anything I've seen on any other airline including F in Singapore and Qantas. I'll continue to fly Qantas because of the strong FF links to the US and domestically, but when I next fly to Europe it will be on QF code-share Emirates metal. No doubt at all.

 

[Must...Fly!]

One particular flight attendant asked if I wanted anything to eat. I said what was on offer. She snapped back, "It's in the men...you!" .. like, der you dingbat. Requests for bottled water were either forgotten or ignored.

To be honest, if I was having a less than perfect day I would probably give a very similar response...

 

[ermen]

To be honest, if I was having a less than perfect day I would probably give a very similar response...

That's really unprofessional. Imagine one of the staff at Neil Perry restaurant doing that...